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singles -
january 2007
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How long has it been since Rice’s debut album ‘O’
now? It seems like a hell of a long time. One was happy to notice that due
to its volcanic rise (selling around 2 million copies Worldwide) that Rice
didn’t go down the Moby path, with every track on the album appearing on
some crappy TV advert.
Interestingly, in the first release from Rice’s eagerly anticipated
follow-up, ‘9’, it is not him that we hear first. Long-time musical partner
Lisa Hannigan takes the spot light for the opening third of the piano driven
song showing that there is much more than ‘Damien Rice’ the musician. His
name has become the title for the act for a whole host of other musicians
that he is surrounded by. He doesn’t seem to be just a solo act anymore; the
people around him are putting just as much into the music as he is. It’s
rare to read anything in the music papers about Rice’s life outside of
music, but if this track is anything to go by; he doesn’t seem to be a
selfish guy at all. And that may hold the key to his longevity: appreciating
the talent he is surrounded by. An odd single ‘9 Crimes’ may be, but it is
certainly an endearing segue from his previous work into the anticipated new
album.
TM |
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Collaboration mungmouse, with Tom Russia on backing
vocals, but it’s all very clean for me. The beats are crisp and Noah’s words
are mostly hitting the right targets and buttons, but the B side “Don’t
Think” is a lot more Boss-like. Fortunately saving the day is the Fictional
Characters’ remix of the title track, which sounds like it’s been recorded
vocal-wise in a tin bath in an outside toilet, with a 29p Argos mic set to
5kHz, 8 bit sampling. Very good. (7/10)
Dave Procter |
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Seems like Biffy have made it big
time as they prepare to embark on a multi date headlining Kerrang! tour
around the UK. Thing is though, much as my instincts are preparing me to
dismiss this as more clenched fist waving teenage tripe, my ears are telling
me to love it. Crisp crunching guitar riffs with a killer chorus that is
impossible not to sing along to - there's little not to like here.
www.biffyclyro.com
SB |
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A curious combination pitting New York's Schizo Fun Addict's psychedelic
shoe gazer rock with The Boy from Space's more light hearted noodlings.
Firstly Schizo Fun Addict kick off with Jericho Sun Down, a mass of swirling
echoey guitars and reverb before the acoustic 'Mercy Calling' which has a
definite nod towards The Velvet Underground.
Then the fun really begins. 'The Farm' by The Boy From Outer Space has a
big plonkety bass line with brassy interludes, cheesey handclaps and bicycle
bells. Like a lounge lizard version of Psapp. They finish with a genius
track sampling a self improvement tape about customer service. 'Wouldn't You
Rather Be a Winner' pounds the message 'Why Be a Loser' as hard as the synth
and xylophone thrums along with bleepy key effects reminiscent of Bentley
Rhythm Ace. Cringingly good.
www.schizofunaddict.com
www.theboyfromouterspace.co.uk
SB |
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Another signing to the burgeoning DTTR label, Voltage Union release 'On
Your Marks' on 15th January. Pretty standard yelpy agit rock thankfully
gives way to some quirkier, poppier sounds with the introduction of vintage
synths and B-movie sound effects. An agreeable if not ground breakingly new
clattery row.
www.voltageunion.com
SB |
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'One of Two' is a glorious mix of scratchy earthy guitars moulded and
soothed by Katie's pure vocal skills. 'Young of Lungs' is more of the same
plus pounding drums too - things couldn't get much better.
www.myspace.com/skylarkinskylarkin
SB |
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Crackling valvey sounding guitars and a driving blues inspired bass line
form the backdrop to this otherwise simple track. It's pacey and fun but in
these times of disposable music with downloads, MySpace and YouTube it is
hardly likely to get more than a couple of repeat listens before being wiped
off the iPod.
Watch video to 'Love
You'
www.littlebarrie.com
SB |
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Metal band, queue gothic script logo. Why why why? Typographical crimes
aside, My Minds Weapon tune down the guitars, crank up the kick pedals on
the bass drum and knock out some demonic riffing. 'A Sense of Wonder' is
epic, if a little formulaic. 'At Least Your Not Dead' is more jagged and
staccato in between screamo choruses. This won't be to everyone's tastes but
it is sound ear-bothering, brain pounding stuff.
www.myspace.com/mymindsweapon
SB |
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It is a poorly kept secret that Iron Maiden could probably record
themselves singing in the shower and they would still sell thousands of
records to their legions of followers. Their press releases read like
business plans and live date tour of arenas screams paydirt. So good news
then that 'Different World' is a rattling good track with a superb riff. It
also comes with a lavish Geiger/The Matrix/Minority Report inspired video -
don't watch it just before bedtime.
