June 2006
Live
Goldfrapp
Boy Kill Boy Photo Gallery
Record
Ladytron
The Concretes
The Walkmen
Snow Patrol
Sonic Youth
Radio 4
Lady & Bird
Lola Ray
Rinocerose
Camera Obscura
The Ditty Bops
Live
Goldfrapp
It must be something that runs through Madonna's head from time to time. Imagine you
have enjoyed a level of success both enduring and colossal. You reside over an empire
rarely paralleled in the pop world. You have achieved an iconic status of almost
religious significance. And you will never be Alison Goldfrapp.
The comparison may seem mean and churlish but as Goldfrapp tonight play a set that
shows them at the peak of their powers, it seems entirely apt. As entrances go, it's an
unassuming one. The band shuffle on stage to the strains of cerrone's 'supernature (from
which thier recent album takes it's name) There are no gargantuan disco balls, no monty
python-esque mounting of glitter crucifixes - no gaudy monuments of neurotic
exhibitionism masquerading as artistic expression. The moment the singer launches into
the soaring operatic intro to felt mountain's 'Utopia' one thing is abundantly clear;
this performer needs no props. Where Madonna's ostentation smacks of a 'labyrinth
without a centre', a spectacle that deflects away from any kind of intimate displays
of innate ability, Goldfrapps' set is a showcase for one of modern pop's few truly
singular voices.
And what a voice. Augmented by a show of pared down theatrcality (2 female
dancers don a variety of outfits and a motley band that seems part religious sect part
Roxy Music), the singer clad in a black jumpsuit holds the crowd spellbound. The show
strikes a perfect balance between the torch song noir of 'felt mountain' and the
electro-glam of 'black cherry' & 'supernature'. Recent favourites such as'Number One'
and 'Ooh La La' whip the crowd into a frenzy. The more obscure 'Deer Stop' proves to be
a sultry atmospheric epic, transporting the crowd from the austere confines of the
fillmore to a world of weimar cabaret and tragic screen sirens. It climaxes with a
wailing vocal coda of such stark grandeur that one is left speechless.
The show's DIY glamour harks back to a golden age of pop as do the metronomic
glitterbeat stomps of their more feral numbers. However, the sounds (which swirl
through the mix with surprising clarity) are well within the realms of the cutting
edge. This effortless straddling of the antique and the novel, the utterly bygone and
the utterly modern makes Goldfrapp the most savvy of pop collagists..
Mathew Lindsay
Boy Kill Boy Photo Gallery>>
Live at the Fillmore 06/05/06 Keith Martin
Record
Ladytron
Extended Play
Rykodisc
Ladytron was quiet for a few years. They came out with Witching Hour earlier
this year. It was definitely their best album, and makes their earlier stuff
sound minimal. Now we have this remix CD and Ladytron have even toured America.
It's been a renaissance. They have five CD released in the past five years.
They are supposed to be in the fall of 2006. Ladytron have always been singular
and existing in a separate world from most bands. Some of these tracks have
appeared on singles and collections. Now we have a few remixes and a few
b-sides. There is even a DVD with the videos of "Destroy Everything You Touch" and
"Sugar." There is also a mini documentary of Ladytron's recent visit to
China. Not many bands have toured there. Reuben Wu is Liverpool born and Chinese
decent. This collection is more various and more danceable than the tracks on
the proper album. Ladytron is a very artful band, and this is more evidence of
that.
The Concretes
In Colour
Astralwerks
The Concretes are this band from Sweden that have been around forever. They
did a cool album a few years ago. They were on an American commercial. Now they
won't go away. Victoria Bergsman and company are back for another go. Their
music is very stylized. They are more like the third Velvet Underground record
and less Motown on this one. There are some cool songs like "Sunbeams" and
"Chosen One." The songs are good but maybe not as catchy as the last proper
album. They might have done ten albums over there in Sweden, as far as I know.
There are more mellow and quiet moments on this record. Most of the songs are
impersonal. We never really get to know Victoria or any of the Concretes any
better with this album. During their recent tour, The Concretes got their gear
stolen, and didn't bother playing many of the West Coast shows. Oh well. The
Concretes are good at what they do.
The Walkmen
A Hundred Miles Off
Record Collection
The Walkmen are one of my favorite bands. We have this third album with is a
departure. It seems like they have went in a more folky and Americana
direction. There has always been a bit of Bob Dylan in Hamilton's voice. In this
album, that aspect gets explored a little more. The Walkmen have always had sort of
experiential lyrics. "Louisiana" has a feeling of place about it. "Lost In
Boston" is another song that relates an experience. It has a wonderful guitar
sound that is really new for The Walkmen. Most of these songs have to do with
drinking and living. "Emma, Get Me A Lemon" has some cool percussion sounds on
it. "All Hands and The Cook" sounds like Ennio Morricone. The Walkmen are a
talented band. They have made a daring record. It is a breath of fresh air. I
look forward to hearing these songs live again.
