MASSIVE ATTACK - Heligoland

February 12, 2010

Massive Attack’s first album came out when I was 11. ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ was one of the lasting songs of my childhood memory. I used to listen to ‘Protection’ when i was getting my first teenage kicks and ‘Mezzanine’ was the beautiful soundtrack to our pre-Millennial paranoia. (more…)

THE XX - Islands (Untold Remix)

February 12, 2010

Because The Xx are so good, and so strikeaposevogue, and because they have such great taste, they have been remixed abundantly over the last 6 months. For me, it was some of the earliest (especially the Basic Space remix E.P) that were best. Others have been a bit crap. But I love Untold, and I love this weird, ravey, dubstep take on one of my favourite tracks from the album. Untold is ace.

The rest of the E.P is worth a listen.

OWEN PALLETT - Heartland

February 6, 2010

Some stuff about Owen Pallett:

Canadian. Formerly known as Final Fantasy. Released two gorgeous albums under the FF guise. Has provided strings and orchestral arrangements for Arcade Fire, DFA1979, Stars, Beirut, Holy Fuck, even Pet Shop Boys and Mika (?!?!). Mainly plays the violin and piano.

So, Heartland is his third album and it’s another extraordinary affair.

It’s incredibly vast and ambitious, taking his neo-classical blueprint and moving in every direction he sees fit. The appearance of the Czech National Orchestra adds a depth to his sound previously unheard. It’s still playful, fun, even twee, but it has a seriousness and focus that takes it to another level. It’s beautiful and strange in equal measure, flitting between styles but never losing it’s pop sensibilities.

This will no doubt be in many peoples ‘end of year’ lists, quite a feat considering it’s early January release. It’s just lush.

YEASAYER - Odd Blood

January 27, 2010

Following Yeasayer’s first album they were accused of being two rather contrasting things- hippes and hipsters. Their bright clothes and freakbeat sound did seem to suggest a certain truth in this but it was the poppier moments on that album that really excited. So it’s no surprise that ‘Odd Blood’ is a development of this sound. After all, nobody wants to be labelled a hippy.

So, in comes rave piano, big choruses and lyrics about love. It’s truly exuberant stuff.
For me the best songs are ‘Mondegreen’, ‘Love Me Girl’ and ‘One’. ‘Mondegreen’ is an incredible funk stomper, complete with saxophone, ‘Love Me Girl’ sounds like a Brooklyn band making 90’s UK house music, but better, and ‘One’ is just an incredible pop song and likely to be Yeasayer’s first flirtation with chart success. Don’t be surprised if they become 2010’s MGMT, but don’t let that put you off. This is great stuff.

PANTHA DU PRINCE - Black Noise

January 27, 2010

Minimal is much-maligned; a genre associated with blandness, with a sense of being ‘too cool (or is that cold?) for school’, perhaps even a little passe.

Pantha Du Prince’s third album is just further proof that this attitude is wrong. Gorgeous, accessible and melodic, but, most importantly, innovative and epic. Just like its predecessor ‘The Bliss’, this album soars in etheral euphoria and often sounds huge.

Having signed to indie favourite Rough Trade and with guest contribrutions from Noah Lennox (Animal Collective) and Tyler Pope (!!!/LCD Soundsystem) it’s likely this will be the album that really gets this boy noticed, but don’t expect any accusations of selling-out, this is more of the same, updated for 2010. Ping-pong chimes, wonderfully orchestral stabs, blips and blops, combining to create his own special, beautiful sound.

I reckon ‘The Bliss’ is one of the greatest techno albums ever made. This one might not be too far behind. Blissful.