Watch video to 'Different
World'
www.ironmaiden.com
SB |
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An on-off existence over the last 16 years or so has eventually been
galvanised into a new flurry of energy and activity from arch shoe gazers
Secret Shine and 'Beyond Sea and Sky' marks a resounding return to form.
Immense swirling soundscapes that reek of the nostalgia of Slowdive but
bristle with the undoubted influence of contemporaries Sigur Ros and Mogwai
provide the orchestral backdrop to the mesmerising ethereal boy-girl vocal
harmonies. Irrepressibly gorgeous.
www.secretshine.co.uk
SB |
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The bastard offspring of Ben Braund and James Reynolds (nee Braund
Reynolds with their track 'Rocket'), Captain Flashback give the Osmonds'
track a brassed-up high energy makeover no doubt designed to pack the dance
floors in an ever so slightly ironic yet understatedly cool way. It's fun
and it's harmless enough, much like popping bubble wrap.
www.www.myspace.com/captainflashback
SB |
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I feel sorry for Karim, not least because anyone who has been round to
tasty towers recently and seen his lavishly produced CD/DVD promo has
laughed at the cheesey pack shots accompanying it. More than that, Karim is
clearly a musician with some talent but this EP stirs up less emotion in me
than mowing the lawn. I'm off to hold my hand over the gas hob to make sure
I am still alive...
www.karimfanous.com
SB |
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An interesting Swiss-Australian collaboration here which could be likened
a bit to Pink Floyd. Drums rhythms are kept simple and raw while an
endearingly amateurish synth sound plonks away in accompaniment and has the
unexpected effect of creating a trance like musical state. The bleak
production definitely increases the dream like quality and the vocal
delivery could be by Jim Morrison himself (well, if he wasn't dead
obviously). Occasionally the stupour is interrupted by a frantic moment or
noisy interlude but overall I'm left with the feeling of being robbed by a
mugger attacking me with a feather pillow. Good stuff.
SB |
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Vocalist Elida carries this rawk revival track
with her Tina Turneresque voice but at the end of the day it is so
derivative that maybe she should devote her talents elsewhere. Predictable
3-chord rock, ripped-off-from-the-Stones 'woo woos' and a clunking
mechanical guitar riff do little to disguise this fact.
www.dirtyfuzz.co.uk
SB |
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On an initial listening, The Hit and
Runs 3-track demo seems pretty damn listenable, with comparisons to The
Fratellis, Arctic Monkeys and others being made quite easily. However after
repeated hearings of these songs, the mood slips into unfortunate
mediocrity.
The opener “Night Cap” is easily the
strongest song on the demo, with a few catchy melodies and Joe's distinctly
Yorkshire vocals standing proud. The production is consistently brilliant,
but I have to say some of the music itself is slightly predictable, and does
leave a little to be desired.
The next track "Page Ripped Out"
starts off with a bouncy, energetic guitar riff, but the highlight of the
song has to be the bridge section, building up from the bottom with the bass
guitar and leading into the final chorus.
So the best is yet to come? You can
bet your bottom dollar. "Low Tops and Make-up" gives an interesting
perspective on a failed relationship, and does it bloody well. The chorus
here is easily the best out of all 3 songs, and I'm sure is a shout-a-thon
at live shows.
All in all, a well-produced cd from
a band that has more potential than they are perhaps giving off. Although
disappointingly average in places, I'm sure we'll be hearing more from these
guys in the future.
Joe D |
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Craig Brown builds on his already impressive portfolio of earlier
releases as Satellite Dub with this trippy two track download single. Less
of the throbbing bass and pulsating beats than on previous records, 'London
Has More Lights' is a twinkling, swirling electro with just a touch of
melancholic undertone. B-side 'Strangelets' follows up this vibe with a
wobbly synth sound and more down-tempo rhythms. If 'Trying to Stop a Tank
With Your Hands' got you in a lather, then this release is the perfect
antidote to calm you back down again.
www.satellitedub.com
SB |
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A rattly rusty string guitar sound and disaffected distressed vocals
instantly bring to mind the likes of Call Me Loretta as a comparison. 'A
Night Out in Bedford' sounds almost as scary as the actual experience of a
night out in Bedford probably would be. The same method of off-tone vocals
and scratchy guitars is used again in 'Sink the Bottle Down' though there
are some slightly unexpected chord changes which keep things fresh. There's
a quiet-loud-quiet vibe to 'Destruction' but the wailing and rusty strings
are beginning to wear a little thin by this point. 'Mr Nobby' and 'White
Noise' offer more of the same at a point when the Ep should be crying out
for something a little different. A good start but room for improvement.
