Mogwai – Zidane – A 21st Century Portrait Soundtrack

Mogwai and film was bound to happen, it was only a matter of time. But they film the band have agreed to score is an interesting 90-minute film that focus on the modern soccer legend Zin?ne Zidane. Mogwai took the scoring process by simply making a brand new record.

First, spin of this fans will notice the return of a quieter and gentle Mogwai. Unlike their recent releases the band have turned it down quite a bit. But considering the film is for a soccer film, it has a certainly gentle and majestic feeling of a match. Guess what the film follows Zidane around a match for 90 minutes. It is an interesting look at an athlete. The track that will grab your attention is “Black Spider 2″ which, clocks in at 30 minutes long. There is a moment where it goes silent and then comes back at the last three minutes building up steam and getting stronger and stronger. Like at the end of the game is a crucial time. You tired but you manage to find it in you to keep going. The song and album ends on this strong dose of distortion.

For a soundtrack, this is a deep and experimental record. The music here fits into the film so perfectly. Mogwai have created a stellar score.

By John Siwicki

Feathers – Synchromy EP

Analogingly rocking away, Feathers soars with their second installment in their debut EP trilogy, Synchromy. At some points a lumbering monstrosity, at others a sleek hipster, Feathers display their talent of taking normal music and making it anything but. The trio from Miami creates such rock-like beats and rhythms without ever using traditional rock instruments (at least not obviously). “Iron Mountain” is a pop tune flavored with sci-fi sound effects, a formula that may sound like a recipe for some awful future-based Disney made-for-TV-movie that includes a concert at some point, but much better. The songs carry a sophisticated beat, like “Ap (Parenthe) – Synthesis” which sounds like the opening ten seconds to some blockbuster pop-rock act, only stretched into four minutes that leave you not missing the guitar chords at all. Feathers artificially takes electronic and rock influences, fuses them together, and makes them be friends. And thank God too, Synchromy is an engaging and intuitive release that bodes well for Feathers’ future.

By Michael Schmitt

Badly Drawn Boy – Born In The UK

Born in the UK, a title no doubt inspired by Bruce Springstien’s album name, is the latest offering from UK indie favourite Badly Drawn Boy.

This album is a lot more moody and dark than previous offerings, sounding a bit like The Smiths or Embrace and is often found to be looking at all things British such as Maggie Thatcher, Sid Vicious and even hosepipe bans.

There are a number of catchy tunes which in typical BDB style will capture the imagination of the audience. In this instance they are Welcome to the Underground (a pop-like chanted song which feature BDB’s trademark catchy piano rhythm), Long Way Round (similar but with brass accompanying his softly sung vocals to make it sound even more pleasant) and title track Born in the UK (another fast tune which as the title implies is a look at Britain and it’s recent history) Other notable efforts include Nothing’s Gonna Change Your Mind, a simply composed stripped down contemplative piano song and Promises, a song in a similar vein which looks to the future.

Many are hailing this as Badly Drawn Boys best album since his debut. Thankfully for an artist whose career now spans 5 albums he has managed to still find subjects of passion to write about as opposed to churning out songs for the sake of it. As a result the listener is able to engage with the lyrics and the feelings behind them enhancing the music’s value.

By Craig Evans

Various Artists – Marie Antoinette OST

Many, of us got excited at the first trailers of Marie Antoinette, it featured ‘New Orders’ Ceremony’ which, lets be honest one of the finest tunes out there. Naturally, this got my attention. A little digging found that the music in this film was going to be quite odd. The film is based in the 1700s and to have “New Order, Gang of Four, Bow Wow Wow, just to name a few on it is strange.

For this review, I will try and keep the film spoilers down to a minimum for those who have yet to see this picture. But the soundtrack is spread out over two discs and it mixes in 80s post punk stuff, The Strokes and some period pieces you would find during that time. Points really need to be given to the creative team behind the film. So would see this movie included modern music on a period piece foolish. But the songs fit in so well with the story and the vision that they were going for that it worked so well. This collection also got us to fall in love with New Order and Gang of Four all over again.

As soon, as I left the theater I went out and got a copy of this work. Its a mammoth set, Aphex Twin, Air, Radio Dept, all provide songs for the movie. Its a stylist collection, that is worth your time. A line from Gang of Four sums this all up pretty well “the problem with leisure is what to do for pleasure.”

