lemonbrickcombo

no two ways about it.

Keeping the armchair dancefloor flame alive. That Old Apparatus release blew my mind. Was expecting greatness but it's seriously a huge step up from their previous work, would never have thought that possible...

Sorry, that's the best I can do.

Most of Essex is countryside...

Good review though.

One of the few albums I've had for 4+ weeks and which I still don't feel I've got everything out of

It might well be the last. That's all I'll say on the matter. I make no comment on the other 10/10s - they were given by other reviewers for other albums. But this record is incredible.

Addictive stuff. I hear the FlyLo comparisons, but for me, this is what happens when Actress meets Madlib.

I want to clear up: this is a really punchy enjoyable record and I will listen to it a lot this year. But I can't really justify giving it higher than a 7 (tbh this is why I hate having to give numerical scores) because it doesn't really do anything new nor does it really give you that rush of 'damn, what was that I just heard'. I guess part of me thinks that in a few years no-one's going to look back on this record and think, wow, what a classic. Leave Home maybe. But Open Up Your Heart feels like a record to enjoy here and now...

Completely disagree with the reviewer's sentiments as well: OF should stop trying to be 'transgressive art' (whatever the hell that is) and focus on having fun and being themselves. Which is clearly the vibe you get from 'Oldie', and not from Goblin/most of their recent work. Most of their output has been self consciously transgressive but outwardly puerile.

It's a remix album and an exceptionally fine and well crafted one- I don't feel like there's any reason to try and delve into pseudo-sociology on this one. Seems like you've just taken some points you wanted to make and crowbarred them into a review without thought for how it fits together or flows.

It's like being slapped round the face with a fretboard. Don't always like Ross LOUDER LOUDER Robinson's production, but it sounds absolutely dead on here. This is just one of those albums that is supposed to be offensively loud, redlining the whole way. Which I guess means it's up there with Raw Power for me. Hmm.

I hope she doesn't take this article the wrong way. I love that jumper!

I really want this record. If it's even anywhere near as good as The Great Annihilator or the highs of Soundtracks For The Blind it's going to be stunning. Very excited about seeing them live as well.

The Flava of Love was priceless, absolutely essential viewing.

You really bring the whole aesthetic and aura they have to life, and it's really relevant given the impact they've had on people like Wayne and Gucci. I've always tried to explain to people why I love this kind of stuff and completely failed. Think I might have to crib some quotes from here.

They're more languid, stylistically speaking. I dunno, I find it annoying when everyone just goes OMG A TWO PIECE WOW THEY MUST SOUND LIKE EVERY OTHER TWO PIECE. I think the best thing about Tweak Bird (and Japandroids, as well) is that they are a two piece who make an effort to sound more than just a duo. I like that.

Sad that Mayer Hawthorne was a let down, I'd love to see him live. His album is a real slice of fun.

I don't know if that's good or bad. And I didn't have time to talk about that in the review.

The American Civil War

http://open.spotify.com/user/comradephil/playlist/3tVnf9hyk6og2EVmXKE4bX

He literally can't stop singing their praises on his twitter, so this isn't too much of a shock. Still, this Roots album is sounding exciting.

Sounds pretty interesting, even if I don't get all the genres you're referencing. 'Music for Real Airports' is great, as is Alva Noto - they dragged me through some serious exams and revision. Remember pulling an all nighter and the sun coming up outside my room to 'Sleep Deprivation 2'. Strangely appropriate.

That Flying Lotus album is so loopy, I still haven't got my head around it all. I think it's pure brilliance though, definitely one of my records of the year. Did anyone read the blog post he wrote about taking DMT? You kinda wonder if that's influenced this new buckshot approach to styles and beats...

but this review makes me feel a bit cold. I've definitely fallen way out of touch with the hardcore scene, will be checking out some of the stuff you're namedropping here. Any recommendations? I know and love Cursed, but would like some other stuff which is angry yet clever enough to keep me interested.

I reckon Bowie's mix is much more abrupt and unhinged sounding which I prefer vastly to Iggy's more wall of sound approach - I love the way guitar cuts in and out, it gives the album this amazingly crazed quality.

I mean, consensus on Raw Power as an original recording is that it's up there with the very best.

What I was reviewing wasn't the original recording, but the original recording plus a fairly hit and miss bonus disc and a pretty enthralling live recording.

My trousers are slightly damp now.

Thanks Joe, excellent read as ever.

Shame I never got to go....

Excited.

But yeah, it's an acquired taste. Wasn't so sold on the last record, it had this habit of washing over me, which I suspect was the aim, but I struggled to really get into it. Which is shame, given how much I love Black Eyes. Might give this a spin to see though...

sounds like the EP rather than the album. Ie fucking brilliant.

Which I initially did want to award it, is the fact that it takes several listens to fully unfold and show what it's about. That and the fact that it probably can't match the sheer jawdropping sensation of listening to 4th World War for the first time.

But I think it's an amazing and brilliant record that is seriously unlikely to be bettered by anything I know of coming out this year.

Think I'll be checking this out though...

What's puzzling me is all the complaints about his vocals...to me they're far less irritating than Dave Longstreth or Jamie Stewart, for example. Reminds me a lot of Swans, that same maelstrom like instrumentation that seems to blitz your ears whether it's quiet or loud.

And also some Kevin Drumm.

But the tracks from the album they've put up aren't really revving me up so much.

Nonetheless the review hasn't dampened my excitement for this release.

Really enjoyable.

Guess it's worth shelling out for the re-issue if it sounds that good....

At first I was so against their new sound and their upbeat lyrics.

But it's a really brave and different album to what they've done before, and there are some very strong tracks on there. They just don't sound like the Clipse of old is all which is by no means a bad thing as I reckon their schtick would've got boring.

I love Freedom. Great track.

Oh and I'm Good still blows so hard. Awful awful track.

Imma get it.

Contact and Start To Dreaming are wonderful.

Alas, Flying Lotus was playing the same night in Bristol.

Hope they make it back soon.

I'm not sure why you've lumped it in with this sprawling LP....

just this thick treacley wall of sound. They were all so high though. As expected.

Song is awful.