SB |
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The fact that I heard this song being sung on The Heaven & Earth Show
this morning (while channel hopping I might add, I have not suddenly become
enthused with god's majesty in 2007) speaks volumes. Pallot can write a good
tune, she has a good voice and is after that slice of the music market
occupied by twenty or so other equally talented and able female
singer-songwriters. 'Learning to Breathe' is one of those frustrating songs
where everything is just-so but nothing is outstanding. Excellent music to
play in the background at Tescos.
www.nerinapallot.com
Watch the video to 'Learning
to Breathe'
SB |
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There's something about this quirky electro knees up that screams
gimmick. It's not the fact that Tenderhooks employ a cartoon character to
add identity to the band. It's not the fact that one of the Saatchi brothers
is involved in the production. It's more to do with the cheesey synth slap
bass, the throw away Rocky Horror interludes and the meaningless lyrics.
Apparently it took 6 years years for the band's creator Markus Leinweber to
get going. That's about right - if this had been released 6 years ago it may
have sounded a bit fresher and more interesting but I'm afraid the Gorillaz
got there first.
www.tenderhooks.info
SB |
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popup are rapidly gaining a reputation as a band who cannot record a bad
song. Whereas 'Lucy, What You Trying to Say?' was a quirky pop gem, 'Chinese
Burn' is it's bigger, badder older brother and will not let you listen
without first stealing your dinner money. Unremittingly pacey with a
relentless rising guitar skit that screams fun, this track will pummel you
into popup worship. There's even room for a slowy, a kind of post Gregorian
chant tune on the B-side to let you get your breath back. Nice touch.
www.myspace.com/popuptheband
SB |
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Pseudo Rolling Stones copycat nonsense. There's no room for this in my CD
collection, nah nah na na na nah...
www.thepoppers.net
SB |
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An intriguing East 17 meets Chumbawamba meets Carter the Unstoppable Sex
machine featuring samples from Ray 'You think aahhm a mug' Winstone. It's an
unlikely combo but it's got a certain something about it. There's more
weirdness when the piano led ballad of 'I Got in a Fight' turns into a song
which sounds like it may have been spawned in Frankfurt Euro happy hardcore
party. Generally there's a theme of examining modern life, drinking and
girls - not ground breaking but Original cast deserve some credit for doing
it in their own distinct way.
www.originalcast.co.uk
SB |
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Topical stuff from Essex 3-piece who not only named this EP after the
legendary chav king darts player Bobby George, but also got him to appear on
the album artwork too. And all the same week as the World Darts
Championships on telly! But for all the appealing in the press release about
Koopa not sounding like a standard teenage angsty formulaic emo-punk outfit,
I'm afraid to me that' exactly what they do sound like. Blink 183 etc etc,
though to their credit - Koopa actually do it a lot better than most of
their contemporaries. Just not my bag.
www.koopatheband.com
SB |
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I'm always wary of bands that make grandiose claims about treading new
ground as more often than not they turn out to be a something-by-numbers
group with over-inflated egos or just plain rubbish. So it was with a
certain degree of trepidation I settled down to listen to BlowUpBlow.
Less than 30 seconds into "Supertonight" and feet already tapping along with
a bassline that tugs at the memory and occasionally off-beat and dischordant
guitars that seem to fight against each other for your attention while
blending perfectly. The breathy hush of the vocal helps draw you into the
song as the guitars ebb and flow. All in all, a pleasant surprise, and a
catchy one at that!
While the title track reminds me of the Rapture more than anyone else I've
heard of late, the extra two bonus tracks (get anywhere and lost all control
- check out www.myspace.com/blowupblow if you're curious) are intruiging and
show a leaning more towards old-school krautrock and prog than anything
else, like that stuff your dad used to torture you with as a kid but now
seems pretty cool as you yourself edge closer towards pipe and slippers age.
There's a remix of "supertonight" as well which I'm not really a fan of as I
think it loses some of the hooks that make the original version so appealing
I have no doubt that this single will inspire people to shake their thang,
but at 8 1/2 minutes long it'll probably need an edited version to get some
decent airplay.
