Music Record Reviews
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On the run from the law and in need of a helping hand? Chances are you won't get much sympathy from The Strands as their manager disappeared to Mexico with a stack of their money. and their anger is clear on the solid AC/DC tribute that is the ‘Black Mary' EP (Manky Bastard Records) on
They might need to call on global law enforcement agency Interpol; the band of the same name have had a clear influence on the hyperactive ‘Soul in a Soulless City’ EP (Milophobia) CO. by Edinburgh band Mllophobla.
But living in fear of mob justice are Le Reno Amps on ‘Outlaws' (Drift Records) ”0
where singer Scott Maple faces the wrath of his girlfriend's disapproving parents. expressing himself with ‘fierce rockabilly riffage' with aggravated alt.country charges.
He may want to use a quick blast of ‘All We Wanna Do is OH!’ (SL Records) 00 by KateGoes to get rid of unwanted guests. Only 66 seconds long, but its twee ‘cute-core' feels more like 666 with every listen. Citizen's arrest anyone?
Much less abrasive is Attic Lights faithfully reworking ‘I Could Be So Good For You' (Universal Island) on the theme tune for the new version of Minder. Easy to sneer at. impossible to resist and could be a ‘nice little earner' for the band as Arthur Daley might say.
The tempo goes down but the quality goes up thanks to Tobermory's Sorren Maclean and his acoustically enchanting ‘Bus Tax and Bars' (Tob Records) me Carrying on his good work are 'I’he Bedlam Survivors Club and their watertight ‘Sh4dows' (The Bedlam Survivors Club) 000 plus the gratifyingly tuneful ‘All The Things That You Must Love to Do' by DaRkLIGhT (Darklight) no
The race for Slngle of the Fortnlght is close~run. with late bids from the wonderful, mournful ‘A Dance to Half Death' EP (Chaffinch Records) eeee by The Second Hand Marchlng Band and Brakes with the raucous ‘Hey Hey' (FatCat Records) 00” But the winners are Glaswegas with the emotionally arresting ‘Flowers 8 Football Tops' (Sony) 0000 a poignant tribute to the victim of a truly tragic crime and the legacy it left behind. (Emma Newlands)
JAZZ
JOHN WARREN Finally Beginning (Fuzzy Moon Records) ”0
John Warren is best known as an arranger and composer for big band. but this disc features a selection of material he has written
. i :A if: ‘5 gs, ‘ - : and arranged over the years for the slightly
64 TNE LIST 19 Feb—5 Mar 2009
smaller forces of a nine- piece ensemble (expanded to ten on two of the tracks). And a very good ensemble it is. With the likes of Gerard Presencer and Mark Nightingale in the brass section, Stan Sulzmann and Julian Siegel amOng the saxes and GWilym Simcock on piano.
There is a pleasmg variety of moods and style across the album, and the playing is excellent. All of the eight tunes are Warren's own compositions, With the Single exception of his attractive arrangement of Monk's ‘Ruby My Dear‘. His approach is both distinctive and personal, but of you are looking for points of comparison, names like Gil Evans and Gerry Mulligan come to mind. (Kenny Mathieson)
WILKINSON Lost In The Day (Brechin All Records)
Born in the Borders and
now based in Edinburgh, singer Ewan Wilkinson's first album on accordionist Sandy Brechin's label is a promising debut. His selection of material is strong, including capable covers of traditional staples like Burns's ‘Ay Waulkin O' and “The Broom o' the Cowdenknowes'. more out of the way traditional songs like ‘Pills of White Mercury'. and a modern classic in Richard Thompson‘s 'Beeswing'. His own songs are not on that rarefied level. but not much is.
While there are plenty of good singing voices around on the Scottish folk scene. Wilkinson also has a good feel for molding and shaping a song. and is an able guitarist (he throws in a bit of ukulele for good measure). His instrumental work is augmented by several guests. including
Brechin on accordion, plus fiddles. whistle and Wendy Vi'eatherby's C8llO.
