Reviews. Reviews Reviews

So this entry and the last are chatting, about artists and records that everyone has, no doubt already made their minds up about, but they were written for my music journalism project so I thought I might as well chuck them up on here. Keep the anti-Ellie remarks clean please, if you would be so kind.

February 2010 [When I started writing this, then it got neglected]

Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History  (I always seem to want to call them Three Door, you can to if you like.)

Irish love spawn of Bloc Party and The Futureheads

At this time of year, hype generators like the BBC’s Sounds of 2010 poll can give bands a lot to live up to, and the ‘tastemakers’ didn’t leave ‘Two Door Cinema Club’ behind. This exciting Northern Ireland export are defiantly set to get some teenage knickers in a twist with their debut release Tourist History, which has eventually broken through to the masses after years of touring the array of small venues around the UK. But in fact this short and bitter-sweet marvel deserves the same level of admiration given to other distinctive bundles of inventive indie/electro such as Foals and Delphic which the band have opened for, during the time when most of their fans only new them as a myspace page or blog entry. 

The opening track ‘Cigarettes in the Theatre’ pushes the comic-book-reading student art-rock buttons and definitely shines some light on the Bloc Party comparisons. ‘This is the Life’ is a more indulgent melodic entry and ‘I Can Talk’ shows some cracking Futureheads inspired riffs and quirky vocals, putting them up there with some of the indie-pop names around this year. ‘Something Good Can Work’ is for me, the icing on the neatly iced sponge cake with heartening lyrical progressions and The dazzling catchyness of ‘What you Know’ show Two Door to be the  love spawn of many British bands before but still bringing something new and superb to the electo indie-pop table that you can’t quite put your finger on. The album ends on the ironically high spirited tune, ‘You are not Stubborn’ about arguing to the point that you can’t remember why on earth you fell out in the first place. 

This summer will no doubt be a massive summer for Two Door Cinema Club, prepare to be singing their tracks around the fields of Glastonbury. 

ELLIE GOULDING - Lights.

This singer/songwriter has been blogged and discussed online for as long as two years, with her album only just released this month, so the power of releasing tracks online has clearly been staggering. She topped the BBC’s Sounds of 2010 poll, and took the critic’s choice award at the Brits, and it does appear that the young star has, willingly or not, tatooed her name across the arse of 2010 already. NME have deemed her average and said that excessive hype is to thank for her chart topping album success, despite giving her a place on their Radar 2010 Mixtape, perhaps just as an accurate prediction or hype reaction. Such foregrounded, pre-hype has made the mainstream an unavoidable destination for Ellie Goulding, and any wishes to sneak into the limelight were completely eliminated. Along with the likes of Mumford and Sons, she has kissed the London underground folk scene goodbye, and said hello to Fern Cotton interviews. 

Lights will please fans who were looking for a record that laid her enchanting vocals on a bed of charming pop-folk and electronica, but any big ideas of this being the sound of the future would certainly seem questionable. It offers a great folk-pop sound but doesn’t move far from anything but the middle of the road. Highly successful single, Starry Eyed includes some rather gimmicky synths and sampled vocals but undoubtedly catchy power melodies. Under the Sheets is a definite addictive electro-pop love song, admirable for the bewitching lyrical hooks, and quirkyness to rub Kate Nash up the wrong way. For the less mainstream ear, ‘Wish I’d Stayed’ would definitely be the best bet, with its weighty sincerity, opening with  “why can’t we speak another language. One that we all agree on”. 

Potential pop singles like ‘Your Biggest Mistake’ cripple any denials of moulding the record to include the most mainstream of listeners and will no doubt allow for ongoing commercial success. A great first album, but it does show signs of the pop-filler which may be a struggle for some. To be recommended, but familiarise yourself with the humble skip-button. 

I sit on the fence. Which isn't normally I place I perch. 

Kasabian gig review for school project.

Kasabian - Milan Alcatraz 18th Feb 2010.

After supporting Oasis in a sell out summer tour last year, as well as headlining the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury, Kasabian have earned themselves stadium status. This makes things difficult for a fan to remain calm and give a rational written recollection of a gig when in the UK the prospect of seeing them without the company of 30 000 other sweaty fans becomes ever more remote. The Alcatraz is an impressive and big-ish venue near the centre of Milan, it resembled a more stylish Cardiff International Arena or 02 Academy. 

When there is no support bands at a gig, you’re not sure if you’re excited or disappointed, its the kind of rare, confusing and elated feeling you get when you bite into a Kit Kat to find its all chocolate and no biscuit. It did leave a lot of time for waiting around, drinking beer out of plastic cups, and watching the happy hardcore cling to the bar for dear life. The multiplying crowd eagerly gazed at the roadies as they wallow in their on-stage banter and guitar groping. The slightly early arrival allowed for a pretty mint almost-front-row position which would have to have been camped out for 24 hours at Glasto, so this measly 1 hour 40 minutes, would be certainly be worth it. 