Jam |
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I remember being somewhat disparaging about Page 44 last time I reviewed
them. I have to admit that this effort is an improvement in quality if not
in originality. Crank up the scream-teen angst emo and guitars and let them
rip. A couple of nice vocal harmonies but otherwise nothing to write home
about. It's not trying to be trendy to suggest it is time to move on - this
style has just been done to death already. Sounds like a demo of a Danish
band called Saybia I received about 10 years ago. Saybia went on to win an
MTV award, and even that was 5 years ago.
www.page44.net
SB |
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A massive improvement on their last single, 'Heat seeker' is a reet
catchy tune, sounding a bit like a bunch of chain smoking teenagers doing
Hole covers. This sounds far more rounded and mature than 'I Need You' and
they achieve a squalid grunginess without resorting to the gravelly vocals
which blemished the last single. They look bloody cold on that roof in the
video though.
Watch the video to 'Heatseeker'
here
www.thehedrons.com
SB |
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It's common knowledge that I am a bit of an Orbital fan so little
surprise that this single touched by the genius of Paul Hartnoll is a winner
with me. It takes quite a deft touch to collaborate with seminal 80's
art-punk band act The Cravats and Hartnoll pulls it off with panache.
www.thecravats.com
SB |
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I eagerly took this CD as I thought I’d heard good
things about this band and thought I’d heard stuff by this band. The title
track is pleasant enough in a sort of faux surf guitar sort of way, and
wastes a couple of minutes of a tedious post Xmas afternoon. Seven Inch
Record is equally nice, but I find myself actually wondering why they
bothered? Contractual obligations I suppose (4/10)
Watch video to 'Johnny
Two bands'
Dave Procter |
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Miami-based songsmith EB11 has put together a crunching rock EP here
which transcends the common place OC sound track genre by actually sounding
like he means what he sings about and then layering tons of dirty guitars
over the top. Vaguely reminiscent of London's Flight 14. I;m not sure it
would keep my attention for a full length release but as a quick rock out it
sounds great.
www.myspace.com/eb11music
SB |
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Don't get me wrong - I hate all this hype about
terrorist threats, ever more vigilant security checks, exploding milk
bottles on planes etc. Hell, you can even get an email sent to by the
government to tell you exactly how scared you should be of a terrorist
threat at the moment. Really. But Soular have gone one step further and
recorded a track to accompany a petition since their guitarist was refused
entry to the UK on suspicion of trying to find work here. (Well hey, he had
forgotten his ticket after all). Sounds like sour grapes to me but 'Faking a
Gun' is a powerful yet Sergeant Pepper-poppy track that will surely get
Foreign Secretary Margaret BEckett look into the system used by immigration
officials to vet incoming musicians...yeah, right.
www.sparklepromotions.com/petition to sign their petition
SB |
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Jerky agit rock with clever
stop-start chorus. Vocals sound like they have been nicked from The Killers
last album. If you have only ever bought five CDs in your life you will love
this, otherwise you have probably heard it all before. Actually that chorus
gets really annoying by the end too...'running through the streets, running
through the streets'...grr!
www.sparklepromotions.com/madstaringeyes
SB |
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For once I agree with the NME - this does sound like a
latter day version of Goldfrapp - before they started writing really boring
songs that thousands of fans at festivals could just stomp along too. 'I
love the Dancefloor' still has that disco vibe that makes it a million times
more danceable than Goldfrapp's 'Ooh La La' and 'Never Find Love in a
Nightclub' is even better again.
www.myspace.com/kovakuk
SB |
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Sweet
Jesus - this is just so wrong. Tyler's laryngitic vocals (increasing hoarse
over the passing years) set to some kind of happy house disco tune. With
fuzzy guitars and solo. It should be babypinkstar vs. Bonnie Tyler, in a
celebrity death match, or at least with the loser destined to launder Pete
Waterman's jock strap for the rest of eternity while pondering the error of
their ways...
www.babypinkstar.com
SB |
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I like the idea of rescuing
huskies - they have a hard enough life as it is. I also like the idea of
Husky Rescue, an up tempo mix of folk and electronica. 'Nightless Night' is
driven on a bouncing 'bom-ba' bassline with little inklings of slide guitar
and cutesy vocals. Very pleasant.
Watch the video to 'Nightless
Night' SB |
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Not being able to break into the tightly wrapped
plastic sheath on this CD was not a very good start and blooming annoying.
