Thursday 26 February 2009

Papercuts - You Can Have What You Want

Swirling with a DNA comprised of opiated Francois Hardy French pop mixed with Cocteau Twins and This Mortal Coil, ‘You Can Have What You Want’ is a swoon-some offering from Jason Quever – the ubiquitous androgynous vocal and multi-instrumentalist who is Papercuts – along with a few guest musicians.
 
There’s a warm analogue feel to the slightly anachronistic sounding songs which could well have been lifted from any Cocteau directed or Alain Delon starring arthouse movie. Indeed Jet Plane’s languid brushed beats and dense carousel sound conjures up the very image of Marianne Faithful in her motorcycle leathers, ubiquitous cigarette curling white smoke to the heavens.
 
There’s a definite and deliberate 60’s feel all round and it’s not clear whether this is an attempt to re-create or evoke the period, not that it particularly matters as there’s obviously a deep fascination and love at work here which strives to duplicate it meticulously. As an exercise in nostalgia it can’t be faulted but you do feel there was more to wring out of these songs and perhaps that’s why it feels slightly lacking at times, like the soul is ousted at the expense of creating an authentic sounding record.


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Saturday 14 February 2009

Lights.Action - Welcome to the New Cold World

Kicking of with the stately ‘Moscow’ a quick scan of some of the song titles  ‘I Woke Up In the Civil War’, ‘Signals To Radar’,  ‘The Bottom of The Sea’ and the album title for that matter, you may well spot a thematic conceit and you’d be partially right. This debut from London’s Lights Action is about conflict but mostly as metaphor for interpersonal spats, hollow victory and exhausted defeat.
 
Easily able to summon up an epic chorus with ‘Travellin’ Man’ or produce a subtler moment of reflection in ‘I Woke Up In the Civil War’, the band lead you through a bewildering array of lyrical tales.
 
‘Signals To Radar’ is an undoubted single with its soaring expression of love destined forever to miss its mark. Mention must go to singer Patrick Currier’s extraordinary voice which is gargantuan rock one minute, whispered confessional the next and always pitched with a melodic lilt. But this isn’t a one man show, the music which drives these songs is as visceral and tender as any vocal and every song is densely packed.
 
Did I say densely packed? Understatement. Everything but the kitchen sink is in the mix – but it never sounds like overkill - an Antony Hegarty-style vocal from ‘Black Feathers’, R.E.M. melody and insouciance ‘Until The Day I Die’, the irregular percussive stutters of Bloc Party throughout. Each fresh listen throws up a new favourite song and shows a band in complete control.


www.myspace.com/lightsactionband
www.mekongdelta.co.uk

Thursday 12 February 2009

The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love

Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away I fell in love with The Decemberists.
 
The charm and wit of their anachronistic tales are as compelling a lesson in historical entertainment as any film. Their songs drip with villainy, buxom wenches and fevered deception but speak just as much about modern guilt and confusion.
 
Five full albums into a career which seems to have scandalously passed the majority by until 2006’s ‘The Crane Wife’ comes this 17 song suite ‘The Hazards of Love’, by far their most accomplished release. Too easily and too long dismissed as Arcade Fire knock offs, The Decemberists have a sustained body of work which is arguably better than their Canadian contemporaries.
 
Here, bursting with rockier moments and following familiar lyrical territory without sounding formulaic, the band present the story of Margaret, ravaged by her lover – a shape shifting animal – through various character arcs and songwriter/vocalist Colin Meloy’s narrative, counterpointed by guest contributions from Becky Stark (Lavender Diamond), Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) and Jim James (My Morning Jacket).
 
When it’s usually easy to isolate a track or two from most albums ‘The Hazards of Love’ defies convention, demanding you listen from start to finish and be amply rewarded for doing so. That said, ‘The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid’ – a brilliant melding of folk and blistering metal - is a standout piece as is the piquant pop and foppery of ‘The Rakes Song’.
 
A perfect album. So where do they go from here?


www.decemberists.com
www.mekongdelta.co.uk