Pigfish - The Reverend JamesEh? What I hear you cry, I remember you reviewing this yonks ago. True, true, but it's been rereleased, hence another critical appraisal. Still produced by Paul Siddens of Napalm Death fame, this is the sound of skinny white boys who grew up listening to the Buzzcocks and Stiff Little Fingers, and decided to have a go themselves. Which surely is what punk is all about anyway. Even punk of the pop variety. Named after Jim Jones, the Guyana murders and the US government handling of the affair provided Pigfish with the inspiration for the song and title. Not as good as "Sects" by Trust, but what is, this is raw, pop-punk best served up live and cooking in a sweaty pub near you. Contact - pigfish@felix9320.freeserve.co.uk |
SANTORO - Santoro (People Like You Records)Apparently, Santoro are a band that comes from a lonely land where nature gives to the people a certain feel of dust, wind and solitude. They invite you to listen to the music, continuous songs featured as one only composition, involving a powerful need for speed, psych and freedom. And you know what, it kind of makes sense after you listen to it. However, to make it easier for you simple minded folks out there, this is stoner, but from Argentina. Yup, Argentina. And even better, it's not in English, which actually proves how important the groove is to a stoner band. For this is good. And I didn't understand a damn thing. Even the titles aren't oo much help, although I was gratified to see that they have named one song after a railway station in my home town:-) YA NO HAY / GERMINAL / TURBOLORNA / ME SANGRA / CAIN Y ABEL / TUTANKAMON / HAY MARKET / ASTRALIANO / AQUAVULVA / MARLON BRANDON / UN VASO / SUPER8VOLANTE More Kyuss than pop pap like QOTSA, this is like an even more low slung Unida and is uniformly excellent. Contact; People Like You Records Bissenkamp 17 44135 Dortmund Germany info@peoplelikeyou.de |
Jennifer Hope - Reflections Of An Enchanted SoulSo new hair do, new ceedee. The hairs an improvement, but what about the music:-) Jennifer Hopes latest and follow up to the rather delightful "Winds of Tomorrow" is an engaging new age / goth hybrid with nods to Kate Bush and the more esoteric areas of the 4AD back catalogue. If anything its less in thrall to its influences than "Reflections.." and is all the better for it. In fact, now that I'm paying attention, my inclination to brand it new age seems more justified in view of the Enya cover version lurking within. Jennifer takes a gentle, almost medieval approach to music which is endearing in its simplicity. This combined with a classic approach to songwriting lifts this out of the ordinary, hell "Don't Leave Destiny" is just crying out for a big production and an airbrushed video. MTV awaits. The drum machine has to go though! This is a definite step in the right direction and insinuates itself under the skin when you're not looking. Worth checking out. |
