Short Reviews with meaningful links. Usually presented fairly.
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After several similar artists, including brother Liam's new band Beady Eye and the clueless Kasabian, tried harvesting the magic that Oasis mustered in their heyday, it is satisfying that the elder Noel made something satisfying with his resurgent High Flying Birds LP. Where Beady Eye's ineffective song-writing and Kasabian's desperate mix of disparate sounds failed them, High Flying Birds gets your attention with simply clever songwriting and honest musicianship. An airtight album from brother Gallagher to be enjoyed at any altitude.
It was less than a minute into first playing Orphx's Radiotherapy full-length in one of my living spaces when it seemed that something in my home was now emitting a low drone with a slight buzzing or humming. Realizing after nearly a minute that it was, in fact, the opening track, I continued on with my life and listening curiously. Radiotherapy follows an oddly hypnotic path of Orbital riding a train through Kraftwerkia, but manages to travel this route with capable production and arrangements. This recurring quality creates a tension not unlike Daft Punk's ability on their soundtrack for the film 'Hanna'. A worthy progression from this Canadian group developing their sound for over 10 years now.
A steamroller of samples taken from riffs, fills and basslines from classic big band jazz and then refitted with modern beats, Hip to the Jive from Renegades of Jazz draw comparisons to Dining Rooms, Nicola Conte, Bobby Hughes Combination, and relatively unknown Dining Rooms off-shoot Double Beat. Tracks to build a nice EP starter set from the Renegades of Jazz LP would be the title track Hip to the Jive, Blow Your Horn and Karabine.
Renegades of Jazz - Hip to the Jive
[if you are using a smartphone, you may need to click the band name below to access Soundcloud] Hip To The Jive by Renegades Of Jazz
Renegades of Jazz - Remixes 2011
[if you are using a smartphone, you may need to click the band name below to access Soundcloud] Remixes 2011 by Renegades Of Jazz
Second Chance by Junior Boys from It's All True EP
Second Chance by Junior Boys on Soundclouds
[if you have a smartphone, you may need to click on song-title to access Soundcloud Junior Boys-Second Chance by Radio Cosmos
Rock and roll was beginning to bore me with its lack of growth until Jane's Addiction brought forth some evolutions for this hard-working style of music on their 2011 LP The Great Escape Artist. Having enjoyed a few of Perry Farrell's creative tangents after the passing of Jane's Addiction of the 90s, including Porno for Pyros and his vocal work for Thievery Corporation, Jane's newest takes some pages from the now collapsed recipe book of Catherine Wheel, Plexi and Interpol. On the 10 track non-deluxe album, which is the one you should consider, the album propels itself in many directions with plenty of layers of Dave Navarro's guitar work, some diverse songwriting and distinct Ferrell vocals. I'm glad that rock is still evolving.
TRACK 2 = Jane's Addiction - End to the Lies from The Great Escape Artist LP
TRACK 4 = Jane's Addiction - Irresistable Force (Met the Immovable Object) from The Great Escape Artist LP
[if you're on a smartphone, you may need to click the song title below to access Soundcloud] Jane's Addiction "Irresistible Force" by GrillMarketing
TRACK 7 = Jane's Addiction - Ultimate Reason from The Great Escape Artist LP
FREE Download of Suplex- Porno for Pyros Pets RMX
Click down arrow below Info at right side of Soundcloud object
[if you're on a smartphone, you may need to click on song-title to reach Soundcloud Suplex- Porno for Pyros Pets RMX by Alex Suplex
Jane's Addiction - The Great Escape Artist Tracklist
01. Underground
02. End To The Lies
03. Curiosity Kills
04. Irresistible Force (Met The Immovable Object)
05. I’ll Hit You Back
06. Twisted Tales
07. Ultimate Reason
08. Splash A Little Water On It
09. Broken People
10. Words Right Out Of My Mouth
On the 2011 LP Red by Sonoio, the listener will find an edgy mix of Moby, early 90s Nine Inch Nails, with a little bit of Witching Hour era Ladytron. The inclusion of well-known pop culture in 'Scientist' that, "These are not the droids you're looking for," is just plain science fiction fun. Most of Sonoio's song progression seems true to anxious early NIN, but there are a few welcome inconsistencies. Sonoio joined Ladytron for much of their 2011 tour.
FREE Downloads from tour sampler, including Ladytron remix and selections from BLUE and RED
SONOIO - Scientist
SONOIO - Enough
[if you are using a smartphone, you may need to click the song titles to access Soundcloud]
Sample master Star Slinger is giving away another free track. Get this track when it's still FREE!
