Coil’s third album differs greatly from what they did before. Pulling
more into an IDM-direction before IDM existed instead of their previous more
industrial influenced style. Trying to push the envelope as far as possible.
Jhonn Balance actually collapsed after the recording sessions. Unable to
remember who he was.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Cloud Cult - Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus (2005)
Wonderful album by Minnessota's Cloud Cult, which did extraordinarily well
for an independently released album in 2005. Praised by Pitchfork and Pop
Matters, it came out of nowhere to become one of the most played albums on
college radio. So while this hardly qualifies them for "obscure indie", it's
such a brilliant album that I'm not going to hold their relative success
against them. Utterly creative from start to finish, Advice from the
Hippopotamus just makes you sit up and listen, no matter what you might be
doing at the time. Their live shows are also highly recommended, maybe you'll
get a good deal on one of the live paintings they create during the show.
for an independently released album in 2005. Praised by Pitchfork and Pop
Matters, it came out of nowhere to become one of the most played albums on
college radio. So while this hardly qualifies them for "obscure indie", it's
such a brilliant album that I'm not going to hold their relative success
against them. Utterly creative from start to finish, Advice from the
Hippopotamus just makes you sit up and listen, no matter what you might be
doing at the time. Their live shows are also highly recommended, maybe you'll
get a good deal on one of the live paintings they create during the show.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
The Astronauts - Peter Pan Hits The Suburbs (1981)
Inspired by the UK punk explosion, Mark Astronaut formed the band with a few
friends in 1977 and began playing local gigs in their hometown of Welwyn
Garden City. By 1979 *The Astronauts* were regularly appearing at free
festivals and gigs in London organised by a hippy collective known as /Fuck
Off Records/ and from these began a close friendship with London punk bands
*Zounds *and *the Mob*. That year the first Astronauts EP was released on
local label /Bugle Records/ and musically it reflected the hippie drug
culture combined with the energy of punk. '/All Night Party/' still sounds
like the paranoid nightmare it did back then. The record established the
Astronauts on the local gig scene among the non mainstram hippie/punk/biker
crowd. Also in 1979 an ep was released under the assumed name of /Restricted
Hours/ on the /Stevenage Rock Against Racism/ label.
friends in 1977 and began playing local gigs in their hometown of Welwyn
Garden City. By 1979 *The Astronauts* were regularly appearing at free
festivals and gigs in London organised by a hippy collective known as /Fuck
Off Records/ and from these began a close friendship with London punk bands
*Zounds *and *the Mob*. That year the first Astronauts EP was released on
local label /Bugle Records/ and musically it reflected the hippie drug
culture combined with the energy of punk. '/All Night Party/' still sounds
like the paranoid nightmare it did back then. The record established the
Astronauts on the local gig scene among the non mainstram hippie/punk/biker
crowd. Also in 1979 an ep was released under the assumed name of /Restricted
Hours/ on the /Stevenage Rock Against Racism/ label.
Aroah - The Last Laugh (2004)
*Aroah *goes by the name *Irene Tremblay* off-stage, and sounds a bit like
your typical female troubadors such as *Feist *or *Cat Power*, except there's
a subtle weirdness about her music. It's so subtle you may not notice it if
you're not paying attention, because her airy vocals define the songs for the
most part, but if you listen closely you'll be positively surprised about
some of the creative elements coming from the backing musicians. At times it
sounds a lot like early *Speed The Plough*. /The Last Laugh/ was her
sophomore effort, released two years after her spanish-language debut album
/No podemos ser amigos/, which I may post some time in the future.
your typical female troubadors such as *Feist *or *Cat Power*, except there's
a subtle weirdness about her music. It's so subtle you may not notice it if
you're not paying attention, because her airy vocals define the songs for the
most part, but if you listen closely you'll be positively surprised about
some of the creative elements coming from the backing musicians. At times it
sounds a lot like early *Speed The Plough*. /The Last Laugh/ was her
sophomore effort, released two years after her spanish-language debut album
/No podemos ser amigos/, which I may post some time in the future.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
The National - Boxer (2007)
The National don't do anything radically different on /Boxer/, but then
again, they don't really need to: their literate, quietly anthemic take on
indie rock seemed to have arrived fully formed on their 2001 self-titled
debut. /Boxer/ just hones in even more precisely and intimately on the
heartfelt territory the band covers, with punchy-yet-polished production and
orchestration by the Clogs [1]' Padma Newsome [2] giving these songs an
intimacy and widescreen expansiveness that rivals the Arcade Fire [3].
again, they don't really need to: their literate, quietly anthemic take on
indie rock seemed to have arrived fully formed on their 2001 self-titled
debut. /Boxer/ just hones in even more precisely and intimately on the
heartfelt territory the band covers, with punchy-yet-polished production and
orchestration by the Clogs [1]' Padma Newsome [2] giving these songs an
intimacy and widescreen expansiveness that rivals the Arcade Fire [3].
