hexagon_sun
Manager
Of the 20 or so new albums I've checked out so far this year, the clear front runners are...
Mogwai Mr Beast
Some are saying a return to form but IMO, they've never made a bad album. That said, this album more than the last few efforts sounds like a band on top of their game and insistent on proving that they're a still a force to be reckoned with. Contains moments of astounding beauty that serve to highlight just how much they've progressed over the years but it also has enough kick-*** rock songs (although thankfully with none of cliches usually associated with such music) to please their long term devotees.
Islands Return to the Sea
How to describe this could be a problem - part prog-rock, part indiepop, part Anticon-esque alt-hop. Whatever tag you want to use, it's a delightful mash-up of seriously catchy songs, beautifully arranged and meticulously executed that no fan of Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah should be without. Rough Trade have delivered the goods once again.
Beth Orton Comfort of Strangers
Beth's best work since 1999's "Central Reservation", the ghost of Sandy Denny hangs heavy over this album. The lush but intimate, rootsy feel of Denny's early solo work is effortlessly re-interpreted here, imbueing a fine collection of songs with a genuinely classic air. My only criticism is that the album is perhaps a little overlong but a simple solution to that is don't listen to it all at once!
Euros Childs Chops
The driving force behind the second best band in Wales, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Euros Childs finally delivers his first solo release. This is a real treat - like a more restrained, lo-fi GZM with plenty of laid back, Super Furry Animals style sunshine pop. I love this already but I'm sure that listening to it during the summer it will really come into it's own.
The Flaming Lips At War With the Mystics
When are this band going to explode into the multi-million selling worldwide phenomenon they deserve to be? Any time now if there's any justice as "AWWTM" is easily the most accessable release yet from the 'Lips with several tracks sounding like potential breakthrough singles.
Citay Citay
Members of Piano Magic and f%&king Champ unite to make a full on psychedelic, acid folk-rock gem. This is stunning - the only thing I could liken it to is side 2 of Led Zeppelin III if Jimmy Page had decided to cover every track in freak-out soloing.
As for what else we have to look forward to, now that I have the Flaming Lips album there's only one other thing I'm eagerly awaiting this year and that's the return of the mighty Radiohead - I'm just praying that they don't disappoint. In theory we can also expect new albums from Interpol, Joanna Newsom, Badly Drawn Boy and Air but I haven't seen owt on the schedules yet. Anything else we should be looking out for?
Mogwai Mr Beast
Some are saying a return to form but IMO, they've never made a bad album. That said, this album more than the last few efforts sounds like a band on top of their game and insistent on proving that they're a still a force to be reckoned with. Contains moments of astounding beauty that serve to highlight just how much they've progressed over the years but it also has enough kick-*** rock songs (although thankfully with none of cliches usually associated with such music) to please their long term devotees.
Islands Return to the Sea
How to describe this could be a problem - part prog-rock, part indiepop, part Anticon-esque alt-hop. Whatever tag you want to use, it's a delightful mash-up of seriously catchy songs, beautifully arranged and meticulously executed that no fan of Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah should be without. Rough Trade have delivered the goods once again.
Beth Orton Comfort of Strangers
Beth's best work since 1999's "Central Reservation", the ghost of Sandy Denny hangs heavy over this album. The lush but intimate, rootsy feel of Denny's early solo work is effortlessly re-interpreted here, imbueing a fine collection of songs with a genuinely classic air. My only criticism is that the album is perhaps a little overlong but a simple solution to that is don't listen to it all at once!
Euros Childs Chops
The driving force behind the second best band in Wales, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Euros Childs finally delivers his first solo release. This is a real treat - like a more restrained, lo-fi GZM with plenty of laid back, Super Furry Animals style sunshine pop. I love this already but I'm sure that listening to it during the summer it will really come into it's own.
The Flaming Lips At War With the Mystics
When are this band going to explode into the multi-million selling worldwide phenomenon they deserve to be? Any time now if there's any justice as "AWWTM" is easily the most accessable release yet from the 'Lips with several tracks sounding like potential breakthrough singles.
Citay Citay
Members of Piano Magic and f%&king Champ unite to make a full on psychedelic, acid folk-rock gem. This is stunning - the only thing I could liken it to is side 2 of Led Zeppelin III if Jimmy Page had decided to cover every track in freak-out soloing.
As for what else we have to look forward to, now that I have the Flaming Lips album there's only one other thing I'm eagerly awaiting this year and that's the return of the mighty Radiohead - I'm just praying that they don't disappoint. In theory we can also expect new albums from Interpol, Joanna Newsom, Badly Drawn Boy and Air but I haven't seen owt on the schedules yet. Anything else we should be looking out for?
