the black neon - arts and crafts
well this one came out of nowhere. one fairly jokey cover version 12" a few years ago by the alter-ego that is the black neon, and now a full length album, which despite the lack of warning, is totally wonderful. despite the press release being cagey and secretive about the identity of just who makes up the the black neon, it doesn't take too much detective work to figure it all out. like the tv man says, 'the clues are all there'. well, in reality, the word was on the last fort lauderdale album, yes, the black neon is a spin off from that most excellent of alt.pop supremos. basically, steve webster, of fort lauderdale, has decided to go it alone, and get into the noises made by machines as well as the expected multilayered instrumentation as the opening track, 'ode to immer weider' is all minimal kraftwerk styled beauty.
in fact, where the pretty monster album by fort lauderdale referenced david bowies hunky dory in sonic style, you could almost say that this album is steves berlin period, with it's nods towards glam via keyboard based music but not leaving out his love of guitars. don't fret however. if you think that this is an exercise in boring techno music for people who never smile, fear not. because steve cant help but throw in some manic production excess over his twisted pop songs, and so far in 2006, i haven't heard anything quite as fantastic as the fuzzed up, vocally distorted, glamtastic epic that is 'the truth', which is how marc bolan would want his legacy to sound like if he were still wearing glitter. nor have i heard such a glorious hand clapping wah-wah'd monster that's as addictive as the 3 minutes of 'tx81z'. alongside these fully fleshed out songs, there are instrumental extras, hence the low/heros connection, but as these are interspersed throughout the album and are not excessive in length (no 20 minute tangerine dream droneathon here) there is point in which the phrase over indulgent prog crap can be exclaimed, and when such glorious songs as the flaming lips styled pop excess of 'shoot me into space' kicks your stereo around, then you cannot help but be impressed, despite the appearance of the scourge of the 80's, the synth slap bass sample. level 42 revival anyone? no fucking thankyou. (in actual fact, it's more like a bass line that shriekback would have ripped into - but hey)
SO WHILE THE WORLD SWOONS OVER MEMPHIS INDUSTRIES STARS OF 2006, THE PIPETTES, I WOULD Actually RECOMMEND YOU search out this hugely entertaining album, as this is easily my favourite electronically enhanced glam album of the year.
fact.