New CD's reviewed below - Animal Liberation Orchestra, Clearlake, CORD, Dirty Pretty Things, The Feeling, Ghostly Man, Hope Of The States, Lady Sovereign, The Like, Matt Costa, Nine Black Alps, Pure Reason Revolution, Rivals, The Upper Room, Wolfmother |
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Hope Of The States - Blood Meridian EP new EP 3 April (Posted 9 March) "emergency emergency someone acting honestly, emergency emergency someone meant every word they said, got to beat em up, lock em up and throw away the key ..." the blistering chorus, the call to arms, the thundering charge of Hope Of The States. Limited Edition 10" vinyl from Columbia Records (Sony) on 3rd April. The band's second album 'Left' is due for release in June and a new single in May ... such is the way of business in these times of marketing and pre-promotion. 'Blood Meridian' is a brilliant track, fantastic lyrics suggest a much deeper raison d'etre. Three other tracks included on this EP .. 'Under The Wires', 'A Horse' and 'Drinkers On The Dry' are in the vein of a moody Jim Morrison - brilliant! XXXX www.hopeofthestates.com |
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Dirty Pretty Things - Bang Bang You're Dead new single 24 April Libertines-ex Carl Barrat has spent some time getting his act together out of the public eye ublike his erstwhile ... Pete. This is a chirpy tune with a message maybe ... 'Bang Bang You're Dead'! Ah it's the way of the world, never mind fifteen minutes of fame, celebrity big bully beckons and have you noticed how pop music had more reps in the house than previously, and a pop hit seems to form the background for every commercial there is ... that's the rub there are so many songs which are kind of well ... similar. Maybe Carl will finally step out of the shadows with this, it's a good tune ... XXXX www.dirtyprettythingsband.com (Posted 6 March) |
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Lady Sovereign - Blah Blah new single 10 April Lady Sovereign is blessed with an irresistably sexy voice when she turns on the intimate but I wouldn't like to argue with her. Amost as many words per minute as Ken Dodd 'Blah Blah' picks up where 'Hoodie' left off "A little bit of shoosh for me, a little bit of quiet for the MC now shut your mouth". The demo of Blah Blah was played on Radio One by Steve Lamaqc and Zane Lowe two years ago, the video which cost £80 to make was heavily featured on Channel U. Drum & Bass, Rock & Grime whatever you call it Ad-Rock of The Beasties has lent his talents to creating another awesome mix - Lahndon street talk and uniquely superb. I'm still surprised Sov and Preston Ordinary Boy are not an item XXXX www.ladysovereign.com (Posted 9 March) |
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Nine Black Alps - Glitter Gulch EP new EP 13 March Nine Black Alps have set out to up the ante here, and the pace. The Glitter Gulch EP will comprise six tracks from the singles, 'Over The Ocean', 'Llana Song', 'Attraction', 'String Me Along', 'Never Coming Down' and 'Cold Hearted' are included on this EP released next Monday. The band have just completed their biggest UK tour and head to America playing gigs throughout March & April ... as the PR puts it "awkward, erratic, noise merchants" - powerful and on the edge. XXX www.nineblackalps.net (Posted 9 March) |
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Pure Reason Revolution - The Dark Third new album 10 April Delicious is a good word to describe the lush full sound Pure Reason Revolution create. If this is Prog Rock it's also on the edge, a conceptual project which again will be on tour in smaller venues accross the UK this month (Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach on Tue 28 March). The Dark Third sample her is another slab of luxury pop ... 'Apprentice Of The Universe' ... I'm gonna have to send these guys Les Crane's 'Desiderata', they'll love it. This is brilliant and deserves massive and enduring success. XXXX www.purereasonrevolution.com (Posted 9 March) |
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The Feeling - Twelve Stops & Home new album in June The Feeling have cracked the Top Ten with 'Sewn', Radio Two airplay a-plenty and the yellow brick road is opening up. Five excellent tracks on this sampler include 'Sewn', their previous single 'Fill My Little World' and three new tunes the almost West Coast Eagles-ish 'Never Be Lonely', the mellow piano, soft guitar and vocals of 'Strange' and the up-tempo 'Love It When You Call'. They say they're heading to Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours' land and they've worked up some intelligent, thoughtful material here. You can see them supporting The Charlatans in April and on more than a few TV shows performing 'Sewn'. XXXx www.thefeeling.com (Posted 9 March) |
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Ghostly Man - Capital new single 10 April The legendary Glyn Thomas, long time member of Manchester's music scene now known also as The Ghostly Man ... you may remember The Alpinestars, that was him with his chum Richard Woolgar. Some describe Glyn as the Serge Gainsbourg of Manchester ... is that possible? Maybe. Anyways, this is a fine tune, big drum sound lush string like synthy accompaniment and a pretty good song to boot, file with the good stuff. XXXx www.ghostlyman.com/ (Posted 9 March) |
