ALBUMs
- Album Reviews
Quiet acoustic break-up records always brings the best out in artists it seems. Happily Josh seems to have found a new love by the end of the record but either way; this is a collection of fine songs.
I do wonder sometimes whether these types off records can be a bit one sided, i.e., if the person on the other side of the relationship could tell his or her side of the story, would that make an even more interesting record? Still I not sure anyone could surpass ‘Rumours’ on that score.
In my own mind Josh Ritter’s career runs in parallel with that of Josh Rouse, this time around the former on his sixth album and the latter just releasing his ninth. Both records are returns to form; I guess you could even throw Ron Sexsmith into the mix. All these guys are fabulous singer / songwriters and are all finding their muse again lately.
As I said at the start, there are quality songs on ‘The Beast In Its Tracks’. Different vocal styles even, a Dylanesque vocal at times. Josh has laid his life out for all to see on this record, so enjoy, perhaps next time, we can suggest some imaginary tales of
9/11
Pete
1. Third Arm
2. Evil Eye
4. Hopeful
5. Nightmares
6. New Lover
7. Heart's Ease
9. The Appleblossom Rag
10. Bonfire
12. Joy to You Baby
13. Lights
- Album Reviews
This is as big a change in the sound of any band as if The Ramones had made an album of English folk songs.
- Album Reviews
- Album Reviews
This is the final posthumous release from Klaus Dinger. If you're not familiar with the name, he was an early member of Kraftwerk, and then went on to found Neu! with Michael Rother. Later he presided over various incarnations of the group La Düsseldorf before spending the years from 2000 until his untimely death in 2008, working with a group of Japanese musicians and artists who lived in Dusseldorf. The record was finished off by Miki Yui, who, as well as being in the band, was also Dinger's partner, and will be released on March 25th by Gronland Records.
In some ways this album follows the classic template for a Krautrock record. There are the obligatory long, repetitive songs ('ChaCha 2008' and 'Sketch No4'), interspersed with short, atmospheric tracks and sound effects. There are a couple of surprisingly gentle, straightforward songs ('Spacemelo' and 'Osenbe'), and the full-on rocker 'Karnival' which wouldn't have been out of place on Neu! '75.
There's no denying that some of the tracks on here still feel a bit unfinished - a couple of them have 'Sketch' in their title, and some of the instrumentals such as 'Kittleback Symphony' feel as if they need another couple of layers of melody and vocals. But in a way that almost feel right, the sense that something is missing is almost tangible and accurately reflects the fact that Dinger is no longer with us. And while it's sad that he's gone, it's great to think that he was still making creative music such as this until he passed.
8/11
@TheDJCull
- Album Reviews
So many column inches or centimetres have already been written or spoken about the phenomenon that was the release of David Bowie's first album of new material in many a long year earlier this month. There is most probably not a lot left to say other than to express what the record means to me personally.
- Album Reviews
When was the last time you sat down and just listened to a record whilst doing nothing else? Well if you fancy trying that out, then, this is the album for you. Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards - Blindspot, is a slow burning gem that really does deserve your undivided attention.
Dan’s baritone voice is his trademark and the record's centerpiece. An octave or two higher this time around (?), he remains thankfully the owner of one on the deepest voices in modern music.
The album seems a close to 2011’s Sudden Fiction, which Dan described in our interview at the time as “a reaction to the landscape and atmosphere of
Electric guitar paired with acoustic strings, piano and background horns give the album a purposeful, yet fragile perspective. Perhaps, we can claim, a ‘British’ Amercana sound?
Beautiful songs sung from the heart of a relationship. Dan deserves far more recognition than he gets. He now has a real canon of songs from Absentee, solo and Coastguards albums with another eight here, to add to that total.
Pete
9/11
Blindspot is released on 25th March on the State51 Conspiracy label
- Album Reviews
This album, the ninth in Lisa’s recorded career is released on
Each song though is about Lisa’s husky, ‘dusk like’ ethereal vocals that sweep over you as you play the record. The LP at times sounds so intensely fragile, that if it were fine glass, it could shatter any moment.
It’s not an album that may immediately strike a cord but, having had this record as a companion over the weekend and sitting down each time to listen to it, rather than doing odd jobs with the music on in the background, its true haunted beauty came to light after a few plays.
No Elephants seems to have two main themes, animal cruelty and a technology obsessed world. Raw piano ballads with random sound that keep the listener engaged and vocals that keep you addicted. Still suited to 4AD or even Warp, those labels lost, is Badman’s Records gain.
Pete
9/11
1. Ruminants
2. No Elephants
3. Apathy and the Devil
4. Back to Earth
5. Haunted
7. Up in the Air
8. Dance of the Bees
9. Diamonds
10. ?And So On
11. Last Straws for
12. Strange Bird
No Elephants is released on 25th March 2013 in the UK & is currently avaiable via emusic.
- Album Reviews
Frightened Rabbit, in the headlights? No chance, this is a band in their maturing prime. A five-piece hailing from Selkirk, and based in Glasgow, Frightened Rabbit are on the rise. If the songs on the last album, 2010’s ‘The Winter Of Mixed Drinks’, was enough to fill a concert hall then, the songs on Pedestrian Verse could fill arenas.
Songwriter and frontman Scott Hutchison may not have stretched the sound in any different direction from the last album but, really that is of little consequence when, the music is so powerfully delivered. Anthems and ballads rest easily side by side.
Frightened Rabbit is comprised of the aforementioned Scott Hutchinson on vocals, Grant Hutchison (brother) on drums, Billy Kennedy and Andy Monaghan on guitars and bass and Gordon Skene on guitars and keyboard.
