spring hall convert
Well-known member
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Albums Thread - 2016
- Thread starter Theatre of Trees
- Start date
I'd love to have a beer with the great man.
Buzzer
Languidly Clinical
- Oct 1, 2006
- 26,121
Gazebos - 'Die Alone'
A retro very American Garage guitar band who sound like they broke their teeth covering B-52 standards. It bobs along at a fair old rate without leaving much of an impression but then again, I've never much cared for the B-52s or that sort of sound so perhaps I'm not the best person to review this album but there is one fantastic stand-out moment and that comes late on in the day with a brilliant cover of 'There Are Worse Things I could Do' from the Grease soundtrack. I've always thought that was one of the weakest songs in the film but this cover gives it a new lease of life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6XnsAq4jf4
Miranda Lee Richards - 'Echoes of the Dreamtime'
A straight-forward, middle-of the-road (ish) album that takes in country/folk, brushes with psychedelia and a healthy dollop of blues and pop. Her voice at times reminds me of Sheryl Crow and that's no bad thing. I like this album but thsat's as far as it goes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tviKl9WTBzY
Beacon - 'Escapements'
A futuristic minimalist synth album that sounds as good with headphones as it does as background music. It's been done before and very recently, Barbarossa's last album could almost have been the first half of a double album with this as the second part. I do love indiscriminate use of bleeps, whistles and stacatto drum patterns and this ticks all those boxes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1zkdP84ZL0
Flowers - 'Everybody's dying to meet you'
One for the C86 fans and no mistake. This is a glorious throwback to my late teens and I'm genuinely delighted to hear bands still making this sound. I read a fair few reviews of this album and most have gone for a quite miserly 6/10 with accusations that the band are playing well within themselves but I think it's worthy of at least one more notch up the ladder to a solid 7. Stand-out tracks are 'Bitter Pill' and my own personal favourite 'Ego Loss'. Fans of Frankie Cosmos should check the latter track out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSwdGzVSIAg
We/Or/Me - 'Everything behind us is a Dream'
As I get older, I find acoustic folky music far more of an aural turn-on than possibly any other genre. Now here's a first though - the band's name is the alter ego of an Iranian/Irish singer Bahhaj Taherzadeh. I don't see much Middle Eastern influence though, this is standard solo folk singer with acoustic guitar territory. Someone else described it as Greenwich folk and I think they've hit the nail on the head there. Lots of Dylan influences at the start and as you get deeper into the album it's more Paul Simon. This is my cup of tea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT00UISvHAg
A retro very American Garage guitar band who sound like they broke their teeth covering B-52 standards. It bobs along at a fair old rate without leaving much of an impression but then again, I've never much cared for the B-52s or that sort of sound so perhaps I'm not the best person to review this album but there is one fantastic stand-out moment and that comes late on in the day with a brilliant cover of 'There Are Worse Things I could Do' from the Grease soundtrack. I've always thought that was one of the weakest songs in the film but this cover gives it a new lease of life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6XnsAq4jf4
Miranda Lee Richards - 'Echoes of the Dreamtime'
A straight-forward, middle-of the-road (ish) album that takes in country/folk, brushes with psychedelia and a healthy dollop of blues and pop. Her voice at times reminds me of Sheryl Crow and that's no bad thing. I like this album but thsat's as far as it goes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tviKl9WTBzY
Beacon - 'Escapements'
A futuristic minimalist synth album that sounds as good with headphones as it does as background music. It's been done before and very recently, Barbarossa's last album could almost have been the first half of a double album with this as the second part. I do love indiscriminate use of bleeps, whistles and stacatto drum patterns and this ticks all those boxes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1zkdP84ZL0
Flowers - 'Everybody's dying to meet you'
One for the C86 fans and no mistake. This is a glorious throwback to my late teens and I'm genuinely delighted to hear bands still making this sound. I read a fair few reviews of this album and most have gone for a quite miserly 6/10 with accusations that the band are playing well within themselves but I think it's worthy of at least one more notch up the ladder to a solid 7. Stand-out tracks are 'Bitter Pill' and my own personal favourite 'Ego Loss'. Fans of Frankie Cosmos should check the latter track out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSwdGzVSIAg
We/Or/Me - 'Everything behind us is a Dream'
As I get older, I find acoustic folky music far more of an aural turn-on than possibly any other genre. Now here's a first though - the band's name is the alter ego of an Iranian/Irish singer Bahhaj Taherzadeh. I don't see much Middle Eastern influence though, this is standard solo folk singer with acoustic guitar territory. Someone else described it as Greenwich folk and I think they've hit the nail on the head there. Lots of Dylan influences at the start and as you get deeper into the album it's more Paul Simon. This is my cup of tea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT00UISvHAg
Buzzer
Languidly Clinical
- Oct 1, 2006
- 26,121
...part two:
Tin Toy Cars - 'Falling, Rust & Bones'
Another Americana band that I will definitely be recommending. It's hard to believe that this is a debut album, they sound very tight and there's a languidness to the album that made me think they'd been around for a fair old bit. They mix it up too from roots folk 'Rapture and Hell' to a vaudeville-esque ' Do Everything You can Before You're Dead'. The latter is a brilliant sing-a-long record that will get stuck in your head for days.
