Albums Thread - 2016

[spring hall convert]

Ulrika Spacek -'The Album Paranoia'

NME seems to think that the band are reminiscent of My Bloody Valentine or Sonic Youth but I wonder if they are deliberately avoiding the obvious comparison with Radiohead. Every track has its roots in a Radiohead number, be it the sludgy guitars from Pablo Honey or the slower numbers from The Bends, OK Computer or Kid A. The album is pretty good nonetheless and their musicianship is competent enough to be able to pull off making an album like this. Actually, I'm doing them a disservice, it's more than pretty good and if fuzzy guitars and clever lyrics are your bag you'll love this too. Beta Male for instance boasts a 2-3 minute full-on intro before the vocals start and it blew me away. I'm curious to see where they go from here because they need to find their own sound if they aspire to longevity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8Zy-VIByuc

Foxes - All I Need

I'm not a big fan of Florence Welch, Marina & the Diamonds et al, I'm not the target audience for this music and I loathe indiscriminate use of vocoder so I binned this album with a note never to listen to it again. It's very formulaic too with cutting out the bass and dragging it back, the key changes, just everything about it. Not for me.

Saw Ulrika Spacek live at The Price Albert a few weeks ago, after enjoying the album. Wasn't totally sold to be fair, they were very one paced.

I too heard plenty of Radiohead in there, though live I thought they aspired to be something akin to Spiritualized

 

[tinycowboy]

Saw Ulrika Spacek live at The Price Albert a few weeks ago, after enjoying the album. Wasn't totally sold to be fair, they were very one paced.

I too heard plenty of Radiohead in there, though live I thought they aspired to be something akin to Spiritualized

I heard Deerhunter - lots of it. So much, in fact, that I was slightly put off it because it seemed such a rip-off, even though I really enjoyed the album (with some reservations over the quality of some of the vocals).

 

[Buzzer]

I heard Deerhunter - lots of it. So much, in fact, that I was slightly put off it because it seemed such a rip-off, even though I really enjoyed the album (with some reservations over the quality of some of the vocals).

Now you come to mention it, yes, there is a lot of Deerhunter there too.

 

[spring hall convert]

I heard Deerhunter - lots of it. So much, in fact, that I was slightly put off it because it seemed such a rip-off, even though I really enjoyed the album (with some reservations over the quality of some of the vocals).

Yeah - think I said Deerhunter a few pages ago or on the live thread. We mean Flourescent Grey/ Microcastle era don't we?

 

[tinycowboy]

Yeah - think I said Deerhunter a few pages ago or on the live thread. We mean Flourescent Grey/ Microcastle era don't we?

Yes - the "good" Deerhunter....

 

[Buzzer]

Malcolm Holcombe - 'Another Black Hole'

North Carolina Blues/Country singer with a pleasant enough album . His voice isn't an easy listen, it's gravelled but adds to the authenticity. The songwriting however is top notch and I keep returning to this album on my commute. For some reason I prefer listening to it on the commute back rather than going to work. Stand out tracks are Sweet Georgia, Another Black Hole and Peppermill Man. One for fans of Seasick Steve.

Grimes - 'Art Angels'

I'm not convinced at all with this. I've given it what must be 6 or 7 goes now and it still leaves me a little cold with large parts sounding the same to me. I still am a massive fan of her previous album and I'm not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't this. Saying that, I know mine is a minority view as she's been getting very, very good scores from the professional reviewers. Maybe it's that voice that's finally started to grate. The bits I did like I liked a lot. Kill Vs Maim is as good a hit as you will hear this year.

Plates of Cake - 'Becoming Double'

One of those albums that you know you're going to like as soon as you hear the first few bars. They came to me by way of a review of latest Bandcamp albums and I'd not heard of them before but they do have a couple of previous albums but I've not listened to them so can only review in isolation. The songs themselves are all built around tight riffs, hooks and percussion, their preferred style being somewhere between later Beck and Nick Lowe (to my ears anyway). They do have a lot of humour too and can heartily recommend songs like 'Faces in the Dirt' where the tongue is firmly in the cheek.

https://platesofcake.bandcamp.com/

Shivas - 'Better Off Dead'

My album recommendation of the day. Imagine Mazzy Star doing Hank Williams/ Everly Brothers numbers and you've got the band in one. If you want proper electric twang then look no further. Unfortunately I can't find a video of Never, Never Coming Home but this will give you an idea of their style.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_elvy1cD528

edit - found their album on Bandcamp https://theshivas.bandcamp.com/album/better-off-dead-2

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Been listening to Rival Consols Howl album this morning. My kinda stuff. If your into the new breed of UK digital composers like Jon Hopkins and Sam Shepherd this really is for you.

