singles
late april - early may
ok, having been offline for a while i have quite a pile of stuff that should be given some space, unfortunately these records have either been released and are now sold out, or no longer on the release schedule. i have no bloody idea.
temposhark - joy
4th release from these electro obsessed bobbins. last time around with the sultry 'its better to have loved', they were getting all mellow and moody. this time around, it's full on dancefloor glitterball chic. if you have, like me, realised that stomping glam beats and shiny synths are a wonderfully addictive combination that the pop world has provided, then this ep is going to provide all manner of thrills, at least until the album turns up. the production by grid-bloke richard norris is exactly the type of pop sheen that i always wanted the band to get, and voila, my wish comes true. excellent stuff. the flip 'paris' features an extra voice in the mix by princess julia. lets place bets. i say she isn't a real princess. she is however, spot on for jittery stop-start beats and minimal electronic noise. her 'oooh-la-la's' are gloriously eccentric.
the package is rounded off with a solid remix by 'the most' - the backing is stripped down with nothing but the beat and a simple booming fat bass synthline. yet the track manages to maintain an air of mystery and distant glamour, as the man says, 'i'm a perfectionist'.
no kidding.
national forest - 1 a.m lights
second track lifted from the forthcoming album by daniel cowley, or national forest as he prefers to release music as. this time around (previous tracks have featured morning runners bloke for the words) featuring vocals by a jacob fletcher who is described as a 'troubadour' in the details provided. all of which makes the kraftwerk styled synths more human than they should. in fact, the whole vibe comes over like a weird electro-fied version of the better parts of the flaming lips. beautifully melodic, uplifting and quite special to say the least.
the instrumental minimalism of the flip doesn't have the same poptastic quota, but its rather nice and will please anyone who has been chuffed to find records on the lovely melodic label in recent years. when the simple and direct bass line does its stark 3 note riff you begin to realise that all this cheap technology that has allowed people to make music in their bedrooms is in fact a very beautiful thing. the album, 'one million', is out towards the end of may, but i suggest you track this down and get ready for your new soundtrack for any duvet days you have planned.
the lodger - let her go/we come from the same place.
3rd single from this fine leeds indie band, and on their 3rd label, angular recordings. don't people like em to get them to a second single? well, i have decided that i like them. especially as this is, by far, the best thing they have done. all sweet and innocent addictive perfect uptempo indie pop. when the chorus section, hits at 1 minute with the trumpet line you just want to jump around the living room like the first time you saw teardrop explodes perform 'reward' on top of the pops. the song has the same way with your emotions as that classic, which i have to say is praise indeed. flip the limited release (more limited gubbins !) for a more somber type of affair which delves into the same grooves as their previous c86 loving tracks.
lets just hope someone out there gives the band enough space and time to record an album.
killa kela - secrets
i had to be virtually manhandled by the relevant promotional folks behind this release to drop this into the player. and the reason for such avoidance? well, i have read much about killa kela's skills as a creator of drum beats etc via his gob. basically, he is the latest version of the human beatbox genre, a style of hip hop that did little for me back in the day. but upon some insistance i have given the track and its various remixes a spin. and by golly, they are right. this is good. the whole fact of the machinations of the music that's on offer is not easy to distinguish as a new variant of the whole bobby mcferrin nastiness. instead, the song (and it is a proper song!) is downright funky. the bizarre loops are fascinating, and the addition of the strings makes this a very radio friendly track. remixes by wiley, adam freeland, and old mo'wax hero kudo under the guise of the tokyo remix draw out and focus in on different aspects of the track. whiley goes for a more street level groove with some fast word spitting and minimal beats, adam freeland proves that all is still healthy within the world of breaks, as he adds a nice chemical bros type of electro throb for a massive 10 minutes, whereas kudo brings the mood back down to make the vibes all smooth-n-easy via some delicately placed sci-fi styled dub effects.good stuff
crazy girl - the rebel
i guess it's only natural, now that all the traditional guitar based indie labels are getting into releasing electro-fied remixes etc, that labels best known for their dance music get into rock, but hearing such a hard and heavy funked up rock track on tummy touch did put me in a spin for a moment or two. crazy girl rock out like it's 1974 via george clinton, all over again. the basic version of the track doesn't really get the blood going to be honest, the vocals are raw and come over as a descendant of grace jones which is good, but there is a certain oomph factor missing in the production. of course, however, this being tummy touch the remixes are aimed at the lovers of the groove and the limitations of the original are given a kicking. firstly, the cooler than fuck optimo crew strip the funk back to its basic elements, and crowbar in some lovely synth action. there is a superb 'niyi cant mix' mix that's totally wired, mia styled stop-start beats make for a crunk funk mash up, before the track goes all middle of the road with a sweet and lovely piano riff. finally, there is a basic 4/4 mix, 'kentucky fried remix - aspex' which does the required trance rock monster thing for 6 minutes. varied and interesting, and a little bit mad really.autokat - dish out/get off the bar
it was only a few days ago i was wondering if we were going to get more excellence from this lot on the akoustic anarkhy label, and voila, here is their second single. more driving beats, simple BUT EFFECTIVELY STYLISED motorik guitars, the layered repeated vocals begin to induce a kind of guitar trance groove. fine stuff indeed, that proves that there is more to this plundering of the new waVE ERA THAN JUST GANG OF FOUR. i will admit that the vocals may be a little too nondescript, but so long as the band keep their love for the groove then i will be definitely wanting more.
