tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57561842024-03-07T21:13:38.477+00:00Slow ThrillsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger530125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-36138156649512659832017-01-03T17:24:00.001+00:002017-01-03T17:26:31.187+00:00Slow Thrills Albums of 2016<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EBe_b53l-v9za3TLWskHbajyphm04lz3rt3DAZgbFEt8Mv6bQpoKV2h0a6qrqvKfAsX3wFC6ZdnuDvUlqSX12Z2tCPt4zDShqLf46gRZ0lH0BH5SItYP8fbeDX9d5dsGUi-h/s1600/IMG_0521.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EBe_b53l-v9za3TLWskHbajyphm04lz3rt3DAZgbFEt8Mv6bQpoKV2h0a6qrqvKfAsX3wFC6ZdnuDvUlqSX12Z2tCPt4zDShqLf46gRZ0lH0BH5SItYP8fbeDX9d5dsGUi-h/s400/IMG_0521.JPG" width="400" height="400" /></a><br />
<br />
At the end of a disappointing year, for reasons both public and private, the greatest tribute I can pay 2016 is waiting until it's over before I post this. In doing this the blog archive for 2016 remains blank. This isn't fair of course, as there was as much good music in 2016 as any other year, it's just that I didn't experience as much of it as I normally do. I went to about half as many gigs as recent years - and NO festivals! - and I heard half as many albums as usual. <br />
I got it together to list my top 10 gigs on <a href="https://twitter.com/slowthrills">twitter</a> and now I've managed to collate my favourite albums as well. As is the style with such lists, the top 5 are solidly set and numbers below that are interchangeable. In common with recent years I don't see much of a pattern in my list. If anything I have a tendency to surround myself with familiar names such as the late Bowie and Cohen but also Dinosaur Jr, Teenage Fanclub and Tortoise, many of whom released their best music in ages. One other personal trend I only noticed when compiling this list was that I found myself drawn towards both ambient/ electronic music and traditional songwriting, whilst the garage/psych acts that I have been enjoying over the last decade took a back seat. Anyway, here's my list. Over and out...<br />
<br />
<b>1. Emma Pollock 'In Search of Harperfield' (Chemikal Underground)</b><br />
<b>2. Brigid Mae Power s/t (Tompkins Square)</b><br />
<b>3. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 'Skeleton Tree' (Bad Seed Ltd)</b><br />
<b>4. David Bowie 'Blackstar' (ISO)</b><br />
<b>5. The Avalanches 'Wildflower' (XL)</b><br />
6. Cavern of Anti-Matter 'Void Beats/ Invocation Trex' (Duophonic)<br />
7. Dinosaur Jr 'Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not' (Jagjaguwar)<br />
8. Anna Meredith 'Varmints' (Moshi Moshi)<br />
9. Julianna Barwick 'Will' (Dead Oceans)<br />
10. Teenage Fanclub 'Here' (PeMa)<br />
11. Piano Magic 'Closure' (Second Language)<br />
12. Sea Pinks 'Soft Days' (cf records)<br />
13. PJ Harvey 'The Hope Six Demolition Project' (Island)<br />
14. Hannah Peel 'Awake but Always Dreaming' (Juno)<br />
15. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith 'Ears' (Western Vinyl)<br />
16. Solange 'A Seat at the Table' (Saint/ Columbia)<br />
17. The Body 'No One Deserves Happiness' (Thrill Jockey)<br />
18. Mitski 'Puberty 2' (Dead Oceans)<br />
19. Tortoise 'The Catastrophist' (Thrill Jockey)<br />
20. Vanishing Twin 'Choose your Own Adventure' (Soundway)<br />
21. Josephine Öhrn + The Liberation 'Mirage' (Rocket Recordings)<br />
22. The Goon Sax 'Up to Anything' (Chapter Music)<br />
23. Cate Le Bon 'Crab Day' (Drag City)<br />
24. Leonard Cohen 'You Want it Darker' (Columbia)<br />
25. Brian Eno 'The Ship' (Beat Records)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-10951451891145564252015-12-29T23:58:00.003+00:002015-12-29T23:58:40.643+00:00Slow Thrills albums of 2015: NoiseDon't forget that the top 25 <a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2015/12/slow-thrills-albums-of-2015-top-25.html"><b>is here </b></a><br />
<br />
<b>Lovely noise</b> (s)=stream via Spotify (r)= my review<br />
<br />
<b>Godspeed You! Black Emperor 'Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3ld6n4RnKT8mYYOhAOg2Kf">s</a>) | Sauna Youth 'Distractions' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/75F7e4OtMIF6vhPsHVjDHz">s</a>) | Lighting Bolt 'Fantasy Empire (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1HN2Y71apfstJXoWxDPTJO">s</a>) (<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/lightning-bolt-fantasy-empire-142">r</a>) | A Place to Bury Strangers 'Transfixiation' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/0nU1aHZstSzF9IlMxvALMO">s</a>) | Spectres 'Dying' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/0ldKB6BGqvlmJwzYrzVDpJ">s</a>) (<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/spectres-dying-142">r</a>) | Butterfly Child 'Futures' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/27g4oKtbVLJurSeMXYcHP5">s</a>) | Pinkshinyultrablast 'Everything Else Matters' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/5i4chaWK0h50pbc3WJNXhL">s</a>) (<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/pinkshinyultrablast-everything-else-matters-142">r</a>)| Teeth of the Sea 'Highly Deadly Black Tarantula' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2JLad8NYyj1roel8AvjM5T">s</a>) | The Underground Youth 'Haunted' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1uRLFP6iWPTdvdFqE8kHhT">s</a>)| King Midas Sound 'Edition 1' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1GAEeOlJYC29o4SaNJB0M9">s</a>)| Helen 'The Original Faces' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6FLUL1wWIU5GQMhi3ADq20">s</a>)| Hey Colossus 'Radio Static High' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/0eX0CdiYL8EtMgvbwp7nir">s</a>)<br />
</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAR2cPRDMq3UI_TtLhkWNoUyfmCf0nPvRWwScbe3z-ddorMU0y9u0xi-46EG_YkisC7xOcP2OEUJBOo9Nj5j6vMgbEAlhqNFLTS1BU5yV9wdk9rlGLyIWrpdDZ8vWB8FZQgPec/s1600/gybe.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAR2cPRDMq3UI_TtLhkWNoUyfmCf0nPvRWwScbe3z-ddorMU0y9u0xi-46EG_YkisC7xOcP2OEUJBOo9Nj5j6vMgbEAlhqNFLTS1BU5yV9wdk9rlGLyIWrpdDZ8vWB8FZQgPec/s200/gybe.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBNQkj2SvbXhZ9IHOn3YVLhAbu5OD5Kt_wi8JR-gpYjeOurf9aQVgo8PPe2ent6FqtFpOZz_WmEODZyUHtg210SNeMoIONkVBJePysAwPW8siAhDQibDpyxbI9euFuMKxQlLg/s1600/Sauna_Youth_-_Distractions_535_535.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBNQkj2SvbXhZ9IHOn3YVLhAbu5OD5Kt_wi8JR-gpYjeOurf9aQVgo8PPe2ent6FqtFpOZz_WmEODZyUHtg210SNeMoIONkVBJePysAwPW8siAhDQibDpyxbI9euFuMKxQlLg/s200/Sauna_Youth_-_Distractions_535_535.jpg" 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src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjFHcWJ197sNlxvzIepYOVdbW8fgRcWwhqyPsqe68DZRUqn0Wdk-Rh0lsPTYZzzq1e4sGdoWIh4CI-_uDQt-mzi6l9eo2E0aJH56R2M3QfObHDRFiD1-8jx7ZlyUCgymgvG2z/s200/Teeth_of_the_Sea_-_Highly_Deadly_Black_Tarantula.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmSRSZH752B3-8Auha-ePgBtKYKdzHWHEsWrbgXnuDZ3EHCzXgdGdMR7mvtaNSoBwuMkjyxSkKtFSReK6IC7yXBIRaV_dcYYeBNKnl2A2W3shlj4nycY5JU_X1AgRRFAm2gSX/s1600/The_Underground_Youth_2048x2048.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmSRSZH752B3-8Auha-ePgBtKYKdzHWHEsWrbgXnuDZ3EHCzXgdGdMR7mvtaNSoBwuMkjyxSkKtFSReK6IC7yXBIRaV_dcYYeBNKnl2A2W3shlj4nycY5JU_X1AgRRFAm2gSX/s200/The_Underground_Youth_2048x2048.jpg" /></a><a 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxUPp5JutjDU4HyX2VauyGZl0vW7K-5T2qXXDyb5sHepfRE08c54YiGjpigEw0DEoOFxTcy0JVZ3o3CvfvGxXHKIb41m2xjPDpuyFjQij8tnUTe4O7sHu-vQb4AECk7EdqiYt/s1600/hey-colossus.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxUPp5JutjDU4HyX2VauyGZl0vW7K-5T2qXXDyb5sHepfRE08c54YiGjpigEw0DEoOFxTcy0JVZ3o3CvfvGxXHKIb41m2xjPDpuyFjQij8tnUTe4O7sHu-vQb4AECk7EdqiYt/s200/hey-colossus.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
If you aren't familiar with these albums then I'd recommend that you just dig into these via the streaming links "(s)" above. <br />
<br />
Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Lightning Bolt both returned heavier than before, Pinkshinyultrablast came from St Petersburg and channelled the Cocteau Twins to great effect. Kevin Martin aka King Midas Sound collaborated with Christian Fennesz on the moody, engaging Edition1. Sauna Youth proved that there was still a place for shouty punk and The Underground Youth did the same for 80s goth. Teeth of the Sea created another imaginary soundtrack for dystopian film and Hey Colossus were in such great form that they released two of their best albums within months of each other. Spectres and A Place to Bury Strangers gave us some mightily abrasive interpretations of shoegaze, and the Butterfly Child released their first album for 15 years, which combined the sound of its predecessor Soft Explosives with their earlier guitar-based material. The most surprising of this lot was the debut by Helen, a band put together by Liz Harris aka Grouper, which was a delightful revisit of c86 style indie-pop.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-78244107715852880772015-12-29T23:00:00.002+00:002015-12-30T00:08:14.395+00:00Slow Thrills albums of 2015: collaborations and othersDon't forget that the top 25 <a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2015/12/slow-thrills-albums-of-2015-top-25.html"><b>is here </b></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>collaborations... and those that are hard to classify</b> (s)=stream via Spotify (r)= my review<br />
<br />
<b><br />
Tess Parks and Anton Newcombe 'I Declare Nothing' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/0KpiAkOntxywSO4MQEvEA3">s</a>) | Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld 'Never were the way she was' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/5XWTi7aJnVcihhmN3vGqwD">s</a>) (r) | EL VY 'Return to the Moon' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2FcMAqsSGBlDrrCjNxMutN">s</a>) (<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/el-vy-return-to-the-moon-144">r</a>) | DRINKS 'Hermits on Holiday' (<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/drinks-hermits-on-holiday-143">r</a>) (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6GdgC3jHfvlHb2tHJM6CiY">s</a>) | Mbongwana Star 'From Kinshasa' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/0kPOl7QSouCaXfzE9LIALm">s</a>) | Soccer Team 'Real Lessons in Cynicism' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/7dJHQCMD36NsUjablvVfXX">s</a>) | La Luz 'Weirdo Shrine' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6q4OSe8nsfQ6eHYETx7yis">s</a>) | Telekinesis 'Ad Infinitum' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/0KelrbMD3nXUCraeDa4DSM">s</a>) | The Go! Team 'the Scene Between' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6jedEDN3ranuntnTRfxLzJ">s</a>) | Public Service Broadcasting 'The Race for Space' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/65KwtzkJXw7oT819NFWmEP">s</a>) | Young Fathers 'White Men are Black Men Too' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3xtwcBeltPMO0I4PnDfV0k">s</a>) | Kamasi Washington 'The Epic' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2j2q2ySuVk43eHB8wI5XQj">s</a>)</b><br />
<br />
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src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_x-MRckmeyNSYKAPcAKVgvxwQhqGc4JbtAf9p49i3Lb8sNQMFYS7XT04k5saGLa1S-C-5z2kzlqP47V5IsPyRu4Z1KV53bBIfnp7HvWntKI-pbc9q3eBktzFatZ_RvJyFgaUg/s200/telekinesis.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQJPC8rXQtTY6JUGhRs-hCgcvQHL8MQNQ6Q0g_lO9uv8yETksiBOloxsT-Vl0ZIaDXFQUQ-WI4p6rgMCNUDVPT11Hg1IB7ezSWpnQZHAe5lMdVeNbL0gUEkGfjiIwjAT4LjEr/s1600/The_Go_Team_The_Scene_Between.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQJPC8rXQtTY6JUGhRs-hCgcvQHL8MQNQ6Q0g_lO9uv8yETksiBOloxsT-Vl0ZIaDXFQUQ-WI4p6rgMCNUDVPT11Hg1IB7ezSWpnQZHAe5lMdVeNbL0gUEkGfjiIwjAT4LjEr/s200/The_Go_Team_The_Scene_Between.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADhp9sGRjxMZMaqfKiU0drrGtPNlPzwa7dc9l8Zd1Nipxvju9QrRIAnhxfDl-TYIfDsPcI_D9ClsZiqR6u3_eGz7vpPsi8Tl6osPQsdO6czhYG0Z1OSbKKNxMwrLNWCYnhmTT/s1600/PSB.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" 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<br />
This instalment illustrates that 2015 was a rich and varied year for music. Tess Parks and Anton Newcombe created a fine slice of woozy psychedelia, Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld made some eerie sounds together, and Tim Presley and Cate le Bon teamed up as DRINKS to deliver some quirky psych-rock which owed a lot to Faust (and the Fall!). <br />
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It should be a complement to be in this section as it means that your music isn't easily classified. No one illustrates this better than Mbongwana Star, a Congolese band who dabble with a blend of psych-rock and electronica. Kamasi Washington's aptly named The Epic was definitely jazz, and will be seen in years to come as a classic - in fact it is only outside the main list as I have only listened to it all the way through once. <br />
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There was plenty of decent music on the sidelines of pop too. Edinburgh's Young Fathers for a start, and the hybrid of The National and Menomena -EL VY - who end up sounding like a cross between Leonard Cohen and Fine Young Cannibals - and the Go! Team who made the best sunny indie-pop album of the year whilst besotted with the poppier side of MBV. Public Service Broadcasting silenced those who dismissed them as a gimmick by releasing an emotional concept album about the space race. <br />
Soccer Team and Telekinesis made two of the best indie-rock albums of the year, and it was unfortunate that I didn't discover La Luz earlier in the year, because their take on garage-rock on Weirdo Shrine was a real thrill.<br />
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Final section next >>> <a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2015/12/slow-thrills-albums-of-2015-noise.html">Noise</a> >>>>>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-59648702042470052372015-12-29T00:53:00.001+00:002015-12-30T00:07:17.504+00:00Slow Thrills albums of 2015: comeback specialsDon't forget that the overall top 25 <a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2015/12/slow-thrills-albums-of-2015-top-25.html"><b>is here </b></a> <br />
<br />
<b>Comeback specials (and some who never went away) </b> (s)=stream via Spotify (r)= my review<br />
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<b>Sleater-Kinney 'No Cities to Love' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4hzSVWntrdQzf9JuTtH4pf">s</a>) | Yo La Tengo 'Stuff Like that There' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3TlSSVWAeW4TB2FkVZ94dI">s</a>) | Swervedriver 'I Wasn't Born to Lose You' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1yiokU4jDsiknQu4LEDCho">s</a>) | Loop 'Array 1' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1eWDEbIp6g5kagm8seEcV1">s</a>) | Mountain Goats 'Beat the Champ' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/7HWC61Sl93gYdBqCV5EIka">s</a>) | The Fall 'Sub-Lingual Tablet | Wilco 'Star Wars' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/7BD2cOGKumTOMctWSysCD5">s</a>) | Deerhunter 'Fading Frontier' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/0y5XgOUEiJSSIMxC4ALRAC">s</a>) | Beach House 'Depression Cherry' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4uv20j21rpmW9jLfEa8Dnh">s</a>)/ 'Thank Your lucky Stars' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4fK6IEJgB00to8SruSWTUY">s</a>)</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hexZOzYL-wbbHayTgVQxTkCyClHI43QSUiGT1WcAvH3z952q1rEZD1cW6bKoZEnvlMziTxHMf_uu4maEAmxhZND0YH-FRcMvxpZA9w_oZqnsI6hMT9fmx5vEtyiylEC6ziJc/s1600/SleaterKinney.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hexZOzYL-wbbHayTgVQxTkCyClHI43QSUiGT1WcAvH3z952q1rEZD1cW6bKoZEnvlMziTxHMf_uu4maEAmxhZND0YH-FRcMvxpZA9w_oZqnsI6hMT9fmx5vEtyiylEC6ziJc/s200/SleaterKinney.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFd8YnZQE1OUstSK7gBNIENV8sT0mDT1iCVE-lpB3vwiaJUU-6cFwOGvjXL1kM3JsW3qmPhvr3C6wJYuz5inTuoB-1eC1OG8-5KJBWvIFyFMlkCpvES9aAbHdYP5c6Tdff3Y5l/s1600/ylt.jpeg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFd8YnZQE1OUstSK7gBNIENV8sT0mDT1iCVE-lpB3vwiaJUU-6cFwOGvjXL1kM3JsW3qmPhvr3C6wJYuz5inTuoB-1eC1OG8-5KJBWvIFyFMlkCpvES9aAbHdYP5c6Tdff3Y5l/s200/ylt.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQdA_bhTAkdJkOzV1WPqtIsdjBrl9EvprSydTmNr1ZfSsbM2Mu8HSwlLqLmx0h8kpq4qPBpu_9Ju2Uu44K_QVnQVFt1vICzgK9SfrQXnaQGaKrzXyJdlyt5YWLA69HfETYFG1/s1600/swervedriver.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQdA_bhTAkdJkOzV1WPqtIsdjBrl9EvprSydTmNr1ZfSsbM2Mu8HSwlLqLmx0h8kpq4qPBpu_9Ju2Uu44K_QVnQVFt1vICzgK9SfrQXnaQGaKrzXyJdlyt5YWLA69HfETYFG1/s200/swervedriver.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jJgCIi_b1Ff5IbpleiXKmuv6OBvUyB7m19hszTg6jWMj-6WEmxEIqkkgEMDB_b5A8Lm5g8v75FtZ7RQ3mMZoO1y0SA_T85cPOM3MIz6ExncCm_WiFJbSUn9njPMKm7cIikvL/s1600/ATPREP07-Loop-Array1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jJgCIi_b1Ff5IbpleiXKmuv6OBvUyB7m19hszTg6jWMj-6WEmxEIqkkgEMDB_b5A8Lm5g8v75FtZ7RQ3mMZoO1y0SA_T85cPOM3MIz6ExncCm_WiFJbSUn9njPMKm7cIikvL/s200/ATPREP07-Loop-Array1.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6e73Z5eXpfhu7oLwrFTLZafSymsvpf02gHaiT5KnGW3UggMmDBwXvfbgDuFif112f8g9Oy9lpDKU_lMidf99c_hZXFbO_qm0husmyb7fB0kFWluIQ5qYWu1tzLOF9xkDdsasZ/s1600/87438-1_WILCO_starwars_LP_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6e73Z5eXpfhu7oLwrFTLZafSymsvpf02gHaiT5KnGW3UggMmDBwXvfbgDuFif112f8g9Oy9lpDKU_lMidf99c_hZXFbO_qm0husmyb7fB0kFWluIQ5qYWu1tzLOF9xkDdsasZ/s200/87438-1_WILCO_starwars_LP_cover.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtfeaUhMRDiV3CHFDrDppfBGFDk1m6X6l60E_QavUFAW_GILlpIUY4n3yHKQtGjizvGtO4DNykrKiid_s4IUkOgJdWQKLUCf1NlYGD3KEcH7Z5O5oHITjRhbs6GSCJMqyfmxn/s1600/thefall-sub.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtfeaUhMRDiV3CHFDrDppfBGFDk1m6X6l60E_QavUFAW_GILlpIUY4n3yHKQtGjizvGtO4DNykrKiid_s4IUkOgJdWQKLUCf1NlYGD3KEcH7Z5O5oHITjRhbs6GSCJMqyfmxn/s200/thefall-sub.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ_IvPQlPeHwcxRH_z6NJudXZPDxB3mmalmu8hbFObfl8Mafid4-uT6i6mDZnFC3OBeLcNdKYeXdKJgHwbW35eSCdusSh7PvOM5ERjN0LbhGge3rZ8qCK5gc082aNarYO36Is/s1600/mountain-goats.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ_IvPQlPeHwcxRH_z6NJudXZPDxB3mmalmu8hbFObfl8Mafid4-uT6i6mDZnFC3OBeLcNdKYeXdKJgHwbW35eSCdusSh7PvOM5ERjN0LbhGge3rZ8qCK5gc082aNarYO36Is/s200/mountain-goats.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRFO8fPzmzS4Dfg28mBsj8XmFC5QnnY606dVkkCKKkTVpuz-ik_ZJ2CpRVBZx1kbGN80-JBeopPGjcUQVK3xYl0mdhfLmGerJc_5SnfXwSMzKSQlIa9wZXEz_J2DxDRq9QsuF/s1600/Deerhunter_-_Fading_Frontier.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRFO8fPzmzS4Dfg28mBsj8XmFC5QnnY606dVkkCKKkTVpuz-ik_ZJ2CpRVBZx1kbGN80-JBeopPGjcUQVK3xYl0mdhfLmGerJc_5SnfXwSMzKSQlIa9wZXEz_J2DxDRq9QsuF/s200/Deerhunter_-_Fading_Frontier.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholtw4DSbFDxLloBjjbl44MlV0Dr84U6LRPgACAbNI1xAj-3laEHtQgllPyi-ESAArYkO-ctPI_EW0OoP9dXFdKmKqlpZKP5-bboqcC-X-IzmuIWvMrtRfovGFWaoeEEZh0bqE/s1600/beachhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholtw4DSbFDxLloBjjbl44MlV0Dr84U6LRPgACAbNI1xAj-3laEHtQgllPyi-ESAArYkO-ctPI_EW0OoP9dXFdKmKqlpZKP5-bboqcC-X-IzmuIWvMrtRfovGFWaoeEEZh0bqE/s200/beachhouse.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Some band re-boots work better than others but Sleater-Kinney's comeback album was pretty triumphant. I still find Loop's return an unlikely one, but 'Array 1' did not disappoint, their old analogue fuzz seemed to have a clearer, almost digital sheen. Out of all the bands making a comeback the most pleasant surprise was Swervedriver, whose 2015 album must rank amongst their best work.<br />
Yo La Tengo joined back up with Doug Schramm and revisited their Fakebook format a quarter century on, whilst the Fall continued to show why they are the best garage-rock band around on Sub Lingual Tablet. Wilco surprised us with an album called 'Star Wars' out of nowhere, the Mountain Goats embraced the world of wrestling for a loose concept album, and Deerhunter returned with a much slicker, tuneful record than Monomania a few years back. Beach House also went for a surprise tactic by releasing a second full length ('TYLS') - which was a slightly darker follow-up to the excellent 'Depression Cherry' - just six weeks later. <br />
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Next >>>> <a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2015/12/slow-thrills-albums-of-2015_29.html">collaborations and some that we couldn't categorise </a>>>>>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-70697325833274229992015-12-29T00:53:00.000+00:002015-12-29T00:54:58.735+00:00Slow Thrills albums of 2015: solo actsLast year I was ridiculously pleased to get my list down to a tidy <a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2015/01/slow-thrills-best-albums-of-2014.html">top 20</a>, and this year I stretched it to <a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2015/12/slow-thrills-albums-of-2015-top-25.html"><b>a top 25</b></a>. Many fine albums just missed inclusion, and they are so close together in quality that I thought that a longer post would be the only way to do them justice. I have bunched together these forty or so albums into four vague categories in order to escape the monotony of an unwieldy chart. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQTyLRZuhA1EOUEYh_TfVxpxEjW_1nxVcroOP_eg5PqxGS_Oe6kEPi_lFM1uH9q88TVlgbpbKK728y5YL9d0eOCEEQ_IPQFf4Y7lV6QBe6QLrdn2YDMHu2pXDLDmsZp3bV_KW/s1600/colleen-captain-of-none-artwork-by-iker-spozio.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQTyLRZuhA1EOUEYh_TfVxpxEjW_1nxVcroOP_eg5PqxGS_Oe6kEPi_lFM1uH9q88TVlgbpbKK728y5YL9d0eOCEEQ_IPQFf4Y7lV6QBe6QLrdn2YDMHu2pXDLDmsZp3bV_KW/s200/colleen-captain-of-none-artwork-by-iker-spozio.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLTd-KClvEjGf2EDpdieUgudQI33bNMgfWM0boMEfs_kD_64GT_z80QEPS-1MIc55tBr2FA2T3Yw_MeEwgRn6SgExSMCL7I2CAn2IRDJpch24MENKUiwE7w99GC0zp1Kn0GKl/s1600/Anna-Von-Hausswolff-559x560.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLTd-KClvEjGf2EDpdieUgudQI33bNMgfWM0boMEfs_kD_64GT_z80QEPS-1MIc55tBr2FA2T3Yw_MeEwgRn6SgExSMCL7I2CAn2IRDJpch24MENKUiwE7w99GC0zp1Kn0GKl/s200/Anna-Von-Hausswolff-559x560.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgKoh54ojDEYfX1ruC5Vv29TDA59iKUYac4mzLofoxCUH3SO12cvvf-F6RR9Y9QUJaAQeWqqZcRzmBSTTuwg6PRGt7Q06kGytRqJRvLQr4-R4PMICBuPqSHmgJOVWj-_waaVq/s1600/hollyherndon-platform.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgKoh54ojDEYfX1ruC5Vv29TDA59iKUYac4mzLofoxCUH3SO12cvvf-F6RR9Y9QUJaAQeWqqZcRzmBSTTuwg6PRGt7Q06kGytRqJRvLQr4-R4PMICBuPqSHmgJOVWj-_waaVq/s200/hollyherndon-platform.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3kMtY9WIvXxoG6t9i3qaNusJOd-twZOTUSHrc2AlmAMvZY8j2qRxL5CmO6sjPGqGwjjEXpWSWGVjgcHeSF6_24ZznfiuRxP8G4ACpdzBERxM66ZWOY3nJ96txZZ7clc40ICz/s1600/chelsea-wolfe-abyss-cover-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3kMtY9WIvXxoG6t9i3qaNusJOd-twZOTUSHrc2AlmAMvZY8j2qRxL5CmO6sjPGqGwjjEXpWSWGVjgcHeSF6_24ZznfiuRxP8G4ACpdzBERxM66ZWOY3nJ96txZZ7clc40ICz/s200/chelsea-wolfe-abyss-cover-art.jpg" /></a></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzrPcJHIptbkqitjdJFge_Lm3mV7K8d3qc9cDhP5JJxIBgwq19eboUcrf65NyT8DbuWpa5V2F0NyzQzgxfpECvcUyrJ6bRBZyzEHFYHVp-F3ErR5y6XkMpXLU7zk8vt33r8fp/s1600/eric-chenaux.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzrPcJHIptbkqitjdJFge_Lm3mV7K8d3qc9cDhP5JJxIBgwq19eboUcrf65NyT8DbuWpa5V2F0NyzQzgxfpECvcUyrJ6bRBZyzEHFYHVp-F3ErR5y6XkMpXLU7zk8vt33r8fp/s200/eric-chenaux.jpg" /></a></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35OD7zMRnv6lspdPKXE26wPgcwbvZ9DTqNk1qMRXTKmQpCJs2ZlAwS3mWpgY4Gr19pkHMvVZN5g5m7rU6uqcgOKJQh53XskP7fOYbbGM6SxH2sb7KY2aWvreyEBe2gpe13qs_/s1600/loneladyhinterland.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35OD7zMRnv6lspdPKXE26wPgcwbvZ9DTqNk1qMRXTKmQpCJs2ZlAwS3mWpgY4Gr19pkHMvVZN5g5m7rU6uqcgOKJQh53XskP7fOYbbGM6SxH2sb7KY2aWvreyEBe2gpe13qs_/s200/loneladyhinterland.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SGwCF-7n9Z7h_VIFKqNs_ZMyn2_IwmiaHz336cVCdjnSCCnJbPegw7RrreKIfc4w5gTgKMW1R07wtd4UUScP1MBUJZVpibBLP98cUj9ITlOG1Y4UFme9rrxh2CX7dCUq13AI/s1600/Circuit-des-Yeux.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SGwCF-7n9Z7h_VIFKqNs_ZMyn2_IwmiaHz336cVCdjnSCCnJbPegw7RrreKIfc4w5gTgKMW1R07wtd4UUScP1MBUJZVpibBLP98cUj9ITlOG1Y4UFme9rrxh2CX7dCUq13AI/s200/Circuit-des-Yeux.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgum_n-b7cdUqyF5BNKA7pQSL8sC62nElQxZ3e_VgFIKzI9PYMAydTrU6yqwoKsSTF7y1HdKVumPuOtc7Uf_uuYemq3Um0nF9G3wc0g2yxbl7CE9XVGZGtcCUroQ0NeMtx8BL6k/s1600/jenny-hval-apocalypse-girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgum_n-b7cdUqyF5BNKA7pQSL8sC62nElQxZ3e_VgFIKzI9PYMAydTrU6yqwoKsSTF7y1HdKVumPuOtc7Uf_uuYemq3Um0nF9G3wc0g2yxbl7CE9XVGZGtcCUroQ0NeMtx8BL6k/s200/jenny-hval-apocalypse-girl.jpg" /></a><br />
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<b>Solo acts 1 - experimental approaches</b> (s)=stream via Spotify (r)= my review<br />
<b>Colleen 'Captain of None' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3eiRo1DsYQ8OCD5PUy5LH3">s</a>) | Anna Von Hausswolff 'The Miraculous' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4jsOvj8CGkOWLQ1jcbIQwS">s</a>) | Eric Chenaux 'Skullsplitter' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/7JzWGqV6BfzfToNVqEXsQ4">s</a>) | Holly Herndon 'Platform' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1x1agDGl1Y7npXRF7u3prS">s</a>) | Chelsea Wolfe 'Abyss' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/7bDxnaImZCM2TJbsI1gMVi">s</a>) | Lonelady 'Hinterland' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1hWXJpz2XmBdgW6t4aNcjJ">s</a>) | Circuit des Yeux 'in Plain Speech' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/72c3qozywj4ON4sRC6ZWTI">s</a>) | Jenny Hval ‘Apocalypse, Girl’ (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3AeAZfwBgnhmbNEowNFvcB">s</a>)</b><br />
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Is it a coincidence that seven of these eight albums are made by female acts? Anna von Hausswolff and Chelsea Wolfe (distant cousins perhaps?) did a great job of incorporating heavier elements into their cathartic music. Colleen made a comeback of sorts with a haunting dub-influenced record performed solely on the viola de gamba, whilst Lonelady built on the strengths of her first few singles to release a full-length which delivered an infectiously funky take on post-punk. Eric Chenaux mangled his guitar into strange but beautiful shapes, Holly Herndon embraced ASMR for an album of challenging electronica which never seemed to sound the same twice. Jenny Hval took similar sonic leaps and moved further away from the rock influences of <i>Innocence is Kinky</i> and Circuit des Yeux pitched herself somewhere between Scott Walker and Nico foe her engaging <i>In Plain Speech</i>.<br />
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<b>Solo acts 2 - the singer and the song</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoq5MdTl5sIvT9AbBZGzjn6ROZbxlrbMvhSCjI31KQi2cECzEfd98oElkTCkw8MzSHocFyX2JcMxilp6mu6lwDo8nCrkQ1Yqb6kNkGR7CpvZGbpT4NeC1P5ftoKHQJWj6sZwov/s1600/Sarah_Cracknell_Red_Kite-700x700.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoq5MdTl5sIvT9AbBZGzjn6ROZbxlrbMvhSCjI31KQi2cECzEfd98oElkTCkw8MzSHocFyX2JcMxilp6mu6lwDo8nCrkQ1Yqb6kNkGR7CpvZGbpT4NeC1P5ftoKHQJWj6sZwov/s200/Sarah_Cracknell_Red_Kite-700x700.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fvH9OWffAloy348OgVEtn4IBpDs7E4_CHdye6sr2df3LdZ1bj6AEZAw747WabUAjf96QJvYQz-IMurdIVeaH3EVQlvxYM9J4OPO-VwSELv9LFyrMcfeZcZFh4lOxjjYKFYkx/s1600/JessicaPratt.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fvH9OWffAloy348OgVEtn4IBpDs7E4_CHdye6sr2df3LdZ1bj6AEZAw747WabUAjf96QJvYQz-IMurdIVeaH3EVQlvxYM9J4OPO-VwSELv9LFyrMcfeZcZFh4lOxjjYKFYkx/s200/JessicaPratt.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8I6YHFUAN33X5ckJxujGTMe9TUUW1Wa2fUxYhFbIfoC8yzqNMsHmRmpLl2iI55yPM7gyKnggnHvNblkTP7h6TVIMlGhvREWIVlmD26lcEMS8tfOx8RWghy9-fQ9C5FoRdI9Y/s1600/RyleyWalker-Cover1400rgb-581x581.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8I6YHFUAN33X5ckJxujGTMe9TUUW1Wa2fUxYhFbIfoC8yzqNMsHmRmpLl2iI55yPM7gyKnggnHvNblkTP7h6TVIMlGhvREWIVlmD26lcEMS8tfOx8RWghy9-fQ9C5FoRdI9Y/s200/RyleyWalker-Cover1400rgb-581x581.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8vDy3GP_sBjkWReNQRAwCzIdeaKcFQh6YRTv5JVr8Qx2S7gjili0DeQypuJH696nvVjOfAjHpQ2px1Nap2gUyxIiPqsR5la5ZqeG5Gfyo3FpLgyL2HIMaqfPBpSjgl8uxgNM/s1600/club-meds.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8vDy3GP_sBjkWReNQRAwCzIdeaKcFQh6YRTv5JVr8Qx2S7gjili0DeQypuJH696nvVjOfAjHpQ2px1Nap2gUyxIiPqsR5la5ZqeG5Gfyo3FpLgyL2HIMaqfPBpSjgl8uxgNM/s200/club-meds.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcXbubUuajlieS3t5NvmyExRjY6bQim6JB835Z1XfXehYxBoPVpLGiD7EYQ3a1fA4jN7i5zLjbKoq0ekAvz9m_94sWV20AmllvyNkzuHhUJ2_GUhodEI6VJJ65MCWIHvj9v_N/s1600/ezra-500x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcXbubUuajlieS3t5NvmyExRjY6bQim6JB835Z1XfXehYxBoPVpLGiD7EYQ3a1fA4jN7i5zLjbKoq0ekAvz9m_94sWV20AmllvyNkzuHhUJ2_GUhodEI6VJJ65MCWIHvj9v_N/s200/ezra-500x500.jpg" /></a></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6Hyt4z-H9Zb9ALjhZNdfeOaCq-8KS9s56vx0PJ5haypBwEz7IF_QlGiCshT6CyXM_ea-2JEuAuC9k2rhWE-FCYiUTxtUrKRFsTIUqUl5rYVvMUyZfAwWq59_IapgWCVpXgXK/s1600/jeffreylewis.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6Hyt4z-H9Zb9ALjhZNdfeOaCq-8KS9s56vx0PJ5haypBwEz7IF_QlGiCshT6CyXM_ea-2JEuAuC9k2rhWE-FCYiUTxtUrKRFsTIUqUl5rYVvMUyZfAwWq59_IapgWCVpXgXK/s200/jeffreylewis.jpg" /></a><br />
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<b>Sarah Cracknell 'Red Kite' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2OEbJfZ9kMLMjnCQjhCWVL">s</a>) | Jessica Pratt 'On Your Own Love Again' (<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/jessica-pratt-on-your-own-love-again-142">r</a>) | Ryley Walker 'Primrose Green' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/5HhvfDkoM2a0oghjW8aJNf">s</a>) | Dan Mangan & Blacksmith 'Club Meds' (<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/dan-mangan-and-blacksmith-club-meds-142">r</a>) (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/7h8DRadN8IGm8nn5spZTTO">s</a>) | Ezra Furman 'Perpetual Motion People' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/401FNuUIzv430pSFoBIckW">s</a>) | Jeffrey Lewis and Los Bolts 'Manhattan' (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4zmkO2m4iMcsVGccKLAChS">s</a>) </b><br />