(sadly I can't find a stream anywhere of their music)
Feels - 'Feels'
All-female grunge-pop band. This was produced by Ty Segall so comes with a certain pedigree already even though it's a debut album. Another solid 7/10 for me, they do like to mix it up and this LP could never be accused of being one-paced. My favourite track is probably 'Tell Me'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44l9ScSFODM
The Prettiots - 'Fun Cool'
Ah, one of those albums that just stands out from the crowd and gets people talking about it. Courtney Barnett's album last year was a good example and there are similarities between that and this. The Prettiots are another all-girl band, the songs are superficially light and poppy but betray a dark humour and the songs are story-driven and often on this album, autobiographical. 'Boys (That I Dated In Highschool)' is as good as anything you'll hear this year. I love the attitude that comes across on this album - woe betide the producer/record company or TV show that tries to patronise this band. I don't think they'll stand for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfol9YlSvPc
Lucinda Williams - 'The Ghosts of Highway 20'
The slower, grittier, 3a.m., woe-is-me' blues has been the male preserve but Lucinda Williams is tearing up the rule book with a remarkable album. At one point she sings "I know all about the pain" and you can believe it. That voice can't be faked and the whole album has a melancholy nature that just blows me away. It's pretty damned good. Check out 'Louisiana Story' and tell me I'm wrong.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjvgXSd-jUo
Luke Cannon - 'Give Me Freedom'
If you like Frank Turner then you will love Luke Cannon. Chicago singer/songwriter who sounds like he could be the world's greatest busker. It's just him and his acoustic guitar and a heap load of great tunes. Some of them sound like they are acoustic versions rather than being the original and occasionally I find this does grate but it's not a reflection on him, I'm just sick to death of TV advertising using that busker sound doing acoustic covers and it's made me jaundiced about the whole genre. Despite this, I'd still recommend this LP especially the first track 'Time' and the title track 'Freedom'. It's not often you get a folky singer/songwriter wish for freedom from a socialist world and shows a certain bravery. Frank Turner got all sorts of nonsensical grief when he (kind of) expressed his political views, I remember our very own Atilla getting unnecessarily hot and bothered about it a few years back. More power to Cannon and Turner's elbow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXzXWYMIzLY
Tin Toy Cars - 'Falling, Rust & Bones'
Another Americana band that I will definitely be recommending. It's hard to believe that this is a debut album, they sound very tight and there's a languidness to the album that made me think they'd been around for a fair old bit. They mix it up too from roots folk 'Rapture and Hell' to a vaudeville-esque ' Do Everything You can Before You're Dead'. The latter is a brilliant sing-a-long record that will get stuck in your head for days.
