Wild Palms - Live: 6th Mar 2010

Ex-Ex-Lion Tamers, now Wild Palms, this gaggle of southern reprobates are one of my tips for 2010. Not just for their obvious ability to electrically charge the room within seconds of firing off the set's scattered drum patterns and lacerating guitar riffs. Although this definitely helps. Not even due to the fact that the one 'hit' tune in their armoury, recently issued single 'Over Time', is a relatively shiny misnomer found in an otherwise musical blizzard of a set. Although this song's change of pace and angular style (yes it's still around) punctuates with stark contrast the less well known songs. In a good way you understand.

Mostly it's because they seem to have a spirit and musicality that draws the listener in. The tribal tumble of 'Deep Dive' for instance has a yearning and warmth and gives you a real urge to jerk and sway, which is a welcome change to the moping immobile 'nod-dance' style adopted by the indie glitterati. There are some songs in the set which feel less realized as if they're searching for their own sound which is fair enough I guess as, quite frankly, Wild Palms are prepared to try and mix it up rather than relying on a workable formula. To paraphrase Woody Allen, 'If you’re not failing now and again, you’re not doing anything very innovative.'

So it’s a B+ then. Which translates as bloody good effort, entertaining with room for improvement. Like The Fall at their least ramshackle. Can't say fairer than that.

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

Broken Bells - Broken Bells

You know how they say 'Don't give up the day job!' well if you're James Mercer, frontman and songwriter for the Shins or producer/artist Danger Mouse (a.k.a. Brian Burton) this particular idiom need not apply. Sure they're both brilliant in their own right but with Broken Bells - the full length results of their creative collaboration - they pretty much eclipse most of their output to date.

These bold words are not written lightly. This reviewer has an overwhelming affection for The Shins and has enjoyed Danger Mouse's other collaborative efforts to date Dark Night of the Soul in particular.

There's a melodic but retro vibe to the songs on Broken Bells perhaps drawn from a shared fascination with The Zombies, Love and the more experimental peripheries of 60's-psyche pop. The analog synth swooshes merge with carefully picked guitar lines and Mercer's falsetto, occasionally wurlitzer-washed, vocals wouldn't be out of place amongst some Bacharach & David numbers, sound tracking a string of cool 60's films.

But this isn't an exercise in retro chic and mimicry there's a ghostly mellow vibe to most of the songs on this album but they still pack a spooky punch. It's mostly introverted, quiet and low key with the pair exploring the space-rock within. And it's a stunning result. Recommended you turn it up loud(ish) and sit and just listen. It asks no more than that and it's the very least they deserve.

www.brokenbells.com
www.mekongdelta.co.uk

RIP Mark Linkous

Extremely sad to hear today that Mark Linkous has died.

Having been a fan of his and his band Sparklehorse from the wonderful debut album vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot right up to the collaborative affort last year with Dangermouse and David Lynch which became Dark Night of the Soul. Linkous always wrote and produced music which was passionately felt, wonderfully creative and mesmeric to hear.

It's a sad loss for fans and music generally but of course a tragic loss for family and friends. Very sad news indeed.

Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me

There is sometimes an urge with new album from artists you love to hurry the review and tell everyone just how great it is. I've been guilty of this on occasion. To do this though is to quicken the listening process, not leaving time for digestion, contemplation or repeated plays.

I've taken my time with Have One On Me because it's so jam packed with imagination and stories and weight that it defies you to skim over it lightly.

Perspective - 3+ years on from Ys with it's own dense tales of love, imagination and self discovery and it could be argued that Have One On Me carry's on in much the same vain, except that Ms Newsom sharp lyrics, intricate narratives and rich melody just get better and better.

It's immediately apparent that this album needs time to breathe and fill the senses. Opener Easy has a beguiling lilt setting the scene for songs which retain some of Newsom's seeming naivete but which see the girl grown into a bewitching woman. Alluring and assured.

The very fact that these songs are lushly spread over three discs suggests some sort of importance. '81, the epic melancholia of Go Long or Kingfisher all swirl with extended drama amidst the playful harp plucking and strings.

At over two hours this album might be too much for some in one sitting but if you have the time to sit and listen and turn it up it's like hearing the best bedtime stories you'll ever hear. A masterpiece.

http://www.dragcity.com/artists/joanna-newsom
www.mekongdelta.co.uk

Blood Red Shoes - Fire Like This

There's a review of Blood Red Shoes first album on this blog somewhere. A positive review where I announce their arrival into the bigger leagues and proclaim them taking a huge leap forward.

