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Meanwhile back in December 1999.
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Add N to (X) Avant Hard Retro-futurism
(according to the Independent newspaper). I think this'll take a
few listenings to, but I'm pretty impressed so far. A whole truckload
of synthesizers and is that a mellotron I can hear? "Revenge of the
Black Regent" stands out as a nifty Baroque epic that hums along only to
threaten disassemblage then gets back on track and hums along some more.
Nice.
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tricolor mirth + feckless
Okay, I'm a bit puzzled here. Is this the Nineties? These guys
are locked in the early 60's or summat - a bunch of three cornered guitar
(with treble turned up), drums and double bass hi-brow pieces. Aha
- it's from Chi-town. A brave attempt, but I'm not quite convinced
yet guys. Sounds a bit like jazz played by rockers. Needs more
spins on me CD player.
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High Llamas Snowbug Sean O'Hagan
is a sometime Stereolab collaborateur (eh?) so you probably have
an idea it's gonna be another slab of retro and lounge music. But,
the difference is that O'Hagan seems to have a few more colours on his
palette and isn't afraid to use them. Can you say wah-wah?
Plenty of smooth Hammond-esque organ work too. There's guest appearances
by Laetitia and Mary from the aforementioned Stereolab. It's also
produced by John McEntire (Tortoise et al) knob twiddler on several Stereolab
efforts. Zing!
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Wheat Hope and Adams Wheat's
Medeiros from last year was a little gem. Hope and Adams
is a more expansive effort breaking out of the guitar/bass/drums triangle
while retaining the obviously personal style of mumbled vocals somewhat
reminiscent of eels. It's again a collection of bitter sweet love
songs and angst ridden ballads, but the canvas is bigger, the brushstrokes
broader, the arrangements fuller. An excellent heart felt, superbly
constructed and effortlessly executed record.
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flying saucer attack further FSA are
no more, but the feedback is still humming in the ether. further
is the Bristol combo's 1995 release. Beneath the screeching, wailing amplifiers, reverb and hiss are some traditionally constructed rock songs.
FSA are a big influence on drone acts like Mogwai. "Rainstorm Blues",
the opening track, actually sounds a bit like a flying saucer landing.
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the american analog set the golden band
I don't know much about the american analog set except that they come from
Texas and that I like this album of brilliant songs showing sound pop sensibilities.
What I mean is that they write a good song. Yet, don't think that's
it's Stock, Waterman and Aitken that you're getting. These guys have
obviously absorbed the great American rock tradition down there in the
Lone Star State. It ain't all cowboy music. A pleasant surprise:
this'll stay on my play list for a while.
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Papa M Live from the Shark Cage This
is all too confusing for me. Papa M is what was called M in earlier
recordings and Aerial M in a compilation remix album Post Global Music.
The latter is one of the best remix projects I've heard. Anyway,
M is the brainchild of Dave Pajo of Slint and Tortoise fame. Slint,
in case you don't know, are the reference point for much of the
current US indie/post-rock/slo-mo scene. They made a couple of kick-ass
post-punk records then got the hell outta here. Pajo has bounced
around and. like much of the Chi-town mob appears here, there and everywhere.
Pajo, according to the Independent newspaper, is the best guitarist you
have never heard of. Well, that's all a bit silly really. But,
I digress. Here he plays all the instruments - primarily acoustic
and electric guitar with banjo and other strings filtering in and out.
Each song is a nugget of melodies drifting, intertwining. That's
the M style; that and a hefty slab of John Fahey influences. This
then is a Great American record.
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 EP
What a year it's been for Mogwai: a killer album (Come on Die Young); headliners
at Glastonbury; a well received US tour; let loose on Australia and Japan;
and now a stunning EP to round off things. There are four new songs
- "Stanley Kubrick", "Christmas Song"," Burn Girl Prom Queen" and "Rage:Man".
The now familiar loud-soft construct gives way on all but the last track
to subtle variations on a simple theme. "Stanley Kubrick" shimmers
with slide guitar and understated arpeggios. "Christmas Song" is
... well and excellent Christmas Song complete with syrupy strings, glockenspiel
and walking in the snow melody! A Christmas No.1 for sure (ho, ho,
ho). The Cowdenbeath Brass Band takes up the simple theme in "Prom
Queen". Stuart Braithwaite (surely) kicks in with a killer slash
of guitar "wall of noise" on "Rage:Man". It's all nicely understated,
but doesn't lack the razor edge threatening sound for which Mogwai are
now well known. A perfect coda to CODY and sets the seal on a monster
1999 for the Bhoys. The US version of this EP contains two tracks
from last year's No Education=No Future; Fuck the Curfew EP not
picked up by former label Jet Set.
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Fly Pan Am Fly Pan Am Weird goings
on in, of all places, Montreal. Fly Pan Am are a four piece drone/space/objet
trouvee outfit, stable mates to Godspeed You Black Emperor! on the quirky
Constellation label. They are Godspeed without the apocalyptic references.
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