By John Siwicki

Scott Solter – Canonic

Technically its Scott Solter, but the music is Pattern Is Movement’s. Well, alright, let’s back up. Pattern is Movement (PIM) are an oddity, playing complex experimental tunes that lace stable hip-hop beats. PIM recorded their latest album, Stowaway, in 2005 with a man named Scott Solter. Solter must have either really loved or really hated with PIM did in that recording, because no sooner had they finished than Solter had run off with the album to rework into his own. Literally taking the razor (all of Solter’s work was done with analog equipment) to PIM’s work, Solter created a work of his own

Exit Clov – Respond Respond

Exit Clov have certainly caught my attention. They are from Washington D.C and they are a big bunch. They are made up of Aaron (guitar); Brett (bass); Emily (vocals, keys, violin); John (drums); Susan (vocals, guitar, violin, keys). They have a song called “Communist BBQ” what else do we need.

“DIY” is a big anthem in the making. The song deals with people inside the music community. “Violent Berries” at first when I saw the title, I pictured a blueberry and a raspberry fighting each other. But there is a song here to discuss and its actually a gorgeous song, the violin playing is what makes it such a swoon epic. Now, the song we have all been waiting for “Communist BBQ.” Just imagine all the communist leader around a grill eating hot dogs and wearing swim suits. The mental image is priceless alone. The tune is very politically charged and features lyrics such as these “50 years have brought us to this commie bbq? So quit yer stalin, you know the time is mao” very clever these folks.

Exit Clov are ones to watch. They are not afraid to get their hands dirty and talk about taboo topics but they still know how to entertain with a catchy hook and some sweet melodies.

By John Siwicki

Humanzi – Out On A Wire

Out on a wire is the latest release from the Irish Four-piece’s Debut album

Pablo – Half The Time

5) Focus

Pulp – Peel Sessions

Its been two years since John Peel has passed, he is and will always be missed. For a man I had never met, he had such an impact on my life. Everybody has their Peel story of how he opened you up to such new an exciting types of music you would never normally hear. If it wasn’t for Peel’s show well, lets not even think about that.

The thing that was great about almost every Peel Session is that bands seemed to out due themselves and better the studio versions. Most who followed the program have been wanting to get their hands on the Pulp sessions. In this set we get the bands first session from 1981 which, honesty confused me at first listen.

The rest of the album is full of many familiar favorites. The version of “Acrylic Afternoons” is essential, Jarvis pulls out one hell of vocal here. “Underwear” and “Pencil Skirt” all sound so lively and fresh. From top to bottom this package is amazing. Even the tracks from their final session that were made mostly off tracks from “We Love Life” sound brilliant here. “Weeds” and “Sunrise” should be right up there in the Pulp catologue. Clearly, I have lost my mine. But, clearly, this set needs to be in every collection. If not only to honor a man and a band we all surely do miss.

By John Siwicki

The Prize Fighter Inferno – My Brothers Blood Machine

Claudio Sanchez of Coheed and Cambria branched out and has recorded a electronic based solo project “The Prize Fighter Inferno.” Claudio has been tossing around some of this material for around 7-8 years. The album follows in the story of the previous Coheed albums. Its hard to explain but Claudio likes to work under concepts. Side projects are typically for artists to get out some of those creative juices and experiment. But here Claudio has outdone himself producing a record that outshines his main body of work.

First, we should discuss Claudio’s voice. For those who have no heard it, it is quite distinctive just a heads up there. The album starts with “The Going Price For Home” a lot of bleeps and blops going on behind Claudio, in which, seems like a ballad because of the lyrics “i love you more than you can know.” For, Coheed fans the deep electronic vibe might be quite shocking but Claudio puts together an impressive moody backdrop with some sad lyrics. “The Fight of Moses Early and Sir Arthur McCloud” reminds of a song you would hear in South Park. That acoustic guitar, there is just something about it. “The Margretville Dance” is really damn good. The track is based around a spacey beat. But when it hits the hook, Claudio pulls out this out his Prince impression and gets all funky on us. “Wayne Andrews, The Old Bee Keeper” seems to really be about a Bee Keeper. At this moment, I got interested in this “story” because frankly who writes a song about a bee keeper.

This album might not take well for all of the Coheed fans out there. Claudio puts a lot into this record. There is a lot of experimentation, lots of different sounds. If you are into Claudio’s concepts you will probably find this just as rewarding and some of the songs would make more sense to you. This is the best work done by Claudio.

By John Siwicki

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