This, as it transpired, was merely wishful thinking. They toured endlessly and released heaps of singles but ultimately failed to really capture the attentions of a 'wider market'.

I could be repeating myself in this review then as Fire Like This has every chance of breaking through. Although to my own personal chagrin the bulk of this release feels like more of the same from the Brighton duo. I'm still wishing for more singing from Laura-Mary and less squawking from Steven.

The are a few standouts in the latter part of the album Heartsink is very much in the full on rock BRS spirit whereas Follow The Lines and One More Empty Chair mix the pace and tone a bit and they're all the better for it.

I hope this pair can attract the wider audience they deserve, it certainly won't be for a lack of effort. It does feel a bit make or break though...

http://www.myspace.com/bloodredshoes
www.mekongdelta.co.uk

Shearwater - The Golden Archipelago

Jonathon Meiburg's keening, rich voice is something I never tire of particularly on 2008's Rook, Shearwater's previous album, where he effortlessly transported you to another otherworldly place. A dreamily strange world. With a sad joy at it's heart.

So obviously in light of the fact that great songs like 'Rooks' and 'Snow Leopard' are now a dim and distant 18 months old there's a real excitement to hear the new songs. Feel the new mood.

The Golden Archipelago begins in suitably incongruous mood setting up the castaway islander theme with the restrained, delicate Meridian which in turn gives way to the stunning Black Eyes. We're on familiar ground but it's not a case of more of the same this is songwriting of great craft and wide imagination deserving of all the praise they receive.

It's not all plain sailing around the Shearwater island, it must be said, the album hits a bit of a brick wall with God Made Me slap bang at its centre and the couple of songs bringing it to a close, Uniforms (like an even more experimental Arcade Fire)and Missing Islands sit uneasily with the honed, thematic notions of earlier but they remain stand out tracks in isolation.

If this were Desert Island Discs and only one album accompanied you in your shipwrecked paradise, you could do a lot worse than clinging on to The Golden Archipelago when you head overboard.

http://www.myspace.com/shearwater
www.mekongdelta.co.uk

Errors - Come Down With Me

Wow! There's a good chance that some of you may have already heard Errors. They formed in 2004 after all. But they've been pretty niche and somewhat low key despite releasing their debut album and a host of Eps and singles. That is very likely to change soon.

So you might have heard the single 'A Rumour in Africa' which came out this week and proceeds the album's release. All bouncy prog-rhythmic it is. I'd like to say that 'Come Down With Me' is the first album of the year which has got my heart racing. But as Hidden by These New Puritans beat them too it I can't. Errors sophomore release does take it's rightful spot as the second album of the year to give me a rush.

There's a lighter tone at work here. The aforementioned Africa and Gallic infused Supertribe being key examples but the traces of Kraut-rawk and gloom still loom with welcome intent.

The Glasgow quartet have managed to embue these songs with an organic fairy dust which tempers the harsh but (mostly) melodic artifice of electronic jabs and stabs. At times this is like listening to "Post-Rock: The Bontempi Years" and I say this as a fan and someone who considers this a compliment even if it doesn't sound like one!

It's obviously very early days yet but this could be a contender for album of the year come December. Yeah you heard.

http://www.myspace.com/weareerrors
www.mekongdelta.co.uk

The Knife, Planningtorock, Mt. Sims - Tomorrow, In A Year

It's not like I expect a rehash of Heartbeats or anything. But I know that left field and experimental can still yield melody and chorus in the form of Fever Ray (The Knife's own Karin Andersson no less). But when it comes to giving hugely experimental opera on an ambitious scale a fair crack of the whip I'm pretty limited in the goodwill department.

It's probably a matter of context. The point of this collaborative operatic effort - telling the story of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species - wasn't really meant for the confines of the MP3 player or the stereo. And listening to it, no matter how intently, feels like only part of the story - there's a whole mass of accompanying visual data missing.

You can argue the merits of Olaf's forays into the rain forest to collect sounds. Or the fascination premise whether you think it's a successful endeavor or not. But ultimately it's a difficult listen at the best of times. Impenetrable occasionally.

There are perhaps a working narrative and the drama plays out in a semi-traditional opera format whilst the music and vocals shift around this with a life of their own. Trouble is you have to listen a few times to make these connections and I just haven't got the stamina to go that route.


http://www.theknife.net
www.mekongdelta.co.uk