Mark Hann
Film taste: documentary, mockumentary, rockumentary
Music taste: hip hopera, contemporary plainsong, brutal death metal
Hangout: Walthamstow Marshes Nature Reserve and surrounding wetland area
Most likes (about London): urban wildlife, celebrity culture
Least likes: bike theft
Me in 10 words:
Reviews
artist CFCF
Wednesday, 04 March
CFCF – You Hear Colours/Invitation to Love
Acephale Records
Montreal-based disco wunderkind Mike Silver has made a name for himself remixing the likes of Sally Shapiro, and this double A-side offers further evidence that the current Italo revival could be more than just a fad.
This is the sort of vintage escapist pop that makes you want to squeeze into some tight white jeans, cultivate a moustache and pretend you're on a yacht in Sardinia. Then the music stops and you're back in that Dalston crackhouse. Still, it was nice while it lasted.
Acephale Records
Montreal-based disco wunderkind Mike Silver has made a name for himself remixing the likes of Sally Shapiro, and this double A-side offers further evidence that the current Italo revival could be more than just a fad.
This is the sort of vintage escapist pop that makes you want to squeeze into some tight white jeans, cultivate a moustache and pretend you're on a yacht in Sardinia. Then the music stops and you're back in that Dalston crackhouse. Still, it was nice while it lasted.
artist Akon
Wednesday, 25 February
Akon – Beautiful
Universal
Akon's latest single is based around a synth motif recalling Alice Deejay's Eurotrance classic 'Better Off Alone', alongside his usual combination of bland hooks and libidinous rapping. As far as I can tell, the lyrics are about having sex with a very expensive prostitute.
It's easy to be scathing about commercial R'n'B. But don't we all secretly wish we could go to 'Rappers and Slappers' night at Oceana and drunkenly chat up some girl in a latex nurse's uniform with this playing in the background?
Universal
Akon's latest single is based around a synth motif recalling Alice Deejay's Eurotrance classic 'Better Off Alone', alongside his usual combination of bland hooks and libidinous rapping. As far as I can tell, the lyrics are about having sex with a very expensive prostitute.
It's easy to be scathing about commercial R'n'B. But don't we all secretly wish we could go to 'Rappers and Slappers' night at Oceana and drunkenly chat up some girl in a latex nurse's uniform with this playing in the background?
artist Laura Steel
Wednesday, 11 February
Laura Steel sounds eerily like Dido, and she looks quite similar too. Here's the good news: debut single 'Running' is a lot livelier than anything by her famous doppelganger. The bad news? Well, unless you're a regular at G.A.Y. you probably won't need reminding of just how awful trance-pop was.
This is probably available at your local Our Price on tape, minidisc and two CDs, with a Sash! remix on the B-side. For future reference, Laura: don't mess with the space-time continuum!
This is probably available at your local Our Price on tape, minidisc and two CDs, with a Sash! remix on the B-side. For future reference, Laura: don't mess with the space-time continuum!
artist Emperor
Wednesday, 11 February
Emperor – Thus Spake the Night Spirit
Emperor's lead guitarist Samoth is a notorious church arsonist, and former drummer Faust is a convicted murderer. Between spates of violent crime, they like to put on some corpse paint and get together for a little jam in the basement.
This latest release is a live version of one of their best-loved tunes, and the titular nod to Nietzsche's übermensch sets the tone for an epic blast of symphonic black metal. I have to admit, I rather like it.
Emperor's lead guitarist Samoth is a notorious church arsonist, and former drummer Faust is a convicted murderer. Between spates of violent crime, they like to put on some corpse paint and get together for a little jam in the basement.
This latest release is a live version of one of their best-loved tunes, and the titular nod to Nietzsche's übermensch sets the tone for an epic blast of symphonic black metal. I have to admit, I rather like it.
artist The Killers
Wednesday, 04 February
The Killers – Spaceman
Island
Having managed to avoid listening to The Killers since their first album, I had forgotten just how appalling they are. 'Spaceman' sees them really scraping the barrel of synth-based mediocrity, sort of like Mr Brightside except without any discernible melody.
