Robyn G Shiels - A Lifetime of Midnights (No Dancing Records) 14/12/2005

Billed as "possibly the most bleak album EVER to come out of Belfast", Shiels' album features collaborations from the Desert Hearts and Therapy?'s Michael McKeegan.

T: Surely it would have been better to leave it as "possibly the most bleak album EVER", rather than to have "to come out of Belfast" on the end? I mean, I could say that the last song I wrote was the most emotional song ever recorded by someone who was born in Wellingborough and moved to Leicester when they were ten. Maybe I WILL start saying that - hey, some recognition at last! Back to the record though, and although the lyrics are quite stimulating, I CAN feel myself tying a virtual noose just above my head. Then again, maybe that just re-iterates what the record company are saying. Are you going to join my in my cyberhanging?

N: This is actually one of the most bleakly beautiful works I have heard. Musically a "soundgarden" and seafront docks were painted in monotone, although this melodic beauty was more vivid in colour against the scene set. Its pace and Robyn's lyric gave this new life and a guitar to die for.

T: You evidently like this a LOT more than I do. It doesn't excite me at all I'm afraid, and it was a huge relief when there was a later track that DIDN'T feel like it was giving me a headache. It sounded like someone with a monotone voice standing next to me and making an annoying buzzing noise for half an hour.

N: A headache! This is beautiful! What are you talking about? Shall we agree to differ? 7/10 (Tone under protest at this mark)

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Jim Noir – Tower of Love (My Dad Recordings) 05/12/2005

A Mancunian suburb is the unlikely beginnings for an artist who creates music with all the zest and lushness of a sun-drenched Californian boulevard. But from simple beginnings at school talent shows and holiday camps, Jim’s talent has been nurtured helped by school-hood friend Batfinks, and this their debut LP is a perfect introduction to a style of music that most thought had died out in the 60’s.

There are noticeable similarities to Super Furry Animals, the Beach Boys and Badly Drawn Boy, as well as others, with the songs always delivered in an unthreatening nonchalant style, dripping with floaty lusciousness and simplicity.

This is an extreme easy listening album, reviving retro guitar riffs, organ synths and casual vocal harmonies reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel. Turbulent Weather, A Quiet Man and Eanie Meany are particularly blissful songs. Listen to this LP for a taste of tranquillity. 9/10

David Elphick

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Pellumair - Summer Storm (Tugboats Records) 14/11/2005

Like a shot of amphetamine into a major artery comes the searing rush of textured guitars, exactly 38 seconds after this work commences its passage. This Southampton reared 2-peice (Jaymie Caplen and Tom Stanton), friends and it is said, co-conspirators from the tender age of seventeen, strike a pose on this their debut album that has all the wonder and majesty of My Bloody Valentine performing The Cocteau Twins in the dead of night.

Among the many highlights on this album are the gloriously silky rich "Lucy" whose passion and pace tell a story of a lost love. It says it all in the opening line - "This is the last feelng I can possibily spend on you" and in combination with a riding rhythm offered by guitars that constantly support the song, this is a winner in my 'ears'. In complete juxtaposition, the penultimate track - "Postcards" offers the flip side to this earlier moment, with words that run; "Crossed out. Lost out. Fall in to you." which to me runs like a blissed out moment, once offered by Reading's Chapterhouse, although this time a melding of both 'Whirlpool' and 'Blood Music' is heard.

Alright so from what I have said so far suggests that these guy's are writing songs that might be considered to follow the 'Shoegazing' movement. However you feel about adopting this style in your musical diet, this really is some of the best I have heard. The album is a joy to listen to, I have tried it both in my car and home stereo, and although the former didn't wholly disappoint, to fully appreciate all that this album offers, true hi-fi listening will be appreciated. Whether this be through speakers or the intimacy of a personal stereo, "Summer Storm" is truely recommended (he say's with the swish of a floppy fringe) - I don't care I'm in love! 10/10

Nick James

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Babyshambles - Down In Albion (Rough Trade) 14/11/2005

An album that I think would have to gain the prize for one of the most eagerly anticipated albums of 2005.

