Women/Elmo Logic (Night and Day Manchester)

As I wonder into the hallowed Night and Day, Elmo Logic's eerie-pop is mulling at the back of the room. The spiky staccato Interpol guitar lines flutter tremendously, whilst the rest of the band are locked in Grammatics-esque baroque theatrics...well worth keeping an eye on...

I have been intrigued by the live prospect of Women; as the album itself is confusing yet intriguing. The spiraling discordant side of Women is much more notable in the live setting, with the freak outs Swell-Maps- style, coming across a lot more prominently than the lo-fi fuzz-pop that is the album. The set is short and loud, with swaying distortion flying about everywhere, each song drifting into the next; and the effect is powerful. The set was always teetering on being self-indulgent and hard-going, but the band are tight and a well-oiled machine, so the set is punchy; and most importantly, underneath the feedback and effects, are damn fine pop songs.

Start of 2009 Albums

This year has started very well in terms of records and it shows no signs of slowing down, and with gigs from Women, Parts and Labor, Wild Beasts, 65 Days of Static, Wavves, Grammatics, Art Brut and Dananananaykroyd coming up; 2009 is shaping up to be a great year

                                            

Pains of Being Pure At Heart- S/T

As a sucker for female led twee-pop, this album was always going to be a favourite of mine. So I'm full of hyperbole, so here it goes, take it how you want...(warning if you hate twee, you will hate this records, or like me, it will go straight to your heart). I'll keep it short, a Smithsian pedigree of songwriting, and 

enchanting Boy/Girl vocals, make this a beautiful pop record. Full. Stop.

Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavillion

What can I say about this album that hasn't already been said? Yes, there's a lot of hype around this record. Yes, if you don't get Animal Collective then it will see overrated (I used to be in this camp). Yes, its just another Animal Collective album with added reverb. But, in my eyes its just a fantastic pop record, that brightens up the dismal weather. Give it a chance, and it'll grow, I promise. I may regret that....

Women- Women

This album takes many twists and turns, and is at times quite a confusing record. Sometimes its chiming and popp

y and all Velvet-Undergroundy, then at other times its all discordant and fuzzy, but under all this lies a really strong record, that in time becomes a very clear signal of intent. I think there is a lot more to come from these guys

Grammatics- Grammatics

A band I have been following for ages, finally release their first full-length, and it is well well well well worth the wait. An album designed for sitting down with big headphones on, and listening to it as a whole; skewed pop stretched over epic proportions of spiky guitars, pounding bass, and sharp cello, and the production is stellar. I am looking forward to see how this translates live, but this record could well be the album of 2009 already, fantastic....

Overlooked Records of 2008

A year full of fantastic music always meant that some gems would be missed, and here are a few I have stumbled upon:

Marnie Stern- This is It, and I am It.....

Like a rolling stone, Marnie's new album really gallops with her fantastic finger tapping keeping each song ticking over, powered by the awesome locomotive that is Zach Hill. Couldn't have picked a better line up myself....

Grouper- Dragging A Dead Deer Up a Hill

A sparse yet intimate, frightening yet heart-felt, hooded creature of a record, is perfect for evening walks in the autumn. A beautiful Cat Power-esque voice, that really resonates in your soul

Beach House- Devotion

A haunting and beautiful record, filled with beautiful reverb and gorgeous percussion that wrap each song in a beautiful warm romanticist bubble, teetering on the edge of bursting. I feel very stupid for missing out on this the first time. If you haven't already investigated, investigate NOW.