Snow Patrol
Eyes Open
A&M/Fiction
Snow Patrol are a clever sounding band. They have been around for a while,
and now they are like a very popular band all over. They are playing two shows
in LA this next month at a very large venue. They played on my birthday at the
Troubadour a few years ago. I don't think we will be seeing them there any
time soon. They are hitting the mainstream as we speak and read. The first two
songs "You're All I Have" and "Hands Open" are very appealing songs. The
latter one is one of my favorite songs by them. Snow Patrol sound more aggressive
and louder on this one. The last album was more known by some of those ballads.
"Hands Open" has a reference to Sufjan Stevens, which is funny. This album
does have some ballads, but they don't seem like the showpieces. "Beginning To
Get To Me" is a very cool song. Sometimes this sort of emotional music might
be annoying to me, but Snow Patrol seems to create a balance, that doesn't
seem so predictable. Snow Patrol is a quality act.
Sonic Youth
Rather Ripped
Geffen
I always think Sonic Youth has broken up years ago. I always think every
album is going to be their last. I loved Daydream Nation, and a few others, but I
couldn't name one song from any of their album from the past 15 years. "100
Percent?" When was that? Well, I put this one on, and I like it. "Reena" is a
cool tune. It reminds me of why I liked this band in the first place. There
are actual songs on most of this record. There are tunes. Some of these riffs
sound exciting. "What A Waste" is a great song. Sonic Youth, I love you. There
is a future.
Radio 4
Enemies Like This
Astralwerks
Radio 4 was always one of the better bands from NYC in the past few years.
Maybe they were overlooked because they weren't trying so hard to look cool. The
music speaks for itself. It's pretty damn good. This album sounds like their
most full sounding record yet. There is a real maturity on this record. There
are some jamming hits like "Enemies Like This" and "Too Much To Ask For."
This album was influenced by the live show no doubt. Radio 4 has been on the
road touring for almost two years non-stop. I saw them with the Libertines and
Gang of Four. There are a few more electronic sounds and live performances. This
album sound very diverse. Radio 4 have expanded the sound and haven't
repeated themselves. They are really evolving the sound, and that includes a lot of
diverse music.
Lady & Bird
Lady & Bird
Yellow Tangerine
This is the new record by Keren Ann Zeidel and Bardi Johannsson. Keren Ann
has done a lot of solo records in the past. This is a little different. The
first song "Do What I Do" is more like Polyphonic Spree. "Shepard's Song" has
some weird manipulated voice on it. This is supposed to be a children's story.
But it goes on with "Stephanie Says" a song made famous by Lou Reed. "Walk
Real Slow" is like a Beatles song. They also cover the song "Suicide Is
Painless." Many people know this song from MASH. But Manic Street Preachers also
covered it. This album has a lot of interesting moments. Keren Ann has been touring
constantly for over a year, with many different lineups. She has let all
sorts of sounds and music influence her. It seems like she has developed a new
musical personality. This is good stuff.
Lola Ray
Liars
Benevolent Records
Lola Ray is a band that started out in Southern California. They met up years
later in New York City. Soon after recording a record they were featured on
Advance Warning. That show is really hit or miss. They focus on a lot of
good-looking bands that sound really shitty. Lola Ray seems like they really hit
their stride on this second album. They have really mined the new wave sound made
popular by Hot Hot Heat and Head Automatica. They have a lot of talent and
may be an exciting band to look out for this year.
Rinocerose
Rinocerose
V2
I heard this band a few years ago. It was the end of the 1990s, and a bunch
of odd techno bands came out. Even Moby was a big act back then. Rinocerose, or
however you spell it, really stood out. This release is like a greatest hits.
"Bitch" is a cool new song. I think the first song I heard by them was "La
Guitaristic House Organisation." This song is still as fresh as ever. It still
jams. They were always about guitars and beats together in a new way. They
sort of paved the way for bands like Ratatat and LCD Soundsystem. This is a great
collection.
Camera Obscura
Let's Get Out Of The Country
Merge Records
I didn't really get this band before. I guess my brain was operating at a
different frequency. This time around, I think it sounds brilliant, and I am
totally ready for it. This is a band from Glasgow, with a little helping hand from
Sweden in the production. You got a great sounding record. It's a little like
Saint Etienne and a little like The Concretes. Right on. The song "Tears For
Affairs" has a terrific melody. Records like this I could listen to forever.
Camera Obscura has made a really great thing here.
The Ditty Bops
Moon Over The Freeway
Warner Bros.
The Ditty Bops are all over the place. They are taking over. They are coming
out with a record every year. I like it. This time they have hooked up with
Mitchell Froom. Even Pete Thomas shows up on this. I am surprised The Like have
joined the action. The Ditty Bops are still set in the 1940s. They have some
lovely songs like "Angel With An Attitude." It's not like everyone is doing
this sort of music. They do have a bigger range of songs on this one than the
last album. They do a cover song "Bye Bye Love" which is great. The Ditty Bops
are refreshing and ultimately inspiring.
Alexander Laurence
