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