ALBUM REVIEW: Everything Everything - Arc (Geffen)

Originally published at Middle Boop Mag: http://www.middleboopmag.com/music/arc-album-review/everything-everything-arc-geffen

The northern dizziness of Everything Everything has at last returned with their greatly anticipated second album, Arc. With two standout singles including ‘Cough Cough’ and ‘Kemosabe’ already receiving critical acclaim and heaps of airplay, Arc already promises to be even more superior that their 2010 debut, Man Alive.

It seems the four piece has taken the best from their debut, refined and tuned, panned for gold if you will to which they have achieved astounding results. They have finally found their feet, binning the desperation to standout and constantly wow and concentrating on what they do best. Sonically and lyrically, Man Alive (bar the amazing Schoolin’, MY KZ, UR BF and Final Form) was a little overwhelming, with too much happening and far too much going on. Fortunately, the potency of the previously mentioned tracks has pulled the band through and given them the kudos they deserved.

As Arc unfolds, it goes from strength to strength, with diverse and interesting influences, sounds and obscure lyrics. ‘Choice Mountain’ is a feast of imagery and emotion while ‘Torso of the Week’ has hints of northern humour and humility. ‘Feet For Hands’ showcases front man Jonathan Higgs’s ability to convey heart wrenching vocals in perfect harmony with their busy and almost avant-garde approach as musicians.

If Everything Everything hoped for an astounding comeback, they have more than reached that goal.  Their genre deifying experimentation and belief in what they are doing and their own unique style is sufficient to confidently hail them as one of Manchester’s finest exports, possibly one of the greatest compliments for any band to hear.

ALBUM REVIEW: Villagers - 'Awayland' (Domino)

Originally published at Gigwise: http://www.gigwise.com/reviews/78818/villagers---awayland-domino

The Irish born Conor O’Brien and Co, formerly Villagers have shrewdly bided their time since their multi-award nominated debut album Becoming a Jackal. It has been three long years now and for those who have waited with baited breath for their return, prepare to be blown away.

The first taste of Awayland emerged late last year with leading single 'The Waves', an inimitable and almost avant-garde voyage of a song, reminding us of their artistically poetic and surrealist tendencies.

Villagers have delicately refined the best of their previous style, yet honed in even deeper taking larger risks whilst keeping their original aura intact. Awayland floats in and out of delirious and almost alienating obscurity right back to poignant and relatable storytelling, to which sole songwriter and vocalist O’Brien is a master of.

From the drama of 'Earthy Pleasures' to the warming of 'Judgement Call', strained yet concise vocals are set against folk guitars and at times an almost techno enthused bass line.

An obvious comparison would be with Bon Iver, but without the drear. They have managed to craft the right blend of guitars, strings and emotion, but kept optimism and escapism at the records core. 'Grateful Song' is just lovely and entirely refreshing. The album finishes on a high with the delightful 'Rhythm Composer', a jaunty and fun ending to an extraordinary LP.

It’s very early days with regards to album’s of the year, but this no doubt be amongst them. It’s intelligent, imaginative and truly unique and as second albums go, a confident promise of longevity to their fans.

The beauty of this record is that it requires no work, no ‘right mood’. As it unfolds it is every bit as captivating its predecessor, if not more so. It will immediately grip your undivided attention and beg for repetition and further exploration.

Perfection

I have only just stumbled upon this. Frank Ocean covered  Coldplay's 'Strawberry Swing' about a year ago and it is utter perfection.

I'm not usually into this sort of music, but Frank Ocean is a cut above. SBTRKT did a remix of his 'Thinking About' You' a few months back, which I thought was worth sharing. SBTRKT need to do MORE. But they also need to keep that Sampha guy on board, his voice is a dream.

An abundance of absolute tunes

First and foremost, Foals' new song 'My Number' is just astonishingly good.

It's a little more reminiscent of their second album, (which was actually my favourite) than their other new track 'Inhaler'.