T: Funny this - it bursts in remarkably like The Stray Cats with a kind of rockabilly bassline on "La Belle et le Bete", before the already well known "Fuck Forever" knocks things down a peg or two. One thing I've noticed about Pete Doherty's current ensemble is that, while they lack the killer hooks that The Libertines had, it's difficult not to warm to them at least a little bit. Of course, tabloids will ignore the music as usual though and just focus on his drug problem again. Pity.

N: I was none more interested to hear the fruits of Doherty's labouring this time around, and I banged this into the car stereo hastily so as not to miss a moment. Although I was suitably impressed starting out, I did find this initial impression was tempered slightly by the fact that the album did become a little samey the further it progressed. It wasn't that it was bad by any stretch of the imagination. It's jsut that I seemed to have walked into a haze filled room where the music just seemed to slip past rather than make any impact.

T: I totally agree with you on this one. I rarely put music on as "background noise", but to be fair, that's just what most of this album is. You can't really dislike it as such, but it never really grabs you or demands many further listens. 6/10

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Kate Bush - Aerial (EMI) 07/11/2005

The long awaited album release from the queen of wierd, Kate Bush dosen't just bring us an album, but two in the form of this double long player - featuring disc 1; "Sea Of Honey" and disc 2; "Sky Of Honey", but was the elongated wait worthwhile? Well surely this was a question that was asked when the formation of this project was released and I have the pleasure in announcing that most assuredly it was. From the opening track and recent single release "King Of The Mountain", it's fingers touch the listener with its magic, perhaps this was the aim, to familarise the listener by presenting something they would be already accepting of before diving them deep into the album's passages.

And is this album strange, most certainly! Track 4; "Mrs Bartolozzi" comes in with Kate singing about her experiences of a washing day, cleaning jeans, shirts and then hanging them out to dry. I think only this artist could get away with something like this and I soon warmed to this tale centred around the central character - a washing machine! But accepting these parts to Kate's character is easy, after all it's not the first and won't hopefully be the last, this is something that makes her so special.

I love this album, from the very first time I unwrapped it from its plastic film, this bore the feel of a bygone era. It's gatefold packaging that houses the two CD's and booklet; reassuring, the artwork; although very abstract held a magic. As does the musical arrangement that was really not of this century and felt it might be more at home 30 years ago, but feeling fitting played today - and being as such will probably stand the tests of time. On the second disc, "The Painter's Tale" had me running for the enclosed booklet, "have you guessed who it is yet?" sure enough Rolf Harris had made a guest appearance, how cool is that? And throughout this album, with lyrics that read like an absorbing book, the whole feel screams quality.

Kate has had her hand at the controls from the start in the making of this record, self produced, thids is another reason I think the love that has gone into its making is quite clear. Absolute genius. 10/10

Nick James

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The Crimea – Tragedy Rocks (Warner Bros) 07/11/2005

Now, I don’t give out “10” ratings willy-nilly, but anyone who doesn’t think this album is astonishing is clearly rabidly barking mad.

Beginning with the symphonic tinkling piano intro of “White Russian Galaxy”, where we find Davey McManus and co sounding rather like the Eels, “Tragedy Rocks” is a fascinating, frequently uplifting and utterly brilliant album all the way through.

Flitting between the sound of Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Bright Eyes and Violent Femmes at regular intervals, it occurred to me that every single one of these tracks could also have been written by Luke Haines of The Auteurs fame. Now, this is most certainly not a bad thing, as “New Wave” has been one of my top 30 favourite albums for a long, long time now, and there’s every chance that this album could end up in there somewhere in the not too distant future.

Compelling, majestic, refreshing, outstanding, inspirational – none of these words are powerful enough to describe such an enriching album as this one. From the cheerful lilt of “Lottery Winners on Acid” through the darker waters of “Opposite Ends” and former John Peel Festive 50 chartee “Baby Boom”, as well as ridiculously catchy tunes like “Girl Just Died” and “Gazillions of Violins”, this album is just absolutely phenomenal. One of the few records of the year, in fact, that’s capable of competing with the Brakes’ “Give Blood” album, and that’s no mean feat. 10/10

Tone E

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Blondie - Greatest Hits CD/DVD -Sight & Sound (EMI Catalogue) 07/11/2005

T: Pfft. Look at the bunch of no-hopers on the cover of this CD. Like THEY'RE going to have any hit records...

