This is the month that Ash's mighty single 'You Can't Have It All', came out; also the month that I was introduced to the mighty Battles (I now regularly drool over repeated listenings of 'Atlas').
Words - Suzy Sims
Previously published on Native.tv http://www.native.tv in April 2007
(c) Niche News & Publishing Ltd
Ash - You Can't Have It All
Infectious Records, 16th April 2007
Oh my, this is a monster of a tune from Ash. After a brief hiatus of getting on for three years, they're back as a three-piece with 'You Can't Have It All'. And it's fantastic. Everything in it is classic Ash, from the soaring guitars and dirty dancing bassline to the furiously pounding drums and chorus which needs belting out at the top of your voice. It's a crowd rocker and we get the feeling the immense 'Oh's will get the hairs on your arms standing right up come summer festival time. Has anyone guessed what provisional album title 'TOTI' stands for yet?
Visit their website: Ash
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Battles - Atlas
Warp Records, 2nd April 2007
Now this is interesting from New Yorkers Battles. ‘Atlas’ has pounding drums and bass with slightly whining, twisted vocals which seem all set to cause anger. It’s strangely compelling and makes you want to slap on some war paint and dance topless while shouting down a megaphone. If you want to slap a genre on it, try ‘angry dance’. There are shades of Marilyn Manson ‘Beautiful People’ thumping away. We could see the vocals causing the occasional listener to pull a face along the lines of ‘The Scream’ but on the whole it’s compelling and fascinating stuff. And singer Tyondai has an amazing name, which we congratulate him for. Well done Tyondai.
Visit website: Battles
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Beverley Knight - No Man's Land
Parlophone, 30th April 2007
'No Man's Land' is the first single to be taken from Beverley Knight's fifth studio album, due out in May. She's got a spectacularly powerful voice. This song is smooth and classy, but at no time the tune overpowers Knight's singing. It contains traces of Southern American soul and blues styles, possibly picked up during her trip to record in Nashville, Tennessee.We don't think it's poppy enough to be a major Radio 1 hit, but it's bound to pick up plays on the broader-ranged Radio 2. Sounds like it coud be used on a love film soundtrack. "But I will rise to start again..."
To visit Beverley Knight's website click here
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Fall Out Boy - Thnks Fr Th Mmrs
Mercury Records, 9th April 2007
'Thnks Fr Th Mmrs'. Uh oh. I am a writer. Fall Out Boy has plunged me into some vowel-less nightmare, like I'm back in my shorthand classes wondering wht th fck I've written. Looks like that keyboard-thieving bastard has been up to his old tricks. Anyway, yes back to the song. It starts dramatically (as dramatic as a pop-punk band can be, that is). It's not bad, but to be honest it's much of a muchness with their other songs. Crunching guitars, poppy vocals harmonising over the top, some Latinesque sounds mid-song, a bit with drums and vocals only, then the guitar smashes back in for a noisy finish. That's all the Fall Out boxes ticked, like they've got some kind of songwriting checklist. Although I am tempted to assume the title is 'Thanks For The Mammaries' that would be unkind so I'll refrain. For now...
To visit Fall Out Boy's website click here
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Field Music - She Can Do What She Wants
Memphis Industries , 16th April 2007
Out of Sunderland come Field Music. 'She Can Do What She Wants' is on their album 'Tones Of Town'. It's mild and summery and quite nice. Bouncy keys and guitar at the start keep this indie pop piece sweet-sounding with plenty of charm. "Don't leave me... it's easy," say the band. And we don't want to hurt their feelings, so we stay until the end of the track. Can't think of any words other than 'nice' really. B-side 'Sit Tighter' is a bit of an electronic fuzzy change; still soft sounding at heart but with much more going on underneath the surface, making it a slightly weird, bumpy ride. But it's nothing too scary. Because they're nice.
Visit their website: Field Music
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Gareth Gates - Changes
19 Recordings / Universal, 9th April 2007
"I know some people might just hear my name and throw the CD out of the nearest window, but I hope they give it a chance and judge it on hearing it, not on pre-conceptions," says Gareth Gates in the press blurb. Having retrieved our copy after it somehow accidentally fell from the Native desk round a corner, through a skylight and into the car park, we gave 'Changes' said chance. It might be a grower on young pop fans.
Yes Gates has a lovely voice and is probably a nice boy, but that's not quite enough and we doubt this will set the world ablaze. Strangely enough, the keys have a bit of Radiohead 'No Surprises' about them. This is sweeping and builds to a warm climax whilst remaining nice, but it might be too slow to be a big enough hit. It's actually a slight relief from what we were expecting. And at least it's not a cover of the Osbourne clan's horrific song of the same name...
Gareth Gates
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The Good, The Bad & The Queen - Green Fields
Parlophone, 2nd April 2007
'Green Fields' is the latest release from the band's self-titled, critically-acclaimed album. “I wrote this song years ago…” begins The Good, The Bad & The Queen’s Damon Albarn in - quite frankly - an annoying whiney voice, but don't let that spoil your enjoyment. “We saw the green fields turning to stone…” I’m put slightly off this supergroup by the hype surrounding GBQ (yes they were in other bands. Well done), but this is a good song which is enjoyably in a thoughtful way. There are subtle changes throughout. It’s delicate and moving and grown up.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
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Grammatics - The Shipping Forecast
Dance To The Radio
This is exciting. Grammatics lull you into a false sense of security, opening with soft tweets and an announcement that this is The Shipping Forecast, courtesy of the Met Office. It then strikes into something powerful, with soft poppy vocals, Jaws bass/cello and exciting, arty time changes to keep you on your toes. The twangy ‘der, der, da der. Da der da der’ (er, listen to the record to find out exactly how that goes. No we’re not singing it for you) sticks in your head. It’s the opening track for DTTR’s ‘Something I Learned Today’ compilation, which we’ll review for you when we get round to it, but if the rest’s to the same high standard we recommend you zip out and bloody well buy one.
