ELECTRO-ROCK LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
Barrowland, Glasgow, Fri 9 Mar
Not many people have created as distinct a sound as James Murphy. As half of
production due DFA. Murphy launched The Rapture. The Juan Maclean and Black
Dice. then remixed the hell out of the likes of Gorillaz. Justin Timberlake and Nine Inch Nails. Then with his own productions and touring mutant dance band. LCD Soundsystem. he solidified his grasp on punk attitudes and addictive electronica.
‘They're both pretty complicated and intertwined.‘ explains Murphy of the relationship between DFA and LCD. 'I like them both. and they both drive me insane.‘
Recent single 'North American Scum' covers the same ground as the soaring ‘Losing my Edge'. another world weary monologue over crashing beats. acid squelches and an ever more frenzied bassline. But this time around Murphy has widened his scope. a far cry from the often faceless world of dance music.
‘I really like dancing. and I like that there's music for it. but dance music itself tends
to be a little met‘liocre.' agrees Murphy. ‘That's not to say that there aren't good things happening.‘ And mediocre is one criticism you could never level at LCD. ‘In the studio I don't worry about what we'll do live. and live I don't care about what the record sounds like.‘ And live it's a ftill band that bring Murphy's mutant creations to life. creating a wholly organic take on the twisted electronics he lllEiSICFITlllidS on record. Intelligent. funked tip live dance music at its best. LCD Soundsystem are the masters of the scene they created. (Henry Northmore)
Tomorrow's music today. This issue: Bat For Lashes
Brighton singer-songwriter Natasha Khan’s debut album, Fur and Gold, is a
dreamy, fairytale world of wolves, wizards and facial glitter. Thom Yorke and Devendra Banhart are fans of her melancholy, mystical sound and her soaring vocals have drawn comparisons with Bjork and Kate Bush. Natasha explains where her musical alter ego came from.
I was looking at a painting in an art maga/ine. Bat for Lashes popped into my mind like a bolt of inspiration. I don't really know what it means. It just sounds like my music — bar has nocturnal connotations and lashes sounds feminine.
Where do you find inspiration?
All over. It can be landscapes or 80s children's films like ET. Whenever I'm writing a song. there's always a lush. cinematic concept going on in my mind. I have very vivid dreams too. they inspire songs regularly.
Onstage, you have a quirky, dressing-up box style.
Is image important to your music?
Very. because it creates the whole 3D thing. I'm a visual person. I did my degree in
music and visual arts. The two are synonymous. It's a concentrated version of what
I normally wear. Animal things. headdresses. necklaces with charms. things friends give me. things I pick tip when I travel.
Do you prefer recording or playing live?
They take two different parts of your brain. Live. it's about spontaneity. the energy coming off the audience: it's theatrical. Recording is more like painting. You're creating something with lots more detail and focus. You're sculpting a sound. with different layers. (Claire Sawers)
I Ora/i MOT. G/asgow. Sat (3 Mar. The single. ‘Pi'escil/a' is re/eased on The Echo Label on :3 Mar.
INDIE
THE PIGEON DETECTIVES AND RIPCHORD
Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Tue 20 Feb .0.
You can be sure that music's changing when a frontman manages to raise a euphoric howl with such classic rock'n'roll banter as ‘right. does everyone here have a computer?‘ — a phrase that sums up how the likes of this pair of bands manage to incite pant-wetting across the country. deSpite not even having album's out.
Young Wolverhampton Arctic Monkeys alikes Ripchord have apparently ‘never been to Edinburgh before'. but. thanks to the weeviling powers of t'internet. single 'Lock Up Your Daughters' is faithfully sung back word for word. Leeds—based quintet The Pigeon Detectives receive a similar reception to just about every song — all of which are admittedly pretty catchy indie-punk—pop Btiz7cocks—style ramalamas. Singer Matt Bowman didn't seem in any doubt as to where the familiarity comes from. following up his computer related query with the suggestion that everyone should listen to their new single 'Romantic Type'. ‘on the Myspace'.
And why not? You've got one too don't you? (Malcolm Jack)
INDIE POP JARVIS ABC, Glasgow, Tue 20 Feb 0000
‘Did we pass the audition?‘ enquired Jarvis Cocker (for it is he) towards the end of this well-received debut Scottish solo show. He gets to paraphrase John Lennon. to be fair. because over an hour—and-a—bit he proved just how flaccid most ‘pop stars' look in comparison to himself these days.
He also managed to deflect the apparent marriage proposal of some bloke in the crowd and sing the praises of Zovirax (he should be sponsored by it. apparently). But such winning banter paled in comparison to the sheer /estful. incisive wonder of his new songs. Who else would write a
gorgeous. textured Scott Walkeresque ballad and call it ‘I Will Kill Again'? Or take the powers that be to task with the ballistically direct chorus line 'cunts are still running the world' (Running The World')? Or close by announcing 'a song you might have heard before. then bodyswerve the anticipated Pulp track for a blistering cover of The Jesus and Mary Chain's 'Sidewalking"? Jarvis. it's been much too long. (David Pollock)
INDIE
THE VIEW
Edinburgh Castle, Wed 21 Feb 0...
A mere year ago The View were playing pub gigs to 50 people in their home town of Dundee. A few months later and a T—Mobile Street Gig in Edinburgh Castle for 100 lucky winners from their newly expanded fanbase is deemed incredibly exclusive.
After a meteoric ascendancy to a no 1 album (Hats off to the Huskers) and an upcoming UK tour that sold out in an hour. the four wee scallies have reached a credible zenith. Striding through a half hour set of their infectious. jangling. sugar—rush indie tunes. they are everything good pop should be: fast. fun and of the moment. Watching them stomp through hits ‘Wasted Little DJs' and ‘Same Jeans' elicits pure childish glee. like watching the Muppets play Libertines songs. In a couple of months a new bunch of upstarts will be inCiting the nation's adoration but for tonight the Dryburgh lads can enjoy the view. (Su7anne Black)
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