MAY 09: ALBUM & SINGLE REVIEWS

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Album of the Month:
Smooth & Turrell
Antique Soul (Jalapeno Records)

DJ Smoove is one of the region’s foremost feel-good DJs, regaling dancefloors with all manner of out-there funk and soul. He’s teamed up with another Geordie lad, (that’ll be Turrell) to provide the vocals on this champion release which is roasting hot and overflowing with Northern soul style stompers. These tunes are like a dog with a bone in that they just keep on keeping at it. Even the cover of Yazoo’s ‘Don’t Go’ sounds like it’s been stuck in a Kenwood Chef by Curtis Mayfield. We always knew that Newcastle was the real home of funk. RM

Out now

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Fightstar
Be Human (Search and Destroy)

There’s nothing too startlingly original on this, their third album, but who in truth comes up with a body-swerve with each new release? What you need to do when it comes to this type of classic rock format is to be big of tune and small of bluster and that’s what Fightstar have come up with here. They might never get the respect that releases such as this should command, but the unblinkered will find much to enjoy here. GM

Released May 4

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Various
Moondance: Ultimate Old Skool Anthems (New State Music)

A triple album of tunes from the last century which features some classics that’ll you’ll already have a million times over on other compilations (‘I Wanna Give You Devotion’, ‘Break Of Dawn’ etc), some stuff that’ll you’ll never want to hear again (Rebel MC, Guru Gosh) and some stuff that’ll have you exclaiming “Do you remember this – brilliant!” Personally I’ve always had a soft spot for Cola Boy’s ‘7 Ways To Love’ still sounding like Saint Etienne in a right old rave-up. RM

Out now

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Joker’s Daughter
The Last Laugh (Double Six Records)

The Joker’s Daughter is in fact Helena Costas, London-born but Greek Cypriot by origin. She’s also a multi-instrumentalist and a bit of an all-round smarty-pants who has managed to grab Danger Mouse to carry out production duties on this folk/pop album which is gently psychedelic, airy as a summer’s morning and pitched somewhere between Kate Bush and Joanna Newsom. Track seven is about Jaffa Cakes. RM

Released May 18

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Junior Boys
Begone Dull Care (Domino Recordings)

Third album in for the duo of Jeremy Greenspan and Matthew Didemus and it’s their best yet. From the gloriously underplayed electronica of opener, Parellel Lines, to the subtly bubbling beats of Work; from the lapping acoustica of Dull To Pause to the sparse Sign Of The Times-like arrangements of Hazel, this is an album which gently unfurls its charms, but they’re charms worth waiting for. GM

Released May 11

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Our Brother The Native
Sacred Psalms (Fat Cat Records)

A huge sticky melange of influences have been minced into this album (their third, fact fops) including African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, Balkan etc but it doesn’t much sound like “world music”. It sounds like a bit of a drone; snatches of melodies come and go and get buried in the mix; there’s elements of hitting-a-kettle-round-the-campfire very much to the fore, and the results are akin to TV on the Radio with all the tunes taken out. Awful. RM

Released May 4

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Worriedaboutsatan
Arrivals (Gizeh)

Worriedaboutsatan are Gavin Miller and Tom Ragsdale and they make the kind of undulating laptronica that most people are going to hate. It’s not offensive in any way; it’s just extremely minimal. Skittish beats and spacey washes are their weapons of choice and if you enjoy immersing yourself in such hollow soundscapes then you’re going to love holidaying here. Me? I’ll stick with Butlins – a lot more fun. DP

Released May 25

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Morton Valence
Bob and Veronica Ride Again (Bastard Recordings)

In these days of ipod shuffles, it’s not often that we get presented with a concept album which tells a story from beginning to end: in this case the story of Bob and Veronica and the mores of their relationship. And it’s told from a decidedly leftfield stance; like something Luke Haines might have dreamt up on the bus. Influences abound: Georgio Moroder, Burt Bacharach, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Phil Spector… The album is accompanied by a romantic novella of the same name. You’ll not get that with a download. RM

Released May 4

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David Kitt
The Nightsaver (Gold Spillin’ Records)

This is the sixth album from David Kitt and he’s went all out to create something that’s definitively him, taking on production duties as well as composing these classy, understated songs which take a gentle, synth-pop template and imbues it with warm, pastel-hued textures. It may sound a bit samey at first, but give it a few listens and its nuances will gently reveal themselves. GM

Released May 4

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d_rradio
leaves (Symbolic Interaction)

The latest album from these local instrumental types and it’s an expansive double. This time they’re taking us to a land where gently towering electronics pulse in a way which feels simultaneously huge, yet strangely intimate; full-bodied, but minimal. Some of the tracks need 20 or 30 minutes to truly breathe, making this a release for the truly committed, but if you’re prepared to take the path, this is the sound of someone erecting continent-size steel girders in heaven. RM

Released May

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Yeah Yeah Yeahs
It’s Blitz (Polydor)

So the third album from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs lands and yes, they’ve pulled some synths along for the ride of their lives. And what do you know – it’s a right old knees-up. Flashing electro ricochets across the tracks, married to their own particular brand of near hysteria which is particularly thrilling. The slowies work equally as well and the whole damn package is sure to have Albums Of The Year polls a-calling come December time. Corking. RM

Out now

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The Virgins
The Virgins (Atlantic)

Thankfully not another take on The Strokes, this New York band have eschewed the taut and the angular and plunged for something a lot looser; something which sounds a bit like Hall and Oates trying to go indie; or something which might sit quite snugly on the first Guilty Pleasures album (i.e. the one with Hall and Oates on it). The resultant debut release is something of a triumph with a clutch of glittery tunes which sound like they might have stumbled fully formed into the morning light from some hip NY nightclub. DP

Out now

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Pet Shop Boys
Yes (Parlophone)

Not sure why this album is being flagged up as a return to form when their last album, Fundamental, was aces too. This is great stuff with the much-heralded (but not overpowering) involvement of Xenomania paying dividends with lead single Love Etc. showing La Roux et al the way forward on the modern electro/pop front. Naturally there are plenty of real tunes to enjoy; Tennant still has plenty to say; and Lowe’s disco beats are still some of the most sublime you’ll hear this year. Yes? Yes! RM

Out now

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Spencer Gray
Dreaming In Color (Loveslap!)

