Category: Reviews (Page 198 of 200)

MIRRORS Lights & Offerings

14 February 2011 /

The Science Of Our Love…

MIRROR: a pattern for imitation; exemplar: a man who was the mirror of fashion. Something worthy of imitation.

MIRRORS reflect their surroundings and flaunt their artistic integrity. “We like that whole idea that your art is your life – you are what you make” says singer James New.

Following the philosophy of the Bauhaus movement’s founder Walter Gropius, MIRRORS’ modernism is a unity of art and technology. Whilst their aesthetic may point towards KRAFTWERK and their Gilbert & George inspired sartorial style, the eerily uncomfortable and gloomy social environment that spawned JOY DIVISION, XTC, THROBBING GRISTLE and PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED over thirty years ago which also exists today is just as relevant.

Protestations in some quarters that MIRRORS are merely an OMD tribute band are ignorantly lazy and uninformed. As a current musical act resonating the hopes and fears of rational youth, MIRRORS could appeal as much to followers of WHITE LIES, EDITORS (note absence of the definite article in all three!) or even THE XX as much as anyone who may have grown up admiring the pioneering sounds of Synth Britannia. In a recession, people seek value and that is apparent with ‘Lights & Offerings’.

This young Brighton quartet consisting of James New (lead vocals and synths), Ally Young (synths and backing vocals), James ‘Tate’ Arguile (synths) and Josef Page (electronic percussion) have quite simply delivered one of the best debut albums by a British band for many years.

Recorded and self produced in a rural Sussex farmhouse before being mixed in New York by Jonathan Kreinik, ‘Lights & Offerings’ possesses an intelligent balance between precise technologically driven beats and emotive vintage synthesizer melodies. This fresh, artful and lively approach permeates throughout this cohesive, seamless body of work. It all begins with the superb sonic pulsar of ‘Fear Of Drowning’. Full of the dramatic overtures of young manhood, it marvellously sets the scene for the rest of the album.

Their debut single ‘Look At Me’ has been reworked with its original digital drum patterns now replaced by a grittier snap. But its moody, layered textures keep it wistful and evocative. With a debut album, there is only one chance to make a good first impression, so MIRRORS have done the sensible thing by including all of their acclaimed singles.

And none come much better than ‘Into The Heart’ which is a beautiful slice of melancholic pop with a glorious soaring chorus to match. Add in its detuned shimmering tones and powerful humanity, it successfully captures the spirit of prime ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK. ‘Write Through The Night’ acts as a steadfast interregnum before leading into the mutant electronic disco of ‘Ways To An End’. Driven rhythmically by two parts TALKING HEADS and one part HUMAN LEAGUE, ‘Ways To An End’ is the most immediate example of MIRRORS’ chilling pop noir.

The following ‘Hide & Seek’ exposes some endearing soul searching and is almost choir boy like with its lyrically naive but playful intent. James New’s altering tonality in his majestic vocals compliment the discerning harmonious stylings in what is a very English take on modern pop. In fact, he comes over like an electro friendly MOorrissey. In that respect, MIRRORS are one of those electronic bands who could break down the barriers of the real music purist, purely because they write and produce proper songs.

The outstanding ‘Somewhere Strange’ takes the listener on the most euphoric and roaring trip since NEW ORDER’s ‘Temptation’. The synthetic assault simply hypnotises with propulsive blips and cacophonies of percussive noise.

After such frenzied action, MIRRORS then reveal an interesting musical diversion with a haunting cover of a rootsy country number originally recorded by Karen Dalton and written by the late Dino Valenti of psychedelic rockers QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE. Entitled ‘Something On Your Mind’, this touching ballad takes the pace down with some tearful yearning before screeching into the frantically uptempo DEPECHE MODE led synthpop of ‘Searching In The Wilderness’.

With the epic final track ‘Secrets’, its echoing Kling Klang octave bass riff is accompanied by an intense percussive march. Almost 11 minutes in length and split into three parts, the ambient interlude of the second section consists of an aural sculpture that plays with the mind. Fooling the listener into thinking the album has ended, it suddenly all restarts with a piercing and dynamic military tattoo for the third and final movement.

When ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK first asked James New to describe ‘Lights and Offerings’ last Autumn, he said: “really great pop songs… but it’s very densely produced, heavily layered, emotional, soulful electronic music. If those words mean anything to you, then you’re going to love our record.”

ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK is pleased to say it does and so will you…

Special thanks to Debbie Ball at Create Spark

‘Lights & Offerings’ is released in the UK by Skint Records on 28th February 2011

The ‘Lights & Offerings’ Launch Party takes place at The Green Door Store, Trafalgar Arches, Brighton BN1 4FQ on Thursday 24th February 2011. Doors open at 8.00pm, with MIRRORS performing their live showcase at around 10.00pm. Entry is free.

MIRRORS will also be performing on the same bill as Gary Numan and John Foxx at Back To The Phuture which takes place at London’s Troxy on Saturday 2nd April 2011.

https://www.facebook.com/theworldofmirrors/

http://theworldofmirrors.blogspot.com/

https://mirrorsofficial.bandcamp.com/

Text by Chi Ming Lai
Photos by David Ellis
14th February 2011

CLAUDIA BRÜCKEN ComBined

5 February 2011 /

The release of Claudia Brücken ‘ComBined’ in association with ZTT/Salvo presents the first career retrospective of the German chanteuse’s marvellous collection of work.

Before LADYTRON or GOLDFRAPP, it was Claudia Brücken who reigned as the original first lady of icy, feminine led Eurocentric avant-pop. As a keen collaborative artist, this compilation gathers together her various ComBinations with producers and musicians who included Trevor Horn, Stephen J Lipson, David Sylvian and the late John Uriel among many others.

Her classic PROPAGANDA tracks ‘Dr. Mabuse’, ‘Duel’ and ‘P.Machinery’ need no introduction. They still retain their Teutonic magnificence and cinematic surrealism. Together with Susanne Freytag, Michael Mertens and Ralf Dörper, the quartet are still remembered as ‘ABBA in hell’.

However, when Claudia formed ACT with Thomas Leer in 1987, there came a more playful, decadent glamour with political flirtations. ‘Snobbery & Decay’ was a warning about the effects of the Thatcher government while ‘Absolutely Immune’ was a commentary on the apathy of the nation at large with its “I’m alright Jack” selfishness.

Unfortunately, with the sentiment lost on a British public still drowned in blue emotion, the technological and theatrical marvels on the parent album ‘Laughter, Tears and Rage’ in 1988 were sadly unable to gain a foothold in a landscape dominated by the bland mid-Atlantic blue eyed soul and FM AOR that had become the requisites for the then brand new CD format!

Alas, ACT did not continue and Claudia signed a deal with Island Records for her 1991 album ‘Love: And A Million Other Things’. The wonderful ‘Kiss Like Ether’ recalls the rhythmical template of JON & VANGELIS’ ‘State Of Independence’ while her debut solo single ‘Absolut(E)’ is very Pascal Gabriel, the production dominated by his electronic dancefloor vibes. The reaction to the album was strangely muted and Claudia took a career break to bring up her daughter Maddy, emerging only occasionally to record the odd guest vocal.

Photo by Hege Saebjornsen

One of those included on ‘ComBined’ is ‘Light The Way’ with CHROME SEDUCTION, a percussively frantic club number that also saw the return of one of her former partners-in-crime Susanne Freytag. After an aborted reunion of PROPAGANDA in the latter half of the 90s, she accepted an invitation in 2000 to join OMD’s Paul Humphreys’ tour of the USA; one of the first recorded fruits of their partnership was a cover of ‘This Is Not America’ featuring FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD’s Paul Rutherford. A beautifully crafted synthesized tribute to David Bowie and Pat Metheny, although recorded in 2001 and shelved, it finally sees the light of day on ‘ComBined’.

Claudia formalised her musical partnership with Paul Humphreys and together they named themselves ONETWO. Open to collaboration with others, the song ‘Cloud 9ine’, co-written and featuring DEPECHE MODE’s Martin Gore, was the stand-out on their debut EP ‘Item’ released in 2004. But it was a few years before their first album was completed.

The crisp and moody ‘Instead’ finally emerged in 2007 and is represented on ‘ComBined’ by ‘Sequentia’, a toughened up remix by Paul Humphreys of the chilling East European flavoured highlight from that album. Finding herself in demand again, Claudia also joined ERASURE’s Andy Bell to sing on two tracks for his debut solo album ‘Electric Blue’. The pair became good friends and their chemistry is particularly evident on the energetic interplay of ‘Delicious’ which sees her in full and rare poptastic glory.

‘ComBined’ also features two brand new tracks produced by Stephen Hague whose credits include OMD, PET SHOP BOYS, NEW ORDER, ERASURE, COMMUNARDS, DUBSTAR and A-HA. ‘Thank You’ is a fantastically moody epic driven by a trip-hop drum loop and swathed in Cold War atmospherics. Closer ‘Night School’ is a more uptempo, but is still classic Claudia with smooth layered textures and rich, minimal guitar melodics.

