New Releases - 8th August

New Releases - 8th August

03 August, 2011
by: Music Team

We phoned these in from the pool...

Gross Magic – Teen Jamz
Sounds of Sweet Nothing

Gross Magic - We're Awake Tonight by TheSoundsOfSweetNothing

I like the idea of surprises more than actual ‘surprises’. Finding a £5 while you’re cleaning your room is nice, but most of the time my surprises fall onto the ‘oh look that bread you bought yesterday is already mouldy’ or ‘is that your girlfriend making out with that guy?’ side of the equation.

Then again, sometimes something comes along that astounds me in a good way. Take this Gross Magic EP for example. I was all geared up to write it off as a British version of Idiot Glee, but it turns out this actually sounds like ELO, Bowie, Wavves and Prince all mashed together. Totally rad. 4.8/5
DH

Metronomy - The Bay
Because Music

Metronomy - The Bay by acrylica

The Brighton boys play it safe with their third single from the album and come up trumps again. It does sound pretty much like a rearrangement of most of their other singles, but so what?

Metronomy do bass and synth like Harry Ramsden does fish and chips. It's catchy, precisely executed indie-pop. If it ain't broke, boys.  4.5/5
TA

Black Milk – Brain
Third Man Records

Black Milk - Brain by weallwantsome1

Detroit MC/producer Black Milk brings an organ to the mix for Brain, which sounds like a pretty intellectual track. I'm instantly thinking of the little organ piece at the start of classic Beastie Boys track 'So What'Cha Want'.

A few more listens and I regret comparing to to said Beastie Boys track, as it's a more soulful track and Black Milk's lyrical delivery is much less aggressive, although there is a sinister undertone in his voice that I just can't get enough of. Maybe I should get myself checked out... 3/5
JC

Astrid Williamson – Pour
One Little Indian


A griping, piano solo flows gently into croaking doors, which lurks repeatedly throughout the song. Suddenly! A heartbeat, drums and footsteps infiltrate the track creating an asymmetrical meter. The composer- ambitious; perhaps the idea was to experiment with tempos, pitches and objects, (hence the electronic reverb). Pouring sounds, to coincide with the title? Interesting move… I guess.
 
Astrid’s vocals stays soothing, it would have worked well a’capella or with just the accompanying piano. Unfortunately, the remix screams weird. Why take away the rawness and replace it with a random fusion of instruments? 3/5
EB

Brontide – Jura
Holy Roar Records



Allegedly a ‘math-rock’ outfit, the technical ambition of Brontide’s musical arithmetic is decidedly playgroup. Indeed, as the tribulations of getting to that second chorus become too much, the toys are all out of the pram and we’re introduced to a real temper tantrum of a bridge, complete with whimpering, sulky outtro.

It is by no means awful music, just a bit lazy, unimaginative and ultimately quite boring. 2/5
JoJ

Toddla T ft Roots Manuva – Watch Me Dance
Ninja Tune

Toddla T feat. Roots Manuva-Watch Me Dance -www.mrtzcmp3.net by myjuicebox

On first hearing this track, I assumed another poorly named rapper was ruining a perfectly good Bowie song by inserting inane rhymes over it. Then I discovered Toddla T is actually some trendy DJ type who’s collaborated with every hip-hop artist imaginable, so I felt compelled to change my opinion to something with words like ‘pioneering’ and ‘electro-dancehall-fusion’ in it, thus demonstrating my own trendiness to readers.

But I’m going to be honest, this was quite bland and made me think of shopping in H&M. Avoid. 2/5

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Music Team