As the faint rumble of Led Zepplin 3 that was barely oozing out of the speakers came to a grinding mid-solo halt it was clear that the waiting was over. The lights dimmed, drummer took to his throne and mysterious tour guitarist Jay Mehler donning dark glasses set up camp in front me. Then on strutted guitarist and vocalist Sergio Pizzorno, while hired keyboard player got in position for his role in this musical spectacle. Then the silhouette of charismatic showmanship that is lead singer Tom Meighan emerged mid stage, dipped his head and flew out his arms to the enticing sound of the ‘Underdog’ intro mixed with the roaring applaud from the suddenly animated crowd. 

Throughout the exuberant performance I was captivated by the humble cheeky grins from a band who seemed genuinely beaming to be playing in Milan, in front of a crowd that knew every line and sang along from the word go. There was no feeling of Brits-abroad in the calm, collected crowd with not one high tempered face in sight. Perhaps lacking that welcoming sense of unpleasantness to match a UK crowd. The set would have pleased an avid fan and lover of Kasabian’s debut self titled album with highlights being ‘Club Foot’ and ‘Processed Beats’. ‘Vlad the Impaler’ and ‘Where Did All the Love Go’ stood out from the recent album along with ‘Shoot The Runner’ from the 2006 release Empire. 

When the band returned to the stage after the encore, it was clear what was next on the set list and not a word was said before the evocative, and stomach turning intro to “Fire”.I remembered of the occult hold Kasabian had over Glastonbury 2009 with the hasty release of this single just before the festival. The set finished with the classic, epic, and distinctive Kasabian track, ‘L.S.F.’ Then, a wave of the Italian flag by Sergie before it flew into the crowd, and off they went. 

To see this band, in this situation gave this night the memorable moment factor, and knowing that people had travelled from all over Europe, like myself to be there made it an extra special show. The Alcatraz was packed, but the gig seemed to show a Kasabian stripped bare of hype, glitz and celebrity to reveal a fantastic live band who gave a crowd pleasing set enjoyed by all. 

Daisy Dares You - 'Number One Enemy'

A gimmicky approach to “I’ll do what I want” pop stardom, in a “girls want to be me, boys want to kiss me”, Pixie Lott clone, highly sellable package. ‘Number One Enemy’ lacks the mature, spot-on lyrical eloquence of Ellie Goulding but she does defer from sickly “he loves me not” teeny emo that may have been predicted. Daisy has followed her heart with her lyrics and takes more meaningful inspiration from family feuds and strong friendships.

The song could be completely believed as a 13 year old angst fueled rant, or a chart single attempt from a recently killed off Hollyoaks hottie, but as anything else leaves no excuses The video seems to be a feeble attempt at Lilly Allen’s ‘The Fear’, without the witty and topical song to match. 

I wonder if whoever harvested their money tree, or made promises of exploding record sales to Chipmunk for his weak rap appearance is the same person who encouraged Daisy to clamber head first through the Brit award shaped tunnel pathed by recent talents like Florence and the Machine and Marina and the Diamonds. 

More Avril circa 2002 than one to watch for 2010, do ‘know it all’ music predictors like BBC think the country has lost the ability to see through blonde hair and ripped Guns and Roses Tshirts? If (in the words of Chipmunk) Daisy is indeed “bout to take off”, then my faith in young British musicians will have to be restored soon, before it is lost forever.  

Foals - "Spanish Sahara"

Is a Maccabees style, second album chill-out and grow-up on the cards?

This track doesn’t only show Foal’s restraint to mount the alluring bandwagon of catchy vs quality, pop - indie boundary pushing, but with this anti-anthem they seem to have completely denied any acquaintance with it. 

With their second album, Total Life Forever not due for release until 10th May 2010, fans are left wondering if “Spanish Sahara” is an encompassing reflection of what we should know the Foals as from now on, or is it an emotive rose between the thorns of more Skins party hyper-tunes and more ornately and abstractly catchy tracks like Red Sock Pugie. Either way It seems a wise choice of first release for them to keep afloat in the unsettling and stormy current of indie-electro floor fillers.

After the first listen you may be blinded by the intensely mellow intro and distant vocals, leaving you feeling like a big flashing question mark, but you’ll be micro- seconds into the next when you’ll be goose-bump-riddled and lip-chewing at the prospect of this track being played live. 

Singer Yannis’ listless vocals and minimal beats initiate the record but then without time to wallow in ennui, the track makes a b-line for a mid-song progression that will hit you like the most sublime ton of bricks you’ve felt in a while.

When reading the mixed bag of online responses I conclude that “Spanish Sahara” is showing marmite-like properties. 