But for the bonus track encore, Claudia rejoins ZTT’s musical minimalist Andrew Poppy with whom she recorded the fascinating ‘Another Language’ covers album. The new piano accompanied rework of Roy Orbison’s ‘In Dreams’ retains the heartfelt drama of the original, but adds a slice of Weimar edginess to what has now become a rock’n’roll standard.

Yes, there are several notable absentees on the CD such as her Blank & Jones collaborations ‘Unknown Treasure’ and ‘Don’t Stop’. But the former though has been included on the iTunes version of the album in addition to PROPAGANDA’s cover of ‘Femme Fatale’ and a new ‘Geek Boy remix’ of her OCEANHEAD track ‘Eyemotion’ under the title of ‘Augenblick’.

There may be a case argued for her collaboration with HEAVEN 17’s Glenn Gregory ‘When Your Heart Runs Out of Time’, although this is now available in its full glory on ZTT’s ‘The Art Of The 12 Inch’ compilation.

Overall, this is a superlative snapshot of one of Europe’s finest talents and a perfect introduction to her varied and influential musical catalogue.

‘ComBined’ is released on DC and downalod by ZTT/Salvo on 7th February 2011

On Wednesday 2nd March 2011 at London’s Scala, Claudia Brücken & Friends will play a special concert to celebrate her career. Very special guests include HEAVEN 17’s Glenn Gregory and Martyn Ware, ERASURE’s Andy Bell, PROPAGANDA’s Susanne Freytag, Andrew Poppy and OMD’s Paul Humphreys

http://www.claudiabrucken.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/ClaudiaBruckenMusic

https://twitter.com/ClaudiaBrucken1

Text by Chi Ming Lai
5th February 2011

IT95 Wave (Are We Alone)

20 January 2011 /

Following remixing OMD’s ‘If You Want It’, Athens minimal electro duo IT95 return with the stark number ‘Wave (Are We Alone)’.

As IN TRANCE 95, Alex Machairas and Nik Veliotis first got together in 1988 and with their debut single ‘Desire To Desire’ became one of first Greek acts to succeed using primarily electronic instrumentation within a song format.

Their 1990 debut album ‘Code Of Obsession’ remains a cult favourite within Europe.

After a period during which Nik left to undertake other projects and Alex continued in various guises including a subtle change of name to ITENEF, a full reformation took place when they were invited by Alan Wilder to open RECOIL’s Athens gig in April 2010.

The original line-up as IT95 has now been augmented on stage by Magdalena Sverlander and Anna Athanasouli on synths while their return with ‘Wave (Are We Alone)’ displays hints of DEPECHE MODE and CABARET VOLTAIRE.

Dressed in black and decisively monophonic, ‘Wave (Are We Alone)’ creeps along like a mutant electronic soundtrack in the vein of John Carpenter’s ‘Assault On Precinct 13’. The interrogation room styled promo video directed by George Katsanakis just adds to its sinister chill.

The reunion has led to the recording of a brand new album ‘Abovearth’ plus a re-mastering of their early tapes for a collection entitled ‘Cities Of Steel & Neon’. Both will be released by New York label Minimal Wave Records in 2011. There will be also short European tour planned for the latter part of the year.

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https://www.facebook.com/intrance95/

Text by Chi Ming Lai
Photos by George Katsanakis
20th January 2011

THE HUMAN LEAGUE Night People

19 November 2010 /

After Philip Oakey’s sojourns with LITTLE BOOTS and PET SHOP BOYS last year, THE HUMAN LEAGUE finally are back good and proper with ‘Night People’, the lead track from their new album Credo which will be released early 2011.

Premiered publicly by Wall Of Sound supremo Mark Jones during his brilliant DJ set at OMD’s ‘History Of Modern’ launch party, this danceable ditty is not only very electronic but also highly contemporary too. And the lyrical couplet “leave your cornflakes in your freezers, leave your chocolates and your cheeses…” shows Mr Oakey hasn’t lost his touch for off-the-wall symbolism, “join us now my friends, we hail you!”

Punchy, tight and almost minimal, ‘Night People’ is a worthy comeback with its wonderfully elastic synthbass, trancey touches and enchanting deadpan vocals. Co-written by Philip Oakey and regular League sideman Rob Barton with Dean Honer and Jarrod Gosling aka I MONSTER who also produce, among those contributing remixes are French disco pioneer CERRONE, Rock ‘N’ Roll destroyer MYLO, funky electrotech merchant EMPEROR MACHINE and Belgian trio VILLA.

