King Biscuit Time – Kwangchow
“Kwangchow” is a very mellow affair with a crazy psychedelic mix, lazily sung verses and a clap happy sound throughout the track. Muffled guitar and vocals break into this relaxed offering that skips along as smoothly and subtlety. If catchy dance floor tracks are what you’re after, this is something to stay clear of. If tracks you can relax to are what you’re after, give this a try. Not memorable, but it just has that something you can’t put your finger on that makes it a nice track.
By Matt Shaw
The Charlatans – Simpatico
I think in time this album will grow on me, I’ve heard of The Charlatans but this is the first time I’ve listened to their work. Personally I think the album is, in places complicated by stuffing some tracks with too many sounds, which takes the focus away from the lyrics and the vocals. The vocals are pleasant and confident throughout.
TRACK ONE- Blackened Blue Eyes, I really enjoyed this track, a great piano intro builds into a great tune with a well-balanced range of instruments, and the lyrics are good. A great opener for the album
TRACK TWO-NYC (There’s no need to stop) truthfully I can’t decide whether I like this song or not, it’s vaguely reminiscent of an 80′s track I can’t place. It is catchy and up beat, the vocals are great. TRACK FIVE-Muddy Ground, I really enjoyed this track despite the lyrics being a tad repetitious, again the music isn’t too overpowering and the vocals are evocative.
TRACK SEVEN-Road To Paradise, another great track, the vocals stir emotion, I’d love to hear an acoustic version of this song, the music builds and falls gently with perfect timing though I’d have been tempted to lose a couple of the unnecessary instruments and the abrupt ending of the track. TRACK ELEVEN-Sunset And Vine, a beautiful instrumental track, how I wish the artist had put some words to this. It has an almost meditative quality, excellent choice for the last track.
By J.Greenwood
The Flaming Lips – Yeah Yeah Yeah Song
Well, the first 20 seconds or so of this song certainly grabs your attention. It almost sounds like African chanting of the words Yeah Yeah Yeah. The beat is somewhat Caribbean and sounds like a bit like a calypso. Interesting, where can they take it? Well it turns into a clap happy song
with the chanting appearing now and again throughout the song. The lyrics start of as a set of questions which make you question yourself a bit. They appear now and again throughout the song as well. It makes you feel part of the song and keeps you interested.
“Yeah Yeah Yeah Song” even comes complete with a vocal chanting solo, certainly makes a difference from a guitar one. The song has so many sections and noises’ going on it really does take a few listens to it for it all to sink in properly. It even seems to have a small electronic section before the outbreak of the last part of the song. It’s 5 minutes of madness really. Good madness though…I think.
By Helen Daw