The best new albums of the month, May 2014

First of all let me say that I dropped the ball a bit when looking back at April, as I heard the Broken Twin and Ought albums too late to include them, but I've listened to both of them a lot since and can definitely recommend them.
May was relatively easy to compile as there were some clear stand-outs over the month. Enjoy the ten...

The Delines 'Colfax'
Essentially this is another side to Richmond Fontaine and fans of that outfit - or indeed fans of Willy Vlautin's fiction - will not be disappointed. The Delines places female vocalist Amy Boone at the heart of the action as the band create a lush country-soul crossover. As always, Vlautin's lyrics tell a beautifully sad story.

Bo Ningen 'III'
my review (the 405)

"seven years and three full length albums on from their early noise-based jams they have refined and re-energized their unique approach to noise-rock with III. It's not punk, acid-rock, shoegaze or metal, instead it's a stranger hybrid of all of these and more. Now that "psych" has come to define garage bands reinventing the music of the past, they don't sit well with that tag either. Bo Ningen are about as futuristic a rock band as you could imagine."

Swans 'To Be Kind'

Nearly two years ago this Swans line-up made a fantastic two hour long album called 'The Seer', which was probably one of the best records made under that name, and Michael Gira even claimed it was the summation of his life's work (I'm paraphrasing, but you know what I mean). Unbelievably, they've done it again - another two hours of revelatory, boundary stretching rock music. Created mostly whilst on tour, these tunes sound more like finely honed jams than anything else. Thirteen albums down the line, they are still a huge creative force.

Bastard Mountain 'Farewell, Bastard Mountain'

Is Bastard Mountain a supergroup or a collaboration? Combining the talents of some of Meursault including vocalist Neil Pennycook, Rob St John and Sparrow and the Workshop, amongst others, they have created a beautiful album that equals much of the recorded output of the separate strands of each act. Three songs from each artist were brought to the sessions and then reworked into a lovely, haunted kind of folk music.

Sharon Van Etten 'Are We There'

This crept up on me in much the same way 'Tramp' did, with the really special moments emerging over repeated listens. Thematically it is similar as well, with her lyrics still firmly focused on the minutiae of relationships. The arrangements, and overall feel, is somehow a bit smoother, as if her earlier folk-rock and indie-rock leanings had had a little polish to make them even more accessible. That's not intended as a negative comment, just an observation, and this has been on constant rotation all month.

La Sera 'Hour of the Dawn'
The return of Katy Goodman, once of the Vivian Girls, with her side project that has now become her main musical outlet. In fact this is the third release under the La Sera name. Summery indie-rock, with a carefully concealed edge.

Oliver Wilde 'Red Tide Opal In the Loose End Womb'

Some confusion over this guy's name - is it Oliver or Olivier? He appears on Spotify as both! Anyway this is an odd but hugely interesting album, and one which I think is in the tradition of English experimental rock music, by which I mean that it manages to sound like Bark Psychosis, Radiohead and Robert Wyatt, often in the course of a single song.

Amen Dunes 'Love'

Essentially a solo project from Damien McMahon, 'Love' is the third and most cohesive release as Amen Dunes. Hints of Syd Barrett, psych-folk and Kurt Vile abound, and the album reveals more layers with each play.

Wussy 'Attica'
It's great to see that Wussy saved up some gems for what is their fifth album but is also essentially their UK debut - all their other earlier albums had been released in the USA only. In particular 'Teenage Wasteland' and 'Halloween' are such great songs that 'Attica' would have got into this list even if the rest of it was poor. Which it isn't of course, and the contrast between the styles of Chuck Cleaver (once of Ass Ponys) and Lisa Walker make for a fascinating listen. Well crafted indie-rock songs - and tasteful pedal steel in places - make 'Attica' so consistently strong that I think it may be an even better intro to the band than the 'Buckeye' compliation from a couple of years ago.

Ben Frost 'Aurora'

Ranging from ice cold electronic noise to barely audible ambient pieces, Ben Frost can claim to have released one of the most arresting albums of the year so far. As well as the synths, 'Aurora' relies heavily (no pun intended!) on the percussive talents of Greg Fox (Guardian Alien, ex-Liturgy) and Thor Harris (swans and many others). Written on a laptop in the Democratic Rep of Congo, mixed in Reykjavik, and one Tim Hecker is credited with "sound design".

Slow Thrills: Top 20 gigs of 2012

I've had a bit of a live music binge this year, in total I've been to 56 gigs, three 3-day festivals and I've seen 159 individual live performances.
70% of these have been in London, although I've been to gigs in Cambridge, Belfast, and the two ATP sites at Minehead and Camber Sands.

I have tried to pick out my 20 favourite performances from these and I've put them in order below. Where possible I have linked to my review of the show and I have embedded other people's amateur video footage as well.