Visit their website: Grammatics
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Lavender Diamond - Open Your Heart
Rough Trade Records, 23rd April 2007
There's something about the name Lavender Diamond which makes me think this is aimed at girly music listeners, short of including a box of chocolates with every CD purchase. Or maybe it's for gay men (there's a cover of ABBA's 'Chiquitita' on here too). 'Open Your Heart' is sweet, jangly piano folk-pop with Becky Stark's curious vocals sitting comfortably on top. It's quite cute in an epic, grown-up and beautiful way. Oh oh oh oh oh oh - open your heart. As for the delicately performed 'Chiquitita' cover, it's a exquisite guilty pleasure which glitters along and made me smile, although it had the unfortunate effect of knocking the actual a-side right out my head.
Lavender Diamond
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My Federation - Honey Bee
Eye Industries, 30th April 2007
The My Federation EP 'Honey Bee' is out now, and although we don't have that, we've been sent the Fed's album sampler featuring said song.
The title track is fast paced, with frenetic drums and fuzzy bass lines almost putting you on edge. It’s full of buzzing tension and surprisingly cute keyboards. Retro 80s keys which are slightly The Bravery ‘Honest Mistake’, then the drum/bass and pauses remind me of 80s Queen (in a way), followed by Beatles ‘Day In The Life’ ‘ahhhhs’. This rocks.
‘Don’t Wanna Die’ starts with the same farty bubbly synth before turning a little urban. Strong vocals, but this one’s a bit smoother, like butter. I’d say it’s good summer music. Is that a rocking flute they’ve pinched? Nice touch.
‘Open My Eyes’ thunders along pleasantly. The musicians sound like they’re having a ball, and that energy is passed onto the music. ‘Wow’ comes tootling along at breakneck pace – watch your step in case you trip. ‘He said WOW...'
'I just want to be you. A beautiful you I'd make. Can't you let me be you. Be you just for be you's sake.' Tripping over your tongue as well as your feet...? We get the feeling this band would be something special live.
My Federation
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Plastic Little - Crambodia
Make Mine , 16th April 2007
The cover to Plastic Little 'Crambodia' shows a man with Bart Simpson shaved into his head. Interesting... It almost starts like you’re eavesdropping on someone’s radio going off a few doors down, then they bring it closer and it’s a cheerful party rap vibe, fun and upbeat with some nice samples and banging beats. Guaranteed to get people smiling and dancing, possibly both at once. The girl vocals remind us of TLC (we obviously haven’t listened to any music beyond 1996… we know). Although as a committed indie kid I would generally be very unlikely to randomly go out and buy this kind of music, I would love to play it at a DJ set because it’s cool and fun.
Plastic Little
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The Shins - Australia
Sub-Pop Records , 9th April 2007
The Shins have produced another stunning, gloriously beautiful breath of pop. Australia is summery, sweeping sunshine and happiness over the listener. There are pleasant jangling guitars hidden underneath the sunny tune, and the lyrics are poetic and dark. “I felt like I could just fly – but nothing happened every time I tried.” This is a smiley delight and an ace of a pop song. If you haven’t heard The Shins before, you’ll wonder why the hell not. If you've heard 'Wincing The Night Away' you'll know this one already. It makes us strangely happy and slightly dribbly. (That's a good thing).
The Shins
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Siobhan Donaghy - Don't Give It Up
Parlophone, 16th April 2007
'Don't Give It Up' is the first solo release from Siobhan Donaghy, who may be vaguely recognisable to pop fans. She spent a couple of years as 'the ginger one' from the Sugababes before going solo, releasing a couple of albums and being dropped. Whoops. Now she's back, signed to major label Parlophone.
There’s an electronic squeal. Siobhan Donaghy has a good, crystal clear voice which reminds me of Matt Bellamy in his moments of fear. The music is slightly unsettling. What’s going through her mind? What traumas are in there? This is dark and classy. Tense, brooding and electronic, it’s pop which is out there. It's also more sophisticated than her earlier work with the 'Babes. Nice stuff.
Siobhan Donaghy
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Stateless - Exit
!K7 Records, 30th April 2007
It's a new single from Stateless, which opens with some gorgeous bleeping and soft electronic vocals. 'Exit' is pretty cool. The tune blossoms into something reflective and special in the light, but the dramatic strings hold it in check and keep the interest going. It's sophisticated and It sounds like it could be a stylish soundtrack. We think it’s even better than the ‘Bloodstream EP’. Their debut album should be along in June and they say it's 'for doomed romantics and passionate optimists alike'. Worth listening out for.
Stateless
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Travis - Closer
Independiente, 23rd April 2007
Soft, but not mournful. It’s sweet, warm and romantic, although if you’re not in the right mood it could be a tad dull. ‘I’ve had enough of this parade / I’m thinking of the words to say’. It’s nice and touching and like a cuddly hug in CD format. Perhaps some way off ‘Turn’ and ‘Why Does It Always Rain On Me?’ but this is suitable for Keane fans, those who like to look a bit misty-eyed while listening to music, and those who want something unchallenging and relaxing. Seen the video yet? – supermarket mascots, pissed-off checkout staff and Ben Stiller. Oh yes.
B-side ‘The Day Today’ is a nice, brassy, almost-Sterophonics style tune which also has a retro touch to it. ‘If you ever lose your way / your way / your way / your way’. Can we suggest they try and write longer sentences to fill a line / a line / a line / a line? It’s a foot tapper, and for some reason I could see it accompanying ‘Heartbeat’. Nice stuff.
Travis
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