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Dare we call this lot singer-songwriters? The craft of songwriting was still alive and kicking in 2015, with the likes of Courtney Barnet and Fr John Misty dominating many end-of-year charts. For whatever reason, those two acts didn’t click with me in the way that these others did. Jessica Pratt continued write some oddly beautiful psychedelic folk tunes and Ryley Walker mined the same period of musical history, paying faithful tribute to Tim Buckley along the way. Ezra Furman also dug deep into rock n roll’s past glories and made a record that got close to the energy of his remarkable live shows. A similar point could be made about Jeffrey Lewis whose lovingly packaged Manhattan was packed full of folk songs with a post-punk flavour. Sarah Cracknell broke away from her long term home of Saint Etienne to deliver a lovely record of gentle folk-pop, and Dan Mangan brought his backing band Blacksmith on to equal footing on the bleak, downbeat and sadly overlooked <i>Club Meds</i>. <br />
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Coming next>>>> <b><a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2015/12/slow-thrills-albums-of-2015-comeback.html">comeback special - and some who never went away....</a></b> >>>><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-68475805727145774732015-12-23T00:49:00.000+00:002016-01-11T12:19:43.509+00:00Slow Thrills albums of 2015, top 25<b>Counting down from 25 to 1. By the way, some albums which nearly made the top 25 are explored in four other posts: <a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2015/12/slow-thrills-albums-of-2015-solo-acts.html">solo acts</a>, <a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2015/12/slow-thrills-albums-of-2015-comeback.html">comebacks</a>, <a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2015/12/slow-thrills-albums-of-2015_29.html">collaborations</a> and <a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2015/12/slow-thrills-albums-of-2015-noise.html">noise</a>. </b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgOlLiER8ihvq6xuKCIF_f01gEIVOntLVj5mKOq_qDz5gTjX5zPDovJN4SXyV3DTaxJd2Lm1MCXEIz_9uLq_TEcb00BpDIjHTN64KhpnTI6v3GpiVnv5B-vJgfZcfyxFZcCBr/s1600/The+Cairo+Gang+Goes+Missing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgOlLiER8ihvq6xuKCIF_f01gEIVOntLVj5mKOq_qDz5gTjX5zPDovJN4SXyV3DTaxJd2Lm1MCXEIz_9uLq_TEcb00BpDIjHTN64KhpnTI6v3GpiVnv5B-vJgfZcfyxFZcCBr/s320/The+Cairo+Gang+Goes+Missing.jpg" /></a></div><b>25. The Cairo Gang 'Goes Missing' (God?)</b><br />
On which Emmett Kelly and co step out from backing Bonnie Prince Billy and deliver a record which takes its cue from guitar-pop as practiced by the Byrds and more recently, Guided By Voices. From <a href="http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/06/the-cairo-gang-goes-missing.html"><i>Paste Magazine</i></a>: "The whole album is charming. The pop dregs it siphons have had recent conjurers—White Fence’s Tim Presley, The Fresh and Onlys’ Tim Cohen to name a few. What Kelly has summoned is a shot of the good stuff from the wellspring of material everyone has to work with, and in the process he’s produced one of the best albums of 2015."<br />
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/godrecordsyep/be-what-you-are/">listen</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxkBlmasFyozfq0AbIaBlDP3JlWcwaU8uU71rB7WscWZxIP5AUge13h57zSDu9JGHuyslShYQ6YhioxJWy8qLtad2V74y6lblml59WCI04AKSu6aOOu1RdvvlQqeBWKzwigqW/s1600/robertforster_rgb_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxkBlmasFyozfq0AbIaBlDP3JlWcwaU8uU71rB7WscWZxIP5AUge13h57zSDu9JGHuyslShYQ6YhioxJWy8qLtad2V74y6lblml59WCI04AKSu6aOOu1RdvvlQqeBWKzwigqW/s320/robertforster_rgb_1.jpg" /></a></div><b>24. Robert Forster 'Songs to Play' (Tapete)</b><br />
It has been seven years since Robert Forster's previous album, The Evangelist, a record which was downbeat and reflective in the aftermath of the sudden death of his fellow Go-Between, Grant McLennan. Recorded live to tape somewhere in remote Australia, with two of the John Steel Singers as his band, <i>Songs to Play</i> sees him recovering some of his wit and playfulness and shows that his gift for writing superb lyrics remains undiminished. <br />
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4nMGtn2OQ7SN5qJXh4XWcy">stream</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqt4V29AfHn9WNaQx4nIMN4rN2Bb5xnWo66TFljD86po6TWM7iXJKfgLFYOsv1VfUtqko9JKiiwYExscnu0k9luIkl4UEhcEhEt1f6pAzHiC1Oz8HhyjRLzReTRsJLYLLhFGOM/s1600/unnamed-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqt4V29AfHn9WNaQx4nIMN4rN2Bb5xnWo66TFljD86po6TWM7iXJKfgLFYOsv1VfUtqko9JKiiwYExscnu0k9luIkl4UEhcEhEt1f6pAzHiC1Oz8HhyjRLzReTRsJLYLLhFGOM/s320/unnamed-2.jpg" /></a></div><b>23. Destroyer 'Poison Season' (Dead Oceans)</b><br />
Like his previous album <i>Kaputt</i>, <i>Poison Season</i> is awash with saxophones, as well as strings and percussion as Dan Bejar fleshes out his well-crafted songs. <a href="http://www.avclub.com/review/poison-season-destroyer-broadens-its-sound-oddball-224116"><i>A.V. Club review</i></a>: "Bejar sounds completely comfortable in any setting. No matter what the context—horn-section rave-up, string quartet, druggy miasma—he sounds completely at home. Poison Season is the sound of an artist in complete control of the strange chaos around him."<br />
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/0X32RgsNanozjRrRd2DRLK">stream</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzP8YhsN5D_a-cewoHm8SYKovnyMsejq_Xx9cTSvI4hMurejQcNKQwZUIEL0ilLiJIoBxGb0zAA585qX3CsIGl3JKWM1VWhL3zZRZb0nte9BwK2nXhNeL70TPf4_dhMVchI50i/s1600/Ought-Sun-Coming-Down.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzP8YhsN5D_a-cewoHm8SYKovnyMsejq_Xx9cTSvI4hMurejQcNKQwZUIEL0ilLiJIoBxGb0zAA585qX3CsIGl3JKWM1VWhL3zZRZb0nte9BwK2nXhNeL70TPf4_dhMVchI50i/s320/Ought-Sun-Coming-Down.jpeg" /></a></div><b>22. Ought 'Sun Coming Down' (Constellation)</b><br />
<a href="http://drownedinsound.com/releases/19006/reviews/4149387"><i>Drowned in Sound review</i></a>: "Ought’s brand of schizophrenic, paranoid, patchwork songwriting could well make for an uneasy listen, but with every passage of brutal sonic assault they offer a warm bed of AM hooks, balancing every handful of poison with a batch of antidote. There’s a marked step forward in the deceptive depth of Sun Coming Down, and Ought perhaps traded in some of their debut longplayer’s immediacy in getting it, but their wit and emotional complexity remain stronger than ever."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCLP__jTr5CKXpqt0MMtZnOjtI1MCS4gINehia_jWQB5BEdNoJoPLqkUtvmV1oOzZDrlFA6nzWFCnEh9y2LTGIMjN7CvSt3L1OjRKAp4q06Em3QYwzSCRaOAxRpDMHpmYeRFY/s1600/kendrick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCLP__jTr5CKXpqt0MMtZnOjtI1MCS4gINehia_jWQB5BEdNoJoPLqkUtvmV1oOzZDrlFA6nzWFCnEh9y2LTGIMjN7CvSt3L1OjRKAp4q06Em3QYwzSCRaOAxRpDMHpmYeRFY/s320/kendrick.jpg" /></a></div><b>21. Kendrick Lamar 'To Pimp a Butterfly' (Top Dawg)</b><br />
There is no doubt that this is arguably the most important album of 2015. Far from a conventional hip-hop release, this opened the ears of many to free jazz (and the mighty Kamasi Washington), and as a protest record it was uncomprising and overwhelming. I found it quite a difficult listen at first, and I think that was its intention. <a href="http://uk.complex.com/music/2015/11/kendrick-lamar-to-pimp-a-butterfly-overwhelming-blackness">This piece from Complex </a> sums up its impenetrable nature as well as its importance. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxH-da0EWzf0DzO-iplQ_9uNuZX66bWUiMxisjf_g3goB7eWhxsc3OR0Tf4lQ_DB_M5JDn0xgfO7bDlbXQyZI3-azPLOZXNiPOnE6gZaQce0cJGc8kEcQsyB8g2hPhwYly3zHM/s1600/four-tet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxH-da0EWzf0DzO-iplQ_9uNuZX66bWUiMxisjf_g3goB7eWhxsc3OR0Tf4lQ_DB_M5JDn0xgfO7bDlbXQyZI3-azPLOZXNiPOnE6gZaQce0cJGc8kEcQsyB8g2hPhwYly3zHM/s320/four-tet.jpg" /></a></div><b>20. Four Tet 'Morning/ Evening' (Text)</b><br />
A lovely sprawling release from Four Tet, two twenty minute pieces, one per side - one for 'Morning', one for 'Evening'. It blends modern electronica with samples of Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar. This review, from <a href="http://prettymuchamazing.com/reviews/four-tet-morning-evening"><i>Pretty Much Amazing</i></a>, totally gets it: "In a world drowning in nocturnal “brooding” electronica... it’s a pleasure to get a clear-eyed electronic record from a guy who’s actively trying to evoke a fragile, non-angsty repose." <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTlqXlybhyg_l_bc3Y6Rkw-swyqQhsUFipkejNcWpOny7J_xaybj5vR5RWqdztKAUUU3NyeggY5RkpK-WnThzW2qnFLTxgpBmvSMqJ5MG3HnExEogTYk4wOn6KMrsJftOIsBI/s1600/gwenno.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTlqXlybhyg_l_bc3Y6Rkw-swyqQhsUFipkejNcWpOny7J_xaybj5vR5RWqdztKAUUU3NyeggY5RkpK-WnThzW2qnFLTxgpBmvSMqJ5MG3HnExEogTYk4wOn6KMrsJftOIsBI/s320/gwenno.jpg" /></a></div><b>19. Gwenno 'Y Dydd Olaf' (Heavenly)</b><br />
A political concept album, mainly in Welsh, based on a dystopian sci-fi novel where robots have taken over the world, created by a former Pipette; it's fair to say that Gwenno's debut was a surprisingly successful one, creeping up on people the way Jane Weaver did last year. It does not matter about what language it is in (there's a track in Cornish too) as the synth-pop tunes are so well sequenced that the whole album is a joy to listen to. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAIUboufuxc3K9-VvMl9mW7QDXZ44RwdCSFknj3HzlL5ppOjHXwJhQzZQUvioRekCIYDFo-i8wrZOIAQp2-AcrEwZi3pZzs4BQ9YSUZ9MLmK4qL4-mbDwHeZAivglMJiHtUO9/s1600/low.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAIUboufuxc3K9-VvMl9mW7QDXZ44RwdCSFknj3HzlL5ppOjHXwJhQzZQUvioRekCIYDFo-i8wrZOIAQp2-AcrEwZi3pZzs4BQ9YSUZ9MLmK4qL4-mbDwHeZAivglMJiHtUO9/s320/low.jpg" /></a></div><b>18. Low 'Ones and Sixes' (Sub Pop)</b><br />
Low's best album for a while, Ones and Sixes is more electronic than their previous album the Invisible Way. They mix pretty tunes and dark moods better than anyone, and the instrumentation here really suits the material. The centrepiece is the epic ten minute 'Landslide'. Their eleventh album, and on this evidence, there will be many many more. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrLAegTzoRmfzQIYKxazUojCYw_S7ei5fxJ9RdbDv2N_Hukp__EZ64GRnzSMj8yHpLO74yHglKOHEL2mDqYuiwkipvgoGFHoa7xBisSbCZZ8FcmMW4FaMYSdyfnqYnxXgqG71/s1600/follakzoid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrLAegTzoRmfzQIYKxazUojCYw_S7ei5fxJ9RdbDv2N_Hukp__EZ64GRnzSMj8yHpLO74yHglKOHEL2mDqYuiwkipvgoGFHoa7xBisSbCZZ8FcmMW4FaMYSdyfnqYnxXgqG71/s320/follakzoid.jpg" /></a></div><b>17. Follakzoid 'III' (Sacred Bones)</b><br />
This was the album where Follakzoid found their own voice. This Chilean bunch are learning and developing all the time. Their previous album ('II') was great but devotees of Krautrock or late 80s psych-rock would have found much of it familiar. 'III' sees them developing their electronic side over four lengthy tracks - it's less of a freak-out, more of a trance-like immersion - and the vocals are used sparingly, creeping up on you like a ghost in the mix.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5Q40yhg_9ks74JaTNAkWk9W2phgs5gETBFWhNOjojF9nUU8SHwJ7XZESuuhg2HcfvUlJ-LnPkXcJtQIRTGpUd75YqxWAt5aOH6oWOf00MMkHipL6cmq5znU61RlURMZo0puI/s1600/floating+points.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5Q40yhg_9ks74JaTNAkWk9W2phgs5gETBFWhNOjojF9nUU8SHwJ7XZESuuhg2HcfvUlJ-LnPkXcJtQIRTGpUd75YqxWAt5aOH6oWOf00MMkHipL6cmq5znU61RlURMZo0puI/s320/floating+points.jpg" /></a></div><b>16. Floating Points 'Elaenia' (Pluto)</b><br />
Sam Shepherd's debut album as Floating Points will surprise people who only know him as a (very eclectic) club DJ. Beats seem less important than texture over the relatively brief 43 minute running time. Instruments are played live by a large group, and they touch on jazz and post-rock. The best tip I got before I listened to this album was to play it loud, mainly because the quiet parts are equally worth hearing. A dynamic range worth exploring.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBbO8J1iqs_pb-w3vWTKLFGvvkO7H8D5jLL0pRt-rf89CkE_T78W2mleQEau7aKEEGeQCeF1LdSthpOhb-cLBRgePDFfl8zJiBbOfbiVcOqe0ThcixJfiiXza2EdQnKBoCoPO/s1600/bjork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBbO8J1iqs_pb-w3vWTKLFGvvkO7H8D5jLL0pRt-rf89CkE_T78W2mleQEau7aKEEGeQCeF1LdSthpOhb-cLBRgePDFfl8zJiBbOfbiVcOqe0ThcixJfiiXza2EdQnKBoCoPO/s320/bjork.jpg" /></a></div><b>15. Bjork 'Vulnicura' (One Little Indian)</b><br />
Bjork's return to the high points of Homogenic and Vespertine is a very uneasy listen. Vulnicura is not just a break-up album, it is an intimate study of heartbreak. <i><a href="http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/bjork-vulnicura">Tiny Mix Tapes review</a></i>: "This is broken music. This is tortured, wracked noise. This is music that gnaws at your bones. And it is nothing short of breathtaking."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVgYtd4Czl2qUQwbbG-wCao6RUPt_FU45vIycPStv1t6JBBejKxD2RJG8paJ-Vhwrvx4ITiI_MwGjpBH0J51deqI9hBldYTeAw5h55xeY0SgoKcXSFW-5KH4oT_vJYtAqxLd-j/s1600/rozi-plain-friend-itunes-mid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVgYtd4Czl2qUQwbbG-wCao6RUPt_FU45vIycPStv1t6JBBejKxD2RJG8paJ-Vhwrvx4ITiI_MwGjpBH0J51deqI9hBldYTeAw5h55xeY0SgoKcXSFW-5KH4oT_vJYtAqxLd-j/s320/rozi-plain-friend-itunes-mid.jpg" /></a></div><b>14. Rozi Plain 'Friend' (Lost Map)</b><br />
Aided this time around by Alexis from Hot Chip, Serafina Steer, and some members of This is the Kit and Francois and the Atlas Mountains, Rozi Plain's third solo album is a delicately beautiful affair. <a href="http://deviatemagazine.com/rozi-plain-friend/">Deviate magazine</a> said "a mesmerising collection of alt-folk songs that capture the fragile depths of “a difficult year, a tumultuous year” and the potent rejuvenating power of music and companionship," which sums it up beautifully I think. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0bxQwHToDflDMQSgreO05Hew2_iRfQw98TqjS8JtJsLRDBC_VfmILYjG4PAveMpafXeV5zRpIoj-WbFKYolvCyWVpFykcwrBxiFDILZOOzxPYewN-x_ctGMqbzHQH_wtoFpC/s1600/death+and+vanilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0bxQwHToDflDMQSgreO05Hew2_iRfQw98TqjS8JtJsLRDBC_VfmILYjG4PAveMpafXeV5zRpIoj-WbFKYolvCyWVpFykcwrBxiFDILZOOzxPYewN-x_ctGMqbzHQH_wtoFpC/s320/death+and+vanilla.jpg" /></a></div><b>13. Death And Vanilla 'To Where the Wild Things Are' (Fire)</b><br />
Death and Vanilla are a Swedish band who tread that delicate line between sixties psychedelia, dream pop and hauntology. Oh, and there are some beats thrown in for good measure. They wear their influences proudly - from Silver Apples to Broadcast - yet ultimately this album has enough in the form of pretty tunes and interesting atmospherics to stand as a valid contemporary release. In fact you would be hard pushed to find a better record within those genres in 2015.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_PByYceLxTQKBUuvuOPZLQhrgPTnQv6HdnNWUYkFJyThuaCdV6dDbkGBQuE93kdr6yFqteCpgAlUjSApzldcF8lQt4YgT7QPgYQx6cMdp6o7K89eY2nCWtk_72nuH9Z796tz/s1600/haiku-salut.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_PByYceLxTQKBUuvuOPZLQhrgPTnQv6HdnNWUYkFJyThuaCdV6dDbkGBQuE93kdr6yFqteCpgAlUjSApzldcF8lQt4YgT7QPgYQx6cMdp6o7K89eY2nCWtk_72nuH9Z796tz/s320/haiku-salut.jpeg" /></a></div><b>12. Haiku Salut 'Etch and Etch Deep' (How Does It Feel to be Loved)</b><br />
My review of this on <a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/haiku-salut-etch-and-etch-deep-143">the 405</a>: "This music recalls the minimal quirkiness of múm, the melodic sweeps of Sigur Rós, and at times comes across like Yann Tiersen's Amelie soundtrack if had been transported to the recent future. It is still surprising to find that Haiku Salut have created all this in Derbyshire and not somewhere more exotic. Ultimately though, it is about mixing disparate influences and seeing how they blend together. Happily for all of us, this approach works brilliantly."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OY9KSuIBwUIrfFYGnIgSobWRJhgp4zYhqc0NvF555t325ftbbjsVpxGvzyoEX3lAidO-o5u381Ggfca2fX1-5vcSxO3aYp9jG_OjAJ5f2xLkPmsk4frPdaJXG69T49kD1LWJ/s1600/documenta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OY9KSuIBwUIrfFYGnIgSobWRJhgp4zYhqc0NvF555t325ftbbjsVpxGvzyoEX3lAidO-o5u381Ggfca2fX1-5vcSxO3aYp9jG_OjAJ5f2xLkPmsk4frPdaJXG69T49kD1LWJ/s320/documenta.jpg" /></a></div><b>11. Documenta 'Drone Pop 1' (Touch Sensitive)</b><br />
Always a pleasure to include music that comes from Northern Ireland, and I'm even more pleased to say this is my favourite drone pop (for want of a better description) release of the year. Spacemen 3 and Kosmische influences are to the fore, and there is a sprinkling of 90s indie too. <a href="http://www.backseatmafia.com/2015/11/11/album-review-documenta-drone-pop-1/">Backseat Mafia</a> said "‘Drone Pop #1′ is an intelligent literate foray, a rich and expansive, magpie’s eye treasure trove of wonders, the romance of a Byronic “Grand Tour” for a disposed generation," so there! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMeY96Hxc8C930HGRD1HQGrYLuo1YrA6Ks9Ev-zzNNmbDWW4PkgjSSWh-igCnHlXkuPBE9AatEiHTjKX8UXIZI1ZPMOZIHOlVzGTx-M8k2lCOaT-kagXohsKV5CLjUDy8nSP1/s1600/trembling-bells-sovereign-self-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMeY96Hxc8C930HGRD1HQGrYLuo1YrA6Ks9Ev-zzNNmbDWW4PkgjSSWh-igCnHlXkuPBE9AatEiHTjKX8UXIZI1ZPMOZIHOlVzGTx-M8k2lCOaT-kagXohsKV5CLjUDy8nSP1/s320/trembling-bells-sovereign-self-300x300.jpg" /></a></div><b>10. Trembling Bells 'The Sovereign Self' (Tin Angel)</b><br />
Whilst I have enjoyed most of the Trembling Bells releases to date, this is the first one that I absolutely love. What has changed? Well, for a start there's an extra (electric) guitarist which manages to skew their already heady brew of psychedelic rock and traditional folk towards something leaner like Television. The main reason this album works is that the songs are stronger this time around, and their vocals, as always, are something to behold. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmtWNsFiKGiXPu0DDZEp5VH34kRAi-TdCstaewdZNKLbev6lbYAdM23nGTfE1-ULUAeT_WBtNRNnCGG9SwBvqj9vSLEdKxVSEPTIeaPKZQhqusN-UvDXAUUczUpDXwH0mUuMs/s1600/Wilderness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmtWNsFiKGiXPu0DDZEp5VH34kRAi-TdCstaewdZNKLbev6lbYAdM23nGTfE1-ULUAeT_WBtNRNnCGG9SwBvqj9vSLEdKxVSEPTIeaPKZQhqusN-UvDXAUUczUpDXwH0mUuMs/s320/Wilderness.jpg" /></a></div><b><br />
9. Julia Holter 'Have you in My Wilderness' (Domino)</b><br />
A worthy follow-up to the excellent Loud City Song, this release saw Holter step away from the city towards a more pastoral setting. This time her songs are refined and accessible, her voice taking centre stage, crystal clear. Great review from MusicOMH <a href="http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/julia-holter-have-you-in-my-wilderness">here.</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2-lPFUSgws4siDuz9bG-5zW6A_1BuJKGGW2Y3q9G1FDWvfBT5vIlIBZlgGvQrsejaotR6Vn1Mrz6Hd_4W95H24rWjF55JxpSvVl_GY1OO_aILwhnyj1yJgEwyK8-OJErP8Y4/s1600/macmccaughan_nonbelievers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2-lPFUSgws4siDuz9bG-5zW6A_1BuJKGGW2Y3q9G1FDWvfBT5vIlIBZlgGvQrsejaotR6Vn1Mrz6Hd_4W95H24rWjF55JxpSvVl_GY1OO_aILwhnyj1yJgEwyK8-OJErP8Y4/s320/macmccaughan_nonbelievers.jpg" /></a></div><b>8. Mac McCaughan 'Non-Believers' (Merge)</b><br />
Brilliantly surprising debut solo album from the mainman behind Superchunk, a kind of song-cycle detailing the lives of a couple of goth kids in the early 80s, and unashamedly in love with synth-pop. This is the sound of someone feeling their way back into the music of their youth, and the end result is so much more than a vanity side project. I reviewed it <a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/mac-mccaughan-non-believers-143">here</a> (but I like it even more now) and interviewed Mac about it <a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/article/the-405-meets-mac-mccaughan-144">here</a><br />
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<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4RPRmfSobFWkd1eFEbMKwy">stream</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVt2wNvyc4L4Bhf-TZBLJr6c48Re3S4jTOFsBWNWwQW_typ-UsV39jlezBCm7J_lmlRKKg1ygnIuIMAyYv1ldtFuu2xYSWy4T7CMklI-jW9AyVbTeFl7fL64ahzvVN71u5fAn/s1600/OPNCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVt2wNvyc4L4Bhf-TZBLJr6c48Re3S4jTOFsBWNWwQW_typ-UsV39jlezBCm7J_lmlRKKg1ygnIuIMAyYv1ldtFuu2xYSWy4T7CMklI-jW9AyVbTeFl7fL64ahzvVN71u5fAn/s320/OPNCover.jpg" /></a></div><b>7. Oneohtrix Point Never 'Garden of Delete' (Warp)</b><br />
Garden of Delete is so audacious and so ambitious, and despite being the maddest record on this list, parts of it also qualify as some of the most accessible music which Daniel Lopatin has made. For a start there are some sung vocals, and electronic glitches sit beside soft rock and somehow it all works. Its accessibility may stem from the fact that all this music has a back story, and Lopatin invented imaginary bands and characters through blogs like <a href="http://kaossed.blogspot.co.uk/">this</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4l4tgdU69cbukMzliC4xI6">stream</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IBu8dHAyE8hEeEkXGTryToiW-MuLgB3I5uQhHL4hgPt0kXWFp47QaiL9MByPPQXOGcwh9FkacNbgtUOShj7LwOG_eWG0VBET66Mm67cw4TRee3U3PKprTxk0wA81hncukWLh/s1600/jim+o%2527rourke+simple+songs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IBu8dHAyE8hEeEkXGTryToiW-MuLgB3I5uQhHL4hgPt0kXWFp47QaiL9MByPPQXOGcwh9FkacNbgtUOShj7LwOG_eWG0VBET66Mm67cw4TRee3U3PKprTxk0wA81hncukWLh/s320/jim+o%2527rourke+simple+songs.jpg" /></a></div><b>6. Jim O'Rourke 'Simple Songs' (Drag City)</b><br />
Recorded in his adopted home of Tokyo with some great Japanese musicians, Simple Songs sounds fantastic, and the intricate arrangements mean that every time you come back to the songs they reveal something new. Most of all it gives a snapshot into the contradictions which make Jim O’Rourke so fascinating. Lyrically this is the grumblings of a middle-aged man and musically this ends up somewhere between easy listening and math-rock. This is widescreen music, not for background listening.<br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/I5z60wXBLYQ">listen</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHbU5sl_NU1R2GKdifcfFQwWXPF7Vi8EUnOLzhNUExOB98BiAatz8LngNLG26zxfTVAWLavV1AS75HIq3gkawlHOjC3b5PDik0i7vpcWWmz5l31EEmbZw0nnkB57L8g4F0EX8/s1600/kathryn-joseph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHbU5sl_NU1R2GKdifcfFQwWXPF7Vi8EUnOLzhNUExOB98BiAatz8LngNLG26zxfTVAWLavV1AS75HIq3gkawlHOjC3b5PDik0i7vpcWWmz5l31EEmbZw0nnkB57L8g4F0EX8/s320/kathryn-joseph.jpg" /></a></div><b>5. Kathryn Joseph 'Bones You Have Thrown Me and Blood I've Spilled' (Hits the Fan)</b><br />
Awards may be regarded as useless by many of my peers but if Kathryn Joseph had not won the Scottish Album of the Year Award, I doubt that I would've heard this. The album is still under-reviewed and I know little about her. The songs here are haunting and sometimes intense, her striking voice accompanied mostly by minimal acoustic piano. <a href="http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/13198002.Kathryn_Joseph__Bones_You_Have_Thrown_Me_And_Blood_I_ve_Spilled__Hits_The_Fan_/">This review from Herald Scotland</a> explains a bit more<br />
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<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/5w7lbQUaJPeBElRceXW8vl">stream</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSWvbMM4k9F_U9lsnbOZ9HxZEeSC7RzvolNdqt9Zt7A1ZupbEKxDeT2VOtyiFx-AwQP8z57jrmpnYWgOz9zfydUrFQmaE1UVajpQ7PQRFNfHoghYaSbNt0DzBCnPVWzUwNxGl/s1600/girl_band_-_holding_hands_with_jamie_-_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSWvbMM4k9F_U9lsnbOZ9HxZEeSC7RzvolNdqt9Zt7A1ZupbEKxDeT2VOtyiFx-AwQP8z57jrmpnYWgOz9zfydUrFQmaE1UVajpQ7PQRFNfHoghYaSbNt0DzBCnPVWzUwNxGl/s320/girl_band_-_holding_hands_with_jamie_-_600.jpg" /></a></div><b>4. Girl Band 'Holding Hands with Jamie' (Rough Trade)</b><br />
Whilst watching Girl Band's London show, I was shoved out of the way by a guy who forced his way to the front to take a picture of the guitarist's effects board. Like me, he must have been wondering, "how do they sound like that?" They are probably the single "guitar" band pushing things forward and this debut further proves that. It passes over some of their astonishing early singles in favour of a set of fresh new songs. <a href="http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/09/girl-band-holding-hands-with-jamie-review.html">Paste Magazine</a> sums it up nicely: "Girl Band’s latest is a startling upending of any and all expectations you would dare place upon a modern rock group."<br />
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<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3rVfXtGiIeKX1nkHXhiN1D">stream</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOH8dK1smTe2H3kjFzkEwGRMevrKnU6-wIbgm-oybcpV2IOJ2pxgNQllAeYfim9g1o0ymw8pAx6qFnPPROC7M6zKrWaLuymVX0eeO8ylqeSLguYq7bQxegT9hFHgHbC5fexoY/s1600/JoannaNewsomDivers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOH8dK1smTe2H3kjFzkEwGRMevrKnU6-wIbgm-oybcpV2IOJ2pxgNQllAeYfim9g1o0ymw8pAx6qFnPPROC7M6zKrWaLuymVX0eeO8ylqeSLguYq7bQxegT9hFHgHbC5fexoY/s320/JoannaNewsomDivers.jpg" /></a></div><b>3. Joanna Newsom 'Divers' (Drag City)</b><br />
It's a cliche to say that an album rewards repeated listening, but this is definitely true of Joanna Newsom's latest. Divers is one of a few albums on this list that people will still be listening to and marvelling over decades in the future. The arrangements are stunning, it is beautifully recorded (by Steve Albini of course) but most of all it is proof that if you write fantastic songs then you can't really fail, and there isn't a songwriter to touch her in terms of talent right now.<br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/48xlgXqQKLA">listen</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVWvhO4CBr3z2Nnwgk-DMaRG2dmm2J0kIwYVv4awL1BG-BSyRZWwv6sDHufZHbuI8-B2pIGVfJ7oJvG4s2u5uYhLechmUPo9PGlGuFOjORypNJL3ToQyK4Nb7icXO2rv95p7_/s1600/Thee-Oh-Sees-Mutilator-Defeated-At-Last-560x560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVWvhO4CBr3z2Nnwgk-DMaRG2dmm2J0kIwYVv4awL1BG-BSyRZWwv6sDHufZHbuI8-B2pIGVfJ7oJvG4s2u5uYhLechmUPo9PGlGuFOjORypNJL3ToQyK4Nb7icXO2rv95p7_/s320/Thee-Oh-Sees-Mutilator-Defeated-At-Last-560x560.jpg" /></a></div><b>2. Thee Oh Sees 'Mutilator Defeated at Last' (Castle Face)</b><br />
My favourite rock album of the year, by one of the best rock bands around today. It's hardly a dramatic change in sound after the major line-up change a couple of years ago, and in fact this even trumps 2013's fab Floating Coffin. Thee Oh Sees would be a classic power trio if only they hadn't added the extra drummer, and instead they come across as a Nuggets style garage band who are overdosing on Can. <a href="http://thequietus.com/articles/17859-thee-oh-sees-mutilator-defeated-at-last-review">This review from the Quietus</a> sums up how good it is. <br />
<a href="https://youtu.be/Skc0ohXHLro">stream</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI72f0vGy8SEnr1ZVJw3qnsEYIzcMLePuQ5aDva9znnWC2bO5aWFUxCqIdBm-K73tTq8b4GKMh6UnYXgvJp1nUNcMxcabfKZ-mBeQ7L7Jarmi0KOp905zMAJcvz35fZ2OCH0RF/s1600/sufjan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI72f0vGy8SEnr1ZVJw3qnsEYIzcMLePuQ5aDva9znnWC2bO5aWFUxCqIdBm-K73tTq8b4GKMh6UnYXgvJp1nUNcMxcabfKZ-mBeQ7L7Jarmi0KOp905zMAJcvz35fZ2OCH0RF/s320/sufjan.jpg" /></a></div><b>1. Sufjan Stevens 'Carrie and Lowell' (Asthmatic Kitty) </b> <br />
This was always going to be my number one. 2015 was a year where I spent various visits to my old family home picking through the remnants of my childhood - old diaries and photographs. This album resonated like no other. Sufjan's other two masterpieces (Michigan and Illinois) were expansive and ambitious records, and Carrie & Lowell sits proudly beside them, although it is a much more personal introspective work, focusing on his long distance childhood relationship with his mum and step-Dad. He articulates the difficult family circumstances of his upbringing with this set of simple, beautiful songs. <br />
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<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/0U8DeqqKDgIhIiWOdqiQXE">stream</a> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-49485101302231773202015-08-06T23:06:00.000+01:002015-12-23T00:39:37.918+00:00The best albums of the last three months, May-June-July 2015 editionWhilst they have been a fixture of this site for the past couple of years, the monthly album round-ups didn't happen over the last few months. I have been focusing on other things, not least the new site I'm helping to launch in 2016 (it will be called <b>Suburban Speed</b> and it is taking shape <a href="https://www.facebook.com/suburbanspeedmusic">over here</a>). These monthly round-ups may well move over there in the future. <br />
I did hear plenty of albums in my "break", and I've put together this digest of albums from the months I missed - May and June 2015, with a few added in from the traditionally meagre month of July. The albums aren't listed in any order, but let's say they all managed to score 7/10 or over in my hugely scientific rating system...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6o__Ozp5egTzgRUmAkAzhc4x44wfSIFYCl_H7qh99_YPqQiuEQS2Wp-91v41mBBJ5a6um1zR-EQWMbco4RDu1-qp4RIYjeFbkrKOvEszMg6n2AkZIFWrDkxWswrJR1qjOxMc/s1600/jim+o%2527rourke+simple+songs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6o__Ozp5egTzgRUmAkAzhc4x44wfSIFYCl_H7qh99_YPqQiuEQS2Wp-91v41mBBJ5a6um1zR-EQWMbco4RDu1-qp4RIYjeFbkrKOvEszMg6n2AkZIFWrDkxWswrJR1qjOxMc/s200/jim+o%2527rourke+simple+songs.jpg" /></a></div><b>Jim O'Rourke 'Simple Songs' (Drag City)</b> <a href="http://www.dragcity.com/products/simple-songs">buy</a> | <a href="http://suburbanspeedmusic.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/album-review-simple-songs-jim-orourke.html">my review</a><br />
