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Reviews
Weekly Reviews For September 5, 2004 I am also Assistant Editor & reviewer
at MetalUK. I also contribute reviews to getreadytorock You will also find some reviews at spacerock.co.uk
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New Reviews 2004 sees this summer trance number being released. Featuring some upfront vocals from Suzi Kemp, this mass of remixes should be sufficient for even the most ardent doof doofer. Of the many remixes, the Kenny Hayes mix takes top marks for some serious hands in the air action, and the promo has an acoustic mix, which could easily slip onto one of those TV advertised Acoustic albums. However, it does give the chance to relish a cracking melody. Seemingly heading for the top of the club charts, this has already reached the Top 5 in the Music Week charts, and should, deservedly, be all over a dance video station near you.
If you're looking for the easy pigeonhole, then it's blues tinged acoustic folk, with an occasional touch of rawk to gee things up. The opening track, 'Deadman', one of the best on offer is a pop tinged percussive driven romp which sets you up beautifully for the joys to follow. And I just love handclaps on a record! The production fills out the gaps delicately, never obtrusive, just helpful. Among the many other highlights are the Jewel like 'Fall Down' and 'Hands' which highlights the superb voice of Hayley perfectly. The musical performances are all spot on, with her dad (and former David Bowie alumni) John Hutchinson and ex Seahorse Chris Helme coming on board for the ride. There are touches of country here and there (with some sublime dobro) and heartbreak lyrics for good measure, especially on 'I Have To Say I Love You', a song sad, wistful and hopeful all at the same time. A remarkable release, and one you have to hear. Now.
The Zillions Play Zig-Zag Zillionaire And the debut release from The Zillions, "Play Zig-Zag Zillionaire" sees former Sidewinder bod, Nick Craft, ploughing pretty much the same furrow as he did with his brother M.Craft, for all those years. However, this EP seems to concentrate more on the riff-pop angle than the multi genre approach his last band did, which works well on an EP format, but on a full length album, he'll need to go for a bit more variety. Having said that, there is a lot to enjoy here, with a set of beautifully constructed songs. Nick Craft, describes his music as: “sound a bit like My Bloody Valentine meets The Byrds”. Which says it far more succintly than I have. Highly enjoyable and highly recommended, the best tunes are "Don't Waste Your Tears On Me" and "Step Into The Sun", but there are no duds. Go enjoy.
Mon Electric Bijou - If Blood Could
Speak Vocally, it's a bit Dinosaur Jr, musically it rarely deviates from the downtuned strum that bedevils the lo-fi world with the same Pixies tributes as the first album, but another set of songs sbout how difficult love is, and how girsl are really difficult to understand, always has its place, when they're well written and low in self pity. The three piece MEB seem to have gelled as a unit, with some interesting percussion, with the best song, by far, being the mellow, questioning 'Abraham'.
Dac Crowell and Kurt Doles Earlier on this year, I had my first exposure to Dac Crowell via his "Harmundum" release, and I'm delighted to say that another project has dropped through the letter box. "You have to sit back and listen properly to this, away from the normal obstructions of life. What seems like a series of undistinguished sounds to a casual ear builds, on repeated listening, into a collage of sound, that slowly, very slowly, lifts you on a journey through an electronic, yet achingly natural, soundscape." - that's how I described "Harmundum", and it's equally true here. There are only three extended pieces on offer here - yankee ridge / rain temple garden / in midsummer but each is an exploration in tone and ambience. Recorded between 1994 and 1997 these act as aural visualisations of another place and time. Repeated listening on headphones takes you into another state of mind, which has to be the ultimate ambition of any musician, and one which is accomplished here, to great effect. Sometimes it seems as though you're eavesdropping on a very private conversation, especailly on the (very) long "Rain Temple Garden", which is one of the finest extended pieces of minimalist experimentation I've heard in quite some time, subsumed in drone. However, the much shorter, mournful, "In Midsummer" is the track I keep returning to, wishing I could hear more, and reduced to having it on repeat play:-) A fabulous example of pure experimentation and the desire to create something totally new, this is essential for those interested in tone poems and soundscapes.
Daco Sepali live @ Nice n Sleazys With teasing intro’s and interesting twists Daco Sepali are fun to listen to. It was a good set. Their music is punky and funky, it’s a very grown up sound for a young band. There is a political edge to their music – these guys want to make a statement! They have a raw in your face sound and it works. There was some bloody good guitar solo’s during putting a hole and it brought it all together rather nicely. They have a bad boy attitude that they carry well, Chris was so energetic he broke the microphone stand – how rock n roll is that! Katey J Daco Sepali are: Chris – Vocals and Harmonica Review by Kate Jarvis
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