OCTOBER 09: ALBUM & SINGLE REVIEWS

Find:

Album of the Month:
Annie
Don’t Stop (Smalltown Supersound Records)

There has been a lengthy wait for the Norwegian popsicle’s second album but it’s turned out to be a corker. She’s penned 12 tracks that range from the sublime (the studied cool of ‘Take You Home’) to the utterly bonkers (‘The Breakfast Song’ chorus: “What do you want? What do you want for breakfast?) by way of Girls Aloud style, shuddering bangers and robo-disco rave-ups. Forget “Norway, nul points” this is top-drawer stuff. RM

Released October 19

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Chipmunk
I Am Chipmunk (Jive Records)

Chipmunk (not his real name) is a young MC who has a rather up and at ‘em style who fizzes his way rather breathlessly through these tracks in a not unpleasing manner. Hats are tipped in the direction of grime and r’n’b with the whole production also given a rather poppy sheen. There’s some welcome collaborations with the likes of Tinchy Stryder and Emeli Sande which stops the whole affair from becoming too in your face. Promising. DP

Released October 12

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Various
Haçienda Acid Classics (New State Music)

Compiled by a man who should know a thing or two about the Haçienda, Peter Hook (the Joy Division and New Order bass player had a stake in the place) this is a joyous romp through some of the biggest tunes of the late 80s such as ‘Baby Wants To Ride’, ‘This Is Acid’ and The Bassheads’ delirious ‘Is There Anybody Out There?’. Squeaky, tweaky and stuffed with more shivery spine moments than a Hammer House of Horror box-set, this double album still sounds like hedonism taken to the outer limits. Fabulous. RM

Released October

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The Blackout Crew
Time 2 Shine (Universal)

What do you know? The Bolton-based daftie ravers behind ‘Put A Donk On It’ have come up with a plaintive acoustic album which tackles the absurdities behind the Tories’ stance on the free market. Not really. The chorus for the first track runs: ‘I wanna see all the ravers binging’. Imagine a car full of radgies scoffing sausage rolls while singing along to a car alarm that’s going off in hell for all eternity while someone hits you over the head with a squeaky hammer, and you’ll get the idea. Brilliant, in other words. RM

Out now

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OVERSPILL POETS
Thompson Falls (Revenge Western)

The Crack (before my time) used to have something of a ‘thing’ for local band Hug who looked to be on the cusp of something big in the 90s. Nothing came of it however, but their guitarist, George Kitching, moved to South Lakes and began recording with Sheffield-based vocalist Tim Taylor. This fine album is testament to the pair’s songwriting abilities: passionate, heartfelt and with enough grit to give it some real traction, this is stirring stuff and well worth seeking out. GM

Released October 19

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Editors
In This Light And On This Evening (Columbia)

Third album in for this doomy bunch and they’ve taken the route so often ploughed by “third album in” merchants and stuck some electronic burblings on it. Some of it works really well (‘Papillon’ sounding like Joy Division covering The Eurythmics) and of course it’s coated in all manner of shades of “dark” (you’ve got more chance of having a knees-up with Darth Vader), but it all kind of pulls together nicely. Imagine a more tuneful version of the Eraserhead soundtrack. RM

Released October 12

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Ruth Lambert
Easy Street (Jazzaction)

A fixture on the local jazz scene in recent years, Lambert has an effortless singing style and she lends real warmth and charm to these classic tunes such as a smoky ‘Round Midnight, a heartfelt Cry Me A River and a toe-tapping Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend. Beautiful arrangements leave her voice centre-stage and trad jazz fans will lap this up. (Note: the album is being launched on October 23 at The Saville Exchange, North Shields. www.ruthlambert.co.uk) GM

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Black Gold
Rush (Red Bull Records)

According to their press, Black Gold are from the vibrant, seedy Brooklyn underground scene, but there’s nothing seedy about this release. This is cooing indie-pop which has a nice line in melody but is neither exciting enough to drag it into MGMT melody territory nor dancey enough to have you thinking about throwing a few shapes. Ho-humable stuff. RM

