Jack Butler - Fit The Paradigm (Whimsical) 11/05/2009

T: Wow, this sounds like Robert Smith on a crateful of speed.

N: Umm, well that's left our readers with absolutely nothing from which to draw.

T: Ummm, what about leaving them with the image of Robert Smith on a crateful of speed?

N: I guess that's one image I briefly toyed with, but to no avail, as Robert is now really getting too old to be toying with speed, let alone a crateful. Let me start, Jack Butler, a four piece from Sterling and described as "one of the freshest bands in Scotland" not forgetting to add "at the moment", as they have a hell of a lot of competition here, take Aztec Camera (the most immediate reference), Trash Can Sinatras, or maybe Orange Juice. But one thing's for sure, these guys are not excusing their harking back to post-punk 80's vibe and who could blame them?

T: They sound like a train has crashed through your ceiling and is driving around your walls flashing disco lights while all the nightporters and commuters dive out of the carriages and do little dances around your bed. Which is great when they're nice looking totty but not so good when they're heifers. Most of the time though, they're pretty damn attractive.

N: And this is the over-riding thought this band conjure up?

T: Yep. 9/10

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The Scaramanga Six - Songs Of Prey (Wrath Records) 20/04/2009

T: Well, this was a rather belated arrival to the AD offices, but when the words "Scaramanga Six" peep out at you from the folds of torn brown paper, it's pretty much nailed on that it's going to be a good day. You need not question why, for the mighty Six are a colossus in the eyes of the AD barroom regulars. Indeed, if we drew up a shortlist for "Best band of the decade", the Scaramangas would be one of the first names on the teamsheet. And they hit the back of the net every single time.

N: I always think that the Scaramanga Six is not the most savoury of monikers, but it will come as no surprise that all that doubt soon falls away upon entering any of their work, where melody abound is brought forth and both delivery and composition are immaculate. So no surprise here then that "Songs Of Prey" fails to deviate from this path.

T: Isn't that pretty much what I said?

N: Yes with different words placed in a different order. Is that a problem? It's given me more time to listen to the album.

T: But still not enough time to actually comment on any of the tracks? Shall I start? "I Didn't Get Where I Am" is an absolutely ferocious belter of a song amongst a whole host of golden daffodils. Yes I've gone off track but still, this is yet another superb release from a band we'd expect no less from.

N: Essentialy you've said more or less the same as we both did before! But I think we might be forgiven for becoming slightly tongue tied when such a dish is put before us. It's not just the awesome songs that are delivered with such aggressive attack, but the fact they have taken the time to include numbers like "Song Of Prey #1", a number surely put there with no other reason but to act as a menacing sandwich.

T: And I'm happy to eat the whole lot.

N: You greedy bastard. Oh go on then. 9/10

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Mexican Institute Of Sound - Soy Sauce (Cooking Vinyl) 04/05/2009

N: Mexican Institute Of Sound might well be described as a hard nut to crack, their sonic servings are heavily laced south american scores, with sides of heavy bass and electronica.

T: It's quite a sexy album too, as we've proved by inventing our own dance to the music. Actually that sounds quite queer doesn't it? I should explain that this didn't involve any body contact in any shape or form. It was more like we're spinning imaginary revolving chairs in front of us while stroking an invisible cat behind us. And if anyone has a hit record using this dance, we'll be suing. Anyway, this quite often sounds like stripping music...and no, we haven't tried doing that as well.

N: You were right the first time Tone, your take on this whole album sounded rather suspect and I'd like to disassociate myself with anything you've previously said, unless of course it involves royalties. Ultimately though this is a dance album, in however queer form you should choose to take it. 6/10

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Jon Hopkins - Insides (Double Six Records) 04/05/2009

T: An emotive opening instrumentally, courtesy of the violin, gives way to er...more instrumentals...maybe I should have listened further before I started this review...

N: Alright, it would appear that Jon is exploring new boundaries that might appeal to the 'smoker' - if you get my drift.

T: I'd say it's more of a case of him having been listening to The Future Sound Of London.

N: There's nothing wrong with FSOL, it's just the present sound of London that tends to wear a little, although saying this, somebody will go and remix THAT now.

T: I'm less bothered about the present sound of London wearing a little, than I am about you wearing a little less...

N: You'll be lucky! (not that I want you to be lucky in this context). Although I can see a relevance to these ethereal sounds, as the album builds further and we proceed into this strange landscape, the more I'm taken. Even you twiddling on the guitar becomes less wearing.

T: I'm a little teapot short and stout.

N: Keep taking the pills.

T: If only I had £100 for every time you'd said that over the years.

N: You still haven't taken my advice though.

T: I did once, and I came out in a terrible rash.

N: But that wasn't because of the pills, remember?

T: True, and I smelt terrible for days.

N: So what's new? 8/10

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Castrovalva - Vastrovalva (Brew) 04/05/2009

T: Brand new shock absorbers are required here. This was totally unexpected. Uconventional time signatures set to a heavy backdrop and an album that might be better suited to being the soundtrack to a Rob Zombie film.

N: An album bidding for status of rare obscurity with a limited release of only 500 CDs (sadly it doesn't quite possess the same ring as 500 vinyl pressings). It certainly has that "wall of sound" air about it, not confusing this of course with Phil Spector's. Void of any perceptible lyric, this instead chooses to experiment with the intensity of sound itself.

T: (silence, because Nick stole half of what I was going to say).

N: Oh pick up your rattle!

T: I need this nappy changing when you've got a minute too. 7/10

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The Maccabees - Wall Of Arms (Fiction) 04/05/2009

T: In stark contrast to their debut long player, Maccebees have chosen to open their sophomore effort with the far more downbeat lead off single "Love You Better", so it's going to be interesting to see which direction the rest of the album takes. It would appear, having listened further, that the band have been getting rather familiar with their Arcade Fire albums. Far more polished than before, perhaps elevating them to "bigger venue"status this time around, it's clear that they do at least have the tunes to make that leap forwards relatively painless.

N: An engaging album, but I agree, they've been Googling their Arcade Fire tabs.

T: I think it's a fair effort, but a lot of the tracks on "Wall Of Arms" are much of a muchness. Pretty good is about as far as I would go. 7/10

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Monks - Black Monk Time (Light In The Attics) 20/04/2009 RE-ISSUE

N: Travelling back to a different time, different era and different haircut, but as soon as I had penned this sentiment, and listened further into this album, it becomes clear that many of the sentiments present in the lyrics are those same sentiments that have become reborn today.

T: If you're saying they were ahead of their time, I can only wholeheartedly agree with you.

N: ...and if you're referring to the hippy movement, I think they would feel honoured that you've realised the fact.

T: You have to bear in mind that this album was made in 1966, some ten years before punk was first born on a large scale. This was nothing like ANYBODY was doing in 1966 and it must have been something of a headfuck for anyone who heard this immediately after listening to their, say, Tremeloes records or watching Cliff on Ready Steady Go. That's not to say that this is a totally uncommercial album, as it blends such styles as doo wop, pop, hard rock,garage punk and psychedelia effortlessly and deserves its belated place in any of those "Greatest Album Of The Sixties" polls. 10/10

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