January 2012
1 post
December 2011
12 posts
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Left Silver Apples halfway through for fear the...
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Sun Ra Arkestra win the prize for sparkliest...
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Pharoah Saunders: Legend! This will certainly be...
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One of the finds of ATP, for me: Dead Rider
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Flying Lotus doing some astounding things with a...
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This what people came to see Gary Numan for. He...
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Battles, co-curators of ATP Nightmare Before Xmas,...
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Holy Fuck. Holy fuck!
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Oxes cover of Wild Thing. Who needs more than...
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The Budos Band: bastard offspring of The Horny...
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ATP Nightmare Before Christmas: Les Savy...
Bodes well - Marnie Stern (2nd band on) tearing the roof off…
July 2011
13 posts
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Elbow: build a rocket boys!
As I’ve probably mentioned before, Elbow’s previous album was a firm favourite, and a deserved Mercury Prize winner. Garvey and co. really know how to write a tune, and Seldom Seen Kid was a masterpiece of simple, direct and heart-rending tunes, so I was keen to hear where they’d go next: a retread of the commercial and critical success, or something else entirely?
The answer...
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Adele: 21
Adele’s 21 is definitely the commercial hit of the shortlist. 17 weeks at number 1 thanks largely, it would seem, to a performance of Someone Like You at the Brits. So does the album merit this huge success?
The first thing to say is that the opener, Rolling In The Deep, is a really great bluesy stomp of a track which showcases Adele’s voice perfectly. (As an aside, I’m...
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PJ Harvey: Let England Shake
I’ve heard PJ Harvey talking in interviews about how this is a set of folk songs. Well, not sure about that Peej, but it is a fine, evocative album, dealing with the horrors of war in an honest and often outspoken manner. It’s being hailed as her masterpiece, which I can kind of see, but then I’m a long-time admirer of her music, so it’s a bit difficult for me to get...
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Gwilym Simcock: Good Days at Schloss Elmau
…aka “the jazz one”. It starts at a cracking pace with some lovely rhythmic and free (tonally) piano work. It’s another mood-evoking album which moves from joyous celebrations to thoughtful ramblings to wistful, erm, whistlings. I’ve no idea, really.
It’s a nice set - all beautifully played on solo piano (including interacting with the case and strings...
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Anna Calvi: Anna Calvi
I already own, know and love this album. It’s a really great combination of intimate, whispered moments and (ahem) “rocking wig-outs”. Obvious touch points are PJ Harvey, Chrissie Hynde, Patti Smith, the angular cool of Walkmen or Interpol, but this does not come across as derivative (although The Devil has definite echoes of Ms Harvey’s song of the same name). This is a...
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King Creosote & Jon Hopkins: Diamond Mine
Every Mercury shortlist has its “the folky one”, and Diamond Mine is this shortlist’s. Reductionist genre-tarring over, this is a lovely set of songs. Very pastoral, with the album being kicked off with a field recording of what sounds like a small Scottish cafe.
Vocally and instrumentally, this is a restrained affair which will repay many listens, indeed at a running time of...
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James Blake: James Blake
This album announces its intent fairly clearly in the opening moments: you will be seduced, then confused, then alienated, then hugged by the womb-like production. Wonky is the word. It’s incredible that this album represents the far end of the dubstep spectrum from Katy B and Tinie Tempah.
The music and lyrical content is so sparse to the extent of nonexistence in places, but never less...
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Katy B: On a Mission
It’s 1991! Well, certainly that’s what On A Mission’s dubstep sounds like to me. Pop, yet again, is eating itself. The music is well produced if not particularly ground-breaking, and she has a great voice that brings a soulful tinge to the bouncy rave backing.
It feels like her personality is the main attraction here, which is refreshing where female vocals have a tendency to...
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Tinie Tempah: Disc-Overy
The word “bombast” is definitely somewhere in Mr Tempah’s mission statement. In heavy black marker pen and underlined. Might be the entire mission statement. Fantastically energetic noise.
In complete contrast with Ghostpoet’s nuanced delivery, this is all about crowd pleasing big choons. That said, it’s done with a huge degree of intelligence and a real ear for a...
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Ghostpoet: Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam
Messing with my head in a baaaaad way, this album announces itself with a massive left-right pan. I love the lunched-out vibe that is in evidence here. Vocal delivery seems to owe something to Roots Manuva on helium (or a cooler Maxi Jazz from Faithless), but this is much less bombastic and more intimate than either.
The backing pulses along supporting the vocals perfectly: some really nice...
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Everything Everything: Man Alive
My initial reaction is that Man Alive is a similar album to The English Riviera, but with a much richer sound and with significantly more interesting songwriting. I particularly liked Final Form and Suffragette Suffragette.
This album has bags more attitude than the Metronomy offering, and far more in the way of hooks. Puts me in mind of Friendly Fires. Feels like a great summery album, if we...
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Metronomy: The English Riviera
I’d heard great things about this album, but found it to be a bit “ho-hum”. It wasn’t really until The Look that it really got going (such as it ever did). Even then, not an extreme reaction: I was nodding, not leaping around the room.
The Bay’s electronic funk is probably the high point, and I can see this going down well at festivals. I also liked Loving Arm. All...