Everything Everything, another one of my favourite bands are also set to release a follow up to their prolific debut album 'Man Alive'. And about time, 'Cough Cough' was wonderful. But THIS just takes them to a whole new level. There is something absolutely manic about this band and this is like some crazed, giddy masterpiece.

And lastly, Delphic who are another just astoundingly good band have also released their new track 'Baiya'. Not as hyped for this song as the above, but am breathing a sigh of relief after their Olympic song 'Good Life' which in all honesty, was absolutely s.... Sorry.

And here's a promo video for one of my favourite bands of the yearThe Neighbourhood which I actually feature in. I interviewed this band whilst I was interning at Gigwise in a plush studio apartment in Hoxton. They were literally so nice and interesting to talk to, and I was a little starstruck if I'm honest. I look a child which is annoying (see 2.26).

EP REVIEW: San Cisco - Beach

San Cisco is a teen four-piece from sunny Freemantle, Australia and Beach is the band’s third EP and acts as a teaser for their debut album. They are currently enjoying huge success in their native Oz having won copious awards this year including eight WAMI’s in the same night (Australia’s equivalent to the Brit Awards). They are signed to Australia’s prestigious label Albert Productions along with AC /DC and The Easy Beats and Columbia Records here in the UK.

Beach is made up of four tracks and acts as the ideal showcase for their fluidity in tone and sound.  Opener ‘Beach’ has been heavily praised by Radio One DJ Huw Stevens and named as his record of the week. The track is low-fi indie pop charged with emotion and a twee innocence that is hard to fault. The vocals sounding childlike and pure whilst twinkling harmonies glide on in the background.

‘Golden Revolver’, which featured on their debut EP of the same name is a more up- tempo poppy track.  Singer Jordi’s vocals are charming and raw and the track is soaring indie pop at its finest. Their Idyllic back-story and evolution only adds to their allure having all met at high school in Perth whilst playing in an assortment of school bands. ‘Reckless’ is a more serious and saddening song with acoustic qualities. It goes, “Reckless is fun when you’re not the one that gets hurt.”

‘Lover’ the EP’s final track has hints of Vampire Weekends’ jauntiness and The Maccabees’ jangling. With its ‘ooh la’s’ and galloping verses, it’s very dance floor friendly. Their debut is set for release early next year, and it would be a fair prediction to say that it’s going to be big as they have repeatedly been tipped as ones to watch for 2013 by the critics. The compelling quality about this band is that they (seemingly) have free reign to do what they want. It all has a very organic feel and not for a second would one expect there to be some suit holding the puppet strings like so many other young artists.

Flume, Van She and Tame Impala are just some of this year’s best and most exciting Australian exports, and we can now add San Cisco to that list. It seems our ears have truly ripened to the isolated sounds of Australian pop and that this sound is quenching our thirst for something, well a little happier. 

Some new jams

Joke. But seriously, this is amazing. It's one of those songs that the first time I heard it, I just played it over and over and over again.

In almost complete contrast, this is also absolutely amazing. A tricky feat to remix The Knife and get away with it. But that they have, and this is an absolute masterpiece.

And finally a new song from Local Natives... FINALLY. I love this band so much and am so glad they are back. Sounding for the most part the same as their debut, but hey if it ain't broke and all that.

ALBUM REVIEW: Benjamin Gibbard - Former Lives (City Slang)

Originally published at Middle Boop Mag: http://www.middleboopmag.com/music/music-news/benjamin-gibbard-%E2%80%93-former-lives-city-slang

Benjamin Gibbard has been the lead singer of the American indie rock band Death Cab For Cutie for the past 15 years, as well as his part in his other band The Postal Service. He was also married to indie pinup Zooey Deschanel, but they have recently had an uncomfortably public breakup. Former Lives if his first album released under only his name.

