Reviews
HIP HOP
NAFEES
The Art Of Keeping It (Sur)real
(Nafees) 000
Scottish hip hop is becoming an ever more tangible currency of late. and 21 year-old rapper Nafees is the latest addition to the pantheon. Part of the credit for this release. however — which rather confusingly bills itself as both a solo release and a mix CD — must go to his cohort DJ Kash. who but the musical backing together.
The tunes themselves are bustling and vivid. with 'Dear Unsigned Artist' sampling the Red Hot Chili Peppers and ‘Triumphant Melancholy' making a decent fist of trying to incorporate a folk
backing. Elsewhere. jangling acoustic guitars and a more traditional urban s0und hold sway — the only trouble is. they distract the attention from all but Nafees' most powerful choral hooks.
(David Pollock)
ALTCOUNTRY HOLLY GOLIGHTLY & THE BROKEOFFS You Can’t Buy A Gun When You’re Crying
(Damaged Goods) 0...
Followmg her departure from Thee Headcoatees. this is Holly Golightly's 14th studio effort. and after successhn collaborations with Jack White. Mudhoney and Rocket From The Crypt she now teams up with long-time bandmate
Lawyer Dave to produce a beguiling set of dark. ramshackle country hacks.
Featuring the British indie luminary's striking smoky vocals backed by stripped down. woozy guitars and warm harmonies. You Can 't BuyA Gun When You're Crying is a magical listen from start to finish and if Golightly is to be believed is also named after a real US law. which you‘ve got to admit is pretty awesome. (Camilla Pia)
FOLK-COUNTRY
LE RENO AMPS 80 For Your Thrills...
(Pet Piranha Records)
.0.
A strange wee record this one. While Le Reno Amps plough a distinctly Scottish folk field. this Glasgow lot can nevertheless step into American altcountry when the mood sees fit. The excellent ‘How You Did Me Wrong' and ‘Radio' would give Ryan Adams a run for his money given a Whiskey(town) soaked production. But for the
most part the album holds a whimsical quality sure to appeal to lovers of fey indie types (that's you Belle and Sebastian fans). It might prove a little too quirky for those who like their country bruised and battered but for those willing to take a chance there's some real treats in store.
(Andrew Borthwick)
ROCK
KINGS OF LEON Because of the Times (Columbia) 0...
The chances were slim but lightning did strike twice for Kings of Leon. They followed up a colossal debut with a considerable second effort. To presume they could manage a third would be churlish. no? Seemingly not. Tneir innate ability to
n. mth
understand the limitations — and therefore the potential — of their raggedy sound is their greatest strength and what makes this such a feisty. engaging record. Rather than artificially manifesting musical progression through superflu0us brass sections. excessive string arrangements and other aural baggage they've kept things simple. concentrating on the songcraft.
Whether it's their take on the Pixies' dynamic bluster (Charmer) or their updating of Jeff Beck's beastly blues in ‘Black Thumbnail'. they remain charged for 13 tracks: ballistic and soulful and thankfully less horny than usual. staying true to their own beat. (Mark Robertson)
ALSO RELEASED ‘
Blonde Redhead 23 (4A0) Disarming, gossamer melodies get fuzzed out in this Slightly more geeky (if that '8 possible) take on My Bloody Valentine bliss.
Ray Wilson She/Live (RSK) One time Genesis and Stiltskin man brings his considerable lungs to bear on this pair of releases: an album of new material and a live set of his best moments. Andy Palaclo a. The Garifuna Collective wanna (Cumbancha) Palacio‘s intuitive knack for a beguiling tune unites central American. Carribean and African musical legacies on this excellent album. Murder By Death In Bocca A/ Lupo (Cooking Vinyl) Winding. wistful Americana is the starting point for investigation for these musical eccentrics.
LISA LINDLEYJUNES
ROAD TO NOWHERE
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1;? 20 Apr 2007 THE LIST 63