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Mercury Prize 2011 shortlist
It’s that time of year again: the announcement of the 2011 shortlist for the Mercury Prize. The list (with links to online streamable versions where I could find them) is:
Metronomy The English Riviera
Adele 21
Everything Everything Man Alive
Ghostpoet Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam
Anna Calvi Anna Calvi
Tinie Tempah Disc-Overy
Elbow Build a Rocket Boys!
Gwilym Simcock...
May 2011
1 post
Why, it’s (finally) Lee Scratch Perry
January 2011
2 posts
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Aidan Smith →
Recommend you search out some of Aidan Smith’s material. Seeing him live as I type this. Really excellent tunes in the style of Tom Lehrer filtered through Badly Drawn Boy.
…and finishing the set with the Cheers theme tune. Inspired.
November 2010
2 posts
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Ole-Henrik Moe / Arditti Quartet
St Paul’s Hall in Huddersfield is a great space for a concert, and the Arditti Quartet fill it superbly. The players were meant to be joined by the composer for the third segment of the series, but being ill and in Oslo, Ole-Henrik was not present. His place was taken by a last minute substitute, Graeme Jennings, who had apparently (according to Arditti) been plied with ale prior to being...
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Huddersfield in November
So here I am in the incomparable Coffeevolution in Huddersfield, waiting to head off to the two concerts that I’m attending at this years Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. Two years ago, I did the whole damned lot of them - well, barring two. I loved that experience for the feeling of not knowing what I was going to be hearing from one event to the next. This time, I’ve got a...
October 2010
1 post
Lost Geekend
I’ve just been through the equivalent of a musical sweat lodge. I’m getting married in 3 weeks time and have spent the last three days at home alone while the future Mrs Scrambledmusic has clucked off on her hen weekend. My task for the weekend has been to compile a playlist for the evenings revels running from 7pm to around 1am, suitable for all, whilst reflecting our independent...
September 2010
3 posts
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WatchPolar Bear: the band that best embodies the adjective ‘rambunctious’
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WatchFyfe: awesome
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WatchFyfe Dangerfield. Officially a pop god. Buy his album now.
August 2010
1 post
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I Am Kloot - Sky At Night
The date of the Mercury announcement is rapidly approaching, and I’m lagging in my listening and writing up of the nominated albums. Well the listening’s actually going rather well, it’s just the writing up that’s suffering. With that in mind, here’s my initial offering: Sky At Night by I Am Kloot. I was looking forward to this one, largely because of the involvement...
July 2010
3 posts
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Mercury Prize 2010 shortlist announced →
I’ve just read the press release for the Mercury, and I’m very excited. There are some good looking albums on the list. Initial reactions follow…
Biffy Clyro The Captain Looking forward to listening to this…
I Am Kloot Sky at Night …and this. Could the blessing of Elbow give this a chance?
Dizzee Rascal Tongue N’ Cheek Would they give it to him for a second...
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The National: High Violet
On the recommendation of my hairdresser (well, he’s not mine per se, but he does cut my hair), I’ve been listening to High Violet by The National. Lovely album. Reminds me a bit (at times) of a laid back Joy Division with slightly rocky overtones - nice dark melodies with a driving pulse. Faintly wistful. I think this is the band The xx could be if they could be arsed. Definitely worth...
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Mercury 2010 shortlist announced next week
Following my musical journey through the popular (and less popular) beat combos of 2009, I’m planning the same thing this year. This time, it will be different: for one thing, I’ll start blogging when the shortlist has been announced, not at some point after the result is known. Anyway, the shortlist is coming out next Tuesday, so my holiday listening is well and truly sorted...
May 2010
13 posts
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The ghosts of indie
I’ve just read a review of The Drums album The Drums. For those of you unfamiliar with their oeuvre, they are what one might reasonably call “indie revival” (or, I suppose, C86+24). They do at least have the decency to be on an independent record label (Moshi Moshi). I gave them a listen and found myself skipping through the tracks on the Summertime EP at a rate of knots, so...
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ATP Groening 2010, Butlins Minehead: day 3
So here ends another All Tomorrow’s Parties. My overall impression on leaving is of a very strong lineup. There were some absolutely superb performances: Boredoms performance of Boadrum being my absolute highlight.
Fitting therefore that the last day of the festival started with a second Boredoms performance. Just as astounding an experience second time around, and with the benefit of no...
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Cool rains wash over me…
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This might be a recording of Spiritualized at All...
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ATP Groening 2010, Butlins Minehead: day 2
Mixed day today, if I’m being honest. Some surprises, some disappointments. I wouldn’t say it lived up to the promise of yesterday. I’m pleased to say that I saw at least part of 12 sets out of a possible 15. I can’t therefore report on Hello Saferide or Danielson or Ruins (Solo).
So, the meh’s first. Wasn’t hugely impressed with Lightning Bolt. They seemed...
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ATP Groening 2010, Butlins Minehead: day 1
Well, this is shaping up to be a great line-up. Arrived in time for Cold Cave, who are not scared to wear their influences on their sleeves. It was quite entertaining to play “80s synth pop bingo” during their set: I got Depeche Mode, Human League and Visage.
Good set though, but nothing compared to Iggy and The Stooges. Just: wow. What energy. Yes, I know that this kind of thing (along with...
WatchShonen Knife rocking a Wings cover.
Jet!!! (wooo ooo ooo ooo oooooo)
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