Usually when someone decides to go solo, it carries separatist connotations. Be it breaking free of the restraints and inevitable negotiation of their band mates, a craving to create a sound or message that won’t sit well with said bands adjusted style or just plain boredom. Typically, the person in question mixes it up to some extent. Think Kele Okereke a la Bloc Party – he went from indie rock to house music, a complete u-turn.

Gibbard however seems content with releasing a full length solo homage to his days with Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service. On the surface, it sounds very similar. He has though stated that Former Lives is, “a side story, not a new chapter.”

For fans of Death Cab you will no doubt like what you hear. Inspirations include three relationships, living in two different places and drinking and then not drinking.  It is like his personal narration of his time in the bands, a place where he can execute something wholly personal – sadly it fails to connect.

A man famed and loved for his cutting and cruel lyrics, this is very safe. It sounds ‘nice’ and all that, but is rather uninteresting. ‘Teardrop Windows’, ‘Dream Song’ and ‘Bigger Than Love’ are worth adding to the record collection, but that’s really about it.

ALBUM REVIEW: Allah-Las - Allah-Las

Originally published at Notion Magazine: http://www.planetnotion.com/2012/11/22/album-review-allah-las-allah-las/

Allah-Las are a psych rock band who formed in Los Angeles back in 2008, priding themselves on their LA-centric, geographically enhanced laid-back style. Having released their debut EP Tell Me (What’s On Your Mind) earlier this year to rave reviews and the impressive approval of Patrick Campbell-Lyons, Allah Las are in a great position to release a full-length album. They also gathered masses of interest from the trendier American blogs and some UK ones after they turned heads at this year’s FYF Fest hosted in LA.

One wonders why it has taken the four-piece four years to collect up the tracks for their debut, but as the album unfolds it is clear that many a heartbreak has been woven into each track, carefully crafted with love and longing.  The record teems with nostalgic jangle-pop, hints of garage, psych and groove. The fuzzy, harmonised backgrounds and sundrenched guitars wash over you in a haze of blurry dream rock.

Allah Las are a band that wear their influences on their sleeve, with hints of Byrds, Love, The Kinks and even The Rolling Stones. They have that expansive sound that instantly draws the listener in, much like the more recent Tame Impala. The album has such classicist influences that one could be forgiven for mistaking it for an old dusty LP from the ’60s dug out of a record store.

Opener ‘Catamaran’ instantly transports you to a chilled out day on the LA sea front. The band are surfers as well as musicians, an obvious sway over the tone of their music on tracks like ‘Busman’s Holiday’ and ‘Sacred Sands’.  This album begs to be enjoyed in a social setting and is perfect background music. ‘Ela Nevega’ is an ambient grooving instrumental, a necessary break between the other more vocally led tracks.

There is nothing avant-garde about this record – it is more a loving homage to LA and it’s dusty pavements and gleaming seascapes, attributes that make it one of the most alluring places in the world. The album blurs through expressively and is nothing short of spectacular, unionising the bright sunshine and waves with the inevitable heartbreak that even the enviable setting of LA can’t quite soothe.

NEW MUSIC

This is good too...

Oh and this, words escape me.

ALBUM REVIEW: Vitalic - Rave Age (Different Recordings)

Originally published at Middle Boop Mag:  http://www.middleboopmag.com/music/albums/vitalic-rage-age-different-recordings

This is the third LP from French musician Vitalic, titled rather awkwardly Rave Age. Now 37 years old, and 12 years on since his debut album Okay Cowboy – has much really changed? Each song thrown out over any dance floor would no doubt cause mayhem, but set aside one another in an album format it makes little sense. ‘Rave Kids Go’ is interesting, and perhaps the only glimmer of something new. ‘Fade Away’ is his finest hour, sounding slightly 80’s with a throwback vocal effect. 

The French are superior providers of dance floor bangers - think Daft Punk, Justice or more recently David Guetta (before he sold his soul to ‘the man’). Vitalic is no different; however, Rave Age is in no way daring, just more of the same formula repeated to a rather stale effect.