Slipped Discs April 2010
Discs you may have missed | by John Noyd
Skimming spring’s CD titles, restless moods abound. Whether grooving through SWEET ELECTRA’s lusciously cosmopolitan electro-excursions, “When We Abandoned Earth,” or Iranian indie-rocker HYPERNOVA’s, muscular affirmations, “Through the Chaos,” change is everywhere. NATALIE MERCHANT took two years traveling the world for the double-disc advice to, “Leave Your Sleep,” while Milwaukee’s soulful KINGS GO FORTH proudly announce in their Luaka Bop debut, “The Outsiders Are Back.” Transform, relocate and get on board.
Apples In Stereo
Travelers In Space and TimeRecord Label: Yep Roc
Review published: April 2010
Scrumptious, spunky, bubblegum power-pop reign over Vocoder choruses, old school Britpop sunshine and back-loaded, rebooted boogie. “Travelers,” lift retro-fitted futures into wholesome computerized majesties through infectious, vacuum-packed R&B, can-you-dig-it cowbells and groovy mechanical utopias where heart-broken teens love to dance. The Apples take over Milwaukee’s Turner Hall May 3rd.
Reader Votes: 1
Midas Fall
Eleven. Return and revertRecord Label: Monotreme
Review published: April 2010
Darting apparitions coo fluent, fleeting meanings as, “Eleven,” traverses immense emptiness where textures stretch, catching regrets swooping through crashing percussion, lofty intergalactic guitar and tender piano soliloquies. Banshee ballads anchor tumultuous emotions as MF’s ferocious vocals wrangle phantom fandangos, surfing past oceanic auras, shivering within shadowy despair, impulsive thoughts and half-abandoned memories.
Reader Votes: 2
La Strada
New HomeRecord Label: Ernest Jenning Record Co.
Review published: April 2010
Liberating librettos waltz happily as frisky Cossack accordions whisk past sky-high strings twisted into gypsy symphonies flowering bright, boastful brass. “Home,” decorates in frolicking caroling, thoughtful nautical merriment and rousing chamber-folk philosophies, rearranging metaphors and upholstering fables flavored in twinkling mischief. La Strada’s harmonious ensembles feather eloquent nests in jubilant ruminations.
Reader Votes: 0
Monster Movie
Everyone Is A GhostRecord Label: Graveface
Review published: April 2010
Quiet frustrations swarm under throbbing waves of synths, patient complacency dissolves into the solemn sympathy of softly strummed guitars and mournful harmonies. MM’s polished pessimism shines beneath a seething tide of steady beats, minor chords and sleepy consolations while “Everyone,” methodically plots sublime, melancholy pop that floats hopefully, reveling in selfless fellowship.
Reader Votes: 0
Goldfrapp
Head FirstRecord Label: Mute Records
Review published: April 2010
Liquid electronics meticulously mixed for maximum fascination, Goldfrapp’s bold and beautiful musical masquerade combine potent locomotive programming into teasing libidos and sexy mirror-ball extravaganzas. Vivacious havens of golden cyber-times ahead “Head,” turns heavenly escapism, seamlessly replicating yesterday’s tomorrow with a decidedly devilish sensuality; steamy freeze-dried euphoria encased in sweet frosting, parading over glittery runway cat-walks.
Reader Votes: 0
Extra Life
Made FleshRecord Label: LOAF Recordings
Review published: April 2010
Prog-rock opera staged by poet-warriors, “Flesh,” melts raw, visceral visions into fevered fanfares, provocative parables and contorted concertos. Assembling personal circuses sparked by both intense and tentative dynamics, Extra Life’s exalted and altered altar-bound pogroms swarm around ominous admonishments, dressing classical pastorals in Gregorian scorn and savoring intense interrogations between galvanized studio eruptions.
Reader Votes: 0
Final Thoughts
From coiled and cunning RAFTER’s insatiable, “Animal Feelings,” to smoldering enigma X:THC’s breath-taking, “X: The Human Condition,” April focuses on the physiological, hosting a body of body-titled music. Curl alongside rich and airy singer-songwriter SALLY SELTMANN’s snappy, “Heart That’s Pounding,” then dive into the nocturnal jazz improvisations of TOMASZ STANKO QUINTET’s trumpet meditations in the penetrating, “Dark Eyes,” before finally dancing around mongo, hypno-punkers MI AMI’s manic-magical, “Steal Your Face.”