the playmates - smash hits/jackie wright
formed out of the ashes of les flames, this lot managed to dominate a recent wrath super sevens club appearance with their ramones styled 3 minute pop classic, 'damn good'. now they have got their debut single proper sorted, its good to hear that the track wasn't a one off. with 'smash hits' being a lot chunkier and grown up it still comes over like some pogoing crazy snotty teenage slob. and i love it. of course, though, a band cannot keep a good thing down, and they just cant help themselves, opening bars of 'jackie wright' reveals the legend that is '2,3,4!' chant, prior to the guitars going chugga chugga, and hands going clappy clap clap. perfectly perfect in so many way.
the extra electro sparky version, 'alpemgeist remix' of the a-side will freak a few indie disco floors should the mix find its way into any djs willing to try out such acid tinged madness.
the human value - give me
first and by far the best thing in recent times for me, is a far too short 4 tracker by a usa band called the human value : dark, brooding electro goth rock-pop with a press release that goes on about recording in the night to provide the required ambience. all that cliche aside, the ep provides a wonderfully addictive seedy under belly soundtrack to those who have succumbed to the domination of the myspace generation. perfectly fuzzed up basslines, black nail varnished hand claps give it their radio all for the lead track, 'give me', but from the strength on offer, there is more to their name checking of the cool bands than meets the eye.
definitely, one to check out methinks.
piranha deathray - the rising/your chilling presence
with a name like that, you'd expect the music on a debut release to bite you seriously on the backside from the outset. this is not so. instead, the band who have been building up a london based core for quite a while, actually come over like a dark alternative to the happy britpop revival sound that's currently setting the airwaves alive. a-side is a rather fine solid glam stomper that seems to reveal that there are people out there who recall the unique vocal stylings of side liners marion and strangelove. while the flip, is more atmospheric and gruesome, with its nick cave-esque murder drama and intensity which the nu-goth kids are gonna love, should they ever get a chance to hear the track in daylight.
file under : interesting.
available via download only : here
the common redstarts - killing street
released on the seeca record label, this limited 2 tracker proves that there are other people out there who may remember the intensity of the late 80's band - the godfathers. i say this, as 'killing street' has a slight edge that the godfathers provided during their 'birth school work death' period. punked up r-n-b, riff heavy chants and a passion within means that this band could raise the heckles of any that get a chance to hear their incendiary guitar rock. unfortunately the groove is rather different on the flip, in fact 'angel-eyed friend' is a note for note perfect rendition of a noel fronted acoustic oasis track its almost spooky.
still, give the lads a kick up the arse, and they could set fire to any venues they happen to appear at. one would like to hope anyways.
i know which version i prefer.
shorty - mixtape volume 1 - mixed by baby j
uk hip hop live band that incorporate all manner of styles into their sometimes dated band-n-beats funk. however, prior to the release of the album they have sorted out a fine 12 minute mixtape by well known uk hip hop producer baby j. so expect lots of scratched up fun and madness. subtle versions of well known hip hop smashes are dropped into the spread of festival friendly vibes.
the mix is available via download only. well worth the bandwidth so get clicking now.
paperlung - the days that god sold you
basically, this is the band that has sice from the boo radleys in. so, if you liked the boos then there is a strong chance you are gonna love this band. however, don't expect the level of classic pop experimentation that martin carr managed to screw into their mini masterpieces over the years. instead, sice has released a solid, and thoroughly enjoyable 2 tracks of melodic indie pop rock, which wont win over the fashion conscious nme-emo masses, but could make a lot of people of a certain age rather happy.
available via the shifty disco label.
camp actor - get hold of this
no idea about this lot. but this 2 tracker is a perfect slice of dirty electro with vocals like flock of seagulls, or some long forgotten 80's like that. actually, it could be 'reflex' who had that superb one hit 'the politics of dancing'. hurray.
apparently, the record is going to be very limited and housed in some lovely cardboard so keep your eyes peeled, if you love all this analogue filled human league, landscape, numanoid pop revival.
infadels - love like semtex
one of the best tracks off the recent album gets lifted for a chunk of remixes and a much punchier radio edit. in fact, the edit is so much better than this could actually get the band into the national playlists if radio one drop this into the usual melee of indie, r-n-b as the track will stand out like a sore thumb. as always, the style magazine sanctioned hybrid of rave-n-rock, will still induce horror in some, but as headman and metronomy give the track the usual dancefloor friendly electro makeover, then i cannot really see anyone complaining.
perfect student indie disco fodder, and thats not a criticism - honest.