Category: Reviews (Page 187 of 200)

POLLY SCATTERGOOD Wanderlust

21 February 2013 /

Polly Scattergood made her debut in 2009 with a self-titled album released on the iconic Mute Records.

With key influences such as Bjork and Kate Bush, it combined jubilant experimental pop with her innocent, affected vocals.

Following her debut which featured the startlingly disturbing ‘Nitrogen Pink’ and soon to make a guest appearance on BEF’s ‘Dark’ covers album with a kooky rendition of ‘The Look Of Love’, Polly Scattergood is back and her new single Wanderlust’ realises her potential.

It is a slice of deliciously wired avant pop in the GOLDFRAPP vein, disconcerting but delightful like COCTEAU TWINS and rousing with an air of fragility.

It’s been nearly four years since her debut album and Mute Records have said Scattergood “has created a more mature, yet still innately unique, Sophomore album”. Commuting between Norfolk and Berlin to record her new album ‘Arrows’, the schizophrenic nature of these two very different parts of the world appears to have had a startling effect on ‘Wanderlust’. The album is out in the summer.

‘Wanderlust’ is released by Mute Records and available from 1st April 2013 via the usual digital outlets

Polly Scattergood plays Sebright Arms, 31-35 Coate Street, London E2 9AG on 27th February 2013

http://www.pollyscattergood.com/

http://www.facebook.com/polly.scattergood

http://mute.com/polly-scattergood

Text by Chi Ming Lai
21st February 2013

PAUL HUMPHREYS & DOUGLAS COUPLAND Electric Ikebana

2 February 2013 /

Not a track from the new OMD album ‘English Electric’ but an indication of where it’s heading.

This is ‘Electric Ikebana’, a collaboration between Paul Humphreys and ‘Generation X’ author Douglas Coupland which Mr Humphreys first told ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK about back in 2010.

An audio/visual installation to act as the voice of the network, it was a commission for Alcatel-Lucent as part of their online 2011 Annual Review. The beautiful piece has Humphreys’ musical stamp and  conceptual hints of KRAFTWERK’s ‘The Voice Of Energy’ but with a far less Teutonic style. There’s even a charming mathematical formula recital “x = [-b +- √(b² -4ac)] / 2a” by Humphreys to the tune of the nursery rhyme ‘Pop Goes The Weasel’ which recalls ‘ABC Auto-Industry’ from ‘Dazzle Ships’…

The global communications company said: “we have asked Douglas Coupland, writer and artist, together with the musician Paul Humphreys, to bring the data that represents network usage to life through an audio visual installation. Together they have responded by creating ‘Electric Ikebana’, an artwork that captures the spirit of innovation that lies at the heart of our company”.

It all bodes well for the new OMD album ‘English Electric’ which is a true musical collaboration between its founder members Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey.

Humphreys said in Summer 2012: “Andy and I are really excited by ‘English Electric’. We’ve really gone to another level from ‘History Of Modern’ which was too much remote work. We realised we don’t work very well passing files back to each other; we work best when we sit in a room together… What we’d do is flesh out the ideas together and then we’d both take parts back to work on separately. But the spark of this record is us sitting together in a room. We really had a mantra for this album which was “What does the future sound like?”…we’re pushing boundaries”.

‘English Electric’ will be released on 8th April 2013

OMD’s 2013 ‘English Electric’ UK Tour

Margate Winter Gardens (28th April), Birmingham Symphony Hall (29th April), Nottingham Royal Centre (1st May), Ipswich Regent Theatre (2nd May), London Roundhouse (3rd May), Bristol Colston Hall (5th May), Oxford New Theatre (6th May), Sheffield City Hall (8th May), Leeds Academy (9th May), Manchester Academy (10th May), Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (12th May), Gateshead Sage (13th May), Liverpool Empire (14th May)

http://www.omd.uk.com/

https://www.facebook.com/omdofficial/

Text by Chi Ming Lai
Illustration by Supersonic Creative Inc
2nd February 2013

KOVAK Radiate

28 January 2013 /

Trending on BBC Radio 2 no less is KOVAK’s brand new single ‘Radiate’…

KOVAK have only been the second unsigned band to be playlisted on BBC Radio 2 and this accolade is a clear indication of their crossover potential. The Brighton-based foursome relaunched in 2012 with the brilliant ‘Killer Boots’ and have been touted in some quarters as the British answer to SCISSOR SISTERS. But they are far better than that and much less irritating.