Simple Songs sounds fantastic, and the intricate arrangements mean that every time you come back to the songs they reveal something new. Most of all it gives a snapshot into the contradictions which make Jim O’Rourke so fascinating. Lyrically this is the grumblings of a middle-aged man and musically this ends up somewhere between easy listening and math-rock. This is widescreen music, not for background listening.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HN1GvrtX9fI84mEa6f0JSU_AOILGEsBy8p-zhKAX0cOW-gK3_O17VRUeFe2aJdWVS8ousDf83KvjuhZHoZne0ZBdHX-RCFlBit1tckL1DZ_02sAh5vKXATGpEIRtUboFS566/s1600/jennyhval.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HN1GvrtX9fI84mEa6f0JSU_AOILGEsBy8p-zhKAX0cOW-gK3_O17VRUeFe2aJdWVS8ousDf83KvjuhZHoZne0ZBdHX-RCFlBit1tckL1DZ_02sAh5vKXATGpEIRtUboFS566/s200/jennyhval.jpg" /></a></div><b>Jenny Hval 'Apocalypse, girl' (Sacred Bones)</b> <a href="http://www.sacredbonesrecords.com/products/sbr134-jenny-hval-apocalypse-girl">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/3AeAZfwBgnhmbNEowNFvcB">stream</a> <br />
Whilst Innocence is Kinky had an edgier backing than this lighter, almost trip-hop sound, it is Jenny Hval's voice and words which draw you in. This is more arty, poetic and at times quite humorous. From the spoken word with noises-off challenge of Big Bananas to the beautiful vocal styling of the Battle is Over, Sabbath, and Take Care of Yourself - at times reminiscent of Robert Wyatt - this is an album which reveals new pleasures on every listen.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKGtGhfOM9pP-fI-4glzVI4gV6uk4-0lGlEZloJnZgydSOOlKifylgvbcCAl_A_cfwj8htBywFsAHEuoZb29ZAHVaFUO97VmEchLtgvWXcyT7wa7H7Jkm5xZNvuA8Sk8HBl7-/s1600/Circuit-des-Yeux.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKGtGhfOM9pP-fI-4glzVI4gV6uk4-0lGlEZloJnZgydSOOlKifylgvbcCAl_A_cfwj8htBywFsAHEuoZb29ZAHVaFUO97VmEchLtgvWXcyT7wa7H7Jkm5xZNvuA8Sk8HBl7-/s200/Circuit-des-Yeux.jpg" /></a></div><b>Circuit des Yeux 'in Plain Speech' (Thrill Jockey)</b> <a href="http://thrilljockey.com/thrill/Circuit-des-Yeux/In-Plain-Speech#.VcKdivNViko">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/72c3qozywj4ON4sRC6ZWTI">stream</a><br />
A baroque-pop, experimental, Scott Walker-channeling tour de force. Haley Fohr's first recording with a "backing" band (albeit one plucked from Chicago's alternative elite) offers atmospheric backgrounds behind a powerful, intriguing vocal performance.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALLVn-xbG0Tk89PzOQF3tDbgWmn-Y_IbgIquPiRXo-Xk_TqWzejKqZ8qWWupQV8JO3EIy1OJ50Qzn9qd2D4hNOp92Dzp7IoLAoJUgp6GHXJYpxLrM6gaXijCc4qYdos3ZDdzk/s1600/death+and+vanilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALLVn-xbG0Tk89PzOQF3tDbgWmn-Y_IbgIquPiRXo-Xk_TqWzejKqZ8qWWupQV8JO3EIy1OJ50Qzn9qd2D4hNOp92Dzp7IoLAoJUgp6GHXJYpxLrM6gaXijCc4qYdos3ZDdzk/s200/death+and+vanilla.jpg" /></a></div><b>Death and Vanilla 'To Where The Wild Things Are' (Fire)</b> <a href="http://www.firerecords.com/site/index.php?page=release&releaseid=00000001212">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/0B0AwmV3v6V838Leorqwsc">stream</a><br />
Death and Vanilla are a Swedish band who tread that delicate line between sixties psychedelia, dream pop and hauntology. Oh, and there are some beats thrown in for good measure. They wear their influences proudly - from Silver Apples to Broadcast - yet ultimately this album has enough in the form of pretty tunes and interesting atmospherics to stand as a valid contemporary release. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEkhk4KiLllLHBcATxQV51KL3kCL08qHpNvgUejsV-SYImlSRGN9Pq_Ko0znmYhvP8zMV3AjxYaxQ8oXVTZjH21wdHJmqgf4PritW9MDJnUNDu7CRzTrYxwDI_oLgHaZIxaU5/s1600/87438-1_WILCO_starwars_LP_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEkhk4KiLllLHBcATxQV51KL3kCL08qHpNvgUejsV-SYImlSRGN9Pq_Ko0znmYhvP8zMV3AjxYaxQ8oXVTZjH21wdHJmqgf4PritW9MDJnUNDu7CRzTrYxwDI_oLgHaZIxaU5/s200/87438-1_WILCO_starwars_LP_cover.jpg" /></a></div><b>Wilco 'Star Wars' (dBpm records)</b> <a href="http://wilcoworld.net/splash-star-wars-links/">free download (ltd time)</a><br />
Seemingly appearing out of nowhere, this is as good an album as Wilco have made since A Ghost Is Born nearly a decade ago. it bridges trad Americana, classic pop and skronky noise with ease. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq68TWV0ZVxSe_xsklhCPFxKDkbDCjrtWu8MvNnVsfnmu4ne3H0GTXFQQCGmJ3aAgaERa6HGvVzQ5JrADHUyH6lI3LjpCL7aYjDD97Gso5mZZpcOCSFn3Mz9Ohd3pvpj-6KJsK/s1600/trembling-bells-sovereign-self-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq68TWV0ZVxSe_xsklhCPFxKDkbDCjrtWu8MvNnVsfnmu4ne3H0GTXFQQCGmJ3aAgaERa6HGvVzQ5JrADHUyH6lI3LjpCL7aYjDD97Gso5mZZpcOCSFn3Mz9Ohd3pvpj-6KJsK/s200/trembling-bells-sovereign-self-300x300.jpg" /></a></div><b>Trembling Bells 'The Sovereign Self' (Tin Angel)</b> <a href="https://tinangelrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-sovereign-self">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/1QnBm1IDlPveEiWEPhBVU1">stream</a><br />
Whilst I have enjoyed most of the Trembling Bells releases to date, this is the first one that I absolutely love. What has changed? Well, for a start there's an extra (electric) guitarist which manages to skew their already heady brew of psychedelic rock and traditional folk towards something leaner like Television. I reckon the songs are stronger too, and their vocals, as always, are something to behold. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmZF1NZsVa2J6XkjfCyqIG7hngz_aeqM_uCI_0Gy_kYiXZW7vqpYcaXkU3i0QjU80eOX9ze34FkZqdxX1Xp_9t4HoACpu6FfU5oPQB9ONUs3sGWqvOk92_QHoKhyfRg7p_tzD/s1600/du-blonde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmZF1NZsVa2J6XkjfCyqIG7hngz_aeqM_uCI_0Gy_kYiXZW7vqpYcaXkU3i0QjU80eOX9ze34FkZqdxX1Xp_9t4HoACpu6FfU5oPQB9ONUs3sGWqvOk92_QHoKhyfRg7p_tzD/s200/du-blonde.jpg" /></a></div><b>Du Blonde 'Welcome Back to Milk' (Mute)</b> <a href="http://www.mutebank.co.uk/mutebank/mutebank/Welcome-Back-To-Milk-Vinyl-Edition/4E540000000">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/2DMBNB5q3znke6bqeOrAKr">stream</a> | <a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/du-blonde-welcome-back-to-milk-143">my review</a><br />
FKA Beth Jeans Houghton, Du Blonde’s debut may not be as extreme as the attention-seeking, merkin-wearing cover photo hints at, but there is a ferocity and a verve which suggests that it is a new lease of life. It's noisy, abrasive, though many of the most impressive aspects of Du Blonde are found in the sheer musical variety on offer. Produced by Bad Seed Jim Sclavonious, this switches between grunge power trio, epic pop songs and subtle piano tunes whilst still managing to sound coherent.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xs1c__B0onUyn14kxj_ax58Wpz9E93iJwmR4jQQvjydn4iT1YT3nGBLckQ2P4o6kV-6CVWXm5Fw1jrCVxIk5ouFE44eHn1uOsjv5cSZ61QLxFjHlkdt5cKXczIbqEIyiFcjh/s1600/rose+windows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xs1c__B0onUyn14kxj_ax58Wpz9E93iJwmR4jQQvjydn4iT1YT3nGBLckQ2P4o6kV-6CVWXm5Fw1jrCVxIk5ouFE44eHn1uOsjv5cSZ61QLxFjHlkdt5cKXczIbqEIyiFcjh/s200/rose+windows.jpg" /></a></div><b>Rose Windows 'Rose Windows' (Sub Pop)</b> <a href="https://megamart.subpop.com/releases/rose_windows/rose_windows">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/3ohzzk37OFQ5aeC94w3gm9">stream</a> | <a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/rose-windows-rose-windows-143">my review</a><br />
When classic influences meet a diverse bunch of musicians like this they get a new lease of life. One wise review said that although the music sounds old, in a way it could only really be made in the here and now. The music is a melting pot which has grown more complex as the years have gone on. No negativity should be read into the fact that they called it a day just before this album came out. They felt that they had run their course and wished to bow out on a high note. They have done exactly that. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLhiuzs-wTiHthNr0Jd-EZnsqKH8ocEkeSMlSWqYeR5XoR-z-9ZVeBfRImEbVRaTevJXGqjj_Ie_Zrsvb7rwElNyw7iY8pWTPfDBpTQVWlWfyOW1QyAEeDCMh9RPe-ZKzZYXm/s1600/ezra-500x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLhiuzs-wTiHthNr0Jd-EZnsqKH8ocEkeSMlSWqYeR5XoR-z-9ZVeBfRImEbVRaTevJXGqjj_Ie_Zrsvb7rwElNyw7iY8pWTPfDBpTQVWlWfyOW1QyAEeDCMh9RPe-ZKzZYXm/s200/ezra-500x500.jpg" /></a></div><b>Ezra Furman 'Perpetual Motion People' (Bella Union)</b> <a href="http://store.bellaunion.com/product/ezra-furman-perpetual-motion-people">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/401FNuUIzv430pSFoBIckW">stream</a><br />
This comes across as the E Street Band fronted by someone more insecure and edgy - maybe Jonathan Richman or Jad Fair? There is no doubt that Ezra is now being recognised as the special talent he so clearly is, and whilst this new record wasn't as immediate for me as its predecessor, a few more listens revealed that the songs are good and the band sound great. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZAs5o7XQqR2xr0PXSFdn5Lb-6oFSBpcmZL7ewZjoDCC3LoXVV-71uLOsnugHhbr1psFTk130Vx28bhDDpVON8wRl0Ji4zAWUcpvgQ4X675XJutdS0cY3-SAArljAwmlcofaG/s1600/haiku-salut.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZAs5o7XQqR2xr0PXSFdn5Lb-6oFSBpcmZL7ewZjoDCC3LoXVV-71uLOsnugHhbr1psFTk130Vx28bhDDpVON8wRl0Ji4zAWUcpvgQ4X675XJutdS0cY3-SAArljAwmlcofaG/s200/haiku-salut.jpeg" /></a></div><b>Haiku Salut 'Etch and Etch Deep' (HDIF)</b> <a href="http://howdoesitfeeltobeloved.bandcamp.com/album/etch-and-etch-deep">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/5bA107hVgbHcWxdm2ICK1X">stream</a> | <a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/haiku-salut-etch-and-etch-deep-143">my review</a><br />
This music recalls the minimal quirkiness of múm, the melodic sweeps of Sigur Rós, and at times comes across like Yann Tiersen's Amelie soundtrack if had been transported to the recent future. It is still surprising to find that Haiku Salut have created all this in Derbyshire and not somewhere more exotic. Ultimately though, it is about mixing disparate influences and seeing how they blend together. Happily for all of us, this approach works brilliantly.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbVa-DAyAX6tGNvNUXyFfG-GND6QlB4oMjW4C3MqEA1zz9SXpLZiTnPtziQW5q8AXBzC37L5LqEuOtDkJy4Z2S8vH5EtmMoYXIuObWq07etLaI5RCjZgrsCmug9DQ4Y0-gZDR/s1600/hollyherndon-platform.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbVa-DAyAX6tGNvNUXyFfG-GND6QlB4oMjW4C3MqEA1zz9SXpLZiTnPtziQW5q8AXBzC37L5LqEuOtDkJy4Z2S8vH5EtmMoYXIuObWq07etLaI5RCjZgrsCmug9DQ4Y0-gZDR/s200/hollyherndon-platform.jpg" /></a></div><b>Holly Herndon 'Platform' (4AD)</b> <a href="https://hollyherndon.bandcamp.com/album/platform">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/1x1agDGl1Y7npXRF7u3prS">stream</a><br />
Every time I return to this there is something more, something I hadn't caught last time. This is genuinely experimental music, mostly based around lush, melodically rich electronica often created from voice samples. There are unusual moments, like the "massage" on 'Lonely At the Top', but ultimately this stands up as a great example of modern, progressive electronica. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GfGvyfEp7ily_lFtOV3nRpgy9y12l9hON7MHKdBR4WoB_jrPQJsPfbOM_4oBk-QegoN7dZOwDZRA-CMCvcM_vRyFz05csDM7-wGFJt-Nt1k4wkn9FEdyn4cHAS5HBAXXBccs/s1600/Sarah_Cracknell_Red_Kite-700x700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GfGvyfEp7ily_lFtOV3nRpgy9y12l9hON7MHKdBR4WoB_jrPQJsPfbOM_4oBk-QegoN7dZOwDZRA-CMCvcM_vRyFz05csDM7-wGFJt-Nt1k4wkn9FEdyn4cHAS5HBAXXBccs/s200/Sarah_Cracknell_Red_Kite-700x700.jpg" /></a></div><b>Sarah Cracknell 'Red Kite' (Cherry Red)</b> <a href="http://www.cherryred.co.uk/discography/sarah-cracknell-red-kite/">buy </a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/2OEbJfZ9kMLMjnCQjhCWVL">stream</a><br />
Whilst there is a pop heart to this solo album from the voice of Saint Etienne, Red Kite is steeped in baroque-pop and 60s folk influences. Somehow sadder and more reflective than I expected, and a fine piece of work. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1RHOS1mIZ8hthW7jC0TBtoGVUGKWwYEiLAtswn4rck8S7LXi7LKE6MJ0lz8GUl3pprAp2eHgGgd2xfDqObbU0rErA5Pr_O0DzY708F13N2qkJs-ZjnGFI77b0JNJP3P08jAI/s1600/Tess_Parks_Anton_Newcombe_I_Declare_Nothing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1RHOS1mIZ8hthW7jC0TBtoGVUGKWwYEiLAtswn4rck8S7LXi7LKE6MJ0lz8GUl3pprAp2eHgGgd2xfDqObbU0rErA5Pr_O0DzY708F13N2qkJs-ZjnGFI77b0JNJP3P08jAI/s200/Tess_Parks_Anton_Newcombe_I_Declare_Nothing.jpg" /></a></div><b>Tess Parks and Anton Newcombe 'I Declare Nothing' ('a' Records)</b> <a href="http://cargorecordsdirect.co.uk/products/tess-parks-anton-newcombe-i-declare-nothing">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/0KpiAkOntxywSO4MQEvEA3">stream</a><br />
I'm not really aware of Tess Parks's previous music, and I'm not a big fan of Newcombe's BJM, but this has a beautifully weary quality to it, and comes across as an updated, more frazzled Mazzy Star. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLBRGfpRwOP4IS7-zMdghxavx1vVqtCr1OAzxzuTSAY-DhvxkGspsbz_YrIWAbUNbbVITjYmixBn58_raSI2KAnUvct3KkheyV2rHgcq5UrmxF5UeJ20dFUYpqwOzKw9yEO-_/s1600/four-tet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLBRGfpRwOP4IS7-zMdghxavx1vVqtCr1OAzxzuTSAY-DhvxkGspsbz_YrIWAbUNbbVITjYmixBn58_raSI2KAnUvct3KkheyV2rHgcq5UrmxF5UeJ20dFUYpqwOzKw9yEO-_/s200/four-tet.jpg" /></a></div><b>Four Tet 'Morning/ Evening' (Text)</b> <a href="https://fourtet.bandcamp.com/album/morning-evening">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/4W3qmT02rdnnEYOv0Xh98v">stream</a><br />
A beautiful release from Kieron Hebden. Just two long pieces, one on each side, as contrasting as morning and evening are in reality. His biggest dalliance with Indian music to date. Although glitches and electronic buzzes give it a modern edge, the 'Morning Side' is centered around a haunting hypnotic vocal which sounds meditative and ancient. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7b7aySYGyTjzxsg2uzt51Mhk-jT-RDZCU1fuONC90DJIxMucDpELHYWjWsmkHetrX-DwkkqvMJD2p1NiGxDGcMwDItbt4z5y6TfWTxnPQ6BarjyF9kVvdCXISlsDSjIn-iOXn/s1600/mbongwana-star-from-kinshasa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7b7aySYGyTjzxsg2uzt51Mhk-jT-RDZCU1fuONC90DJIxMucDpELHYWjWsmkHetrX-DwkkqvMJD2p1NiGxDGcMwDItbt4z5y6TfWTxnPQ6BarjyF9kVvdCXISlsDSjIn-iOXn/s200/mbongwana-star-from-kinshasa.jpg" /></a></div><b>Mbongwana Star 'From Kinshasa' (World Circuit)</b> <a href="https://shop.worldcircuit.co.uk/Shop/PhysicalDetails?pid=WCR_PH_66">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/0kPOl7QSouCaXfzE9LIALm">stream</a><br />
A fascinating record, and one whose influence may well be felt far into the future. Featuring former members of Staff Benda Bilili (and a guest appearance from some of Konono No1) this music sits within the Congolese soukous tradition, but also manages to push its post-punk and electronic influences to the fore just as much. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWXwelm0x1Inks6bI7be6ebjLducXYvhGodk9FEqObP-OCBOVjfJ5V1czReWhKErS8SE7as5nOHb-1vn41a1RAcCEHVdK8W2ZGK94Qkir5Yf4kpPiN9HznPDW0wv2VXpffy6R/s1600/Thee-Oh-Sees-Mutilator-Defeated-At-Last-560x560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWXwelm0x1Inks6bI7be6ebjLducXYvhGodk9FEqObP-OCBOVjfJ5V1czReWhKErS8SE7as5nOHb-1vn41a1RAcCEHVdK8W2ZGK94Qkir5Yf4kpPiN9HznPDW0wv2VXpffy6R/s200/Thee-Oh-Sees-Mutilator-Defeated-At-Last-560x560.jpg" /></a></div><b>Thee Oh Sees 'Mutilator Defeated At Last' (Castle Face)</b> <a href="http://castlefacerecords.co.uk/products/thee-oh-sees-mutilator">buy</a> <br />
Thee Oh Sees are now very much a power trio and I'm sure I'm not the only one to hear echoes of Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience deep in the grooves here. Wild, unhinged rock n roll, and pretty great at that. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrjm_aZ2sLc7eeQKAfoBlzz_VPgnvGm_8zp645RTq27eqd78RhxEs0Rb_BzSoo8hGhr8DU-omLMEaHTV7bGz2Rps-rb-7n52_XxOc0up-weVv-ICQq301EqkP2GCTmx5YnSen/s1600/grimm-grimm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrjm_aZ2sLc7eeQKAfoBlzz_VPgnvGm_8zp645RTq27eqd78RhxEs0Rb_BzSoo8hGhr8DU-omLMEaHTV7bGz2Rps-rb-7n52_XxOc0up-weVv-ICQq301EqkP2GCTmx5YnSen/s200/grimm-grimm.jpg" /></a></div><b>Grimm Grimm 'Hazy Eyes Maybe' (ATP recordings)</b> <a href="http://www.atpfestival.com/store#!/GRIMM-GRIMM-Hazy-Eyes-Maybe-CD-LP-Pre-Order/p/48595739/category=12666121">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/1hRXaDXwfF5cKgdhlyw7DQ">stream</a><br />
Coming across like a dreamy acoustic contemporary of Bo Ningen, Grimm Grimm's debut is a beautiful, subtle record. A genuinely unusual take on modern psychedelia, focusing more on acoustic weirdness rather than volume overload. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa3wz6Oh4fjeaGaKsnGWMQhnavqKRpicIKNiCI_PlZRn5izNmYlG-iL2Hrz4Bw8EA5YrvxTXXaX8i8USonC-hKPMHUNt__ACMVUi_VrhTZ_Pxtjqkvi5d-Chn6U0aQL2nSWhh/s1600/sunkilmoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa3wz6Oh4fjeaGaKsnGWMQhnavqKRpicIKNiCI_PlZRn5izNmYlG-iL2Hrz4Bw8EA5YrvxTXXaX8i8USonC-hKPMHUNt__ACMVUi_VrhTZ_Pxtjqkvi5d-Chn6U0aQL2nSWhh/s200/sunkilmoon.jpg" /></a></div><b>Sun Kil Moon 'Universal Themes' (Caldo Verde)</b> <a href="http://www.caldoverderecords.com/merchandise.html">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/0w8sl9yaolfatPSLaDcuoz">stream</a><br />
Here Mark Kozelek continues to detail the minutae of his life (I assume the album title is ironic) with arguably a more interesting musical palette than last year's acclaimed Benji. He is still stuck on tour as female acquaintances, cats, and other musicians pass by, boxing matches happen, and so on. He has been unpleasant to watch live for a few years now, and I don't bother with his gigs anymore, but this is far from the turkey of an album that some reviewers claimed it was, post-Barbican debacle. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikU65EkfTnt2WnA8PI2qcTh94njZIBFCmKm52u9JGhS26Qdo72ZCB7lal_KOAZzSJdKXePg-k3SpY263G0fYLYGHktt2uvJzLaXaJA40-fyyvbe36os4b3U3j5Ks_k65xnMYEz/s1600/rozi-plain-friend-itunes-mid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikU65EkfTnt2WnA8PI2qcTh94njZIBFCmKm52u9JGhS26Qdo72ZCB7lal_KOAZzSJdKXePg-k3SpY263G0fYLYGHktt2uvJzLaXaJA40-fyyvbe36os4b3U3j5Ks_k65xnMYEz/s200/rozi-plain-friend-itunes-mid.jpg" /></a></div><b>Rozi Plain 'Friend' (Lost Map)</b> <a href="http://lostmap.com/products/rozi-plain-friend">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/2DRGOooaLuTThGjfk1nMgA">stream</a><br />
On to her third solo album already, 'Friend' sees Rozi Plain weave a dreamy mix of folk and laid-back psychedelia with the help of Serafina Steer and Alexis Taylor along the way. Opening track 'Actually' is one of my favourite songs this year. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzUkUyD7agFHM4D0GLaQTAjQIjBTHoMTdvFVRLPZvPADikC9u5AKMOt3H7q5CAEvAYHweUT5FUiElZoROAZxsnEOwh51MCuLERtavUg6FuR34vTr4WIXNJ_aRSy9yBmlnr9uT/s1600/macmccaughan_nonbelievers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzUkUyD7agFHM4D0GLaQTAjQIjBTHoMTdvFVRLPZvPADikC9u5AKMOt3H7q5CAEvAYHweUT5FUiElZoROAZxsnEOwh51MCuLERtavUg6FuR34vTr4WIXNJ_aRSy9yBmlnr9uT/s200/macmccaughan_nonbelievers.jpg" /></a></div><b>Mac McCaughan 'Non Believers' (Merge)</b> <a href="https://www.mergerecords.com/non-believers">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/4RPRmfSobFWkd1eFEbMKwy">stream</a> | <a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/mac-mccaughan-non-believers-143">my review</a><br />
It is interesting that Mac chose to release this album under his own name, almost as if he is deliberately pitching it from a time when there was no Superchunk, or Portastatic, or Merge. He is out there on his own, playing it all himself, freed from expectation. It is fitting as well that his desire to use synths and drum machines has led to a more naïve way of playing. This isn't a slick indie-rock record, although it is a very good one. This is the sound of someone feeling their way back into the music of their youth, and the end result is so much more than a vanity side project. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UABlqGRJFlNkWOgnMlbfKp-zzGS1wNN3qb09gHMOdWu8tsHH45ExI_02RuncSmfNWDoLqjJZUEi5Z1MEqBAp7N2t9dIZhBmkS2JXo_OwSWaduzM-1SpSB4GaUXnnkrEAUZkH/s1600/ATPREP07-Loop-Array1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UABlqGRJFlNkWOgnMlbfKp-zzGS1wNN3qb09gHMOdWu8tsHH45ExI_02RuncSmfNWDoLqjJZUEi5Z1MEqBAp7N2t9dIZhBmkS2JXo_OwSWaduzM-1SpSB4GaUXnnkrEAUZkH/s200/ATPREP07-Loop-Array1.jpeg" /></a></div><b>Loop 'Array 1' (ATP recordings)</b> <a href="http://www.atpfestival.com/recordings/release/looparray1">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/1eWDEbIp6g5kagm8seEcV1">stream</a><br />
Perhaps a surprise that Loop have continued on after their ATP festival reformation. Array is the first of a series of releases, consisting of just four tracks so it's sort of an EP, although closing track radial clocks in at 17 minutes and makes this album length. Robert Hampson is the only constant member but this is not ambient or music concrete, instead it's driven by the kind of riffing that the original Loop excelled at, coupled with a busy, urgent percussion.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xBl0K0LhD7b_x8oA6u_U_UL2GdGzjUY2bVyS61PAim8GTbf4WxuIApIw1Om_YCPLcONAU77B9bCDrYoWwK49-oAxdRaN1GaL8tPUqP1yxmVaaBURhB59w-Fzxou3QnsMdUz0/s1600/distractions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xBl0K0LhD7b_x8oA6u_U_UL2GdGzjUY2bVyS61PAim8GTbf4WxuIApIw1Om_YCPLcONAU77B9bCDrYoWwK49-oAxdRaN1GaL8tPUqP1yxmVaaBURhB59w-Fzxou3QnsMdUz0/s200/distractions.jpg" /></a></div><b>Sauna Youth 'Distractions' (Upset the Rhythm)</b> <a href="https://saunayouth.bandcamp.com/album/distractions">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/75F7e4OtMIF6vhPsHVjDHz">stream</a><br />
As you may expect if you ever caught this lot live, this album fizzes and buzzes with energy. At times they remind me of prime period Buzzcocks, other times they are more abstract on spoken pieces like '(Taking A) Walk'. At their best of cuts like 'The Bridge' and 'Creeping' where they manage to combine strong hooks with abrasive noise really well. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEls0orXcJwQGmRzgJHc0tEH9WL8cVnQcsIKA6bbITK5QrLjUtNwqCxbyNLZ_sxi99wB4bFvzr7h1qtUZFbx91P26kgR3KIdWIuYXxWkMUHWBhRadrmo8_ArOWaIC8QkZ1XhCZ/s1600/TheCairoGang_GoesMissing_Co.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEls0orXcJwQGmRzgJHc0tEH9WL8cVnQcsIKA6bbITK5QrLjUtNwqCxbyNLZ_sxi99wB4bFvzr7h1qtUZFbx91P26kgR3KIdWIuYXxWkMUHWBhRadrmo8_ArOWaIC8QkZ1XhCZ/s200/TheCairoGang_GoesMissing_Co.jpg" /></a></div><b>The Cairo Gang 'Goes Missing' (Drag City)</b> <a href="http://www.dragcity.com/products/goes-missing">buy</a><br />
I suppose most people will associate the Cairo Gang (and its de facto leader) Emmet Kelly with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, so it's a pleasant surprise to find that this latest album takes its cue from guitar-pop as practiced by the Byrds and more recently, Guided By Voices. This was a late arrival and made the list after one listen - it seems varied but some of the songs ('Ice Fishing' for example) are so good they knocked me sideways. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsMVOZwiFsqc_VKNUuWVw80mp5LiBUAqV88HGuD-1t-j2fycWQJQtcsi7fphBxFyHJ6DrXQHthF2YZaoNQyVjKUJlDJkE1ZTj5OKj3d4xSeGieHxtsWDuXXsk9uytJmqKMwT4/s1600/kamasi_washington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsMVOZwiFsqc_VKNUuWVw80mp5LiBUAqV88HGuD-1t-j2fycWQJQtcsi7fphBxFyHJ6DrXQHthF2YZaoNQyVjKUJlDJkE1ZTj5OKj3d4xSeGieHxtsWDuXXsk9uytJmqKMwT4/s200/kamasi_washington.jpg" /></a></div><b>Kamasi Washington 'The Epic' (Brainfeeder)</b> <a href="http://ninjatune.net/release/kamasi-washington/the-epic">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/2j2q2ySuVk43eHB8wI5XQj">stream</a><br />
The Epic is so epic that I've only been able to listen to it all the way through once. Some people will visit this recording on the back of Washington's association with album-of-the-year elect To Pimp A Butterfly, yet The Epic is more of a lesson in jazz history. Released on Brainfeeder, this is more Alice Coltrane than Flying Lotus, and although some of the vocal pieces are too smooth for my tastes, the evocation of the more psychedelic works of Miles Davis and Pharaoh Saunders make it worth investigating further.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TwRAmUzC44msgGjU6HhKvVBcbtODstkjmPQ1QpowgGiXTK5kBdTUY_rqfFDp2zIrNtogTfsRs1ktFBPuVq8jDXE3CmiDJvKnr8ss3r-2TrjW4iPBBNY69b5reEI870JYkr7S/s1600/White_Reaper_Does_It_Again_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TwRAmUzC44msgGjU6HhKvVBcbtODstkjmPQ1QpowgGiXTK5kBdTUY_rqfFDp2zIrNtogTfsRs1ktFBPuVq8jDXE3CmiDJvKnr8ss3r-2TrjW4iPBBNY69b5reEI870JYkr7S/s200/White_Reaper_Does_It_Again_.jpg" /></a></div><b>White Reaper 'White Reaper Does it Again' (Polyvinyl)</b> <a href="https://whitereaper.bandcamp.com/">buy</a> | <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/4LTwE2beptbYBHt8000N84">stream</a><br />
Young American punk types, desperately in love with the American punk of old (the artwork even suggests the Minutemen), and this debut full length manages to be angst-ridden, joyous, and maybe a bit dumb - often in the course of a single song. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-25315794432272402822015-05-29T16:08:00.001+01:002015-05-29T16:08:42.452+01:00Archive Interview: Prolapse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19iu57JYwZBFutBWwLdr6WkRZVUEqdaDcIPF9ZQo53rI_OK92fk6YhbnzCKu7gYDveACKj1mw-YS6cslAmIguA8E_4r9KEA_LLH_aJBqyxomG_axDmV_qE6YmA9B1S_awtQr4/s1600/prolapse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19iu57JYwZBFutBWwLdr6WkRZVUEqdaDcIPF9ZQo53rI_OK92fk6YhbnzCKu7gYDveACKj1mw-YS6cslAmIguA8E_4r9KEA_LLH_aJBqyxomG_axDmV_qE6YmA9B1S_awtQr4/s400/prolapse.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Around twenty years ago, our fanzine The Weedbus did an end of year Readers' Poll, as we thought we were the NME or something. Anyway, Prolapse won the Best Band category fair and square so we chased them for an interview. We usually did interviews in person with bands when they visited Belfast, or sometimes their press people sorted out "phoners" for us, but with Prolapse we decided to conduct it via the Royal Mail, with written communication from our PO Box to theirs. This took ages, and if I recall it properly, it only really took shape when Linda started coordinating the band's replies. The results are below, it's quite fanziney, a bit silly, and I'm pleased to say they answered some of our questions with their tounge firmly in cheek, but I'm posting it here for posterity. We never did get Scottish Mick's replies....<br />
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<br />
<center><i>this interview was published in the Weedbus issue 12, May 1997</i></center><br />
Winners of our last substantial reader's poll, Prolapse are returning to the public eye with a fantastic new single 'Killing the Bland' and an album due in September on Radar records, owned by Warner Brothers. With the help of vocalist Linda I managed to get most of the band to complete a postal interview - apart from Scottish Mick that is, whose answers may appear at a later date! Otherwise it all went smoothly, so here are the results....<br />
<br />
<i>How did the band first get together? </i><br />
Mick (bass): "In 1979 myself, Tim (drums), Scottish Mick (vocalist) and Pat (guitar) were fishing for squid just off the boundary surrounding Ben Nevis. Pat caught three squids and a girl called Linda who despite being covered in coral and sharks teeth was singing a very good version of 'Don't Slip Up' by Meat Whiplash. Scottish Mick only succeeded in catching a bag of eels, Tim caught loads of plankton (which he still has in a jam jar). I was having a bad day, I only caught an amoeba called Dave Jeffries. Prolapse was formed."<br />
<br />
<i>Why did you only issue one album on Cherry Red ('Pointless Walks to Dismal Places' 1995)?</i><br />
Pat: "The label discovered that my brother had been in the infamous Cherry Red outfit The Tights!"<br />
Dave: "They had a dramatic reshuffle and all of their bands fell out of the pack."<br />
<br />
<i>Since then Lissy's has been releasing most of your material - what's the set up there?</i><br />
D: "Lissy's is run by Jamie from the Rough Trade Shop in Covent Garden and basically he puts out records that he likes."<br />
Linda: "Jamie gave us a few fivers to record a single for his label and we ended up recording a whole album ('Backsaturday') by accident."<br />
<br />
<i>Would you rather release one-off singles or albums?</i><br />
L: "Six and two threes - they both have good and bad points."<br />
D: "I don't buy singles and I would like to think that we're able to do both, but I'm not sure that we're capable of either!"<br />
<br />
<i>You've now signed a 'proper' deal with Radar, who are owned by Warner Brothers. How is this going to affect things?</i><br />
L: "We wouldn't sign if there was a whiff of us getting pushed into anything. There would be no point."<br />
D: "We don't know. They seem pretty open to us as an entity. Artistic control is pretty important, but record companies have product to sell, so... let's wait and see, eh?"<br />
<br />
<i>What are your immediate plans?</i><br />
D: "We're in the studio working on the new album with Donald Ross Skinner (ex- Julian Cope, Baba Louie) and plans are to tour pretty soon."<br />
<br />
<i>What annoys you about the current music scene?</i><br />
L: "Anything to do with corporate manipulation."<br />
