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Kevin
Mathews:
April,
2004
So Much Music....So Little
Time
Hah! It's always a risk to insert potential
self-fulfilling prophecies in the title of your column! So
here I am a little under deadline pressure as I attempt to
bring you the most CD reviews utilizing the least amount of
words. So pardon me if I cut out the chitchat and present
to you…
Blurb-O-Rama!
Anton Barbeau Guladong
(Pink Hedgehog) Anton has been delivering top notch quirky
and whimsical psych-pop ala Lennon, Barrett, Hitchcock etc
for a good time now and Guladong promises more of the
same. Offbeat themes abound but the strong melodies will always
keep your feet on the ground. Dancing. www.pinkhedgehog.com
Soul Engines Closer Still
(Self-released) The Soul Engines believe in rock 'n' roll
- pure and unadulterated, naïve and touching where the
significance of a riff, drum roll or heartfelt tune never
moves beyond the honest emotion. Another plus - the twang
quotient is high enough so that fans of Tom Petty and Steve
Earle will not be disappointed. www.soulengines.com
Freewheeler/Brainwashed By
Amalia Truck Driver Heaven (Sleazey)
Dunno about truck drivers but this split disc from the European
garage underground circa 2004 should please all rock lovers.
English quartet Freewheeler's take on glam-infused Britpop
is as authentic as it is visceral whilst Portuguese band Brainwashed
By Amalia's brand of early 70s classic rock (think: Free,
Led Zep, Deep Purple, Stooges) is as refreshing as it is idiosyncratic.
www.sleazeyrecords.com
Mark Bodino A Moment In
Time (Self-released) Modino is
a bit of a throwback to the singer-songwriter movement of
the early 70s (Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Jim Croce, Nick
Drake) where poignant and thoughtful prose meets wistful melodies.
Much to savour here as Bodino pours heart and soul into his
work to invigorating effect! www.bodino.com
Big Life Desire Beautiful
World (Self-released) A two track
single CD which highlights Keith Harbottle's way with a tune.
Reminiscent of Ray Davies' lyrical style and reflective of
the best of the British music hall tradition (ala the Kinks,
McCartney, XTC, Blur, Space & Madness), "Beautiful
World" and "Judgement Day" are indicative of
a talent steeped in the rich milieu of Britpop. Hopefully,
Harbottle will favour us with a full-length soon! www.biglifedesire.co.uk
Catdesigners Strange Little
Creature (Googlie Mooglie) There
is a discernible Bowiesque quality about Nick Troop's Catdesigners,
which is never a bad thing. Songs like the quirky "Vain
As I Am," dynamic "Freak Show" and the punchy
title track illuminate this neat little UK pop release with
a good blend of electronics, guitar crunch and glam swagger
entertaining throughout. www.googliemooglie.co.uk
Shifter Waking Up Late
(Self-released) Classic Oz pop emanates from this premier
release in buckets and spades - y'know the kind that you'd
expect from the Pyramidiacs, the Finkers and Michael Carpenter.
Loads of powerpop and garage rock served up with sugar and
spice, driving and freewheeling with tunes that hit right
between the eyes. www.shifter.com.au
The Pioneers The Pioneers
(Self-released) "With Special Guest Pioneer John Entwistle"
goes the subtitle on this roots rock collection. For what
it's worth, name checking the late Who bassman certainly doesn't
hurt. Especially when the music on show is honest, straight
down the middle country rock that will satisfy fans with its
strident legitimacy and musical excellence. www.thepioneersband.com
Kissinger Rock and Roll
Ain't Cheap (WCI) This 4-track
EP also packs videos and clips into an agreeable package.
Leaning on the rockier edge of pop, there is enough meat on
these bones to suggest that Kissinger may just be able to
live up to the potential presented here. www.kissingertheband.com
Kniki Stained
(Self-released) Aussie siren promises much with her "come
hither" sleeve imagery and to her credit, this compilation
of funk-infused, soulful pop numbers is able to stand on its
own merits. Smoldering with the vocal passion of a young Eartha
Kitt, Kniki wraps her not inconsiderable larynx around strong
material like the feisty "Ain't No Cruise," strident
"Give Me Wings" and pleasing "Temptation."
More than meets the eye for sure. www.kniki.com
Barbie Bangkok Oh My God
(Kinky Star) Grinding industrial guitar rock that begs to
be listened to on its own terms, this Belgian quartet manages
to infuse elements of riff-tastic prog ("A Lidl"),
cynical ballad ("Oh My God") and jazzy drones ("Roll
Rockin') in this tasty mini-album. Highly promising. www.kinkystar.com
Rory Merritt Stitt Harlequin
(Self released) Oh goody! A concept album which credits Rachmaninoff
in the sleeve! Stitt is a songwriter which weaves strands
of jazz, Broadway, opera and yes, rock into a challenging
tapestry. Taken as a whole, there is much to test the brain
matter and those of you out there looking for more than your
three-minute silly love song will thrill to Stitt's skilful
efforts on Harlequin. Just don't expect a concept album that
works - trust me, they never do.