Once in however I discovered Alistair Merrick, a singer Songwriter, not in
the stereotypical James Blunt kind of way but in the good old fashion
talented singer songwriter way. His brand of song craft incorporates laptop
ready beats and grooves with his boyish vocal charms and acoustic guitar,
perhaps in a style similar to Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. Alistair tries, and
fails, to some extent, to make the music his own with the very generic
laptop loops which sound boring plain and a bit cheap. ‘Time is Everything’
however is a stand out track on this EP after the first two tracks didn’t
really grab my attention. The track shows Alistair as more of a musician,
without the false computer beats acting as a very un-necessary add on after
thought. This and the next track shows much more promise but his music seems
limited to the cold pages of myspace. My advice is to get out there on the
road, not just in Scotland but throughout Britain playing his songs live,
maybe even scraping the laptop and keeping it simple, joining all the other
millions of singer songwriters this Country seems to have hidden up its
sleeves. On second thoughts maybe the laptop would prove useful.
Gareth Ludkin
http://www.freewebs.com/funkyasfudge |
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Pretty uninspiring acoustic guitar based stuff here with vocals that
sound slightly too strained. The exception is the second track 'Blind Man
Takes The Gun' which has a cool choppy rhythm but the earnest lyrics even
take the edge of this a bit.
www.sparklepromotions.com/thehaiku
SB |
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Karno’s army sounds like really polite indie pop and
doesn’t do it very well. All round the EP is a bit lame, a bit tired a bit
like anything else you’ve heard before. There’s nothing to inspire, nothing
different or imaginative. Karno’s army just doesn’t cut the mustard in my
book and despite the positive spin of the press release I was left wondering
where the hell they came up with such a crap name, so I whacked on the
Beatles on instead to cheer me up.
Gareth Ludkin
http://www.freewebs.com/funkyasfudge |
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Apparently 30 Seconds to Mars are fronted by the actor Jared Leto who
appeared in Fight Club. He does a good job of screaming the vocals over the
top of the guitars and synth sounds which I guess firmly entrenches 'Attack'
in the screamo category. It's OK but I think it will rely heavily on its
celebrity endorsement.
www.thirtysecondstomars.com
Watch video to 'Attack'
SB |
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Blimey - opening track 'Carry Around' sounds like an explosion in
Radioshack. Similar to Wakefield's musical genius Napoleon IIIrd, there
seems to be a lot of analogue clatters and bangs knocking around but all
held together with some nice guitars and vocals. 'Ida, My' is a perfect
example of this, starting as a simple yet beautiful acoustic guitar number
before mutating with a collection of increasingly warped synths and bleeps.
An impressive debut.
SB |
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In the past I've managed to give Whirlwind Heat a bit of a slagging off.
I've also managed to slag off Test Icicles on a regular basis. Quite a
surprise then to find that I really quite like this collaboration between
Whirlwind Heat and ex-Test Icicle Devonte Hynes. It seems that each has
managed to cancel out the excesses of the other - the crunchy 'In Utero' era
Nirvana style guitars are carefully offset by the languid vocals on 'How do
you Do?'. In comparison the guitars and samples in 'My Dreams' float by
wispishly well.
http://www.whirlwindheat.com
SB |
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Impressive tech-rock from Brighton based Thoughts Collide. 'I'll Buy You
A Megaphone' moves through a number of different atmospheres almost like
orchestral movements including a fine fret tapping guitar section before
winding up at the 5 minute mark.
'Sea of a Thousand Lights' is a heavier number but it still has it's
really well constructed quieter moments with clear, ringing guitars which
are just setting themselves up to be destroyed by the return of the drums.
Spilling over with ideas so keep an eye out for this lot.
www.thoughtscollide.com
SB |
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Seems from reading previous reviews of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's past
offerings that he can do little wrong. Despite not having heard much of the
past stuff, I can confirm that this is not about to buck the trend.
Beautiful boy-girl harmonies, gentle finger picked guitar and all over the
top of some popping, wheezing drum pattern - quite magnificent.
