Review: Los Campesinos – Romance is Boring

Los Campesinos may think romance is boring but the album is anything but. The seven piece band gives us a wild ride of indie pop mixed with electronics and unique sounds. Romance is Boring is full of highs and lows, the fun and upbeat and the darker, more serious tunes. “In Media Res” begins this joy ride, starting off softly, building speed, and plateauing in a beautiful symphony. The opening song often defines an album and this song showcases their unique blend —somewhat erratic but it all makes sense. It’s impossible to figure out where their songs are headed but it’s what holds your interest. It’s what makes you want to keep listening.

A drum beat and unforgettable vocals dominate “A Heat Rash in the Shape of the Show Me State…” All other instruments are secondary but of course, just as essential. Pianos, violins, and saxophones all make an appearance in the song, revealing this band’s complexity. Although Los Campesinos can seem very young because of their convivial style, their music is well thought out and detailed. “Plan A” feels like it belongs in a horror movie. Eerie scratching guitars and frightened singing make up the verses. Electronics in dissonance add to this troubling tune. But the choruses liven up turning the song into something more enjoyable for our fragile ears. There are so many sounds and vocals and instruments flooding each song on Romance is Boring but Los Campesinos somehow keep the chaos organized. They don’t have catchy hooks and they don’t follow any formulas, but somehow these turbulent melodies still manage to pull you in.

Review: The Magnetic Fields – Realism

This album is somewhat diverse in it’s lyrics and subject matter. At some times humorous and others serious. Some of the humor becomes a little too cute for my personal taste (ex. We Are Having A Hootenanny, The Dolls’ Tea Party, Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree. I think the titles say it all). The recording and production are great. Although, I could have done without the toy piano that seems to find its way onto every Indie album these days. The hammered dulcimer was an excellent choice, however. As well as the autoharp. There are no drums, really. I’m a drummer and it was still able to keep me interested, though. The songs are mostly childish or whimsical, so it’s hard for me to take this album too seriously. Although it does work very well for “Walk A Lonely Road” which is an absolute gem. It also makes many of the songs and the album itself memorable. Overall, I would say the album is good and offers something interesting.

Review: Eight Legs – Best Of Me

Rakes conducted by Ray Davies is how the feral post-mod/indie Sam Jolly fronted quartet continues to seek to gather momentum, through edgy and anxious single ‘Best Of Me’. Twining guitars spike the dialogue edged vocals, finished off with the sturdy percussion combinations of Jack Garside. Bemusement and ambivalence seeps out to capture that feeling of emptiness that engulfs us all at some point in our lives.

Sub-three minute B-side, ‘I Understand’, is a lo-fi hovering ambient trampling percussion tilted sojourn that bears out thoughtfulness and mood instilling ability. Eight Legs have made another step towards crawling into the imagination of the off-kilter aficionados.

News: Truck America announces first band, details

The first ever TRUCK America Festival is thrilled to present a special appearance from upstate NY legends MERCURY REV! The three day, 1000 capacity gathering at the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY on April 30 – May 2nd 2010 the weekend tickets will only run $120 per ticket. I really want to go to this. It should be a special weekend.

Download: Lali Puna – Remember

Lali Puna is coming out with a new record. Their first in over 5 years. Our Inventions will be released April 6th on Morr Music, and along with the wonderful Valerie Trebeljahr and members of The Notwist and Tied & Tickled Trio, there’s a special appearance by none other than Yellow Magic Orchestra’s Yukihiro Takahashi!

Download: Lali Puna – Remember

Video: Blood Red Shoes – Light It Up

New single release on 22/02/10 as a download and 7″ vinyl limited edition vinyl. Taken from the album “Fire Like This” released on 01/03/10

Review: Far – Pony

Jonah Matranga returns to his steady and reliable first rock ride, after a stirring interlude of solo material and the ingratitude that the music industry showed, towards his emo titlting project, Gratitude. Now seeking to resurrect their spirit of the early 1990’s, Far have mustered a late 70s/early 80s rock riff splattered number ‘Pony’, to grab attention in the build up to the release of their forthcoming fifth studio album.

Matranga’s vocals take on a distorted Prince cavorting with Marilyn Mason, Freddie Mercury and Marc Bolan flavour, a far cry from his hearty solo forays. Provocative backing cooing and seedy lyrics shows that this Sacramento born quartet has discovered renewed fuzz and vigour.

An acoustic version of this glam tainted offering, gives those who appreciated the personal and intimate touch of Matranga’s solo material, plenty of time for nostalgic dwelling. Patted percussion interludes and trickling acoustic touches provides the poignancy to contrast with the boldness and frivolity of the A-side. The simplicity of the lyrics lets down this approach slightly, but the two songs combined do show that Far still has more than enough in their locker to be able look to the future.

News: Goldfrapp Announces Debut Single “ROCKET”

Goldfrapp announce their brand new single ‘Rocket’ to be released through Mute March 9th 2010. ‘Rocket’ ‘is written and produced by band mates Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory and comes complete with new mixes by Richard X, Penguin Prison and Grum, and Tiësto, and is accompanied by a fabulous video directed by Kim Gehrig (Calvin Harris, Primal Scream, Santogold).

Download: Inlets – Bright Orange Air

Sebastian Krueger is the man behind Inlets; he crafted his delicate compositions between a busy schedule. He collaborated with My Brightest Diamond and DM Stith on Stith’s Heavy Ghost. Inter Arbiter will be out on 4/20 (Two Syllable) and features Angel from the Dirty Projectors, Zach from Beirut, and a few of Krueger’s multi-talented friends. Enjoy a new Mp3 from the upcoming record.

Download: Inlets – Bright Orange Air

Review: Basia Bulat – Hear Of My Own

Right from the start of this reflective and inner-peace seeking 2nd album it is prevalent that Basia Bulat has exchanged some of the carefree, enchanted abandon of her debut album, ‘Oh, My Darling’. For a deeper, duskier and more searching mood, as the marching percussion scattered ‘Go On’ testifies. The vocals linger in a mildly murky fashion to convey a hint of desperation and bemusement. That said, the stirring string inspired ‘Gold Rush’, starts off from a winding folk beginning, to embolden into an energetic, mild cacophonous, choral backing vocal inclusive parade. Bulat’s narrative is engaging and ranging, giving this mini-epic boldness and heart that is covered with a veil of darkness.

The winding acoustic mastery of this thoughtfully poetic Canadian is decorated with her stern, yet warming vocal touch for the bracing title track. The lyrics display worrisome, emotive leanings:

“ For every word I could undo, I’ve been uncrossed and I’ve bin untrue.

I’ve bin down, I’ve bin hard, the heart of my own burnt down low.”

Much musing is the order of the day in this twelve track foray, as a lucidly slower delivery style is generally opted for in this heart-tugging follow up. Subtle strings spindle alongside a slightly forlorn lag in ‘Sparrow’, whereby folk is stripped down to its basic qualities.

Bulat, deliberately, or not? Is giving more profile to her vocals this time around, often hovering to wretch out the air of regret and the touches of egocentrism that’s as noticeable as blobs of ink on blotting paper, at times, ‘I’m Forgetting Everyone’ . Almost Orwellian nostalgia is espoused with help from patting percussion and a slow turning acoustic touch, ‘Once More For The Dollhouse’. This is juxtaposed with ‘Walk You Down’, when the carefree touch of the debut album returns for a bounding and carefree pop jaunt.

Basia Bulat now has two albums of ranging material from which to spice up her already much lauded and enchanting live sets.

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