This week we review the latest albums from Holly Miranda, Scalper, The Eastern, Mose Allison and Babylon Circus.
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
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
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
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
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
