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PLAYING OUT LOUD!
REVIEWS
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CD Album Reviews added throughout the month. Watch
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CD Single Reviews
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BY MARTIN SIRL
Cease And Desist by Brakes
For me, Brakes’ Beatific Visions was one of the more interesting albums to
emerge in 2006, and this single continues the good work in fine style. Short and
to the point, Cease And Desist evokes memories of all the best singles from the
punk era, yet still has very much of modern-day feel to it. Frankly I defy
anyone under the age of eighty not to at least attempt to pogo to this track
which picks you up, swings you around, then dumps you on your backside long
before there’s the slightest chance of your becoming bored with the whole
experience. Filthy, punky, irreverent and, all in all, pretty darn good.
Sister Rosetta (Capture The Spirit) by The Noisettes
Two years of gigging around the pubs and clubs of London has made The Noisettes
into a fairly tight outfit so it almost seems mean to criticise this song, which
is catchy and performed here with a fair amount of gusto. But what lets it down
are Shingai Shoniwa’s vocals: a high-pitched warble that’s interesting for
around thirty seconds but soon after becomes just plain annoying, placing a
millstone around the neck of a song that ultimately doesn’t quite have the
strength to carry it. One for the bargain bins, I think.
Poisonous Emblem by The KBC
Promising medium-paced dance from Preston-based 3-piece. It’s nice to hear a
track with a trimmed-down production: a refreshing contrast to the kitchen-sink
layering adopted by many of The KBC’s contemporaries. Lyrically amusingly and
catchy to the point of mild hypnosis, Poisonous Emblem is a good song well
played, and lead singer James Mulholland certainly has a voice sweet enough to
carry the whole thing off. Remember the name; just like their local football
team KBC are most definitely a band on the up.
Roots by Show Of Hands
Sublime slice of folk-rock from the duo voted 2006’s Greatest Devonians. Partly
autobiographical and partly a paean to our musical heritage, this is crossover
music at its best which borrows in equal doses from both sources to create
something unique and wonderful. Phil Beer provides a rich fiddle-laden backdrop
over which Steve Knightley’s gritty vocals convey a gruesome indictment of
modern-day Britain. Pubs where no-one sings at all, Australian soaps and English
guys in baseball caps? Why, it’s almost a national anthem for the anti-chav
brigade. If there was any justice in the world people will rush out and buy this
in droves, if only to add some much needed variety to today’s Top 40. And the
fact that they won’t merely proves the point of the song.
I Can’t Stop This Feeling I’ve Got by Razorlight
An OK but strangely unsatisfying follow-up to America that starts brightly but
ultimately heads nowhere. Razorlight are technically superb and in singer Johnny
Borrell are the possessors of one the most distinctive voices around. But I
Can’t Stop somehow leaves the listener with an underlying sense that you’ve
heard it all somewhere before, only you just can’t quite think where.
Pieces Of The People We Love by The Rapture
This is without doubt the best track from the album of the same name and shows
the New York boys at their irresistible best. Catchy and hypnotic electro-dance,
with a melody that’s as infectious as bird flu and a backing that owes equally
to the dual influences of eighties New Romanticism and early Stooges. If The
Rapture could only hit these heights every time out their claim to be one of THE
bands of the decade would begin to hold far more water.
Too Late Too Late by Mr Hudson & The Library
Horribly catchy and somehow rather likeable number by former Oxford University
student Mr Hudson and his band. To use the words ‘a male Lily Allen’ sounds like
an insult but that’s just about the best way to describe this contagious mix of
white reggae and hip hop. Whatever secret weapon Ms Allen is using to tap into
the current youth consciousness it seems the enigmatic Mr Hudson might have one
too.
Shout Out Loud by Amos Lee
This offering from EMI’s Amos Lee starts brightly but soon slips into
painful familiarity. Not as soulful as a James Morrison but not as amusing as
Jack Johnson, only those who think that James Blunt is some kind of brooding
genius will see much merit in this kind of standard singer-songwriter fare that
seems to be absolutely everywhere right now. The two most interesting things
about this are Barry Maguire’s presence as producer and a little touch of
Hammond organ towards the end, both of which are nice to see but neither of
which manage to light up a song that actually gets very dull very quickly.
Dancefloor by The Holloways
Anyone who, like me, is ancient enough to remember the sublime Wreckless Eric
might find this strikes a chord. It's amateurish in the best sense of the word,
in which enthusiasm outweighs musicianship and energy beats polish hands down.
