Albums Thread - 2015

[Machiavelli]

Here's a stream of the new Ought album. They made my favourite debut of last year and initial impressions suggest this one might be even better. FFO The Fall, The Strokes, Talking Heads.

http://drownedinsound.com/releases/19006/reviews/4149387

Another great young Canadian band are Telstar Drugs. Their latest cassette is one of the best things I've heard this year, they've got that same dissonant magical Velvetsyness that Women specialised in.

https://telstardrugs.bandcamp.com/

Heard about three or four tracks from Prince's new one while buying some stuff in Resident yesterday. Sounding good. And after more than a decade of indistinct tosh, Low's new one sounds like a real return to form. Have got them both, so will have to give them a few spins before firming up on these.

 

[HH Brighton]

Plays The Old Market 1 Oct in case you had not clocked it.

Thanks, now have tickets

 

[Guinness Boy]

Highly recommend this, released in March this year:



Ray Bradbury's 1950 post apocalyptic short story "There will be Soft Rains" from his Martian Chronicles collection is given a soundtrack using Leonard Nimoy's 1975 spoken word narration. Gets more unsettling with each listen.

This is absolutely brilliant. I love a bit of trippy sci-fi and the music has been done absolutely perfectly. The video adds another level to the disturbingness. I also love that, like Public Service Broadcasting it's an electronica album that demands to be played as a whole thing rather than a series of tracks (though you could put "Blaze" on it's own in to a lo-fi techno mix I guess).

NSC has now recommended my three favourite albums of the year: this, Mbongwana Star and that Pokey LaFarge album [MENTION=5200]Buzzer[/MENTION] mentioned.

 

[spring hall convert]

Detroit noise legends Wolf Eyes have dropped the first track from their 2 years in the making new record (this from a band that has released literally hundreds of albums.)

http://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2015/09/15/440224957/vikings-choice-wolf-eyes-t-o-d-d

I suspect you'll know if it will be up your street from the phrase 'Detroit Noise Legends.'

Probably my favourite gig of last year - http://www.brightonnoise.co.uk/listing/?p=84929

 

[Buzzer]

Must try to get back into this thread.

A few very short reviews of albums I've been listening to:

Lana Del Ray - 'Honeymoon'
The backlash against her is in full swing to the point that the first words on the first track are "We both know it's not fashionable to love me..." and she's not wrong so if you are one of the people who don't like her music then you definitely won't like this album. It's a direct continuation from her previous long player. Similar style, similar length. Personally, I love it but she won't win many new friends with this.

David Gilmour 'Rattle That Lock'
I only own one other DG solo album - the one he recorded around '79 with 'There's No Way Out of Here' on it, so I'm not sure what to expect with his solo efforts. It's Dad Rock at times, the title track is a bit 80s if you ask me but there's some very lovely touches in this. He even breaks out into a sort of French cafe-type ballad that's an unexpected little gem. Needless to say, his guitar-playing is flawless with some beautiful riffs but his singing surprised me. It's much better than I was expecting, either that or it's a guest singer on the tracks.

A-ha 'Cast In Steel'
I'm a bit disappointed with this comeback effort from Morten and the boys. It's a little too comfortable and MOR although I'm glad to say he's still got the voice. I will try again but listened to it twice and it just washed over me with little lasting effect.

Duke Garwood 'Heavy Love'
I think I reviewed this way back in Jan or Feb but I am going to re-recommend this British bluesman. He manages a fantastic authentic blues voice and if I didn't know he was British I'd have placed him as American, somewhere deep South. He reminds me of Jim White. Stand-out track is the title song 'Heavy Love' but the whole album is an incredibly well-worked collection of tunes

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrcCGjIX6Zo

 

[spring hall convert]

Really looking forward to the Girl Band album. This review completely sums up why I think they are so special.

http://thequietus.com/articles/18825-girl-band-holding-hands-with-jamie-review

Was anyone else at this gig? I was stood right behind the woman that reviewed it! I thought they were very, very good back then and they've only got better.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jan/16/girl-band-dublin-quartet-review

 

[Machiavelli]

Loving that Low album which is a real return to form, has three or four stunning tracks on it, has more Mimi singing (which is a good thing, for me), and in places exudes menace (which is also a good thing). Easily in my top ten of this year.

That said, I'm now two tracks into a 2013 album that I picked up this morning. I came to it by seeing Mette Rasmussen at the Brighton Alternative Jazz Festival, who is part of the eponymous Trio Riot album. Twin sax and drums, it's arch, with staggeringly good dynamics (so far).

 

[Guinness Boy]

Talking of Dad Rock as Buzzer was Guy Garvey's solo album comes out 30/10. Can't wait. *Festival Dad Face*

 

[Pogue Mahone]

John sounds quite happy, doesn't he?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2Ig4sMURdc

Album out on October 9th, I believe.

 

[Tarpon]

First listen: New Order - Music Complete.
Don't believe the hype. 5/10 tops.
Anyone seriously comparing this to Technique works for Mute.
It may grow on me but I doubt it.

 

[Buzzer]

Oh dear. Thanks anyway for the heads up.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

First listen: New Order - Music Complete.
Don't believe the hype. 5/10 tops.
Anyone seriously comparing this to Technique works for Mute.
It may grow on me but I doubt it.

I've never been convinced by any New Order album to be honest. They are an absolutely incredible singles act, having crafted some amazing tracks over the years. But their albums always fall well short in my opinion.

 

[Tarpon]

I've never been convinced by any New Order album to be honest. They are an absolutely incredible singles act, having crafted some amazing tracks over the years. But their albums always fall well short in my opinion.

Well the quality control fell off a cliff after Republic that's for sure. Peter Hook plays C2 next month, I'm not normally one for whole album re-runs but an opening short JD set followed by Brotherhood, Low Life & encore has me quietly excited...

 

[HH Brighton]

Plays The Old Market 1 Oct in case you had not clocked it.

Anyone else heading down to the The Old Market for Sweet Baboo tonight?

 

[Machiavelli]

I've never been convinced by any New Order album to be honest. They are an absolutely incredible singles act, having crafted some amazing tracks over the years. But their albums always fall well short in my opinion.

Their first few albums were great in my view. Not as good as Closer and, especially, Unknown Pleasures but, then again, not much is.

 

[Pevenseagull]

Robert Forster's new album is predictably excellent.

 

[spring hall convert]

One of the most underrated bands in rock music return with another stone cold classic - The Icarus Line

http://drownedinsound.com/releases/19046/reviews/4149448 (stream in link)

They continue to simultaneously channel Swans, The Stooges and Suicide as they did on 2013's awe inspiring 'Slave Vows.' Don't miss out.

 

[Icy Gull]

Cass County by Don Henley. You'll have to be a Country fan to like this very accomplished album. There aren't many singers with a better voice than Henley imo

 

[spring hall convert]

Finally had the chance to spend some quality time with the new Julia Holter album. It's AOTY material.

 

[Machiavelli]

Finally had the chance to spend some quality time with the new Julia Holter album. It's AOTY material.

Just played it through once, and it's extremely promising. It's a lot more accessible than her last one.