1. Swans, Koko, November
An amazing show. the highest compliment I can pay is that it made me not want to see any more live music for while, I couldn't see how anything could follow this.
my review (londonears.com)
Most of the performance is on youtube, though I've embedded the 49-minute version of 'The Seer' below.


2. Boredoms, ATP curated by Jeff Mangum, March
The Boredoms two extraordinary sets at Jeff Mangum's ATP had my number one space for most of the year.
my review (the 405)
Here is a spliced together video of highlights from it.


3. Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Forum, November
Delighted to see these guys on my actual birthday. A cracking set from them once again, including an epic new song which may be titled 'Behemoth'. Heavier than their earlier years, but still thrilling.



4. Jeff Mangum, ATP curated by Jeff Mangum, March
It seemed unlikely a few years ago that any of us would see Jeff Mangum play live, but to see him twice in a weekend was something else. As a lot of Elephant 6 people were in the area this was as close as anyone could have hoped to a Neutral Milk Hotel reunion. my review (the 405)

5. Deerhoof, ATP curated by the National, December
This was a performance by a band at their absolute peak, so finely honed at the end of a three month tour. The best show I've seen them play.


6. Orbital, Brixton Academy, December
Quite a spectacle with all those lasers, but perhaps the best thing about this Orbital show was the way they have invigorated their classic material to sound completely contemporary and cutting edge. A bit like Kraftwerk did with the Mix, I reckon.

7. Japandroids, Upstairs at the Garage, May/ Belfast Mandela Hall, August
Two gigs, two different cities. The London show at the start of the tour probably just shades it in terms of live experience, but both were great.
my review (slowthrills.com)

8. Dan Deacon, Scala, September
Certainly the best interactive live experience of the year. Dan Deacon took on the challenge of a sold-out Scala and made the place move on his every whim.


9. Bo Ningen, Portland Arms Cambridge, September
I saw these people twice but their slot as part of the Wish You Were Here festival in Cambridge was a revelation. A genuinely fresh approach to psychedelic noise.

10. Atlas Sound, Scala, July
A jet-lagged rambling solo show by Bradford Cox, full of surprises and underlining his prolific talent.
my review (londonears.com)

11. Cocorosie, Royal Festival Hall, August
my review (londonears.com)

12. Ty Segall, Tufnell Park Dome


13. Grizzly Bear, Cambridge Junction, August
my review (slowthrills.com)



14. Bonnie Prince Billy, Hackney Empire, February
my review (slowthrills.com)



15. Tim Hecker, St Giles Church, January
my review (slowthrills.com)

16. Sharon van Etten, Scala
my review (slowthrills.com)

17. Joanna Newsom, ATP curated by Jeff Mangum, March
my review (the 405)

18. Wild beasts, ATP curated by the National, December
Billed as a gig where they would just play 'Smother' in order, they iced the cake by playing a long encore which featured about half of 'Two Dancers'. That made my night that did.

19. Metz, the Old Blue Last, November
I checked these guys out on the recommendation of a friend and i was amazed by the reaction to them. Cameras everywhere as well, which resulted in this rowdy video.


20. Calexico, Kentish Town Forum, October
my review (the 405)

most visited venue: The Lexington, Pentonville Road, London. (6 shows) The Scala, in the same street, came second with 5 visits. Both fine music venues in my opinion.
most seen band: Bizarrely, no single act managed to make it to three viewings. The acts I have seen twice are: Perfume Genius, Sharon Van Etten, Tim Hecker, Alexander Tucker, Bo Ningen, Echo Lake, RM Hubbert, Japandroids, Public Service Broadcasting, Sir Richard Bishop, Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat, Peepholes, Darren Hayman, Jeff Mangum, Boredoms and Joanna Newsom.

best support bands: The Men (supporting Lee Ranaldo), Rob St John (supporting Meursault), Cadence Weapon (supporting Japandroids).

The best album releases of the month, October edition

Once again this list is a few days late as I've had a ton of new releases to wade through. The peak is over though, and everyone is already badgering me for end of year lists as November and December traditionally bring very slim pickings.
However there were some great records in October and I've picked my favourite ten below. (The usual disclaimer applies - I can't hear everything!) Spotify playlist featuring eight of these is at the bottom of the page.
Interestingly, this is the first month that neither of the albums I was asked to review made the cut. Those were Moon Duo and Cheval Sombre, and there isn't much wrong with them, but it's been such a strong month.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
The overdose of exclamation marks in the title is at odds with the
low key nature of this release, when you consider that their first new
recording for a decade was announced by just slipping it onto
the merch table at the first show of their current tour.Maybe they
felt that because the core of the music had been previously heard by
anyone who saw them on their reunion tour and earlier,as the two main
tracks were widely circulated by audience tapers under the titles
'Albanian' and 'Gamelan'.That shouldn't matter,as this is one of the
best things they have ever released, and I cannot stop listening to
it.