D: "Where do I start? Most of the music, the national music press, the touring agent competition, the London-centredness as usual."<br />
P: "The current music scene is mainly either bland or ultra-conservative or both."<br />
<br />
<i>What inspires you about the current music scene?</i><br />
P: "One of the things is that at least people are more likely to listen to a broad range of influences - from Tibetan throat music to Lee Hazelwood."<br />
D: "I'm supposed to say something about the way in which the DIY ethic is coming back and Bis are getting on TOTP even without a record deal. However, it doesn't mean anything to me personally and beware of what you read about Bis 'cos they had a huge publishing deal before their much publicised TOTP appearance."<br />
L: "Really what inspires me is the occasional gig/ single which makes me go I LOVE THIS - ie Broadcast/ The Yummy Fur (gigs) and those two Tiger singles, among (few) others."<br />
<br />
<i>Are there any current bands you particularly rate?</i><br />
L: "As well as Broadcast, the Yummy Fur, Tiger, there's Stereolab, Papas Fritas... shit I hate questions like this cos my mind goes blank!"<br />
P: "Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Stereolab."<br />
D: "Apart from Stereolab and a great band called Juno, there's not much worth shouting about. Drum n bass is best - in patches mind!"<br />
<br />
<i>What about influences? Tell us what you think of the constant Fall/ Stereolab/ Krautrock comparisons.</i><br />
P: "Musically I think the comparisons are reasonable. I personally listen to a lot of Krautrock stuff - I can remember my brother's band doing a cover of 'Hero' by Neu!" <br />
D: "All three are an influence on me personally, but it needs to be said that Prolapse were listening to Kraut stuff at the same time as Stereolab and before they started releasing records."<br />
L: "All Prolapse people have different influences. Don't know what mine are but I'd hazard a guess at Dusty Springfield/ Kim Gordon/ loony bin inmates. As for the Stereolab/ Krautrock thing - we and Stereolab are different interpretations of similar influences so it's slightly peeving when people say 'Prolapse are influenced by Stereolab' cos that makes us a different generation which isn't the case. We LOVE Stereolab - but we are their spiritual cousins, not their proteges... or something."<br />
<br />
<i>Your onstage tension, particularly in 'Tina, This Is Matthew Stone' is semi-legendary. Do you all get on?</i><br />
L: "Yes, but every member of the band has been in a fight with another member. Except Pat!"<br />
<br />
<i>Who is Matthew Stone anyway?</i><br />
D: "Matthew Stone is the lead character, played by William Shatner, in a really bad film called '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071654/">Impulse</a>'. He plays a psycho, though not very well."<br />
P: "It's an amazingly bad film - it has to be seen to be believed."<br />
<br />
<i>There are a lot of European references in the songs - do you feel more European than British?</i><br />
D: "I'm afraid to say I'm British despite being Welsh and having lived in Brussels and Dublin. I certainly think we're a very British band."<br />
L: "I don't feel at all European. Europe's a funny old stick if you ask me."<br />
P: "Usually, especially when touring abroad I realise there are some good things about Britain but mainly it's on a downward spiral. The anti-European stuff in the press and from politicians irritates me. You only have to go out on a Saturday night in Leicester to realise what a fucked-up country we're living in."<br />
<br />
<i>Finally, what are the best and worst things in life? Get the worst out of the way first!</i><br />
P: "Kula Shaker, nightclubs, Jim Davidson, Birmingham New Street station, Man Utd, getting out of bed, marmalade, flying, loud music, ginger cake."<br />
D: "Being in a band, seriously! Touring. Too many bad bands to mention. Not being able to spend all my time with my family."<br />
M: "People who eat loudly, getting up early, Noel Edmonds, Ocean Colour Scene, baked bean stains on black jeans, food dribbling from mouths, halitosis, Robin Williams, Jeremy Beadle, Hitler, rich students, posters of blokes with babies, Elvis Presley, Frank Skinner, Suggs, Eric Hall, smell of vomit and crap, Neneh Cherry, Alanis Morrisette, the powdery scrapings at the end of a packet of Golden Virginia, being in Prolapse."<br />
L: "Those moments when you think I HATE MYSELF AND I WANT TO POP MY CLOGS IF ONLY IT WASN'T SO PAINFUL/ MESSY/ EASY AND ANYWAY I MIGHT FEEL BETTER ONE DAY."<br />
<br />
<i>And the best?</i><br />
D: "My family - partner Penny, daughter Ella (3 1/2), son Isaac (7 months). Art. 'Composition for 16 Musicians' Steve Reich, 'Ascension' John Coltrane, reading philosophy and generally being pretentious. Rolling Stones circa 1968- 1972."<br />
P: "UK Gold, Guinness, Sandy Denny, Coronation Street, weasels, stoats and polecats, anything with a long body, piercing eyes and sharp teeth, Everton winning (rare, I admit), Bamboozle."<br />
L: "Those moments when you think I LOVE THIS..."<br />
<br />
Interview co-ordinated by Jonathan, with the help of Linda from the band<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-952456176425061092015-05-05T22:30:00.000+01:002015-05-12T17:38:15.829+01:00The best new albums of the month, April 2015 edition<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg085BShP9qvAHZLe3sQZVID7f9NrHo2r-pkx1HTNEnFVHxIrTXhK_9chyUv8GnwBkhEap_RxLFlk9ocL0Ld4lErdpfhxk9Xpq_Eg2LbEWgfG6gQv32Bci2Yhje7rbikXr24KnU/s1600/10_404_404_516_tmg_900px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg085BShP9qvAHZLe3sQZVID7f9NrHo2r-pkx1HTNEnFVHxIrTXhK_9chyUv8GnwBkhEap_RxLFlk9ocL0Ld4lErdpfhxk9Xpq_Eg2LbEWgfG6gQv32Bci2Yhje7rbikXr24KnU/s200/10_404_404_516_tmg_900px.jpg" /></a></div><b>The Mountain Goats 'Beat The Champ' (Merge)</b> <a href="https://www.mergerecords.com/beat-the-champ">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/7HWC61Sl93gYdBqCV5EIka">stream</a><br />
It's incorrect to call this a return to form, because to be honest the Mountain Goats are always consistent. However, this (fifteenth!) album recalls the sound of 'Tallahassee' and 'The Sunset Tree' to an extent. It's musically varied with piano pieces, brass sections and their default setting of proper rock n roll power trio. It's a "concept" album of sorts, but delightfully, the subject is the world of pro-wrestling and specifically how it resonates through John Darnielle's childhood. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzXDu5gha_WT3uChE8A3V4IFBX6-Ru8adi9ouUgQRRoadsfOVLRcZDar5yNHX9hUcxnWpgg45UKVICNIV3aoa5VUVFLt5BunJ4QRXaZtBwFZKFa2vWWB5-7iVbS3z_OlzQE12/s1600/CST113cover_258x242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzXDu5gha_WT3uChE8A3V4IFBX6-Ru8adi9ouUgQRRoadsfOVLRcZDar5yNHX9hUcxnWpgg45UKVICNIV3aoa5VUVFLt5BunJ4QRXaZtBwFZKFa2vWWB5-7iVbS3z_OlzQE12/s200/CST113cover_258x242.jpg" /></a></div><b>Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld 'Never were the way she was' (Constellation)</b> <a href="http://cstrecords.com/store/categories/COLIN-STETSON-AND-SARAH-NEUFELD/Never-Were-The-Way-She-was/">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/5XWTi7aJnVcihhmN3vGqwD">stream</a> | <a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/colin-stetson-and-sarah-neufeld-never-were-the-way-she-was-143"> my review</a> (the 405)<br />
"Billed as “original compositions for horn and violin”, the debut collaborative album from these two Montreal based musicians comes across as an impressive and experimental work, as they twist and manipulate their instruments to create something futuristic, not traditional. Sometimes they gel beautifully, and sometimes the tension between them adds drama and dynamics, bringing their instrumental music into sharp focus."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1It-DV1hi9eW6TNbUMT5dqyIlIG7rd1IyZvYXNbiJ7qyReDCPgSvB5j48UsTXz0yQnFInAB-1ts6ZPaIFgkRUL6_W2c4X6ppH6Hl_N-LmBMi-q0qRiCXvCsfXvw3_LhfKqvu/s1600/colleen-captain-of-none-artwork-by-iker-spozio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1It-DV1hi9eW6TNbUMT5dqyIlIG7rd1IyZvYXNbiJ7qyReDCPgSvB5j48UsTXz0yQnFInAB-1ts6ZPaIFgkRUL6_W2c4X6ppH6Hl_N-LmBMi-q0qRiCXvCsfXvw3_LhfKqvu/s200/colleen-captain-of-none-artwork-by-iker-spozio.jpg" /></a></div><b>Colleen 'Captain of None' (Thrill Jockey)</b> <a href="http://thrilljockey.com/thrill/Colleen/Captain-of-None#.VUnX2iFVikp">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3eiRo1DsYQ8OCD5PUy5LH3">stream</a><br />
Perhaps better known for some beautiful ambient records over the last decade, Colleen has fallen in love with Jamaican music, and although Captain of None is still built around her viola-de-gamba playing, the dub effects, bass lines and the minimal lyrical touches underline the stylistic shift in her music. A worthwhile reinvention, albeit a subtle one. Read my interview with Colleen <a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/news/article/colleen-interviewed-143">here</a> (the 405)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SSOO86MI1T0kTMi5Mr92g1RcEWq5jH2Iv9kxcPr2jWF2PmUR1GE597Zh8CEQBzyHLuDn-kOClFRLGLgnseLsydQuVe5kkavBsYDx0hqgtb6W7cwGYJwsSo8gFnQ7uMWSJLyw/s1600/10_404_404_549_waxahatchee_ivytrip_900px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SSOO86MI1T0kTMi5Mr92g1RcEWq5jH2Iv9kxcPr2jWF2PmUR1GE597Zh8CEQBzyHLuDn-kOClFRLGLgnseLsydQuVe5kkavBsYDx0hqgtb6W7cwGYJwsSo8gFnQ7uMWSJLyw/s200/10_404_404_549_waxahatchee_ivytrip_900px.jpg" /></a></div><b>Waxahatchee 'Ivy Tripp' (Merge/ Wichita)</b> <a href="http://www.wichita-recordings.com/shop/">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/330rzJqNOw2BELsfWg3vXl">stream</a><br />
A more complex, slowburning record than her previous releases, Katie Cruchfield's latest under the Waxahatchee name is none the worse for that. A little more enigmatic than standard indie-rock fare, this rewards repeated listens. It's not all downbeat, and there is a fair dose of quality indie-pop goodness here too. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8sm5c5zj6DBTwY990buLOSg2QqqZ0IZFCs2GduyzVmXWlIYCVVIBZGY1eRaNtkVCIt8OVeG5FOOHnaY9XNUYSvI26RuC1nuFxdb5UTX8N4U-1F-sHtK62EDVDgXx61GP79w1/s1600/1042d11f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8sm5c5zj6DBTwY990buLOSg2QqqZ0IZFCs2GduyzVmXWlIYCVVIBZGY1eRaNtkVCIt8OVeG5FOOHnaY9XNUYSvI26RuC1nuFxdb5UTX8N4U-1F-sHtK62EDVDgXx61GP79w1/s200/1042d11f.jpg" /></a></div><b>Built to Spill 'Untethered Moon' (ATP Recordings)</b> <a href="http://www.builttospill.com/untetheredmoon">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/7nBxEjW4jECykyjwgWfOXv">stream</a><br />
I've been giving Built to Spill a wide berth these last few years. On the strength of this album I've been foolish as this isn't far off the heights of their cracking albums from the 90s. Doug Marsh's guitar parts are stellar. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNWmDZC_X5l80gmgLJbqeJFkKvGUpqa9Zx6OAptwBaN5c1SQsSy0F5tfIhjeZ5W8r1NwaaKIXj8RJr32FnpKkdgftJT0duc_ttYkjybT1SVGb9MLDf68yWH-olcB0pnWSCHtR/s1600/151840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNWmDZC_X5l80gmgLJbqeJFkKvGUpqa9Zx6OAptwBaN5c1SQsSy0F5tfIhjeZ5W8r1NwaaKIXj8RJr32FnpKkdgftJT0duc_ttYkjybT1SVGb9MLDf68yWH-olcB0pnWSCHtR/s200/151840.jpg" /></a></div><b>Follakzoid 'III' (Sacred Bones)</b> <a href="http://www.sacredbonesrecords.com/products/sbr128-follakzoid-iii">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6L7pzEiBpKK2tfnnOH1lGe">stream</a><br />
This Chilean bunch are learning and developing all the time. Their previous album ('II') was great but devotees of Krautrock or late 80s psych-rock would have found much of it familiar. 'III' sees them developing their electronic side over four lengthy tracks - it's less of a freak-out, more of a trance-like immersion - and the vocals are used sparingly, creeping up on you like a ghost in the mix.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUJCyWwKRQR5MXGjRj-J6ZngH52m9CmtcgcTYIR6z81pxQzFKYzCoDb4tpzX0swrSBDsUtUo5Q0YQEBspsdb3LOrouFsmAnnpOdatUMuAPGYMhU4p7685zSkJsZksVaqsVhUm/s1600/gnod-infinity-machines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUJCyWwKRQR5MXGjRj-J6ZngH52m9CmtcgcTYIR6z81pxQzFKYzCoDb4tpzX0swrSBDsUtUo5Q0YQEBspsdb3LOrouFsmAnnpOdatUMuAPGYMhU4p7685zSkJsZksVaqsVhUm/s200/gnod-infinity-machines.jpg" /></a></div><b>GNOD 'Infinity Machines' (Rocket Recordings)</b> <a href="https://rocketrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/infinity-machines">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4d8WDhOk3DBzxZEQaCiKYK">stream</a><br />
There should be more bands, or collectives, or whatever they are, like GNOD. Here the Salford bunch extend themselves over triple vinyl - nearly two hours in length - and their blend of noise-rock, electronics and unhinged sax sounds as good as ever. More politicised and edgy than many other, wordier bands. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33b5wvPCLaGQPacy8OJ1I9Pw6V7VXn5kyh1e1PEQe2bQux6xq6kBWpZApWRg6RoOmOl0u1aHrbAqi_YUJ69MlGfhnxwKZu8kpM-LkjOzFRBqDEKgKZM9bO0GbWRRbo_50c_aT/s1600/YF-wmabmt-cover-web-560x560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33b5wvPCLaGQPacy8OJ1I9Pw6V7VXn5kyh1e1PEQe2bQux6xq6kBWpZApWRg6RoOmOl0u1aHrbAqi_YUJ69MlGfhnxwKZu8kpM-LkjOzFRBqDEKgKZM9bO0GbWRRbo_50c_aT/s200/YF-wmabmt-cover-web-560x560.jpg" /></a></div><b>Young Fathers 'White Men are Black Men Too' (Big Dada)</b> <a href="http://www.bigdada.com/release/young-fathers/white-men-are-black-men-too">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3xtwcBeltPMO0I4PnDfV0k">stream</a><br />
A fascinating multi-layered record, released with the tagline "file under rock and pop". It's much more than that - a huge mix of styles and genres, belying their pigeonhole as a hip-hop act. Some parts could almost be northern-soul floor fillers, whilst others touch on experimental noise-rock - it is at one moment catchy, and at another moment challenging - yet it is always rewarding. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRY0Rs9PwIxYAcrJrzm-Os9GezCv5WKH8R_hggfMN1H_l4YjjJ_rown1PdzkNhiGZ36PulLry43p1YzjqNv-Sc_MME4884S6u8pXLXZtwQrVUU_bTlvDr9W9gC7HJZykuY6GaB/s1600/9ddd7059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRY0Rs9PwIxYAcrJrzm-Os9GezCv5WKH8R_hggfMN1H_l4YjjJ_rown1PdzkNhiGZ36PulLry43p1YzjqNv-Sc_MME4884S6u8pXLXZtwQrVUU_bTlvDr9W9gC7HJZykuY6GaB/s200/9ddd7059.jpg" /></a></div><b>Braids 'Deep in the Iris' (Arbutus)</b> <a href="http://arbutusrecords.com/?shopp_product=braids-deep-in-the-iris">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/0Dy6UqW0NHe80kBDvSc5JH">stream</a><br />
Another release which people are calling a change of direction. It's not really. Whereas their second album saw them change radically to swap swirling guitars for synths, this one is simply a progression from that. The big developments are in the delivery and the lyrics of Raphaelle Standell-Preston, at times brave and brilliant - check out 'Miniskirt' for example. Oh, and her voice still soars as well. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTL50i42kk0jpLldHFrOV0p7WcwwAdGjnF9cXb2Js1AWWIwq82LQXWvRqAov_z1xOVX_PvNteaMPPtEQc99owhh_BXeyCWcmZxtNXTKtjZnv-Z3qbzM0ZtYKOob97TnA3UUMQ/s1600/ela-orleans-upper-hell-LST16503_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTL50i42kk0jpLldHFrOV0p7WcwwAdGjnF9cXb2Js1AWWIwq82LQXWvRqAov_z1xOVX_PvNteaMPPtEQc99owhh_BXeyCWcmZxtNXTKtjZnv-Z3qbzM0ZtYKOob97TnA3UUMQ/s200/ela-orleans-upper-hell-LST16503_b.jpg" /></a></div><b>Ela Orleans 'Upper Hell' (HB)</b> <a href="https://www.normanrecords.com/records/152982-ela-orleans-upper-hell-">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3JOK0wNOXCCphp9uPtxLME">stream</a><br />
Perhaps surprisingly produced and released by Howie B, this new one from Glasgow-based, Polish born Ela Orleans is a thrilling slice of dark electronica. 'Upper Hell' is where Dante started his descent. This album flicks between spooky imaginary soundtrack music, catchy pop and downbeat atmospherics. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-52710186141422989132015-04-09T22:30:00.000+01:002015-04-09T23:33:20.599+01:00The best new albums of the month, March 2015 edition<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vehWSVoY8rjVC_izsCQEGwglYGrJGcKqR1khbTECoR_aU8DazO0Hd-uQRYpKd5e0bGuNgqz7XgcKCNfh04p8wC5fmT3IyKhRdTRowJgdfLB6oteLK6L8BxTTSN3RiouswMLW/s1600/lightningbolt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vehWSVoY8rjVC_izsCQEGwglYGrJGcKqR1khbTECoR_aU8DazO0Hd-uQRYpKd5e0bGuNgqz7XgcKCNfh04p8wC5fmT3IyKhRdTRowJgdfLB6oteLK6L8BxTTSN3RiouswMLW/s200/lightningbolt.jpg" /></a></div><b>Lightning Bolt 'Fantasy Empire' (Thrill Jockey)</b> <a href="http://www.thrilljockey.com/thrill/Lightning-Bolt/Fantasy-Empire#.VSalHvnF9yw">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1HN2Y71apfstJXoWxDPTJO">stream</a> | <a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/lightning-bolt-fantasy-empire-142">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
"In the five years away from the studio they certainly haven't stagnated. <i>Fantasy Empire</i> is the sound of a band modifying their sound rather than totally changing direction and whilst their spontaneity may have been tempered by their new ways of recording, their intensity and creativity remains very much intact."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXT9UXxOI9Je0Q4sdgrx3A0RVCS14jrr3prBX2RA9QDB3TIp33gHZ0to4V4LKTnZlncACl-8gdWKa2okmqwPnx415A4z9SujmSYlD-1_wlOSXB1D63yiCg7tgAB7Zd7o1Q3ct_/s1600/bw-am.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXT9UXxOI9Je0Q4sdgrx3A0RVCS14jrr3prBX2RA9QDB3TIp33gHZ0to4V4LKTnZlncACl-8gdWKa2okmqwPnx415A4z9SujmSYlD-1_wlOSXB1D63yiCg7tgAB7Zd7o1Q3ct_/s200/bw-am.jpg" /></a></div><b>Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat 'The Most Important Place in the World' (Chemikal Underground)</b> <a href="http://shop.chemikal.co.uk/acatalog/CHEM220.html">buy</a> | <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/mar/13/aidan-moffat-and-bill-wells-the-most-important-place-in-the-world-exclusive-album-stream">stream</a><br />
The second album from the genial Scotsmen, and a worthy follow-up to the excellent <i>Everything's Getting Older</i>. Bill's arrangements (from ballads to wild jazz) complement Aidan's poetic words so well, and the genuinely alarming 'Lock Up Your Lambs' comes across like an unplugged Liars. This album will be keeping me company all year. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwNoVK97dsiM7YnI3YvnwqQs6OPGeVNjpRmMDVRpKY9L10Z0JqjE8O7uAp75rmS010z38EtTt5S5g5RRj7_tyu3OjtHBapvbruscKdZxqiSMJHbSliaNizgANlgu2aAjy5OFT/s1600/sufjan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwNoVK97dsiM7YnI3YvnwqQs6OPGeVNjpRmMDVRpKY9L10Z0JqjE8O7uAp75rmS010z38EtTt5S5g5RRj7_tyu3OjtHBapvbruscKdZxqiSMJHbSliaNizgANlgu2aAjy5OFT/s200/sufjan.jpg" /></a></div><b>Sufjan Stevens 'Carrie and Lowell' (asthmatic kitty)</b> <a href="http://music.sufjan.com/album/carrie-lowell">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/0U8DeqqKDgIhIiWOdqiQXE">stream</a> |<br />
Sufjan's other two masterpieces (<i>Michigan</i> and <i>Illinois</i>) were expansive and ambitious records, and <i>Carrie & Lowell</i> sits proudly beside them, although it is a much more personal introspective work, focusing on his long distance childhood relationship with his mum and step-Dad. It reveals new raw details with every listen, and it is heartbreakingly beautiful. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqtOb-A4fQu6U8B13P9P_0Jc3g9jSEEmCmyjWZKbei2Awz2zeQmJTTsKFq6r4mCDt3pwTESHcxy_GyFh2bjeJGdHObG1gKCOM_cqFIysGH86MYz-HmKfN2rdqQIH3JYtrqdiu/s1600/gybe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqtOb-A4fQu6U8B13P9P_0Jc3g9jSEEmCmyjWZKbei2Awz2zeQmJTTsKFq6r4mCDt3pwTESHcxy_GyFh2bjeJGdHObG1gKCOM_cqFIysGH86MYz-HmKfN2rdqQIH3JYtrqdiu/s200/gybe.jpg" /></a></div><b>Godspeed You! Black Emperor 'Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress' (constellation)</b> <a href="http://cstrecords.com/cst111/">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3ld6n4RnKT8mYYOhAOg2Kf">stream</a> |<br />
Avid fans will recognise the music here as the centrepiece from their 2013 tour, aka 'Behemoth'. It has been honed into four sections and trimmed to a mere 40 minutes - very short for a GY!BE album. Worth noting that this is the first fruit from the post-reformation GY!BE, given that the previous album was material that existed before their hiatus, so it's interesting to note the absence of any voice samples. Now they sound heavier, leaner and still totally essential. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYn4E3mcwcCOiQZO6pYPGRExtF8cbS0lD1GELaGPUVS7eLImjA9luOaddOIPyRYGHL13Vjeh5GghOCSIcFIfVBUKiLakCONyHpcWoJ8OdfzWl19zCj4r1fU03PfNuPGI-4HA8/s1600/Pile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYn4E3mcwcCOiQZO6pYPGRExtF8cbS0lD1GELaGPUVS7eLImjA9luOaddOIPyRYGHL13Vjeh5GghOCSIcFIfVBUKiLakCONyHpcWoJ8OdfzWl19zCj4r1fU03PfNuPGI-4HA8/s200/Pile.jpg" /></a></div><b>Pile 'You're Better Than This' (Exploding in Sound)</b> <a href="https://pile.bandcamp.com/album/youre-better-than-this">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1UuwoREvBdx1123qwJA3fW">stream</a> |<br />
The third album from this New England based bunch sees them in rowdy form, with vocalist Rick Maguire on the edge of a tantrum throughout. Bizarre, imaginative lyrics and an unhinged energy to rival prime period Modest Mouse, Fugazi, Pixies, it's that kind of vibe. Juddering, erratic and a whole lot of fun. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEX1ITyCA6iU08smw_-1cVps6dqQuJWgOYvUwBa83B7btdF-FGq01v4hUnFyHRnzIeTZAX3_sPPJoEXMoI3m1kuCkbrdCUe1c2NAtusI8c8bksVg4BXVJ7uIRDc8WuNckvin0z/s1600/escape-from-evil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEX1ITyCA6iU08smw_-1cVps6dqQuJWgOYvUwBa83B7btdF-FGq01v4hUnFyHRnzIeTZAX3_sPPJoEXMoI3m1kuCkbrdCUe1c2NAtusI8c8bksVg4BXVJ7uIRDc8WuNckvin0z/s200/escape-from-evil.jpg" /></a></div><b>Lower Dens 'Escape From Evil' (Ribbon Music/ Domino)</b> <a href="http://ribbon.dominorecordco.com/ribbon/albums/27-01-15/escape-from-evil/">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4ztSevVXz3CNtlqqPWY1Ni">stream</a> |<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/news/article/lower-dens-interviewed-142">my interview with Jana Hunter from Lower Dens</a> (the 405)<br />
A shift towards left field 80s influenced pop and slightly away from the overtly experimental leanings of predecessor <i>Nootropics</i>. Shades of Motorik and Berlin-era Bowie are evident, but ultimately this is a collection of finely crafted songs with depths and layers underneath that pop sheen.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZKeDGdk8A6ksI8duPjo_jOSEQ_z1LlUmtexMyILv8RYsCOMMcnVMTyVXxAbhj0WC3GDUwsxE85wphjZ4rA-IVTUVF6H8DDF391_dkH7_RchSg1eTx8ghM95ouW_Nq2eH5Wcd/s1600/mew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZKeDGdk8A6ksI8duPjo_jOSEQ_z1LlUmtexMyILv8RYsCOMMcnVMTyVXxAbhj0WC3GDUwsxE85wphjZ4rA-IVTUVF6H8DDF391_dkH7_RchSg1eTx8ghM95ouW_Nq2eH5Wcd/s200/mew.jpg" /></a></div><b>Matthew E. White 'Fresh Blood' (Domino)</b> <a href="http://www.dominorecordco.com/uk/albums/02-12-14/fresh-blood/">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/5OGJgAhcBPAUIHX5x47eDK">stream</a> |<br />
It's fair to say that this isn't a massive departure from Matthew's superlative debut <i>Big Inner</i> - the seventies soul feel, the big arrangements, and his laid-back delivery are all present and correct, and serve to show what a talent this guy is. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GElJxA3BD67pURKHLBcjYIQBwP94honYpixUEMgLw2um5e5xzMsEFOTblRTMWTjuUxuYGB_fUKTNtHHh7z9ecWGk-_kpMAQ9I7SCq3ImxCGXIzCbwu83-zJ61dvYonS04qFL/s1600/loneladyhinterland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GElJxA3BD67pURKHLBcjYIQBwP94honYpixUEMgLw2um5e5xzMsEFOTblRTMWTjuUxuYGB_fUKTNtHHh7z9ecWGk-_kpMAQ9I7SCq3ImxCGXIzCbwu83-zJ61dvYonS04qFL/s200/loneladyhinterland.jpg" /></a></div><b>Lonelady 'Hinterland' (Warp)</b> <a href="http://warp.net/releases/hinterland/">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1hWXJpz2XmBdgW6t4aNcjJ">stream</a> |<br />
This contains one of the best three-song runs on an album this year, with 'Bunkerpop', the title track and 'Groove it Out' throwing the knock-out punches. The rest is good, if a little samey, but this long overdue second album makes a bigger splash than her debut and proves that Julie Campbell is onto something special. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPQpgjRqRR2mFCQfyYUsiFlkTChzmzwz23Upqey-wHT180dGYcAFmlGodsZ3FHUX3zvfisWy5SBc0naAr8u0S-nSfQhiOSPBsr6-00IuOl5Ra3miAxWHoJP34NSZouJhwfTRp/s1600/modestmouse-strangerstoourselves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPQpgjRqRR2mFCQfyYUsiFlkTChzmzwz23Upqey-wHT180dGYcAFmlGodsZ3FHUX3zvfisWy5SBc0naAr8u0S-nSfQhiOSPBsr6-00IuOl5Ra3miAxWHoJP34NSZouJhwfTRp/s200/modestmouse-strangerstoourselves.jpg" /></a></div><b>Modest Mouse 'Strangers to Ourselves' (Epic)</b> <a href="http://modestmouse.com/">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6iKqPv9C5oU29LR82N8lJf">stream</a> |<br />
It's almost as if they made <i>Strangers to Ourselves</i> extra-long to make up for time away, and there is the suggestion that they are resting on their indie-rock laurels a little here, but there are enough highlights to keep their fans engaged. The eccentric songwriting of Isaac Brock is something worth cherishing. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje52N6VwZayu6tqwgKdxdsyFXJv7NXRJ5I6vqpQIwoYjslhDb-d2NrcM3BBePO3hTIJCncJSkm0oElSV6K5SIggBKcfh9NiZiCgswcFUsEAVX0XoiJP-zsTa7GZ1OZVxdh2Msz/s1600/ghostpoet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje52N6VwZayu6tqwgKdxdsyFXJv7NXRJ5I6vqpQIwoYjslhDb-d2NrcM3BBePO3hTIJCncJSkm0oElSV6K5SIggBKcfh9NiZiCgswcFUsEAVX0XoiJP-zsTa7GZ1OZVxdh2Msz/s200/ghostpoet.jpg" /></a></div><b>Ghostpoet 'Shedding Skin' (PIAS)</b> <a href="http://www.ghostpoet.co.uk/">buy</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/7pmp7mopLSAChGiAlgQs2D">stream</a> |<br />
This album move from Ghostpoet, as he has left behind electronics and Afrobeat and has chosen to work with a traditional guitar-bass-drums backing this time around. The reasons are cathartic as <i>Shedding Skin</i> is a break-up album and both the instrumentation and his detached vocal delivery suit the bleak mood and make a big emotional impression.<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-11174520302803887472015-03-11T16:35:00.000+00:002015-03-11T22:16:04.565+00:00new music round-up #2If you are interested in these new music updates, then please follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Slow-Thrills/132245523496362">Facebook</a>. From the latter part of March we will posting tracks we like as we hear them - no need to wait for these monthly round-ups. Meanwhile, here are some selections which we stumbled upon recently. <br />
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<b>Gazer</b><br />
The name suggests yet another shoegaze act, but refreshingly Gazer lean more towards an energetic post-hardcore intensity. Hailing from Cincinnati "Fake Bulbs/Phone Commercial" collects their two most recent EPs. Shades of Big Black and even Lightning Bolt - well worth a listen. <br />
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=95465945/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=3464961279/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://gazerohio.bandcamp.com/album/fake-bulbs">Fake Bulbs by GAZER</a></iframe><br />
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<b>Malojian</b><br />
Malojian is the stage name of songwriter Stevie Scullion, from Northern Ireland, a fine purveyor of melodies and this strong tune is a taster from his forthcoming second album 'Southlands' [pre-order from the Pledge Music campaign <a href="http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/malojian">here</a>.] Malojian's debut 'The Deer's Cry' was widely acclaimed - and we reviewed it <a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2013/04/album-review-malojian-deers-cry.html">here</a><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tJWpeT4LyA8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<b>Meltybrains?</b><br />
From some reason I had this Irish act pigeonholed my head as techno, but 'Donegal' and the flipside 'IV' are both packed full of ideas and are much harder to define, as their music encompasses the same sort of widescreen ambition found in the likes of These New Puritans, Talk Talk, and in particular, Luke Sutherland's old band Bows. <br />
<iframe width="100%" height="450" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/playlists/78345682&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true"></iframe><br />
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<b>NRVSLVRS</b><br />
San Francisco 6-piece cracking out some tasty, epic indie-rock in the TV on the Radio vein. Keen to hear more of these people. Their album 'The Golden West' will be out next week (March 16) Also check out their earlier single <a href="https://youtu.be/YNzbkxmkSUo">'City Lights'</a><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pxZbVBh_W-k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<b>Andrea Balency</b><br />
Franco-Mexican artist Andrea Balency has built on her 2014 buzz with a brand new EP entitled Volcano, which demonstrates sound very imaginative composition and production. It is a shame that FKA twigs got there a few months earlier, because really these artists have evolved independently and have arrived at a similar sound independently. This is lush, though. <br />
<iframe width="100%" height="450" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/187294243&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true"></iframe><br />
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<b>The Chemistry Experiment</b><br />
It has probably been the best part of a decade since I saw this prog-influenced Nottingham quintet live. This new single is taken from their ten-years-in-the-making second album Gongs Played By Voice and is a catchy slice of psych-pop. <br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MD4flhWBKB0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<b>The Machismos</b><br />
