Music RECORDS JAZZ & WORLD
JAZZ JULIAN LAGE GROUP Gladwell (Emarcy Records) ●●●●●
American guitarist Julian Lage made a big impression as a teenager when he appeared with Gary Burton at the Glasgow Jazz Festival a few years back, and is now maturing into an idiosyncratic and fascinating artist. Like Bill Frisell, albeit perhaps in more overtly virtuosic fashion, his music encompasses multiple genres, from jazz and folk to Latin and classical. The combination of fine playing, intelligent and thoughtful compositions and the ensemble textures generated from his group’s unconventional instrumentation – guitar, cello, saxophone, bass and percussion – is quietly captivating. (Kenny Mathieson)
JAZZ QUENTIN COLLINS/BRANDON ALLEN QUARTET What’s It Gonna Be (Sunlightsquare Records) ●●●●● A breath of traditionalism amid the experimental directions currently dominating the London jazz scene from trumpeter Quentin Collins and saxophonist Brandon Allen, with Ross
Stanley on Hammond organ and Enzo Zirilli on drums.
The music echoes classic trumpet-tenor formations of the hard bop era, but with enough unexpected quirks to keep it on the right side of simple replication. Both horn players are direct and appealing in their approaches, Stanley’s rich harmonic inventions fill out the music, and Zirilli swings and grooves impressively. (Kenny Mathieson)
WORLD TEOFILO CHANTRE meStissage (Lusafrica) ●●●●●
Teofilo Chantre’s songs have been made famous by Cape Verdean superstar Cesaria Evora. With his own sixth studio album, 13 new pieces recount his journey from to Europe and beyond, delivered as inimitable, gentle serenades. Chantre’s a poet, and his deceptively light, deeply poignant sensibility fuses Cape Verdean styles with jazz and contemporary Brazilian influences. Unusually sung in seductively accented French, meStissage is moored in the bitter- sweet grief of having to migrate to survive, and the songs are imbued with the wistful realisation that wherever you are, home calls from inside you. (Jan Fairley)
WORLD ORCHESTRE POLY-RYTHMO The 1st Album (1973) (Analog Africa) ●●●●●
In 1970s West Africa, various ensembles emerged in the former French trading post of Cotonou, Benin; notably the vibrant Orchestre Poly-Rythmo. Their distinctive earthy grooves mined a musical axis involving Nigeria and Ghana. This is sensationally funky music from a 16–piece with brooding organ melodies delivered ‘wowow’ style over layers of gritty percussion, guitars and brass while founder member/ singer Vincent Ahehehinnou raises the pulse with chanted vocals. Exhibiting gorgeous sensuality rather than brazen sexiness: they prove innovation in the 70s wasn’t limited to Anglo-US sounds. (Jan Fairley)
ALSO RELEASED
SINGLES & DOWNLOADS
Glasvegas, right – they’re not for everyone. But The List don’t believe in hatin’ on your neighbours, so gave ‘Shine Like Stars’ (Sony) ●●●●● a spin. Bummer, though, because the latest single from EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\, may be polished synth- tinged indie rock but it’s also lyrically repetitive and structurally predictable. Metronomy, on the other hand, are a treat. ‘The Bay’ (Because Music) ●●●●● offers cracking basslines, rippling keys and sunbursts of harmony. Danceable, clever electro with soul. Anna Calvi’s ‘Desire’ (Domino) ●●●●● is taken from her eponymous debut, showcasing her engaging, melodic and introspective pop. The Kills’ ‘Future Starts Slow’ (Domino) ●●●●● is an edgy belter from the so-hip-it-hurts two-piece; their vocal and guitar style recognisable from the off – as if anyone needed another reason to crown Alison Mosshart the she-captain of effortless cool.
Meanwhile, Mr Scruff’s ‘Wobble Control’ (EMI) ●●●●● is fun, instrumental Korg beat-banter. Dynamic, sharply crafted and terribly moreish. Elsewhere, Le Reno Amps, Glasgow’s purveryors of ‘aggressive guitar pop’, follow up their recent album with Construction EP (Armellodie Records) ●●●●●. ‘God Loves A Trier’ is the stand-out track, ragged around the edges but still charming enough.
Special mention to Kid Canaveral and their jangly, summery folk-pop on ‘And Another Thing!!’ (that’s their punctuation, not ours. Fence Records) ●●●●●. The B-side, featuring Fence’s own King Creosote, is worth a peek too.
Claiming the coveted Single of the Month trophy though is WU LYF, who rock The List’s socks the most with ‘Dirt’ (LYF Recordings) ●●●●●. Taken from debut record, Go Tell Fire To The Mountains (see review, page 80), the Manchunian four-piece add completely incomprehensible cat-calling vocals to lush organs, creating dreamy soundscapes with a mob mentality. (Lauren Mayberry)
Chilly Gonzales The Unspeakable Chilly Gonzales (Gentle Threat) ●●●●● Jack-of- all-trades Gonzales returns to rap but, with no beats and only a scattering of witty lines, the self-declared ‘Louis Vuitton slob’ earns a place for himself beside Kanye West in the remedial rap sin bin.
Sebastian Total (Ed Banger) ●●●●● Hyper-energetic debut from the French electro producer/remixer. Featuring contributions from MIA and half of Justice, Sebastian keeps the ears busy while the brain figures out how to dance to it. Daft Punk with ADD.
Dionne Bromfield Good For The Soul (Lioness) ●●●●● It’s impossible to review this without mentioning Amy Winehouse, whose label it’s on. Her 15- year-old god-daughter shows no desire to step out of her shadow on this thin first outing of Motown-mocking ‘all- original’ material. Ghosts Of Progress Exchange Your Problems For Dope & Whisky (Motor Sounds Records) ●●●●● Turgid grunge masquerading as dirty blues, the hoary pose and blundering rut of Ghosts of Progress music at least matches their ‘unreconstructed’ album art.
Various Soma Coma 5 (Soma) ●●●●● Soma are 20 this year, and this downtempo compilation sees them trawl the archives for underappreciated or underplayed releases of the less banging sort. Owners of 1–4 will not be surprised by the tasteful selection. Something Beginning With L Beautiful Ground (Armellodie Records) ●●●●● Pleasant enough 90s-era melancholic indie pop, with synths, guitars and dreamily detached vocals, SBWL never make waves, but their water-treading is well rendered. (Sean Welsh)
82 THE LIST 23 Jun–21 Jul 2011