(sadly I can't find a stream anywhere of their music)
Feels - 'Feels'
All-female grunge-pop band. This was produced by Ty Segall so comes with a certain pedigree already even though it's a debut album. Another solid 7/10 for me, they do like to mix it up and this LP could never be accused of being one-paced. My favourite track is probably 'Tell Me'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44l9ScSFODM
The Prettiots - 'Fun Cool'
Ah, one of those albums that just stands out from the crowd and gets people talking about it. Courtney Barnett's album last year was a good example and there are similarities between that and this. The Prettiots are another all-girl band, the songs are superficially light and poppy but betray a dark humour and the songs are story-driven and often on this album, autobiographical. 'Boys (That I Dated In Highschool)' is as good as anything you'll hear this year. I love the attitude that comes across on this album - woe betide the producer/record company or TV show that tries to patronise this band. I don't think they'll stand for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfol9YlSvPc
Lucinda Williams - 'The Ghosts of Highway 20'
The slower, grittier, 3a.m., woe-is-me' blues has been the male preserve but Lucinda Williams is tearing up the rule book with a remarkable album. At one point she sings "I know all about the pain" and you can believe it. That voice can't be faked and the whole album has a melancholy nature that just blows me away. It's pretty damned good. Check out 'Louisiana Story' and tell me I'm wrong.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjvgXSd-jUo
Luke Cannon - 'Give Me Freedom'
If you like Frank Turner then you will love Luke Cannon. Chicago singer/songwriter who sounds like he could be the world's greatest busker. It's just him and his acoustic guitar and a heap load of great tunes. Some of them sound like they are acoustic versions rather than being the original and occasionally I find this does grate but it's not a reflection on him, I'm just sick to death of TV advertising using that busker sound doing acoustic covers and it's made me jaundiced about the whole genre. Despite this, I'd still recommend this LP especially the first track 'Time' and the title track 'Freedom'. It's not often you get a folky singer/songwriter wish for freedom from a socialist world and shows a certain bravery. Frank Turner got all sorts of nonsensical grief when he (kind of) expressed his political views, I remember our very own Atilla getting unnecessarily hot and bothered about it a few years back. More power to Cannon and Turner's elbow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXzXWYMIzLY
spring hall convert
Well-known member
Hmmm, I reported a few weeks ago that I wasn't mad keen on the first track from the Weatherall record. The rest of the album's a bit iffy as well.
Buzzer
Languidly Clinical
- Oct 1, 2006
- 26,121
Paper Beat Scissors - 'Go On'
Tim Crabtree ex of Burnley and now decamped in Nova Scotia has a new album out under the moniker Paper Beat Scissors. I'm not sure where the name comes from but as soon as I heard the name I was expecting indie guitar rock and I was almost right. Swap folk for rock and you have it spot on. It's cerebral, it's understated with clever guitar play and subtle instrumentation, it's pleasant to listen to but I can't say it's left much of an impression on me. Tracks such as Lawless did pique my interest with their Sigur Ros like harmonies but to be honest after listening to that tune I wanted to listen to Sigur Ros. I'm not much of a live music fan anymore, for one reason or another and I understand that a big part of PBS is watching him perform live to get a better appreciation and so perhaps I'm only getting half the story but on the basis of this I wasn't greatly impressed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hKPqiZWLOs
You can stream the album here: http://paperbeatscissors.bandcamp.com/
Waco Brothers - 'Going Down In History'
A band that often gets mentioned in the same breath as Johnny Cash and a description I disagree with. I'm sure they cite him as an influence but then again any band with any country leanings will necessarily claim the same. What I can say is that they play a frenetic punk/country combination with a political conscience to varying degrees of success. I think it says it all when their best moment on the album is a pub-cover of the Small Faces 'All Or Nothing'.
Stream the album here: https://wacobrothers.bandcamp.com/album/going-down-in-history
Basia Bulat - 'Good Advice'
This is the first album I've heard from the Toronto female singer/songwriter but from doing a bit of background reading it's quite a departure from her indie/folk roots. Her 3 previous albums have been intimate affairs with her on harp and ethereal songs. She's moved into power pop territory with a few anthems thrown in and overall a pretty flat affair. When she briefly departs from the air grabs she does sound good. This track being the best example.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5tswghHDrU
Pinkshinyultrablast - 'Grandfeathered'
Finally, an album that I liked from the current batch of albums. I think this is the best yet from the St Petersburg band, their brand of shoegazing guitars is definitely from the poppier end but like all good shoegaze bands, you can hear the Cocteau twins infulence loud and clear especially in the vocals. It's barely longer than an extended EP, coming in at just 8 tracks but what there is, is quality throughout. Stand-out track for me 'Kiddy Pool Dreams'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkGfdwBMXns
Tim Crabtree ex of Burnley and now decamped in Nova Scotia has a new album out under the moniker Paper Beat Scissors. I'm not sure where the name comes from but as soon as I heard the name I was expecting indie guitar rock and I was almost right. Swap folk for rock and you have it spot on. It's cerebral, it's understated with clever guitar play and subtle instrumentation, it's pleasant to listen to but I can't say it's left much of an impression on me. Tracks such as Lawless did pique my interest with their Sigur Ros like harmonies but to be honest after listening to that tune I wanted to listen to Sigur Ros. I'm not much of a live music fan anymore, for one reason or another and I understand that a big part of PBS is watching him perform live to get a better appreciation and so perhaps I'm only getting half the story but on the basis of this I wasn't greatly impressed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hKPqiZWLOs
You can stream the album here: http://paperbeatscissors.bandcamp.com/
Waco Brothers - 'Going Down In History'
A band that often gets mentioned in the same breath as Johnny Cash and a description I disagree with. I'm sure they cite him as an influence but then again any band with any country leanings will necessarily claim the same. What I can say is that they play a frenetic punk/country combination with a political conscience to varying degrees of success. I think it says it all when their best moment on the album is a pub-cover of the Small Faces 'All Or Nothing'.
