january/february
death cab for cutie
3 track limited single release on the cooler than thou label fierce panda (out feb 16), while the lead track 'the new year' is a fine solid indie guitars and harmonies the other tracks dont really hit the same levels of excellence, but hey they are b-sides i guess. though if you like shoegazing effects and lovely harmonies then this single will indeed fill a spot in you current playlist.
a rather special 10" vinyl only limited release. featuring 2 remixed tracks from sia's new album. 'breathe me' is remixed by four tet. turning the downtempo lushness of the proper version into a big studio one bassline dubbed up tune of total splendour. flip the record and you get new name to drop, hot chip, remixing 'where i belong'. this has an edge to it that completely takes the track into upper echelons of brilliance. all starts off with normals clicks and weird sounds .. but then after a few pleasant minutes a well placed sample of male choral epicness comes in and transforms the track. while these are far removed remixes from the originals both somehow retain the quality tunes and sia's voice shines throughout.
very special. go find now.
ikara colt
the return of the 'scene with no names' prime mover release their first single 'wanna be that way' from the forthcoming album. after a lengthy silence the band are back, and this time they are pulling no punches. this opening shot is a 3 minute urgent blast of fall type rants set against uptempo sonic youth duelling discordant guitar layers. superb. to see video go to the official website.
flight16
having been involved the the industry for many years this trio have landed their debut ep on a small little indie label featuring 4 very latge sounding rock tracks. solid grunge based guitar rock. fine stuff, though not very original. whether it gets the band noticed again having already been through the major label process and spat out is another matter.
stereophonics - moviestar
got sent this new ep to review.
here are the details. 3 live tracks on the cd, moviestar, the bartender, help me (nearly 11 mins of it !), as well as a behind the scenes video. do i like it?
nah, if i want large epic emotional rock music i have my u2 records . and moviestar is definitely an attempt at a new style that reminds me of bono and the gang. but that doesn't matter does it, as the band have their massive fanbase and they'll love this.
monster magnet
after a couple of years silence this homage to big monster 70's hard rock riffs, pounding basslines and out of this world harmonies comes the next installment 'unbroken (hotel baby)' with a velvet underground b-side - 'venus in furs'. as expected this is full on rock fun. massive entertainment and a great primer from their forthcoming album 'monolithic baby'. also, the word is that the band are going to hit these shores and blow away a few pa systems in february, taking in wlverhampton, nottingham, manchester, dublin, northampton and of course london. lucky folks.
earth the californian love dream
2 tracker of intent. .. the pr advises that the band have moved from the sunny state to nottingham for creative reasons. umm yeah ok. nottingham versus california. i will go with that (maybe) ... anyway .. opening with their homage to all things uptempo and fuzzed up to the max comes 'in the gardon' 3 mins of glorious noise/harmonies/guitars and singalong backing vocals. for those of you who had high hopes with brmc only to be let down by their inablity to meet the europhoric highs of 'whatever happened to my rock-n-roll' should grab this for a direct continuation of those wonderful vibes. second track is the self titled 'earth the californian love dream' which is a rather more angry sounding track with the vocals also being pushed through the distortion pedals .. and declaring a 'f*ck this and f*ck that' kinda attitude - showing that the lads aren't all stonewashed denim hippies the bands name implies. an excellent couple of tracks and if the album is of the same high standards then i for one will be very keen to hear it when its out later this year. where ever the band comes from. .. dream on. released early feb.
longview - still
still. overly dramatic athem rock. epic. a little dull if truth be told. full orchestral backing, chiming guitars sweet soft vocals etc. nothing wrong per se .. just doesn't grab me ..
razorlight - stumble and fall
new single out from this hotly tipped guitar toting young desperados. jerky short, all the usual elements for a classic new wave pop song are well and truly in place. yes some of us old'un still hear the originals hidden in the polished sounds (with steve lillywhite on the buttons this lot are not messing about are they !) fine stuff. will be a firm live fave for the bands forthcoming tour. catch them before they cut themselves.
engerica - the smell
massive noisey noise. starting off like an old soundgarden b-side with the pummeling guitars and imposing bassline this sounds far larger than a polite trio from essex should ever be able to muster up. tipped by certain well established rock mags this could quite easily be a band that make you realise that the uk can produce quality loud rock music without the need to add layers of pastiche or overly melodramatic angst. highly recommended. the band are on tour jan/feb
ryan adams - so alive
recently decided to listen to gold due to the excessive hyperbole to make sure i was correct in my negativity. not overly impressed .. too close to country and western. this however is from his mass audience baiting 'rock'n'roll' album. a release squarely aimed at selling as many copies to several strands of indie rock music fans as possible. all that aside the tracks on the single are quite special i have to admit, with the prewarned elements of strokes (the jerky guitars on 'so alive') and the happy/sad vibes of 'ah, life' recalling the smiths in former glories. not bad by any means. but still this chameleon aspect of his releases takes some keeping up with.
the rapture - love is all/i need your love
damn these guys.
just when i thought i was not going to fall under their spell ('house of jealous lovers' beginning to grate, and 'sister saviour' not really doing it for this listener) along comes this 3 tracker with its funky old school indie attitude with a groove for the party heads. madness in excelsis. requires headphones to get the twisted bass funk properly. but, this one is far better than i ever expected. and the ewan's remix of 'i need your love' is rife with promise. a 'wrote for luck' for the naughty's ? all in all i can now see why this lot have been touted as highly as they have in the last 12 months. let's see what happens in 2004. the band are on tour in jan/feb as part of the nme awards tour so expect plenty of media references to punk funk and for the genre to be dead once more by easter. shame, cos this is excellent.