Brandon Flowers is running out of ideas for lyrics too, here offering us a derivative tale of abduction and subsequent probing by aliens. I wish someone would abduct him – and violently probe him until he agrees to stop making records.
Island
Having managed to avoid listening to The Killers since their first album, I had forgotten just how appalling they are. 'Spaceman' sees them really scraping the barrel of synth-based mediocrity, sort of like Mr Brightside except without any discernible melody.
Brandon Flowers is running out of ideas for lyrics too, here offering us a derivative tale of abduction and subsequent probing by aliens. I wish someone would abduct him – and violently probe him until he agrees to stop making records.
artist Thunderheist
Wednesday, 04 February
Thunderheist – Sweet 16
Big Dada
This Canadian duo is hotly tipped to become absolutely massive in 2009, and on this evidence it's not hard to see why: a pounding disco beat with ridiculously heavy bass levels and some nonce-friendly raps about picking up underage girls.
It's perhaps a bit too simplistic to get truly excited about, but there is no denying the track's huge crossover potential. Not only will it be huge in clubs, but they've shrewdly covered the dirty-old-man market as well
Big Dada
This Canadian duo is hotly tipped to become absolutely massive in 2009, and on this evidence it's not hard to see why: a pounding disco beat with ridiculously heavy bass levels and some nonce-friendly raps about picking up underage girls.
It's perhaps a bit too simplistic to get truly excited about, but there is no denying the track's huge crossover potential. Not only will it be huge in clubs, but they've shrewdly covered the dirty-old-man market as well
artist Fleet Foxes
Friday, 30 January
Fleet Foxes – Mykonos
Sub Pop
If Fleet Foxes ever actually go to Mykonos, they may well be distraught that their imagined 'visions of a gentle coast' have long since been replaced by visions of British tourists pissing on statues and being sick in the ocean.
Musically too, they are rooted firmly in the past, though the frequent Beach Boys comparisons are somewhat misleading – 'Mykonos' sounds more like it could be a catalyst for the long-overdue soft rock revival. We can but dream... MH
Sub Pop
If Fleet Foxes ever actually go to Mykonos, they may well be distraught that their imagined 'visions of a gentle coast' have long since been replaced by visions of British tourists pissing on statues and being sick in the ocean.
Musically too, they are rooted firmly in the past, though the frequent Beach Boys comparisons are somewhat misleading – 'Mykonos' sounds more like it could be a catalyst for the long-overdue soft rock revival. We can but dream... MH
artist N.A.S.A.
Friday, 30 January
N.A.S.A. featuring M.I.A., Santogold, Spank Rock & Nick Zinner – Whachadoin?
Anti
N.A.S.A. is a collaborative project between Sam Spiegel and DJ Zegon, joined here by a seemingly endless cast of super cool guest performers: M.I.A., Santogold, Spank Rock – it sounds too good to be true. And it is. Not that the track is bad – it's a decent enough slice of bass-heavy electro funk packed with catchy hooks and thumping beats.
Ultimately though, 'Whachadoin?' is less than the sum of its parts, leading to the conclusion that big names aren't everything. Just ask the Traveling Wilburys.
Anti
N.A.S.A. is a collaborative project between Sam Spiegel and DJ Zegon, joined here by a seemingly endless cast of super cool guest performers: M.I.A., Santogold, Spank Rock – it sounds too good to be true. And it is. Not that the track is bad – it's a decent enough slice of bass-heavy electro funk packed with catchy hooks and thumping beats.
Ultimately though, 'Whachadoin?' is less than the sum of its parts, leading to the conclusion that big names aren't everything. Just ask the Traveling Wilburys.
venue The Others
Thursday, 22 January
This place is amazing. It's like what I imagine a youth club in the 1980s to look like, and it even has a table football. Plus it's just down the road from me - bonus.
Looks like they have some good nights on as well - some krautrock on saturdays which i will be checking out.
Looks like they have some good nights on as well - some krautrock on saturdays which i will be checking out.
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