NOVEMBER 08: ALBUM & SINGLE REVIEWS

Find:

ALBUM OF THE MONTH: 
Caroline Mary
A Tray of Fancies

This Tray Of Fancies contains a winning selection of delights from country-tinged strum-a-longs to some off-kilter folky fondles. Caroline Mary has a distinctive voice which laces the sweetness with something a tad stronger and these songs have a gentle weirdness about them which is irresistible. (‘God Bless The Animals’ sounds like The Andrew Sisters gone wonky.) She’s a local lass so seek her out at: www.myspace.com/ladycarolinemary

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Supanice
Back Is The Way Forward (On The Map)

The Newcastle-based rapper hits the ground running with a superlative debut album which is infused with a Tribe Called Quest vibe and buckets loads of invention. His rhymes and delivery are as sharp as a paper cut and it’s great to hear hip-hop with a Geordie flava with mentions of the Metro, Cullercoats and black and white stripes. The album is on sale in HMV and you can find out more at: www.myspace.com/supaniceonthemic GM

Out now

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Various
Kerrang! The Album 08 (Rhino)

I can honestly say I’ve never heard Cancer Bats, but they’re on this double CD which should cover all your rockular needs. From Slipknot to Elliot Minor, most bases are covered and there’s a healthy dose of some lesser known talents giving a well-deserved airing. I could have lived without Kid Rock’s ‘All Summer Long’ however, truly one of the worst songs of the year. GM

Out now

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Various
Bargrooves: Disco Heat (Bar Grooves)

If that winter chill is starting to infect your very bones, then you’ll not find many better ways to thaw out than with this 3-CD set mixed by Andy Daniell. This is a sizzling hot collection of funky house and disco from the likes of Marc Evans, Bob Sinclar and Dennis Ferrer with added nailed on classics from Loleatta Holloway, Teddy Pendergrass and their similarly groovy ilk. Stupendous stuff. GM

Out now

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Hyper
Suicide Tuesday (Kilowatt)

Whoah mamma! This is Guy ‘DJ Hyper’ Hatfield turned on to full effect and then some. He and his band are ploughing a thoroughly thrilling electro-house amalgamation and they’ve beefed it up with a healthy dose of heavy rocking. This won’t just blow away the cobwebs; it’ll take your face off if you get too close. Feel it. GM

Released November 6

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Trickbaby
Chor Bazaar (Chachaman Records)

Heard of Trick Baby? They sold three million copies of their debut album, largely thanks to tracks featured on numerous Bollywood soundtracks. This eagerly awaited follow-up contains more feisty Bollywood beats and sashaying tunes which push all the right buttons in the most delectable way imaginable. If this doesn’t set the blood coursing through your veins then you’re already gone. DP

Released November 17

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Mia Vigar
True Adventures Happen Inside Your Head (Hungry Audio)

There’s some kind of charming genius at work here. Finno-English, and Luton-born, Mia Vigar, makes weird pop which sounds like it should soundtrack some down-beat Scandinavian cartoon. There’s a disconnected air about these slanty beats and distant guitars which is weirdly beguiling. Field Music’s David Brewis, also comes along for the ride. DP

Released November 3

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meursault
Pissing On Bonfires / Kissing With Tongues (Song, By Toad)

Just after I’d side-lined some 3,600 records - really! - another one arrives. But, setting aside that strange title, this is actually rather fine music. Released on a wee Edinburgh-based label, meursault curiously chose to sprinkle electronics with acoustic guitar, banjo and ukulele. And amazingly, it’s a killer concoction, sparkling like Ben Gibbard’s Postal Service delivering something dazzling directly to your door. Definitely #1 to keep, not # 3,601 to forget then. IF

Released November 24

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The Welcome Wagon
Welcome To The... (Asthmatic Kitty)

In the fine tradition of Sonny and Cher, and Ike and Tina, The Welcome Wagon are religious husband and wife duo Vito and Monique Aiuto. They’re produced and arranged by US lo-fi legend Sufjan Stevens. Here they delightfully cover The Smiths’ ‘Half A Person’. And it all sounds not unlike Stevens’ own mini-classic ‘Seven Swans’ by way of rock opera ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’. Near wild heaven, then. IF

Released November 24

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Matt Helders
Late Night Tales (Azuli)

Yet another edition of the successful series of comps, this time displaying the varied and discerning palate of the drummer from The Arctic Monkeys who impresses with a selection that’s surprisingly low in the haircut’n’skinny jeans stakes and high in the heavy groovin’ hip-hop, electro and psychedelic soul that makes for the best in post-club partying. Highlights come from Yamasuki, Viktor Vaughn, The Black Keys and Minnie Ripperton. CK

Out now

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Various
Fluid Ounce Presents. . . (Unfold)

I’d been wondering what happened to the superbly off-kilter electro-jazz/broken beat label, Fluid Ounce, when this extraordinary release from new Tru Thoughts imprint, Unfold, serendipitously turned up. Innovatively formatted as a content-maximising DVD Rom, this lavish showcase of cutting edge talent features no less than ninety of the most original and exciting genre-busting basement club grooves from a roster of twenty-nine artists, not least of which are the mercurial Nery Bauer and the electro-funking archetype. CK

Out now

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Soul:ID
Sex, Love & Philosophy (Urban Deeper Underground)

This self-proclaimed “Afropean Soul” act probably owe a bigger debt to the North American hip hop soul of PPP, Sa-Ra and Jill Scott. While originality might not be their strong point, it’s a satisfying enough urban blend of heavy soul grooves, slick production and R&B harmonies that Soul:ID serve up. Standout track on first listen is undoubtedly the cover of Spandau Ballet’s True, which is either inspired, completely pointless or even both. CK

