Henrik - Faction (Domino) 20/10/2008

T: A promising intro in the shape of the minimalist "Hey Ho!" is alarmingly followed by "Any Old Day", which sounds like the Kooks. In fact, much of this album sounds like the latter band after an hour or so with a bong.

N: I'm pleasantly warmed by the fact Henrik is attempting to mix styles. Sadly, not enough, and this album just becomes a rather long and drawn out process.

T: I'm going to vehemently disagree with you. Oh hang on, no I'm not.

N: If marketed as a chillout album, it might just pass, but possibly the styles he has chosen to mix just go together like water and oil?

T: So you think he's a car?

N: Well admittedly, you do put water in the radiator, and oil in the engine, but you tend not to mix the two.

T: You know that application you were going to send off to be a contestant on Blind Date? I'd screw it up if I were you. 6/10

web site - myspace

Bonnie "Prince" Billy With Harem Scarem and Alex Neilson - Is It The Sea? (BBC/Domino) 20/10/2008

N: I know how you appreciate a good live album - like you want to be made aware of the fact you weren't there, and now catch up. I know how you like to listen to these albums - in the littlest room in the house, with the lights switched off and with a torch offering the only source of light. Then you like to invite the neighbours around to get that crushing feeling of the surge of the audience.

T: That's just the girl over the road. Anyway, onto the music and I am pleasantly surprised. I am quite fond of the prince, and it is thoroughly reassuring that his songs - instead of losing their intensity in a live arena - become doubly effective and actually very, very rousing. Who'd have thought it? A live album that I like very, very much.

N: Apparently from a BBC recording, this has made the journey extremely well, and rather than the performance losing its impact, I think readers can tell from your comments that this represents a good source recording. 8/10

web site - myspace

Losing Sun - Perspective (GMF Records) 20/10/2008

N: A band who perhaps can afford the luxury of making their work available for free download prior to its physical release, as for a whole month "Perpective" was made available on the band's website for the princely sum of nowt, nothing, zero pennies. Well it's one way of getting the word out and one more artists are now using as their marketing tool.

T: That's probably a good thing, as I can't see myself paying for it, being, as it is, like a slightly less angry Linkin Park. The sound is big and bold, but severely overproduced. Nothing new here at all, but like they give a shit about that.

N: I don't know, this album is more of a rock album in the traditional sense, with vocals that are clearly legible and one where the rants of Lucifer are played down. Certainly the music is like a bag of overripe fruit, and one where the kickdrum is a major player, taking on not just the house and kids but the family cat as well. 7/10

web site - myspace

Nigel of Bermondsey - Nigel of Bermondsey (Pure Mint Recordings) 20/10/2008

N: I last wrote about this guy in this month's very issue, when I listened to his single "Overload" that was released at the backend of last month (oops). I was impressed by this artist's ability as a songwriter, to write engaging tunes, that I felt were accessible to his audience and that took some thought into interpreting their meaning. So now comes the feature presentation and the eponymous album. What else to say? That this artist has the knack of producing poppy songs with meat on their chords. Think Stephen Duffy, think music circa 1980's, think an unappreciated artist...

T: Come on now, let's not go making plans for Nigel to become a chart act. It's probably unlikely, despite his sweeping arrangements and easily accessible compositions. Those guitars that accompany opening track "We Are Strangers" are very reminiscent of "Take It Easy On Me" by A House, whereas "Man Of My Word" has Lennon oozing through its veins. If Animal Collective decided to do something extremely commercial, it would probably sound like this.

N: I find it almost unnerving that we've slipped into this album with relative ease.

T: Why?

N: Because this artist used to be in Gay Dad.

T: Really?

N: Yep. And like a sniper's bullet, his magic has been realised out of what appeared to be nowhere.

T: Are you sure it was Gay Dad? I mean, this is good...

N: And that's so hard to believe? I mean, look at Robbie Williams.

T: Hmmm...I think this is where we'll agree to differ...

N: Did you not get the irony?

T: Well you obviously didn't, you crumpled shirted tosser.