Stream the album here: https://wacobrothers.bandcamp.com/album/going-down-in-history
Basia Bulat - 'Good Advice'
This is the first album I've heard from the Toronto female singer/songwriter but from doing a bit of background reading it's quite a departure from her indie/folk roots. Her 3 previous albums have been intimate affairs with her on harp and ethereal songs. She's moved into power pop territory with a few anthems thrown in and overall a pretty flat affair. When she briefly departs from the air grabs she does sound good. This track being the best example.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5tswghHDrU
Pinkshinyultrablast - 'Grandfeathered'
Finally, an album that I liked from the current batch of albums. I think this is the best yet from the St Petersburg band, their brand of shoegazing guitars is definitely from the poppier end but like all good shoegaze bands, you can hear the Cocteau twins infulence loud and clear especially in the vocals. It's barely longer than an extended EP, coming in at just 8 tracks but what there is, is quality throughout. Stand-out track for me 'Kiddy Pool Dreams'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkGfdwBMXns
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spring hall convert
Well-known member
I'm not dealing exclusively in German sounding electro these days but it does feel a bit like it. This album 'Atlas' by Cleveland is brilliant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1A-trpJgw8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1A-trpJgw8
SicilianHungary
Active member
- Dec 5, 2015
- 111
Good shout for the Flowers album - hope to see them in Brighton at some point. My favourite is All at Once.
This Friday the new Polica album is out, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like.
Wedding - and one of my favourite videos of the year so far.
This Friday the new Polica album is out, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like.
Wedding - and one of my favourite videos of the year so far.
BBassic
I changed this.
- Jul 28, 2011
- 12,412
Get with the times man, I've been all over The Prettiots since page 6.
They're playing the Great Escape this year by the way.
BBassic
I changed this.
- Jul 28, 2011
- 12,412
Excellent. Love the Wildhearts, not too familiar with his solo stuff but I enjoyed that.
Phat Baz 68
Get a ****ing life mate !
- Apr 16, 2011
- 5,023
Steve Mason Meet The Humans brilliant album
spring hall convert
Well-known member
Two big recommendations
1. Matmos - Ultima Care II
You may have read about this and thought it sounded shit. Matmos have form for some wacky stuff in the past and this record is compiled solely from sound recorded, sampled and reused from a Ultima Care II washing machine. Even the percussion. And it really works. I'm not sure if it is better with or without the pre-amble.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukqOGGJqtZM
2. Cavern of Anti Matter - void beats / invocation trex
Unfortunately, the only track I can find for it is the pretty throwaway single featuring Bradford Cox, which is the worst moment on the album. Some awesome kraut jams from former Stereolab man Tim Gane.
The full album is up on Spotify.
1. Matmos - Ultima Care II
You may have read about this and thought it sounded shit. Matmos have form for some wacky stuff in the past and this record is compiled solely from sound recorded, sampled and reused from a Ultima Care II washing machine. Even the percussion. And it really works. I'm not sure if it is better with or without the pre-amble.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukqOGGJqtZM
2. Cavern of Anti Matter - void beats / invocation trex
Unfortunately, the only track I can find for it is the pretty throwaway single featuring Bradford Cox, which is the worst moment on the album. Some awesome kraut jams from former Stereolab man Tim Gane.
The full album is up on Spotify.
Buzzer
Languidly Clinical
- Oct 1, 2006
- 26,121
I've heard nothing but good things about the Cavern of Anti Matter. I'll check it out, thanks. Here's some great news too: Beth Orton has a new album out soon 'Kidsticks' and she's just released the first track 'Moon'. It's a far cry from what you normally expect, this is synths and techno-based so I'm expecting a fair few quality remixes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjlHOpAzjxM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjlHOpAzjxM
Been listening to the recent Kompakt Records sampler Total 15 today. As always a good showcase of this incredibly solid and consistent record label. Some absolute gems on this.
