Giving it to the kids
‘We’re not going to fly the flag for either the indie or electro scenes – we want to bring them both together’. DIS discusses Sonic Youth, remixing on a plane, and ‘giving it to the kids’ with the lads from Cut Copy.»
Articles
majorleaguer has written the following articles:
Annie - The Wedding
The latest slab of electro pop from Ms Berge-Strand, lifted from her recent DJ Kicks collection for !K7 records promises so much, yet delivers very little.»
Skoud - Systems and Drafts
Fresh electronic sounds direct from Cumbria via Sweden (and St Petersburg) on up-and-coming label Motivesounds...»
The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
What's this? Another fine collection of power-pop gems from the Canadian collective featuring Neko Case and Colin 'AC' Newman? They should be forced to carry a handicap just to give other bands a chance.»
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion at London Koko, Wed 21 Sep
The band with a penchant for shouting their name every five seconds rip through their 1994 album Orange as part of the Don't Look Back series. Warning: this article contains theremin and Bush baiting.»
Martin Grech, Weapons of Mass Belief at London Camden Barfly, Mon 16 May
"...Unholy talent is definitely something he has in abundance for an artist of his age, it’s a shame he chooses cloak it with layers of diet-industrial beats and guitars, masking the man behind it all. Once again, we’re left wondering just who Martin Grech is."»
(Review of nothing)
When word leaked out in 2004 that Moloko’s Roisin Murphy was working on a solo record, it wasn’t exactly breaking news.»
Four Tet - Everything Ecstatic
With his new album 'Everything Ecstatic', it seems as if Kieren Hebden (AKA Fourtet) has decided to escape the folktronica tag by leaving his guitar behind, and instead surrounding himself with xylophones, gongs, cymbals to create a lush, if uneasy, landscape.»
Introducing... The Real
When The Real’s Kyle Gibson and Luc Gianello first met in a Melbourne schoolyard and decided to form a band, neither of them would have known that 13 years later they’d be playing at a west London club night run by one of the key figures in British music.»
Cut Copy - Bright Like Neon Love
Let’s get this out of the way first, OK? Bright Like Neon Love is one of 2005’s best albums.»
Brendan Benson at Norwich Waterfront, Mon 18 Apr
It’s a funny thing power pop. While the majority of music today is reliant on image, sound-bites, and media saturation through appearances on Ant and Dec, Parkinson and Popworld, it’s rare to see artists such as Brendan Benson eager to tout their wares to the masses.»
The Rakes - Retreat
'Retreat' is easily one of 2005’s best tracks so far.»
Autechre - Untilted
Like any Autechre album, it takes more than just a casual listen to really connect with what’s being thrown at you from the speakers, but exploration into their world is certainly a rewarding journey and 'Untilted' is just that.»
Le Tigre, The Hives, The Chemical Brothers, Beastie Boys at Big Day Out, Sydney, Australia, Wed 26 Jan
Another Australia Day, another Big Day Out in Sydney. The usual large queue to get in, so to pass the time I’d best look at my trusty timetable. Let’s see…can’t miss The Donnas or The Hives to start the day. RJD2 might be worth a look or perhaps The Music, while Kid Koala’s a must. Le Tigre could be hit or miss, while Slipknot and System of A Down? We’ll see. The Streets or Polyphonic Spree? Beastie Boys or Blues Explosion? Why’s this queue taking so damn long?»
Low - The Great Destroyer
Seven albums down the line and the mystery of Low remains unsolved, a band often described as the musical equivalent of the American Gothic painting; their music appears innocent enough at first, but beneath the down-home façade lies something much more disturbing.»
Various, Jimmy Eat World, Ben Kweller, The Raveonettes - The OC Mix 3 (Chrismukkah)
Yes that’s right, it’s the annoyingly earnest concept of Christmas music. Bah Humbug?»
Secret Machines - Sad and Lonely
Discovering the psychedelic spaceship proto-prog of the Secret Machines has been one of 2004’s true musical delights»
Jon Brion - I ♥ Huckabees OST
Anybody wondering why Aimee Mann’s last album ‘Lost in Space’ lacked the charm of her previous work may find the answer lies with singer-songwriter Jon Brion.»
Tribeca - Dragon Down
One can imagine bands such as Tribeca passing the long winter nights listening to 'Technique', drinking schnapps, and debating as to whether 'Music For the Masses' was better than 'Black Celebration' (the latter, of course).»
Interpol, Bloc Party, The Silent League at London Kentish Town Forum, Sat 20 Nov
Potential album of the yearers Interpol and friends hit the stage for the first night of their UK tour. Excitement ensues, magic follows.»
Maximo Park - The Coast Is Always Changing
Art-rock huh? Not when I was a young lad. Back when I was a boy, you knew where you stood with this rock and roll malarkey...»
Young Knives, Smilex - Rock 'n' Roll Russian Roulette/The Decision
Oxford's Hanging Out With The Cool Kids is fast becoming a label to look out for, and this split EP from The Young Knives and Smilex shows why.»
The Dears at London ICA, Sun 07 Nov
With 'No Cities Left', Canada's The Dears have sculpted a piece of richly, dark symphonic pop. The only doubts around the band were if they could translate such nighttime elegance to a live setting...»