Bellowhead have a great reputation as the saviours of British folk, bringing together a brass section, traditional tunes and a jolliness that eschews the dour stereotype of Aran-sweaters and fingers-in-the-ear. more… “Bellowhead”
There is a story that Nirvana, having recorded “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, wanted to discard the number as being too obviously a Pixies’ rip off. It is unlikely that The Vines have had similar qualms: as this compilation clearly demonstrates, they have made a career through imitating Nirvana. more… “The Vines”
There are a number of things that strike me about TPC. Fortunately there is enough space to detail them all here. The first thing is that I had forgotten about them until this CD. It seems so much has happening in US indie right now. more… “Toyko Police Club”
Rogue Wave are determinedly nostalgic for an open, generous rock: recalling Tom Petty’s poppier moments, they veer for the middle of the road with clear harmonies, loose beats and sudden blasts of elegiac guitar. more… “Rogue Wave”
Best way to understand Cavedoll is through the bonus tracks: Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ and The Stones’ ‘Paint It Black’. Their website might claim them as neo-new wave more… “Cavedoll”
By linking up with Steve Albini, Dave Gedge is deliberately linking his modern incarnation of The Wedding Present with the ferocious four piece that released Seamonsters back in the 1990s. more… “The Wedding Present”
Kono Michi is a front for concert violinist Michi Wiancko (her debut album features works by Ravel, Debussy and Beethoven). On The Living Disappearance she takes on glacial hip-hop beats, minimalist percussion and a late-night ambience to re-invent herself as a left-field pop artist. more… “Kono Michi”
The Captain’s Rest is a cellar – the sound bounces off the walls, the heat cannot rise and there is a spot, about five feet in front of the stage where the sound quality is perfect: anywhere else, it is best to assume that the overwhelming bass echo or mismatched piano are not supposed to be part of the band’s sound. more… “The Most Serene Republic”
Nice as it is to have Edwyn back in the recording studio, this lazy croon doesn’t really do justice to the man’s great legacy. Gentle rather than engaging, it sees Collins fall back on a jumble of cliches, strumming his way through a self-consciously dated pop amble. The acoustic guitar, the slightly iffy vocals- aiming at Sinatra, they just expose his limited rannge and tired throat- this is autopilot stuff.
more… “Edwyn Collins”
Fair play to Drive By Argument: in an overcrowded alternative rock market-place, they have tried to add a dance-floor swagger to their jittery new wave. Announcing themselves on ‘The Sega Method’ with a intense caffeinated rush, they avoid settling into a groove for the whole album, skittering instead between angst-ridden anthems and more techno-influenced rockers. more… “Drive-By Argument”