SINGLES 7
Mum/Mi
Deck lives very much at the pop end of lo-fi street. and although the version of ‘Hell Yes' (lnterscope) 00 from his forthcoming remix album (almost always a pointless exercise) is passable enough. the daft whiteboy rapping smacks somewhat of going through the Beckian motions. Also popping the indie kids are local glamniks El Presidente. but sadly ‘Turn This Thing Around' (One) 00 is not one of the three great songs from their debut album and they. too. are guilty of milking an already dry musical udder. as it were.
Providing more substantial fare from the local scene are Errors with their EP. ‘How Clean is Your Acid House?’ (Rock Action) 0000 . The five instrumental tunes are diverse and always intriguing. from the funky squelch of ‘Mr Milk’ to the glitchy electronica of ‘Terror Tricks‘ and on to the freaky atmospherics of ‘Dizzy Rascal + 1'. Very promising indeed.
Saint Jude’s Infirmary are another local bunch being much touted. and while ‘The Church of John Coltrane' (SL) 00 has a certain sombre charm about it. like a slightly folky Velvet Underground, there is an air of rather po-faced self-importance about the song (especially the spoken word bit) which takes the edge off things a little. On a more traditional bent is Ewan Wilkinson's ‘It Never Snows‘ (Brechin) eoe . a folky thing of little subtlety but enough blustery charisma (not to mention some sweet strings and swelling accordion) to at least leave a mark in the memory.
The Long Winters are the band of Yank songwriter John Roderick, and their ‘Ultimatum EP’ (Barsuk) on is a strangely alluring indie thing. covering a similar ground to the likes of Flaming Lips. Arcade Fire and Death Cab for Cutie, a leftfield anthemic vibe tracing its way through the six songs. most effectively on the excellent piano-led opener ‘The Commander Thinks Aloud'.
Which is all very well. but it's no new Mogwai single. that’s for sure. ‘Friend of the Night‘ (PIAS) me is the lead track from the forthcoming Mr Beast album, and it’s a belting introduction. blending old-skool Mogwai apocalyptic riffage with more recent mature atmospherics. especially a moody piano line to die for. in a tune which augers well for 2006 for the band. And which also earns Joint Single of the Fortnight with The Go! Team’s welcome re- jigging and re-release of ‘Ladyflash' (Memphis Industries) eeee . a song whose double dutch retro funk hip hop leanings (and flute solo. no less) are guaranteed to get smiles smiling and asses wobbling in this darkest of months.
(Doug Johnstone)
f" Loud
if; a Clear
58 THE LIST 19 Jan—2 Feb 2006
l
ROCK RICHARD ASHCROFT Keys to the World (Parlophone) one
2.3%
Of those that constituted the bombastic quadratic equation that was Britrock — Damon. Noel. Jarvis and Richard — the latter was always the bit you could quite figure out. While the others found their own paths Ashcroft appeared most likely to falter. This album proves any worry was unfounded. Steeped in scholarly references to the hallowed musical greats like Gaye. Dylan and Reed. Ashcroft '8 third record is big and, in places. really quite beautiful.
The Arctic Monkeys may be the new Libertines but there is still no one fit to walk in Ashcroft 's Wallabies and this record confirms he's still the man.
(Mark Robertson)
INDIE . CHRIS BROKAW Incredible Love
(Rock Action) on
Chris Brokaw is one of those prolific Yanks who have been in a seemingly endless list of underground bands and collaborations. This latest solo album is probably one of the most mainstream things he's done, cleanly combining an indie ethic with an obvious love of American country. folk and. of course. a good dose of heads-down rawk to create something gently charming and
contemplative. The quieter moments are the most effective here. ‘X's for Eyes’ gliding along dreamily. while the slightly moody instrumental ‘Gringa' builds nicely over picky guitars. Not an earth shattering release. but a wonhwhile one nonetheless.
(Doug Johnstone)
JAZZ DUDLEY PHILLIPS . Life Without Trousers (Babel Label) 0000
I '13 It." I: WW?
; compositions reflect his
Bass player Dudley Phillips makes his studio debut as a leader with this disc. and reveals himself to be a fine composer as well as firmly established instrumentalist in the UK jazz scene. His 11
broad-ranging experience across multiple musical forms. including jazz, folk. world music. rock. funk and soul.
The music is consistently clever and engaging. with an intricately worked interplay of timbres and textures that often blurs the boundaries between his bass and Carl Orr's guitar. Mark Lockheart (a co-founder of Perfect Houseplants with the bassist) augments the trio on saxophone on three tracks. while Nic France's deft and responsive drumming is perfect for this music. (Kenny Mathieson)
FOLKTRONIC POP TORTOISE AND BONNIE ‘PRINCE’ BILLY The Brave and the Bold
(Domino) em
Continuing a spur of productivity that has barely abated in 12 years. Bonnie ‘Prince' Billy shuffles off his porch with yet another album under his arm, this time a covers LP
with a truly inspired backing band. In having Tortoise — the anti-Crazy Horse essentially — with him on this trip of covers, Billy has managed to bring several new twists to some familiar tunes. Elton John’s ‘Daniel‘ becomes the marshmallow ballad the Flaming Lips will one day manage to make while the Boss’ Thunder Road' is rendered resolutely thunderless in his drowsy. circular reading. Tunes by Lungfish. Minutemen and Devo are brought to more ears via this collection and it is Tortoise's wilful swing and flutter that make this step up from novelty to Quality listen. (Mark Robertson)
REMIXED POP BECK Guerolito (lnterscope) m
Remixes are a strange dichotomy. Where some reduce the original to rubble. building something bigger and sometimes even better than what was first envisaged. others are mere diversions. half thought out tinkering and monkeying around with a song for the sake of it: a project rather than a passion.
This album untangles Beck’s Guero like a string of wonky Christmas tree lights and is best when it abandons all pretence of a Beck song and makes something hungry and new. Subtle. El-P and Mario C all do in spades but this still feels more of a diversion
ALL CDS WERE WERE REVIEWED ON A SYSTEM SUPPLIED AND lNSTALLED BY LOUD 8: CLEAR
or indulgence than an album in its own right. (Mark Robertson)
JAZZ TRIANGLEHEAD ! Maths (Trianglehead Music) i mustang; , maths ;
“.7”?
Admirers of saxophonist ! Martin Kershaw. pianist 1 Paul Harrison and drummer Stu Ritchie when playing in more mainstream modes may find Trianglehead more abstract and ; adventurous than they ‘ bargained for. The trio have already made a powerful impact in their live performances and i this debut album backs ; up that reputation in l impressive fashion. The title track is drawn from a gig at Henry's in late 2004. and the rest is studio material. The focus is on free improvisation and the more experimental side of their work, but there is plenty of variation in style and approach. ' from fiercely energized uptempo burners ! through to almost | impressionistic I soundscapes. l (Kenny Mathieson) j
SPECTRAL ROCK ; BROKEN SOCIAL 5 SCENE ' Broken Social Scene (City Slang) me Some days things are good. Some days Broken Social Scene albums come through your letterbox and you remember when life was a simple chore. where
scores of people gathered in a recording studio to build albums filled with impatient energy and curious joy. The long and the short of it is this is great fun. Seventeen or so people muck in to make an unpredictable. manic sprawl which throws out endless curveballs — throw in another drummer to make that Mercury Rev-ish ballad