Released October 5

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Kill It Kid
Kill It Kid (One Little Indian)

With more balls than a pool tournament, Kill It Kid’s debut album is a statement of intent. Make that intense. This is gloriously unfettered delta blues and roots music shot through with the unremitting drive of rock and roll. There’s something of the barn-dance about them too. Yes, barn-dance, albeit it one hosted by The Raconteurs who have just been handed the keys to the moonshine cabinet. RM

Released October 5

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The Silent Years
The Globe (Gift Music)

The Silent Years formed in Detroit in 2005, but this is something of a new proposition seeing as frontman, Josh Epstein, has recruited a new line-up comprising three-fifths of indie-rock legends, Rescue. And what a result! This has been clobbered into the leftfield of the US underground formerly occupied by the likes of Mercury Rev, Fleet Foxes, Arcade Fire etc, before making it big over here, which I’m sure this lot will do. Cascading with tunes aplenty and including plenty of interesting instrumentation, this is a constant delight. DP

Released October 5

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N.A.M.B.
BMAN (Monotreme)

It’s not everyday that you get to experience an Italian band from Turin, singing in English about a little robot called BMAN and his quest for self-identity. Yep. This is a concept album (it comes with a 100 page booklet of original drawings) that marries the invention of TV on the Radio to some rather outré psychedelia to playful effect. Some may find it a little wearying but beneath all of the weirdness lies a big heart pumping with poppy goodness. GM

Released October 12

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Various
Future Disco: The Extended 21st Century Disco Mix (Needwant)

A selection of contemporary disco gems that seeks to repair the damage wrought by 'I Will Survive' and 'It's Raining Men' by re-visiting the disco blueprint and re-building it from the bottom up. Low-slung grooves, thick beats and cosmic production are the favoured currency here, with Faze Action, The Juan MacLean, Tensnake and WhoMadeWho all making fat deposits into the funk bank. CK

Out now

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Danny Krivit
718 Sessions (Nervous)

Known for his superb deep disco mixes and edits, Krivit here showcases his legendary club night with a smooth blend of classic house, disco, hip hop and soul. Opener 'U Know That I love U' by Chyna with Perfect World reminds us what we loved about house music in the first place while Roy Ayres brings that classic cosmic soul vibe before Lower East Side Pipes weigh in with the heavyweight disco of 'Disorganized Corruption'. CK

Released October 26

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Alice Russell
Pot Of Gold (Little Poppet)

Dropping the modish, nu-jazz stylings of her previous releases, Russell returns to her roots with a great band and a set of songs that have a classic, vintage feel. Set against live instrumention, Russell's always-remarkable voice is lent even more richness and depth as she puts in a career-best performance on 'Turn And Run', 'Lights Went Out' and the now-classic 'Hurry On Now', presented here in a new, more 'organic' version. CK

Released October 5

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Natural Self
My Heart Beats Like A Drum (Tru Thoughts)

The Tru Thoughts stalwart updates his cut 'n' paste funk 'n' jazz with a healthy dose of synths and sequencing to produce a kind of, well, future cut 'n' paste funk 'n' jazz. It's good stuff, if not exactly ground-breaking, and works best when live horns and spooky keys are laid over a deep groove and some crisp beats, as in 'Days Get Brighter' and 'Midnight Sun', providing a moody, beat-laden backdrop to the ever-darkening nights. CK

Released October 19

 

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Single of the Month:
First Aid Kit
Hard Believer (Witchita Recordings)

First Aid Kit are teenagers, Klara and Johanna Söderberg, and they first hovered into view with their brilliant cover of Fleet Foxes’ ‘Tiger Mountain Peasant Song’ on YouTube. This is sung in the same manner - as crystal clear as a mountain lake – and their take on country tinged pop is a take that we’re happy to have. It calls to mind Jenny Lewis at her most stirring which can only be a good thing in our book and the lyrics, about having faith in humanity rather than putting your trust in some nebulous god, are spot on. RM

