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ELECTRONICA ROCK
MAHMAOUKE DUKE
Duke Pandemonium
(14th Floor Recordsi 0000
The second album from the collision of chaos that is Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil and JP Reid of Sucioperro is the next chapter in the life of the mysterious and magnificent Marmaduke Duke. And it seems to be that chapter where we find out that he likes to have a little fun.
Born of a book written by the parents of a mutual Portuguese friend, the duo brought the Duke’s life to record on their debut, The Magnificent Duke - an album of mixed mentalities, soundtracking a psychosis and instability on the part of their embellished protagonist. Here though, the Duke is on his way up - ready to party, ready for life, with the future just an afterthought. He’s George Best down the pub, he’s Sid Vicious before the heroin did its job, he’s the heart of a bloody good record.
‘Heartburn' is the menacing opener, all twisted beats and rattlesnake percussion. It may lack the hiss, but it has the venom, and it’s a bite that rushes straight to the head. Then it's the turn of the body, with ‘Everybody Dance’ spiked and driven by the beat, more akin to LCD Soundsystem or Daft Punk than the soaring rock of their day jobs. ‘Kid Gloves’ stands out as ambient reflection though - a cigarette on the doorstep in this house party of hedonism - and current single ‘Rubber Lover’ has an unexpected pop melody too obvious too ignore.
The Duke’s grown up and got over his past and invited you to celebrate. It’d be rude to ignore him. (Thomas Meek)
Hopkins. This moving. bittersweet instrumental record blends sweeping orchestration, glitchy beats. plaintive piano lines and poignant comedown synths to create something powerfully emotional. From the wide-eyed epic vistas of recent single ‘Light Through the Veins' to the jittery techno of ‘Col0ur Eye'. the edgy stomp of the title track to the heartbreaking piano interlude of “Small Memory'. this is an accomplished and diverse record which manages to sound utterly current yet also somehow timeless. (Doug Johnstone)
JAZZ’FOLK
BILL WELLS & MAHER SHALAL HASH BAZ
Gok
(Geographic) 0000
Inhabiting the Cartesian co-ordinate that melodically aligns Tokyo
With Falkirk. Gok is a
sublime anthology of avant-garde lullabies and gentle (822. from Scots OutSIder dignitary Bill Wells and Japanese folk-punks Maher Shalal Hash Baz.
Gok serves as a testament to Wells' aVid Synergetic mettle (he's also worked With Aidan Moffat. Norman Blake and Jens Lekmanl. and showcases many of his best-loved live works to date.
Most of all, however, it basks in the warm. loose spirit of improvisation between Wells and long-term collaborators Maher. It slowly, gloriously unfolds as a timeless eulogy to invention. spontaneity
and harmony. It's lovely. (Nicola Meighanl
ELECTRO JUNIOR BOYS Begone Dull Care (Domino) 0..
If Junior Boys' first album. Last Exrt was a coIOur. it woold be icy blue. Cool. glassy art- electro With a Sulky seXiness proved the Canadians to be a electro—pop force to be reckoned With. Five years later, third album Begone Dul/ Care has an altogether sunnier. bright yellow feel. in the shamelessly upbeat and dancey 808 beats of “Bits and Pieces' or the carefree swoon of 'Sneak a Picture'. Although bull to Pause'
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tif 7‘: EAL“ COt iNTHV BOB LOG Ill
My Shit is Perfect iBirdn‘ian O.
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Supposedly based in both Arizona and Australia. Bob Log III is a one man band anomaly who gets his kicks through ft'Ullz'ltttf slide-guitar blues that deviates severely from tradition and is. as one might deduce from his fourth album's title. totally foul. My Shit is Perfect vibrates With tiresome techno beats which rob it of any senSible songs while most of the words Bob muffles or seemingly raps are utterly indeCipherable. ‘Shake a Little. Wiggle it and Jiggle It Too' might be redeeming in the context of a drunken hoedown and y'all can save “Shinkansen The" for that demented hillbilly rave yOu've been meaning to throw. (Kelly Smithi
FOLK BLUES
TOM BROSSEAU Posthumous Success (Fat Cab 0000
Bobbins tO the album title. Tommy 8: this finger pickin' North Dakota man won't have to wait until his expiration date to enJOy basking in a little glory His style has evolved from the basic one vOice. one aCOListic guitar set-up (as seen Supporting Cat Power on the Renfrew Ferry a few Triptychs 890) into a more layered nose. and a very warm. gentle.
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SILVERSUN PICKUPS Swoon
‘Da'ltiettii'i Throws OOO
\‘v’itl‘altLui“'1_ii'it>e' Cal:7ornia's Sl".lttiti.i'l Pickups certainly be snaking thnse Smashing P;iii‘i)ki'::. comparisons. Espec‘a'lx in. the higher reg'sters Brian Aubert 's totals take on a Bill, Co'gai‘ whine. But is that fl(3(;(:825£lli.‘,‘ a bad thing :‘ Paying honiage ft. the celestial giange of their forefathers ias we:i as shades of My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth, rather than bowing down g, s stavisM cOpyists. The Pickups stick to a formula of ha/y lolloping guitar fu/x. There's also itirking depth as tracks cascade into blurre : siiiiiiiiieiiiv} riffs, yelped ’tistri'ini’;s and heavy hooks. It might be a bit one note. but at least it's a good note. vHenry N()Tt'il"’).’t1
DANCE
WILLIAM ORBIT My Oracle Lives Upstairs
(Kobalt Digitali O.
The man best known as the studio button- pushing monkey for Madonna's Ray of Light album has apparently given up production duties of late to concentrate on his own muse. On this evidence. it's a big mistake. because Orbit is not an inspired songwriter at all
The Maccabees liar» c' A'n‘s rFic.‘ Reeves Brighton‘s bibhcalix named fl\t‘ piece are :1\'.iitl\ earning a reputation as one ot Britain‘s finest ii‘ve band‘s This new effort is full at Sincere. indie. and wonder: a tiesh expanse at melodic goodness and a slow motion kick in the gonads for the t'tuintet's critics. Vacuum Spasm Babies l'i’hipp/ng Clowns tShark Batten Brothers Malcolm Spasm and Charles S Bravo sound like a supeiheio and his Sidekick on an eccentric musical guest The Scottish oddballs coniuie up a crazed (JOHUCTIOTT ranging from catchy pop to downright awkward clown thrashing.
Cats on Fire Our Ternperance Movement rJo/iarina Kustannusr This Finnish foursome do not endOi'se cruelty to animals but do enjoy a haiku from time to time. The indie rockers have cool storybook names like BJOikas and Hoglund and produce Jingle (angle tracks that make you want to share ‘feriiper't'ince With the world.
Yung Unconventiona/ Host/e (MKD Recordings) Another ‘gangsta rappa' from London-based collective MKD. Yung does his thing pretty conventionally but manages to entertain on a sub-cranial level. His ‘innit' beats entice some enioyable head nodding and the odd homie hand signal.
and his Cheesy seduenoeri beats and samples scritick seein‘, stuck in “/18. giriiig this latest solo outing a horribly dated feel. Half this record sounds like dreadful instrurrierital Outtakes from Ray of Light. lacking charisrria, charrri, in rention or any kind of some depth. (Deug Johnstonei
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