In a recent interview, Jean-Benoit Dunckel and Nicolas Godin of the duo Air stated they were trying to get away from their previous pop sound. This begs the question, when has Air ever tried to create pop music?
Air – Pocket Symphony
Radio 4 – Enemies Like This
Hmmm. Well, Radio 4 seems to have taken a turn into a creative cul-de-sac with a brick on the accelerator pedal and the steering wheel locked into continuous donut maneuvers. The premise of the fourth album from the Brooklyn outfit was to go back to the basics of their core makings while forgoing their political […]
Sondre Lerche and The Faces Down Quartet – Duper Sessions
I get the feeling I’m about to be terribly unfair to Sondre Lerche. More specifically, I’m going to be unfair to his album Duper Sessions. I’m going to be unfair because even though I think it is good, I am just having a hard time putting together things that will make a reader want to […]
Audio Bullys – Generation
Capturing spooky samples from Nancy Sinatra’s “Shoot You Down” as their opening scene to Generation, Tom Dinsdale and Simon Franks of Audio Bullys venture forward with both dodgy, dancing themes and slower soundtracks from the mind, including “Get Myself on Track.”
Hot Chip – Coming on Strong
At first blush, Coming on Strong, by Hot Chip is very simple. The beats as well as the lyrics are unassuming. The instrumentation is done in a sort of low-tech techno sound. Does that make any sense? I would compare it to The in Sound from Way Out, the instrumental album the Beastie Boys put […]
The Beta Band – Best of the Beta Band Music
Anytime you see a “best of” when it comes to album releases it’s typically because of the need to a band’s contractual agreement. This is not to poo-poo the idea of this hit driven concept. In fact, it can be a great way to introduce newbies to a given group with some of their best […]
Royksöpp – The Understanding
Torbjørn Brundtland and Svein Berge are Royksöpp. Contemplating which Scandinavian country they are from as I gazed at their clean flowing hair and black cladness, I consulted the contents of their website, but to no avail. I am guessing Norwegian, judging by the coifs and the attire. And now I will find the answer… Ding! […]
Various Artists – Six Feet Under: Everything Ends – Astralwerk
If you’re a fan of the HBO Series, Six Feet Under, you’ll instantly recognize the opening track used to promote the launch of their fifth season, which will end this summer. The pictures featured inside the cover actually get the series’ original theme song running through your head as the hands, once held together, break […]
Turin Brakes – JackInABox
I’ve never heard a record out of Great Britain sound so relentlessly Californian. I’ve never heard Londoners sing about sunshine quite so sincerely. After the opening song on Turin Brakes’ JackInABox, I was convinced that they had to be from L.A. or even San Diego, or possibly Hawaii. It’s that same mellow, Jack Johnson vibe–it’s […]
Athlete – Tourist
Tourist is the second release from the relatively new band, Athlete. Previously, this UK four-piece met some success with Vehicles and Animals, and with this album they kept the pop rolling, but with added layers and personality.