Released November 3

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Luomo
Convivial (Humme)

Yet another album that claims to “redraw the very boundaries of what house music can achieve”. Personally, I‘d be impressed if it brought about world peace or kept Newcastle United in the Premier League. But, no, it simply does what most house music does: plods along on a stodgy 4/4 beat while some non-entity bleats about whatever it is they think is cool that week. If that’s an achievement then I’m the second coming. CK

Released November 10

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Bennson
Let The Love (Raw Fusion)

Incredible debut album from the prodigiously talented Ben Grayson, and it’s a far cry from the vintage deep-funk sound of his full-time band, The Bamboos. Here, he peddles his unique future-disco retro-boogie that’s bang on the nose in it’s 21st century re-interpretation of the vintage 70s and 80s soul and rare-groove sounds – all thick beats, fat bass and funked-up horns liberally peppered with contributions from the finest of contemporary antipodean vocal talent. CK

Released November 10

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Death Of The Neighbourhood
Death Of The Neighbourhood (ATIC)

This inaugural release on acclaimed producer Aim’s label is a beguiling blend of dusty Americana, alternative hip hop and leftfield electronica, resulting in a kind of countrified, bluesy left-hop, uncomplicated yet nuanced, revealing deeper layers of meaning with repeated listening. It’s a generous package, too – nearly forty tracks over two discs – enough to keep you steeped in rolling tumbleweed beats for a lazy afternoon. CK

Released November 10

 

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SINGLE OF THE MONTH:
Frankmusik
3 Little Words EP (Universal/Island)

The centre-piece of this EP is ‘3 Little Words’ a shuddering romp around the electronic playpen of Vincent Frankmusik and Madonna producer, Stuart Price. And what enormous fun they have with this futura/retro chunk of 80’s/noughties’ disco/pop. There are three other tracks included on the EP and two thirds of them are fabulous, too. RM

Released November 10

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Tracy Chapman
Sing For You (Elektra)

No major genre bending from Chapman as she returns with a gentle strum-a-bout which, while being lifted by her warm voice, is about as exciting as a shopping centre outing to Leicester. And the line that goes: ‘forget the chorus, you’re the bridge’ left me kicking the cat. (No animal was harmed during the writing of this review.) RM

Released November 10

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Beyonce
If I Were A Boy (MusicWorld/RCA)

Apparently if Beyonce were a boy she’d be drinking beers with the guys and chasing girls and also spending time listening to ‘her’, just to see how it hurts. Or something. If I were Beyonce, I’d be sacking on the spot whoever it was that put me up to recording one of the worst songs in recent memory. RM

Released November 10

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Kid Massive
I Don’t Wanna Be A Freak (Floorplay)

An urgent slice of leftfield house from the fledgling Brighton label which, appropriately enough has more than a touch of the Leftfields about it. Apparently the protagonist doesn’t wanna be a freak but he can’t help himself. It’ll be all that jacking that does it. RM

Out soon

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Wave Machines
The Greatest Escape (Chess Club records)

The Liverpool quartet are a name to watch out for in 2009.They are a hotly tipped arty disco outfit and this is a catchy slice of lo-fi dance, recalling the early work of Hot Chip, which is no bad thing. IT

Out now

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The Dears
Money Babies (Dangerbird)

The return of the Montreal outfit is a welcome one and this is the first taster of their fourth long player. This is epic and emotional and what Elbow would sound like if they were actually any good. IT

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Lightsrunriot
Warning Team EP (Lights Run Riot)

Three songs that evoke a less icky Snow Patrol, maybe a Snow Patrol helmed by The Lightning Seeds’ Ian Broudie. The doomy, instrumental last track sounds as if it’s been infused with all the melancholy of an Icelandic bank account. In a good way. RM

Out now

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Tin Soldiers
Wait For You (10xBetter)

Soaring rock with echoes The Alarm anyone? Yep – bombastic and swirly guitars are very much to the fore in this track which hits all the right notes in the right order if you like your choruses big of stature. GM

Released November 17

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Josephine Oniyama
Closer (Island)

Can you combine tropical folk with indie jangle and African beats and rhythms? Yes – well, Josephine Oniyama can and does so with ease. This is a superb EP; a box of delights; coming from the leftfield but extremely listenable. Great. DP

Released December 1

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KJ
Shakin’ That (Savage Trax)

Sounding like a cut from the last Justin Timberlake album (this is a good thing), this is a slinky slice of funked up dance/pop which should set dancefloors jumpin’ right through until Christmas. GM

Released November 24

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Friendly Fires
Paris (XL Recordings)

One of the toppermost cuts from their fine debut album and it’s a blissy pop nugget; all clattering beats and quite a bit of soaring thrown in for good measure. Like Bowie going nu-rave. Canny. DP

Released November 10

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Miss Odd Kidd
Don’t Be Afraid To Sweat/Sperm Donor (Locked On)

Electro-drenched euro-rap with a suitably saucy bent, calling to mind the likes of Peaches and Princess Superstar and begging the question ‘do we need another Peaches or Princess Superstar’? We say: why not, if it keeps Black Affair’s Steve Mason in remix work. CK

Released November 3

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Alesha Dixon
The Boy Does Nothing (Asylum)

My, this is a swinging little number. Produced by Brian Higgins and his Xenomania cohorts, it sounds like something that was culled at the final hour from the last Gwen Stefani album. So if something that is nearly good enough to make a Gwen Stefani album appeals, get stuck in. RM









 

 

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