N: Ooh, you bitch!

T: Let's stop now. This is starting to sound like an episode of "Little Britain". Or should that be every episode?

N: Probably, but I was going for an "Are You Being Served", like you don't remember. 8/10

web site - myspace

Max Tundra - Parallax Error Beheads You (Domino) 13/10/2008

T: Great title for an album, and bizarrely, the lead track starts like Jet Set Zombies' eponymous song...

N: Like anybody is going to have heard of your old school band...

T: Well YOU have...

N: Yes, but I know you, now stop with that automasturbation, no one's impressed!

T: I used to be able to reach the ceiling...

N: But now you're in your late thirties and it has trouble finding the exit.

T: Shhh! Don't tell all our female nineteen year old readers that. Obviously I look like...er...Johnny Depp. Yeah, that's it. Don't shatter their illusions.

N: But I might have to shatter yours. Anyway about the album, Max Tundra pedals retro-electronica. It's like a party is constantly going on inside his head.

T: He sounds like Howard Jones as produced by Quincy Jones.

N: ... and Scritti Politti, it is Green Gartside all over, like the turning of the century never happened, in fact like the Nineties never happened come to that.

T: Except for the drugs.

N: Well who could forget the drugs, Tone? Pro+ really was worth the come down the following morning.

T: Well you know all about pros don't you?

N: Yes, the pros of learning to drive, the pros of eating sensibly, the pros of great music, the pros of umm, where was I?

T: Jeffrey, your trifle is ready. 7/10

web site - myspace

Eugene McGuinness - Eugene McGuinness (Domino) 13/10/2008

N: With an almost opening line, "Your little sister's very pretty..." or was that sexy? (I now feel smutty and they're not even my thoughts!) Anyway, back on track and this is a lovely little number, with shades of The Kinks or Neil Hannon in its lines. Well written and composed, this is a wonderful display of how strong a songwriter Eugene actually is, but with Tone constantly dropping into these songs anothers words, just how accessible his work in fact is.

T: Part Morrissey, part Arcade Fire, and part Ray Davies as previously noted, McGuinness is without doubt a talented artist and yes, you can indeed sing the words to many classic pop songs of yesteryear, creating a completely different effect and not actually diminishing the commercial sensibilities of those former hits at all. That's how easy it is to embrace. If I had a set of gold stars, he could have at least one of them.

N: For example, when it comes to "Those Old Black And White Movies Were True", try substituting the words of Dead Or Alive's "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" and you will find it fits like a glove...

T: ...but not as much as the following track, "Nightshift" fits... Lionel Richie's "Hello"! Seriously, try it, you'll wonder why you ever hated that song. 9/10

You Tube - myspace

Nitin Sawhney - London Undersound (Cooking Vinyl) 13/10/2008

T: "Days Of Fire", which begins this album, is surely one of the most poignant pieces of work - of art, even - that has been put out this decade. "London Undersound" centres around the tragic London bombings that took place on July 7th three years ago, and the subsequent change in reactions and attitudes of the capital's residents. A collaboration with Sawnhey's friend Natty - who was there to witness the turmoil on that notorious day and was again present at the much publicised shooting of the unfortunate Brazilian man Charles De Menezes - Natty also contributing vocally on this album, is enough to make the tears well up. A deep rooted factor in the music produced here is a willingness to tolerate, and to work as well as live together with whoever makes up the social stratagem in your immediate vicinity, but always, always with an aching, intrepid fear hovering just below the surface.

N: The aforementioned first track on this album has the unfortunate effect of making all that follows pale in comparison. It's like watching , at times, a very "thin" movie, but there are others when Nitin's skill at composition does shine through, both rhythmically and melodically. This album is one of 2008's strongest documents, one that tells of both the unease and racial bigotry sometimes displayed toward certain minorities. 9/10

web site - myspace

The Datsuns - Human Error (Cooking Vinyl) 06/10/2008

T: Bit of a funny one this, as The Datsuns mix some of thier best rockouts with two or three very throwaway tunes, yet at the same time choose to include two of the best songs recorded by ANYONE this year, in the shape of "Eye Of The Needle" and "Somebody Better", the latter of which is like a "Tomorrow Never Knows" for the Wii generation. Thankfully, the great outweights the average considerably and this makes "Human Error" a more than worthwhile listen.