 

[Buzzer]

A few more albums and a bit more dance-oriented today

Lion Babe - 'Begin'
Got to be one of the stand-out albums of 2016 so far IMO. If you're after a bit of a party album then this is it, it moves along at a fair old pace with the tunes coming thick and fast. It's a bit of a mish-mash of styles with funk, R&B, bit of house, bit of disco. It got so-so marks with most of the critics but I like it. It doesn't pretend to be anything other than fun and that's what you get. Stand -out track is the Janelle Monae-like 'Impossible'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuRYVOSIN5A


Junior Boys - 'Big Black Coat'
This is an exceptionally good album. Ostensibly dark electro-pop but so much more from the Canadian duo. It's deep when it wants to be, it's radio-friendly, it's clever, warm and definitely one to keep going back to. It's sort of 'Hurts' but given a house makeover (acid/deep and minimal). I can't recommend this highly enough. Each track stands far apart from the others but together it works so well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4fPCyH0yfU


Theo Verney - 'Brain Disease EP'
Apparently not 2016 but this EP and te artist are completely new to me. He's a Brighton wunderkind he plays fuzzy guitar rock and roll that to my ears sounds early Brit Pop but in a very good way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nf2YuZXekA


Mint Julep - 'Broken Devotion'
It won't be to everyone's taste but I love dream-pop and this is nothing but. The Portland husband and wife team have been around for a wile now and this their latest album is their best so far. It ambles along very nicely, it's a bit one-paced but it's dream-pop so you kind of expect that anyway.Small Memory is my stand-out track.

You can stream the album here http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/02/stream-mint-juleps-sophomore-album-broken-devotion/


Matt Elliott - 'The Calm Before'
A very odd album indeed, only 6 tracks but some of them coming in at over 10 minutes. He's described as playing dark-folk and predominantly on this album it's to a Spanish guitar. A lot of it is intricate instrumental but when he gets going it's in a very quiet sing/spoken Leonard Cohen-way and the lyrics are bitter, rude, deep in equal measure. It sounds nothing like but still reminds me of fellow Bristolian Cry Baby. No idea why.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1LfXOWoXqQ


High Highs - 'Cascades'
I got bored with this by track 7 of 10. Standard, middle of the road, electronic pop that sees them go for a formula and stick with it. Never gets out of 3rd gear.

https://soundcloud.com/highhighsband


Tortoise - 'The Catastrophist'
It starts off innocuously enough with a couple of synth-based tunes but it really gets going on with track 3, a cover of David Essex's 'Rock On' and they do it very well. There's not a lot of vocals elsewhere, they tend to let the tight orchestration taake centre-stage but they do like to go off on tangents, Lots of bleeps and whistles yet still keeping the whole thing very funky. None of the tracks are particularly high-tempo but you don't yearn for it on this album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-OLBE3JVeg

 

[Buzzer]

The new Field Music album is excellent. The bass guitar drives the entire album in a lovely 80s style and makes it a very funky affair. Reminds me a lot of XTC and Talking Heads and I can also see where Resident Records are coming from with 10cc and Queen. The only thing that lets it down for me is the very bland album cover.

 

[Gwylan]

Matt Elliott - 'The Calm Before'
A very odd album indeed, only 6 tracks but some of them coming in at over 10 minutes. He's described as playing dark-folk and predominantly on this album it's to a Spanish guitar. A lot of it is intricate instrumental but when he gets going it's in a very quiet sing/spoken Leonard Cohen-way and the lyrics are bitter, rude, deep in equal measure. It sounds nothing like but still reminds me of fellow Bristolian Cry Baby. No idea why.

Really like this. Reminds me more of an English Brel/Brassens (especially Brassens). Going to dig out more by this guy, I'd never heard of him.