A blast from the past here. Machismos is the project of Sam Marsh, once the singing drummer of good old Jacob's Mouse, and this is a re release of the previous single 'My Narghile' from their new upcoming album 'Britpop Fucked My Wife' in March. Love it (and I'm old enough to have the original 7")<br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WN4jgoSEl4c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<b>Sasha Siem</b><br />
Classically trained Anglo-Norwegian music Sasha Siem is gearing up to release her debut album Most of the Boys. She has previously worked as a composer but this is her first "rock" release. I was going to say traditional rock release but it is nothing of the sort, as it takes wildly imaginiative leaps into non-conventional songwriting, in the playful spirit of the likes of Laurie Anderson and Tom Waits. <br />
<iframe width="100%" height="450" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/185657691&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true"></iframe><br />
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<b>Taman Shud</b><br />
Over the years I've been inclined to take most band's self-descriptions with a pinch of salt, but Taman Shud call themselves "Blackened psychedelic motorcycle punk" and I reckon that is spot on. There is a Middle Eastern feel to this - their name is Persian after all - and overall it has an intense tantric quality. <br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZtdiwpntNLg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<b>Acre Tarn</b><br />
Acre Tarn is the electronic music project from Anna-Louisa Etherington, a singer/producer originally from the Lake District. Her music comes across as a dreamy ethereal version of left-field pop, not a million miles away from Grimes's material. In an ideal world this would be in the charts, there's even a hookladen chorus. <br />
<iframe width="100%" height="450" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/192790761&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true"></iframe><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-11661766624188824062015-03-03T15:00:00.000+00:002015-03-04T16:25:25.521+00:00The best new albums of the month, February 2015 edition<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDIHqrz6oWW5ghHQ8RbRa43-IdPojQMTYRLx5WLVStycgm2JTiVfxXU1j_wTYfgemnH4AvX146_V53DWvdkOQjPqoRp9MBH05LJ8Ke7efSexRWjJBqyplBAh2ccT0AnELof1F/s1600/dying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDIHqrz6oWW5ghHQ8RbRa43-IdPojQMTYRLx5WLVStycgm2JTiVfxXU1j_wTYfgemnH4AvX146_V53DWvdkOQjPqoRp9MBH05LJ8Ke7efSexRWjJBqyplBAh2ccT0AnELof1F/s200/dying.jpg" /></a></div><b>Spectres 'Dying' (Sonic Cathedral)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/585XMqqA5bWf7ei4OZXS3i">Spotify</a> <a href="http://www.soniccathedral.co.uk/spectres-album-and-tour-update/">buy</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/spectres-dying-142">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
"Although there are many revivalist bands being tagged as shoegaze and psych-rock, none of them are using their music as an aural assault weapon in the way Spectres are. Dying may appear to have a ominous bleakness about it on the surface, but it soon becomes clear that this is an urgent, cathartic and downright exciting listen."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJPNj91Y6ibQA_MwPlWWMMFnDujHO6rmjCE5XDPdGx5KuF4ubXsNwYr05XUrLviYzcQLlPWYCbZ1Zv0o2KKhnwYH7BgqtRaHV5Va6HJusGxpEclauWrvHDsCmWbAhFTSWi4km/s1600/sir-richard-bishop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJPNj91Y6ibQA_MwPlWWMMFnDujHO6rmjCE5XDPdGx5KuF4ubXsNwYr05XUrLviYzcQLlPWYCbZ1Zv0o2KKhnwYH7BgqtRaHV5Va6HJusGxpEclauWrvHDsCmWbAhFTSWi4km/s200/sir-richard-bishop.jpg" /></a></div><b>Sir Richard Bishop 'Tangier Sessions' (Drag City)</b> <a href="http://www.dragcity.com/products/tangier-sessions">listen/buy</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/sir-richard-bishop-tangier-sessions-142">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
"It is important to remember that Tangier Sessions does not sound like someone indulging themselves just because they got a new guitar. These improvised pieces are intricate and certainly stand up to repeated listens, and the album makes a good companion piece to Bishop's previous, rather fine, acoustic recordings."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3nRj_a2ht-Q27aMXe4YLDrssvlfODqotLnx9xULRrLJd1pDu2whlZ4X2aBXwaBhgh1RwSdwvJA86jXrieDGiJr40JOk1LiWvslY624KqVr1N96qlJhb8AO5BLo_VTY47MYIS/s1600/heavy-love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3nRj_a2ht-Q27aMXe4YLDrssvlfODqotLnx9xULRrLJd1pDu2whlZ4X2aBXwaBhgh1RwSdwvJA86jXrieDGiJr40JOk1LiWvslY624KqVr1N96qlJhb8AO5BLo_VTY47MYIS/s200/heavy-love.jpg" /></a></div><b>Duke Garwood 'Heavy Love' (Heavenly)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/3NYubSoR3WBY6YR2dO5aZQ">Spotify</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/duke-garwood-heavy-love-142">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
"There is a great sense of space, songs seem to just hang in the air - and Duke's playing and vocal style is raw and dry and earthy.... The way that Garwood has executed this moody and atmospheric take on the blues reminds me of parts of the later Talk Talk albums or maybe even the last Bad Seeds record. This music has an antique heart and, instead of having lots of modern crap plastered on top of it, it has been lovingly restored."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9Cf9Hf0ySGyzvL-hy-8pPtWFw3B5m78HAWOXaZD_kYp_-2_dc8MOCkgG6RQRdMVzNPcIww3awbhZbtmUj9-qA-RupbPrb6wSiWTGOVyVWyOoccEn63we2S_9HGV2kC8gE7Sq/s1600/APTBS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9Cf9Hf0ySGyzvL-hy-8pPtWFw3B5m78HAWOXaZD_kYp_-2_dc8MOCkgG6RQRdMVzNPcIww3awbhZbtmUj9-qA-RupbPrb6wSiWTGOVyVWyOoccEn63we2S_9HGV2kC8gE7Sq/s200/APTBS.jpg" /></a></div><b>A Place to Bury Strangers 'Transfixiation' (Dead Oceans)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/0nU1aHZstSzF9IlMxvALMO">Spotify</a> <a href="http://deadoceans.com/onesheet.php?cat=DOC099">buy</a><br />
Recapturing the energy of their first two albums, yet managing to bend their noise into something slightly different. They have thought about how to progress whilst still working within the same parameters. They still echo early JAMC in places, but this time the walls of sound aren't as fuzzy, instead they are as sharp and as hard as a diamond.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgw1c8Fj8g6ZiqkQE0NvlurhHG0BqlK7Yxd-OKIRYR8Fgoldewy38MoKv6V_QTnsjYxXySf9DxqGJOv_jXSMclhXTgVnmKH72QTqBeVGBlHUpUhyuJzbk7YKsSGY-Wl88igdH/s1600/PSB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgw1c8Fj8g6ZiqkQE0NvlurhHG0BqlK7Yxd-OKIRYR8Fgoldewy38MoKv6V_QTnsjYxXySf9DxqGJOv_jXSMclhXTgVnmKH72QTqBeVGBlHUpUhyuJzbk7YKsSGY-Wl88igdH/s200/PSB.jpg" /></a></div><b>Public Service Broadcasting 'The Race For Space' (Test Card Recordings)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/65KwtzkJXw7oT819NFWmEP">Spotify</a> <a href="http://publicservicebroadcasting.net/the-race-for-space-out-now/">buy</a> <br />
The first challenge was to prove that they weren't a gimmick, that their penchant for mining archive voices could continue for another full album. They've certainly succeeded at that, as this is a far stronger album than the debut, the material works well as a set, and those samples are used to tell a story (basically the space race of the 60s). The likes of 'Fire in the Sky' and 'the Other Side' are just two of the shivers-up-the-spine moments of drama here. A genuinely moving piece of work. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Thsm4S63gBpgvTWlESdyK4S12JAno2zJqfzPwwKWb5P9LJIPVbxMnhsjWd3wQBs-Njw4Pu4EvaDx43uJwvo_Ugcj9ABXda1jmVAB0vxP3tlA-C9q27-fhUixi8p399yEAhZX/s1600/cat's_eyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Thsm4S63gBpgvTWlESdyK4S12JAno2zJqfzPwwKWb5P9LJIPVbxMnhsjWd3wQBs-Njw4Pu4EvaDx43uJwvo_Ugcj9ABXda1jmVAB0vxP3tlA-C9q27-fhUixi8p399yEAhZX/s200/cat's_eyes.jpg" /></a></div><b>Cat's Eyes 'The Duke of Burgundy OST' (RAF/ Caroline)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/0UuG8le2mykoQTKac2SjuC">Spotify</a><br />
Faris Badwan (of the Horrors) and Rachel Zeffira move away from their alt-rock roots to create this beautiful set of atmospheric music written for Peter Strickland's film. He also directed Berberian Sound Studio, and the music here has some of the eerieness of Broadcast's score for BSS, although it sounds more folk-based and organic. At times Rachel recalls Francoise Hardy. Shades of late night creepy 70s telly, psych-folk and even Mozart on the requiem piece. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9JSNHWPpdPH_yi9_K2NVMlZ53d5g3nVBpQh-k1sigMb98eF8f2lZpIx0rsCnUob_fh42bYKrPC9Hs99solRibcfIx67Xh83sioWZPdAqW291vARAtBhhUOMX0Y3D8wQ57evR/s1600/sea+change.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9JSNHWPpdPH_yi9_K2NVMlZ53d5g3nVBpQh-k1sigMb98eF8f2lZpIx0rsCnUob_fh42bYKrPC9Hs99solRibcfIx67Xh83sioWZPdAqW291vARAtBhhUOMX0Y3D8wQ57evR/s200/sea+change.jpeg" /></a></div><b>Sea Change 'Breakage' </b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/1CP3MrSEiLFPtU2HTWSgqL">Spotify</a> <a href="https://www.musicglue.com/sea-change/products/breakage-debut-album-cd/">buy</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/sea-change-breakage-142">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
The stage name of Ellen A.W. Sundes, who wrote and recorded this debut album alone in her Oslo bedroom. Despite this – or maybe because of this – Breakage sounds great, Endre Kirkesola's mix is lush and multi-layered and the songs are dynamic, well-crafted and immersive. Sundes may well have chosen to name herself after Beck's beautifully downbeat album Sea Change, but the fact that she has chosen to work within the field of synth-pop means that it she isn't simply following on its coat-tails. It is fair to say that, where the Beck opus created a distinctly woozy melancholic mood, Sea Change's debut full length definitely captures a similar mood.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM32ChTH9PLP-YcE08a-SR_cpPkniPceAEUEI6pklqKRtIbcpi9IuZJrMe0LCqvHj0lJTgx-Gf8_PjsJc3uRN5c_aVGgAVgsZigxSQvrMgkQ2pV90K6DYWN9NhhHvbU9m1QWCt/s1600/hhawkline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM32ChTH9PLP-YcE08a-SR_cpPkniPceAEUEI6pklqKRtIbcpi9IuZJrMe0LCqvHj0lJTgx-Gf8_PjsJc3uRN5c_aVGgAVgsZigxSQvrMgkQ2pV90K6DYWN9NhhHvbU9m1QWCt/s200/hhawkline.jpg" /></a></div><b>H Hawkline 'In The Pink of Condition' (Heavenly)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/1JgLUDfbLS0kpaykPaovtU">Spotify</a><br />
For his Heavenly debut, the Cardiff boy has relocated to LA and delivered this fine collection of psych-pop gems. His partner Cate Le Bon is on board as producer (last time I saw each of them they were in each other's bands too) and the resulting mix of deft and tuneful indie-rock will please fans of both. In some ways this is Mug Museum's other half (and remember what I thought of that gem).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YAZOAoxFxQh1KEU3AsOHLRDmbIJb5aEFNzVO6Xxv7XVUox-MmWHQr5ywJAmsJ367SfF0ZZJjPhzaqxHWqBB_YFh505IoANNa8AIDM6JZWeC7KntK6MG2PlRH78R3Ecx7yaY1/s1600/dan-deacon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YAZOAoxFxQh1KEU3AsOHLRDmbIJb5aEFNzVO6Xxv7XVUox-MmWHQr5ywJAmsJ367SfF0ZZJjPhzaqxHWqBB_YFh505IoANNa8AIDM6JZWeC7KntK6MG2PlRH78R3Ecx7yaY1/s200/dan-deacon.jpg" /></a></div><b>Dan Deacon 'Gliss Riffer' (Domino)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/05cihLeGrisaOseQdhxDcr">Spotify</a><br />
This threw me a little. After the majestic ambition of 'America' on first listen this sounded like. at best, a side-step. It seemed too busy and cluttered and I wasn't sure about the vocals, but as it developed it started to make more sense, and the final two tracks, where he gets into a solid post-rock electronica groove (could almost be Battles) are what swayed me in the end. Dan would always get the benefit of the doubt anyway, as he is a force of nature and a musical treasure! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhOhsS65Ymz7yVVVpQShWoz6YKVmyF4VHvjcdT2kFWk24LNS1BjJK3CfZGBB-JaP3a5qugxnPp_h3W6veFjczqh0h4g8HXC4vOu_M32PMHlx2Vwuqko-YWm-PNZLxXFemXQrU/s1600/eternaltapestry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhOhsS65Ymz7yVVVpQShWoz6YKVmyF4VHvjcdT2kFWk24LNS1BjJK3CfZGBB-JaP3a5qugxnPp_h3W6veFjczqh0h4g8HXC4vOu_M32PMHlx2Vwuqko-YWm-PNZLxXFemXQrU/s200/eternaltapestry.jpg" /></a></div><b>Eternal Tapestry 'Wild Strawberries' (Thrill Jockey)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/1iOqKAqp1IYKkFsVw0B7U8">Spotify</a> <a href="http://www.thrilljockey.com/thrill/Eternal-Tapestry/Wild-Strawberries#.VPXK6HysXE0">buy</a><br />
A long slow trip through the world of psychedelic rock, recorded in a secluded cabin under the shadow of Mount Hood in Zigzag, Oregon. The track names are all from plants specific to the region. Languid improvised guitar parts, snaky melodies and some tape trickery as well. <br />
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In an effort to get the monthly retrospectives up in a decent time, I have to admit defeat in trying to hear everything. This time my oversight is the new <b>Six Organs of Admittance</b> album, which I don't have yet, and I should also add that if the new album by <b>the Unthanks</b> is as good as the title track, then it should've crept into this list too. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-26670069449555716012015-03-01T22:27:00.000+00:002015-03-01T23:14:50.494+00:00my #mwe experience: how a hashtag inspired me to explore other genres<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPN0kwNrz8EKeFdHNYhk2WQzC6fAHBP4U3A8yMJU_EFJqDGRlIijxq6HJEJ1Lje_zWB7xY6Y7IMmjDYNr8drCgbY2BTo8OJkE33F4z19JQSju2p_eMioLwYPC7AfZL8vmWSPp/s1600/Circle_Jerks_-_Group_Sex.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPN0kwNrz8EKeFdHNYhk2WQzC6fAHBP4U3A8yMJU_EFJqDGRlIijxq6HJEJ1Lje_zWB7xY6Y7IMmjDYNr8drCgbY2BTo8OJkE33F4z19JQSju2p_eMioLwYPC7AfZL8vmWSPp/s200/Circle_Jerks_-_Group_Sex.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWkhSlePJHt4WZvzkoSNsJhzkEUTu8wA6-IpuYzLOQcs97DPUeAbebuQWVxp-dyffNYMgGRJK71jhH8YQwoHRUqMJlEVh4P1C7JFmoFlV2P2E6ciEBDp9J1qsylcyb1mCQoMz/s1600/drjohn.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWkhSlePJHt4WZvzkoSNsJhzkEUTu8wA6-IpuYzLOQcs97DPUeAbebuQWVxp-dyffNYMgGRJK71jhH8YQwoHRUqMJlEVh4P1C7JFmoFlV2P2E6ciEBDp9J1qsylcyb1mCQoMz/s200/drjohn.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZZWGOBbtcxG_VwJbfEcpCKytRaPXKzJLBJc34fOY55cxU14Tz425dxlC8S3hoWVy0GhA-uZT7YlFaLItpxzIgrIGf0W6xrm3jrDwLdIvgV8FqM-wen9xDMgBcIt8ZkM_ADMN/s1600/Erykah_Badu_-_Mama's_Gun.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZZWGOBbtcxG_VwJbfEcpCKytRaPXKzJLBJc34fOY55cxU14Tz425dxlC8S3hoWVy0GhA-uZT7YlFaLItpxzIgrIGf0W6xrm3jrDwLdIvgV8FqM-wen9xDMgBcIt8ZkM_ADMN/s200/Erykah_Badu_-_Mama's_Gun.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQwA_h9XkvN58_HEU3gfg1FXtR7XC0dxZDJS8D2nP-jfK9sW2Lf8PWxcU99dscqtb7FzfEzVCZazZ9HDXOXWBPIK3Vc3MIcnVfrGvods-rqjFVGVTynxFSDDDhMEqh4ZlWFM4/s1600/Madvillainy_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQwA_h9XkvN58_HEU3gfg1FXtR7XC0dxZDJS8D2nP-jfK9sW2Lf8PWxcU99dscqtb7FzfEzVCZazZ9HDXOXWBPIK3Vc3MIcnVfrGvods-rqjFVGVTynxFSDDDhMEqh4ZlWFM4/s200/Madvillainy_cover.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnBchbTM-cY73D8cc43q5W_u3YwPI5jdx02YIcqe9gLd-2bvyVKPTFbizuDJ9wpJl8FUAe2w3ysPsULy8Qz8eP-3BYHHaFSwGjEbGxgylXCwkqfL3bgO2gbgHl6_r5IPnZ7uf/s1600/phaedra.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnBchbTM-cY73D8cc43q5W_u3YwPI5jdx02YIcqe9gLd-2bvyVKPTFbizuDJ9wpJl8FUAe2w3ysPsULy8Qz8eP-3BYHHaFSwGjEbGxgylXCwkqfL3bgO2gbgHl6_r5IPnZ7uf/s200/phaedra.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gQHCZF1LkX3L0llw3fYsvzlmGeCc-Z_n5Att0Oc5gqwGP4qyhHG5pA-W1Iuj4BACeYzrNA2ICNscw7igD_j9PfUiqRe-mwYotk9z0B5XQmKTmz9mNoW4K2xIkFAPSZKofrbO/s1600/unhalfbricking.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gQHCZF1LkX3L0llw3fYsvzlmGeCc-Z_n5Att0Oc5gqwGP4qyhHG5pA-W1Iuj4BACeYzrNA2ICNscw7igD_j9PfUiqRe-mwYotk9z0B5XQmKTmz9mNoW4K2xIkFAPSZKofrbO/s200/unhalfbricking.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
At the beginning of February I spotted a few tweets from other music writers which used the hashtag "mwe". It turned out that they were talking about a twitter project (<b><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23mwe&src=typd">#mwe</a></b>) called Music Writer Exercise. It was the brainchild of Gary Suarez (<a href="https://twitter.com/noyokono">@noyokoono</a>) and the idea was a simple one - pick an album you've never heard, listen to it once, and then review it in a single tweet.<br />
I was interested. It sounded like a challenge - my regular reviews are 500 words after all - and even better, it would break my listening away from the constant deluge of new releases which arrive daily. I didn't start properly until Feb 2nd, and although I included the new Disappears album on Feb 1st as I got it that day, I resolved to steer clear of new releases and explore some older music which I had missed.<br />
<br />
Now, a dumb thing to do would be to collate the succinct tweets composed as part of #mwe into a single blog post, as that would destroy the whole point of the project, so instead I decided to write about what I gained from the task.<br />
I resolved to explore not just bands which I hadn't heard, but whole genres that I was in the dark about. So indie-rock, post-punk, psych-folk and electronica were side-stepped in favour of some classic albums plucked out of the <i>1001 Albums to Hear Before You Die</i> book (due to time factor they had to be on Spotify), and a pile of cheap CDs that I got last year in an HMV which was closing down. I reckon I can die happy without hearing a Frank Sinatra or Red Hot Chili Peppers album all the way through, so I did use some quality control when selecting items from the book, although ultimately I felt I needed to explore the worlds of country, soul, R'n'B as well some classic "names" who I was ignorant of (Rundgren, Fairport, The Dead).<br />
<br />
Over the course of the month, I put my previous prejudices to one side and opened my ears, as I discovered that Alice Cooper was once the name of the band not the frontman and they sounded a bit like Syd Barrett, that the Electric Prunes and the Style Council were both worse than I expected, and that Circle Jerks were a way better punk band than Bad Brains - in my knee-jerk twitter opinion that is, of course. Slowdive's <i>Pygmalion</i> did not come across as the classic which I was led to believe it was, but Zappa's <i>Lumpy Gravy</i>, Madvillain's <i>Madvillainy</i> and Dr John's <i>Gris-gris</i> had me scratching my head, thinking why had I never heard these albums before? Loads of twitter folk joined in with the challenge, and I hope they all had as much fun as I did. <br />
<br />
Listening order below, tweets at <a href="https://twitter.com/slowthrills">twitter.com/slowthrills </a><br />
<br />
<b>1. Irreal - Disappears (2015)<br />
2. Phaedra – Tangerine Dream (1974)<br />
3. I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You – Aretha Franklin (1967)<br />
4. Gris Gris – Dr John (1968)<br />
5. I Against I – Bad Brains (1986)<br />
6. Something/Anything? - Todd Rundgren (1972)<br />
7. Eternally Yours – the Saints (1978)<br />
8. Group sex- Circle Jerks (1980)<br />
9. Pygmalion - Slowdive (1995)<br />
10. Phrenology – the Roots (2002)<br />
11. I Know What Love Isn't - Jens Lekman (2013)<br />
12. Jack Frost - Jack Frost (1991)<br />
13. Trust Now - Prince Rama (2011)<br />
14. Krull Bol - This is the Kit (2008)<br />
15. The Electric Prunes - The Electric Prunes (1967)<br />
16. De-loused in the Crematorium – Mars Volta (2003)<br />
17. Get Lost - Mark McGuire (2011)<br />
18. Eden - Everything but the Girl (1984)<br />
19. Wave Like Home - Future Islands (2008)<br />
20. Unhalfbricking – Fairport Convention (1969)<br />
21. Talking Timbuktu – Al Farka Toure & Ry Cooder (1994)<br />
22. Mama’s Gun – Erykah Badu (2000)<br />
23. Pretties for You - Alice Cooper (1969)<br />
24. American Beauty - the Grateful Dead (1970)<br />
25. Café Bleu – Style Council (1984)<br />
26. Car Wheels on a Gravel Road – Lucinda Williams (1998)<br />
27. Madvillainy - Madvillain (2004)<br />
28. Lumpy Gravy - Frank Zappa (1967)</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-70850084514020269272015-02-05T14:41:00.001+00:002015-02-05T14:41:57.551+00:00new music round-up #1It has been a feature of this site over the past two years that the monthly album reviews have dominated proceedings. Unfortunately this does not reflect the large amount of new music we get sent, so, in order to keep on top of this we have decided to put together a regular post that picks some of the best new/ self-released/ unsigned material that we stumble across - either from our busy inbox or elsewhere. Here is the first instalment...<br />
<br />
<b>The Tamborines</b> (<a href="http://thetamborines.tumblr.com/">link</a>)<br />
A Brazilian duo based in London about to release their second album 'Sea Of Murmur' on their own Beat-Mo records, and it promises to be a little quieter and more melodic than the swirling fuzz of their debut. 'Indian Hill' is the first track to emerge from it, and it's pretty good teaser for what is to come. <br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z1aKX8aAh5c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Föllakzoid</b> (<a href="https://soundcloud.com/follakzoid">link</a>)<br />
This is the band who got labelled 'krautrock from Chile' when their second album brought them to a wider audience a couple of years ago. This taster from the forthcoming follow-up is an exciting progression from that sound and shows their love of minimal electronica. <br />
<iframe width="100%" height="450" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/187493959&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true"></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Sharks' Teeth</b> (<a href="http://www.sharksteethband.com/">link</a>)<br />
The prolific Sharks’ Teeth began in 2009 as an outlet for the solo recordings of Tyler Scurlock, songwriter and guitarist of New Orleans indie band, Sun Hotel. 'Jade Oscilloscope Screen' is a track from the forthcoming cassette release ‘Wissenschaftslehre IV or Opinion Crisis’ which is the latest in the series of ambient recordings. <br />
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=164485624/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://sharksteeth.bandcamp.com/track/jade-oscilloscope-screen-2">Jade Oscilloscope Screen by Sharks' Teeth</a></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Young Guv</b> (<a href="https://soundcloud.com/youngguv">link</a>)<br />
Young Guv is Ben Cook, who is best known as one of the guitarists in Fucked Up, but this taster for his forthcoming solo debut is way more POP than you could possibly imagine. Think Prince, the Cars, Cheap Trick. <br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vTtl3bb8sS4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Rosenthal</b> (<a href="https://soundcloud.com/rosenthalmusic">link</a>)<br />
This lot had a couple of decent releases last year, and the forthcoming single 'Heart' should turn even more heads. From Copenhagen, this is dreamy indie-pop somewhere between New Order and The xx.<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sHrarFg2zoE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>K-X-P</b> (<a href="https://soundcloud.com/k-x-p">link</a>)<br />
Who remembers Op:L Bastards? Well two of that acclaimed Finnish band have continued to work together under the name K-X-P, and Space Precious Time is the first track to emerge from their forthcoming album 'III Part One'. An odd yet infectious tune that manages to combine industrial beats with space-rock drones. <br />
<iframe width="100%" height="450" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/187960597&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true"></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Craig Scott's Lobotomy</b> (<a href="https://craigscottslobotomy.bandcamp.com/">link</a>)<br />
It is a constant moan of mine that there isn't enough genuinely unusual music being made, and also that there are precious few outlets for it to be heard as well. Well this release is certainly unusual - an album with little regard for genre or conventional song structures and tempos. People may file this under jazz or avant-garde, but really it is in a league of its own.<br />
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3679241082/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://craigscottslobotomy.bandcamp.com/album/war-is-a-racket">War is a Racket by Craig Scott's Lobotomy</a></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Grubby Mitts</b> (<a href="http://www.thegrubbymitts.com/">link</a>)<br />
This band features the acclaimed UK visual artist Andy Holden and this is a taste of their forthcoming album which has taken so long to complete (eight years I think), they have taken to describing it as "Part anthology, part debut album". Lots of depth and experimentation here. <br />
<iframe width="100%" height="450" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/184741122&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true"></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>This Heel</b> (<a href="http://thisheel.bandcamp.com/releases">link</a>)<br />
This Heel is a new collection of songs from the Malmö band Dog, Paper, Submarine's frontman Martin Månsson Sjöstrand. Although a lo-fi solo project (Martin played everything on the record), fans of Dog, Paper, Submarine should enjoy this EP, as it contains four short sharp tracks of melodic and fuzzy indie-rock.<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RyVlPcy4ees" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-17782477534725798582015-02-03T12:01:00.000+00:002015-02-03T12:01:23.646+00:00The best new albums of the month, January 2015 edition2015 has offered up some gems already, and here are ten of the best of the year so far. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSWPTXuPhH2WbfBx8vC0xJD3b22EQT_F3pE02REzf3FJRZHpGhJGwQ1ix28p8muHnNZjThLy6-2N6jIq1uL0-XsliV79ZpmW-TI7CRNeDsaBWs5re84OuV8lBcmzt0hx8txbPTw/s1600/JessicaPratt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSWPTXuPhH2WbfBx8vC0xJD3b22EQT_F3pE02REzf3FJRZHpGhJGwQ1ix28p8muHnNZjThLy6-2N6jIq1uL0-XsliV79ZpmW-TI7CRNeDsaBWs5re84OuV8lBcmzt0hx8txbPTw/s200/JessicaPratt.jpg" /></a></div><b>Jessica Pratt 'On Your Own Love Again' (Drag City)</b> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/album/id936872257">iTunes</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/jessica-pratt-on-your-own-love-again-142">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
This "flows perfectly from where her debut left off. Recorded to four-track at home in California over the last two years it is once again a delicate, reflective affair. There are nine songs, and most of them feature just Jessica and her acoustic guitar, yet this time there is room for occasional keyboard touches on a couple of tracks and some adventurous multi-tracking of vocals to flesh out the sound... a mesmerising, bewitching listen."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9hV1V4bGcu43vsMBL1kAR1XLCHqpCtfATlKuieOmcnkLBrByXhswvw2Px6COmIh2vxD7EaI1m_7ImWdknK6icG1MsMKwSS2_cBz_ZH-gersmloBPPOOCz8qA2RfY0iKbWhCANg/s1600/club-meds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9hV1V4bGcu43vsMBL1kAR1XLCHqpCtfATlKuieOmcnkLBrByXhswvw2Px6COmIh2vxD7EaI1m_7ImWdknK6icG1MsMKwSS2_cBz_ZH-gersmloBPPOOCz8qA2RfY0iKbWhCANg/s200/club-meds.jpg" /></a></div><b>Dan Mangan & Blacksmith 'Club Meds' (City Slang)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/7h8DRadN8IGm8nn5spZTTO">Spotify</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/dan-mangan-and-blacksmith-club-meds-142">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
"Dan Mangan transcended the singer-songwriter label three years ago with Oh, Fortune. Now that his band have equal footing perhaps people will start to appreciate that his work involves rich musicianship which gives the music an extra dimension and depth. Club Meds is deliberately dense and cluttered and at times confusing. The fact that it manages to be beautiful and intriguing at the same time is quite a feat."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJphcHuJr8KSJYU1MgroakyKzClRn5IVgiXSqEXGTF9sdQWy4mAhju46i76lE_tNp5vlVsXGpweABVeThHMnMDi_t1IDNrLrxYwdQgHovcEGaeWzLPnue_nm9WJbB43RlZaE33g/s1600/Pinkshinyultrablast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJphcHuJr8KSJYU1MgroakyKzClRn5IVgiXSqEXGTF9sdQWy4mAhju46i76lE_tNp5vlVsXGpweABVeThHMnMDi_t1IDNrLrxYwdQgHovcEGaeWzLPnue_nm9WJbB43RlZaE33g/s200/Pinkshinyultrablast.jpg" /></a></div><b>Pinkshinyultrablast 'Everything Else Matters' (Club AC30)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/5i4chaWK0h50pbc3WJNXhL">Spotify</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/pinkshinyultrablast-everything-else-matters-142">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
"Even at this early stage Pinkshinyultrablast have a great understanding of how to harness their noise and work them around the song, and their willingness to use rhythm to give those older shoegaze elements a good kick, means that this debut is not a homage but a fresh step into the future."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiIGsNHQfqP76ZPNp3pLoaABz-MTQJuCJblh4JKfTrSpytUbafUHihLNdDutsAprlgdxz-60K1dS7r0kLDt6rVf7qzoLbTNUcNT_4b1HQztZjtKlXP3mF6wdYLcIuS0sEv3OPfw/s1600/vietcong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiIGsNHQfqP76ZPNp3pLoaABz-MTQJuCJblh4JKfTrSpytUbafUHihLNdDutsAprlgdxz-60K1dS7r0kLDt6rVf7qzoLbTNUcNT_4b1HQztZjtKlXP3mF6wdYLcIuS0sEv3OPfw/s200/vietcong.jpg" /></a></div><b>Viet Cong 'Viet Cong' (Jagjaguwar)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/63GwqLuSzZnAQpd1JBQKLT">Spotify</a><br />
