News & Reviews Archive

The Weekly Review (23 Aug, 02)

Am annoyed this week. Really annoyed. As you regular readers will know we've opened accounts with most of the majors now (apart from Universal who want 2500 quid up front so you know where they can go...).That's beside the point. The Music have a new album out shortly (this week or next I can't remember). Now I'm not a big fan of their stuff but you need these bread and butter acts to help pay for the stuff no one's heard of which no one buys. It's folks like me who take a chance on new acts/ labels which other places wouldn't bother with. Some of them never sell and you rely on the big sellers to pay for the flops.

Anyway the long and the short of it I won't be stocking the ltd version of the new album as my rep told me she had 30 copies to sell to 75 shops. Which I expect will be pretty much most of (if not all of) the shops in the UK bar the big chains. I'm fairly sure there will have been either 5000 or 10000 copies pressed and the indies get 30 copies...... Where do the rest go? To HMV's/ Virgins and probably places like WH Smiths and Woolworths. It's the indies who help break bands and take chances on records no one's heard of, suddenly they get signed and for all the effort you get slapped in the face. Admittedly I didn't do much to promote The Music cos I didn't see the point as:
a) the NME were doing a fine job on their own
b) they're fucking awful (in my humble opinion)

It annoys me anyway and I knew this would happen. This is an abbreviated version of events otherwise I'd be here all day. I could talk about how fucked the music industry is for hours but you'd get bored. I'm a really interesting person to know.

Aggression aside it's been an enjoyable week at the towers with all manner of exciting 2nd hand wares arriving on our doorsteps which I'm trying to get on as quickly as possible but I'm ever so slightly swamped currently. I'm trying tog et 100-150 titles on a week but there's still a shedload here. Gonna be another 2 months or so yet before it's all on and god knows what's gonna come in the menatime. Busy times are afoot especially with a load of decent new releases on the way towards the end of the month......

This week we've been enjoing the following treats in the office

Apples In Stereo- Velocity Of Sound (forthcoming album on Cooking Vinyl)
Lucky Pierre- Hypnogogia (forthcoming album on Melodic)
Joy Zipper- Ron (single on 13AMP)
Flaming Lips- Do You Realize (single on Warners)
The Rapture- House Of Jealous Lovers (12" on DFA)
Ash- Intergalactic Sonic 7"'s (forthcoming comp on Infectious)
The Council Flats Of Kingsbury/ LJ Kruzer- Split 7" (Uncharted Audio)

Reviews then......

Minotaur Shock in multi format shock. Their new single is out this week on 12" and CD but both formats have the same tracks on which should make your buying decision much much easier. The beat of the lead track is comprised of budgie chirps and cheeps from what I can tell. It's pretty banging melodica electronica. Much better than anything from the last album and I'd go as far as to say anything they've done apart from Motoring Britain. It's gonna appeal to folks who like Fourtet and I guess it sounds like Fourtet only perhaps more digital. Clint thinks the 2nd track sounds a lot like U-Ziq. Nice steel drums on the last track too. Not enough steel drums in music today. Well worth checking out.....

Senor Coconut is flavour of the month again as Tour De France and Showroom Dummies are re released again. For the un initiated they're taken from the album of latin/ samba/ easy listening Kraftwerk covers by Mr Coconut. And fantastic they are too. Nothing but entertaining. If you havn't got this then get it cos it's ace. I think we've got some versions of the original versions too with different mixes on. They're all executed with the uttermost respect and skill. Special....

St Etienne return with a new single on Mantra on not one but 2 CD's. Both different prices for some reason. It's a return to the charty type dancey music. Very commercial and catchy but then they always were I guess. Not my bag cos it's a bit housey and sort of reminds me of Basement Jaxx with that Rendez Vu guitar kicking around the background. Alternative chart music.

Large Mound release a CD on Julius Geezer which is Ross from Joan of Arse's label and it's lo fi shambling indie rock. The best band name I've heard in some time though why I don't know??? Honest to goodness indie rock in an early Lemonheads/ Dinosaur Jr way but more Irish sounding. Nice....

Ooberman release a new single and it's more catchy indie pop. I never used to like Ooberman but the last few things by 'em have turned my ears around and I reckon they're pretty good now. Insanely catchy summery indie pop tune with a ska like vibe and spoken word bits in from fella who sounds just like Jarvis Cocker. Bits of it sounds really early 80's but it sounds like nothing else. They don't sound like anyone else and that has to be applauded. All 3 formats have different tracks on so you need 'em all if your fans. Rather good.

Sleater Kinney come back from a long absence with their 23rd album. The 1st one since the lead singer died in 1969. Actually I'm talking shite but they do have a new album like. Some of the singing sounds jusy like Siouxsie from banshee fame. Whining high pitched yelps.I started to call an ambulance and then someone told me it was only a record and she wasn't in pain. Close shave.... I almost embarrassed myself terribly. This sounds unmistakably like Sleater Kinney, ie angular new wave music but with tunes. It doesn't sound like Yorkshire terrier being kicked down a wind tunnel though.

Little Darla vol 19 is in with exclusive tracks by Saloon, My Morning Jacket, The Photon Band, Boyracer, Sweet Trip and other folks. Also there's non exclusive tracks by Crispy Ambulance, Ludus, Mus, Stockholm Monsters, Figurine, Cath Carroll, Color Filter etc... Loads of stuff and it's not a bad comp at all. Lots of old school 80's Manc stuff on there.

