Tunes for tots: Late of the Pier, The Verve, Lindstrøm, Danny

August 26, 2008

I’ve been working a lot again.  However – I’ve got a few music picks for your listening pleasure.  As Ghost would say, let us “go in.”

Late of the Pier – Fantasy Black Channel (LP), and Echoclistel Lambietroy (EP)

First the LP – Good god almighty.  The best album of the year – just ahead of One Day As A Lion and Los Angeles (speaking very subjectively of course).  I really don’t have the adjectives to tell you how I feel about this album.  It’s just great.  I suppose it’s kind of a rhythmic Klaxons, driven a little more by the synthisized basslines, than two/three part harmonies.

There has been a glutton of (truthfully) fad dance/electro pop/rock acts coming out, i.e. MGMT, Crystal Castles, Cut Copy (which is pretty good)…etc, etc.  But this is definitely the best of them all (and the one with lasting potential).  I also put in the EP because of the dope remixes on some of the songs.

4.8 out of 5 – ILL.  I’m sure this will be in my (a lot of peoples) end of year list.  Probable contender for England’s Mercury Prize

Lindstrøm – Where You Go, I Go Too

Gotta love the creepy, even slightly douchebag cover and album title.  I can’t “recommend” this electronic album, mainly because it’s not really an album you could pick and choose, or even skip around on.  For example…the songs range from around 7 minutes to the title’s time of just under 30 minutes.  I read one review a few minutes ago, that said it would be perfect for a slow and easy Saturday evening….and that’s about right.   It’s not completely dancey…..and it’s not totally slowed up…..it’s got a nice balance and wide range of textures.  It literally grows from atmospheric to upbeat, over a period of 10 minutes….then into even more layers.  Like I said – I can’t tell you go pick it up and just play it like a regular CD.  But if you did – you wouldn’t be disappointed.

4 out of 5.

The Verve – Forth

Remember these guys?  The guys that broke up after the last two classic albums (A Northern Soul and Urban Hymns) they came out with?  Well, they’ve decide to come back for another turn on the merry-go-round – and the wait was worthwhile.  For anyone looking for classic Urban Hymns status….you won’t find it…at least not totally.  This seems to be more of a “…let’s work out the kinks…” kind of album.  That being said, it’s a really good album – basically everything you’d expect from the Verve is in here: very flowy…layered….the big mid to late 90′s English arena band sound, just brought forward to 2008.  Hopefully, they will stay for more than another cup of tea.

4.2 out of 5

Danny! – And I Love H.E.R (Original Soundtrack)

This isn’t really a soundtrack…it’s a play on Common’s song, stretched into a concept album about his “relationship” with hip hop, complete with a De La-type storyline….and this curiously wasn’t released on Def Jux, but on his own 1911/Badenov label.  But I’m going to say something crazy – he is one of the best, most productive producers in rap.  He is a talented and improving lyricist, though he’s still a little bit too choppy and content-limited at this point to say his raps match his beats.  How he’s able to make money with all these samples is a wonder, but he uses his samples better most of the sampling producers out there, especially the vocal samples.  (Check out “Not the One”…amazing)  There are some duds….like “Where You Goin’”….but with 17 tracks, there are going to be some guaranteed snoozers.  He’s not quite where he needs to be….and he’s tremendously self-aware pertaining his status in the rap world.  But hopefully with El-P, he’ll find what he’s looking for – and we’ll reap the benefits.

4.2 out of 5 – quality hold-over, as I (we) look forward to the Def Jux debut