Chuck in a half decent song and the result is an enjoyable Arctic Monkeys-style
dance club tale: boy gets girl, boys gets skint, boy gets dumped by mates and
ends up with a long walk home. It's a salutary story neatly told and performed
with oodles of gusto to provide a thoroughly welcome listen.
Let’s Lightning by Pull Tiger Tail
Pull Tiger Tail are a trio of adopted Londoners who have been threatening a
breakthrough for the last 18 months. And while Let’s Lightning is unlikely to
break though anything this is still a decent pop song which is skilfully
performed and smartly produced. Pull Tiger Tail are yet another in a rapidly
swelling group of bands that would happily describe themselves as electro-pop
and, while not to everyone’s taste, they will no doubt gain more fans than they
lose with this release. However, what this lacks is that certain something that
shoves the listener from the ‘nod head in approval’ stage to the ‘yeah, I’m
going to put my hand in my pocket and actually buy a copy’ stage. Maybe next
time.
All The Love In Yours Hands by Thirteen Senses
I was looking forward to hearing this, the first release from Thirteen Senses’
forthcoming second album, Contact, and it on initial plays is doesn’t
disappoint. As promised, the Penzance boys have introduced a harder edge into
their music that should pay dividends both in terms record sales and in their
electric live act. All The Love is a thrilling guitar-led anthem of a song which
stops as abruptly as it starts, leaving us craving more. Earlier comparisons
with The Thrills and Keane will shortly become redundant as Thirteen Senses
begin to hone a sound to which they can rightly claim sole (and proud)
ownership.
Poison Letter by Le Reno Amps
Scots Le Reno Amps return with another offering from the So For Your Thrills CD.
Airily countryfied guitar-based pop, and featuring the kind of pointed ‘down
with love’ lyrics of which Edwyn Collins would proud, Poison Letter offers
plenty to appeal to those who have not already invested in a copy of the
aforementioned album. I have to say there is something about the singer’s voice
that can become slightly irritating, but I won’t hold that against what is after
all a decent enough song.
Pablo At The Park by Aeon Spoke
Atmospheric, folk-tinged ballad which threatens to be great without ever quite
making it. I did like this, not least because of the wonderfully understated
violin which makes a welcome appearance here, and because of some intricate
acoustic guitar work which suggests that there is enough talent resting in the
hands of the LA duo to make them a force to be reckoned with in years to come.
They’re not there yet, but for now this is a very good start.
Gaunt/Plan A by Letters And Colours
Tonight, Matthew, I'm going to be Robert Smith... This is eighties-inspired
electro pop in the style of The Cure and Heaven 17. Dark, brooding, minimalist,
but sadly quite dull I regret to report that this actually sounds much more like
a hastily assembled tribute act than like a band seriously looking to add
anything new to the sound which has clearly influenced them big time. Best
avoided I think.
No Ordinary Girl by Marie Miller
Maria Miller is a London-based Copenhagen girl who specialises in the kind of
pop/rock/dance fusion once favoured by fellow Scandinavians Roxette. Burdened by
blonde good looks Miller might prematurely be written off as simply a pretty
face, which would be unfair as she is clearly a talented lass with a good voice.
However, for now it’s a little hard to see which particular vein Miller is
attempting to tap into and while this is interesting at the start it never quite
reaches the level that one might describe as enjoyable.
Golden Boy by Rob McCulloch
Any CD That comes disguised as a 1964 Lambretta tax disc must surely have
something going for it and the Bolton-based singer-songwriter, who clearly has
the eye for a tune, doesn't disappoint. Lightweight yet strangely addictive
indie pop with a heavy sixties feel, not unlike the kind of stuff peddled by the
Housemartins in the eighties. By all accounts the downloads have been mounting
up for McCulloch, and Golden Boy will no doubt offer still more ammunition to
those tipping the 21-year old likely lad for future pop stardom.
Listen Up by Gossip
Combining UK punk sensibilities with American soul Gossip have developed a sound
that is substantially different from anything that’s gone before. Listen Up is
catchy, hypnotic and memorable. Funky without being cliched, punky without being
repellant, this is a most splendid follow-up to the recent Top 10 hit Standing
In The Way Of Control, and will quickly cut short any suggestions that the
Olympia, Washington 3-piece might be nothing more than one-hit wonders.
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