Buzzer
Languidly Clinical
- Oct 1, 2006
- 26,121
My favourite dance label.
Buzzer
Languidly Clinical
- Oct 1, 2006
- 26,121
Two albums that I've been enjoying tonight whilst watching the Liverpool v Man City game are
Maz O'Connor - 'The Longing Kind'
Cumbrian folk singer with a very classic sounding folk album but still making it sound very fresh. I'm not sure if all the songs are hers or whether they are traditional folk songs but some of the subject matters: a song about Lady Jane Grey, a whiskey song, what sounds like an old folk tale of moving to the New World are well-worn sources of folk songs. She does have a very good singing voice and the inevitable comparisons with Laura Marling are very fair although they are two very different folk singers. I like this track ' Crook of his Arm'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc36PtZQk18
DJ Cam vs Moar 'Beats'
It's an album in two parts with French hip-hop maestro DJ Cam playing the first half and Belgian Moar the latter. It's almost exclusively instrumental and a lot of the tracks are bite-sized with a fair few coming in at under 3 minutes. It keps the album moving along at quite a pace and understandably there's a whole range of genres assimilated into this. I liked this album a lot and will definitely be returning to it, it's fun, light and yet still has a lot of gravitas. You can stream the entire album on Bandcamp here:
https://tradviberecords.bandcamp.com/album/beats
Maz O'Connor - 'The Longing Kind'
Cumbrian folk singer with a very classic sounding folk album but still making it sound very fresh. I'm not sure if all the songs are hers or whether they are traditional folk songs but some of the subject matters: a song about Lady Jane Grey, a whiskey song, what sounds like an old folk tale of moving to the New World are well-worn sources of folk songs. She does have a very good singing voice and the inevitable comparisons with Laura Marling are very fair although they are two very different folk singers. I like this track ' Crook of his Arm'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc36PtZQk18
DJ Cam vs Moar 'Beats'
It's an album in two parts with French hip-hop maestro DJ Cam playing the first half and Belgian Moar the latter. It's almost exclusively instrumental and a lot of the tracks are bite-sized with a fair few coming in at under 3 minutes. It keps the album moving along at quite a pace and understandably there's a whole range of genres assimilated into this. I liked this album a lot and will definitely be returning to it, it's fun, light and yet still has a lot of gravitas. You can stream the entire album on Bandcamp here:
https://tradviberecords.bandcamp.com/album/beats
They're consistently good and have been for a long time. I always make a point of getting their annual sampler and very often it leads to further artist album purchases. Coma and Gui Boratto are the two main ones for me.
Buzzer
Languidly Clinical
- Oct 1, 2006
- 26,121
Choir of Young Believers - 'Grasque'
If you like the Cafe Del Mar series of albums or dreamy chillout music in general then this should probably be on your shopping list but be warned, it is incredibly wimpy. It's probably too wishy-washy for an appearance on a Hotel Costes compilation. There's just nothing here to hang your hat on. Best tune on the album? No idea, none of them left so much as a mark. You can stream the album here:
https://soundcloud.com/ghostly/sets/choir-of-young-believers
Your Friend - 'Gumption'
Another dreamy album but this one has a bit more meat on the bone, more reminiscent of Radiohead's acoustic moments. The album does have bits that don't work for me - mainly the tunes built around field recordings and that sort of thing has never been my bag. It's only 8 tracks long, and the combination of the field recordings and tunes proper sound disjointed together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Os7DBbV2c
Motorpsycho - 'Here Be Monsters'
It's a concept album based around the long dark Norwegian winter nights and the effect it has on the mind. That sounds quite wanky but please don't be put off, it is rather good. The album starts slowly enough with a sort of Elliott Smith vocals meets Sigur Ros post-rock but as the album goes on, it gets heavier, darker and the huge guitar riffs kick in. The very last track 'Big Black Dog' is 17 minutes of prog-rock guitars and synths and it's just glorious. This is one of tehe lighter tracks 'Lacuna/Sunrise' and I love it, I had it on loop the other night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyQUpDK8DKI
The High Llamas - 'Here Come the Rattling Trees'
Apparently, the album is written as a musical or rather as a soundtrack to a day in the lives of 6 different types of people all living in or around Peckham. It's a very pretty sounding album with some lush Brian Wilson-inspired 60s psychedelic harmonies and in other places quite lounge music-sounding - think Boards of Canada/Kings of Convenience... Give it a go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-7h9cfoDlw
