Well it has almost been a couple of months since I last posted and although I have been listening to many albums in this time there has just been a few which have been receiving the attention they deserve – enough attention to post about anyway. I am hoping I can make a quick return once some of the others have been broken in a little more.
We Have Band – WHB
I have only had We Have Band’s debut album for a week yet it is already the album I have been most excited about this year. It could be too early too tell as I am still in the very early stages of listening to it however I believe that this could definitely be one of the stand out’s of the year for me. The band has been getting around for a couple of years with a few singles however I had heard nothing of them until now (except for a Bloc Party remix they did). I would consider them indie-electro-synth-pop, with similarities to The Rapture, New Young Pony Club, Hot Chip, and my favorite band of last year When Saints Go Machine. Although there are many similarities to other bands they have a truly original and complex sound that instantly grabbed me.
The track of the album for me is ‘Hear it In The Cans’ a perfect pop song with potential to rope in an instant fan base with radio play. I find the track just so cool with an outstanding composition, the intro and chorus will have you singing along before your first listen is up however it is the verses that really stand out for me. There are two separate vocals lines in the verse panned right and left respectively in each speaker, completely unrelated yet entwined like a knot together to make one. You will find yourself with both lines in your head unable to decide which one to follow yet perfectly happy with the confusion.
I have posted a couple of other tracks below for a taste of the album. Divisive is rolling synth number, separated by running bass and flowing vocals. Honeytrap is another track that is defined by the vocal variations. Three different voices are used to create a truly original piece that is broken down at about 2 mins with the addition of the female vocal which sharpens the entire track and creates the edge.
Due to the fact that I am in the first week of listening to the album I am hoping that this feeling is just not hype and it continues to grow rather then letting down.
We Have Band – Hear It In The Cans
We Have Band – Divisive
We Have Band – Honey Trap
Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History
Adso posted a couple of tracks from these guys awhile back (almost a year) and they have finally released their debut album Tourist History. This album has been the one that I have been listening to the most in the last month. It seems as though the Indie Dance sound I enjoyed so much a few years ago which has been manipulated and failing to hit the same spot recently has finally been brought back by a string of bands who are doing it right – how it use to be done. Two Door Cinema Club are making tracks that sound like the really good remixes of indie bands a couple of years ago. The originality I found in We Have Band above was not really there as much on this album. The tracks all seem to follow the same formula that works without fail, however at the end of the day I always need a little more variation. The album is almost like electro pop punk, with fast chorus’ and slow broken down verses which are concentrated by bass and drums and strong vocal hooks. I am pretty confident that we will get an opportunity to see these guys this year in Australia, maybe at Splendour or Parklife – I sure as hell hope so, as they would be so much fun live.
Two Door Cinema Club – Undercover Martyn
Two Door Cinema Club – Undercover Martyn (Softwar Remix)
Two Door Cinema Club – I Can Talk
Two Door Cinema Club – Eat That Up, It’s Good For You
Massive Attack – Heligoland
I have not listened to that much of Massive Attack’s catalog, only ever owning Mezzanine and well after it was released. Heligoland has taken a very different approach with relying on a range of guests to lay the vocals with the more known collaborators Tricky, Shara Nelson and Mushroom now gone. The album is really something special and takes you on a bass heavy ride with strong melodies and harmonies to keep you in check. My favourite track would have to be the opener ‘Pray For Rain’, which features Tunde Adebimple from TV On The Radio on vocals. I got the Itunes Delux version of the album which included 5 remixes, one being the Tim Goldsworthy remix of ‘Pray For Rain’ which I think adds to the greatness of the original in true DFA style. ‘Paradise Circus’ is another fantastic track on the album, which is also made better by Gui Boratto’s minimal progressive remix. I was unable to go see them live when they just recently toured a couple of weeks ago for a few reasons I still regret. I did get to see Delphic on the Thursday though and they were the best live act I have seen this year so far.
Massive Attack – Pray For Rain
Massive Attack – Pray For Rain (Tim Goldworthy Remix)
Massive Attack – Paradise Circus
Massive Attack – Paradise Circus (Gui Boratto Remix)
Massive Attack – Rush Minute
I am currently trying to sort though the dance music I have stored over the last 4 or so months to put together another Derogatory Playlist and hope to do this sooner rather then later so I can move onto some newer tunes. Sorry for not keeping the blog upto date as of late, I hope to move it forward in the future if you the readers are still keen.
Thanks
Jimps