Chicklet Indian Summer
(Satellite) You've gotta love the twee synth-guitar pop experiment
that is Chicklet. Daniel Barida and Julie Park continue to
delight with these lively little nuggets incorporating basic
guitar chord patterns, simple keyboard patches, Park's enticing
vocals and warm melodies. Fans of the 80s synth pop scene
will adore Chicklet. I do. www.satelliterecords.net
Geoff Byrd Candy Shell
(Sundholm) Byrd treats us to a spine-tingling faithful cover
of "How Deep Is Your Love" - which in my book is
just fine - halfway through this superb rock and pop album.
The rest of *Candy Shell* never lowers this sense of expectation,
the funky "I Will Be There," the jaunty "Elusive
Butterfly" and the genuinely balladic "Frozen"
reveal a eclectic statement of intent as well. Sweet. www.geoffbyrd.com
The Squires of the Subterrain
Strawberries on Sunday (Rocket
Racket) Inspired by XTC's own psych pop pastiche Dukes of
Stratosphear, Christopher Earl's Squires might not be quite
as polished but you certainly know where he's coming from.
These basement recordings will often reveals diamonds in the
rough eg. The pleasing "Falling Star," the Lennonesque
title track, the ironic "Air Guitar" and poppy "4-leaf
Clover Girl." Don't care much for the saturated production
values but the songs shine through enough to make you forget.
Fun. www.squiresofthesubterrain.com
Bastards of Melody Break
Up (Face Down) So the Bastards'
approach is based on the one employed (and I use that word
loosely) by the venerated Replacements. Meaning, there seems
to be a sense of ennui even when the chords are thrashed and
the drums are pummeled into submission. Reinforced by Paul
Crane's 'can't be bothered' vocal delivery, the picture is
fairly complete. Not pretty but I guess that's the point.
Next! www.facedown.net
Still Life The Incredible
Sinking Feeling… (Greyday
Productions) Why so glum, guys? This melancholy trio wants
to be poster boys for depression - which is not something
I think the world needs more of. All right, so I guess it's
a sincere expression of angst in songs like "Great the
Bringer of Pain" and "Godforsaken," where the
key words are dirge and drone. Not my cup of tea. Cheer up,
fellas, things can't be that bad. Can they?
The Vandalays (re) begin
(Slip) "Not another power-pop-introspective concept album!"
Oh yes, the Vandalays take their cue from Pete Townshend to
give us their take on life through the story of Rick who appears
to be undergoing a mid-life crisis of sorts. Not as dodgy
as it sounds, you can always ignore the tale and enjoy the
tunes, which are grounded in the pub rock-new wave of the
early 80s popularized by Elvis Costello, Graham Parker and
Joe Jackson. Solid. www.thevandalays.com
Aqualung Still Life
(Warners) There's enough to suggest on Still Life that
Matt Hales (the brains and talent behind Aqualung) will be
a force to be reckoned with in the modern rock arena. Sure,
there's always the element of post-Radiohead syndrome in Hales'
approach but with healthy intelligent pop residues of ELO,
the Zombies, Paul McCartney and erm, U2, there is still hope
for the pop fundamentalists amongst us that the good ol' days
of the 60s and 70s may just yet return.
The Stills Logic Will
Break Your Heart (Warners) Robust
mellifluous basic rock music should be encouraged (at all
costs) and never mind if singer-guitarist Tim Fletcher appears
to be yet another dead ringer for Chris Martin, the upside
potential far outweighs any lack of originality. I mean, you
cannot really argue against songs like "Of Montreal,"
"Lola Stars" and "Stripes," "Gender
Bombs" and "Let's Roll" that excite the heart,
thrill the melody bone and move toes to tap generously, can
you? No.
BarlowGirl BarlowGirl
(Fervent) Musically much of this debut album would sit (too)
snugly on the shelves of most teen pop fodder and songs like
"On My Own" and "Harder Than The First Time"
with their slick sound and pristine tunes would certainly
get the necessary attention from prepubescent audiences. Which
is fine by me, as thesethemes are given crucial pride of place
in these catchy light-hearted guitar pop songs. www.barlowgirl.com
You still here? Whew! I need some shuteye
- so it's ciao baby! Later…
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