[1] http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:k9fyxqq0ldte
[2] http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kbfexqr0ldde
[3] http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wbfpxqwald0e
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
VA - Our Band Could Be Your Life - a Tribute to D.Boon & the Minutemen (1996)
You can really tell that the *Minutemen *moved their musical scions in all
the right ways with this splendid covers compilation. 33 tracks, and not
one band does a disservice to the Minutemen's legacy! That's usually not
the case with covers compilations. Every band on this compilation channels
the heart and politics of our beloved punk heroes perfectly; while also
infusing their own brand of sound.
the right ways with this splendid covers compilation. 33 tracks, and not
one band does a disservice to the Minutemen's legacy! That's usually not
the case with covers compilations. Every band on this compilation channels
the heart and politics of our beloved punk heroes perfectly; while also
infusing their own brand of sound.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Yeah Yeah Noh - Leicester Square - The Best Of (2001)
Despite being hatched in the none-too-rock'n'roll environs of Leicester
University (and, apparently, containing alumni from Leicester Poly plus
Birmingham and Liverpool Unis as well) it's curious as to why Yeah Yeah Noh
have so far failed to be awarded the ubercult status of, say, Wire or The
Blue Orchids, considering that they produced virtually the only genuinely
psychedelic music that wasn't retro (allowing for a few exceptions like
Julian, the Television Personalities and the early Mary Chain of course)
during that fallow 1984-86 watershed period in the annals of UK post-punk.
This compilation, cherry picked by lead singer and lyricist Derek Hammond
with assistance from Tim Madgewick, showcases a fine treasure trove of songs
that drew little or no public attention outside their home town bar the
standard accolades fom the John Peel / NME axis.
University (and, apparently, containing alumni from Leicester Poly plus
Birmingham and Liverpool Unis as well) it's curious as to why Yeah Yeah Noh
have so far failed to be awarded the ubercult status of, say, Wire or The
Blue Orchids, considering that they produced virtually the only genuinely
psychedelic music that wasn't retro (allowing for a few exceptions like
Julian, the Television Personalities and the early Mary Chain of course)
during that fallow 1984-86 watershed period in the annals of UK post-punk.
This compilation, cherry picked by lead singer and lyricist Derek Hammond
with assistance from Tim Madgewick, showcases a fine treasure trove of songs
that drew little or no public attention outside their home town bar the
standard accolades fom the John Peel / NME axis.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Sentridoh - Free Sentridoh Songs from Loobiecore (2002)
Here's another *Lou Barlow* solo album, and again it's lower than lo-fi.
Twenty-three songs with just Lou, his acoustic guitar, and the occasional
whistling and subtle keyboard sounds, probably recorded in his bedroom. There
are some astonishingly good songs on this, or maybe you should call them song
ideas, but whatever you call it it's impossible not to see the genius in some
of them. It's all very raw but strikingly personal, without being depressing.
There are some fillers but also stand-out songs like /Mountain on the Hill/
and /The Devil & The Barbie Doll/.
Twenty-three songs with just Lou, his acoustic guitar, and the occasional
whistling and subtle keyboard sounds, probably recorded in his bedroom. There
are some astonishingly good songs on this, or maybe you should call them song
ideas, but whatever you call it it's impossible not to see the genius in some
of them. It's all very raw but strikingly personal, without being depressing.
There are some fillers but also stand-out songs like /Mountain on the Hill/
and /The Devil & The Barbie Doll/.
Family Fodder - Savoir Faire - The Best of Family Fodder (2002)
One of the most obscure new wave bands of the 80s, and one of the very best.
In fact, putting them in the New Wave category is harsh injustice, as they're
far more creative than their peers. Picture a cross of *Blondie*, *This Heat
*and *Devo,* and you're still pretty far off from what this sounds like.
In fact, putting them in the New Wave category is harsh injustice, as they're
far more creative than their peers. Picture a cross of *Blondie*, *This Heat
*and *Devo,* and you're still pretty far off from what this sounds like.
*Family Fodder* released a series of compelling, now collectable singles and
albums between 1979 and 1983. Described as 'entertaining idiosyncratic
experimentalism' with pop sensibilities, they were best known for indie-chart
hits such as 'Debbie Harry', 'Playing Golf (With My Flesh Crawling)' and
'Savoir Faire', More recently, Family Fodder songs have been covered by *Zion
Train* and *Unrest*, and they've been hailed as 'unsung heroes' in The Wire.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Marine Research - Sounds from the Gulf Stream (1999)
A rather harmless twee pop album by the Ex-*Heavenly* band *Marine Research*.
It does have its charming moments, and features the excellent song /"You and
a Girl"/, which may be the only track on the album that strays from the
beaten path. Released in '99 on K Records, it remained their only full
release.
It does have its charming moments, and features the excellent song /"You and
a Girl"/, which may be the only track on the album that strays from the
beaten path. Released in '99 on K Records, it remained their only full
release.
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