After the last chaotic, uncontrolled debacle that as the last singles review in the pub, this time the Photographer pulled rank and we did it on our own. So, the Brewery provided the excellent beer and we listened to the music. Have a read what we thought below and let us know which ones float your boat.
Mclusky – Autofocus on the Prime Directive
A Shuddering, lurching hard core, punk treat, great stuff. The Photographer says that it’s got that jilted sound about it and I quite like it, like the album too.
The Sound Minds – Hide and Seek
A daft sixties beat combo groove. The Photographer says that they’ve got a Doctor Feelgood R and B thing going on, the lyrics are preposterously crap but the tunes great, could have done better!
Coming Up Roses – Tired
Goth pop, nice enough. The Photographer says it’s tired, just nice and a bit dull and a bit tired.
Mark Stewart – Neon Girl
An emotional, unfocused epic from the late great Mark Stewart. The Photographer says, laughing, I need to press play for it to get going, this is pretty much single of the week, it retains interest all the way through, the piano backline bit is great and it’s Mark Stewart.
Allo Darlin’ – My Love Will Bring You Home
A decent twee indie pop record. We will always need this sort of indie. The Photographer says, no we don’t. It is twee indie pop, its okay and it’s never going to set the world on fire, too inoffensive.
Dälek – The Essence
Excellent fuzzy, static tinged deep voiced hip hop, beats and bass are all just bloody right. The Photographer says, after a short argument about how to pronounce Dälek, a great record with deeply disturbing bass. A slow grinding beast of a record.
The Dirt – Chaos
Synths, guitars, drums and speaking. Odd but compelling. The Photographer says that they are not trying hard enough on the vocals and only Geordie can play guitar like that.
Sunking, Takoda – BAM BAM
It has great synth washes and skipping beats, gentle and a little fuzzy. The Photographer says that it’s a bit dreary and it’s not doing anything for me – is it finished yet?
CLAMM – Bag I’m In
Furious big and nasty hard core punk done really well. The Photographer says I like that, a good spiky beat and he’s shouty and making an effort.
Flava D, SOLAH – Can’t Get It Back
A poppy summery sunshine drum and bass track with an ace vocal. The Photographer says that it seems a bit too formula new school drum and bass, it’s just nice.
Dragged Up – Blake’s Tape
I like Dragged Up, this has a fast psych garage groove, then goes slow and into weird off centre pop, just what they do best. The Photographer says it morphs into a little bit of Sonic Youthy vocal with a Kim Gordon feel, but the tracks a bit average.
Boneflower – Pomegranate
This is screaming hardcore punk, okay for what it is, not really my thing. The Photographer says I don’t fucking get it, blatantly too old for this shit, screamo? I don’t know, I’ve lost the plot.
GHOSTWOMAN – Alive
This is ace, a night driving twangy gothy groove with an aloof vocal. The Photographer says that I can’t decide if I hate it or not, I don’t think I do, sounds like a nice festival type record to hear a tent with a beer.
SANAM – Harik
A track with interesting beats and weird panicked throat singing sounds which then goes very middle eastern, strangely excellent. The Photographer says that it sounds like indiana Jones being inducted into a Middle Eastern death cult.
HAAi with Jon Hopkins, Obi Franky, ILĀ & TRANS VOICES – Satellite
Disco, soft and sensual and ace vocal, turns more bleepy and squelchy as it goes on – really like this one. The Photographer agrees that it’s soft disco electronics, but says it needs to be played in context with an album.
Maria Iskariot – Waaromdaarom
Punk rock, with irritating vocal noises but great when it gets going. The Photographer says it’s got a great build up, the vocal is a little bit forced, hectic but the tunes alright.
Molchat Doma – Beleya Polosa – (The Crystal Method x Future Funk Squad Dub Remix)
A decent laid back groove and a cool beat. The Photographer says that it is blatantly TV intro music, mediocre at best, they’ve done a lot better.
Sandwell District – Hidden – Daniel Avery Remix
Is this House music? A gentle dance groove, infectious and really good. The Photographer says that I like this, downtempo with beat changes and interesting.
The Armed – Well Made Play
The Armed doing what they do best, screamy shouty hard core punk. The Photographer says it’s just another screamo track and I’ve made my feelings very clear already.
AGONIZE – All The Way Through
A shouty grunty metaltrack, good for what it is. The Photographer says it’s another front man gargling Marlboros and smoking Jack Daniels, just thrash metal really.
Unglued – Junglued
A decent drum and bass tack, it feels unfinished though somehow. The Photographer says that it’s got all the classic woowoohoos and stabs of early jungle and a big drop.
Mojave Phone Booth – Ceramic
This one is Shoegaze with a dreamy vocal, a mass of menacing sound behind the singing and then slow doomy vibes. The Photographer says that it’s a bit slow and a bit grim in an indie fashion, very twinkly bits towards the end, I quite like it.
Skinhead – Separate Choices
Just Oi Oi punk rock, done really well. The Photographer says that it’s three minutes too long, insipid thrashy skinhead punk – old hat man..
Terence Fixmer – Evolve – ( Marcel Dettman Remix)
This is Techno isn’t it? Great repetitive groove. The Photographer says he’s not a great fan of the vocal but I do like the instrumental underneath.
Electric Litany – Diamonds
A gentle synth pop track, better without the vocal, smooth and sheer. The Photographer says it’s just insipid eighties synth pop.
Below The Stones – Aly
Young local British Metal, and it’s done well, a nice stop start effect, loud and quiet, a good vocal and music, with the usual great guitars. The Photographer says that the intros a bit unnecessary but once it gets going it’s interesting.
Scott Lavine – Cars
I put this on for the Photographer, it reminds me of Alexei Sayle, great ranting about cars, hilarious. The Photographer says that it’s amusing for about thirty seconds, like me.
Fever Ray – I’m Not Done (Therapy Session)
The strange warped dance music with the brilliant Fever Ray vocal makes this odd, strange and compelling. The Photographer says that it is wonky vocals at its best, interesting sounds, over the top and the kids will love it.
Single of the week is unanimously the Mark Stewart track, it’s brilliant and it’s Mark Stewart so there you go, usually I say that if you disagree let me know, this time if you disagree you would be wrong…
The full playlist is here..
All words by Adrian Bloxham and Martin Ward