The new album ‘Credo’ is said to be “part of that particular pop lineage that goes from DAVID BOWIE, ROXY MUSIC and KRAFTWERK to DONNA SUMMER, CHIC and MICHAEL JACKSON to LADY GAGA, USHER and GIRLS ALOUD. Supremely infectious chart pop music with a twist of subversion”… so at least THE HUMAN LEAGUE haven’t gone rockabilly or anything!

As Philip Oakey once said himself: “This is a song for all you bigheads out there who think that disco music is lower than the irrelevant musical gibberish and tired platitudes that you try to impress your parents with. We’re THE HUMAN LEAGUE, we’re much cleverer than you”.

‘Night People’ is released by Wall Of Sound on 22nd November 2010

THE HUMAN LEAGUE 2010 tour with special guests (WE ARE) PERFORMANCE includes:

Norwich UEA (29th Nov), Halifax Victoria Theatre (30th Nov), Sheffield City Hall (1st Dec), Bristol Colston Hall (3rd Dec), Wolverhampton Civic Hall (4th Dec), St Albans Arena (5th Dec), Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall (6th Dec), Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (7th Dec), Stoke Victoria Hall (9th Dec), London Royal Festival Hall (10th Dec), Cambridge Corn Exchange (11th Dec), Gateshead Sage (13th Dec), Edinburgh Picture House (14th Dec), Manchester Academy (15th Dec), Lincoln Engine Shed (17th Dec), Leicester De Montfort Hall (18th Dec)

www.thehumanleague.co.uk

Text by Chi Ming Lai
19th November 2010

LOLA DUTRONIC Musique

9 October 2010 /

Boys Are Just So Silly Sometimes

LOLA DUTRONIC are Lola Dee and Richard Citroen, a charming duo who divide their time between Berlin, Toronto and Paris.

Although the brand has already released several albums, their present guise has only been together since 2008 with the album ‘In Berlin’ which featured DAVID BOWIE’s renowned pianist Mike Garson.

Aided by the use of lush electronics, their sound is a chichi homage to classic French and British artists such as SERGE GAINSBOURG, FRANÇOISE HARDY, PETULA CLARK and JOHN BARRY. This nostalgia-tinged soundtrack inevitably recalls the Nouvelle Vague imagery of ALAIN DELON and BRIGITTE BARDOT in a JEAN-LUC GODARD cinematic classic.

With a new single ‘Whisper’, featuring the talents of SUICIDE’s Martin Rev as co-writer, their seven track ‘Musique’ EP has now been relaunched to the wider public. Originally released in May, it features reworkings of LOLA DUTRONIC’s better known French and English language tracks plus some new songs. In all, it is a marvellous musical showcase with lots of stark beats and warm synths accompanying Lola’s sexy, breathy vocals.

Opening song ‘My Radio (French Disco Mix)’ is the sort of Eurocentric tune that PET SHOP BOYS’ Neil Tennant used to refer to as a Princess Stephanie record, a concept that he and Chris Lowe adopted with EIGHTH WONDER’s ‘I’m Not Sacred’.

Earlier single ‘Brigitte Bardot (Retro Future Mix)’ is revamped into a bleepy midpaced shuffle with a gorgeous accented monologue and “la-la-la-la-la” refrain which turns out to be a bit of a LOLA DUTRONIC trademark. An amusing tale of dealing with the fragile male ego, Lola just shrugs her shoulders at a disco where the DJ plays music that no-one can dance to and exclaims “Some boys have some very silly ideas about music don’t they?”.

Recalling SAINT ETIENNE and INTASTELLA, another brilliant new composition ‘Beautiful World (Slight Return)’ does exactly what it says on the tin. ‘The Stranger (Imaginary Bond Mix)’ hints at MARC ALMOND’s ‘Only The Moment’ but with synthesized backing while ‘Chanson D’ete (Summer Of Love Mix)’ is the type of cute uptempo pop that Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley and Peter Wiggs always did so well. Finally, the drum machine of OMD’s ‘Enola Gay’ is mashed up with ERASURE’s ‘Blue Savannah’ for the EP’s wonderful closer ‘Best Years Of Our Lives (Electro Mix)’. Lyrically, it’s a close relative to PULP’s ‘Something Changed’.

‘Musique’ is a superb introduction to the lounge friendly stylings of LOLA DUTRONIC. Those with sophisticated aural tastes will certainly appreciate the neo-Gallic romanticism and elegance alongside la musique electronique.

With thanks to Marty Thau

The ‘Musique’ EP is available now on Red Star Digital Music

www.myspace.com/loladutronic

www.redstardigitalmusic.com

Text by Chi Ming Lai
9th October 2010

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