The SAINT ETIENNE meets BLONDIE and Giorgio Moroder fusion of ‘Radiate’ may party like it’s 1979 but its crisp production adds a modern discothèque sheen to the fun, catchy ditty. It is simply syncopated heaven.

Driven by a tingling metallic sequence and sweetened by Annelies Van de Velde’s angelic vocals, ‘Radiate’ does what it says on the tin and puts in the shade most of the competition whose idea of an electronic dance song is to cut a mindless, repetitive house excursion with no tune!

Along with TEXAN duo ELEVEN: ELEVEN, KOVAK know how to make people dance while adding a great tune and NOT cranking the beat to 12! Yes, it’s a great time to be an electropop act right now.

‘Radiate’ is released digitally on 11th February 2013 by 74 Music

KOVAK will also be supporting REPUBLICA at Highbury’s The Garage in London on Thursday 14th March 2013

http://kovak.co.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/OfficialKovak

Text by Chi Ming Lai
28th January 2013

MARGARET BERGER I Feed You My Love

26 January 2013 /

Electro songstress KarinPark has co-written a song that is in the running to be Norway’s Eurovision Song Contest 2013 entry… and it’s a goody, UK entries are NEVER like this!!!

‘I Feed You My Love’ could be best described as Robyn and Kelly Clarkson meeting ‘Songs Of Faith & Devotion’ era DEPECHE MODE. In fact, its performer Margaret Berge came second in the 2004 series of ‘Norwegian Idol’ so the description is quite apt.

Yes, the song veers a bit on the rock side but the melody is strong… very important for capturing those pan-European ears. Karin Park’s collaborators on ‘I Feed You My Love’ are Robin Lynch and Niklas Olovson who have worked under the moniker of MACHOPSYCHO with Pink, Jessica Simpson, Natalie Imbruglia and THE BACKSTREET BOYS.

The on-paper incongorous partnership has produced an unusual (by mainstream standards) but wonderful song blend that has reached the 2nd semi-final of Melodi Grand Prix, Norway’s Eurovision song selection vehicle. It will be broadcast tonight, 26th January 2013 on NRK.

‘I Feed You My Love’ is released by Macho Records and available via iTunes, Amazon and the usual digital outlets

https://www.facebook.com/margaretbergerofficial/

http://www.karinpark.com/

Text by Chi Ming Lai
26th January 2013

ANALOG ANGEL We Won’t Walk Away

26 January 2013 /

 

What’s this, is it the new OMD single?

No, it isn’t but ANALOG ANGEL have recorded an immediately enjoyable new song ‘We Won’t Walk Away’ which could be perceived as a laudable tribute to OMD’s classic ‘Organisation’ era, complete with primary chord structures, one-fingered melodies and motorik rhythm programming. There’s even a bit of Andy McCluskey tinged tenor or Ian Donaldson of H2O if you want to reference closer to ANALOG ANGEL’s hometown of Glasgow, although McCluskey’s father Jimmy was a Weegie and played for Celtic!

There’s also the more cosmic tones of LA DÜSSELDORF looming but most listeners will recall OMD simply because Wirral’s finest have been one of the greatest exponents of selling German influenced electronica back to the Germans!

Eschewing the more industrial template of their previous 2011 album ‘The Thin Line’, ‘We Won’t Walk Away’ is from ANALOG ANGEL’s new EP ‘Pride’. Formed in 2009, ANALOG ANGEL, who consist of John Brown (vocals, synths), Derek MacDonald (synths) and Ian Ferguson (synths), have supported the likes of VNV NATION, ASSEMBLAGE 23 and TOYAH. This new collection of songs showcases a richer sound, complex layers of programming and some decidedly Euro-romanticised lyrics.

This broader palette has without doubt widened their appeal but whether ANALOG ANGEL’s existing fanbase will enjoy their new direction remains to be seen.

It could be the best thing they have done, but just one thing though… Paul Humphreys might want his Prophet 5 back 😉

‘We Won’t Walk Away’ is from the download EP ‘Pride’ and released on 1st February 2013 by Carbon 12 Records

http://www.analog-angel.com/

http://carbon12records.com/artists/analog_angel/index.htm

Text by Chi Ming Lai
26th January 2013

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2017 ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK | Email: [email protected]
Privacy Policy

Up ↑