A little late this week, but I'm finally back with some more new music to discuss. As I always must say; so much music so little time.
The ambient/experimental project that for over a decade has been LUSINE is an enduring project that rarely fails to produce bad music. Two newer remix EPs are out: "Twilight" & "Two Dots". Each EP sporting great remixes of already great trax. Any interest in this area? You can't go wrong with a LUSINE album.
Another person in this arena I really like is Ewan Pearson whose creative talents produced the excellent "Piece Work" (2-CD from 2007) and it was fantastic. Now he's released a mix cd on my favourite electronic label KOMPAKT. This release is "We Are Proud Of Our Choices (A Kompakt Mix CD)" (2010). It's a fantastic mix cd and has turned me on to Xenia Beliayeva who bears a little resemblance to Miss Kittin. I was seriously immersed. *****
New project The Seven Fields Of Aphelion is A Member (Maureen) of Black Moth Super Rainbow & Tobacco as well as a multiple exposure photographer (Check out the myspace page) has released debut album "Periphery" (2010). The music here is experimental ambient, thus being nothing like the other 2 bands. Obviously it made sense for her to venture out and do this record which is different than what she is usually involved in. There is much to love here and the highlight trax "Grown", "Wildflower Wood" & "Michigan Icarus" aren't to be missed. ****
Last week I had the pleasure of seeing the triple bill of Xiu Xiu, Tuneyards & Noveller at the Casbah here in San Diego. I was treated to some exceptional one woman soundscapes with both Tuneyards & Noveller providing the backdrop. Xiu Xiu was outrageously amazing live which is exactly what I hoped for and rather expected. That day I had some listens down memory lane resurrecting a few absolute favourite albums that I know every self respecting musical home should have in stock:
The Shore-The Shore (2004)
The Motels-Careful (1980)
Morrissey-You Are The Quarry (2004)
Fred Schneider of the B-52s is in a new project: The Superions. The self titled debut is out. Apparently the highlight is supposed to "Totally Nude Island". One version of this track is pretty good but I have to say that this is BAD and VERY half-baked. Perhaps like Elton, it's time Fred stopped putting stuff out.
Moon Duo-"Escape" [EP] (2010). From San Francisco, Moon Duo make a joyful psychedelic noise which at times is reminiscent of Loop or Suicide. "In The Trees" and "Motorcycle, I Love You" are definitely not to be missed. Basically, I wanted more. ****
Carbon/Silicon (the project of Mick Jones formerly of The Clash and Tony James formerly of Generation X) has released for free, via their website, their 2nd album "The Carbon Bubble" (2010). This album is an up and down, I like it, I hate it, I'm perplexed, oh! this is great, OH NO you didn't just do that, sort of record. Mick has always had the propensity for doing some things where you just have to shriek "eeks!" that I've always wondered about but even though he can be responsible for rubbish he still to this day can produce some great music. "What's Up Doc?" was the first such great moment on this album after the first few songs nearly had me abandoning the album completely. Additionally, "Reach For The Sky", "Make It Alright", & "DisUnited Kingdom" are worthy. Elsewhere there are moments here worth checking out again. I'll have to give it another spin soon and see if my opinion alters somewhat. ***
Shearwater have released the 3rd album in their trilogy series of "Palo Santo" (2007) *****, "Rook" (2008) ****, and now "TheGolden Archipelago" (2010) *****. Honestly, this band can't really do anything wrong. Prolific and talented, a Shearwater album is an engrossing experience. All of their 6 albums and 3 EPs deserve to be heard!!!
The Breakaways (featuring Peter Case and Paul Collins of The Beat)-"Walking Out On Love (The Lost Sessions '78)". I knew this would be a fun listen and I wasn't disappointed much. The talent these boys had early on was obvious. The first couple of albums from The Beat were exceptional back in 1979/80. And what can I say about Peter Case except he is a (mostly) unrecognized genius. Those of us who've been touched by his musical output over the past 30 + years know what a treasure he is. A nice slice of the past here.
Chris Olley-"A Streetcar Named Disaster" (2010). Chris was the lead singer of the ill fated band Six By Seven who were active from 1997-2004. Thankfully, Chris decided to continue on in music because his enduring talent is clearly evident on his first solo album. There is much diversity and much to like. Highlights for me: "Flying", "In Too Deep", "Throw Your Lovin Arms Around Me" & "Forever". Deserves wider listening. ****
The Big Pink release a new EP "Velvet" (2010). B-sides not on their excellent debut from 2009 "A Brief History Of Love". Forget the little (kinda unmemorable) EP and get on with an amazing 2nd album!! Check out the debut though, it's one of the best releases of 2009.