Released October 5

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Sonner
Timechanger (PMPMusic Records)
This is the lead track off this Seaham band’s debut EP, ‘Northern Lights’, and it slowly builds from brooding beginnings into a flag waving chorus which showcases the band’s ability to grab those passing air currents and sail up effortlessly into the skies when need be. Promise? They’ve got it. Seek: www.myspace.com/sonnermusic GM

Released October 19

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Purple Shards
Fall In Line (independent release)

Purple Shards are a Newcastle based outfit who effortlessly meld the worlds of hip-hop and indie-rock with ease as evinced by this five track EP. They’ve got a style which can also switch between chilled and laid-back to vital and upfront which suggests there’s some real confidence at work here. Seek: www.purpleshards.co.uk GM

Out now

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The Rigg
Golden Handshake (Metropolis Records)

Here’s some local lads who aren’t afraid to stick a few bats up a few nightdresses. This is a needling slice of alternative rock which uses naggingly insistent drum beats and noodling guitar work to sharp effect. Think Joy Division teetering on the edge of a massive cliff. Seek: www.therigg.org.uk DP

Released September 28

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Dekata Project
At Least We Can Dance (Doshiwa Records)

Hey! This is the loveliest chunk of soulful house that I’ve heard in a long while. Gloriously languid vocals from Yvette Riby-Williams and the kind of fruity rhythms that you’ll find with the likes of Bassment Jaxx when they’re in chilled-out, cruising mode. Lovely mixes too from Nu:Tone, Hint, Roska and Ike Synton. DP

Released October 5

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Kraak & Smaak
Ain’t Gonna Take It No More (Jalapeno Records)

Our favourite Dutch duo, K&S, hit with another zippy slice of electro funk which uses the cracking-up quote from the film Network (“I’m mad as hell, I ain’t gonna take it no more”) to itchy effect. Fabulous. RM

Released September 21

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Filthy Rich
Luvstruck (Floorplay Music)

Here’s the trance classic given a thoroughly good hands-in-the-airing by Filthy Rich (not real name) in a house-about-that manner. The aural equivalent of someone you didn’t think fancied you suddenly blowing on the back of your neck. RM

Released September 21

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Get shakes
Love Hate/She Found the diamonds (Shakes Recordings)

Double A-sider lifted from the debut album by the Isle of Wight duo. It’s been a long time coming but it’s worth the wait as they are hip dancey pop gems. IT

Released October 26

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Martin Heslop
As The Stories Burn (Ribbon Road Music)

Hey – these five tracks are a brilliant showcase for the talents of Martin Heslop; a local singer/songwriter who weaves world weary stories that are given a woozy charm with the introduction of some lovely percussive elements and an accordion lending the whole production a gypsy style feel. Seek him out: www.myspace.com/martinheslop GM

Out now

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Virgil Howe
Someday (3 Bar Fire)

Going for an epic, progressive funk-rock feel, Howe succeeds only in throwing together some vaguely atmospheric samples while completely forgetting that it's all been done before... and better. CK

Released October 19

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File Wile
Number One Kid (Mouth Watering)

An intriguing mix of future soul, hip-hop and bassline, File Wile sound like Sa-Ra Creative Partners reinventing garage-house. Stunningly produced and delightfully out-of-step, here's a crew worth looking out for. CK

Released October 19

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Talen
Kingston Book/New York Book EPs (Mouth Watering)

A brace of dancehall-heavy EPs from this Swiss outfit - all heavy electronic grooves, squelchy, off-kilter programming and raggamuffin vocal stylings adding up to a dark and moody techno-dub that gets under the skin and won't come out. CK

Released October 26

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Podgy Figures
I Want In (Gingerbread)

More UK hip-hop nonsense that it's hard to say anything about other than it exists. Like Dizzee Rascal minus the irony. (He is a piss-take, right?) CK

Released October 19

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The Twilight Sad
Seven Years of Letters (Fat Cat Records)

The Kilsynth quartet are tipped as the next big hyped thing and you can’t but be impressed by their sound which grabs you and demands your attention. It’s like Idlewild and My Bloody Valentine having an argument with Mogwai standing nearby. IT

Released October 19

 

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