N: Actually my least favourite grandma had a Datsun.

T: Fascinating Nick.

N: Filled with a collection of great melodies and even greater riffs, this album is one that sneaks up behind you and gives you a wedgie, then proceeding to fall about laughing, before buying you a pint at the bar just to show there was no hard feelings. You find it difficult to walk, but accept all the same. 8/10

web site - myspace

P.O.D. - When Angels & Serpents Dance (Cooking Vinyl) 06/10/2008

T: Just sit there for a minute and contemplate how annoying Nickelback are. Now hold that thought. Now imagine if there could possibly exist a band that would actually be five times MORE annoying if you heard them enough. I know, it's painful isn't it? Now, you'll have to trust me here. I'm actually saving you from eating the stale biscuits, and even more importantly, I'm stopping you being a complete twat.

N: They're building at the end of the road, and they've been using a piledriver when constructing the foundations. Perhaps it might have been wise to place this album in the hole. Not good, uncertain of its direction, and still with the ability of the schoolyard.

T: I'm not a violent man, but if you'd disagreed with me there Nick, I would have had to kill you.

N: Fair enough. I think I would have encouraged you. 1/10

web site - myspace

The Vines - Melodia (Cooking Vinyl) 06/10/2008

T: Now on their fourth album (doesn't time fly?), The Vines have proved that you don't necessarily need to give yourself a makeover every time you return in order to remain effective. There are some pulsating gems here, and then you have the more restrained numbers like "A.S. III", which veers off in the direction previously taken by the band on "Vision Valley". Foot tappers, drunken pub anthems and fist pumping rockers are here aplenty, and once again the band impress.

N: Kicking off "Melodia" is a place where Daisy Chainsaw collides with Nirvana in the most horrendous musical pileup seen in recent years, but from that, don't take that it is bad, just "bad" in the slang sense. By track three though, all the debris has been cleared up as Primal Scream go into talks with Oasis and end up sounding like The Beatles.

T: No bad thing, surely. Anyway, stop rubbernecking. I want to get by. 8/10

web site - myspace

drill - The Last Taboo Of America (Saturate) 06/10/2008

N: From the first number, it sounds like they were learning to use the recording gear in the studio. It's hardly a track!

T: I see it as them setting their stall out from the off, after all they've been away for thirteen years, and it's like they're saying to anyone who's bothering to listen "If you can't get your head round this first track for just over one minute, then you can fuck off and not bother with the rest".

N: It's like the old "Why Don't You?" statement of "Why don't you switch off your tv and go and do something more interesting instead?"

T: Indeed, and those with the patience to persevere will be handsomely rewarded with a diverse set of intense hallucinations and vigorous workouts that repeatedly flick your ear until you turn round and pummel your tormentor. Congratulations, you are now one of them.

N: But for those still experiencing difficulty, how about if I throw into the ring a punch bowl of Pink Floyd meets Pixies?

T: I'll have a glass of that. 9/10

web site - myspace

Juana Molina - Un Dia (Domino) 06/10/2008

T: Those of you who are fans of minimalist alt.folk electronica will probably go a bundle on this, as Juana's soothing vocal blends with her pretty ambience.

N: This album is a breathing heartbeat, but one that, at times, can prove difficult to access. Its delicate strains do demand your full attention and are not easy on the casual listener.

T: I would disagree with that. It's hardly likely to have people scratching their heads in confusion, and neither is it going to make them run off screaming for their mummy. Even though you did.

N: I think you may have misunderstood, obviously.

T: Oh, you ran to the bathroom because you needed a number two then did you? And why did you scream "Mummy!"?