And thanks for all your links and notes, it's a fascinating insight into what's going on in the music world

 

[big nuts]

Didn't know whether to post on this or the live music thread. If you purchase the new Steve Mason album at Resident you receive two passes to see him play an acoustic set in Resident at 18:30 Friday.

I pre ordered the cd Tuesday morning so looking forward to seeing him Friday as I missed his set at the C2 a few weeks back. Early reviews of the new album are very encouraging.

 

[Buzzer]

Didn't know whether to post on this or the live music thread. If you purchase the new Steve Mason album at Resident you receive two passes to see him play an acoustic set in Resident at 18:30 Friday.

I pre ordered the cd Tuesday morning so looking forward to seeing him Friday as I missed his set at the C2 a few weeks back. Early reviews of the new album are very encouraging.

I was very lucky and managed to get hold of an advance copy and you're right. It's very good indeed. It sounds smoother, fuller and definitely lighter to me. I think the move to Brighton suits him. I believe that he is a good mate of [MENTION=587]Pevenseagull[/MENTION]. I still am not sure what to make of his last album. I was so captivated by 'Boys Outside' that I think it kind of took the shine off Monkey Minds (which was also a tad too long as well for me). Unfortunately, I can't make Friday but it's bound to be a good gig.

 

[Buzzer]

...and I'm not sure if a new album is in the offing but Richard Ashcroft's latest single is a long-awaited return to form. I got quite upset at how pedestrian his last solo album was so fingers crossed if there is a new one that it's as strong as the single.

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

 

[spring hall convert]

I was very lucky and managed to get hold of an advance copy and you're right. It's very good indeed. It sounds smoother, fuller and definitely lighter to me. I think the move to Brighton suits him. I believe that he is a good mate of [MENTION=587]Pevenseagull[/MENTION]. I still am not sure what to make of his last album. I was so captivated by 'Boys Outside' that I think it kind of took the shine off Monkey Minds (which was also a tad too long as well for me). Unfortunately, I can't make Friday but it's bound to be a good gig.

It's his best solo work for sure. Recalls The Beta band in the diversity of its offerings as well, I loved both of his previous efforts but they were both a bit stylistically ghettoised (Boys Outside with its poptastic sheen and Monkey Minds with its dub bass.) One of the strongest records of the year so far.

He was very good at the Concorde the other day, would have been amazing were it not for some gremlins with the bass sound.

Has anyone managed to salvage anything worthwhile from the Animal Collective album? It seems that AC is now less than the sum of its parts with Panda Bear and Avey Tare's recent solo efforts much better than anything AC have done this decade (bar the second half of that song that sampled The Grateful Dead.)

 

[spring hall convert]

Probably the best thing I've heard so far this year. Post-punk/ afrobeat - self styled aggrobeat (geddit?)

https://bloodsport.bandcamp.com/

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Probably not to the taste of most on this thread but the new Ginger Wildheart album "Year of the Fanclub" is very listenable. Technically not a new album as it is pulled together from the tracks released last year through crowd funding but now available through mainstream channels. Toxins & Tea is a current favourite track for the lyrics which include the lines "just like fans of Russell Brand, he could not understand, why I think he's a w@nker"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNJV5Jz3w7Y

 

[Buzzer]

Field Music - 'Commontime'
I mentioned this album the other day but I was extremely impressed with it and was instantly recommending it to @Carrot Cruncher who is a massive Talking Heads fan. There's barely a duff track on the album. As recent feelgood albums go, this is up there with the best of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ9fj5I5Za0


Visage - 'Darkness to Diamond'
Thankfully, before Steve Strange died last year, he'd recorded the vocals for this, his last album. I've got to say that it's a very solid album and a lovely way to say goodbye. He's gone back to the 80s with the overall sound, a few tracks reminding me of Duran Duran tunes, there's even one or two sax solos to give it an added air of 80s authenticity. He covers a recent Midge Ure song 'Become' with aplomb and bravely, somewhat prophetically, there's a quite glorious and faithful cover of Bowie's 'Loving the Alien'. (Didn't Steve Strange appear in the video to Ashes to Ashes? The bit with them walking on the beach, I think). As with almost all musicians who have/had been around for 30 odd years, the new material tends to sound good but well within their limits and this, I think, is fair to say about 'Darkness to Diamond'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28jfMyA4PFI