There is nothing new under the sun these days it seems, and whilst a lot of bands are plundering shoegaze and garage rock, Viet Cong have set their attention on the post-punk of the early 1980s. VC comprise the rhythm section from the acclaimed group Women, but in this incarnation their music is more direct , more cacophonous, more intense. 'March of Progress' is one of the tracks of the year so far. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29HAkyZBRsKiG5FWxMLUAU9wXZnVZKNJ1pAddR1uVc_mX6tYqVbcDEPGoHHCkYpXExpY7qCMkyVqLL1qv3Rj9mdYdUufxtoqjpRb2DYKl8_WOed4jdy_iBJ_DT2CLqrFrW5y41A/s1600/Ghost_Culture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29HAkyZBRsKiG5FWxMLUAU9wXZnVZKNJ1pAddR1uVc_mX6tYqVbcDEPGoHHCkYpXExpY7qCMkyVqLL1qv3Rj9mdYdUufxtoqjpRb2DYKl8_WOed4jdy_iBJ_DT2CLqrFrW5y41A/s200/Ghost_Culture.jpg" /></a></div><b>Ghost Culture 'Ghost Culture' (Phantasy Sound/ Because)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/6zo4l9WX7kO79T2g6KjsyC">Spotify</a><br />
Another mysterious London producer only known by stage name, Ghost Culture has crafted a great debut, which manages to combine the darker side of electronica as well as the pop side. Comparisons to Arthur Russell and Kraftwerk are justified, and you get the feeling that this multi-layered album will be one that keeps on giving.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mUM8wpieeQwUH1GtayZGiMdBh98669Xf-9Rau6aHiZAWUD8VcLpQP35BB-vzKSjvafEl_vyghC65GjLe4Y6EJM1ejeXCKvMJZeUyzQW8ymlA9BahyeTVAt9wJ9c28mv_4r27JA/s1600/chants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mUM8wpieeQwUH1GtayZGiMdBh98669Xf-9Rau6aHiZAWUD8VcLpQP35BB-vzKSjvafEl_vyghC65GjLe4Y6EJM1ejeXCKvMJZeUyzQW8ymlA9BahyeTVAt9wJ9c28mv_4r27JA/s200/chants.jpg" /></a></div><b>Darren Hayman 'Chants for Socialists' (wiaiwya)</b> <a href="http://darrenhayman.bandcamp.com/album/chants-for-socialists">Bandcamp</a><br />
Apparently Darren, the man who wrote Hefner's 'The Day That Thatcher Dies', thought the release of an album called 'Chants for Socialists' in an election year would be a boutique release. It's fitting that this release has a lack of commercial ambition, but it would seem that the vinyl edition - complete with sleeve created on a press used by William Morris - is nearly all gone. <br />
As you may already know, the chants in question were written by Morris in 1890s and produced in a pamphlet, intended to be set to the popular music of the day. Hayman has faithfully updated them with his own music and in turn produced one of his strongest solo records to date. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxD5M2jk5EDud16dQRZnrKqcT775b0nTd-XuSSTTT37kdduabVhAYYaiMp-m0KM18deRccAvPpjzWz8O2m4T8WU3ZipNNtTk8y2c55_IhWz9Z22ZOy-ljQcLl_w5WOvioqrgGZw/s1600/SleaterKinney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxD5M2jk5EDud16dQRZnrKqcT775b0nTd-XuSSTTT37kdduabVhAYYaiMp-m0KM18deRccAvPpjzWz8O2m4T8WU3ZipNNtTk8y2c55_IhWz9Z22ZOy-ljQcLl_w5WOvioqrgGZw/s200/SleaterKinney.jpg" /></a></div><b>Sleater Kinney 'No Cities To Love' (Sub Pop)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/4hzSVWntrdQzf9JuTtH4pf">Spotify</a><br />
Sleater-Kinney's first album in a decade has been hugely and deservedly acclaimed. It's so great to have them back and it's also fascinating to hear them deliver 'No Cities To Love', which may actually be their very best record, this far into their career. What other occurrences are there of a band returning after so long, only to deliver its best work? 32 joyous minutes of cracking punk-pop songs. One of the great bands really. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpo5Da2V-1iv1ml3NH1EV1SZ39cb3vM4MHA2glF58P4hRWVYOjNUU9Vp4HIdErXmlEMyaLCLHzGEghPC-_9eMan5ju4sVi4lyRc20axOo1Cht5wNdPV4YNITRMoLT3NHt63pS6w/s1600/panda+bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpo5Da2V-1iv1ml3NH1EV1SZ39cb3vM4MHA2glF58P4hRWVYOjNUU9Vp4HIdErXmlEMyaLCLHzGEghPC-_9eMan5ju4sVi4lyRc20axOo1Cht5wNdPV4YNITRMoLT3NHt63pS6w/s200/panda+bear.jpg" /></a></div><b>Panda Bear 'Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper' (Domino)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/6bHsJXJoEdQTw3tUpHV8iB">Spotify</a><br />
Perhaps not as bleak as the title suggests, this third solo album is darker and more soul-searching than his others, but also has a neat line in memorable melodies. This time as well, his sonic experiments have been tweaked to include some hip-hop beats which don't seem obvious on the first few listens but come to define the album. This also feels like the conclusion of a trilogy, but maybe I'm reading too much into that. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPN5Lw302l-YxB6mzJcGXRufJFYe-JD4IK7f6pyi3d3X6euigKJEhFEExwGk6yVhQIi4u7AWAg9l19gxBCxpaFh0XzyO97xI0MUUsGsSKvBaA1S5nJ3cUZhd0nxO8nzfMmZ7e3Dg/s1600/Menace-Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPN5Lw302l-YxB6mzJcGXRufJFYe-JD4IK7f6pyi3d3X6euigKJEhFEExwGk6yVhQIi4u7AWAg9l19gxBCxpaFh0XzyO97xI0MUUsGsSKvBaA1S5nJ3cUZhd0nxO8nzfMmZ7e3Dg/s200/Menace-Beach.jpg" /></a></div><b>Menace Beach 'Ratworld' (Memphis Industries)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/57TkfBuJwisC8WfMB1Ydei">Spotify</a><br />
Slightly in danger of becoming submerged by its influences, which are mostly 90's indie-rock, Leeds band Menace Beach's debut is the sort of thing people would have gone mad for if the band were, say, from California. Essentially a duo, with some regular guests like Hookwroms's MJ - who also did a cracking job on production - they flick between slacker-indie tunes like the title track, moody pieces like 'Blue Eye' and the frantic 'Lowtalker', with ease. There's lots to investigate here. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgbrveD52dvTG7CKptaEDch5xcEErt6eDaihIbrmBTiQ1yYatwYbfHwe8EZ2LokZevpuHjNetlGGvStUYmbv1_wC8Xfch6Pv1mfNyhx0rYVdeIy_eNnotdhRPkmoFeQY1GmSjog/s1600/jan+st+werner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgbrveD52dvTG7CKptaEDch5xcEErt6eDaihIbrmBTiQ1yYatwYbfHwe8EZ2LokZevpuHjNetlGGvStUYmbv1_wC8Xfch6Pv1mfNyhx0rYVdeIy_eNnotdhRPkmoFeQY1GmSjog/s200/jan+st+werner.jpg" /></a></div><b>Jan St Werner 'Miscontinuum Album (Fiepblatter Catalogue #3)' (Thrill Jockey)</b> <a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/1NehisPgv2wiWaeTTz4nKG">Spotify</a><br />
This challenging and experimental work from Mouse on Mars's Jan St Werner was developed over the last four years as an operatic performance and also a radio play. <a href="http://thrilljockey.com/thrill/JanSt-Werner/#.VNCv7dKsXE1">"The central concept of Miscontinuum explores misconceptions of time and memory, inspired by unique acoustic phenomena derived digital phasing and musical time stretching techniques. There is an aura of doom that pervades the work."</a> Largely ambient and electronic, it contains cameos from Markus Popp (Oval), Dylan Carson (Earth) and Taigen Kawabe (Bo Ningen).<br />
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Time constraints mean that I couldn't quite do justice on albums by <b>Etienne Jaumet</b> (one half of Zombie Zombie), <b>Alasdair Roberts</b>, and the surprise release by <b>Bjork</b>, in time for this round-up, but then January always is a bit overwhelming in terms of the new release pile. <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-28168117691624492652015-01-01T19:39:00.000+00:002015-01-01T20:23:15.602+00:00Slow Thrills albums of 2014<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMmSHOSt4w39qM5AR4yyzZviT7IoEEzoe8XIBfjjgRG_hPy7DYN_u_ENpCFuMxlWMwhbc-QPKlZx1s7gP0pDmuzsg7LJO09ixHBafFv8L-1TmL1JGjSFq5U_BJr1gssUh81fN/s1600/SLOWTHRILLS+ALBUMS+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMmSHOSt4w39qM5AR4yyzZviT7IoEEzoe8XIBfjjgRG_hPy7DYN_u_ENpCFuMxlWMwhbc-QPKlZx1s7gP0pDmuzsg7LJO09ixHBafFv8L-1TmL1JGjSFq5U_BJr1gssUh81fN/s640/SLOWTHRILLS+ALBUMS+2014.jpg" /></a><br />
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Well, albums of the year lists are a bit of a thing this year, aren't they? I'm sure most people have reached list fatigue by this point, but it is almost compulsory for a music blog to make a AOTY list and besides I still enjoy it. <br />
Cast your mind back twelve months to the end of 2013, which I decided was a vintage year for albums, and I celebrated by compiling my top NINETY albums in order. Although I heard even more releases in 2014 - I think it was 220 this year versus 187 the previous year if anyone is interested! - I vowed not to go overboard with the AOTY chart this time. One reason was that when I was compiling the radio shows in the earlier part of 2014 I heard lots of great tracks, but not always great albums - that's one of the reasons why I put a lot of effort into making <a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2014/12/embedded-slow-thrills-tracks-of-year.html">two "tracks of 2014" mixes. </a> There are plenty of tracks in there that don't come from any of these 20 albums. <br />
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As regular readers know, this blog publishes a monthly round-up of (usually ten) new releases and that list is not in any specific order, although for the AOTY I did submit to peer pressure and I've put the choices in order. Obviously I cannot hear everything within the confines of a calendar month, so I am quite surprised in how many of those choices made up the final list. It turned out that most of the albums I missed from those round-ups were, to my ears at least, non-essential. At time of posting I have heard nearly everything I set out to hear with the dramatic exceptions of Einsturzende Neubaten's 'Lament' and Andy Stott's 'Faith in Strangers', both of which I suspect may have made this list.<br />
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2014 saw a different variety of psychedelia emerge, evolving away from the garage bands towards a post-Stereolab vibe. The records that came out of nowhere to surprise me sound more like Broadcast than Syd Barrett or the Seeds. That was the defining sound of the year for me, but I'm also a sucker for songcraft and both 'Benji' and 'Colfax' were great examples that that art is still alive and well. <br />
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As each year passes I often think about what to do next with the blog and I think in 2015 things are set to change here. I didn't utilise the blog as much as I would have liked in 2014 (though it was better than 2008 when I didn't post for the entire year!) and I would like to try a different approach to things now that the new year is here. In the meantime, thanks for your support over the last 12 months, and I hope that you find plenty to explore and maybe something to love in this list. <br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYzc5PSV1DVQfIcMTz6omNsHq01b-cVHyNNMGsulcHoauSsOtSyhg06w1ky8ShynHmx-gzk3greEfQrxtAKkCKvPlLmRdTG1Zmn6QjGNhkF12bMuxADU3ji-LlFLFi1EoZVtK/s1600/skull-defekts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYzc5PSV1DVQfIcMTz6omNsHq01b-cVHyNNMGsulcHoauSsOtSyhg06w1ky8ShynHmx-gzk3greEfQrxtAKkCKvPlLmRdTG1Zmn6QjGNhkF12bMuxADU3ji-LlFLFi1EoZVtK/s200/skull-defekts.jpg" /></a></div>20. <b>Skull Defekts 'Dances in Dreams of the Known Unkown'</b> (Thrill Jockey)</h4><i>"a thrill from start to finish and is perhaps surprisingly accessible...There is great tension between the riffs and the melodies... the guitars are just seconds away from dipping into something truly edgy and discordant. The Skull Defekts understand the power of repetition when used correctly - think of the Fall, Can, Sonic Youth - and (Daniel) Higgis's presence completes the band and makes it possible to deliver an album as trippy, yet somehow coherent, as this one"</i> -<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/the-skull-defekts-dances-in-dreams-of-the-known-unknown-139">my review (the 405)</a><br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/014dUWBA6Le7cjXeoxmoHn">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0i10j-qQCqcQLAeIWH0YFo4scqrPVsAml5prS8qo0xMerHjFFlndyZWvgyvmoE8Va_9WKZsBM9SG4rCxmGT8pzA3fsMa9whh8Kv3TUd4W7qLxRGMcxgNInKM5KXH8iMFBqZe/s1600/grumbling-fur.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0i10j-qQCqcQLAeIWH0YFo4scqrPVsAml5prS8qo0xMerHjFFlndyZWvgyvmoE8Va_9WKZsBM9SG4rCxmGT8pzA3fsMa9whh8Kv3TUd4W7qLxRGMcxgNInKM5KXH8iMFBqZe/s200/grumbling-fur.jpeg" /></a></div>19. <b>Grumbling Fur 'Preternaturals'</b> (The Quietus Phonographic Corporation)</h4>Grumbling Fur are evolving with each release, and this third album is a fascinating blend of influences. There is a particularly "British-folk" base behind it, and they build on this with elements from synth pop, hauntology and industrial music to create something well worth exploring. <br />
(great review <a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/grumbling-fur-preternaturals-140">here</a>)<br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/4r4vOlrStKycNPIxekCeDn">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1xJKgGjOMyBkhlq7h6bBdme2PNGR3o1vhm5Qec1xRFMA03-Xu0pU-db4wVLe0y9b0y8Y3vaPrDeZAbsWI_6naE90khQlXAo9_IVbCZ7XOxjkTXOzLwisV98TijAIam6gOal5/s1600/tvotr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1xJKgGjOMyBkhlq7h6bBdme2PNGR3o1vhm5Qec1xRFMA03-Xu0pU-db4wVLe0y9b0y8Y3vaPrDeZAbsWI_6naE90khQlXAo9_IVbCZ7XOxjkTXOzLwisV98TijAIam6gOal5/s200/tvotr.jpg" /></a></div>18. <b>TV On The Radio 'Seeds'</b> (Harvest)</h4>The fifth full-length studio release for the indie rock band is its first since the death of bassist Gerald Smith, and sees the band emerge from that tragedy to create an album full of life. It is much more an indie-pop-rock album and fans of their early doom-gaze material may struggle with it, but it still has an edge to it, and the pop touches are both triumphant and surprising, particularly as some people were expecting a heavy dose of melancholy.<br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/093xy0P5h7elpQQMiNyQuD">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfaHHNYxHfNezg8GSUcBpf2tl0XJ5WrxEekzD9yO4skUK2jCZP_WEo_S40AsVD2vgf9ybOb5dQUFtYx1U_9RqcfjvNAkRp7G1cCkQLw-i_M1EMmgFrfL13tKrp6j5yTb0Mfgi/s1600/flylo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfaHHNYxHfNezg8GSUcBpf2tl0XJ5WrxEekzD9yO4skUK2jCZP_WEo_S40AsVD2vgf9ybOb5dQUFtYx1U_9RqcfjvNAkRp7G1cCkQLw-i_M1EMmgFrfL13tKrp6j5yTb0Mfgi/s200/flylo.jpg" /></a></div>17. <b>Flying Lotus 'You're Dead!' </b> (Warp)</h4>The psychedelic touches are there of course and that teasing way that he flips away from one idea before it is really finished with is still in evidence as well. The title does hint at a fairly morbid effort, and it does get darker than he has before, but ultimately it is well worth hearing for the adventurous and ambitious turns that the music takes.<br />
<i>"As each song merges into the next, as one style succeeds another, the sensation is that of being in a dream." </i>(<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/02/flying-lotus-youre-dead-review">the Guardian</a>)<br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/29luvT98TnqHjVDYSRbbrj">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8T1Ep0sniZJ9jEILPx_YVLcCsstXx7fqBfLxMxDWkP1zBanHdeuzyXilKqEBpB6yqOwWG2bQmlEEGQC_vNY13cQB-ezYcFhd5y8gKJh9Xwdir3OpT4ASExMIpdZGafwSC-gil/s1600/wrekmeister.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8T1Ep0sniZJ9jEILPx_YVLcCsstXx7fqBfLxMxDWkP1zBanHdeuzyXilKqEBpB6yqOwWG2bQmlEEGQC_vNY13cQB-ezYcFhd5y8gKJh9Xwdir3OpT4ASExMIpdZGafwSC-gil/s200/wrekmeister.jpg" /></a></div>16. <b>Wrekmeister Harmonies 'Then It All Came Down'</b> (Thrill Jockey)</h4><i>"This was premiered in the National Bohemian Cemetery in Chicago, under a full moon. When you hear it, that all makes sense. The natural yet eerie setting, surrounded by reminders of mortality, and the potential interest in the occult. This is a superbly assembled piece, with a great grasp of dynamics and an understanding that its subtle moments can be just powerful as those times when it becomes a complete aural assault. Then It All Came Down is a noisy beast, but it is a beautiful one too."</i> - <a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/wrekmeister-harmonies-then-it-all-came-down-141">my review (the 405)</a><br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/311OE6AVSV68RP9rddLoWP">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvsEr9RJoqcD8jke6mKNbBSxA0ze8SalBX4BE8Tl1ie107nUhjpM2DCQs-jt5fLmZ3hft-bIOzXBoJvrp__yFELl0LwEqgBjxPYv1omrhfjAGYT6Q-SyPNsJmDOTKooM4unSV/s1600/Sharon-Van-Etten-Are-We-There.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvsEr9RJoqcD8jke6mKNbBSxA0ze8SalBX4BE8Tl1ie107nUhjpM2DCQs-jt5fLmZ3hft-bIOzXBoJvrp__yFELl0LwEqgBjxPYv1omrhfjAGYT6Q-SyPNsJmDOTKooM4unSV/s200/Sharon-Van-Etten-Are-We-There.jpg" /></a></div>15. <b>Sharon Van Etten 'Are We There'</b>(Jagjaguwar)</h4>In my opinion, not quite as great as her near masterpiece 'Tramp', but still a sign of a superb talent. <br />
"Are We There offers an artist in full command of her voice and her instrument, a woman who knows exactly what she wants to offer listeners and who isn’t afraid to accompany the barest streaks of sunlight with thousands of clouds." (<a href="http://www.avclub.com/review/sharon-van-etten-unleashes-epic-s-punishing-good-w-204854">A.V. Club</a>)<br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/0F1pMhF8Vy74nKkQeLBfrd">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkQu8pgvicLpxeEu2_VoT3HfuNHIROWIvsExQVy8pz997RsWN01uovcSIvmql7cg3Z_GxCc4SYx9_ozv6xbn0RNlJo8wMf76qngroFVEz0VZ4RsTyb57On1GtnKt2FM-vgACu/s1600/soundcarriers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkQu8pgvicLpxeEu2_VoT3HfuNHIROWIvsExQVy8pz997RsWN01uovcSIvmql7cg3Z_GxCc4SYx9_ozv6xbn0RNlJo8wMf76qngroFVEz0VZ4RsTyb57On1GtnKt2FM-vgACu/s200/soundcarriers.jpg" /></a></div>14. <b>The Soundcarriers 'Entropicalia'</b> (Ghost Box)</h4>I think this is the only one here which wasn't in our monthly round-ups as it only came to my knowledge late in the year, and a quick search shows that it has been generally under-reviewed. What you need to know - it's on Ghost Box, it features guests include some of Midlake and a cameo voice over by Elijah Wood. The title is accurate in that there is a large Brazil/ tropicalia influence, but there are also large dollops of baroque psychedelia, funk and motorik vibes. Space age bachelor pad music I reckon.<br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/5UO7jNOBS3Xb0UAGHQGq1l">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4SkvxQa30kBQhk1ce6m7y3xqgUfmcQXtizyKCYlsorXKc7nXzqagNrzZmtbQYB92FR0K6yTw8NaqWhg96ipYoNpVR3WDQufFj4jQ178wPfmZb_4HGOPaLcjgXHXR2rHuJmug/s1600/virginia-wing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4SkvxQa30kBQhk1ce6m7y3xqgUfmcQXtizyKCYlsorXKc7nXzqagNrzZmtbQYB92FR0K6yTw8NaqWhg96ipYoNpVR3WDQufFj4jQ178wPfmZb_4HGOPaLcjgXHXR2rHuJmug/s200/virginia-wing.jpg" /></a></div>13. <b>Virginia Wing 'Measures of Joy'</b> (Fire)</h4>one of the debuts of the year... The vocals of Alice Merida Richards are central to it all, and her delivery plus the accompanying drifting psychedelia of the other musicians create something not unlike the more experimental moments of Broadcast and Electrelane. It is so much more than a carbon copy of those acts and each listen reveals new layers and twists and turns. <br />
"‘Measures of Joy’ is a piece of noir-pop majesty that constantly pushes its own boundaries and frequently shatters the listeners’ sense of expectation." (<a href="http://www.loudandquiet.com/2014/11/measures-of-joy-by-virginia-wing/">Loud & Quiet</a>)<br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/0RJbN1GAof3wPDJVSqbFBk">Spotify</a><br />
<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFbLG5Fw9sd8TqzX0lmOB9rKGtegiTDlqZUj3uc-qhRmkzwLN4qvfWpG5cWW3jKLUqUBk1-Y2b4OSj3qVkPIYDcrXiUTIFi8iJRVIcAlYOXGtDlKo5Xqswxv1g64cXM8-eg3y/s1600/wildbeasts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFbLG5Fw9sd8TqzX0lmOB9rKGtegiTDlqZUj3uc-qhRmkzwLN4qvfWpG5cWW3jKLUqUBk1-Y2b4OSj3qVkPIYDcrXiUTIFi8iJRVIcAlYOXGtDlKo5Xqswxv1g64cXM8-eg3y/s200/wildbeasts.jpg" /></a></div>12. <b>Wild Beasts 'Present Tense'</b> (Domino)</h4>Initially the fact that this was the first WB album to be written on computer unsettled me, but I grew to love the songs. <br />
"Their most complete record by a serious stretch, it's a work that laughs, cries, detests, adores and above anything else inspires." (<a href="http://diymag.com/archive/wild-beasts-present-tense/">DIY</a>)<br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/7ePHZCaWPxo8dP7fBRG3Tt">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5x1eNFAc30jc7BH_ZiDYKzmaD3qrCPTz_gtmVGDDOj4kiKtJ-iguHZ5KJ7l-bBANpgxPh10XH40E-6LJuNKtp9kGmg1fJh_J-O6FvHzpvZrTbkmyxll4urVAMIz8dIfGW7Od/s1600/Thee-Silver-Mt-Zion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5x1eNFAc30jc7BH_ZiDYKzmaD3qrCPTz_gtmVGDDOj4kiKtJ-iguHZ5KJ7l-bBANpgxPh10XH40E-6LJuNKtp9kGmg1fJh_J-O6FvHzpvZrTbkmyxll4urVAMIz8dIfGW7Od/s200/Thee-Silver-Mt-Zion.jpg" /></a></div>11. <b>Thee Silver Mt Zion 'Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything'</b> (Constellation)</h4>“We live on the island called Montreal, and we make a lot of noise… because we love each other!” says one of SMZ's children on this excellent 7th album by the band that began as a post-GY!BE porject. This album strikes a lot of chords, as it takes on raising the next generation in a repressive world of austerity. Closing track 'What We Loved Was Not Enough' was the anthem of the year for me.<br />
(Pitchfork review with lots of background <a href="http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18855-thee-silver-mt-zion-memorial-orchestra-fuck-off-get-free-we-pour-light-on-everything/">here</a>)<br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/12jvcjKhojRTR5OUJevLb6">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rsivRQQ6B6tR-vTzbi1VJgpAGSZvrcW6CZoskUYeVvXGOw3ugBnv_ZFopODejOODq1UwI31OTjhLpFhQttI9AdgL-uqFJhVhWY27pZcYzwamHXHyHtPlpXw-qrsf-cN72QYN/s1600/Thurston-Moore-The-Best-Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rsivRQQ6B6tR-vTzbi1VJgpAGSZvrcW6CZoskUYeVvXGOw3ugBnv_ZFopODejOODq1UwI31OTjhLpFhQttI9AdgL-uqFJhVhWY27pZcYzwamHXHyHtPlpXw-qrsf-cN72QYN/s200/Thurston-Moore-The-Best-Day.jpg" /></a></div>10. <b>Thurston Moore 'The Best Day'</b> (Matador)</h4>The most Sonic Youth of any of the post-Sonic Youth releases, and in fact it hits on exactly what made SY so appealing and intriguing - the mix of subtle melody and extremely disorienting noise. TM's band are a bit of a supergroup, with Steve Shelley back on the drums and Deb Googe from MBV on bass duties, and it's joy to hear how well they gel here. <br />
"Both comforting and discomfiting, The Best Day recalls prime Youth, when their tense experimental attitude dovetailed with often sour but instantly accessible pop melodies." (<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/19/thurston-moore-best-day-review-recalls-prime-sonic-youth">the Observer</a>)<br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/11WO7cJzZF3hwH3V5tZGwC">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkyv-XheO43rVNJPk5Odo5F5-1nj-x31A2GBazpcSUW0i7fv7pCzTLwE_yZxvg_bpA99y3TGFm9DbBITFYiNeIHgorwOCkIbPQTcLv14xLiLzaCdp74AcJvSYj0I-COar3Bfj/s1600/lorelle-meets-the-obsolete-chambers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkyv-XheO43rVNJPk5Odo5F5-1nj-x31A2GBazpcSUW0i7fv7pCzTLwE_yZxvg_bpA99y3TGFm9DbBITFYiNeIHgorwOCkIbPQTcLv14xLiLzaCdp74AcJvSYj0I-COar3Bfj/s200/lorelle-meets-the-obsolete-chambers.jpg" /></a></div>9. <b>Lorelle Meets the Obsolete 'Chambers'</b> (Sonic Cathedral)</h4>Another grower which I paid more attention to after I had seen them live. My fave psych-rock release of '14 and almost certainly the first Mexican act to make my albums of the year. <br />
"Chambers is an album that reveals more of itself and ever more nuances and clever touches with every listen. Final track Thoughts About Night Now, featuring Gonzalez on vocals, is a rather lovely pop tune, showing that they can try their hand to pure melody for good measure. There’s much to savour here from a band that are just hitting their stride and attracting new audiences all the time."(<a href="http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/lorelle-meets-obsolete-chambers">musicOMH</a>)<br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/5zugEFRutsGYNmUWYdZ6uZ">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rtjLHcCZmGGSH3_3cPNgbNz-SjSgF4Gt-w1dTYlPZiCozQ38yZ8sy8rKYIvsL5ZCffMFhyphenhyphenD7Nhr5oj-smDDlzljBSH8RxiPSRdtmSePaRw30KhkUwDwomkjyK0A8eAGbwSIb/s1600/gulp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rtjLHcCZmGGSH3_3cPNgbNz-SjSgF4Gt-w1dTYlPZiCozQ38yZ8sy8rKYIvsL5ZCffMFhyphenhyphenD7Nhr5oj-smDDlzljBSH8RxiPSRdtmSePaRw30KhkUwDwomkjyK0A8eAGbwSIb/s200/gulp.jpg" /></a></div>8. <b>Gulp 'Season Sun'</b> (Sonic Cathedral)</h4>This one came out in the summer and crept up on me over the last few months. <br />
<i>"This album will certainly tick a lot of boxes for Super Furry acolytes, but for those who couldn't take to the SFA brand of avant-pop, Gulp should provide you with a nerdgasm or ten. Library electronics, jangly loftiness and enough in the way of melodies and choruses to soundtrack your summer."</i> (<a href="http://thequietus.com/articles/15792-gulp-season-sun-review">the Quietus</a>)<br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/5rhmUYAFsD9k9jU4KCYmXj">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJW7f6G7da_MCUcOCYXF9YBVIGU4T1sS_ZOJUikPYWTbXWHZTLjiWd19CXz1JaI70Gcxw92yCsY1VQAgG6y_m7dPYRfmLgQSKzt4MWbI_Ez8zk_E3eoshU1Ks5oJSoVqe5cvK/s1600/deanblunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJW7f6G7da_MCUcOCYXF9YBVIGU4T1sS_ZOJUikPYWTbXWHZTLjiWd19CXz1JaI70Gcxw92yCsY1VQAgG6y_m7dPYRfmLgQSKzt4MWbI_Ez8zk_E3eoshU1Ks5oJSoVqe5cvK/s200/deanblunt.jpg" /></a></div>7. <b>Dean Blunt 'Black Metal'</b> (Rough Trade)</h4>An album that dominated my listening in the latter part of this year. This has nothing to do with black metal by the way, let's establish that straight away. I wasn't completely convinced by Dean Blunt's previous solo album, but 'Black Metal' is a beaut. Somewhere between noise-rock bliss-out, dub reggae and melancholic rock, he has a knack for putting together delightfully unhinged tunes, with suitably laconic vocals that sit somewhere between Bill Callahan and Rudy from AR Kane. The female counterpart on 'Molly and Aquafina' and the superb '50 Cent' gives the sound an extra dimension. <br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/3NaLxwBorilUsVXaB9NCKw">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-z0OieUE0EIzR38WBgk_bwV5BG-f0AzBLLwLJGiPbZHm0dor9lBuYfBxQADw3mjYS2paJrn-RNqOahCjIrreH9Oj5AusPSzeYBm838y3PqgycyeXFLdxbdLG2DwZFGHfo_qP/s1600/the_delines_colfax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-z0OieUE0EIzR38WBgk_bwV5BG-f0AzBLLwLJGiPbZHm0dor9lBuYfBxQADw3mjYS2paJrn-RNqOahCjIrreH9Oj5AusPSzeYBm838y3PqgycyeXFLdxbdLG2DwZFGHfo_qP/s200/the_delines_colfax.jpg" /></a></div>6. <b>The Delines 'Colfax'</b> (El Cortez)</h4>If you like Willy Vlautin's work with Richmond Fontaine, or even his novels, then imagine that kind of writing combined with a perfectly pitched female vocal that brings every bit of emotion out of it and you have the Delines. 'Colfax' is their debut album (maybe their only one?) and it is superb.<br />
<i>"One can find precedents for this album in classic Americana songwriting by those who know how to encapsulate how frayed our national experience can sometimes become for everyday people by setting their narratives in specific places or out on the road."</i>(<a href="http://www.americansongwriter.com/2014/06/delines-colfax/">American Songwriter</a>)<br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/2Bt6CntnbDZQwBayPcaEEQ">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCAtRk0yhf56QN68NE83P09lLLoeTs0wr3II73YJ3AnwtRI9rm6drI-Te6HF0PqPtonpBhJkP1qjkMQP2bm_Xfvu9sfbt-N0oTevzZqA37uCkfoKOILa5s1p1wvT11-sMkoBs/s1600/angel+olsen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCAtRk0yhf56QN68NE83P09lLLoeTs0wr3II73YJ3AnwtRI9rm6drI-Te6HF0PqPtonpBhJkP1qjkMQP2bm_Xfvu9sfbt-N0oTevzZqA37uCkfoKOILa5s1p1wvT11-sMkoBs/s200/angel+olsen.jpg" /></a></div>5. <b>Angel Olsen 'Burn Your Fire for No Witness'</b> (Jagjaguwar)</h4>Her previous effort Half Way Home was good, but on this follow-up she raised her game even more. Those Roy Orbison comparisons remain valid, whilst she remains a performer equally at home with country or indie-rock. <br />
<i><br />
"Burn Your Fire for No Witness conjures the past without ever imitating it, swirling its influences into something intimate, impressionistic and new."(<a href="http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18956-angel-olsen-burn-your-fire-for-no-witness/">Pitchfork</a>)</i><br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/358elHWlgNqitp1lenb5Jn">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjID8XHcBrHEGf7VDLyB-TQJ2qkc84AC2k6t-bf631G4SZoTYxsdDpfdmJaM3-35Y_Xl8J5qpLxyGY05qQot3ZgHLE5x7_30MJDGHhWcSiBQmZOBtEJQgHSvh-uC6GssVR9t2ED/s1600/grouper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjID8XHcBrHEGf7VDLyB-TQJ2qkc84AC2k6t-bf631G4SZoTYxsdDpfdmJaM3-35Y_Xl8J5qpLxyGY05qQot3ZgHLE5x7_30MJDGHhWcSiBQmZOBtEJQgHSvh-uC6GssVR9t2ED/s200/grouper.jpg" /></a></div>4. <b>Grouper 'Ruins' </b> (Kranky)</h4>Grouper aka Liz Harris nearly always works alone, but this time she has dispensed with any artificial studio work and recorded four long sad songs with just voice and piano in a seemingly untreated room. There are many incidental sounds that are picked up - thunder and rain, crickets and the ping of a microwave - it is quite a revealing listen on headphones. The songs themselves are sad and beautiful, and overall Ruins is pretty wonderful.<br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/5ElYoVUqRQIlDekD1v6aKa">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0ppuAexrm5TNpT15PWP-aXOS0sXpwt3mGdX4I_-yLeGBU_lrQXihHb-QGOcDREs4-BgP-6dvgoO9ihBXOzq25HmyGTAX87zSywS2QsaRZEFt3gtv6ZDAcnPqIdkfVvePbs75/s1600/jane-weaver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0ppuAexrm5TNpT15PWP-aXOS0sXpwt3mGdX4I_-yLeGBU_lrQXihHb-QGOcDREs4-BgP-6dvgoO9ihBXOzq25HmyGTAX87zSywS2QsaRZEFt3gtv6ZDAcnPqIdkfVvePbs75/s200/jane-weaver.jpg" /></a></div>3. <b>Jane Weaver 'The Silver Globe'</b> (Finders Keepers)</h4>Puzzlingly passed over by most blogs and mainstream press, Jane Weaver's sixth album is a wonderful thing. The move from her folk background is more of an evolutionary one rather than a change of direction. The constant factor in all of her output is her voice, and it is the unifying factor in this varied album, always bringing a melody regardless on top of any sonic experimentation. <br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/0H7OeIdKyB6GmDNoVuEMFU">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeytGzbCJcud5Cz_o8_HxB8U1Rh6HcXdz_kqXCB5TVMaeqCmyuaeMBImHMrHtP7bTezJRwxmDNyW0kvQZx-CqAK5nTpv09aJu2gbuQoq3Z0v4wWYKkk8vqMi92hOFykD47pO2a/s1600/thebug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeytGzbCJcud5Cz_o8_HxB8U1Rh6HcXdz_kqXCB5TVMaeqCmyuaeMBImHMrHtP7bTezJRwxmDNyW0kvQZx-CqAK5nTpv09aJu2gbuQoq3Z0v4wWYKkk8vqMi92hOFykD47pO2a/s200/thebug.jpg" /></a></div>2. <b>The Bug 'Angels and Devils' </b> (Ninja Tune)</h4>A long awaited follow-up that at least equals predecessor London Zoo. 'Angels and Devils' is very much an album of contrasts, as it mixes fascinating ambient noise and aggressive MC-led pieces.<br />
