“If my eyes turn black, and my teeth fall out, and my hair's
all caught up in rags...don't give me any of that medicine you're
making, for I'll spit it right back out. “
Liz Green's latest single 'Bad Medicine' resonates with an old-time
music quality. An earlier self-release which also appears on the
Manchester-based singer-songwriter's album 'O, devotion!' released
on Picadilly Records, certainly one of this year's curiosities.
Time's some kind of bendable commodity in Ms Green's world where
blues artists Bessie Smith or Son House exist alongside present-day
company like Jolie Holland and Madeleine Peyroux. Can you have
a negro spiritual about an estranged Mancunian searching for redemption
and freedom from pain? I guess that's why they call it the blues,
whether it's in Louisiana or the north-west of England, and Green's
odd quavering voice is every bit the modern-day singer with a
story to tell. Supported with a band who also provide strings
and brass, and the odd jug or two, shades of Tom Waits without
the growling, this nostalgia trip is sonically rather like the
T-Bone Burnett classic soundtrack for the Coen Brothers' film
'O Brother, Where Art Thou', songs from a different era served
up for the present but happily spared the sight of George Clooney
mouthing them … it'll be interesting to see where this singer
takes her new material?
Matthew Haddrill
Moody
Gowns – Stepmother/Bearfoot Beware
While ‘Stepmother’ is an undeniably witty and humorous bit of
writing, musically I find it hard to warm to the spiky, militaristic
sound. Conversely, Bearfoot Beware feel a lot more palatable with
a slight reminiscence of the clever mathy pop of fellow Leedsers
O Fracas but with nice heavy overtones. Really quite unusual sounding
actually. Strange bedfellows for a split single but twice the
chance you’ll like one of them. 7/10 www.moodygowns.com www.bearfootbeware.co.uk
SB
Doug
Tielli - Yes I am Lonely (Tin Angel)
More welcome oddness here from Canadian Doug Tielli who seems
to have forgotten to tell the rest of the band to play at the
same speed. Despite this seemingly schoolboy, all these disparate
parts of falsetto, echoey ska guitar and general randomness somehow
hang together in cleverly catchy tune. On B-side ‘Santia’, Tiella
proves he can also do ‘normal’ with a beautiful earthy duet. Welcome
stuff. 8/10 www.tinangelrecords.co.uk
SB
The
Cast of Cheers – Animals (V2)
Following their frankly blistering last outing ‘Family’, The
Cast of Cheers return with the nearly equally catchy ‘Animals’
They also seem to have turned into a more commercially viable
version of Leicester indie band Crushing Blows. The sad side effect
of this is that you may bump into fellow fan Fearne Cotton at
The Cast of Cheers gigs. 7/10
SB
Don
Niño – She is Resisting/Beats
(Infinéon)
I know nothing about Don Niño other than what is included
on the press release with this CD (which is not a lot). But these
two tracks are a pleasant introduction on their own, sounding
a bit like a Scottish folk version of Herman Dune (which is no
surprise given the list of collaborators. One of those Cds where
you will thoroughly enjoy the tracks then hardly be able to remember
a thing about them 10 minutes later (but still worth investing
the time to get the right accents over the n’s and e’s.) 7/10
SB
Donae’o – Big Ben (The Richard Bransom
Riddin)
Presumably not some kind of ode to outsized and out of favour
West Indian offspin bowler Sulieman Benn, this track is so far
off my radar it’s a bit embarrassing even trying to right about
it. Like Hugh Dennis on The Mary Whitehouse Experience, I feel
like I’d be saying, ‘Hey, what’s this? It’s got a good beat’.
This must not happen. http://www.donaeo.com
SB
Robert
Vincent – The Bomb EP (DB Industries)
Apparently Robert Vincent knew before he was five years that
he wanted to be a musician. Pity then that he complicated things
at 17 by becoming a father. There also seems to be a suggestion
that good songs need to autobiographical or at least describe
something about your life. Oh for days when musicians used to
write about things like factories exploding or train crashes.