This has been released on the Loveslap! label and it actually makes you feel like you’re being slapped. By love. Spencer Gray is in fact, New York producer and DJ Marc-Alan Gray and Loveslap! Records founder, Charles Spencer, and they’ve concocted a deep house delver which rummages around in nu-jazz and broken beats and contains some soulful vocals from Heather Johsnon, Terrence Downs, Sylvia Gordon and Yshara. The results are as comfortable as a pair of (dancing) slippers. DP

Out now

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Flevans
27 Devils (Tru Thoughts)

Flevans returns to the Tru Thoughts fold in a flurry of hook-laden heavy soul and funk workouts that have got more meat than a Tesco chicken. Loops and samples are out. Instead, Flevans puts in a virtuoso wrote-and-played-it-all-myself performance, all beefy guitar licks, scuzzy keys and toughed-up kit drumming giving way to hazy soul-jazz and spacey, atmospheric break-downs. Guest vocalists Sarah Scott and Shona Foster add value. CK

Released May 18

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Single of the Month:
Little Boots
New In Town (679 Recordings)

Ok then: Boots’ manoeuvres. This is the first single from Little Boots’ forthcoming, and debut, long-player and given the amount of hype swirling around her, it could have easily fallen a bit flat, but as it is, it’s just fine. Imagine a lucky dip into Xenomania’s grab-bag of poppy confectionary - with its skip-a-long chorus and electro groovings - and you’ll get the picture. RM

Released May 25

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Fe-nix
Lady Baby (Genetic Records)

Debut single from these four lasses and here’s a couple of facts gleaned from their press release. 1. One of them is called ‘Priceless’. 2. They are to be the ‘faces’ of a clothing line called Apple Bottoms. The press release also tells us: “Fe-nix lead a new music revolution!” They don’t. What they have done is speed up the Ghost Town DJ’s, R&B classic, My Boo, and made it slightly worse. It’s still fucking brilliant, though. RM

Released May 4

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Pale Man Made
In Your Bed / Cabales (digital download only)

Two free downloadable tracks from local types ahoy! Pale Man Made knock out indie like your mother used to make (providing your mother made indie that called to mind C86-style indie), and these two tracks are pleasingly fuzzy in all of the right places and melody laden with it. Seek ‘em out: www.myspace.com/palemanmade DP

Released April 27

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Evil Nine
Icicles (Marine Parade)

This is the final single from the critically acclaimed second album from the Brighton based duo. It is a shame as this is something of a meandering non-descript dancey punk track. IT

Released April 27

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The Vernoicas
Untouched (Sire Records)

The biggest name in Australian pop at the moment comes in the shape of these 24-year-old twin sisters and their new single is built around relentlessly sugary electro jolts. Imagine the shower scene in Psycho as scored by a disco. RM

Released May 25

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Tommy Sparks
She’s got me dancing (Island Records)

This is the second single from the East London artist and it’s like Franz mixed with Tom Tom Club. This is clever infectious pop and it should be a real summer festival favourite. IT

Released May 4

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Black Lips
I'll Be With You(Vice)

This funky song sounds like it could have been on the soundtrack to Dirty Dancing, although if Johnny starting screeching the words ‘I’ll be with you’ like this vocalist, then Baby would surely give him the knock-back. RT

Released May 18

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Detachments
The flowers that fell (Thisisnotanexit Records)

This London based quartet are everything White Lies want to be. Gloomy post rock complete with jangly Smiths-esque guitars. Watch them take over the indie world. IT

Out now

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Goldhawks
Where In The World (Blue Flannels Records)

Debut single from these London types and it’s basically 1980’s-era U2. I don’t know what more I can add to that really: there’s no wibbly keyboard bits; there isn’t a bit where it goes whoosh; and at no point does it ever think about “kicking in”. It’s the aural equivalent of someone waving a very big flag. RM

Released May 4

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Hudson Fall
The Factory (Independent Release)

Successfully mixing modern day and 60s pop, this jazzy upbeat tune will have you feeling like you’re at a Beatles gig. Plenty of fun for all the family so why not fetch the family round for a little rock show. RT

Released May 18

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Peggy Sue
Lover Gone (Independent Release)

A beautiful collaboration of distinct vocals and an enchanting tambourine, I immediately relaxed into this track to the extent that I wished it lasted longer than a couple of minutes (I’m in need of relaxation). If you like Death Cab, you’ll love this. RT

Release May 18

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Spectors
There She Goes (Independent Release)

Never mind the vocals (which were decent enough) but get a load of the musicianship which was exemplary. They should release an instrumental album, perhaps something for the next Bond film. RT

Release May 18

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Elviiin
In Colour (Virgin)

The pop resurgence continues with this rather lovely debut single from this London troubadour and it’s a very agreeable, piano-led, toe-tapper sounding like a less annoying Mika or maybe Frankmusik flying a kite. Nice one. DP

Released May 11

 

 

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