<i><br />
"one of the most stunning documents of 21st century music being made in Britain." <a href="http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/the-bug-angels-and-devils">Clash</a></i><br />
<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/1VtXF7X88haeELGGHPnn1m">Spotify</a><br />
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<h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8KzOUU7jRJIP8X73adESN-i6V4ZjgLEfR_BLRikaGAzBQDgUHn6WecjTJ51MrUICh_LuM-yq-Xc_ubHyuLDac3Sv3-gKiXpZxe7eEqtUwc2-2htleuQi8ik6S-mlSfw7IT8D/s1600/benji.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8KzOUU7jRJIP8X73adESN-i6V4ZjgLEfR_BLRikaGAzBQDgUHn6WecjTJ51MrUICh_LuM-yq-Xc_ubHyuLDac3Sv3-gKiXpZxe7eEqtUwc2-2htleuQi8ik6S-mlSfw7IT8D/s200/benji.jpg" /></a></div>1. <b>Sun Kil Moon 'Benji'</b> (Caldo Verde)</h4>Such an awkwardly beautiful album. <i>"In nearly every song on Benji, someone dies. Family members, friends, celebrities, people in the news; they all pass away. This album packs a huge emotional punch as it tells its stories, often solely through Mark Kozelek's baritone vocal and his skilful yet gentle guitar playing. It moves, entices and, in some places, even amuses the listener....Most people who have heard Kozelek's previous work will know to expect beauty, sadness and emotional baggage. Benji is no different in that respect, but it encourages you to empathise with the subjects of the songs, and therefore adds some light to the melancholy. </i><br />
<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/sun-kil-moon-benji">my review (the 405)</a><br />
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<a href="http://open.spotify.com/album/4pC2URLdvle8V6Um4qxh46">Spotify</a><br />
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Don't forget those "tracks of the year" mixes!<br />
<iframe width="660" height="180" src="https://www.mixcloud.com/widget/iframe/?feed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mixcloud.com%2Fslowthrills%2Fslowthrills-2014-end-of-year-mix-1%2F&embed_uuid=71c4c767-892a-4838-837c-453dd5de2a99&replace=0&hide_cover=1&embed_type=widget_standard&hide_tracklist=1" frameborder="0"></iframe><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;"></div><p style="display: block; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 4px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); width: 652px;"><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/slowthrills/slowthrills-2014-end-of-year-mix-1/?utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=base_links&amp;utm_term=resource_link" target="_blank" style="color:#808080; font-weight:bold;">Slowthrills 2014 end of year mix #1 </a><span> by </span><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/slowthrills/?utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=base_links&amp;utm_term=profile_link" target="_blank" style="color:#808080; font-weight:bold;">Slowthrills</a><span> on </span><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/?utm_source=widget&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=base_links&utm_term=homepage_link" target="_blank" style="color:#808080; font-weight:bold;"> Mixcloud</a></p><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;"></div><br />
<iframe width="660" height="180" src="https://www.mixcloud.com/widget/iframe/?feed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mixcloud.com%2Fslowthrills%2Fslowthrills-2014-end-of-year-mix-2%2F&embed_uuid=4921df9b-6980-4a3d-ad41-c913df4dfd16&replace=0&hide_cover=1&embed_type=widget_standard&hide_tracklist=1" frameborder="0"></iframe><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;"></div><p style="display: block; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 4px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); width: 652px;"><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/slowthrills/slowthrills-2014-end-of-year-mix-2/?utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=base_links&amp;utm_term=resource_link" target="_blank" style="color:#808080; font-weight:bold;">Slowthrills 2014 end of year mix #2</a><span> by </span><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/slowthrills/?utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=base_links&amp;utm_term=profile_link" target="_blank" style="color:#808080; font-weight:bold;">Slowthrills</a><span> on </span><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/?utm_source=widget&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=base_links&utm_term=homepage_link" target="_blank" style="color:#808080; font-weight:bold;"> Mixcloud</a></p><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-50482797048187219602014-12-29T23:22:00.000+00:002014-12-29T23:22:24.259+00:00Embedded: Slow Thrills tracks of the year 2014It's just like when Guns n Roses released Use Your Illusion I and II really, right down to the different coloured sleeves! Seriously though, I've put together TWO different "tracks of the year" mixes, both featuring music that I couldn't get enough of this year. <br />
I'm not sure what this says about 2014, but neither mix has a strong overlap with the Albums of the Year or the Gigs of the Year, both of which will be on here in the next day or so. Meanwhile, feel free to dip in out of the three hours of music embedded below, it is conveniently timestamped. <br />
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<iframe width="660" height="180" src="https://www.mixcloud.com/widget/iframe/?feed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mixcloud.com%2Fslowthrills%2Fslowthrills-2014-end-of-year-mix-1%2F&embed_uuid=68e75a40-0928-41a4-987b-c01f337a1cd1&replace=0&hide_cover=1&embed_type=widget_standard&hide_tracklist=1" frameborder="0"></iframe><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;"></div><p style="display: block; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 4px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); width: 652px;"><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/slowthrills/slowthrills-2014-end-of-year-mix-1/?utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=base_links&amp;utm_term=resource_link" target="_blank" style="color:#808080; font-weight:bold;">Slowthrills 2014 end of year mix #1 </a><span> by </span><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/slowthrills/?utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=base_links&amp;utm_term=profile_link" target="_blank" style="color:#808080; font-weight:bold;">Slowthrills</a><span> on </span><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/?utm_source=widget&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=base_links&utm_term=homepage_link" target="_blank" style="color:#808080; font-weight:bold;"> Mixcloud</a></p><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;"></div><br />
<iframe width="660" height="180" src="https://www.mixcloud.com/widget/iframe/?feed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mixcloud.com%2Fslowthrills%2Fslowthrills-2014-end-of-year-mix-2%2F&embed_uuid=6df62172-3e2f-4558-9bf0-c2366dc40210&replace=0&hide_cover=1&embed_type=widget_standard&hide_tracklist=1" frameborder="0"></iframe><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;"></div><p style="display: block; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 4px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); width: 652px;"><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/slowthrills/slowthrills-2014-end-of-year-mix-2/?utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=base_links&amp;utm_term=resource_link" target="_blank" style="color:#808080; font-weight:bold;">Slowthrills 2014 end of year mix #2</a><span> by </span><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/slowthrills/?utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=base_links&amp;utm_term=profile_link" target="_blank" style="color:#808080; font-weight:bold;">Slowthrills</a><span> on </span><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/?utm_source=widget&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=base_links&utm_term=homepage_link" target="_blank" style="color:#808080; font-weight:bold;"> Mixcloud</a></p><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;"></div><br />
(tracklists below as well as on mixcloud) <br />
Mix #1 <br />
Don't Wanna Lose - Ex Hex<br />
Big Stars - Perfect Pussy<br />
Salford - Mazes<br />
Encrypted Bounce - Thee Oh Sees<br />
Lawman - Girl Band<br />
Slider - Bo Ningen<br />
The Known Unknown - The Skull Defekts<br />
North Hollywood Microwaves - Pink Mountaintops<br />
Kong - The Notwist<br />
Meshes - Virginia Wing<br />
Boiling Point - The Soundcarriers<br />
Strange Colores - Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks<br />
Eruption - Tobacco<br />
The One - The Bug<br />
Medicine - Trash Kit<br />
What's Holding You? - Lorelle Meets the Obsolete<br />
Vote for Me Dummy - Guided by Voices<br />
Chem Trails - Spider Bags<br />
With Light and With Love - Woods<br />
What We Loved Was Not Enough - Silver Mt Zion<br />
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Mix #2<br />
Drive (fade into) - Marissa Nadler<br />
Micheline - Sun Kil Moon<br />
Shell - Vashti Bunyan<br />
Atomos IX - A Winged Victory for the Sullen<br />
Don't Take My Soul - Jane Weaver<br />
Game Love - Gulp<br />
New Born - Sounds of Sputnik feat. Ummagma<br />
3Jane - EMA<br />
Before - Wye Oak<br />
Rites - Lost in the Trees<br />
Faded Eyes - Horsebeach<br />
Mister Skeleton - Grumbling Fur<br />
Windows - Angel Olsen<br />
Sun Has Gone - Broken Twin<br />
He Told Her The City Was Killing Him - the Delines<br />
Hallowe'en - Wussy<br />
Holding - Grouper<br />
Meteorites - Yann Tiersen<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-51785113399674419012014-12-14T10:09:00.000+00:002014-12-14T10:16:37.797+00:002014 CATCH UP no.3 :Sea Pinks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9-IH_AYgYx5lgsHyASbjO4788NfcxKfOISWvqyJlmCVOMsEPAI_Yq181Qqx3wQtjhWDpprorhN9y13yjGBOJDzgY8nqliOA2QQpT79o2QwuLBfxpqc2N03K2_CvoZMXVBVwt/s1600/seapinks.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9-IH_AYgYx5lgsHyASbjO4788NfcxKfOISWvqyJlmCVOMsEPAI_Yq181Qqx3wQtjhWDpprorhN9y13yjGBOJDzgY8nqliOA2QQpT79o2QwuLBfxpqc2N03K2_CvoZMXVBVwt/s640/seapinks.jpg" /></a><br />
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Any band which begins their biog with "A band from Belfast inspired by sea glass, bleached grass and ghost guitars" deserves your attention. <br />
That is how <b>Sea Pinks</b> describe themselves. The band have been around for a few years now and I first became aware of them when they played a few shows with fellow Belfast band Girls Names a few years ago. Back then Sea Pinks singer/guitarist Neil Brogan was the drummer in Girls Names, and I think it's fair to say that the two bands complimented each other well, both coming from the same place in terms of geography as well as musical influence. <br />
Sea Pinks most recent album <i>Dreaming Tracks</i> is their fourth but it's their first to be recorded in the studio with the full band line up of Davey Agnew (drums) and Steven Henry (bass) along with founder singer/guitarist Neil Brogan and cellist Jonny Agnew. It has been released on their own CF Records, a label which grew out of the Cass/Flick imprint, which began in 2006 with a series of cassette only releases and went on to issue material from the likes of Cloud Nothings and Thread Pulls. <br />
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Some compare Sea Pinks to the Smiths but it is not as straightforward as that. There are post-punk influences (Orange Juice and the Go-Betweens might be a more accurate comparison than Moz and co) but there is also a healthy dollop of sixties style garage-rock and summery-pop, and the resulting mix would sound perfectly at home on a K Records release from the 90s. Given that their sound is essentially fairly clean guitar bass and drums with regular melodies, there is plenty of variety on offer. <br />
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Anyway, enough of my prattling, check them out yourself below. Releases are available on vinyl or bandcamp downloads. <br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qGHj468-KpU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=102284321/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://seapinks.bandcamp.com/album/dreaming-tracks">Dreaming Tracks by Sea Pinks</a></iframe><br />
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<b>2014 CATCH-UP PIECES</b><br />
<a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2014/12/2014-catch-up-no1-holy-sons.html">Holy Sons</a><br />
<a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2014/12/2014-catch-up-no2-smallgang.html">smallgang</a><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-48113990680600656922014-12-09T22:36:00.001+00:002014-12-10T10:40:22.988+00:002014 CATCH UP no.2 :smallgang<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfysqOWcJ7cejaKyfYEHhaE2jvKUcqc4IUrZwnti31WObISYaRFwUAdY74TXq3UeyfMiMh_W-lkw2Yxo5QTJDn0F-Y58LpnnK4diZoO_GNkWpsoKrZkIiiks6w9rjgMqvIrUHD/s1600/smallgang-picbykatie.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfysqOWcJ7cejaKyfYEHhaE2jvKUcqc4IUrZwnti31WObISYaRFwUAdY74TXq3UeyfMiMh_W-lkw2Yxo5QTJDn0F-Y58LpnnK4diZoO_GNkWpsoKrZkIiiks6w9rjgMqvIrUHD/s640/smallgang-picbykatie.jpg" /></a><br />
<i>[pic by Katie Harris]</i><br />
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A power trio of sorts, <b>smallgang</b> comprise of brothers Simon and Toshi Kobayashi with their friend Matt Atkins on drums. Their sound is curiously out of time in the uk at least, given that it owes a lot to American post-hardcore and indie-rock. Back in June we reckoned that their second full length 'san (三)' was "a more ambitious album than their debut 'Trespasses'" and that still holds - the songs are varied and there are a couple of female vocal guest spots too courtesy of Gill Sandell (Emily Baker and the Red Clay Halo) and Jen Macro (Something Beginning With L, My Bloody Valentine). It is an energetic and noisy album, with all the instruments sounding big in the mix and brutal and half-spoken vocals sometimes deliberately submerged.<br />
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Well worth hearing if you like Shellac, Wedding Present, Sebadoh, etc, which I reckon you do if you're reading this. More info (biog, audio, dates) from their label <a href="http://www.damnably.com/smallgang/">Damnably</a>. London types should be aware that they are playing the Windmill in Brixton on the January 18th, 2015. <br />
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<a href="http://www.slowthrills.com/2014/12/2014-catch-up-no1-holy-sons.html">2014 CATCH UP no.1 : Holy Sons</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-33119596136387400312014-12-03T11:35:00.001+00:002014-12-03T13:25:52.904+00:002014 CATCH-UP No1: Holy Sons<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AdJP1GmDFA9KVtRmCSgWdVA9aNXF3SxIYPzSojhexnQLGbnNPUJhzOcrbidGasqCDWzvyYzlTUgO9TUZDjvPnuISZCeexnbIzu8Kbmb4qi0jFduZJ9RSpFZAdZsiId_eljNJ/s1600/holysons04.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AdJP1GmDFA9KVtRmCSgWdVA9aNXF3SxIYPzSojhexnQLGbnNPUJhzOcrbidGasqCDWzvyYzlTUgO9TUZDjvPnuISZCeexnbIzu8Kbmb4qi0jFduZJ9RSpFZAdZsiId_eljNJ/s400/holysons04.jpg" /></a><br />
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Today's overlooked act is <b>Holy Sons</b>, which is essentially the solo project of Emil Amos, who is perhaps better known as the driving force behind Grails, or the drummer in Om. I reviewed Holy Sons <a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/holy-sons-the-fact-facer-141">fine new album The Fact Facer for the 405</a>, it was released in September this year. <br />
<blockquote>"<i>The Fact Facer applies variety and imagination throughout, which doesn't dilute the melancholy, yet ensures that the album doesn't become an overbearing listen. If anything it is the opposite, as the band are full of surprises and Emil Amos's voice is often a joy to hear. By the end of the album you can scarcely believe that this man is the drummer in Om.</i>"</blockquote>Holy Sons are playing some European dates in February 2015, with Watter, and Lilacs and Champagne. If you don't already know, Watter feature Britt from Slint and Zak from Grails, whilst Lilacs and Champagne are Emil himself and Alex from Grails. I can feel a Grails family tree coming on! Full tour dates are on the <a href="http://www.thrilljockey.com/thrill/Holy-Sons/#.VH7wlzGsVyw">Thrill Jockey website</a>. Meanwhile here is the official video for 'Transparent Powers' (from <i>the Fact Facer</i>)<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/KcXGy1IZEDY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-86435373734229977152014-12-01T23:50:00.001+00:002014-12-01T23:59:23.612+00:00The best new albums of the month, November 2014 edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcY6V-WZ5OMHl0kYCXqLJJsVVXwQsdgMX8T7SJ0ql7R7BaX5cCgGbXQNs7YMh0biymLWSyXKg-OAenwyZnk444MJNJDf_KiNlnxlM7dmDkK5RJuSxI2ptAmSXtAzLZReSvkvLc/s1600/deerhoof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcY6V-WZ5OMHl0kYCXqLJJsVVXwQsdgMX8T7SJ0ql7R7BaX5cCgGbXQNs7YMh0biymLWSyXKg-OAenwyZnk444MJNJDf_KiNlnxlM7dmDkK5RJuSxI2ptAmSXtAzLZReSvkvLc/s200/deerhoof.jpg" /></a></div><b>Deerhoof 'La Isla Bonita'</b><br />
Their twelfth studio album and whilst it is very much a case of them staying within their familiar boundaries - snippets of catchy hooks, skeletal yet tight arrangements making the most of their guitar-bass-drums line up - this time they have taken a step away from the moody synth touches of previous album 'Breakup Song'. The band sound great as ever and Satomi's lyrics manage to be both playful, anthemic and puzzling, almost at the same time, but then that's one of the things we love about Deerhoof. <br />
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<iframe src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:track:2AQGe4xzq3ws3HAlDhQTFu" width="300" height="100" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVYlFeAGS82XZJAC3NFpPsHyv1xkKXzfiLwbYU-uAUUWmwoFbbGemMA_mzRlNBI3LaMCvPP7IHmamxa7H3ygxAU9DC0u9w9qMquAGzx23W4oDGF2Ma1cpnGXKt_5f_GtN7hTC/s1600/WAAT057_large_for_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVYlFeAGS82XZJAC3NFpPsHyv1xkKXzfiLwbYU-uAUUWmwoFbbGemMA_mzRlNBI3LaMCvPP7IHmamxa7H3ygxAU9DC0u9w9qMquAGzx23W4oDGF2Ma1cpnGXKt_5f_GtN7hTC/s200/WAAT057_large_for_web.jpg" /></a></div><b>The Wharves 'At Bay'</b> <a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/the-wharves-at-bay-141">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
"The most striking thing about London based trio The Wharves, whether it is on record or in their live show, is their knack of combining two lead voices. On paper they are a standard indie-rock trio, comprising Dearbhla Minogue (guitar), Gemma Fleet (bass) and Marion Androu (drums), but in reality they manage to create a lush mix of gently psychedelic folk-influenced music without losing sight of the pop sensibilities of '60s girl-groups and garage rock....At Bay is a musically rich and varied debut which proves that you can still do a lot with guitar, bass and drums when you have as much imagination as these three."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81uE-XwSc836egQndTCnnCNc6XFXQfiM_6Hw_Adzc6CB4sf7XEzx0L8o4-wIl6m2PlJJkoDKGh_PS5eM-TfCB0Bjbs9XUt3g7cSerE6jIydApYdRK1bz8PkO6eth4qgQUWuJS/s1600/tvotr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81uE-XwSc836egQndTCnnCNc6XFXQfiM_6Hw_Adzc6CB4sf7XEzx0L8o4-wIl6m2PlJJkoDKGh_PS5eM-TfCB0Bjbs9XUt3g7cSerE6jIydApYdRK1bz8PkO6eth4qgQUWuJS/s200/tvotr.jpg" /></a></div><b>TV on the Radio 'Seeds'</b><br />
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The fifth full-length studio release for the indie rock band is its first since the death of bassist Gerald Smith, and sees the band emerge from that tragedy to create an album full of life. It is much more an indie-pop-rock album and fans of their early doom-gaze material may struggle with it, but it still has an edge to it, and the pop touches are both triumphant and surprising, particularly as some people were expecting a heavy dose of melancholy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdB8tsQjKw7InKTPpr7mn6VGKt4UB0ZgP9h-f4PzWC_dXc-icXf3HWOVWqAANd1wEMnfJBMFV0KewOpUWXyruhD1V0HabMGLvWPwt4aN__EqXvuqQ9Yg1jMTD7Qg8OJn_-J_1-/s1600/clark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdB8tsQjKw7InKTPpr7mn6VGKt4UB0ZgP9h-f4PzWC_dXc-icXf3HWOVWqAANd1wEMnfJBMFV0KewOpUWXyruhD1V0HabMGLvWPwt4aN__EqXvuqQ9Yg1jMTD7Qg8OJn_-J_1-/s200/clark.jpg" /></a></div><b>Clark 'Clark'</b><br />
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To file this simply under "techno" does it a disservice, as this seventh album from Warp's often overlooked maestro builds some lush atmospheres along with some doom laden ambient textures. That's not to say that it isn't dance music - you only have to listen to 'Unfurla' or 'The Grit in the Pearl' to hear the floor filling material - but weird tunes like 'banjo' and the sheer beauty of 'Winter Linn' prove that Clark has the variety and the talent to rival the very best of his peers.<br />
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Not only does this follow-up to Hookworms debut <i>sound</i> brilliant, its songs are sequenced together so well as a set - a proper "album" if you like. The bridging tracks are also called 'iv', 'v', 'vi', as if it has continued seamlessly from the debut album. The main elements that made 'Pearl Mystic' such a triumph are still present, though the songs are stronger and the distorted lead vocal is even more of an instrument in the mix this time. The tracks make most sense as part of the whole album, so forgive me for posting a lone one below.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFn2Rm5jEsaaWleikBVapoqpo4IUO4-0WfZ8TE5akdfSJ3T1QwfdQ9M3BfhPTmllEkVj2EFvwFR0h07OqLU8_AKSXyoyzTZQRaYTmAbdIXbbZUqyfMLckj5gpl7njD_Zlkne0o/s1600/deanblunt2-1_1415211032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFn2Rm5jEsaaWleikBVapoqpo4IUO4-0WfZ8TE5akdfSJ3T1QwfdQ9M3BfhPTmllEkVj2EFvwFR0h07OqLU8_AKSXyoyzTZQRaYTmAbdIXbbZUqyfMLckj5gpl7njD_Zlkne0o/s200/deanblunt2-1_1415211032.jpg" /></a></div><b>Dean Blunt 'Black Metal'</b><br />
This has nothing to do with black metal by the way, let's establish that straight away. I wasn't completely convinced by Dean Blunt's previous solo album, but 'Black Metal' is a beaut. Somewhere between noise-rock bliss-out, dub reggae and melancholic rock, he has a knack for putting together delightfully unhinged tunes, with suitably laconic vocals that sit somewhere between Bill Callahan and Rudy from AR Kane. The female counterpart on 'Molly and Aquafina' and the superb '50 Cent' gives the sound an extra dimension. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OV6VWAO0mDvr_DBJReMtBUZz4B_Fnv8Y4X4yhuwnHtL0VAuUZ5h_mN8ukSx21wlYoKF_oTM4Nd4cqka5yeBilssZCMAmC5AzvP3M59jhdtqyxiNZTxk5XFTd1hqTJWjs_sIg/s1600/alex_g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OV6VWAO0mDvr_DBJReMtBUZz4B_Fnv8Y4X4yhuwnHtL0VAuUZ5h_mN8ukSx21wlYoKF_oTM4Nd4cqka5yeBilssZCMAmC5AzvP3M59jhdtqyxiNZTxk5XFTd1hqTJWjs_sIg/s200/alex_g.jpg" /></a></div><b>Alex G 'DSU'</b><br />
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Alex G is a university student who has created a buzz through a steady stream of self-released music over the internet, As far as I know, 'DSG' is his first full length album to see a conventional release and it shows him to be a songwriter with a wealth of influences. It is early days for him yet, but he has been favourably compared to Elliott Smith, Big Star and even the Beatles. This is also a full band record, though his scratchy lo-fi past isn't too far from the surface. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizU36q5AJCbGgqNw5PEoFb_ibCJoRmSP1AH7JgWSVqxd1EwM2QlQ-zwjLl0PwoBhUgvh5ltbQx4sXlAYkm6dsbXpABXKUsH-YvbZM0D6Hq2XwARe6C7JykRfg4afF1tPUBs1W4/s1600/virginia-wing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizU36q5AJCbGgqNw5PEoFb_ibCJoRmSP1AH7JgWSVqxd1EwM2QlQ-zwjLl0PwoBhUgvh5ltbQx4sXlAYkm6dsbXpABXKUsH-YvbZM0D6Hq2XwARe6C7JykRfg4afF1tPUBs1W4/s200/virginia-wing.jpg" /></a></div><b>Virginia Wing 'Measures of Joy'</b><br />
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All I know about Virginia Wing is that they are based in Camberwell and they have made one of the debuts of the year with 'Measures of Joy'. The vocals of Alice Merida Richards are central to it all, and her delivery plus the accompanying drifting psychedelia of the other musicians create something not unlike the more experimental moments of Broadcast and Electrelane. It is so much more than a carbon copy of those acts and each listen reveals new layers and twists and turns. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_QFu2P7Ca5Hzg43tIoXiF9sLK12jEz2jcaI5Nrlb2ydnphZ30Tzf-TpYmlFEP0H0VHXEcEZliHWIQj8lCy5TNHnTLQK1LVybfVONzCBJjz6e7pAUTC8rDW_Fi5wlE3HejElq/s1600/timwheeler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_QFu2P7Ca5Hzg43tIoXiF9sLK12jEz2jcaI5Nrlb2ydnphZ30Tzf-TpYmlFEP0H0VHXEcEZliHWIQj8lCy5TNHnTLQK1LVybfVONzCBJjz6e7pAUTC8rDW_Fi5wlE3HejElq/s200/timwheeler.jpg" /></a></div><b>Tim Wheeler 'Lost Domain'</b><br />
Tim Wheeler's latest solo album is both a tribute to his late father, and an account how a family deals with the dementia. It's a difficult listen for me as my own mum has vascular dementia, and there are so many triggers here, several times the lyrics really hit home. There are no pop songs, and no noisy Ash-style tunes either, and I find it more affecting when he writes reflective short songs, although the two epic songs in the middle of the album, 'Hospital' and 'Medicine', are quite striking. <br />
'Lost Domain' is not what anyone could call an enjoyable listen, but as a cathartic one it works very well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhloYWdARDM-aK7A8dFc4BD11P9ncnHqHxZZ9KdsJdT-3Nl-b5M3gbMg6gWZE9gf-B4QfLrkLa0sCEyXyX2I53Jm_yI8rUQ8ewAaOjYyRo1BAYvoWzDmV7tYkXTh8b0thfAU6ND/s1600/exit-verse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhloYWdARDM-aK7A8dFc4BD11P9ncnHqHxZZ9KdsJdT-3Nl-b5M3gbMg6gWZE9gf-B4QfLrkLa0sCEyXyX2I53Jm_yI8rUQ8ewAaOjYyRo1BAYvoWzDmV7tYkXTh8b0thfAU6ND/s200/exit-verse.jpg" /></a></div><b>Exit Verse 'Exit Verse'</b><br />
Although Geoff Farina's recent run of solo acoustic guitar records have been hugely enjoyable, some fans have been hankering for Geoff to either reform Karate or get back into playing rock music again. Well, Exit Verse is what happened when Farina put together a new rock band, although people expecting a slice of jazzy post-hardcore here might raise their eyebrows at the finished results. Exit Verse has taken on board lots of classic rock influences (Thin Lizzy in particular) and at times this reminds me of Ted Leo or the Hold Steady. It's a grower though, and repeated listens bring out Farina's subtle guitar lines.<br />
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<iframe src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:track:1z3O1sRdk9tR0WPbxnDhUn" width="300" height="100" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-65247680769925164652014-11-03T15:19:00.002+00:002014-11-03T15:19:29.140+00:00The best new albums of the month, October 2014 editionIf you are the sort of person inclined to chop up your year into monthly chunks, you know that some months are better than others. And in 2014 terms, October astrides this calendar year like a collossus. The overall quality meant that it was harder than ever to keep the list to ten choices only, and as I listened to roughly double my monthly amount and had more reviews published than usual, I have gone giddy and selected 15 albums. Enjoy.<br />
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<b>Vashti Bunyan 'Heartleap' </b><br />
<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/vashti-bunyan-heartleap-141">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
"Vashti has said that Heartleap will be her final album, and with that statement it is as if she has come full circle. For someone who walked away from the music business at the age of 25, it is fitting that she has bookended her career with this album. It has been made on her own terms and in her own time, with her in total control of the finished product. In other words it is a total re-establishment of the self-confidence that she lost in the '60S. Best of all, Heartleap works superbly as a collection of songs, and can only serve to extend and preserve her legacy."<br />
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<b>A Winged Victory for the Sullen 'Atomos'</b> <br />
<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/a-winged-victory-for-the-sullen-atomos-141">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
