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Words Archive
Electrelane: No Shouts, No Calls
Electrelane
No Shouts, No Calls
2007 | Too Pure/Beggars Group
Upon listening to Electrelane’s new album ‘No Shouts, No Calls’ my
first thought was, ‘Wow, this sounds very…produced’. That is until the
vocals kick in, sounding as if they were recorded in someone’s
bathroom. This unusual contrast however is the perfect fit for this
band, where you have to force yourself to listen to the lyrics over the
rising and crashing of the song structures. As a whole, the album tends
to ride the pop genre closer than usual, with only smidges of
melancholia thrown in. The first two tracks, “The Greater Times” and
“To the East” encompass both the light and dark sides of their music,
and prepare the listener for the lull in the tracks before the music
begins to rise again. It does have a good deal of excellent keyboard
work, the star of many of the instrumental tracks on here, and also, I
feel, a throwback to mid 90’s Stereolab.
Fans
of Electrelane will find this album comforting; it doesn’t stray too
far from what they usually do, even reusing similar drum beats. At the
same time though, I want them to develop and grow to see what new
things they can come up with. No Shouts, No Calls is a good album to
transition into Electrelane if you are not familiar with them, kind of
like a nice mild cheese before you hit the harsh stuff. I recommend
“The Greatest Times”, “Tram 21”, and “Five”.
-Elana Rintala
0 comments
Mon May 7 2007 · Posted in Reviews on littleradio.com
Sea Wolf: Get To The River Before It Runs Too Low
Sea Wolf
Get To The River Before It Runs Too Low
2007 | Dangerbird
Alex Church is known for his work holding down the bass and adding harmonies for Irving. Nowadays, he's shedding his exoskeleton as Sea Wolf. His music has grown steadily with high profile shows after a knockout Spaceland residency last year. Get To The River Before It Runs Too Low expands
upon his previous self-released EP with songs that are more matured and
dynamic. Thanks to recording sessions with Phil Ek (The Shins, Modest
Mouse) Sea Wolf is being realized and refined with a full-length due
later this year.
“You’re a Wolf” and the Echo & The Bunnymen
influenced “Ses Monuments” are the upbeat stunners on this record. The
songs are acoustically-driven by Church and his troupe with layers of
keys, strings and warm vocals that sound personal and inviting.
Overall, this disc is delicate and careful, rubbing shoulders with
Wilco and sometimes Elliott Smith. But Sea Wolf’s biggest draw is going
to be Church’s brave and original songwriting that effortlessly
displays his insecurities, relationship woes and realities that we can
all relate to.
-Scott McDonald
Fri May 4 2007 · Posted in Reviews on littleradio.com
Interview: Al Doyle of Hot Chip
Q: I saw you guys open up from someone earlier this year – I can’t
remember who it was.
Doyle: Stereolab.
Q: Yeah, that’s right. I came to see you guys.
Doyle: Oh wow. That would have been in March.
Q: Were they good to tour with?
Doyle:
Yeah they were a friendly bunch of people, took an interest in what we
were doing – which isn’t always the case with bands that you support.
They borrowed a keyboard from us as well so they were indebted to us at
an early stage, which was good. We did about six shows with them.
Q: Was that the first time you’d been to Seattle?
Doyle:
Yeah, it was the first time I had been to the West Coast in fact. We
came back to L.A. and San Francisco in August and this is our second
time going fully down the West Coast.
Doyle:
Apart from those two dates in August. It’s good to be in Seattle. We
didn’t have such great weather but I had a good time. We went to Pike
Place Market – having a little walk around a few bars and restaurants.
Fri May 4 2007 · Posted in Interviews on littleradio.com
LiTTLE RADiO mixtape: Vol. 1
The times have changed my friends. No more mixtapes or even mix-cds these days, everything is heresay and word-of-mouth. Whether it stems from a lack of time, or just plain laziness, it has become difficult to burn a solid batch of tunes for someone wanting to discover some new music.
Mixtapes used to be like a resume for someone you were interested in dating. Nowadays it's nearly impossible to talk to anyone and get a solid opinion about what kind of music they love, like or even despise. People are so uncertain about certainty. These little "mixtapes" contain 10 songs that I can't seem to stop playing. The first installment goes a little something like this:
- School of Seven Bells: "Wired For Light" - From their Myspace page.
- Fields: "If You Fail, We All Fail" - From their Atlantic Records debut Everything Last Winter.
- Welcome: "All Set" - From their Fat Cat Records release Sirs.
- The Pity Party: "Dronebots and Peons" - From their handmade and painfully good EP.
- Jarvis: "Black Magic" - I know it's a rip off of "Crimson and Clover," but I don't care.
- The Twilight Sad: "Walking For Two hours" - Pulverizing space rock from Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters.
