New Releases - 16th February

New Releases - 16th February

11 February, 2009
by: Music Team

*Single of the Week*
Years of Rice and Salt – Service Bell
Free download

Alright, so it's not a single, it's an epic EP conveying the story of a shipwreck in four haunting long-play tracks. But it is out this week, and free. And we love it, so we thought we'd share it.

A narrative without words, conveyed in soaring guitars, splashed percussion, harmonicas and fiddles... there's a definite Celtic/nautical timbre to this record, evoking feelings both homesick, and peaceful. The whole thing is beautifully arranged and involving. Check it out! JH


The Prodigy – Omen
Take Me To The Hospital

I love The Prodigy. Always have. Reckon I always will. So it pains me to say that 'Omen' is not actually that good. It lacks the freshness and classic rave sound that made their name. It's a nu skool breaks belter. Yes it's huge and slamming, and you would go bananas hearing it on a respectable rig, but from such dance music luminaries? It's boring.

I somehow expected more from The Prods. And nu skool breaks is an odd choice. It's aged very badly and now just sounds a bit Mickey Mouse. (The white gloves?). LC


The Dø – On My Shoulders
Get Døwn!

Oh The Dø, with their trendy clothes and their theorising and that slashed o in their name. They should be really annoying but actually their music's great. 2008 saw discerning Frenchies nodding their approval with a chicly discreet 'ah oui, c'est chouette'. And now, with 'On My Shoulders', they're over here.

Dan Levy does Melody Nelson-esque strings and strumming, while kooky Franco-Finnish fashion-doll Olivia Merilahti endearingly implores twee indie kids the world over. To do what, it's unclear. But this song's beautiful. TJ


Emperor – Thus Spake the Night Spirit
Vic Records

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. MH


Asobi Seksu – Familiar Light
One Little Indian

I've never had a dream about flying, but if I did I'd quite like to have 'Familiar Light' playing in the background. Typically Asobi Seksu, it's one of those song that soars with epic violins whilst a pounding piano line keeps the whole thing moving along. It's like that bit in The NeverEnding Story where Barrett Oliver rides that magical flannel monster in musical form.

As an added bonus here's a list of other scenes this song could soundtrack: 1. A person running into an exploding fountain 2. People looking hopefully into the future 3. A city scene sped up 4. Coldplay crying as they hadn't thought of it first. DH


School of Seven Bells – Iamundernodisguise
Ghostly Int'l

One thing I like about School of Seven Bells is that you never know quite what you are going to get. Colourful strands of rock, electro and psychedelia are plaited together with mixed results. Sometimes the result is grinding, heart-drumming pop; sometimes stammering Postal Service sweetness.

This track combines tribal beats, drone, electro bleats, and a sweet flooding melody, and melds them together pretty seamlessly. It is the vocals which, for me, fall short. They're undeniably nice, but their slack-jawed harmony feels just too restrained. LS


Anthony and the Johnsons – Epilepsy is Dancing
Secretly Canadian

This is exactly the kind of track title you'd expect from a man whose web page states that he's currently thinking about: circles of light, the Arctic, witches, mammals and viral late-stage capitalism.

It's hard to see how the video proves his point though: as a woman has a fit and her eyes roll back into her head at no point do you get the feeling she's about to start jitterbugging down the street. Verdict? Creepy video, schmaltzy 'metaphorical' lyrics and lacklustre tune. EM


New Rhodes - The Joys of Finding and Losing That Girl
Moshi Moshi

New Rhodes' latest single, indeed New Rhodes themselves, are one of those bands who sit perfectly under the term 'Landfill Indie'.

'The Joys Of Finding And Losing That Girl' is just one such song. You could expect to find this in the indie-compilation pit: well dressed band, catchy riff lines, and lyrics which have been written in accordance with the definitive indie checklist. In this instance New Rhodes have chosen that ever popular subject 'The Girl', or should I say 'That Girl'. Listen, enjoy and then safely dispose of it. GS


Mike Melange - Let Your Love Flow
Mathouse Records

The actual point of this remix is unclear. I just can't figure out who it will appeal to. The backing track is so bad that surely only over '50s aqua-aerobics classes would tolerate it. It has exactly the same beat and chord changes as Bob the Builder's 'Big Fish Little Fish' but is less snappy. 

The track that's remixed is absolutely ghastly too - the worst kind of upbeat happy-clappy, smug country pop - so dire that Barclaycard have seen fit to use it for their advert. LC


Laura Steel – Running
Rollon Entertainment
 
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! MH


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Music Team