Anyway, all this preamble just acts as a slightly irrelevant
prelude to the fact that Vincent has a rich, world worn voice
which works well with his brand of folky country. And he’s also
managed to copy Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ almost chord for chord
in ‘You Wouldn’t Let It’ without anyone noticing. Cunning blighter.
6/10 www.robertvincentmusic.com
SB
The
Proclaimers – Spinning Around in
the Air (Cooking Vinyl)
An archetypal Proclaimers track if ever there were one. Feint
overtones of Scottish folk but underpinned with a childlike simplicity
which makes it unforgettable/suitable for Playschool, depending
o your standpoint. 6/10 www.cookingvinyl.com
SB
The
Wind-Up Birds – Cross Country (Sturdy)
It strikes me that The Wind-Up Birds continue to be a very good
band. Although we may be forever set up to be disappointed by
our heroes, the Wind Up Birds continue to buck this trend and
produce excellent tracks and ‘Cross Country’ very definitely falls
into this category. Musically a kind of proto punk which in itself
is instantly listenable without being banal, the great string
to the bow which sets these guys apart are the lyrics and vocals
of singer Paul Ackroyd, a modern day Alan Bennett set to music.
8/10 www.thewindupbirds.co.uk
SB
Whores
– Ruiner EP (Stressed Sumo)
On a label run by Therapy?’s Neil Cooper, it’s not surprising
to find a band like Atlanta’s Whores who wouldn’t be out of place
on a bill with Helmet or The Jesus Lizard. It’s all about the
power and the dynamics – great slabs of fuzzed up noise pound
into you with opener ‘Daddy’s Money’, softening up your epidermis
ready for the next assault. Which is on you remarkably quickly
and without warning – in fact I was midway through ‘Fake Life’
before I realised a new song had started. Not that this EP is
monotonous – there’s a satisfyingly grungey overdriven, down-tuned
vibe that while being heavy, is also pretty melodic and reminds
me a bit of going to rock nights in Newcastle. I like it a lot.
8/10
SB
Allman
Brown – Woman (SecondCousin)
‘Soulful side’, ‘dulcet tones’ and ‘acoustic bars of Paris and
New York’ are phrases from the press release to make my heart
go cold – this sounds yack. But words can be wrong and this track
is actually a bit of an understated gem –never grabbing you by
the neck and rubbing your face in it like a naughty puppy, more
purring gently on your lap like a contented moggy. Limited use
of vocal gymnastics, no real production gimmicks – it just flows
naturally and effortlessly. 7/10 www.allmanbrown.com
SB
Junior
High – PSA (Tapete Records)
One man’s sincere, catchy, 80’s infused electro is another man’s,
err, cheese. Is that even some beat boxing in there? Well, it’s
harmless enough fun so I’m not going to pick on it. I won’t be
keeping the CD either though. 6/10
SB
All
We Are – We Hunt (Payper Tiger)
Completely different from anything else reviewed (this evening
at least), the dark psyche-space of All We Are is like nectar
to the ears. Obvious comparisons with the likes of Sigur Ros abound
(even though All We Are emerge from Liverpool) but there appears
to be more to them than lush Nordic soundscapes. ‘Cardhouse’,
for instance, has an anthemic quality to it more akin to Mumford
and Sons (though I think it is a pity this is the track chosen
as a single as the others have so much to offer). Take the achingly
beautiful ‘Red Sky’ for instance – simple components perfectly
performed – it’s just excellent. 8/10 www.soundcloud.com/thisisallweare
SB
Katzenjammer – Rock-Paper-Scissors
(Propeller)
It’s all fiddle-dee-dee by Norwegian quartet Katzenjammer. Although
not missing the marketing potential of having 4 scantily clad
Viking ladies adorning the cover, Katzenjammer don’t exactly rock
my world with this track, nice enough though it is. 6/10 www.katzenjammer.com
SB
Yes Sir Boss – Desperation State (Stone’d)
For those of you interested, Stone’d is Joss Stone’s record label.
OK, let’s move on.
