Innerpartysystem: American Trash (Red Bull Records 07/02/2011)

Written by Dave

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They confused, disgruntled and stoked up listeners with their emo topic tackling and tumultuous synth laden, eponymous album of 2008. Now, two years on they use soulful backing on top of twisting beats that step up to the Pendulum level of intensity. It sets things up for the bemused drawl of Patrick Nisley. Who communicates his annoyance and displeasure with a stirring stammer, at times, over those who dwell in Obama’s country:

“Stupid American trash... I get my facts from the T.V.; believe in everything I read.

It’s an ignorant bliss when the whole f**king world wants to be like me.”

The odd soul pop interlude provides for the reflection, before the grinding beats take over again, adding energy and a dance inducing edge to the annoyance on display. Of the obligatory remixes on offer, the ‘Adam Freeland’s Audio Wigout’ filters in some The Cribs-esque urban growling backing, with an acid fused, calypso tilted disco edge and some robust beats. Whereas, a nourish spoken word outro of the Lazyboy ilk is delivered through the twisted and distorted synths pushed, ‘Newsfeed Mix’.  Innerpartysystem have managed to crush rhythm, irreverence and eccentricity into an offering that will raise their profile and that of their co-operatively minded new label, Red Bull Records.

www.innerpartysystem.com

Rating: 3.5/5

Tu Fawning: ‘Hearts on Hold’ (10/01/2011 City Slang)

Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 April 2011 21:30 Written by Dave

Femme vocal grime of the Katie Jane-Garside meets Charlotte Gainsbourg and Bjork at a Bram Stoker theme night ilk, litters the oblique spare guitar twisting instrumental for opener, ‘I Know You Now’. Singer, Corinna Repp uses her haunted and harried style to make her determination the focus, with hovering soulful backing and seeping ambience providing a worthy distraction. More overall mystique and jungle percussion rhythm shows up early the broadness of this evergreen Oregon collective, ‘The Felt Sense. Aching backing vocals also help to set the stage up for the clearly searching lead vocal cascade, before a percussive rattle wrenches out the ambience and a ranging mini-epic is conjured up.

The gothic undertones that have become a signature of this band mingles with the steadfast percussion. A seeping organ touch and gospel backing, instils a chilling richness to ‘Diamonds’. Meaningful lyrics slot possessions into their natural perspective and a nourish element is spookily filtered in.

Repp seems to conduct the mood-building with her varied tones, managing to deliver desperation, without scrimping on the clarity. A 50’s blues pop toe seeps into ‘Sad Story’, as a horn march sneaks up on the trickling keys and a stirring vocal stammer mingles in well. It gives the song a compelling vibe. Shortest track on offer, ‘Mouths Of Young’ weighing in at just under three and a half minutes, is an alternative lullaby,  featuring an edgy yet calming femme/male vocal back and forth. Before Repp pleads hauntingly:

“How does a songbird sing for the world? And how does our loneliness deserve what a songbird  sings?”

The above encapsulates a rare ability to communicate loneliness without appearing one bit sappy. Daniel Powter would be able to fill an A4 pad with the notes he could take about this skill after listening to one Tu Fawning track! Clanging ambient keys build up for a quirky gothic/orchestral intro to the down-key and slightly morbid, ‘Hand Grenade’. It shows up an adept ability to grate and grind the listener into a state of submission, with plenty of help from the slowly delivered, but grilling vocals.

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‘Hearts On Hold’, is an album that that separates the elements of Repp and co’s songs so that the listener can appreciate the song-crafting process. Be it the slowly delivered demonstrative vocals, the mood implanting keys or the deftly atmospheric guitars? Tu Fawning continue to be atmospherically compelling, and, at times, chilling and increasingly varied.

www.myspace.com/tufawning ● www.souterraintransmissions.com

Rating: 4/5

Rodney Branigan - She Bled (LWBM Music)

Rodney Branigan is a multi-talented progressive/folk/fusion artist with a hypnotic compelling quality which - lets face it - is pretty rare in the saturated world of the acoustic guitar. Playing three instruments at once, two guitars (a 12-string and 6-string) and a tambourine, Branigan (seemingly) effortlessly produces a rich, textured and dextrous sound encompassing many genre's but which is ultimately his own.

She Bled is more of a folky straightforward affair, but Branigan comes more into his own when crawling all over the frets as in this video from Chagstock 2010. She Bled is a great song but in isolation won't give you a true representation of his prowess.

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Rating: 3.5/5

www.rodneybraniganmusic.com

Dropshard - Anywhere But Home (sonic vista 15/2/11)

Last Updated on Sunday, 06 February 2011 13:08 Written by Pete Loxham

The debut album by Dropshard - Anywhere But Home sits in the progressive metal category but is an album that can be enjoyed irrespective of genre restrictions. From the opening vocal harmonies there is an intent in this music which demands attention.

Further, the album provides a diverse mix of melody, powerful riffing, subtle textures and a conceptual theme that grows on every listen. Don't be mistaken into thinking this is just a professionaly produced debut because the compositions have more depth which surface on repeated plays. The band have eschewed the trend to pad the album out, instead they have put all there efforts into producing 1 sublime 40 minute piece.

There are shades of Riverside and even early Genesis that only Italian bands seem to be able to pay homage to without appearing obvious. But the true originality belies comparisons.

Although a concept suite, the album is broken down into sections telling the story of an innocent childs take on the world. Into the 3rd section (Images of Mind) the album begins to grow into a whole greater than the sum of its individual parts. It evokes moods that will capture your imagination with exquisite guitar and complex arrangements. In true prog style the album stands up to repeated plays and I am convinced it will grow in stature over time. Quite a remarkable effort considering it's the Milan based outfit's debut album

4.5/5

www.dropshard.net

Tom Tom Club: ‘Genius Of Love’ (31/01/2011 Nacional Records)

Written by Dave

Badly Drawn Boy: I Saw You Walk Away (17/01/2011 One Last Fruit)

Written by Dave