Slipped Discs January 2012
Discs you may have missed | by John Noyd
Normally a month of hibernation, January absolutely overflows with every genre, generation and geographical location getting represented from analogue tape-manipulators IMBOGODOM’s celestial shaman found-sound synergies, “And They Turned Not When They Went,” to digital fidgeters FAUNA’s spicy electro-cumbias, “Manshines,” blues-rock soul-sister GRACE WOODROOFE’s roof-raising American debut, “Always Want,” and flaming Canadian folk-pop singer-songwriter KATHLEEN EDWARDS’ lean, serene, Justin Vernon produced, “Voyageur.” But first, six discs we shamefully overlooked last year
The Magnetic Fields
DistortionRecord Label: Nonesuch
Review published: January 2008
Fuzzed-out and corrosive, MF’s alt-pop honky tonk bangs up against a rusted wall of sound. Misogyny, zombies and mistletoe figure in the swamp of serrated guitars and overloaded amps as lonely robots and goth girl groups play droll love songs and tales of romantic woe. Encased in metallic caverns, Distortion seduces with moody splendor.
Reader Votes: 0
Tyler Ramsey
A Long Dream About Swimming Across the SeaRecord Label: Echo Mountain
Review published: January 2008
Frail vocals emphasize grand scales then plug into something grander as pre-dawn songs turn after-hours jamming. A Baptist of folk-rock RAMSEY’s warm and honest homilies dive inside shipwreck serenades as fluid runs of sparkling acoustic chemistry flow, splashing affectionately upbeat before gliding calmly into almost spiritual waters.
Reader Votes: 0
Super Furry Animals
Hey Venus!Record Label: Rough Trade Records
Review published: January 2008
Smug and subversive, cool and calculating the courageously contagious confections from Wales’ most excellent power-pop pranksters clears a well-constructed road between dazzling RASPBERRIES-era posture and cheeky 10 cc seizures. Sequined synths ply rhinestone riffs as the clownish FURRIES shine, combining post-modern playfulness with devilishly ironic nostalgia. SFA play Chicago’s Metro Feb 16.
Reader Votes: 0
Joe Jackson
RainRecord Label: Rykodisc
Review published: January 2008
Despite a stripped-down sound of voice, piano, drums and bass, JACKSON nevertheless concocts an immaculate universe of sour sages and bittersweet sentimentalists. Sorrowful soliloquies brush against steely social indictments as Rain broods smoothly over classy jazz piano, fires up pounding Memphis soul and turns new wave sophisticated through cutting lyrics, clever irony and consummate razzle-dazzle. Joe is slated to play Milwaukee’s Pabst on April 21st.
Reader Votes: 0
Patty Larkin
Watch The SkyRecord Label: Vanguard
Review published: January 2008
World music and American roots blend into a heavenly choir of musical hybrids as PATTY’s talented imagination turns art emotional and emotions artistic. Whether conjuring spooky Delta blues, thoughtful folk or exotic gospel vamps, Sky bewitches as it whispers. Wistful and mystical, PATTY pits sambas against mantras, instilling educated mojo into cultivated raves.
Reader Votes: 0
The Photon Band
Back Down to EarthRecord Label: Empyrean
Review published: January 2008
Orbiting over semi-savage psychedelia, PB’s lumbering Lotharios freefall into the soulful sludge of zero-gravity blues while Earth moves from the vast to the vital. Re-entering the atmosphere like drunk angels on fire, Earth spins off stompin’ rockers, sixties R & B and cosmic shuffles with laser-guided clairvoyance, causal wisdom and heel-kicking gumption.
Reader Votes: 0
Kate Nash
Made of BricksRecord Label: Geffen Records
Review published: January 2008
Pulling no punches in her melodic bobbing and street savvy weaving, this cocky British bird is a sweet beat poet camouflaged as a flippant pop princess. The bold and brassy NASH grabs bohemian panache, adding jaunty piano and folky trip-hop to make Made a frank yet bubbly cabaret bursting with thrills and sport.
Reader Votes: 0
Sons And Daughters
This GiftRecord Label: Domino Records
Review published: February 2008
Inspiring the inner punk to take to the dance floor and let loose, Gift boldly goes beyond new wave frontiers. Trashing Clash clichés with post-modern panache, SAD’s razor-sharp shimmies and Cossack rock thunder throbs like slick war path hoopla as images of Deborah Harry and Chrissie Hynde conjure terrific riff rock sock hops.
Reader Votes: 0
Eric Matthews
The Imagination StageRecord Label: Empyrean
Review published: February 2008
A bold, smoky-voiced balladeer sauntering through lonely harmonies, grand, sweeping themes and sentimental melodies - Matthews rolls out the big guns with casual gallantry crafting smoldering symphonic spaces and subtly blustery jazz for evocative philosophy at the Heartbreak Hotel. Enveloping the listener slowly, Matthews’ foggy phosphorescence attracts vagabond songs sprinkled among romantic temptations.