Musically, something interesting happened about 2.30 minutes
into opening track ‘Not Guilty’ which broke the slightly irksome
horn-riddled ska of the track. It kind of went into a guitar led
overdrive – there – I’ve given my game away, I like guitars. So
for me the rest of the EP was a bit of a chore – excessively ‘quirky’
and vocally yelpy. Sorry. 4/10 www.yessirboss.com
SB
Monument
Valley – Your Cover Blown (Everybody’s
Stalking)
Masses of reverb in the cathedral like production give this track
an element of grandeur which is curiously offset by the much closer
vocals. The result is mixed – it’s neither euphoric nor cinematic,
it’s more like trying to drive under the influence of too much
Lemsip – strangely mesmeric but momentarily harrowing. 7/10 www.monumentvalley.co.uk
SB
Bang
on! – Fars Yer Whop (Big Dada)
Strewth and blimey – my hard pressed ears are not capable of
withstanding this warbling, bass heavy mangle of voice and beats.
Headache. 5/10
SB
Trentmoller
- 'My Dreams'
Remember when Primal Scream covered Lee Hazelwood's
'Some Velvet Morning' with Kate Moss on vocals? This is a bit
similar, except you probably haven't heard of Danish sequentialist
Trentmoller or his vocalist Marie Fiske or perhaps even of the
Gun Club, the 80s US band whose song this is. Available on 7'
vinyl, and with a less electronic version of the song on its b
side whose vocal does sound a lot like Lee Hazelwood, albeit with
a throaty northern european accent. www.hfn-music/inmyroom
JG
Variety
Lights - 'Silent Too Long EP'
Former member of Mercury Rev and
his new friend bring the noise with this crunchy synth stomp,
done mostly on vintage synths and really not sounding anything
like Mercury Rev, at all. Available on luminous green vinyl if
that sort of thing interests you. http://soundcloud.com/firerecords/sets/variety-lights-silent-too-long/
JG
Jonathan
Boulet - 'This Song Is Ragged'
A quirky mix of double timed drumming
and xylophone, Jonathan Boulet thumps as much of a tune as he
can out of his instruments until, right at the very end, he runs
out of tune entirely. Available as a free download so don't complain
too much. http://soundcloud.com/modularpeople/jonathan-boulet-this-song-is
JG
Being
There - 'Since I ...'
Not getting this one entirely. A cover
of a song written by a member of the spectacularly obscure US
indie mavericks Guided By Voices, it's quite probably a faithful
note-by-note reconstruction of Tobin Sprout's original track but,
(and I mean this in a supportive way) why bother? Being There
turn in some alright acoustic Americana but I'd rather hear one
of their own songs. http://soundcloud.com/nadia-young/since-i-by-tobin-sprout
JG
Leopard
Of Honour - 'Gas Giants EP'
Pleasant if unremarkable actual pop
song from this Mancunian electronicist, in the manner of M83 or
a more laid back Calvin Harris, and the one track I've access
to is probably only the first of a half dozen or so remixes so
I'll just leave it there. http://soundcloud.com/leopard-of-honour/gas-giants
JG
Anja
McCloskey – Italian Song (Sotones)
Even before reading the press
release for this I was thinking summertime, campfires and that
outdoor party by the river in the movie Chocolat. And like that
party, this track unravels in a pleasingly free-spirited outro
(though with fewer flames than Johnny Depp’s barge). www.anjamccloskey.co.uk
SB
Jack
Beats – You Should Know (Sony)
Summertime house music to get
hot bodies writhing on dancefloors. Personally I’d rather sit
on the veranda with a nice cold gin and tonic but you can’t knock
the chutzpah of these guys – the ‘bass drop’ (as they say) is
particularly nice. 6/10
SB
Finn
Bonel – Wedding Song (Fat Controller)
I love all the Indian influences
in this track – the sitar, the table and tambura generate a completely
luscious exotic sound. The only problem is the song itself which
is dull as dishwater and not improved by Bonel’s disinterested
sounding vocals. 5/10 www.finnbonel.com
SB
Tom
Jones – Hit or Miss (Island)
The longer time goes on, the whiter
Tom’s hair gets and the darker his skin seems to appear. He’ll
soon be a dead ringer for a sun bed loving Morgan Freeman impersonator.
