New Releases - 16th May

New Releases - 16th May

11 May, 2011
by: Music Team

Big Al' Sugar is back, do we hire or do we fire?

Cloud Control - This Is What I Said
Ivy League Records

This Is What I Said by Cloud Control by infectiousmusicuk

This sounds like the Aussie freak folk foursome have finally descended from the dreamy Blue Mountains of their naissance and headed, Crocodile Dundee-like, for the bright lights of urban civilisation.

The urban civilisation they have arrived at is Manchester, 1983. The bass line and the guitar ostacato are fresh, but mainly because those of This Charming Man remain so. In place of Morissey’s ode to homoerotic hitch-hiking, Alister Wright warbles on about ignorance and indifference to the location of a tangible chill on the air. “Is it here or is it there? I don’t know because I don’t care.” I can’t say I do either. 3/5
AM

Baptists - Good Parenting
Southern

Baptists - Good Parenting (Baptists) by metalassault

To start with, the first ten seconds of angry guitar feedback had me wincing with the same frightened anticipation you feel as when you're about to have a plaster ripped off. What followed was much worse. Two minutes of horrible, loud, chaotic screaming-and-bashing which I'm sure breaks UN regulations for noise torture. I've heard road accidents sound more pleasing than this and to be honest if this is Baptists' idea of good parenting I'm ringing social services. 1/5
TA

Chapel Club - Blind
Loog

Chapel Club - Blind by Singhabaaa

I hadn't noticed that I had the volume turned up to maximum. Possibly to number eleven. As a result, my initial reaction to 'Blind' was one of overwhelming shock as I got crushed under sonic blaze that felt like baby elephant using my chest as a trampoline.

As I knocked the volume down a tad, I realised that the crashing waves of The Joy Formidable style guitar between moody Chapman Family indie still packed a lot of punch- but it ain't no 'Surfacing'. An anthemic rush to the head. 3/5
LS

Smoke Fairies - Storm Song
V2 / Cooperative Music

Smoke Fairies - Storm Song by charmfactory

Much loved by Jack White, this pair, although he could surely never aspire to be quite this wispy. Oddly, though, for a pair so commonly thought of as a folk phenomenon, they're chasing common ground with some of the more otherworldly and strikingly feminised elements of the indie-rock pantheon, with Cocteau-esque flashes of guitar here and harmonies straight from the school of School Of Seven Bells there, ultimately meaning they've conjured up something that's both audaciously archaic and a diaphonous delight.  3/5
IM

Husband - Love Song/Slow Motion
Robot Elephant Records

Husband - Love Song / Slow Motion by Robot Elephant Records

More years ago now than I care to remember I took my first sip of beer.  More used to the wonders of Um Bongo, I was less than impressed.  Cue my dad’s fateful words “You’ve just got to learn to like it.”

This is a stance I’ve tried to continue in life as heck, it certainly worked with the booze.  Try as I might though, this track is doing nothing for me.  Dull, lifeless synth-pop with a tribal-esque undertone – it’s all just a little too forgettable. 2/5
VS

Chinese Man - Miss Chang
Chinese Man Records

Miss Chang (feat. Taiwan MC & Cyph4) by Vv.

French Hip-Hop collective ‘Chinese man’ employ the lyrical ramblings of Taiwan MC and Cyph4 for their latest release ‘Miss Chang’. Kicking off with an immensely groovy beat, dubby bassline and just a dash of tasty scratching, this tune promises a lot.

For the most part Chinese Man deliver a big track that no doubt sounds fantastic booming through a sound system. Sadly some of this atmosphere is diluted by the shrill vocals and jaunty plink-plonking of the choruses, making that final concluding gun-shot feel just a little bit too welcome. 3/5
Joj

Music Team