N: We were talking about the album. At times, it's barely there, hence my reference to the casual listener, and difficult to access for the same reason. 7/10

web site - myspace

Melody Klyman - Sovereign (Blackwing Records) 06/10/2008

Sick of being "...treated like a product", having been signed to a 'major' early in her career, Canadian born Melody Klyman levitated toward 'Blackwing', a label which I'm told wish to follow in the footsteps of the likes of 4AD & Mute. Listening to this work they're obviously doing something right, for starters Melody doesn't sound like an artist you would fit with the confines of major-dom, she's deliciously strange for one.

Other reports have likened her to Siouxsie Sioux taking in Unkle, or one where Laurie Anderson were to front a "re-invigoated" One Dove, but for me this is Annie Lennox' younger sister, dressed in black and striking a pose not disimilar to that of Shakespear's Sister, Siobhan Fahey. Now from hereon it's perhaps best skirting around the fact Bananarama ever existed! Because this album is like seeing the sunrise at dawn, the cold earth having produced a low mist over the landscape. And as the phoenix that is this album rises from the ashen coles, the feeling that Ms. Klyman may be starting on a spectacular journey is the electicity tingling in your fingertips. 9/10

web site - myspace

Alan Brown/The Great Leap Forward - Finished Unfinished Business (Communications Unique) 01/10/2008

T: The fact that John Peel was a fan of this artist speaks volumes, and you can see the appeal from the outset. Reminds me of late eighties Wire output.

N: But after seveteen years of relative musical inactivity, Alan's Great Leap Forward is hardly that, but a wonderful slice of retro pie. Love this album, it's so accessible.

T: And invigorating, dare I say. Treat it gently and with kindness. If you want uplifting music, look no further than this. 9/10

web site - myspace

Anberlin - New Surrender (Universal Republic Records) 30/09/2008

The fourth album release from American alternative band Anberlin, their first for a major label and as it would appear a long awaited one for fans of the band - if indeed 12 months is a long time? Of the content, not too sure myself, a very polished affair and one I could see fitting well in rock clubs and live arenas, but for me it just seems a little limp wristed and lifeless, where's the passion, the fireworks?

Undoubtedly it does possess a footapping quality that will please young fans and Mondeo man alike, but this is not a rock album, I suggest they reference the music library for tips on how it really should sound. 3/10

web site - myspace

Yo Majesty - Futuristically Speaking (Domino) 29/09/2008

Yo Majesty, where riot girrrl, collides with hip-hop and has a fumble in the cloak room with Lo-Fi. Usually the world of hip-hop is one of materialiam and homophobia, well this misconception ends here, as Yo Majesty's Shunda K and Jwl B jump up and down on this idea, injecting their brand of feminist girl power into the mix. These two militant female rapers have got an axe to grind in songs that would make even the "godfather" of hip hop, DJ Kool Herc blush. The opening number 'Fucked Up' documents what I can only assume to have been an abusive relationship, well you make your own mind up as we are seved the lines"...I don't give a damn what you say, you can knock out my teeth, I don't give a fuck!...", so romantic don't you think, all shouted at their audience and that's the lesser of the lines available. So with the aggression of punk being brought here to the hip-hop stage in what would appear to be a challenge to all comers to take these on. Fight Club, bring it on.

If the listener is still with the record at this point, then "Nightriders" brings what I detect to be the melody that brought us the Hoff and his car, Kit and preceeds "Blame It On The Change", a number that brought to us by this female group, might be about, well I'll leave that to your imagination. By this point I've lost the point lyrically, something not unfamiliar to this genre, but to give this release all that it deserves, the 2 female MC's, Shundak K and Jwl B spent last year hanging out with the likes of producers Basement Jaxx, Radio Clit and Hard Feelings UK among others, so I guess it may be assumed that these girls have studied their craft, taught by the best of teachers. But before I go, what exactly is a "Booty Clap"? Or should I leave that to my imagination.