Doctrin - 'The Deep EP'
aka Dolly Denko a female singer/songwriter from Melbourne. Every year there seems to be a new female singer/songwriter on the scene who does dark rock or folk and I'm pleased to see the tradition carried forward with Doctrin. She's definitely not folk though, her sound is far more industrial and the obvious comparisons are with Skunk Anansie or Garbage. Think of somewhere between those two and you'll have a rough idea of where Doctrin pitches her music. Its difficult to gauge properly how good a band is on the basis of an EP and this is the first I've heard of her but I think I'll definitely look out for any future LPs. Standout track is 'Give Me Love'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df3PHWT8vRw

Old Man Canyon ' Delirium'
I'm really not sure about this album. The vocals are very distinctive, high-pitched that it tends to make all the songs sound similar. I get the same way whenever I listen to Mercury Rev. If you cherry-pick tunes to listen to and then keep coming back to it that way then yes, I'd recommend it but unfortunately this isn't how I tend to listen to music. I like to listen to an album in its entirety from track 1 to whenever. The OCD in me can't cope with messing around with this formula so I'm going to suggest it's a no. The tunes themselves are well-made, there is a dream-like quality to them with synths lifting and soaring reminiscent of The Flaming Lips back when they were good and not murdering classic albums.

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

Essaie Pas - 'Demain est une autre neut'
A French Canadian-band with a bloody brilliant European '80s dark electro sound with a big techno makeover and a lot more muscle. Some of the basslines in it would not be out of place in Leftfield's 'Rhythm and Stealth'. It's a lot of fun to listen to, it's full of pomp and grand orchestrations, French vocals and allsorts. One for @Herr Tubthumper to catch, I think it's going to be right up his street.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kTOBCIw99M

 

[spring hall convert]

Gulp - http://pitchfork.com/news/63780-swa...r-collaborator-larkin-grimm-a-slanderous-lie/

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Not a new album but I wanted to post this Andy Weatherall interview, his anecdotes and turn-of-phrases made me chuckle many times. I also love the tale of him clearing the Bestival tent of middle-class papoose wearing festival goers.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/feb/25/andrew-weatherall-interview-dj-disco-maverick

 

[Ludensian Gull]

Malcolm Holcombe - 'Another Black Hole'

North Carolina Blues/Country singer with a pleasant enough album . His voice isn't an easy listen, it's gravelled but adds to the authenticity. The songwriting however is top notch and I keep returning to this album on my commute. For some reason I prefer listening to it on the commute back rather than going to work. Stand out tracks are Sweet Georgia, Another Black Hole and Peppermill Man. One for fans of Seasick Steve.

Grimes - 'Art Angels'

I'm not convinced at all with this. I've given it what must be 6 or 7 goes now and it still leaves me a little cold with large parts sounding the same to me. I still am a massive fan of her previous album and I'm not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't this. Saying that, I know mine is a minority view as she's been getting very, very good scores from the professional reviewers. Maybe it's that voice that's finally started to grate. The bits I did like I liked a lot. Kill Vs Maim is as good a hit as you will hear this year.

Plates of Cake - 'Becoming Double'

One of those albums that you know you're going to like as soon as you hear the first few bars. They came to me by way of a review of latest Bandcamp albums and I'd not heard of them before but they do have a couple of previous albums but I've not listened to them so can only review in isolation. The songs themselves are all built around tight riffs, hooks and percussion, their preferred style being somewhere between later Beck and Nick Lowe (to my ears anyway). They do have a lot of humour too and can heartily recommend songs like 'Faces in the Dirt' where the tongue is firmly in the cheek.

https://platesofcake.bandcamp.com/

Shivas - 'Better Off Dead'

My album recommendation of the day. Imagine Mazzy Star doing Hank Williams/ Everly Brothers numbers and you've got the band in one. If you want proper electric twang then look no further. Unfortunately I can't find a video of Never, Never Coming Home but this will give you an idea of their style.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_elvy1cD528

edit - found their album on Bandcamp https://theshivas.bandcamp.com/album/better-off-dead-2

Just listened to the Shivas album, a great listen.