Fifteen songs on the deluxe version, twelve on the standard CD, It is definitely worth the extra couple of quid for the extra songs
Admiral Fallow and Broken Records I am sure have been influenced by Frightened Rabbit, now on major label Atlantic Records, for this album and celebrating ten years of existence. They sit easily alongside peers, Mumford & Sons, Stornaway and British Sea Power.
Whether they will ever feel as happy as Elbow, who knows but perhaps, a Mercury Award would help those arena filling ambitions.
A UK Tour (dates below) starts this week.
Pete
10/11
- Album Reviews
Until recently the title of this box set was something that I was very likely to have uttered. But since I have started to explore the Krautrock genre I've become aware of the influence and input that Conny Plank had, both into that period of music and afterwards. If, like me a few months ago, you're asking 'Who's That Man?' when reading the name Conny Plank, then this 4cd selection will go some way to answering your question.
Collecting together just a small portion of the tracks he was involved in, the first 2 cds give a real feel of his musical vision. Plank was always much more than just a producer - in the Krautrock days he often received full song writing credits along with the bands he was producing such as Cluster. At the same time he was creating new recording processes and even new pieces of equipment to enable his vision to be realised. Whilst the track listing may at first appear a little odd and arbitrary (The Eurythmics next to Michael Rother?) listened to as a whole it really works, showing innovators and disciples all flowing together in the same stream.
Although most of the tracks on these two discs are already widely available, there are four rare tracks to hold the interest of those who already own much of Plank's output. I don't imagine that everything on these two cds will be to everyone's tastes (the prog-jazz styling’s of Ibliss are a bit much for me, and Streetmark's version of 'Eleanor Rigby' is well worth avoiding) but certainly the majority of the tracks are worth a try.
- Album Reviews
Rachel Watkins, Xavier Watkins, Chris Rodgers, Daniel Carney and Mark Blay are Fuzzy Lights. Their third album released on 04 February is called ‘Rule of Twelfths’ and it is majestic.
This record is much more about the honey dripped vocals of Rachel Watkins than previous records. The opener ‘Summer’s Tide’ is a prime example of this, where she excels from the quiet introduction to soaring vocals over the band at full pelt. A quite stunning song.
‘Second Skin’ with delightful acoustic guitar, could just be, the gentlest song you will hear this year. The production of the record is lovely, all instruments are crystal clear; the low hum of the bass on ‘Hallsands’ from Dan Carney is very sweet indeed.
'Rule of Twelfths’ deserves the attention of your ears and you can obtain it from the band’s website or bandcamp page.
Pete
10/11
1.Summer's Tide 03:27
2.The Hour 03:39
3.Blind 04:00
4.Second Skin 05:22
5.Hallsands 02:10
6.Restless 04:48
7.Fever Dreams 03:48
8.Deep River 04:46
9.Coming Home 05:46
- Album Reviews
Biffy are on a very similar journey to Muse, in the sense that they have gone from cult following to arena rockers. Mind you, Muse did it three albums, and now on their sixth album 2nd Law, they are selling out 20,000 capacity venues in
This new double album, is typical Biffy, gritty in places with anthems in others. Nothing really changes with them, but that’s the good thing, at least you know what you’re getting. Opposites doesn’t pull any punches and I’m sure the hardcore fans out there were excited about the prospect of a double album, but two CDs is probably too much this time around for the average fan.
Nothing changes too dramatically between the two but having said that, nothing much has changed from their previous effort, Only Revolutions. For double your money however, it’s a good buy. Some stand out tracks such as The Thaw, Black Chandelier and Stingin’ Belle, will have arena roofs shaking for the rest of the year.
Gearing up for a full
Joe
7/11
@thejoeeley
Biffy Clyro will play:
20/03- Metro Radio Arena,
21/03- LG Arena,
22/03 Motorpoint Arena,
23/03 Motorpoint Arena,
25/03
26/03 BIC,
28/03 The O2,
29/03 Odyssey Arena,
31/03 AECC,
01/04 SECC, Glasgow
03/04 The O2,
- Album Reviews
No second album worries for Local Natives following their popular (amongst those in the know) debut, from 2009, Gorilla Manor.
Hummingbird is infectious from it’s ‘You & I’ West Coast Soul opener. You only have to get as far as the second track, ‘Heavy Feet’ for the rhythms to seep into your brain and that is just on the first listen. There is a ‘lot of music’ in these tunes and percussion plays a big part. The songs are joyous and reflective in equal measure.
Co-produced and engineered by Aaron Dessner of the National, this is music that is alive and on some songs with that signature ‘National’ beat. Aaron’s brother and band mate, Bryce, contributes horn arrangements to several songs, as well.
Bassist Andy Hamm left Local Natives in 2011 hence perhaps the helping hands this time around for the four piece of Taylor Rice - guitar, vocals, bass, Kelcey Ayer - vocals, keyboards, percussion, guitar, Ryan Hahn - guitar, keyboards, mandolin, vocals and Matt Frazier – drums.
This is an album of great sensitivity, quality musicianship and plenty of changes in pace to keep the listeners on their toes. Quite why this band are not filling larger venues remains a mystery, let hope it’s an upward rise from here on in.
Pete
10/11
1. You & I
2. Heavy Feet
3. Ceilings
4. Black Spot
5. Breakers
6. Three Months
7. Black Balloons
8. Wooly Mammoth
9.
10.
11. Bowery
Band Website HERE
