Black Moth Super Rainbow – “Melt Me”
This album heralds a continued progression towards more polish and less experimentation / piss-takes. It’s now sounding like an actual full band, and the overmodulating synths have a unique feel that bubbles to the surface consistently. Definitely the best record of the bunch. Packed with 20+ songs but most of them are actual songs, albeit short ones.
Epo-555 – “Tess La Coil”
This Danish band ranges far and wide on their album, trading off vocals and styles from track to track. This one is strictly for the new wave lovers with glossy synths and what sounds like a looped video game sample. As satisfying as the recent Brothers Martin release for those who like their music set in the 80’s. Played on 5/10/07.
PlayRadioPlay – “Confines of Gravity”
I should’ve known better when the accompanying press release touted their prodigious amount of myspace friends. Musicially their Postal Service era beats are fine, but the heavily pitch corrected vocals seek emo-level earnestness with a horribly forced astronaut analogy in the lyrics.
Boom Bip – “Rat Tail”
Mostly instrumental (there are a few “yo’s”) song off their new ep, a funky little electronic number with an Purple Rain era Prince backbeat and enough variation in the foreground to keep things interesting and dancy.
Young Galaxy – “Wailing Wall”
There’s a definite early 90’s Cure feel here, especially in the simple chiming guitars that punctuate the song. Vocally it’s laid back retro-60s psych but doesn’t get excessively trippy. While simple, they carry the lethargic energy quite strongly and it eventually gets under the skin. Spun this on 5/3/07.
Julian Fane – “The Moon Is Gone”
The other tunes on this disc feel a little too Radiohead-ish for me, but this one sticks to the retro-shoegazer formula faithfully enough to satisfy my needs. It’s more drum machine and synth driven with some fuzzy bass than the traditional guitar howling, though some of that is present in the chorus too. Aired on 5/10/07.
Ulrich Schnauss – “Look at the Sky”
New ep from Ulrich Schnauss promises his new full-length will be a little different from his previous two lps. The leadoff track is a full-on shoegazer experience complete with breathy female vocals and waves of guitars and distortion. This doesn’t follow the slowly shifting sonic pattern of his previous releases but instead treads a more aggressive path. Played on 5/10/07.
Paula Frazer & Tarnation – “Another Day”
Paula reunites with her original band, though I can’t say this distinguishes itself much from her solo efforts. If you’re hoping for a revisit of the haunted Patsy Cline-ish vibe of the first Tarnation release it’s not here, these are country-pop confections with plenty of reverb. Think late-model Mazzy Star.
Dreadful Yawns – “Due South”
Gentle folk pop confections yearning for an early 70’s sunny country feel. The vocals aren’t quite strong enough, though the skittering drums and Dean Wareham-esque jangly guitar are pluses.
Southerly – “A Course Design”
The chorus is the selling point here, with some nice piano accents over a repeated “you don’t know me anyway” lyric delivered with the appropriate amount of yearning. The verses serve as the connecting tissue and don’t really distinguish themselves beyond a “don’t judge by appearances” vibe.
The Only Children – “Invisible Streets”
Really wanted to like this Anniversary offshoot as I adored the progenitor. They’re very studiously country rock, carrying the tunes with enthusiasm and strong backing vocals along with the omnipresent organ. Unfortunately I just can’t get into new sound. This song is pretty much their justification for pursuing this sonic course, namedropping the Stones and Muddy Waters as inspiration
Taxi Taxi – “X Marks the Spot”
Probably the most consistent song on this inconsistent record, a dreamy soft rock tune awash with twiddling synths that add a little unpredictability to the scene. Played this one on 5/10/07.
Electrelane – “At Sea”
After their wonderful first release I’ve had little time for Electrelane, the more prominent the vocals the less interesting they become. There are a few attention grabbers on this new disc, the guitars are more rhythmically prominent with added organ creating some urgently energetic passages. The mostly wordless vocals on this track don’t detract from the overall effect, which is why it got spun on 5/10/07.
The Boggs – “Arm In Arm”
A case study in too much being more than enough, there are over 20 musicians equally credited on the liners of this cd. At least it all sounds like they’re having a good time as they fight for prominence in this hectic but messy stew. This is the only track I thought was relatively coherent from beginning to end.
Hightower Smith – “Don’t Lift Your Breath”
Similar in vocal tone to the Great Lakes Myth Society record from a few weeks ago, with a deadpan sing-songy style. Nothing complex musically, with a few happy-to-be-punctual guitars that remind me of Bishop Allen in their brainier moments. Pleasant but not outstandingly so.
Fields – “If You Fail We All Fail”
This band’s best song does that sprawling M-83 synth thing, but on a major label. Still, this particular tune gets it right enough for me to consider spinning it. Nothing else on the record measured up.
Karl Hendricks Rock Band – “I’m Not Crying, Karl”
An 8+ minute epic of cynicism served up the Karl Hendricks way. Musically they still follow the muscular rock sound they’ve possessed since the early 90’s. Lyrically not much has changed either, Karl’s rather negative outlook on the human race is given plenty of space to roam in this series of encounters with people holding similar viewpoints. But as always there’s at least a spark of hope, or at least a reason to keep on living.
Shapes and Sizes – “Head Movin’”
Most of their songs seem like they’re on the verge of falling apart, paper mache constructions that begin to sag about ¾ of the way through. This one rides the cymbal hard and contains a handclap solo, which will always draw my attention. The whole effort has a raw production feel, the guitar practically pokes its way through the speakers. The female vocals are thankfully limited to a few “oohs.”
Miracle Fortress – “Next Train”
I’m thinking I reserved this song because it namedrops Wisconsin and contains snapping as percussion almost all the way through. The build at the end is much appreciated as the bulk of the song has an almost hypnotic effect until a few other instruments join in the restrained cacophony.
Jay Mitchell and the Mitchellites – “I Am The Man For You Baby”
From the latest Numero Group release spotlighting the Bahamian label Grand Bahama Goombay. Some of the lyrical passages are amusingly awkward, including “I may not be the best looking guy you’ll ever see / but I sure try my best to be neat and clean.” But the lead does a decent Impressions impression and the catchy backing band includes some tight horns and a sure fire chorus.
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