www.list.co.uklmusic
sciir‘ritracr 'r’es. rear, fli‘; 33")“; album i'; :1.‘éiil;1bl‘: free ”0" xxx/xiiesusisforloseri. no N, a donation nets you a bonus flittinl’)‘ EP Do it nrm 'Doug Johnstonei
ROCK
RED LIGHT COMPANY Fine Fascination (Lavoltai O...
Lead singer Richard Frenneaux may have relocated to London but for their debut platter RIC are clearly enrapt by noth American indie feelgood rock Vibes. most obViously Arcade Fire's si/eable bluster and Dinosaur Jr's shamble and roar. They may sound familiar. but when they plunder. Red Light Company do it Wlifi love and affection. and it only adds to the quintet's charms.
They lay claim to a place in the rock arenas of our hearts and on the strength of the anthemic. Broken Social Scene referenCing chorus of “Scheme Eugene' and the woozy Joy of “Arts and Crafts. they prove they certainly have the chops. See you down the front. (Mark Robertsoni
l-‘OLKTRONICA WOUNDED KNEE Shimmering New Vistas
(Benbeculai COO.
A self-professed ‘future primitive' diViner. Edinburgh 's WOunded Knee — aka electronic sorcerer and oral diabolist Drew Wright — has created and excavated myriad legaCies for this. his first major full-length release.
The album 's amalgam of Gaelic psalms (“River Dance'). iovial folk hoe- downs ('Bools Rules‘l. mesmeric incantations (The Sublime
use
'0: 1321. iii -. no era s: 1337
D!) ’3 $873 I --I.
TECHNO ROCK
THE PRODIGY Invaders Must Die
(Take Me to the Hospital) .00
The Prodigy have a lot to prove. Live they are still incendiary, creating the biggest mosh pit of the weekend at last year’s T in the Park and sending the entire field into technoid spasms. On record however, there’s been nothing of note since 1997’s Fat of the Land conquered the dance/rock divide. Here Liam Howlett takes no chances, harking back to the vintage Prodigy sound of old: hard techno, pulsating rave and rocked up breakbeat, while Keith Flint and MC Maxim shout and bark with the appropriate piss and vinegar. However unlike the embarrassing rehash of 2002’s ‘Baby’s Got a Temper’ or the lacklustre Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (2004) they feel
FrequenCIesl. primordial rhythms and verbal alchemy i'My Wooden Cupboard'i, is entrancing, disorientating. and awesome.
For every reference to our traditional heritage. there's a Visionary curveball that propels Wright into unchartered territory. It's as entICIng as it is formidable. it's well worth repeated listens. and it's a significant addition to the contemporary Scottish music canon. (Nicola Meighanl
work as part of Ya/oo. Depeche Mode and EraSure ranges from great to tremendous and this beefy two-disc set is a fine overview of the latter's achievements. Andy Bell's Silky tOnes were always the perfect foil for Clarke's electronics and songs like “Oh L'Amour'. Sometimes and “Ship of Fools' are timeless examples of quality pop craftsmanship. which. for the most part. have aged exceptionally well. iMark Robertson)
POP ERASURE Total Pop!
(Mute) 0...
Vince Clarke is one of the great unsung heroes of British mUSIC. His
, Record Reviews Music
or) a- 1317 I O,
m ,.. «J
Ztflsu 1334 ti. -v-oo.
tuit- M
reinvigorated and rejuvenated, going back to their youth for inspiration rather than warming
up last night’s left overs.
Lead single ‘Omen’ is a blast of 19905 ravecore, the kiddie xylophone adding a creepy refrain as befits the title; ‘Thunder’ borrows heavily from their classic ‘Outer Space', mixing hammering bass with dub vocals; Dave Grohl adds his tub thumping to ‘Run With the Wolves' and it all crashes to a close with the 903 staple, the comedown ‘sunrise anthem’, on ‘Stand Up’.
Most metal bands would kill for as relentlessly a pounding sound as The Prodigy have crafted here. There’s no real progression but the all out power attack of Invaders . . . is ultimately morish in the right setting, and although a bit one note, remains a floortilling stomper packed with punk attitude. (Henry Northmore)
INDIE THE LEISURE
SOCIETY
The Sleeper lWillkommeni 0....
Their sublime. string- filled debut Single. “The Last of the Melting Show. was chosen by Elbows Guy Garvey as his Single of the year. And this. their first LP. is full of a similar northern England charm akin to the Mercunyi winners. From the delicate seed of 'A Fighting Chance. this album grows to a sweet whimsy that delights in a spring time ambience. Close y’Our eyes and you can see the flowers blossom. The lyrics offer a dark nuance tltOugh. turning both comic and sombre in a way you'd expect from a collective that
Lair-u Egan
once counted fiirn director Shane Meadows and actor Paddy COllSltiltKi amongst its number.
Nick Hardy and Christian Hemming have used a folk past to Create a pop album of preCIous Subtlety. Even the ukulele makes itself welcome. Without the Cringe of it SOunding like a ROVGII)’.
This isn't Just a debut that promises big things for the future. it's one that delivers greatness already. iThomas Meek;
ALSO RELEASED
The Nightingales Insult to limit} rk’langbadi Farmed from the remnants of Brummie punks, The Prefects. there's a definite decadent mess here that .lonn Peel would have. loved. Grandmaster Flash 7739 BINGO (Adrenaline EINCNCII/iliiP/li Struti The stars have come out for the return of this production pioneer, With 0 Ilp_ KRS—One and Busta Rhymes all offering rhymes as i-‘lash reminds us why he's a hip hop legend Oumou Sangare Seya tWor/d Circwt Records‘i One of Africa's most popular Singers. Sangare has a v0ice that transcends borders With its DOStithIy. And Oprah Winfrey's a fan!
Josh Wink When a Banana Was Just a Banana vaum Record/r793) We've personally never known a time when bananas have escaped their fate of eponymy. but beyond intriguing album titles. this is a Superbly chilled take on how to keep to the essentials of dance mUSlC.
Empire of the Sun Walking on a Dream {Virgin Records) Luke Steele continues his magnificent Sleepy Jackson form With this Side protect blessed With a Vision akin to what the future must have seemed like in the 803.
The Airborne Toxic Event The Airborne Toxic Event (Ma/or 00mm The unfortunate name belies a creative guitar band able to wring emotion to overflow that shallow emo pail.
Eyelash Recession (Lost Boys Studios) The fuzzy production doesn't do much to help this earnest, but ultimately fruitless blend of pop and metal (petal?).
—"; Ma' 27/: THE LIST 65