SB |
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Rather surprisingly, Rob McCulloch
isn’t Scottish. And one listen to Six of One will confirm that without a
shadow of a doubt. Rob hails from Bolton, and he’s got the accent to prove
it. Six of One is a brilliant single, and with any luck should soon be
gracing Radio One playlists. It’s a song about getting in fights on street
corners because you look a little different to someone else- in Rob’s case a
pink jumper. With a brilliantly catchy chorus Six of One is way ahead of its
contemporaries. Once Rob dodges the inevitable Artic Monkeys and Jamie T
comparisons it’ll be his for the taking.
www.robmulloch.com
Catriona Boyle
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Too Late, Too Late swings like a
hammock on a breezy summer’s day. The rough around the edges vocal add to
the mellow feel of the track- no-one’s trying too hard, which matches the
lyrics perfectly- “let’s have a beer, another beer, that is a fine idea my
man”. Unsurprisingly the remix won’t turn Too Late, Too Late into a dance
floor filler, but who would want it to be.
www.myspace.com/mrhudson
Catriona Boyle
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Come Home, is, quite frankly,
lovely. Whether or not an ex- Northern bare-knuckle boxer wishes to be
described as lovely is another matter. Its lilting acoustic guitar and
simple but poignant lyrics could warm the coldest of hearts. And if not,
he’ll punch you.
Catriona Boyle |
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Falling neatly into the melodic post-emo-something-core
genre, Joy Surrender sound a damn sight better on first listen than most
bands of a similar style that I've heard of late. Despite being the band's
first proper demo, the songs are surprisingly well structured, expertly
performed and jam packed full of riffage. What's more, they really grow on
you after a few listens and leave you wanting more. The sound seems to
settle on a ready mix of Silent Drive, Thrice and Armor For Sleep and I can
imagine it translating really well live.
The only real criticism I'd have is that it feels like it needs to be
meatier, the guitars feel like they should have a wee bit more punch to
them, but this is understandable as its only a demo quality recording and I
certainly recommend keeping tabs on these guys in the future! These are
tunes brimming with early promise; Joy Surrender sound like underground
heroes in the making, lets hope they can realise this potential!
www.myspace.com/joysurrenderuk
Jam |
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Yeah, yeah, yeah, so The Hermit Crabs might sound
pretty much similar to Camera Obscura. But, so what? There aren’t many
better bands to sound like, after all.
‘Feel Good Factor’ is a lovely little ditty, seemingly
dedicated to the good people of Sauchiehall Street in that there Glasgow.
It’s almost a polka, or a waltz, or something. It’s a bit continental in
parts, anyway.
And it’s a thousand times better than anything Belle
and Sebastian have done in the last four or five years.
Sam Metcalf |
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Well, this is something a
little different. Pleasant and imaginative limited edition screen-printed
artwork. Looks rather fetching ... if only the music lived up to the promise
the beautiful packaging brings.
The first track "Early Riser" sounds much like the band are still asleep, it
plods along slowly with monotoned vocals, never gathering any pace or even
shifting key once throughout the whole six and a half minutes. The whistling
parts are nice, with a kind of wistful feel about them, but really that's
it.
"Something Around A..." is a little bit more purposeful; more umph to the
guitar and a quick electronica beat help set the pace. Sadly what semblance
of decent song there might be in here is destroyed by a massive overuse of
delay effects on the vocal. Some people might love this I guess, but to me
its just distracting.
Don't get me wrong here, i don't mind experimental stuff but to me there's
just nothing to draw you in, neither song lifts at any point but rather the
band seem content to just meander along for a bit longer than absolutely
necessary. If you're excited by the the prospect of listening to the output
of a performing arts group then this is probably your kind of thing, but if
you like things such as hooks and choruses then I wouldn't recommend it.
Jam |
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Another understated classic from Keris Howard and co.
I’m so annoyed that the recent Harper Lee compilation was stolen from me,
and I apologise for the belated review of this.
Anyway, ‘He Holds a Flame’ sees Harper Lee at their
most upbeat and lucid, and
‘I Could be Wrong’ is almost happy. God forbid! We’re
back to form with ‘William Blake’, which exudes the quintessential
Englishness that I’ve come to know and love from Harper Lee.
Quite how a band can maintain such a high level of
output is beyond me, but the ‘Lee do it effortlessly.
Sam Metcalf |
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Part of the set of bands that seem to think that
sounding like AC/DC is the way forward, The Answer hurt my pop sensibilities
with their long hair and tight trousers. Indeed, it’s two minutes in and I’m
not following them. Time for ejaculation.
Sam Metcalf |
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Sartain continues on his mission to fuse Latino with
rock ‘n’roll, and he just about manages it with ‘Flight of the Finch’. Where
this could’ve sounded like a piano falling down the stairs, it actually ends
up something of a triumph.
Coming to an annoying advert near you, very soon.
Sam Metcalf |
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Well, this makes for a refreshing change. Rattling
guitars in a barrel rolling down a hill, or something, open up this perky
single. Like a much more intelligent and well-rounded Killers, ‘The Great
Awakening’ reminds me more of early New Order and is sparkly and bright and
makes me want it to be Spring next week. Good times ahead.