N: For me, this holds memories of a Sunday evening sat huddled over my dad's tape recorder, my finger on pause, selecting the best tracks from a vibrant chart, and Blondie were certainly always one of those.

T: And then you watched the videos again when you were in your early teens with your finger on the remote and your other hand...

N: Now that's enough of that!

T: Yes well, anyway, of course you already know the vast majority of these tracks - each one an illuminory classic - and there are a few more recent additionss including the bizarre melding together of "Rapture" with the Doors' "Riders on the Storm" that has become "Rapture Riders". The whole thing comes complete with a marvellous DVD full of almost all of the accompanying promotional videos from throughout their career. Top stuff.

N: Some may look at this as mercilessly raping an artist's catalogue in order to rehash music that has long passed its sell by date, but in OUR opinion is a very valid time spent lovingly creating this compilation, and in such a value of formats. Hurrah for technology! And MORE we say! 10/10

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Robbie Williams - Intensive Care (EMI) 24/10/2005

To be honest I'm uncertain exactly how to number this latest release from Robbie. Is it seven? But I'm not sure how I feel about including the "Live at Knebworth" affair and Covers albums, but what the heck from Take That to a solo career that, well we all know the story. What I would say about this album is it is perhaps "all things to all -men", and as such doesn't make me tingle when I listen, but maybe I just don't fullfil the demographic. Yes it's undoubtably a good album, but perhaps doesn't contain the 'wow' of earlier outings, in fact I'd consider this a little reserved and perhaps a 'tad' over-produced.

Mr Williams does prove himself once again to be a 'master songsmith', utilising clever word play in his compositions, but really "Here I stand, victorius, the only man who man you cum"! I'd consider the regeae tinged "Tripping" as my consiered highlight, the composition being just little different. So to sum up, maybe nothing less than I would've expected, to be frank it leaves me slightly tepid and I'm not exactly sure why it is I'm not feeling the passion and power of the performer. Certainly not his best, Robbie's just treading water. 4/10

Nick James

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Boards of Canada – The Campfire Headphase (Warp Recordings) 17/10/2005

Boards of Canada -brothers Mike and Marcus- have been making electronic music together much of their lives. This, their eagerly anticipated 3rd album takes a slightly more straightforward route, with no use of vocals, but still utilising beautiful swaying melodies and awe inspiring synths the whole way through.

The core of the album is extreme tranquillity, with uplifting overtones that manage to capture the feeling of a warm summers breeze or a breathtaking view and put it into placid but powerful music, though some may find it less experimental and edgy than Geogaddi.

With this album the Boards of Canada have instantly become one of my chillout favourites, using simple melody repetition, subtle but evocative electronica, atmospheric guitars and funky beats, makes this an inspired album with a powerful ambience. 9/10

David Elphick

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Liz Phair - Somebody's Miracle (Capitol) 04/10/2005

N: My "relationship" with this artist has been a long and enriching one, kicking off with her fantastic reworking of "Chopsticks", a song whose lyrics were certainly on the cusp (do hunt out this song of you're unfamiliar). Later albums may have become a little less bitter but Liz has always remained a consistent artist - her storytelling a rare talent, and one in which you feel connected with the eponymous protagonist. This again might appear less bitter and a little - only a little mind - venturing into Sheryl Crow territory. It's missing the Parental Advisory label that her last few albums have sported, but that said, is an enjoyable listen and would most certainly urge reader to hunt out any of this artist's quite vast catalogue - see link below. This girl's a winner in any shade.

T: Her latest stuff's not a million miles away from local Leicester songstress Emma Chamberlain, although I actually prefer the latter's work than Ms. Phair's present output. I think what I'm saying is that I prefer Liz's playful teenager as a bedfellow than her mature, serious side. Not that I'm advocating sleeping with teenage girls, you understand! Plus the badly strummed acoustic guitar over track 4 was quite horrendous...

N: That'll be me then (puts down acoustic guitar). 7/10

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