One word reviews

Mark Sharland - "Dynamic"

Anonymous - "Joke"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7tyLdKaru0

A Single Man

Amazing film. Too tired to blog properly now but will tomorrow. Want to put this quote up though, its the last lines of the film. 


" A few times in my life I've had moments of absolute clarity, when for a few brief seconds the silence drowns out the noise and I can feel rather than think, and things seem so sharp and the world seems so fresh. I can never make these moments last. I cling to them, but like everything, they fade. I have lived my life on these moments. They pull me back to the present, and I realize that everything is exactly the way it was meant to be. "


X

My Trip to Milan

On thursday I went to an airport on my own for the first time, In the past I've been surrounded by family or a big group of people to follow so I was kinda scared, but it was a breeze. The amount of advertising at airports is extreme, there will be a massive terminal building with a 100 foot long "Emporio Armarni' sign across the top of it. Is that really necessary? Constantly along the process of getting a flight you are constantly being sold things, every spare second you are given the opportunity to shop. You have already payed for your flight, its like products within products within products until you eventually get out into the real world again. The flight back was better cos I had a window seat, I listened to Delphic while we flew over the Alps. The world looks so much more beautiful from the sky even if it made me feel really significant it also made me almost desperate to land so I could be part of it again. Foals is also really good in-flight music, I think thats because its so melodic and futuristic kinda. As the clouds because denser and greyer I knew we must be nearly at London town where the sun was definitely not shining. But anyway back to the beginning of the trip again:

Kasabian at Alcatraz, Milano 18 Feb 2010. 

The Alcatraz is a big-ish venue (tiny for stadium fillers Kasabian) near the centre of Milan. We got there at about 8pm which we didn't think was that early but it was pretty empty, except the happy hardcore clinging to the bar obviously. There was no support and a multiplying crowd eagerly gazed at the roadies as they wallow in their on-stage banter and guitar groping. Due to the early arrival I was pretty damn close to the band myself, I would have had to camp out all evening for this position at Glastonbury when I was saw them headline the Pyramid stage. (photo on the side panel of me blog). Anyway I felt a bit star struck because the cheeky grins were so clear I couldn't stop taking photos. I hope you like them. I do think though that sometimes if you are too close to the stage sometimes the vocals get a bit lost, that might be a completely false observation but still, the middle is best. The crowd was also a bit young, and a UK Kasabian crowd would have been a bit angrier and more abrasive which I welcome at a gig, who doesn't? The bad were so happy to be playing in Milan and they delivered a spot on set with tunes from all three albums, Club Foot and Where Did All the Love Go? probs being the best. I made an epic video of the silence and riff-kick-in of Fire, because it was the enchore and I was pretty certain they were going to play it first. LSF to finish, tune, epic times.  I consider this a very memorable musical evening for me. Maybe even in the same league as the homecoming Muse gig.

I found myself falling deeper and deeper in love fueled lust with this guitarist throughout the evening. Lovely voice, lovely everything else. Yes please. 

The Rest of the Trip.

I spent most of Friday sitting on the sofa watching Chuggington and Dora the Explorer in Italian with my two little cousins who I stayed with. I got so attached to this one Italian cartoon called Barabapapa, They are like these little blob dudes who can change into anything to help people out. Totally lovable. Check the link in at the bottom if you like kid's TV. I know its not just me who enjoys a bit of Charlie and Lola with their cereal in the morning. I also ate pasta and ragu, yum, and played a few games of Italy's answer to snakes and ladders. 

Saturday my aunty took me shopping in Milan in the morning. When marveling at the Dior handbags half of me wished I had a credit card and the other half was thankful from my gut that I didn't. I bought Italian Vogue from a metro stand because I could. It looks so much nicer, and you have an excuse to just gander at the pictures and make no attempt to read the editorial. Winner.

There lots of balloons, and children in fancy dress throwing confetti everywhere because it was carnival weekend, when Italian's celebrate the end of the winter. If ours ever actually ended maybe we could do the same.

Saturday night we went for drinks in the city and it was nothing like any 'drinks' I've ever been for in the UK. I would like to introduce to you, the Italian Happy Hour. Happy hour to me means cheap pints or £4 all in at pizza hut. But oh no, we went to two awesome bars and the deal is that you buy a (pretty overpriced but VERY strong) cocktail, pick up a plate and munch out on the buffet at your leisure. The first, smaller bar was all cous cous, ham bread crisps dip etc. The second had lots of little serving points spotted around the open plan bar, where you would wait to be served a selection of random food. I love little food and buffets. This was heaven for me pretty much.

Then Sunday I flew home which I've already chatted about. Highlight of the whole trip including Kasabian? My little cousin Matia telling his Mother he didn't want Abi to leave at the airport. Children are so pure and special. Couldn't live with any though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgZzieE39p4