The Cult - 'Hidden City'
I read a review of this album describing it as the best Cult album since the 80s. I'm not a big afficionado of their more recent stuff but when this album warms up, it does indeed roll back the years. The first few tracks are more just heavy rock rather than Goth. Bird of Paradise starts the juices flowing but then straight into Hinterland, a song that could only ever be the Cult. It's great to see that Astbury and Duffy are still bang on form and making great music and I wonder if this could herald a few more Goth bands from the 80s making a return. Balaam and the Angel, anyone?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERYVZiEOicQ
If you like the Cafe Del Mar series of albums or dreamy chillout music in general then this should probably be on your shopping list but be warned, it is incredibly wimpy. It's probably too wishy-washy for an appearance on a Hotel Costes compilation. There's just nothing here to hang your hat on. Best tune on the album? No idea, none of them left so much as a mark. You can stream the album here:
https://soundcloud.com/ghostly/sets/choir-of-young-believers
Your Friend - 'Gumption'
Another dreamy album but this one has a bit more meat on the bone, more reminiscent of Radiohead's acoustic moments. The album does have bits that don't work for me - mainly the tunes built around field recordings and that sort of thing has never been my bag. It's only 8 tracks long, and the combination of the field recordings and tunes proper sound disjointed together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Os7DBbV2c
Motorpsycho - 'Here Be Monsters'
It's a concept album based around the long dark Norwegian winter nights and the effect it has on the mind. That sounds quite wanky but please don't be put off, it is rather good. The album starts slowly enough with a sort of Elliott Smith vocals meets Sigur Ros post-rock but as the album goes on, it gets heavier, darker and the huge guitar riffs kick in. The very last track 'Big Black Dog' is 17 minutes of prog-rock guitars and synths and it's just glorious. This is one of tehe lighter tracks 'Lacuna/Sunrise' and I love it, I had it on loop the other night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyQUpDK8DKI
The High Llamas - 'Here Come the Rattling Trees'
Apparently, the album is written as a musical or rather as a soundtrack to a day in the lives of 6 different types of people all living in or around Peckham. It's a very pretty sounding album with some lush Brian Wilson-inspired 60s psychedelic harmonies and in other places quite lounge music-sounding - think Boards of Canada/Kings of Convenience... Give it a go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-7h9cfoDlw
The Cult - 'Hidden City'
I read a review of this album describing it as the best Cult album since the 80s. I'm not a big afficionado of their more recent stuff but when this album warms up, it does indeed roll back the years. The first few tracks are more just heavy rock rather than Goth. Bird of Paradise starts the juices flowing but then straight into Hinterland, a song that could only ever be the Cult. It's great to see that Astbury and Duffy are still bang on form and making great music and I wonder if this could herald a few more Goth bands from the 80s making a return. Balaam and the Angel, anyone?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERYVZiEOicQ
spring hall convert
Well-known member
I've just bought a couple of music books to go on holiday with - Kim Gordon's 'Girl In A Band' and John Savage's 'England's Dreaming.' Resident have a pretty cool section going on now.
Anyone on here got any favourites? A few I've really enjoyed in recent years have been.
The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-KLF-Burned-Million-Pounds/dp/1780226551
Renegade: The Lives and Tales of Mark E. Smith http://www.amazon.co.uk/Renegade-The-Lives-Tales-Mark-Smith/dp/0141028661
Music books can be a bit hit and miss though; a lot are really dry and boring, plenty are ridiculously self-aggrandising, some focus too much on the extra curricular activities, tough balance to get right.
Anyone on here got any favourites? A few I've really enjoyed in recent years have been.
The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-KLF-Burned-Million-Pounds/dp/1780226551
Renegade: The Lives and Tales of Mark E. Smith http://www.amazon.co.uk/Renegade-The-Lives-Tales-Mark-Smith/dp/0141028661
Music books can be a bit hit and miss though; a lot are really dry and boring, plenty are ridiculously self-aggrandising, some focus too much on the extra curricular activities, tough balance to get right.
Buzzer
Languidly Clinical
- Oct 1, 2006
- 26,121
Tracey Thorn's Bedsit Disco Queen is an excellent read.