Click down arrow below Info at right edge of Soundcloud object Star Slinger - Impressionable by Star Slinger
As Kasabian's guitarist and songwriters claim in the track by track guide to Velociraptor!, the title of the LP is meant to be screamed, but I think as more of a warning for others in the area who might also have functioning ears. The new Kasabian full-length is a blend of Happy Mondays, Oasis, and Space, but do not include any of the positive components of the aforementioned bands nor do they make valid comparisons of their own songwriting in the track by track against other historically relevant pop groups. An immediately tiring and consistently, though accidentally, humorous album throughout, Kasabian suprisingly receives substantial acclaim in the UK. Replete with many awkwardly funny moments, the track by track interview clips expose a band struggling to describe their music with unexpected results.
Kasabian's track by track guide to Velociraptor! with Serge and Tom
Kasabian - Velociraptor! from the album Velociraptor!
Kasabian - Switchblade Smiles from the album Velociraptor!
FREE Download of Kasabian - Vlad The Impaler
Click down arrow below Info to the right of the Soundcloud object Kasabian - Vlad The Impaler by Sir Awesome
The changing of seasons is the perfect backdrop for Apparat's newest introspective and beautifully constructed LP The Devil's Walk. Apparat's figurehead Sascha Ring has moved from the rather clunky electronics of his antecedent release The Wall and become rather warmly pastoral on this latest LP. Comparatively, The Devil's Walk is like The Antlers and Radiohead's Thom Yorke in a backdrop of The Cinematic Orchestra, which may have guided Apparat's taste coming out of his DJ Kicks mix from 2010. A quietly exciting listen.
01 Sweet Unrest
02 Song of Los
03 Black Water
04 Goodbye
05 Candil De La Calle
06 The Soft Voices Die
07 Escape
08 Ash/Black Veil
09 A Bang in the Void
10 Your House Is My World
The hugely prolific producer/multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lee continues his collaborative endeavours on his latest project with equally fruitful film and television songwriter AM on their LP Celestial Electric. Shawn has released several compelling instrumental works with his Ping Pong Orchestra LPs, worked with a wide variety of funk vocalists on Sing a Song and Soul in the Hole, and cover album Hits the Hits, to name but a few of his copious directions. Seeming to be a tribute to 1970s pop, the album succeeds with many of its tracks such as Dark Into Light, Somebody Like You, Lonely Life and even covering Jackie Blue by Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Another good project to file under Shawn Lee's long list of accomplishments.
AM & Shawn Lee - Dark Into Light (Building the track)
AM & Shawn Lee - Somebody Like You (Building the track)
AM & Shawn Lee - Celestial Electric tracklist
1. City Boy
2. Lonely Life
3. Can’t Figure It Out
4. Dark Into Light
5. Different Forces
6. Jackie Blue
7. Somebody Like You
8. Promises Are Never Far From Lies
9. Down The Line
10. The Signal
11. Winter Sun
12. Callahan
Star Slinger has produced two more future-funk masterpieces for 2011 with his EPs Bedroom Joints and Rogue Cho Pa. What was supposed to be simply a beat-sampling, Star Slinger's previous Volume I from 2010 (only $5 from his website) became voluminously overwhelming with clever electronics and chopping with a nouveau trip-hop dance-floor maestro. Star Slinger's newest EPs draw comparisons to a finely blended Dabrye with Cash Candy and the non-prolific sample-mad The Avalanches, and then developed into something entirely fresh. Star Slinger is currently touring this fall at a variety of locations across the globe with Mux Mool, Shigeto and/or Shlohmo. Like it sweet.
Gig Review of Star Slinger and Shigeto at Fortune Sound Club in Vancouver: Sept 29,2011
Fortune Sound Club in Vancouver had their amps set to abusive last night and I feel grief for those not equipped with some sort of ear protection. Mux Mool didn't make it out (he owes me), Shigeto tried hard though played much too long, and Star Slinger had trouble keeping approximately 80 folks entertained with some great material for a very short duration. As Mux Mool was not able to make to Vancouver, Shigeto tried his best to DJ for a while, then he moved into his own work, which was beset by traveling back and forth to his drum kit, reminding me of Trans Am blending of electronics and edgy rock band of 20 years ago. When Star Slinger finally came out, he seemed as though he only wanted to play a few tracks, even though he has amassed a vast collection of dance floor and head-bobbing subculture hits in a very short period of time. I'll still enjoy their recorded works in my living places.