Reader Votes: 0
Kula Shaker
Strange FolkRecord Label: Cooking Vinyl
Review published: February 2008
Slithering hippie metaphysics turns into slightly dour flower power as the newly-worldly KS assess the new century in rump-shaking sass, nature love songs and symphonic psychedelia. Ushering in another round of bell-bottom ashram rock, England’s astralnauts serenade sweet lotus-eaters riding electric funk, battle urban arrogance with over-sized hooks and concoct folk-epics condemning corporate Maya.
Reader Votes: 0
Lightspeed Champion
Falling Off the Lavender BridgeRecord Label: Domino Records
Review published: February 2008
Shining folk-soul pop washed in unabashed confession, acoustic fragments sprinkled over dreamy lyrics and warm, twangy arrangements - Champion’s charming inventiveness spins personable homespun theatrics that conjure honest and palatable feelings. An easy-chair and sunlit window, Bridge spans intimate inspirations and open invitations, mixing universal moods over laid-back grooves taking flight.
Reader Votes: 0
Flowers Forever
Flowers ForeverRecord Label: Team Love
Review published: February 2008
Partying with a vengeance, Tilly and the Wall’s Derek Pressnall toss urgent and eclectic thought bombs for a monster block of wild-eyed vaudeville, sonic torpedoes and toreador flourishes. Shouting and soldiering righteously before bouncing along in unconditional whimsy, woozy brass circle sinister syncopation as gypsy sparks collide against prankster jams and shredded regalia.
Reader Votes: 0
Jason Collett
Here’s to Being HereRecord Label: Arts & Crafts
Review published: February 2008
Friendly ambling narratives and slippery rhymes highlight a lyrically lubricated troubadour of sophisticated fictions. Here jumps a blues train that moans and sputters winding behind fickle hobo hearts while Collett’s rockin’ roots beats propel hip bohemia against the shuffling lilt of ghostly folk and the novel application of cock-eyed pop.
Reader Votes: 0
Sam Amidon
All Is WellRecord Label: Bedroom Community
Review published: February 2008
Amidon’s steady hand at historical forms give birth to hypnotic epics of quiet journeys Chamber folk gently brushed with sophisticated nuance and wholegrain reverence, All clip-clops nostalgically like raindrops sweetly gathering on windowsills, while touching the contemporary, straddling worlds, public and private, past and present by sincere delivery coupled to angelic arrangements.
Reader Votes: 0
Yoav
Charmed & StrangeRecord Label: Verve Forecast
Review published: March 2008
Opening for Tori Amos, Yoav proved a versatile and electrifying performer. Layering sparse loops without ever becoming overcrowded, the agile and empathetic, Strange busks and bobs its diabolical ditties in ghostly echoes and tip toe tempos. An engrossing one man music machine, live or on disc Yoav slyly snaps, crackling with cosmic pop.
Reader Votes: 0
Kaki King
Dreaming of RevengeRecord Label: Velour Records
Review published: March 2008
Kicking off Revenge with a groovy gothic instrumental, the normally mute guitarist then confounds expectations and sings, pivoting from doe-eyed folkie to shoe-gazing popstar before re-introducing her trademark electro-acoustic jazz-folk. Graceful textures laid over intertwining rhythms; King’s chameleon imagination weave big skies and starry nights, mixing awe with self-assurance, curiosity into inspired creativity.
Reader Votes: 0
Jim White
Transnormal SkiperooRecord Label: Luaka Bop
Review published: March 2008
Country toasted gumbo stirred and spiced with subtle touches. White wiles his way into common dreams and universal visions painting language in earthy tones, suspicious shadows and radiant hope. Whether slithering or celebrating, the backwoods boogie creeps sleepily under the skin. Lazy beats wake to take to the streets as Transnormal trolls tradition.
Reader Votes: 0
Dawn Landes
FireproofRecord Label: Cooking Vinyl
Review published: March 2008
New York based Kentucky native Landes tweaks conventions on her combustible Fireproof. Throwing odd instruments, pop afterthoughts and the occasional alt-rock muscle into her skewed waif folk, Dawn draws from both country and city sources. A recording engineer as well as singer-songwriter, Dawn’s refreshingly low key approach makes Fireproof, intimate, quirky and wonderfully brazen.
Reader Votes: 0
Final Thoughts
Taking advantage of a fifth Tuesday, January’s musical releases grow to avalanche proportions. The 31st alone brings American pop-rock ironists IMPERIAL TEEN’s sharp, chameleonic and dreamilysynthonic, “Feel the Sound,” alongside provincial story-spinner FIONN REGAN’s sweet pastoral lorries “100 Acres of Sycamores,” evocative and exotic EYVIND KANG’s seductive Arabian nights, “The Narrow Garden,” plasticine beat-queen GRIMES’ orgasmic head-trip, ”Visions,” and London knob-twiddlers THE 2 BEARS’ user-friendly party work-outs, “ Be Strong.” Hold tight, February holds promising recordings from FIELD MUSIC, SHARON VAN ETTEN, LAMBCHOP, SLEIGH BELLS, TENNIS and DIRTY THREE