Juliana Hatfield-"Peace And Love" (2010). The reviews were great. I wanted to like this, but the truth is that Juliana's releases are hit and miss affairs. The track "I Picked You Up" is excellent but I'm trying to pinpoint another real highlight. Perhaps a second spin will elicit more of a response from me? We'll see.
Danny Paul Grody-"Fountain" (2010). Danny is a full time member of 2 bands: Tarentel and The Drift. This is a beautiful gently stirring near ambient at times album. "Four Years" & "Fountain" ARE devastatingly beautiful pieces. A review I read by Michael Ardaiolo had this to say: The tone is melancholy and autumnal throughout, with elements of dream-pop, drone, ambient, post-rock, chamber music and folk from both sides of the Atlantic all mingling and sharing characteristics. ****1/2
Charlotte Gainsbourg-"IRM" (with Beck) (2010). It should be billed as Charlotte AND Beck but noone asked me. She's still a frustrating prospect, despite her past. I'm just not totally convinced she's "musical". Acting is obviously her forte. That said, I was getting rather bored with the first half of this hot mess. Then something magical happened. "Vanities", "Trick Pony", "Greenwich Mean Time", "Dandelion" AND "Voyage" transformed this album into something special. Beck DID bring the goods to the table and in the end Charlotte delivered. ***1/2
My pick for best new album this week goes to: Corinne Bailey Rae-"The Sea" (2010). This is an engrossing perfectly executed album. After living through her husbands suicide a couple of years ago, Corinne returns with a sophmore album that to me is much stronger than her debut from 2006. There is so much to love here and like Alice Smith she is someone who is worth listening to. I'll let the album speak for itself so check it out! ****1/2
My second best pick this week is the latest from the KOMPAKT label: Pop Ambient 2010. A decade of Pop Ambient yearly releases does not fail to deliver. There is much in the likes of beauty and sound here. The 17 minute closer from Brock Van Wey/BV Dub) is so engrossing and worth the admission alone! Tune in, tune out. *****
MGMT-"Congratulations" (2010). This 2nd album isn't out for a few more weeks but it's been leaked online so free streams are everywhere now. Considering that Sonic Boom produced I expected more. At least on first listen I expected more. Still, in retrospect now there are a few yawn - why did you bother - moments for sure. I'll see if my opinion changes next time I listen to it. It's out April 13th.
Another of the gazillion unheralded bands out there in the universe have released their own "best of" collection. The band I See Hawks In L.A. operating in near obscurity for over a decade now released the appropriately titled "Shoulda Been Gold 2001-2009" (2010). Think Flying Burrito Brothers, The Byrds, Poco and you'll get the idea. Much to love here if you have any interest whatsover in alternative country music. ****
Definitely one of the best "new" bands to release a debut this year is Mumford & Sons-"Sigh No More" (2010 U.S.). This album came out last year in Britain and finally gets released here. It's spectacular really. Apparently they played with Laura Marling and Noah And The Whale and then went their own way a couple of years ago and after releasing some singles have put out this exquisite debut album. The songs are near painstakingly arranged and build to crescendos (a la Elbow). Apparently this is considered "new folk" or "indie folk". Whatever the tag, it deserves hearing. Another top pick. ****1/2
The Revere-"The Great City" (2010). A Concept album about individuals called in a dream to follow an Old Man to an unknown destination. There are a few good moments here but it's mostly forgettable emo. There I said it. I feel better now.