Sam Metcalf |
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Veterans of the Sheffield circuit, Balor Knights
finally have something out we can listen to. And it’s not half bad. It’s a
big sound, for sure, and reminds me a little of the Edsel Auctioneer’s
earlier poppy stuff. There’s a nice, garage-y feel to this which makes me
think they’d be ace live (and why have I never seen them?).
B-side ‘’ is altogether more punky and suffers a little
from crap production, but is thrilling enough to pass for me. Hugely
enjoyable.
Sam Metcalf |
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Call me a square, but 'Let's Do Naked Dancing' is just so damn quirky
that it gets on my nerves. Jerky, yelpy, strings, trebly guitars - this is
the sonic equivalent of attention deficit disorder. So welcome then, second
track 'I Don't know How it Begins' soothes my ears with a simple beat on
just a couple of drums and a lovely descending guitar line which is
accompanied by the soothing vocals and a string arrangement which eventually
builds into a tumultuous finale with horns. The remaining tracks,
'Spotlight' and 'Mussolini's Son' sit somewhere in between their preceding
contemporaries, neither too jerky nor lo-fi. A bit of everything worth
having a listen to.
www.myspace.com/honeytraponmyspace
SB |
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A bit of a disappointment after some of their previous stuff, 'Muzzle No.
1' sounds like someone desperately trying to inject some electro interest
into an otherwise pretty cumbersome three chord indie song. On the other
hand you do at least get four re-workings of the same song so if you do like
it you'll get a real treat. Of course if you didn't like it...
www.thewhip.net
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Manchester's The Maple State are difficult to describe but manage to
straddle the middle ground between light hearted indie pop and a more brazen
stadium indie of folk such as Bloc Party and The Kasiers. 'Joanna' is a
perfect example with a lovely keyboard part pleasantly bubbling along as an
undercurrent to the vocal chorus of 'pah pah pah pahs'.
'Wood and Rain' has more than a nod towards the past with an Alarm
inspired drum thump going on. Gentle yet catchy.
www.myspace.com/themaplestate
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Call me cynical but could the reason that the high quality DVD of the hot
pant wearing, tight t-shirt clad, rather lithe HUBB front woman Lynsey
Barrow is included in this package be that her visual pleasures are the only
real selling point for this band? This sounds like a Liberty X song recorded
by a rawk band because, you know, that's what the kids are listening to at
the moment. Then the whole of the rock element is completely mixed out in
the production. Baffling. Not bad, but baffling.
www.hubbuk.co.uk
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'Rootless Tree' is one of those tracks which you may think you have heard
a thousand times before but still sounds great. Rice really gives his all in
the harrowing choruses despite the fact that the rude words have all being
dubbed out - well how else is he going to get his talented mits on all those
awards he keeps getting nominated for?
www.damienrice.com
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In comparison with Damien Rice, 'It'll Be Soon' just seems completely
toothless. Halfway through and it still sounds like an intro. And 'Eastern
Girls' sounds like a Kat Bush song covered by a mature Aled Jones until some
studio guitars and drums kick in, though sadly still in an uninspiring way.
At least Tedder still has his acting to go back to.
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Cherryade's trail of corruption and bribery in the form of slipping in a
few sweeties with each release continues. As does their habit of releasing
stuff that many labels would class as commercial suicide but which in fact
is doing DIY music massive favours. 'My Little Hula ( WWW remix)' is a
tropical sounding ditty overlaid with heavy northern accents musing over
'www', 'dotcom', 'dotorg' and 'the internet'. It shouldn't work. It has no
right to work. But it is a joyously whimiscal track that cannot fail to
please.
'Animal Boum!' is a variation on the theme with farmyard animal samples
looped over a slow drum pattern with some antique horn sounds thrown in for
a bit of accompaniment. Final track 'Drum n Berceuse' is the nearest thing
to 'normal' a breakbeat drum n bass set over samples of old school BBC
announcements and parlour piano playing and is heading towards the direction
of Bentley Rhythm Ace. All good thanks.
www.listenwithsarah.org
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As if ex-pat Dj and producer Ronson had not
done enough to us by working with Robbie Williams, Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse
and Christina Aguilaera he decides to do a cover version of Britney Spears
'Toxic'. Fortunately it's a bit tongue in cheek with lots of gangster rap
and parpy horns but should still be approached with caution.
www.myspace.com/markronson
Watch the Mark Ronson
video diary
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So this is the single which
all the fuss was about, the first to get into the charts purely on the
volume of online sales alone? Fancy that. It's a pretty radio friendly
teen-rock number that is played and produced tightly, ticking all those
boxes which would make it a hit in say, the charts.
www.koopatheband.com
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And His Voice Became produce a kind of lo-fi intense
acoustic track in 'Lost' that sounds like it was recorded in a cardboard box
with rusty stringed toy guitars and a tin drum. And all the better for it -
dark, powerful and claustrophic.