"Apparently conceived and performed over a relatively short time span, Atomos is a very powerful work and one which could well bring modern classical music to the attention of people with only a passing interest in it, in much the same way as Philip Glass and Steve Reich have done. It's a beautiful record which well worth your attention."<br />
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<b>Wrekmeister Harmonies 'Then It All Came Down'</b><br />
<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/wrekmeister-harmonies-then-it-all-came-down-141">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
"Then It All Came Down was premiered last year in the National Bohemian Cemetery in Chicago, under a full moon. When you hear it, that all makes sense. The natural yet eerie setting, surrounded by reminders of mortality, and the potential interest in the occult. This is a superbly assembled piece, with a great grasp of dynamics and an understanding that its subtle moments can be just powerful as those times when it becomes a complete aural assault. Then It All Came Down is a noisy beast, but it is a beautiful one too."<br />
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<b>The Twilight Sad 'Nobody Wants To Be Here and Nobody Wants To Leave </b><br />
<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/the-twilight-sad-nobody-wants-to-be-here-and-nobody-wants-to-leave-141">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
"This fourth album comes across as a consolidation of the edgy noise of their early records and the electronic aspects of its predecessor. They sound as powerful as ever, and their penchant for weaving subtle folk melodies amongst their noise is still pretty special. Nobody Wants to Be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave is a highpoint for the Twilight Sad and in many ways it is the best record they've made to date."<br />
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<b>Scott Walker and SUNNO))) 'Soused'</b><br />
A controversial record of course, but a brave and brilliant one as well. Despite the fact that it sees the enigmatic Scott join up with the experimental doom-metal of Sunn0))) this seems like a step away from his very challenging Avant Garde trio of albums. Sunn0))) play with a fairly straight bat, hitting the fuzz when they need too, and the main eyebrowing raising moments come from Scott's barmy attempts at poetry. <br />
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<b>Allo Darlin 'We Come From the Same Place'</b><br />
Personally I never thought Allo Darlin were that "twee" so it is odd to read reviews which say they have grown up. This album was created with the members living in different countries for the first time, due to Elizabeth leaving the UK. Musically and lyrically however, We Come From the Same Place carries on where its fine predecessor Europe left off. There are some lovely lyrical gems and some decent tunes, and if anything has changed it is that Elizabeth's voice sounds more confident and established. Maybe that's what people mean by sounding grown up. Hear for yourself...<br />
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<b>Grouper 'Ruins'</b><br />
It's early days but this already seems like a very special record. Grouper aka Liz Harris nearly always works alone, but this time she has dispensed with any artificial studio work and recorded four long sad songs with just voice and piano in a seemingly untreated room. There are many incidental sounds that are picked up - thunder and rain, crickets and the ping of a microwave - it is quite a revealing listen on headphones. The songs themselves are sad and beautiful, and overall Ruins is pretty wonderful.<br />
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<b>Azar Swan 'And Blow Us A Kiss'</b><br />
<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/azar-swan-and-blow-us-a-kiss-141">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
"Azar Swan have set out to make a pop record and have succeeded. Currently there is so little darkness and experimentation within the world of pop that And Blow Us A Kiss comes across as a genuinely exciting record, and one which shows a lot of their contemporaries in the worlds of the goth/industrial/dancefloor crossover that they have plenty of tricks up their sleeve."<br />
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<b>Flying Lotus 'You're Dead'</b><br />
When FlyLo emerged last decade people became aware of his jazz heritage and the family connection with Alice Coltrane. However, 'You're Dead' is the closest any of his records has got to jazz, albeit in a free-form freaked-out version. The psychedelic touches are there of course and that frustrating, teasing way that he flips away from one idea before it is really finished with is still in evidence as well. The title does hint at a fairly morbid effort, and it does get darker than he has before, but ultimately it is well worth hearing for the adventurous and ambitious turns that the music takes.<br />
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<b>Run the Jewels 'Run the Jewels 2'</b><br />
Run the Jewels debut appeared out of the blue and - like this one - was given away free over the internet. At the time it seemed like a one-off but after a couple of successful tour and a great reaction to that debut, the duo of El-P and Killer Mike have released a follow-up. Album two continues where the debut left off, though this time around it flows even better, and sits together as a set really well. <br />
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<b>Jane Weaver 'The Silver Globe'</b><br />
This is Jane Weaver's sixth solo album, and although some people may know her as a folk influenced musician, The Silver Globe is a concept album taking its name from a Polish sci-fi film - yet it manages to be both a coming of age tale and a romantic paean, though I haven't quite got to grips with the story yet. It goes heavy on the synths and prog touches, yet equally unafraid of pop melodies. There are some gentle subtle songs, some electronic noodling and this tune, which sounds like Can and Hawkwind at the same time...<br />
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<b>Thurston Moore 'The Best Day'</b><br />
The most Sonic Youth sounding effort from any former Sonic Youth person to date, and I don't think many people would complain about that. It is half of SY of course, as Thurston is joined by Steve Shelley on drums, whilst Deb Goodge from My Bloody Valentine and James Sedwards from Chrome Hoof form the rest of the four-piece. This time Thurston has side-stepped the obvious noise, improv and folk stylings of his recent projects to make a damn good rock record. It isn't all straight SY songbook though, and the likes of the drone-folk piece 'Tape' show that those other influences are never far away. <br />
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<b>Iceage 'Plowing Into the Field of Love'</b><br />
I haven't gotten on with Iceage's records to date, but 'Plowing Into the Field of Love' is totally different to anything they've done before. So much so that a lot of their fans have turned their noses up at it. In contrast to their earlier efforts, this time the singer has adopted an unhinged Shane McGowan style delivery - not quite in tune - and the music is a rich cacophony of edgy 80s acts like The Gun Club, Crime and the City Solution and the Bad Seeds. Brave to see a band completely change tack, and I hope they can gain some new fans in the process.<br />
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<b>Caribou 'Our Love'</b><br />
The contented Caribou album. A record all about love, and consequently one that is more in touch with Dan Snaith's equallty great Daphni project than previous Caribou releases. It is joyous, dig in!<br />
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<b>Heat Leisure 'III & IV'</b><br />
I'm on a mission to reclaim the word 'psychedelic' from the epidemic of garage bands, so this is the second psychedelic album in the list, after Flying Lotus. Heat Leisure are a collective featuring both of Guardian Alien, the Pontiak brothers and Steve Stromhier from Beach House and these two long pieces owes a debt to the early records of Can and Amon Duul II. The voice which introduces the whole thing is the original Merry Prankster, former Grateful Dead MC Ken Babbs, who has contributed a long monologue. The rest is a joyous, often improvised jam.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-25910956904722056512014-10-09T15:17:00.000+01:002014-12-03T10:39:59.028+00:00The best new albums of the month, September 2014Release schedules usually mean that it's easy to pick 10 albums in the summer months, while the Autumn and New Year sees so many releases it is hard to limit the list to 10. Step forward September, which always manages to overwhelm me. This time it was even worse as I had no laptop for half of September and I only got to hear 29 of the 33 albums I had on my long list. I can't quite believe that I haven't got around to people like Laetitia Sadier and Thom Yorke yet, but that's why they are missing from the 10.<br />
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<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/holy-sons-the-fact-facer-141">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
"The Fact Facer applies variety and imagination throughout, which doesn't dilute the melancholy, yet ensures that the album doesn't become an overbearing listen. If anything it is the opposite, as the band are full of surprises and Emil Amos's voice is often a joy to hear. By the end of the album you can scarcely believe that this man is the drummer in Om."<br />
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<a href="http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/camera-remember-i-was-carbon-dioxide-141">my review</a> (the 405)<br />
"Whilst there is no escaping the Krautrock influences, Camera have at least updated that sound with their own imagination, punky energy and a willingness to progress. If you enjoy the music of those German bands mentioned at the start of the review, you should get something out of this energetic 21st reboot of the genre."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojfRDcCSriGWstZKIFaRPJyokDfctSLLNoChwmyykt5rBkRoebWzPUxXSFbrro4_SEYfBNkq1Bx9SMeVctUYOeVDsSMP7I5f9yXFUxDdF3Akf5bAyF4hXF7Jma9xUW5VItCnR/s1600/karen-o-crush-songs-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojfRDcCSriGWstZKIFaRPJyokDfctSLLNoChwmyykt5rBkRoebWzPUxXSFbrro4_SEYfBNkq1Bx9SMeVctUYOeVDsSMP7I5f9yXFUxDdF3Akf5bAyF4hXF7Jma9xUW5VItCnR/s200/karen-o-crush-songs-2014.jpg"></a></div><b>Karen O 'Crush Songs'</b><br />
I guess it's deliberate that the demos that make up 'Crush Songs' are barely there, recorded in a single take and often only about a minute long. The melodies are simple, delicate, and the instrumentation is mostly just a roughly recorded acoustic guitar, though there are little beats dotted around. It is a glimpse into her private emotions and manages to sound and feel like exactly that.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw-UBCgSIRNDtmffXiDimmNVxp2eafVMXfTj99PU0ZD2rAqo3_BlXMSgrptg0oG_XXdbNlnunZ42Je_7NLSRt_fJv43KzV4tNoMwa7Iw11zdD6zU_Dvr2eeCN6ZNaS16wGXyc/s1600/Tweedy-Sukierae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw-UBCgSIRNDtmffXiDimmNVxp2eafVMXfTj99PU0ZD2rAqo3_BlXMSgrptg0oG_XXdbNlnunZ42Je_7NLSRt_fJv43KzV4tNoMwa7Iw11zdD6zU_Dvr2eeCN6ZNaS16wGXyc/s200/Tweedy-Sukierae.jpg"></a></div><b>Tweedy 'Sukierae'</b><br />
A double album created by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy and his son Spencer, this is a lot better than I thought it would be. Spencer is a clearly a great drummer and his work on this manages to leave as distinctive a stamp of some of this material as his Dad's voice does. 20 songs as well, which are much more than Wilco cast-offs, in fact some of them are superb.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEehrvBkeJHzQ5hS6O3UQelrA3YwNSgVFDeS-ZXLYj1uHLZQ2u1p2w54prgn9MX1hu-bYrs3vKjIszb2qa3L-l3nZsghwnPkx3jocD_fpfGDea1qV9vIG0OaUUCdNsaHbnGzb/s1600/aphex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEehrvBkeJHzQ5hS6O3UQelrA3YwNSgVFDeS-ZXLYj1uHLZQ2u1p2w54prgn9MX1hu-bYrs3vKjIszb2qa3L-l3nZsghwnPkx3jocD_fpfGDea1qV9vIG0OaUUCdNsaHbnGzb/s200/aphex.jpg"></a></div><b>Aphex Twin 'Syro'</b><br />
A much acclaimed return for Aphex Twin, with an album more succinct than its predecessor 'Druqks'. It immediately sounds like Aphex, though some of the edginess, crazier aspects have been tempered in favour of fairly accessible, almost house-influenced tunes. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn46LsLrsM1XdvYMCAKk9j4z9xmWYUM6xAD6gu3yln1M2Oo_z-2EoWha8GsFLhW2v5HF2g7B1cNZe7AhInBvoianG6JIrdMAo9Yz8Nd4wQJhx8FC4ri6TJGcTgVvxdSSext9VY/s1600/half-japanese-overjoyed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn46LsLrsM1XdvYMCAKk9j4z9xmWYUM6xAD6gu3yln1M2Oo_z-2EoWha8GsFLhW2v5HF2g7B1cNZe7AhInBvoianG6JIrdMAo9Yz8Nd4wQJhx8FC4ri6TJGcTgVvxdSSext9VY/s200/half-japanese-overjoyed.jpg"></a></div><b>Half Japanese 'Overjoyed'</b><br />
I can't remember the last time that I listened to a full Half Japanese album, but I'm thrilled that they are such good form here. Cracking guitar sounds, the usual dubious rhymes in the lyrics, and Jad Fair is completely in your face throughout. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-HqIy0OsoldxSbHCAFAuyim3rfdX6VCiCkN1EjD42DcWQXNSEn3SCDSO4uS1w63ApsqKav19J_EGdF-toOLKJoQuhLNaRDyxAP42MZ3f3g-d0Ce9rbMVlSSQdagChpT3Sl1l/s1600/shellac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-HqIy0OsoldxSbHCAFAuyim3rfdX6VCiCkN1EjD42DcWQXNSEn3SCDSO4uS1w63ApsqKav19J_EGdF-toOLKJoQuhLNaRDyxAP42MZ3f3g-d0Ce9rbMVlSSQdagChpT3Sl1l/s200/shellac.jpg"></a></div><b>Shellac 'Dude Incredible'</b><br />
Anyone was has seen Shellac in the last few years will be familiar with some of these songs. This album is one of their most immediate - and time will tell if it's amongst their best. Naturally it sounds brilliant, and quirky as well, with an a cappella opening on side 2 and more songs about surveyors on one album than anyone else has ever written. <br />
(Obviously no Spotify on this one, but some chancer has put some of it on youtube, see below)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVBLP3I0k8pQLbWSjRr5kzAqKVPyp89WyYmpHwqxQ51cc1V0e5Nf0Q0MOigu7ioFirOHFroN-HoYATlhBQkTGbThyphenhyphenDG7oWVdtbx2uS-5PBSL9j3CvCbzOGX6MmDt2QHDTG8On/s1600/seapinks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVBLP3I0k8pQLbWSjRr5kzAqKVPyp89WyYmpHwqxQ51cc1V0e5Nf0Q0MOigu7ioFirOHFroN-HoYATlhBQkTGbThyphenhyphenDG7oWVdtbx2uS-5PBSL9j3CvCbzOGX6MmDt2QHDTG8On/s200/seapinks.jpg"></a></div><b>Sea Pinks 'Dreaming Tracks'</b> <br />
Relative unknowns in this list of heavy-hitters, Sea Pinks hail from Belfast and have a neat line in indie-pop, with nods to the heyday of Postcard records. Their fourth album, but the first to be recorded in the studio with a full band, complete with cello to add a bit of melancholy. Some strong songwriting, and the tracks flow really well together. <br />
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=102284321/size=large/bgcol=333333/linkcol=0f91ff/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=3399575004/transparent=true/" seamless="">&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://seapinks.bandcamp.com/album/dreaming-tracks"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Dreaming Tracks by Sea Pinks&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</iframe><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViIOCl98OOt3ky7CTbtrrd_w6zF19O7pGB8XIvpvFtIlw-DKCFAyUwS2lhIQbf8No_PIOHEeegtawGeAJOXG96ad3YL69u84MftLqbCW1B8iAOHUl-1-v6z40a22vjqDZ340y/s1600/17453-too-bright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViIOCl98OOt3ky7CTbtrrd_w6zF19O7pGB8XIvpvFtIlw-DKCFAyUwS2lhIQbf8No_PIOHEeegtawGeAJOXG96ad3YL69u84MftLqbCW1B8iAOHUl-1-v6z40a22vjqDZ340y/s200/17453-too-bright.jpg"></a></div><b>Perfume Genius 'Too Bright'</b><br />
It took me longer to get into this than it had with his previous albums, first impressions were that the greater ensemble of musicians made PG's music more robust, less fragile. The songs do get under your skin in a pleasant way after a few listens, though the tracks with more dynamic range come across better<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXb-lpmHjVEfGq4CtP97-qhn66HnuynUQXD3UuQk7YYzxs-4ZzW5hjCjCphUYHURicjLkN0E6AVmNIRJFP3qflI71cURS8gYnvMhuqQ9IxE4l_r3xpVkTLCa0zBl7gtQ_u1tyF/s1600/tricky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXb-lpmHjVEfGq4CtP97-qhn66HnuynUQXD3UuQk7YYzxs-4ZzW5hjCjCphUYHURicjLkN0E6AVmNIRJFP3qflI71cURS8gYnvMhuqQ9IxE4l_r3xpVkTLCa0zBl7gtQ_u1tyF/s200/tricky.jpg"></a></div><b>Tricky 'Adrian Thaws'</b><br />
Not a perfect album by any means, but it's a sprawling, surprising effort by Tricky, hot on the heels of last year's False Idols. Random nods to past influences with a cover of Janet Kay's Silly Games and a cheeky Massive Attack steal. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-8883532210066167672014-09-17T11:51:00.002+01:002014-09-17T11:51:14.861+01:00Embedded: Slowthrills double edition no.2<iframe width="660" height="180" src="//www.mixcloud.com/widget/iframe/?feed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mixcloud.com%2Fslowthrills%2Fslowthrills-double-edition-no2%2F&embed_uuid=02623bb5-b623-4260-9189-1165faaa925b&replace=0&hide_cover=1&embed_type=widget_standard&hide_tracklist=1" frameborder="0"></iframe><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;"></div><p style="display: block; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 4px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); width: 652px;"><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/slowthrills/slowthrills-double-edition-no2/?utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=base_links&amp;utm_term=resource_link" target="_blank" style="color:#808080; font-weight:bold;">Slowthrills double edition no.2</a><span> by </span><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/slowthrills/?utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=base_links&amp;utm_term=profile_link" target="_blank" style="color:#808080; font-weight:bold;">Slowthrills</a><span> on </span><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/?utm_source=widget&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=base_links&utm_term=homepage_link" target="_blank" style="color:#808080; font-weight:bold;"> Mixcloud</a></p><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;"></div><br />
This is the second long show, intending to highlight some of the best new music that has come our way in the latter half of the summer. The next series of podcasts/ radio shows will be shorter in length and more frequent, so look out for those in October. Tracklisting is below, thanks in advance for listening and sharing.<br />
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Second double edition Aug-Sep 2014<br />
1. Chem Trails – Spider Bags<br />
2. Archie, Marry Me – Alvvays<br />
3. Falls Away – Childhood<br />
4. Stamford Hill – Mazes<br />
5. Dartford Tunnel – Splintered Man<br />
6. Dripping – Blonde Redhead<br />
7. Salo – Analogue Wave<br />
8. In Love With Useless – A Sunny Day in Glasgow<br />
9. Overdrive feat. Ummagma – Sounds of Sputnik<br />
10. This Once – Acre Tarn<br />
11. A Mirror in my Mouth – Susanna and Jenny Hval<br />
12. Welsh Corgis in the Snow – Mary Lattimore and Jeff Zeigler<br />
13. Seven Year Glitch – Rumour Cubes<br />
14. Unshaven Boozer – David Thomas Broughton<br />
15. Doomed Myself – Holy Sons<br />
16. Tender is the Night – Robyn G Shiels<br />
17. Mister Skeleton – Grumbling Fur<br />
18. Out for the West – Castanets<br />
19. Guidance – Meter Bridge<br />
20. Forerunner Foray – Shabazz Palaces<br />
21. The One – The Bug<br />
22. De Bom Bom – Girl Band<br />
23. Sea Sick – Dot Dash<br />
24. Synchron – Camera<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5756184.post-79515043533453879182014-09-04T23:53:00.000+01:002014-09-04T23:53:36.490+01:00The best new albums of the month, August 2014Well this was a tough one. There should probably be twelve or thirteen albums on this page, but I'm sticking with my "ten-per-month" rule. I guess that just means I like these just that bit much more. September is going to be even harder as there are hundreds of albums set for release, but for now, dive in and enjoy my picks for August. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNlS2KVvzZZRplWO1CL7LtQA2tutKAA7BvphLMdJWINBLvkDumjNpbi3vkX654Se8mDKPjd7pn4ZKa4L_Q8t2iJiZ7Hxd5VnT8nXopsrvusLF19-8K7bLkFLepZ9c2Qmtu0Vs/s1600/the-bug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNlS2KVvzZZRplWO1CL7LtQA2tutKAA7BvphLMdJWINBLvkDumjNpbi3vkX654Se8mDKPjd7pn4ZKa4L_Q8t2iJiZ7Hxd5VnT8nXopsrvusLF19-8K7bLkFLepZ9c2Qmtu0Vs/s200/the-bug.jpg"></a></div><b>The Bug 'Angels and Devils'</b> <br />
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A huge release on which Kevin Martin, the mastermind behind the Bug, stretches the boundaries of dub reggae, hip-hop and industrial noise even further than on the previous album London Zoo. <br />
Its musical range is wide, and the list of collaborators is impressive. We get the gentle touch of Liz Harris (Grouper), the foggy fuzz of Gonjasufi, and star turns from both Flowdan and Warrior Queen. <br />
Martin weaves it all together and creates something that is thrilling, important and very 2014.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7X-4FjYfShx7Ghj25FyanWzQ4YlTem5q7YakExdmJYfsdZ6rUW7858hn7K77mi3DkAB3ApnKz_vUQwkrDbRmTKtMCb_l2L-7sEPe-kEuaT1ai9hXOLyhbfdvpJYxCDKy4313/s1600/grumbling-fur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7X-4FjYfShx7Ghj25FyanWzQ4YlTem5q7YakExdmJYfsdZ6rUW7858hn7K77mi3DkAB3ApnKz_vUQwkrDbRmTKtMCb_l2L-7sEPe-kEuaT1ai9hXOLyhbfdvpJYxCDKy4313/s200/grumbling-fur.jpg"></a></div><b>Grumbling Fur 'Preternaturals'</b> <br />
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Dan O'Sullivan and Alexander Tucker's previous album under this name, Glynnaestra, was well received. Preternaturals is probably even better. It is brief in duration, and some of the tracks are simply bridges between the longer songs, but when they do weave their magic into a full piece it really works. Pitched somewhere on the strange hinterland between the likes of Depeche Mode and New Order, and "electric Eden" style psych-folk, this is an essential listen. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9H_ngvWi8V8xd-WKZw_NjNSnqrT8f3In3s06gtu_PJej4-YeY3qV1G5Xh7K0zv8pb03XgK05sQtx0p8Cdcb9eZ5SM3XvkjKrvlTmfK8_Hv7N7rAkw0sqv4rYIHKAO3e9W1lZF/s1600/FKA-twigs-LP1-608x608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9H_ngvWi8V8xd-WKZw_NjNSnqrT8f3In3s06gtu_PJej4-YeY3qV1G5Xh7K0zv8pb03XgK05sQtx0p8Cdcb9eZ5SM3XvkjKrvlTmfK8_Hv7N7rAkw0sqv4rYIHKAO3e9W1lZF/s200/FKA-twigs-LP1-608x608.jpg"></a></div><b>FKA twigs 'LP1'</b><br />
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These selections usually tend to skip the obvious releases, but this debut is impossible to ignore. LP1 manages to combine lots of standard influences (pop, RnB, hip-hop) into something rich, dense and challenging. If you're familiar with last year's EP releases, LP1 runs even deeper into that skewed and emotionally charged vibe. Comparisons to Bjork, Tricky et al, are valid, mainly because FKA twigs is pursuing an individual yet fully realised sound. Easily one of the debuts of this year.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkGqEMkibVthD2MyYZ1SOoeHqERDkf9I_DnqZxNnhbHvtcMGYyyOLOKI5Vn_DEebs0Tn5vDYjosP3kfQwFsl_UMecnLS86qlEU4Qr8qCbYHtbTrdl3s_4DHthX6hw4-_893A9/s1600/childhood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkGqEMkibVthD2MyYZ1SOoeHqERDkf9I_DnqZxNnhbHvtcMGYyyOLOKI5Vn_DEebs0Tn5vDYjosP3kfQwFsl_UMecnLS86qlEU4Qr8qCbYHtbTrdl3s_4DHthX6hw4-_893A9/s200/childhood.jpg"></a></div><b>Childhood 'Lacuna'</b> <br />
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Another great debut, though this time firmly in the indie-rock/ shoegaze vein. This isn't a case of noise overload though, and strong melodic hooks are present on every track. At times the band's influences are obvious, but Childhood have a few tricks of their own up their sleeve. By varying the tempo and throwing in the odd melodic twist, they've made 'Lacuna' stand out from the rest of the pack. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIo3LWWXKVmgyLA-hWFRBV6D0RSh8-gPck9Ld-8vbtcB3kXqh7CLr2g6YfE5jPPW1QnCX2YS4rYclj1ydXpOPxnFRxYohrRdmHqmi6VN9Y4_1ZLWiJDK7AQePvo7a4pfoB_qOM/s1600/susanna-jenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIo3LWWXKVmgyLA-hWFRBV6D0RSh8-gPck9Ld-8vbtcB3kXqh7CLr2g6YfE5jPPW1QnCX2YS4rYclj1ydXpOPxnFRxYohrRdmHqmi6VN9Y4_1ZLWiJDK7AQePvo7a4pfoB_qOM/s200/susanna-jenny.jpg"></a></div><b>Susanna/ Jenny Hval 'Meshes of Voice'</b><br />
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On paper, these two seem to have little in common other than their Norwegian nationality, but it is the conflict between their two styles which makes Meshes of Voice such a special collaboration. This work was created for a live performance at Ladyfest in 2009 and it consists of 15 interconnected pieces which form a modern day saga, for want of a better word. The fact that it can move from beautiful, almost classical passages to noisy art-rock whilst still maintaining its flow, is hugely impressive.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5-wFtiXzumjIdX060l3oJhAKxoh_SiTfZTpW7V3wiVNzTx_l3YNgKk9uhfZnCSePf3c3S8bIdrA17_dBReM7l7rRG7tusgp1OAi48i5AGMZjqSMTumUTFj9H6vVnlt7vWg82/s1600/A-Sunny-Day-In-Glasgow-Sea-When-Absent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5-wFtiXzumjIdX060l3oJhAKxoh_SiTfZTpW7V3wiVNzTx_l3YNgKk9uhfZnCSePf3c3S8bIdrA17_dBReM7l7rRG7tusgp1OAi48i5AGMZjqSMTumUTFj9H6vVnlt7vWg82/s200/A-Sunny-Day-In-Glasgow-Sea-When-Absent.jpg"></a></div><b>A Sunny Day in Glasgow 'Sea When Absent'</b> <br />
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Their fourth album, and easily their best, sees A Sunny Day in Glasgow overcome their geographical differences (the members were split across Australia and the USA) to sound more like a band than ever. They are still firmly within the shoegaze sound although there is a euphoric side to some of these songs. The production by Jeff Zeigler (War on Drugs, Vile) may have something to do with it, although the songs still retain that busy, cluttered feel that is familiar from their earlier records. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKy6zdYcf-Zt4cMvSo7a82k2Vi_VHmFvVwMTGrZKMTT9X23vbY1HZTUmS2rrpL90KIiAAeG2VGWPfxC5QadmssltJH6eLxjVADy2xQyHc8vr366u_aAACUboSuRQIARQwDJMl/s1600/adult-jazz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKy6zdYcf-Zt4cMvSo7a82k2Vi_VHmFvVwMTGrZKMTT9X23vbY1HZTUmS2rrpL90KIiAAeG2VGWPfxC5QadmssltJH6eLxjVADy2xQyHc8vr366u_aAACUboSuRQIARQwDJMl/s200/adult-jazz.jpg"></a></div><b>Adult Jazz 'Gist Is'</b><br />
It took quite a few listens to convince me on this one. Adult Jazz have an almost abstract approach to songwriting, with tempo changes and twisting multi-layered melodies. There are definite jazz touches but there's also a big Dirty Projectors influence. Every listen to this album offers something new.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbcqZqVTAwX5Glt8T56zFoldKG_DmyirCwGc58PLoJttWkOM2SaDWZo6QhQHnHGm9swWJhku_u5POp-LE3Z5T8_IHt6BPEkmJO6AAA6_HXOqfCxF4G12SLR3RGMleSd6VhAEA/s1600/rumour-cubes.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbcqZqVTAwX5Glt8T56zFoldKG_DmyirCwGc58PLoJttWkOM2SaDWZo6QhQHnHGm9swWJhku_u5POp-LE3Z5T8_IHt6BPEkmJO6AAA6_HXOqfCxF4G12SLR3RGMleSd6VhAEA/s200/rumour-cubes.png"></a></div><b>Rumour Cubes 'Appearances of Collections'</b><br />
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An impressive instrumental album from this London based six piece. Violin and viola carry all the melodies and the fact that these strings have a powerful rock band driving them along will lead to comparisons to the usual post-rock suspects. However, the sheer beauty of many of the tunes and the skill of the band in taking the route away from bombast and cliché, make this an album should try to seek out. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0w_6sunw6aYxkPJFLQ5Byy2cSTJj56XTBbZ61fuw_gzv9f-RdjwW9CBZfn-3lsXlIE2V-OxoXKpE5Tnm6kmoSQAmbLRrHj_7NjEY52iQpLbSw4Y4x8xdv4eax_FDtwHZtY1t/s1600/The-New-Pornographers-Brill-Bruisers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0w_6sunw6aYxkPJFLQ5Byy2cSTJj56XTBbZ61fuw_gzv9f-RdjwW9CBZfn-3lsXlIE2V-OxoXKpE5Tnm6kmoSQAmbLRrHj_7NjEY52iQpLbSw4Y4x8xdv4eax_FDtwHZtY1t/s200/The-New-Pornographers-Brill-Bruisers.jpg"></a></div><b>The New Pornographers 'Brill Bruisers'</b><br />
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Saying that an album marks a “return to form” is a cliché of course, but that's exactly what Brill Bruisers is. AC Newman, Neko Case and Dan Bejar bring their individual talents back to the group, and on the first few listens it sounds like this could hold its own with any of their back catalogue. Brill Bruisers consists of mostly uptempo material, and sounds like it was much fun to make as it is to listen to. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCNPrfHg1h5K-atMhgf19-zOtTf4wLRoZimSKoOEJvuwn1rfRIVXV6b-Rr4XpXmvhGyeYhh0Gt8_OTY224T4Sj3OOWifGQ4x2tkehXr3uBhkIQCFVl5PsPlU5AhLzD3iVdb2s/s1600/ty-segall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCNPrfHg1h5K-atMhgf19-zOtTf4wLRoZimSKoOEJvuwn1rfRIVXV6b-Rr4XpXmvhGyeYhh0Gt8_OTY224T4Sj3OOWifGQ4x2tkehXr3uBhkIQCFVl5PsPlU5AhLzD3iVdb2s/s200/ty-segall.jpg"></a></div><b>Ty Segall 'Manipulator'</b><br />
After a prolific streak over the last few years, Ty Segall stepped out of character to spend 14 months working on this double album. That work has paid off, as the album packs a punch, and across the 17 tracks the influence of 70s glam - in particular Bowie and Bolan- weighs heavier than that of 60s garage. <br />
No tracks to stream as Drag City don't really do that, but here is a nifty vid to promote the album. <br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0