Flava Past |
|
New CD's reviewed below - Arctic Monkeys, Beck, Belle & Sebastian, Boy Kill Boy, Dragonforce, Infadels, Ladytron, Motorettes, The Open, Protocol, Queens Of The Stone Age, Secret Machines, Still Remains, The Strokes |
 |
Boy Kill Boy - Back Again new single 13 February London Quartet Boy Kill Boy release their debut for Status Quo's legendary Vertigo label and 'Back Again' lives up to the pressure of history nicely. Producer John Cornfield who's successes include Muse, Supergrass and Razorlight is perfecting the Boys sound for their debut album due in May, by which time there should be quite a bit of pressure on. 05 saw them at Reading and supporting Hard-Fi, hammered by Zane Lowe, Lamacq and Xfm. 'Back Again' already crowned 'Hottest Track In The World Today' see Boy Kill Boy on tour to promote it's release with a short tour starting on 17 Feb at Stoke Sugarmill. XXXX www.boykillboy.com (Posted 18 December) |
 |
Secret Machines - Alone, Jealous and Stoned new single 16 Jan Texas awesome Secret Machines are playing a couple of UK dates in the new year, at London Garage on the 18 Jan and Manchester Academy the following night. These will be to launch this new single as a taster for their new 'Ten Silver Dogs' album due in the Spring. At close on seven minutes long 'Alone' is an epic, whatever the x-factor is Shane hasn't got what these guys have .. there is something brilliant about the Secret Machines sound, like a cross between The Police and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and their songs grow, with the great stuff! XXXX www.thesecretmachines.com (Posted 18 December) |
 |
Protocol - Where's The Pleasure new single 16 January Bloody 'ell there's a 70's disco bassline in this .... and it's a top track. You may have seen Protocol supporting New Order, The Bravery, Fischerspooner, Hard-Fi ... this five piece sound well on their way with this storming refrain, it's like a mish mash of indie 06, 70's disco, electro New Order style "and I wont try to touch you and I wont undress you with my mind, so where's the pleasure with you?" - Top 40 quite possibly. XXXx www.protocolofficial.com (Posted 18 December) |
 |
Belle & Sebastian - |
 |
Still Remains - |
 |
Beck - Guerolito new remix album 23 January Beck still cool as f*** and this new 'Guero' remix project named 'Guerolito' is really tasty. 'Hell Yes' will be a limited edition 7" single released simultaneously with the album on 23 January in it's 'Ghettochip Malfunction Hell Yes' remix by 8bit. Also featured on this sampler are Girl remixed by Octet (complete with grand piano intro into hard hit drum track), Heaven Hammer (Missing) remixed by Air and Shake Shake Tambourine remixed by The Beasties Adrock. Top fayre XXXX www.beck.com (Posted 9 December) |
 |
The Strokes - First Impressions Of Earth new album 2 January The Strokes new single 'Juicebox' has to be one of the best if not the best single of the year with it's storming intro and heartfelt seering chorus and this sampler for their new album embelishes that. Previewed in a live show on Radio One last week 'First Impressions' includes some devastating lessons in how to make an intro. 'You Only Live Once', 'Vision Of Division', 'Electricityscape' and 'Ize Of The World' would each make fine follow-up singles, and as you listen to this you can hear quite clearly ... Franz Ferdinand. Yep The Strokes must have pretty weel been solely responsible for the Franz fans and now they've out Franzed them, quite simply harder, faster and stronger. XXXXx www.thestrokes.com (Posted 9 December) |
 |
Arctic Monkeys - When The Sun Goes Down new single 16 Jan Hmmmm ... well this may not be what you expect. Especially if you thought Mardi Bum might be their next single. When The Sun Goes Down is the tale of a prostitution and a speculation on what may have gone wrong for this subject of this song to launch her on a backstreet career. It's a brave decision to not do another formula chune, this is in a way but tackling such a down to earth issue it's hard to imagine a dancefloor sing a long XXXx www.arcticmonkeys.com (Posted 9 December) |
 |
Infadels - Can't Get Enough new single 23 January The Infadels play at Cardiff Barfly on 22 Feb 06 by which time this could well be in the Top 40. 'Stones like rock & roll/acid house/electronic wizardry' ... a pounding groove, catchy hook, powerful vocals and a remix by the awesome Jagz Kooner - it sounds like an immediate hit. XXXX www.infidels.co.uk (Posted 11 December) |
 |
Ladytron - International Dateline new single 23 January Ladytron are the heirs apparent to the Human League's crown. Helen Marne, Mira Aroyo, Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu are just on the verge of becoming massive. '604' in 2001, 'Light & Magic' in 2002 and this year's 'Witching Hour' shows steady progression packed with great pop songs. 'International Dateline' will be one of the first big hits of 2006 and with it's release the band will be announcing a series of UK tour dates. XXXX www.ladytron.com (Posted 19 November) |
 |
Queens Of The Stone Age - Burn The Witch new single and UNKLE remix 2 January The Queens third single from 'Lullabies To Paralyze' begins with Billy F Gibbons whispering a chant before the riffing kicks in. "Sounding like ZZ Top vs The Spanish Inquisition" as the PR says, this is a fairly gruesome title and features in their excellent DVD 'Over The Years & Through The Woods'. For added spice check out the 'UNKLE variation' remix - a rather more straight 4:4 beat if that's possible, good stuff. XXXx www.qotsa.com (Posted 11 December) |
 |
Dragonforce - Through The Fire & Flames (Club Mix) new single 30 January |
 |
The Open - Statues new album 6 February The Open have come up with a mellow easy to listen to second album. Right from the opening track, the epic seven minute 'Forever' you get the idea they're gonna stick to their guns and continue down the rather different path they set out on with their debut 'The Silent Hours' in 2004. Leader Steven Bayley wanted to get away from verse/chorus/verse/chorus and that he's done and then some. The Open's major influences include the awesome Blue Nile, Cocteau Twins, U2 first album style, Miles Davis, Talk Talk and Serge Gainsbourg - I'd like to be there when they meet Whitney Houston! High praise here for attempting to be different XXXx www.theopenmusic.com (Posted 13 December) |
 |
The Motorettes - Super Heartbeats new single 16 January Tynemouth band The Motorettes have come up with a dynamic three minute rock/pop single here. A fine debut with a catchy hook and fine production and a clever bit of vocal harmonic trickery toward the end of the tune. With a good vid and a little bit of luck they could find themselves breaching the singles chart - good work. XXXx www.themotorettes.com (Posted 13 December) |