(Kenny Mathiesoni
NOISE ROD
ST DELUXE St Deluxe
(Poppy DISC) 00”
Fuzzed-OLit Glaswegians St Deluxe SOund like they've set Out to please themselves firstly on their debut. and if other folks dig it too: bonus. They've already picked up a few influential fans along the way in ex- Spacemen 3 dude Peter Kember, Teenage Fanclub and Alan McGee, who called them “a Scottish Nirvana for the 21 st century'. in his trademark understated way.
And you'll like them too. at least if you enjoy your riffs big. twisted and oozing with frankly Silly amounts of fuzz Dinosaur Jr style. Y0ur vocals slack ala Stephen Malkmus and yoursoundscapes warm, norsy and glowing, like My Bloody Valentine with controls set for the heart of the sun. (Malcolm Jack)
POP LILY ALLEN
It's Not Me, It's You (EMI) O.
Sly satirical lyricist. or still just a fringe with an almighty gob. whatever your hopes for her second album, Lily hasn't blossomed. lnsistently banging on about boys and beans on toast, the candid expose our nail-painting populace were promised amounts to little more than a few well-placed swearies. some lame sex and some sugar-coated spraff about celebs ‘putting shit up their
noses" 0‘ cause. there's a 3199 e to be bad Some of the iines are golde" am: the pick'ii'ni x pop of Greg) Kurstih's production ~ referenced 1am. dance. and exer‘. countn. - a: enough to make \i‘Joolworths spin. Bat a Skinneresdue mOuthpiece for a shattered generation’.‘ V‘Jhatevs Lily Allen. (Rosallie Douball
LAPTOP FOLK YAHWEH
Tug of Love
(Square Go Records) COO.
The tall, bespectacled shadow of Sebadoh's Lou Barlow looms heaVin over Scottish underground mUSIC. His truly speCiaI brand of homely introspection has fuelled more late night confessmnals at the tape recorder than any other earnest. acoustic troubadour could ever claim. On this album, Yahweh have harnessed the fumbling beauty of Barlow's understated. wry muSical style but fused it With jittery. electronic backing. But that's only part of what Yahweh can do. They also drape their frail tunes in layers of Vinyl ”surface nOise'. distant. analogue farts and hums. distressed, itchy Can-esque gurtarlines, down-a-well banjo and broken shortwave radio chatter. This is the missing ink between Boards of Canada and Arab Strap and arguably as good as both at pOints. A breathtaking, beguiling record imbued With an intimacy and wistful, organic atmosphere all its own. (Mark Robertson)
INDIE FUNK MONGREL Better than Heavy
(Wall of Sound) 00
On paper this collaboration has huge potential, with a former Arctic Monkey, a Babyshambler and the Reverend and one of his Makers teaming up with esteemed rapper
Letakm The ierluftr; me. its Jon Reverend. Mel’u'i‘ ilt‘i‘lillttil (Vexitiiis‘ily politii‘.ili\ aware enraged and often l\,iii‘;ill\ (left and astute. but mimiiall‘i. He’fi't” ll‘Jf‘ Ht‘iill if; rhoreiiiiiii l‘i\’t‘1illlt_ll|"(l funk than illtliiit‘illt‘ strident, lili'liXIf} toner; Act Like That'. ii \itriolirt anti-Violiiiii‘i- tirade is llll(l(?llllllllt‘ll ‘.'.’llll a spooky (ltilihx, backing and a riiiiihlinri, soaring ‘Ilit Mom The Morning Siih' hat; the requisite tension, but these flashes; of lllilqll‘ are Just too infrequent. Mongrel hold a mirror up to Britain's; festering black heart oveiroWIni; With greed. poverty. Violence and corruption and ask Surely we can do better than tliis’?'. which is a worthwhile sentiment. but the message leaves you wondering Why they didn't have more fire in their bellies musically. (Mark Robertson)
LO - F I CALAMATEUR Jesus is for Losers (self-release) OOOO
The world needs mavericks like Calamateur. Holed up somewhere Outside lnverness. Andrew Howre has been making a find blend of folk, rock and electronica for almost a decade, With this latest offering typically brimming With invention and conSiderable skill.
A concept album of sorts featuring covers of songs about Jesus and a handful of original tunes. it's utterly engaging and heartfelt, from the bluesy stomp of ‘Lonely Boy' to the heartbreaking cover of 'I Don‘t Know How to Love Him' from the Jesus Christ Superstar