Funeral For A Friend:Sixteen (Distiller Records 28/3/11)

Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 March 2011 00:24 Written by Dave

Wales' favourite woe wranglers; Funeral For A Friend (FFAF) follow up the release of the varied, power ballad littered fifth album ‘Welcome Home Armageddon’. By choosing the rhythm rustling and longing rock sojourn of ‘Sixteen’, as the latest single to promote their continuing reputation as foraging and expansive rockers. FFAF are backing their yearning rattling percussion pushed aspect of its set up, in order to keep their growing grass roots base of fans contented.

Davies-Kreye’s’ slightly nasal pushed and harrowingly emotive vocals that are backed to the hilt by stern percussion and spindling rock guitars, shows that FFAF are still keen to combine energy, rhythm and a bleeding heart in their music. Demo ‘Owls (Are Watching)’, is a searchingly built power ballad that use’s Davies-Kreye’s’ echoing and laboured vocals as well as his tempo lifting ability to hark back to their searchingly reflective days. This approach is emboldened by some eerily distorted backing vocals. Meaning that range and aching heart are still important elements of the FFAF song structure.

www.ffaf.co.uk

Rating: 3.5/5

Mogador - All I Am Is Of My Own Making (MOG02)

Written by Ken Foster

A concept album documenting the true story of being trapped in a lift for a whole weekend!. Maybe not such an horrific prospect with a fully charged ipod and this album in the library.

'Deep in Trouble' is a Tull like storytelling of the situation after the realism of the albums opener 'Unexpectedly, Friday' which introduces proceedings with a very accomplished Chris Squire style bass line.

What to say about the 3rd track 'Panic!'. If I said it was already one of my all time favourite prog tracks then you're aware I like it. Describing it is a little harder. At once the track takes me back to Genesis more experimental moments on side 4 of The Lamb Lies Down but at the same time there are shades of Topographic Oceans too. In no way is this piece devoid of originality though. At 6:18 it's too short IMO!

About half way through the initial listen, I realised that we had something on the scale of The Underfall Yard. It is complex without sacrificing melody, beautiful in a Michael Nyman way (One Day) without ever becoming schmaltzy and also grandoise without ever becoming overblown.

'Sweet Liberty' a literal reference to the point in the story, is this time a little bit more obviously in the Yes Roundabout era. As a Yes fan, this is fine in my book but I expect may draw one or two critical comments. I'm not trying to name drop my favorite albums in here but on a thematic and production level there are also shades of PF's Wish You Were Here. Straight from that analogy we arrive at an Apocalypse in 9/8 like section (Homely Smells Again).

'A New Beginning' dives off into folk territory, again reminiscent of Tull at their finest before the title track concludes the story. It's the low point for me unfortunately. A commercial sounding diversion which without spoiling the album would have been more suited to an epic finale. This track will however, probably go on to become their 'I Know What I Like' and does have an interesting jazzy conclusion.

So, all in all, an essential album. A must have. A slightly downbeat ending to a glorious whole. Where on earth did Mogador come from? An Anglo Italian ensemble based somewhere near Lake Como if you must know. Proghetti at it's finest and an artifact that you simply must own.

Rating: 4.5/5

Web: http://www.myspace.com/mogador

Litterbug - This Town (Sonic Vista 22/3/11)

Written by Man in the smoke

Litterbug return with a snarling condemnation of the state of a decaying northern town in a manner which evokes the dualism between punk and Thatcher's Britain. 30 years later, little has changed and the breeding ground for discontent is embodied in this latest release.

In genuine DIY punk tradition the EP was recorded at Rock Hard Studios in Blackpool in one take with no overdubs, warts and all. Mixed in true Albini style by Dale Smith, it's an onslaught from start to finish.

A distant echo from the band which featured Karima Francis and Andy Higgins, the torch is now firmly carried by Stuart Diggle who has assembled an angry 3 piece to launch his tirade against mass culture and conformism.

Satire, nostalgia, angst, humour and a big nod toward The Pixies and The Ramones make this release as relevant and exciting as the late seventies but with an almost nihilistic acceptance of the futility of our times.

http://www.myspace.com/litterbugblackpool

Syd Matters: ‘River Sister’ (Because Music 14/03/2011)

Written by Dave

Seeping acoustic touches and a slow building gravelly vocal echo leads the way in this musing echoing single, ‘River Sisters’ from Parisian quintet, Syd Matters. Heart-wrenching lyrical poetic longing of the Simon & Garfunkel variety draws you into their reflective cause:

“It’s not the sound of the waves I miss; it’s the shape of it.”

Soothingly gritty backing vocals and a well filtered, low-key digital kick gives the tempo a needy nudge, as the world appreciating and pondering steps up a notch.                                

Syd Matters have created a rich tapesty of an alt’ folk/electro and acoustic indie number that has just the right grit, heart and tempo kicks to help garner interest in their fourth album, ‘Brotherocean’.

Rating: 3.5/5

Alexi Murdoch: Some Day Soon (City Slang 14/03/2011)

Written by Dave

Foraging gospel indie-folk with a trickling acoustic lead is twisted into this stirring foray.  An “embrace the day” message is delivered in Murdoch’s laid-back, but earnest King Creosote banging into Nick Drake veined vocal manner.

Longing, yet uplifting is the overall impression given off and it adds contrast to this thoughtful first single to be extracted from the potentially hazy and meandering, ‘Towards The Sun’ full-length.

www.myspace.com/aleximurdoch

Rating: 3.5/5

South Central: ‘The Day I Die’ (Egregore Records 14/03/2011)

Last Updated on Thursday, 24 February 2011 22:23 Written by Dave

The rampaging Brighton remix masters seek to show they can  create impetus and irresistible drive from the off rather than instilling it into the material of others. Revving distorted beats and thumping bass-lines gives ‘The Way I die’, drive and bite. However, this isn’t matched by the trite lyrics and slightly limp vocal delivery that makes the track uneven. 

The Prodigy use their remix to input more grind and gruel to the rhythm and attempt to illuminate the pleading mortality accepting lyrics, but still the tune lacks consistency between the rhythmic drive and lyrical delivery. South Central give a hint that they could be compelling, energy inspiring, in-yer-face beat-masters, but they need a bit more focus and all round consistency than they have shown here.

www.myspace.com/southcentralmusic

Rating: 2.5/5