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The Brother Kite: Waiting For The Time To Be Right
The Brother Kite
Waiting For The Time To Be Right
2006 | Clairecords
Clairecords is typically known for being unknown. The label releases and reissues hundreds of shoegaze inspired bands and copycat fledglings attempting to recreate the worlds that bands like Slowdive, Lush, and Ride could only create. But they finally hit the jackpot with The Brother Kite’s second full-length, Waiting For the Time To Be Right. The album succeeds by avoiding shoegaze blandness altogether with a strong focus on overdriven pop melodies and dynamic vocal arrangements, it’s closer in feel to a reverb-laden Teenage Fanclub if they had never listened to Big Star.
Vocalist Patrick Boutwell’s passionate delivery is the real payoff here, a dead ringer for Smile-era Brian Wilson than anyone you’ve ever heard. His deep, haunting vocals are still natural sounding and remain at the forefront of every song. He helps to build a symphonic work of art with melodies and hooks floating above the ground but never too far off. The instruments follow suit with just the right amount of saturated keys and dense guitar sparkles.
The second track, and first real stunner, is “Out of Sight.” The guitars and drums bounce like a psychedelic parade leaving a trail of sugar a mile long. The tambourines join in adding to the mayhem while Boutwell delivers his best. The similarity to Brian Wilson on the deep, brooding melodies of “Hopeless and Unsung” are amazing. The song shines with shimmery guitar notes accompanied by a soft rhythmic pulse of tambourines and vibraphone. By the time the drums kick in it feels overpowering and larger than life. The power pop bangers “I’m Not the Only One” and “Bring it Back Home” are faster, demonstrating the playfulness and accessibilty in their songwriting.
The songs get bigger and bigger with the Black Tambourine inspired ”Get on Me” proving that blissful dreampop can be quick, fun and danceable. And the massive shifts on “Lay Down Your Burden” come across as big and sweeping as a pop song can be once the drums come in and blow you away. Waiting for the Time to Be Right is 2006’s best “end of the year” album, you won’t find anything that contains such strength and power in a pop format. My only grudge about this record is that I wish the cover would have been different. The pastoral and mellow feel falsely represents the outstanding dream-pop that jumps out at you the moment you hit play.
Sat Nov 26 2005 · Posted in Reviews on littleradio.com
PJ Harvey: The Peel Sessions, 1991-2004
PJ Harvey
The Peel Sessions, 1991-2004
| Island/Def Jam
I’m sure many PJ Harvey fans have been anticipating this release forever and I can tell you it was worth the wait. The John Peel Sessions of PJ Harvey are outstanding demonstrations of her passionate delivery and ability to rock like few female guitarists can. The bio and press photos also display the care and mutual admiration these two greats had for one another, and it obviously rubs off when PJ hits her first note on the CD. The sessions span from 1991 to 2004 covering all the songs you’d expect to hear, I only wish there was more.
The first session is definitely my favorite and contains awesome renditions of the earlier and darker ballads “Oh My Lover”, the building rock and belting vocals of “Victory”, US radio hit “Sheela-Na-Gig”, and the melodic swagger of “Water”. PJ always manages to sound nervous, tense, and exhausted during every take and these Peel Sessions do justice in capturing her personality.
1993’s session has two tracks, “Naked Cousin” and “Wang Dang Doodle”. The performances are dirtier and looser, a mark of her talent being realized and sharpened. There’s a slightly better grip and aggressiveness emanating from her guitar chops on “Naked Cousins” while “Wang Dang Doodle” shows PJ really letting herself go as she wails on the mic almost sounding like Dio, awesome.
The 1996 set includes “Losing Ground”, “Snake”, and “That Was My Veil”. “Losing Ground” is pretty basic and chugs along with heavy guitar chords following Harvey’s vocal melody. When “Snake” comes in you get sufficiently rocked as PJ puts everyone on notice. She gives a truly candid and bellowing singing performance, translating levels of pain and frustration I couldn’t dare to understand. All I know is that if I was in that room I’d be scared shitless. “That Was My Veil” is the soft and delicate side of PJ utilizing acoustic guitar over a penetrating organ melody. The final vocal melody is yet another example of her amazing range and fearlessness.
“This Wicked Tongue” comes through hazier and heavier with vocal-effected echoes and PJ’s deeper range. There’s a really cool moment after the chorus when her guitar and voice are almost sustaining on the exact same frequency, that kind of moment is what Peel Sessions are made for. “Beautiful Feeling” is the partner to this 2000 session. An instant sadness comes across with an accompanying piano underlying PJ’s somber guitar playing.
The final track “You Come Through”, from 2004’s session, is simply PJ Harvey and an acoustic guitar. The title alone suggests the deep admiration that PJ has for John Peel, like a final ode to the man that played everything you wanted to hear and unearthed the bands no one else had the balls to play.
Mon Nov 14 2005 · Posted in Reviews on littleradio.com
Maps: Start Something EP
Maps
Start Something EP
2006 | Last Space Recordings
Maps is the one-man orchestra of James Chapman and is akin to the music of AIR and Spaceman 3. The music is often dreamy, surreal, and gentle, but Chapman doesn’t hesitate to take it to the skies on songs like “Start Something”, “Spark in the Snow”, and “The Tonic Girl”. The hazy, and sometimes folky, soundscapes suddenly expand outward using layers of keyboards, 60’s psychedelic melodies reminiscent of The Byrds, and electronic beats.
What‘s most compelling about Chapman’s Maps is his ability to take these influences and wring it into something more dynamic and interesting instead of copying the typical shoegaze/wall of sound blueprint. You’ll find more strength and clarity on a song like “Some Winter Song” than say M83. This CD is a compilation of his first three singles and includes a bonus track, personally manufactured by his own label Last Space Recordings.