Free Download of Star Slinger's new single Dumbin' with Reggie B
FREE Download of Star Slinger's Baby Mama from Bedroom Joints EP
Click the down arrow below Info at the right of the Soundcloud object Star Slinger - Baby Mama by Star Slinger
FREE Download of Star Slinger's Slow 'n Wet from Bedroom Joints EP
Click the down arrow below Info at the right of the Soundcloud object Star Slinger - Slow 'N' Wet by Star Slinger
FREE Download of Star Slinger's Like I Do from Rogue Cho Pa EP
Click the down arrow below Info at the right of the Soundcloud object Star Slinger - Like I Do by Star Slinger
FREE Download of Star Slinger's Impressionable from Rogue Cho Pa EP
Click the down arrow below Info at the right of the Soundcloud object Star Slinger - Impressionable by Star Slinger
FREE Download of Star Slinger's Rene Storm from Rogue Cho Pa EP
Click the down arrow below Info at the right of the Soundcloud object Star Slinger - Rene Storm by Star Slinger
FREE Download of Star Slinger's Hot Potato from Rogue Cho Pa EP
Click the down arrow below Info at the right of the Soundcloud object Star Slinger - Hot Potato by Star Slinger
FREE Download of Star Slinger's Do It Myself (NSFW) from Rogue Cho Pa EP
Click the down arrow below Info at the right of the Soundcloud object Star Slinger - Do It Myself (NSFW) by Star Slinger
FREE Download of Star Slinger's Baby Mama from Bedroom Joints EP
Click the down arrow below Info at the right of the Soundcloud object Star Slinger - Baby Mama by Star Slinger
FREE Download of Star Slinger's Slow 'n Wet from Bedroom Joints EP
Click the down arrow below Info at the right of the Soundcloud object Star Slinger - Slow 'N' Wet by Star Slinger
FREE Download of Star Slinger's Like I Do from Rogue Cho Pa EP
Click the down arrow below Info at the right of the Soundcloud object Star Slinger - Like I Do by Star Slinger
FREE Download of Star Slinger's Impressionable from Rogue Cho Pa EP
Click the down arrow below Info at the right of the Soundcloud object Star Slinger - Impressionable by Star Slinger
FREE Download of Star Slinger's Rene Storm from Rogue Cho Pa EP
Click the down arrow below Info at the right of the Soundcloud object Star Slinger - Rene Storm by Star Slinger
FREE Download of Star Slinger's Hot Potato from Rogue Cho Pa EP
Click the down arrow below Info at the right of the Soundcloud object Star Slinger - Hot Potato by Star Slinger
FREE Download of Star Slinger's Do It Myself (NSFW) from Rogue Cho Pa EP
Click the down arrow below Info at the right of the Soundcloud object Star Slinger - Do It Myself (NSFW) by Star Slinger
Another recently refreshing album is Chicago's Gypsyblood whose Cold in the Guestway brings memories of the beautifully messy Pixies, discordant pioneers Fugazi with the heavy feedback of San Diego's Crocodiles. A raucously dark snd enjoyable listen. It's available now in a pay-what-you-can variety from the Bandcamp link below.
1. Take Your Picture
2. In Our Blood
3. 2-4-6 InTheDark
4. A Song Called Take 2
5. Superstition
6. Dirty Thieves
7. Man Of States
8. When I Was A Boy
9. My R.K.O. Is M.I.A.
10. Endless Summer
11. Hey Gloria
12. Bright Futures
Ladytron celebrate a decade of recorded material with their newly released album Gravity the Seducer. On this LP, their first proper full-length since 2008's comparatively aggressive Velocifero, the quartet calmly present this sexy ode to what keeps humanity firmly affixed to the Earth and sea. The dark synths of Gary Numan and Human League's positive spirit are plainly evident, though Ladytron move away from their more anxious tendencies they deployed on Velocifero and Witching Hour and embrace the patient simplicity of 604. Three instrumental tracks, Ritual, Moon Palace, Aces High, break the album into a quasi-theatrical piece that makes the LP feel more assured of longevity for the ladies and gentlemen of Ladytron. A welcome renewal.
FREE DOWNLOAD of Ladytron - Ace of Hz
(click down arrow to the right of the Soundcloud pane directly below INFO) Ladytron, "Ace of Hz" by selftitledmag
FREE DOWNLOAD of Ace of Hz (Tiesto Mix) from Ladytron
(click down arrow to the right of the Soundcloud pane directly below INFO) Ladytron - Ace Of Hz (Tiesto Remix) by 13high
FREE DOWNLOAD of WHITE ELEPHANT (LADYTRON) - FIGO RMX
(click down arrow to the right of the Soundcloud pane directly below INFO) WHITE ELEPHANT (LADYTRON) - FIGO RMX by FIGO
FREE DOWNLOAD of ladytron-evil(ewan pearson remix)
(click down arrow to the right of the Soundcloud pane directly below INFO) ladytron-evil(ewan pearson remix) by memos2
FREE DOWNLOAD of Ladytron - Seventeen (WLG remix)
(click down arrow to the right of the Soundcloud pane directly below INFO) Ladytron - Seventeen (WLG remix) by WLG
FREE DOWNLOAD of Playgirl from Ladytron's first album 604
(click down arrow to the right of the Soundcloud pane directly below INFO) Ladytron - Playgirl [2001] by nettwerkmusicgroup
