Previously published on Native.tv http://www.native.tv in May 2007
(c) Niche News & Publishing Ltd
Adjágas - Lihkolaš
Ever Records, 14th May 2007
Curious. Plinky plonk folk - this wasn't intended for Eurovision was it? We hope not, as Norway doesn't really have a habit of picking highly successful songs (says someone from the home of Scooch, Gemini and the other losers). This is a real oddity from the Sami group, who were apparently set to open Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage in 2005 before flooding put an end to most of that. If you like European folk, chilled acoustic and a feeling of calm washing over you, then listen to this. Just over halfway it mutates into a waving piano with mournful strings. I have absolutely no idea what they're saying though, as jeg snakker ikke norsk (just that one line. Three weeks of Linguaphone, and that's all I got).
The second track 'Mun Ja Mun' reminds me of those chanting monks which were big for some reason in the mid 90s; this one bumps and shuffles along. Coffee house music.
Adjágas
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Josh Pyke - Middle Of The Hill
Joy League Records, 23rd April / 7th May 2007
Tense and dampened strums on this acoustic, indie rock song. Josh Pyke is an Aussie, although confusingly we seem to remember him being included in a recent 'British Invasion of SXSW' CD in Clash. Middle Of The Hill has a bit of a storytelling trip down memory lane set to grooving guitars with a slightly downbeat air about it. In some places it sounds like a less complex The Shins, and matures into a song which is charmingly rustic, perhaps like the house he mentions. ‘I don't pay enough attention to the good things when I got ‘em’. Learn from Josh and listen to this CD. Sweet and short. We like it.
Josh Pyke
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Let's Wrestle - Song For ABBA Tribute Record
Marquis Cha Cha , 14th May 2007
Possibly the best song title we've heard in a long while. Understated indie pop. The vocals are ever so slightly Eddie Argos. It sounds a little like it's detuning during the chorus which we particularly enjoy.
'Can you get that knife right out my back now please... And if the Book of Love says Right On, I say Fuck Off'. Such polite boys.
It's full of homemade charm and the guitar is reminiscent of early Pulp (perhaps 'Freaks' etc) The other songs on here are 'Quazar Blues', which has some terrifying roars and a silent break, because silent breaks are cool. 'I Want To Be In Husker Du' is led with a grooving bassline, drunkenly sliding around.
My sister called them a poor man's Art Brut, but I actually prefer them.
Let's Wrestle
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The Maccabees - Precious Time
Polydor, 7th May 2007
'Precious Time' starts with hyperactive charm. I love its different sections, from the clicking ‘Let’s take our precious time about it’ singalong to the softer verses, to the crowdrocking bits where the moshpit is dictated by the heavy guitars and overexcited drums.
It's a great song from The Maccabees and was enjoyed by everyone in the office, which is generally unusual. ‘Time can mean so much, are you still mine?' Sweet, and much more subtle than that Mark Ronson.
The Maccabees
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The Scare - Bats! Bats! Bats
Dance To The Radio, 7th May 2007
Or 'Punk Punk Punk’ as their MySpace description goes. The Scare are originally all the way from Brisbane and are now noisily invading our fair shores courtesy of Dance To The Radio’s ‘Listen to The Silence’ releases, which involve bands not from Leeds. Reading my notes for 'Bats! Bats! Bats!', I seem to have written ‘Dark. Thunderous. Class. Yell!’
In places it’s vaguely Pink Grease, that raw punky sound. Nice and sweaty and we can see it being part of the seriously cool music underground. B-side ‘Sister (What’s Good For You)’ is a synth-led nailbiter with tearing guitars, and it’s damn good. Scenesters, keep an eye for their mayhem at the Great Escape Festival shortly after the single release.
-----The Stills - Destroyer
Drowned In Sound Recordings, 14th May 2007
'Destroyer' is the first track to be released from The Stills album 'Without Feathers', their first for four years. It's punchy and smooth with colourful brass adding some spice to the indie rock proceedings.
We like this muchos. It jogs along with purpose and surprisingly upbeat anger ('I will destroy you...') We wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of their seething wrath. Good tune though.
'Only when you're dead I'll make you mine'? We're sure there's laws against that sort of thing, sonny.
The Stills
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Tiny Dancers - Hannah We Know
EMI, 28th May 2007
'Hannah We Know', the second release from Tiny Dancers, comes galloping along, all long legs and broad smile. Thigh-slapping and foot-tapping, it's a cheerful one which builds and builds until you find yourself running gaily alongside with a similar beam on your face. We think this is impossible to dislike.
Tiny Dancers
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Willy Mason - We Can Be Strong
Virgin Records, 14th May 2007
Willy Mason 'We Can Be Strong' is a charming, mostly acoustic, bluesy downbeat piece which stalks across the grass and sits in the corner with arms crossed, feet on the table, refusing to make eye contact.
Willy Mason has a surprisingly booming and wise voice which instantly takes control of the situation. That female voice you hear is KT Tunstall, by the way. Willy plays guitar, piano and sings, possibly not all at once, though he does strike us as being particularly talented.
Willy Mason
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