Alright I'm onto this week's new releases:
MARCH 23
1. ARCTIC MONKEYS-“MY PROPELLER” [EP] (3/23)
2. AUTECHRE-“OVERSTEPS” (3/23)
3. BAD LIEUTENANT-“TWIST OF FATE B/W POISONOUS INTENT – TINTIN’S DISCO MIX” (2-TRAX) (3/23)
4. THE BIRD & THE BEE-“VOL 1: INTERPRETATIONS OF HALL & OATES” (3/23)
5. CATE LE BON-“ME OH MY” (3/23)
6. BONNIE ‘PRINCE’ BILLY & THE CAIRO GANG-“WONDERSHOW OF THE WORLD” (3/23)
7. BONOBO-“BLACK SANDS” (3/23)
8. BOSTON SPACESHIPS-“CAMERA FOUND THE RAY GUN” [EP] (3/23)
9. ARCHIE BRONSON OUTFIT-“COCONUT” (3/23)
10. BILL CALLAHAN-“ROUGH TRAVEL FOR A RARE THING” (LIVE LTD EDITION DOUBLE VINYL ON DRAG CITY) (3/23)
11. CASINO VERSUS JAPAN-“NIGHT ON TAPE” (3/23)
12. THE COURTEENERS-“FALCON” (3/23)
13. CROCODILES-“NEON JESUS” (2-TRAX SINGLE) (3/23)
14. THE CRYSTAL ARK-“THE CITY NEVER SLEEPS” [EP] (3/16)
15. D BRIDGE & INSTRA MENTAL-“FABRICLIVE 50” (3/23)
16. DEAD MEADOW-“THREE KINGS” (LIVE) (3/23)
17. DOUBLE DAGGER-“MASKS” [EP] (3/23)
18. EL GOODO-“COYOTE” (3/23)
19. LOUIS ELIOT & THE EMBERS-“KITTOW’S MOOR” (3/23)
20. ERRORS-“COME DOWN WITH ME” (ON MOGWAI’S ROCK ACTION LABEL BUT NOT AVAIL) (3/23)
21. FOUR TET-“SING” [EP] (3/16)
22. JOHN FOXX-“MY LOST CITY” (3/22)
23. NILS FRAHM-“THE BELLS” (PRODUCED BY PETER BRODERICK) (3/23)
24. GOLDFRAPP-“HEAD FIRST” (3/23)
25. GOLDFRAPP-“ROCKET” (REMIXES EP) (3/8)
26. HIGH PLACES-“HIGH PLACES VS MANKIND” (3/23)
27. THE HIGH WIRE-“SLEEP TAPE” (IMPORT) (3/23)
28. MICAH P HINSON-“ALL DRESSED UP & SMELLING OF STRANGERS” (IMPORT) (3/23)
29. DAVE HOLLAND OCTET-“PATHWAYS” (3/23)
30. I CAN MAKE A MESS LIKE NOBODY’S BUSINESS-“THE WORLD WE KNOW” (3/23)
31. JANIS IAN-“NIGHT RAINS/RESTLESS EYES/ UNLCE WONDERFUL” (2-CD REMASTERED IMPORT) (3/23)
32. JANIS IAN-“MIRACLE ROW / JANIS IAN” (2-CD REMASTERED IMPORT) (3/23)
33. JASMINE MINKS-“POPPY WHITE” [EP] (3/22)
34. JOY ORBISON-“THE SHREW WOULD HAVE CUSHIONED THE BLOW” [EP] (3/22)
35. KID 606-“SONGS ABOUT FUCKING STEVE ALBINI” (3/23)
36. KLEENEX / LILIPUT-“LIVE RECORDINGS, TV-CLIPS & ROADMOVIE” (3/23)
37. LET’S WRESTLE-“IN THE COURT OF THE WRESTLING LET’S” (3/23)
38. LOVE IS ALL-“TWO THOUSAND AND TEN INJURIES” (3/23)
39. LUSINE-“LUCKY NUMBERS: THE GHOSTLY INTERNATIONAL EPS” (2-CD) (3/16)
40. MICHOACAN-“IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT” (SINGLE) (3/23)
41. PALM SPRINGS-“NO HURT LIKE A BROKEN HEART” FROM 2007)
42. PALM SPRINGS-“THE HOPE THAT KILLS YOU” (3/23)
43. PEASANT-“SHADY RETREAT” (3/23)
44. PET SHOP BOYS-“PANDEMONIUM LIVE” (CD/DVD) (3/23)
45. THE RADAR BROTHERS-“ILLUSTRATED GARDEN” (3/23)
46. ROADSIDE GRAVES-“YOU WON’T BE HAPPY WITH ME” [EP] (3/23) + “IF SHACKING UP IS ALL YOU WANT TO DO” (2/23)
47. JACK ROSE-“LUCK IN THE VALLEY” (3/23)
48. SERENA MANEESH-“S-M 2: ABYSS IN B MINOR” (3/23)
49. SHE & HIM-“VOLUME TWO” (3/23)
50. SPANDAU BALLET-“DIAMOND” & “JOURNEYS TO GLORY” (DELUXE EDITIONS IMPORT (3/23)
51. JG THIRWELL-“MANORIXIA: THE MESOPELAGIC ATERS” (3/23)
52. SCOTT TUMA-“DANDELION” (LP) (3/23)
53. TUNNG-“AND THEN WE SAW LAND” (3/23)
54. THE UNTHANKS-“HERE’S THE TENDER COMING” (U.S. EDITION) (3/23)
55. KATHRYN WILLIAMS-“THE QUICKENING” (3/9)
56. WOODHANDS-“REMORSECAPADE” (3/23)
57. WOODHANDS-“HEART ATTACK” (FROM 2008 THEIR DEBUT)
58. VARIOUS ARTISTS (AKA: JAMES MURPHY, LCD SOUNDSYSTEM, DURAN DURAN)-“GREENBERG” SOUNDTRACK (3/23)
A;
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