Misty Dixon releases Love Is Like A Butterfly (on Twisted Nerve) which was the old theme tune from Butterflies starring Wendy Craig, Geoffrey Palmer, Nicholas Lyndhurst and the fellla with the curly hair. What happened to him? Anyway I like this lots. Did you know it was originally penned by Dolly Parton? Sounds like really early Stereolab. Happy go lucky indie music with guitars and pretty vocals ala Jane Weaver. Class.

Escapepod produced by Joe from Mum & Dad (as was the Misty Dixon single) release a 10" on Rex Records. There's a bit of Can in there, a bit of Electrelane, later on a choir appears, Crazy but most interesting indeed. Sounds like a Twisted Nerve release and if it came out on Twisted Nerve you wouldn't be surprised. It's one of those oddball records that would come out on TN. Some acoustical whimsy stuff as well as quirky other odds and sods. Interesting spelt with capital letters. ie INTERESTING.

Uncharted Audio release a banging 7" by The Council Flats Of Kingbury and LJ Kruzer. For me the standout track is the 1st track by The Council Flats.... which is tuneful banging Add N To X with some unusual sounds in there. Clinton prefers the 2nd track by them which made him smile. There's not enough fun in music today. LJ Kruzer does yr more standard melodic electronica. Brian here is a fave of the LJ Kruzer track caleld Soccer Dog. It's one of those really rare records which all 4 tracks sound great at both speeds....

Moon Unit release a single on God Made Me Hardcore who specialise in cheesey electro cover versions. On here you've got a cover of Whip It by Devo. Cheesy electro, home made and lo fi. If yr into yr electro pop then you'll love this but I personally think it's more evil than anything that has ever existed on earth ever.

Static Caravan release a 7" by Anorak which we think sounds a little like Mum. It's got that indie electronica feel to it. Very pretty indeed. As ever it's got that Static Caravan quality.

The Busy Band includes Amada from Free Loan Investment and it's shambling lo fi indie music with twee guitars and vocals and some clapping. Also on the same label (a Swedish label called The Informers) is a Teen Anthems split 7" with Punk Boy. The Teen Anthems track is called We're Indie Shit and at least they're honest. Must be commended after all. Honesty is such an important trait. Kind of like Helen Love....Punk Boy on the other side is kind of indie gabba. Utterly stupid. And finally on the same label there's Cat Skills which is ex Gilrfrendo and that's more indie gear. It's all very indie. If you like yr indie all proper and as it should be then this label looks like it would be right up your alley.

Morr Music bring us a 7" by Styrofoam which is Arne from Tin Foil Star in case you didn't know. The A sides is quite floaty and reminds me of Dntel with fucked sounding breathy vocals, lots of twinkles and some weird crazy noises in the background all couple with a mass of tune. Nice..... If that wasn't enough the flipside is a little Prefuse 73y in it's glitchy cup up hip hop infused electronica. Class....

Goldrush release a single of catchy acoustic indie rock. Pretty commercial sounding but not half as bad. Reminded me of a less quirky Murry The Hump. Am not sure how accurate that is but it's the best I can do right now all thing considered.

and now some quick reviews cos it's all just arrived.

Orwell- on Star Harbour, are French, sing in French and sound very French. Sort of alright indie but nowt to go screaming about.
Ash- Envy..... fuck me this is good. The best thing they've done in ages. catchy, energetic and more fun in one song than I've heard for some time. It rocks as well. Utter class. You need this more than anything else...dbl pack 7" is due next week.
Serafin- new single. more big indie rock with big guitars and screaming vocals ala angst. Nothing original but what they do they do terribly well and this has got some quality bits in it. Again nice tuneage......
Cinerama- new single as awful as the rest of 'em but it's got a pretty guitar line in the verse which redeems it slightly. It's still a crock of shite though.
The Parkinsons - new single on Fierce Panda. More wholly average rock music over hyped but with more crap in than they lead you to believe.
Thomson- new 7" on Poptones. Heard the 1st 20 seconds but had to turn it off when the singer said Fuck. Swearing is fine but not in music as it's incredibly naff. I have no idea what this sounds like conequently.
Moonkat- 7" on Purr. Highly decent lady fronted indie with Monochrome Set guitar bits in, a top tunes. Like a British Sleater Kinney but probably better and considerably less whiny.... Also there's a track on the B side called My english teacher is a Mogwai Fan. Nice....
Aqua Vista- also 7" on Purr a 6 track mini album on one 7". Including a surf version of The Model by Kraftwerk (anyone notice any links this week??). 6 tracks of surf and big guitars.....
JR- 7" on Purr Recs. Big noisy guitarry rock ala Jesus Lizard. Angular and syncopated.....
Byrne- new ltd numbered 7" on Rocket Girl. Quite 60's sounding, a bit Velvet Undergroundy, builds up nicely after a slow start. Catchy and well worth checking out me thinks.....
The Relict- have a new single out on Elefant. 60's ish sonding folks. But if you play it at 45rpm instead it sounds like it's sung by church mice and it's utterly hilarious. It's so important to try your records at both speeds. I can't stress this enough.
The Reptiles new 7" on Jazz Fudge- fucked up in a good way. Brian says Chemical Brothers having a laugh with Squarepusher. Again we were laying it at the wrong speed. Interesting and I have no idea how to describe it right now. The pressure is too much....
And finally the Simple Kid single on Fierce Panda. Beck ish/ Super Furries type quirky gear. Pretty good....

Anyway have ya's all a good week and we'll be back next week with more wise and unwise words for you....