- Dr. Dog: "The Girl" - From their surprise longplayer We All Belong.
- Xu Xu Fang: "Good Times" - The Xu Xu Fang express builds momentum on this Myspace track.
- The White Stripes: "Icky Thump" - I'm so ready for this album.
- Dungen: "Familj" - I love the flute that comes in near the end of this beautiful jam.
Fri May 4 2007 · Posted in Daily on littleradio.com
Dr. Dog: We All Belong
Dr. Dog
We All Belong
2007 | Park The Van
On Dr. Dog’s latest album The Band and The Kinks immediately come to mind, but there's a carnival vibe floating throughout every song that reminds me of a traveling circus, minus the safety nets. Vocally, Dr. Dog handle some serious three-part harmonies that would rival REO Speedwagon and The Beach Boys. And for some of you reading this, the vocals will be the only selling point you’ll need after the first spin. Overall, the album is sprinkled with pianos, guitars and horns arranged to baffle your senses. It's that good.
It's difficult to pick
particular peaks on this record because all of the songs are so
refreshing, but I will anyway. "The Girl," “My Old Ways,” “Ain’t It
Strange” and the Motown-meets-Beatles groove of “Worst Trip” are the
outstanding moments. Hooks, dynamite instrumentation and amazing
harmonies flourish in every verse and chorus.
What's so
appealing about this record is how Dr. Dog's use of melody never feels
deliberately vintage, yet the album sounds like a classic. The listener
is brought into to a world where ideas are the central theme and
they're executed with layers of lush melody and harmony, unlike many
70's inspired rock albums of today.
-Scott McDonald
Thu May 3 2007 · Posted in Reviews on littleradio.com
The Field: From Here We Go Sublime
The Field
From Here We Go Sublime
2007 | Kompakt
When it comes down to electronica, which is a genre being overshadowed by lots of mash-up and generic electro-dance outfits these days, I pay close attention. It’s not the kind of music that’s easy to get into and can require some serious patience and understanding of how sampling, synths and sequencers work. There are tiny fragments everywhere and sometimes hidden bits of noise that you wish you could unearth as something real. In a simple pop-rock format you’ll never find that kind of attention to detail.
With Electronica I’m usually looking for
finesse and sounds that stir up some excitement. Like most people I
know, I end up going with my gut and think about how the artist
arranges and creates the sounds that win me over. Some people would say
it’s a limited genre that has already been dominated by the likes of
Aphex Twin, Autechre, LFO…you could name loads of other great acts. The
Field is that kind of band; only the music feels limitless. It hits
nerves with subtleties, layers, and space. From Here We Go Sublime is stunning yet completely minimal when compared to some of the best electronica ever made.
Overall,
beats pounce along and make you want to move. On the other hand there
are qualities of ambience that will make you trip out as you lie down
on your bed and take it all in. Axel Willner is the lone swordsman of
The Field. And when he lays out a menu with songs like “Everyday” and
"Good Things End” it’s hypnotic. The album has personalities of trance
and chill-out tempos, but both create their own gravitational pull. From Here We Go Sublime is consistent and devastating with dreamlike beats programmed to tackle and smother your senses.
-Scott McDonald
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Wed May 2 2007 · Posted in Reviews on littleradio.com
Interview: Sharin Foo of The Raveonettes
The Raveonettes have delivered three very different cds from each other, each one excellent - though my favorite is still their debut, Whip it On. They’re a band I adore not only because they are great but because they try different things, and they are now touring the States just as the fundamental pair of Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo. They’ll bring their unique hurricane-like force up and down the West Coast starting May 31st in Santa Barbara. I talked with Sharin at the end of April about the band’s future.
Wed May 2 2007 · Posted in Interviews on littleradio.com
Marnie Stern: In Advance of the Broken Arm
Marnie Stern
In Advance of the Broken Arm
2007 | Kill Rock Stars
Marnie Stern is a shredder, a very cute shredder bursting with incredible ideas and power. This is an album that sounds exciting and more on track with what I like to hear from new artists rather than the watered down indie rock that sounds like 50 average bands rolled-up into one. Stern takes chances everywhere covering epic prog breakdowns to full-on art rock blasts of noise and melody climaxing with jagged drumming. Music needs more people like Marnie Stern.
Like many solo efforts she does run into a few roadblocks, but they’re forgettable. Thanks to great tunes like “Grapefruit,” which could pass as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs if they weren’t so wimpy in the studio, the finger tapping madness of “Absorb Those Numbers” and the metal riffage on “Every Single Line Means Something” you'll feel like picking up the guitar immediately. This is an album that’s inspiring and fresh; you feel closer to the artist at the end. Marnie’s world is one that I could never even pretend to create, but she makes me want to try even harder.