Sunday 20 July 2008

Pengillys

1stly ; Thank you Drunken Werewolf for getting me into the loop via Pengillys. His music is heart-achingly good.
Have you ever sat by a lake, chewing a piece of grass a la Clint Eastwood whilst perusing the Collected Works of Shakespeare? No? Me either but that’s what Pengillys music makes me want to do. His music is epic, nostalgic, beautiful and raw. “Mr Punch and Thomas Moore” takes the simple strum of a ukulele and soaring vocals which turns into the chorus skilfully refraining “I will never grow old” as a menagerie of instruments take over including an accordion and violin. “Films” rattles along very nicely. A track to play when on a long train-ride where your imagination can be cast back to black and white movies and take the line “They play noble parts / Like two English hearts” and run with it.
Whereas “To London” almost feels like a battle cry with an evocative take on a march as trumpets toot and rolling piano carry the listener the more subtle “The Wind Blew Her In” whispers its message over soaring violin. “Lavenders Blue” reinvents the lullaby with sweeping noises and sweet vocals whilst wrapping it all up with a carnivalesque and triumphant musical interlude. It’s ragamuffin, Dickensian music for the here and now. “Escapades” sounds like early Patrick Wolf as ominous sounds twist and turn into a more up-tempo call to arms. Its music for the backlash to the flaccid fashionista favourites and Top Shop play-list; rolling and raucous to soft and reflective it binds itself up in triumph and tradition. It’s more than “alt-folk” it’s what’s needed in music today-whimsical nuances, thundering ideals, brilliant lyrics and talent. Basically he is wicked !

Jade XX
Films - Pengillys
Mr Punch and Thomas Moore- Pengillys
To London- Pengillys

Thursday 17 July 2008

The Faint


The wildly addictive trash-punk-electro-dance band have been on my radar for quite a while and I've been hearing they are back! Thank the Lord. Their macabre and dense dance music is irresistible and makes you need to dance. Not even dance. To jerk bits of your body about in obscene ways and as arms and legs flail they drive the beat home and you look a tit as 'dancing' occurs. Its all a bit wrong.
And any thought that the band might mellow over the years is proven wrong as "The Geeks Were Right" unleashes trademark electrified vocals and frazzled synth alongside dirty drums and guitar; phew. Sounding not unlike "Agenda Suicide" it is less aggressive than "Dropkick the Punks" or "Worked Up So Sexual". If the Rapture copulated with ADULT whilst !!! watched on I wouldn't be surprised if the slightly sordid Faint wasn't the result.
However the one Faint song I can't stop listening to right now is "Glass Danse" which grabs synth laden verses and tangles them in with the dips and dives of guitar; taking a lesson from Year 8 music I know that they use tempo and dynamics to the best of their ability. It's the type of song which makes you think it's over but it continues in a stream of beat and bass. Addictive.

Their new endeavours show a maturity in lyrical content and a refinement of music but the basics are the same; dirty punk-dance music for your head, heart and soul.
Jade xx

Wednesday 16 July 2008

Lovesick

Haha, this is actually amazing. Friendly Fires couldn't get any better- 80s beatz meets synth laden goodness! Basically I can't stop listening to this/// Jade xx

Lovesick - Friendly Fires

Sunday 13 July 2008

Dananananaykroyd

Or Dananannananannananannnackroyd (as I always end up putting one too many "anana's" in there) are the essence of youthful abandonment and the sort of night that causes you a deadly but satisfying hangover. After initially rebelling against their music I've come to realise they are actually seriously good. Their exuberance and energy might have something to do with the sheer amount of members in the band as six people sharing the weight of jumping around isn't bad going. Me and Hannah ended up seeing them live last year in a tiny, grotty bar which they utterly wreaked havoc in, winding over bar stools, under wires, into the audience and onto tables. As the lead singer caused havoc in the audience the other members pushed forth a sheer amount of sound and noise. It was a bit mental.
Listening to their songs isn't the same as watching them live- it's easier to stomach and easier to make sure your feet don't get stamped on- but songs like "Some Dresses" and "British Knights" capture their pure noise ethic.

Describing their influences as "1991 the year punk broke" is pretty genius and if you like Johnny Foreigner you'll pretty much like these I'd guess.
Listening intently there are tiny essences of Hot Club de Paris plinking and nautical theme but it's driven hard down under thundering guitars and shit hot drumming as Sonic Youth gives the whole thing a whack around the head.

The best thing is the urgent, crazy mess streams into your ears yet the band are in full control of what your hearing, "tight as a misers fist" is what my mother would inevitably say. "British Knights" rambles like crazy around guitars and raucous drumming whilst "1993" retains a little more dignity and more vocals; they are not- it has to be said- one trick pony's. They are- it again has to be said- pretty amazing!
Jade xx

Some Dresses- Dananananaykroyd
British Knights- Dananananaykroyd
1993- Dananananaykroyd