This week we review the latest albums from Holly Miranda,
Scalper, The Eastern, Mose Allison and Babylon Circus.
> Holly Miranda. The Magician's Private
Library. Remote Control Records.
3 stars (out of 5)
Brooklyn-based Holly Miranda might just have shot herself in
the foot by putting her debut LP in the hands of producer
Dave Sitek, of TV On The Radio fame.
Sitek has played up the dream-pop elements in Miranda's music
to the point of smothering her vocals in blankets of reverb
and multilayered instruments, rarely allowing her dusky but
powerful pipes to sound as they might.
It's all in keeping with the theme of shadow-filled reverie,
but one only need check out Miranda's live guitar-and-vocal
tracks on YouTube to see that a more intimate setting might
have worked better for her.
Single download: Waves
For those who like: Cat Power, Cocteau Twins
- Jeff Harford
> Scalper. Flesh & Bones. Border
Music.
4 stars (out of 5)
First coming to prominence as a member of British hip-hop
collective Fun-da-Mental, the now New Zealand-based Scalper
(Nadeem Shafi) releases his debut long-player Flesh &
Bones.
A formidable offering, the album echoes the musical
malevolence of trip-hop pioneers Tricky and Massive Attack.
Abacus and Threepointonefour - replete with
spaghetti western guitar twangs and skittering percussion -
positively drip with portent, while his staccato vocal turn
on Obsessive Idols enhances the prevailing sense of
dread.
A harrowing listen, but a rewarding one nonetheless.
Single Download: Abacus
For those who like: Tricky, Massive Attack, Portishead
- John Hayden
> The Eastern. Arrows. Rhythm
Method.
4 stars (out of 5)
The sophomore effort from this Christchurch band, Arrows
revels in all things strung, strummed and plucked and reveals
just why invitations to tour have come from Steve Earle, Old
Crow Medicine Show, Fleetwood Mac and the Jayhawks.
Centred on songwriters Adam McGrath and Jess Shanks, The
Eastern mix bar-room country brawlers with dusty, delicate
folk and bluegrass-infused stomp.
The key is the unpretentious joy with which songs are
delivered, packaged with strong lyrics and tight harmonies
but always threatening to unfurl, just like the best live
performances.
Single download: Talking Advertising Cellular
Sellout Blues
For those who like: Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt
- Shane Gilchrist
> Mose Allison. The Way Of The World.
Anti.
4 stars (out of 5)
An artist who has cast a rather large shadow over generations
of blues-rock-jazz songwriters, from John Mayall, Van
Morrison and The Who to Norah Jones, Mose Allison returns
from a 12-year hiatus, lured back into the studio by producer
Joe Henry, who coaxes forth a dozen-song set that is
typically unhurried and urbane and features some interesting
twists.
This New Situation has the 80-something pianist
performing a duet with his daughter, singer Amy Allison, who
follows her father's distinctive phrasing as only a relative
could; while the title track, a collaboration between Allison
and Henry, benefits from smoky saxophone and smooth guitar
phrasing.
Single download: Crush
For those who like: Randy Newman, Willie Dixon
- Shane Gilchrist
> Babylon Circus. La Belle Etoile. Cartell
Music.
4 stars (out of 5)
French nine-piece Babylon Circus was a crowd favourite at
Womad 2010, its hyper-energised blend of horn-driven
ska-punk, gypsy swing, chanson and cabaret jazz whipping up a
storm of mad dancing. And that's what this band is all about.
Lyrics flick between French and English (predominantly
French), meaning much of the outfit's political and social
commentary will be lost on the monolingual, but much passion
and humour can be felt in the pumping, stomping and swaying
of the music, regardless.
This album would liven up any party that is starting to flag.
Single download: Des Fois
For those who like: The Benka Borodovsky Bordello
Band, ska, gypsy music
- Jeff Harford
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