As for the track – am I the only one who thinks that Jones has
lost his voice a bit? Without that trademark power, this is just
a pretty little tune which sounds a bit like The Charlatans rather
than the classic it could have been. 7/10
SB
Princess
Chelsea – The Cigarette Duet (L’il
Chief Recordings)
Speaking
as someone who has had more than the occasional disagreement with
ex-girlfriends about their smoking habits there’s a bit of resonance
about this track. It’s also unbelievably quirky (in a good way)
due to its simple but nostalgic composition. Truly a little gem.
8/10
SB
The
Subways – Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Cooking
Vinyl)
You know what,
this is not half bad at all. I recall sending various Tasty reporters
around the country to cover a few Subways gigs a while back and
they normally returned with disappointed reports. But there’s
nothing to dislike about this, even the slightly dated vibe just
makes me feel nostalgic rather than bored. 8/10 www.thesubways.net
SB
The
Slow Show – Brother EP (Smoked and Uncut)
First things first
– you may have to check your facts to prove to yourself that this
is not Eddie Vedder’s new EP – the singer has an uncanny similarity.
The music is also similarly absorbing with a bit of a morose undertone.
But it’s substantial, stadium filling stuff – I can see the thousands
of lighters held aloft in the air as the band supported Elbow
recently. 7/10 www.theslowshow.co.uk
SB
DJ
Food & The Amorphous Androgynous
– The Illecktrik Hoax (Ninja Tune)
I love DJ Food and this further collection of mash ups
and reworkings of tracks from his album ‘The Search Engine’ includes
some further beauties. But is it maybe time to put that album
to bed now and start on something else? Good though they all are,
I am beginning to find it hard to identify one track from the
next, one remix from the next, one collaborator from the next.
Hmm, food for thought but if you’ve not had all the recent releases
then this one certainly wouldn’t shame any record collection.
8/10 www.ninjatune.net
SB
Vera
Grace – Rotations
I can definitely hear some similarities between
Vera Grace and Fierce Panda noise monkeys Hawk Eyes. Vera Grace
have got a few killer riffs going on and make a heck of a racket
while generally maintaining a melodic outlook. But they sound
like they would benefit from a few years of development and diversification,
the likes of which definitely benefited Hawk Eyes from their original
inception as Chickenhawk through to their present day ear melting
pomp. Sometimes less is more and the contrast that brings opens
up other possibilities in dynamics and tension. But definitely
on the scope for the future. 6/10 www.facebook.com/veragraceband
SB
Hawk
Eyes – Just One More Thing
Speaking of Hawk Eyes...what a curiosity.
I had to check several browser windows to make sure that I wasn’t
playing about three tracks at once as it certainly sounds that
way on ‘Just One More Thing’. Three tracks at once, and all of
them very noisy. 6/10 http://hawkeyesmusic.bandcamp.com/
SB
Populator
– singles
I’m a bit confused by this one as I thought I was getting
some new tracks from Darlington’s synth posters Populator. Turns
out I’m sure I’ve heard a couple of these before. Even so, all
good electrically driven pop goodness and not a hint of earnest
over the top hammed up vocals – Messrs’ Amicucci (x2) and Moon
just sound like they genuinely enjoy all this retro bleepiness
and I can forgive them that (even if ‘Dance with Me’ sounds just
a little Eurovision). Being a miserable sod, the darker ‘The Universe
Can Dream’ is my favourite. 7/10 www.populator.co.uk
SB
Shibuya
Crossings – Gamla Stan/I’ll Meet
You At The Station (Typically Magic)
Don’t be misled by the insistent, monotonous drum beat. As ‘Gamla
Stan’ continues it becomes more and more obvious that this is
quite a track by Shibuya Crossings. Steeped in mid-nineties influences
(Sparklehorse, Dinosaur Jr, Teenage Fanclub to name but a few)
there’s an easily missed strength through gentleness about this
that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. 7/10 www.shibuyacrossings.com