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CORD - Go Either Way new single 3 April "It's a beautiful day, I've got all the luck in th world, everone's eyes lookin upon me to provide, I just wanna understand why, I'm so dissatisfied". CORD are a new band from Norwich, Norfolk you may have seen recently supporting The Crimea and Orson - look out for them on tour with The Open in Stoke Sugarmill (15th March), then Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Wolverhampton and Norwich. 'Go Either Way' is an chunky rocker of a song, fine production, influenced by Muse, Radiohead and The Bunnymen. This will be a limited edition release - 500 CD's : 500 7" - I think it's safe to say we'll be hearing more from CORD, file with the good stuff. XXXx www.cordonline.com (Posted 9 March) |
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Rivals -
Collide / TheFutureIsWillingMeOn new single 1 May Rivals have an impressive debut here - the A-track 'Say What You Will' could be a major record release, and the anthemic 'The Future Is Willing Me On' makes for impressive company, with a bit of luck this 500 pressing limited edition single will reach more of the right ears. Lifelong friends from Belfast, Rivals are Damien Trainor (lead vocal/guitar), David McGarry (bass) and Peter O’Hare (drums)… and the introduction of Dave Dickinson (guitar) brought the band together. Their first recorded demo, ‘Starts and Ends’, was supported by Radio 1’s Evening Session and ‘Collide’ got it's first plays in February. The band, have already been invited to play with The Strokes. XXX (Posted 9 March) |
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ALO - Animal Liberation Orchestra - Fly Between Falls new album 27 February Following the rich heritage of America's West Coast music from The Eagles to Fleetwood Mac is not easy. Here's the 2006 Contenders and they're not bad. Jack Johnson has made the UK Top Thirty and has a sell-out tour and makes a guest appearance on this CD. ALO led by Zach Gillis delivers Californian Soul - introspective lyrics with sun soaked funk! Some catchy tunes here and some sweet innuendo. Good stuff. XXXx www.alomusic.com (Posted 9 March) |
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Matt Costa - Songs We Sing new album 27 February You may have seen Matt Costa opening for Jack Johnson on tour, thoughtful well written accoustic guitar based material, plaintively sung by a fella who's had a fair share of heartbreak. At the age of 19 and on the way to a pro skateboard career he shattered his leg in an accident. This sad event in his life seems to have generated a passion for songwriting and these are good tunes, well worthy if you're looking for some accoustic moments, nice. XXXx www.mattcosta.com (Posted 9 March) |
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The Like - Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking new album 13 March Hollywood gals The Like have secured the talents of Wendy Melvoin of Wendy & Lisa (of Prince & The Revolution) fame to produce this, their debut album. Girl three-somes are rare ... and I feel these gals have a lot to offer. Z, Charlotte and Tennessee each come from music industry families I saw them when they were sampling UK audiences last November and it struck me how well these songs are constructed. They're made for video and major market sales and with a little luck mainstream success may not be that far away. It's Interesting that they don't seem manufactured like The Sugababes and any one of these tracks would make a fine single. XXXx www.ilikethelike.com (Posted 9 March) |
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Wolfmother - Dimension new single 10 April Wolfmother release their debut album on 24th April and 'Dimension' the preview single two weeks earlier. Recorded with the help of Producer Dave Sardy of System Of a Down and Hot Hot Heat fame 'Dimesion' is a bit of a stormer, trademark riffing and a catchy song - another standout track from the recent Island Records Sampler. Look out for Wolfmother rockin' at The Summer Festivals. XXXx www.wolfmother.com (Posted 9 March) |
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The Upper Room - Sampler new album in Summer 06 The Upper Room have this week made Number 37 on The Top 40, a good result for the haunting 'All Over This Town'. Youmay have seen The Upper Room touring with El Presidente, Longview, Hope Of The States and Electric Soft Parade - a busy schedule and now a headline tour in their own right is in prospect. The next single 'Black & White' is included here and sounds like a higher chart position can be expected .. interesting. XXXx www.theupperroomsite.com (Posted 9 March) |
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Clearlake - Neon new single 20 March More city grime dished up hear by Clearlake. 'Neon' is the second single from their third album 'Amber'. The Long Range remix is pretty useful, a thumping bass and drum track and an almost disco like occasional string arrangement, with the Backstage Sluts Remix you get the thumping and the song. There is an unusual quality to Clearlake vocal melody's, an almost traditional middle-age olde worldy approach to the delivery - quite haunting. Mix that on the uptempo U2 'Desire' similar sounding production of 'Neon' and you get quite a potent mix. It'll be difficult for these guys to break through but they are trying something a little different so hat's off for that. XXX www.clearlake.com (Posted 9 March) |