Big guitar sounds, a vaguely Smiths-sounding vocalist
(except more up): it's a rich sound that harks back a bit
without aiming for any retro nostalgia. There are a lot
of people that like this sort of thing. For one thing thing,
there are anthemic melodies and a general bigness that can
make a dull day a little brighter. Quite nice in the depths of
winter.
(Snoodsworthy)
Highpointlowlife are a small label specialising in electronic
music. Unusually for a commercial concern, this LP is released
on a Creative Commons licence. Not that we're talking Sony-BMG
commercial here. We're talking Indy.
This LP starts with a slow swirling atmosphere that segues into
ethereal voices and pattering percussion and then onto some
pitterpattering and some more nice synth swirling. All in all
it's very nice stuff and if you like some of the offerings from
people like Warp, then you might like this as well.
(thunderfinger)
We have to say that the owner of Defdrive is an Mstation
friend and this single is their first release. What we have
is hip-hop done (well, sort of) by puppets, or behind puppets.
The track itself is a fun hip-hop track but to get the full
thing a live visit or a video clip might be the shot. Watch
if your hip-hop likes are more fun than gangsta.
(Dr Boots)
This DVD has footage from the Hotel Tour of last year.
There are twenty-four tracks from the Leuven concert which
includes a lot of the newer songs along with old faves
such as Go. There are also a further ten bonus tracks.
It's all nice footage with good sound and you get to see
Moby play a lot of guitar. Sitting at a keyboard or
computer has always been a bit problematical for this
kind of live performance -- namely one where people expect
various jumpings around.
There's also a CD of remixes with thirteen tracks which
take in the likes of Lift Me Up, Raining Again, Beautiful,
and Slipping Away -- there a few Slipping Aways.
It's quite a good package altogether and if you're a
Moby fan, you'll probably want it.
(thunderfinger)
The Infadels have spirit and space. There are some big beats
and some almost casual pub moments. One song even reminds of
INXS while another reminds of a more rocky Billy Bragg. So, yes,
variety. There are three mixes of the title track which all rock
along some.
(Psmith)
You can get a rough live sampling of the Cherubs by checking
out our summer podcast from Tin Pan Alley
which icludes the title cut here. Needless to say that the live podcast is
a lot rougher than this. It's nice indy guitar with drive and
life and spirit as well as a little melancholy but without being
morbid.
Indy means a lot of different things and one meaning could include
a bit of thrash but this is all highly skilled with stops and changes
and a sort of controlled life.
(Dr Boots)
AMPOP are an Icelandic three-piece band, and released two electronic
albums in their homeland to critical acclaim, one of their supporters
being the late John Peel. Despite starting out as an electronic band,
they began to develop their sound, moving away from purely synthesised
sounds and becoming geared towards more ÔorganicÕ and vocal sounds. My
Delusions, the title song of their recent album released to rave reviews
in Iceland shows this new direction and was played on Radio 1 several
times by Zane Lowe. The band also supported KT Tunstall in Aberdeen
last October. In a review by Kubiak at critic-instinct.com their style
has been described as ÒPop loaded with electronic, lots of emotions,
melancholy, melodies, a voice worked over with the echo effect that
arises and gives a tone mostly sad on the whole, disorderly synth and
some tracks that rapidly rise above the rest.Ó In Foggy Notions
Magazine they have been described as having: Òachingly gorgeous tune and
warm restrained electronic backing.Ó
Not being the biggest fan of voluntarily listening to depressing music
for entertainment I was a little bit cautious, but thereÕs something
about this music that is different to typical bands that seem to like
nothing better than to moan about everything. I think that this may be
something to do with the fact that they are not British and as such has
a different attitude. The tunes do have an edge of melancholy to them,
but somehow they are still (refreshingly) optimistic. I think that the
mix of the acoustic and electronic has been balanced very well, and will
certainly look out for their future releases.
(M. North)
A singer/songwriter is what we have here, along with
his guitar and a sometimes lush backing which comes and
goes. It's slick, has intelligent lyrics, and could entertain
you and make you think, or it could warble away while
people eat. Oh yes, and he has a noise voice too. People like Mojo
and the Times love him. Well, OK, there is nothing wrong with
mainstream skill but the person wanting this will be from
he mainstream.
These tracks are from the album Coles Corner.
(Thunderfinger)
< p r e > < b > D e p e c h e M o d e , P l a y i n g t h e A n g e l
L P , M u t e < / b > < / p r e >
< p > S t i l l a r o u n d a f t e r a f e w s c a r e s a n d q u i t e a f e w y e a r s o f
s y n t h - p o p o f a d a r k i s h n a t u r e , D e p e c h e M o d e a r e s t i l l i n t h e s a m e
s o r t o f g r o o v e ( a n L P o f h a p p y s o n g s w o u l d s e e m a l i t t l e p e c u l i a r ) .
T h i s s e t h a s t h e e l e g a n t p o w e r o f t h e o l d d a y s b u t h a s a l i t t l e
l e s s g r i t a s w e l l . I t h i n k i t ' s c a l l e d g r o w i n g o l d g r a c e f u l l y .
< p > A n y w a y , w h i l e t h e l e v e l o f e l e c t r i c a n g s t m i g h t b e l e s s , t h e
a c t u a l t u n e s a n d p r o d u c t i o n a r e n i c e a n d s l i c k . T h e r e i s p l e n t y
t o n o d o r d a n c e t o , a n d i f y o u h a n k e r a f t e r t h e o l d m e l a n c h o l i a
t h e r e ' s p l e n t y o f t h a t a s w e l l , a l b e i t w i t h a s o f t e r l e s s
i m m e d i a t e f e e l t o i t .
( T h u n d e r f i n g e r )
Mstation Pop etc Commentary, Reviews
pre Dec 04 reviews are here
Mon, 27 Feb 2006
At the Lake, These Days
single, Popfiction
The Village Orchestra, Et in Arcadia Ego
LP, Highpointlowlife
Puppetmastaz, Do the Swamp
single, 7 inch, downloadDefdrive
Moby Live, hotel tour 2005
DVD and CD, Mute
Infadels, Can't Get Enough
5 track single, Wall of Sound
Cherubs, Paper Cut Moon
3 track CD, Cargo
My Delusions
Youth
CD, Stimulus
Biggi (guitars, vocals)
Kjartan (Keyboards)
Jon Geir (drums)
Richard Hawley, Just Like the Rain
single, Mute