Spare Snare by comparison instantly utilise a reverb on the vocals and a
ringing guitar sound which aims to be much more expansive but actually ends
up getting a little lost. However, still top marks for intensity and feeling
and both bands warrant a bit more future attention.
www.andhisvoicebecame.co.uk
www.wearethesnare.com
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Silicon Vultures sound
thoroughly unpleasant. And I mean that in the nicest possible way. Synth
punk pop is ten a penny at the moment but Silicon Vultures manage to yelp
just a little bit more, mangle the keyboards just a little harder and crash
up the drum beats just a little louder than most of their contemporaries and
this may well be their making.
www.siliconvultures.com
Download the MP3 as a .zip file
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A broody euro quality to this
electro-noir number by Austrian Martin 101 is neatly counterpoised by a
playful plucking riff. The vocals are a bit reminiscent of Depeche Mode and
the track oozes cool despite our martin looking like a bit of a pimp on his
sleeve art. Not to be confused with Pheobe's Smelly Cat. For added comedic
value there is a truly bizarre cover of Chip Taylor's classic 'Wild Thing'
featuring a pulsating electro beat and big phased vocals - definitely
original.
www.martin1010.com
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Ex indie boys Yes Boss
manage to carry this otherwise pretty bland track with their electric hip
hop delivery which is fast, precise and just a little bit silly. Imagine The
Streets having undergone therapy and up to their eyeballs on uppers. Well
no-one likes a misery guts do they?
www.myspace.com/yesboss1
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The Low Miffs are not
ones for creating a sound then sticking with it. Not even within the same
song. 'Also Sprach Shareholder' (what on earth does that mean?) twists and
snakes about between it's Berlin-era Bowie saxophone, it's huge crashing
cymbals and punkish vocals without giving you the chance to relax and enjoy.
Well I am too hasty, there is enjoyment - the same kind you get when
plummeting toward the ground at 100mph on a roller coaster.
www.thelowmiffs.com
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Uber cool Swedes Anders and Bjorn have
managed to harness the current trend for 80s sounding influences and
regurgitated them onto this CD which is more 80's than a lot of stuff
actually was back then. That's a poor sentence to describe a very good track
in 'Superfiction'. 'Frame of Mind' has got an early New order vibe about it
and is all the better for the guys sounding like they are not trying too
hard (Bernie Sumner anyone?).
www.tillmanns.se
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I should have known that my current good mood
would be brought to a juddering halt by yet another journeyman
singer-songwriter. Abel has a tender warm voice but when he starts warble
and the minor key that most of 'In Vain' is written in turns to a major key
it makes my toes curl. All the atmosphere that has been gathered seems to
escape in another piano driven chorus you will no doubt here in the aisles
of Tescos. If I'd hired him to play at a wedding I would be pleased. If I'd
paid to hear him I would be disappointed.
www.mark-anthonyabel.com
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The intro is something that Aphex Twin would be proud of, and really
grabs your attention. But once the chords come in the song just ticks over.
The idea doesn’t seem to develop as much as the intro would have us believe.
It also lacks the quirky hook that most electro efforts fall back on to
overcome this problem.
That’s not the case with ‘Dolls’. A bit more easy going, a sweet ambient
lead sound pings in after another hectic Aphex style intro. The complex
parts complement each other really well, and don’t detract from the chilled
out impression that the song pervades. The breaks really add another
dimension, the kind of development that ‘Castle Of Heroes’ sadly lacked.
The distorted echoing lyrics taken from a W.B. Yeats poem sound nice and
loud-mouthed. The only problem is they also sound like they’re being sung by
Borat. The drums seem to regularly skip a beat, a nice touch that some might
find fault with on first hearing.
Also included on this release is the full-length version of ‘Castle Of
Heroes’, which just seems to drag on, and a, ‘sans Borat’, instrumental
recording of ‘Dolls’, which is definitely worth a listen.
‘Castle Of Heroes’ is released 19th February on 12” and download only.
www.myspace.com/southcentralmusic
Nick Wood |
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