Metz Metz
Seemingly out of nowhere, Canadians Metz have unleashed this awesome slab of short sharp hardcore punk on Sub Pop to great fanfare. Less than half an hour in duration this evokes the classic era of Fugazi, Scratch Acid, Nation of Ulysses like no-one else around at the moment.

Bo Ningen Line the Wall
When saw Bo Ningen back in February they were very good, but I didn't think they had an album as good as this in the offing. I saw them again in October and they were astonishing so I had to check this out. Over the rest of the year they had honed their new kind of guitar-based psychedelic rock which is much more in tune with My Bloody Valentine and contemporary metal than anything from the 60's garage bands, and the result is 'Line The Wall'.

Flying Lotus Until the Quiet Comes
I'm not sure this is Flying Lotus's best album like some others have said as it didn't immediately grab me, though every time I revisit it I hear new things. It is perhaps more obviously jazz influenced than a lot of his other work, although it all works seamlessly with his distinctive psychedelic take on hip-hop. There is a lot for me still to investigate on this one, and it's a timely reminder that psych doesn't always have to equal noise guitars.

Melody's Echo Chamber Melody's Echo Chamber
This came out of nowhere. Produced by Kevin Parker from Tame Impala, I've actually included it ahead of TI's new album Lonerism. Melody's Echo Chamber are more my thing, especially as the Melody in question is a French woman, Melody Prochet, whose dreamy vocals evoke Stereolab and especially the late Trish Keenan from Broadcast. Parker's production works really well with her delivery and there is plenty to check out here.

Chris Brokaw Gambler's Ecstasy
Last seen on these shores as the drummer in the reformed Codeine, let's not forget that Brokaw was also the guitarist in Come and has made a lot of varied solo releases. Some tracks on this album have been reworked from his recent acoustic records but this album is his first collection of indie-rock music since 2005's Invisible Love and, as it has been made over the past few years, it sounds rich and varied in style.

Paws Cokefloat
Paws are based in Glasgow and originate from Tain in Scotland which is about as far north as you can go on the mainland. Anyway, they come across as being more in tune with bands from 1990s North Carolina or Portland Oregon. Ace indie-rock in other words.

MONO For My Parents
It seems that MONO are a band who are used as an example to show what is best about post-rock. Theirs is the middle ground between classical or chamber music, and the overblown rock acts who switch their feedback on like a hose whenever they need to. 'For My Parents' is a lovely album, and all the usual post-rock cliches apply when you are trying to write about it. So you just have to listen to it.

Daphni Jiaolong
Well, it's the prolific Dan Snaith from Caribou once again, but this is much more than a side project. Daphni is inspired by his DJ sets and is a collection of tracks produced with the dancefloor in mind. It works and it feels ecstatic and enthused throughout, like somebody taking a holiday from his day-job-rock-band and having just as much fun.

Mountain Goats Transcendental Youth
I couldn't possibly leave out a new release from Mountain Goats from my monthly ten, especially as tMG are my most played band ever on last.fm. I haven't fully got to grips with TY yet, although I know there are some songs here that will make my end of year choices. In particular 'Harlem Roulette' and the opening song 'Amy aka Spent Gladiator 1' which is ostensibly about Amy Winehouse and those who become victims of their fame. I will pay the rest due attention ASAP.

review: Bo Ningen, 世界的なバンド, London The Macbeth 22nd February

Billed as a "21st Century rock n Roll Party" night, in reality this was a pretty cool way to kick off Bo Ningen's latest UK jaunt.
After a decent DJ set concentrating on familiar classics (Sabbath, Sonic Youth, Beefheart, Patti Smith, the Damned), unpronounceable Japanese band 世界的なバンド take the stage. This 3 piece look and sound like a 60s garage-punk band, complete with immaculate mop top hairstyles, all-black clothes and a singing drummer.
They play an impressively tight set and win the crowd over, but they aren't really going to make much of an impression with that name. I asked someone who has Japanese parents what it said and she was unsure. For the record she said "nabasodo", so that's what I'm calling them until I hear more!
As I said, Bo Ningen are back in the UK for a string of shows, including March's instalment of British Sea Power's Krankenhaus event, and it is obvious from the start that they are in great form.
With their well conditioned waist length hair they look like a typical metal band, and one of the guitarists does that Slayer thing where he whips his hair around. Of course, they aren't a typical metal band, but they are obviously influenced by the more psychedelic elements of '70's metal in particular. In fact they are a post-script to that type of hard rock, it's as if it took a direct route towards the noise bands of the '80s and '90s and bypassed the ghastly mtv-rock which influenced a lot of modern metal.
They are amazingly tight and controlled, despite the hair-flying histrionics on stage and the songs are lengthy and ambitious. They clearly love playing live and get a great reaction from the crowd. The parts where they went into overdrive and the venue's mirrorball was spinning red lights around the ceiling were my highlights. I have to give the sound people a big thumbs-up as well, because it can be so easy to let noise bands like this revel in extreme volume. Tonight the sound was powerful and enveloping without being painful, and that's always a bonus.