Having only signed with Domino last year, this is a perfectly respectable release, that explores the genres of rap, soul and sometimes melody filled 'sing', but always in the husk of a hip-hop driven groove. They've been described as "one of the most groundbreaing acts around", something I certainly couldn't argue with. 8/10

myspace

Ste McCabe - Hate Mail (Cherryade) 29/09/2008

Ste McCabe specializes in tunes that fire at his audiences short sharp abrasive measures of sarcastic venom. Borne out of Manchester, it would be easy to reference that of the Buzcocks, but that's exactly where Ste McCabe is starting from. With upfront guitar and a beatbox, Ste rides roughshod over all preconceptions of how queer punk should sound. Those who ever crossed Mr. McCabe in his former life are now hanging their heads in shame, as in his lyrics he would appear to remember all, as he goes at them with a cheese grater, in a musical sense of course. In this, his debut album, where not only do the Buzzcocks meet Soft Cell, but he marks up one for the underdog. Both insanely catchy and well observed. 7/10

myspace

Queen plus Paul Rodgers - The Cosmos Rocks (EMI) 15/09/2008

Oh, Queen without the Queen, I thought as the press release landed on my desk. Thirteen years since the passing of Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor once again take to the studio, but instead of drafting in Rodgers to fill the vocal void, we are told that the 3 have joined forces democratically, sharing credits equally and paying tribute to their legendary frontman Mercury and thanking Deacon and Kosoff. Well you can't make a cake without ALL the right ingredients!

Well that's enough of the small talk, what is this album really like? You've got the picture already that my stance was one of caution, that my thoughts were perhaps that Queen died when the flame that was Freddie Mercury burned out, but pretty soon into this album it became clear that this had not been the case. Like many it might be assumed that I was one of those who had "worshipped at the alter of the pre-Mercury demise Queen", this is not necessarily the case, but would certainly consider myself a purist. Would this ever live up to the heady days of of 'A Night At The Opera' and subsequently 'Bohemian Rhapsody'?

I guess the answer to this question is that the band, having lived these days are now in no mood to try to replicate what could not be replicated. Most assuredly this was a rock 'n' roll album, one where some of the numbers descend into what might only be desribed as self indulgent, whilst certainly showing off the talents of May and co. I decided to view this in the same way as the post-Beatles solo work, with each constantly trying to prove themselves solo, but only with Lennon finding this task an easy one, in the early days at least. Less Queen than I might've expected, but with moments that certainly saw the ghost of what was walking through the bars, this displayed none more so than within the number 'Still Burning', quite apt if you think about it, where May, Taylor and Rodgers prove that they can still '...Rock You'. Whilst during others paying tribute to the likes of Robert Cray and Clapton, as heard in the number 'Voodoo'.

Basically this album does live up to my apathy in some ways, whilst at others failing to achieve the staus that I had hoped for. Without Freddie Mercury though, this album fails to display the drama that the band became famous for, becoming just another collection of songs. Don't misunderstand me when I say this, it is a credible album, if that's what you want, it's just not incredible. It will certainly find an audience, it's just that it is now the morning after the night before and we have a hangover to nurse. 7/10

web site - queenonline - paulrodgers

The Sound Of Animals Fighting - The Ocean And The Sun (Epitaph) 08/09/2008

N: This sounds nothing like animals fighting. I've heard the cats outside my window at 3am having a brawl, and it sounds nothing like this.

T: When are you playing at Jongleurs next? I must have a word with Al Quaeda.

N: I'm sorry, I hope I didn't offend with my guffing. Hold your breath for 30 seconds, maybe it will have dissipated.

T: It's always a bloody silent killer with you as well isn't it? Anyway, enough toilet humour, this is an interesting, atmospheric early morning stroll through deserted tube stations, soundtracked by a gentle alternative backdrop.

N: Rhythmic patterns do at times scream of Levitation, or what followed in their wake, that of Darkstar. An album filled with interesting titles to accompany their brand of musical paranoia with tracks like "Chinese New Year", "Uzbekistan", "Another Leather Lung" and the album's centrepiece, "The Heraldic Beak Of The Manufacturer's Medallion", I mean, what were they smoking when they came up with that? Grandma's socks, no doubt. 8/10

web site - myspace