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Album Review
by Scott, SashaS, Totem & Klam
23-12-2004
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| !!!: party, adventureous, brave album!!! |
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Various: 'Don't Panic!'
(As indicated)
Last minute buys: 10+ recommendations
1. !!!
‘Louden Up Now’
(Warp)
There's only been one CD released during the past 12 months that has really gladdened our days and illuminated our 2004 nights - and, for this time of the year we can't recomment it enough - !!!’s ‘Louden Up Now’. [See our Interview with this lot where an explanation can be found on how to pronounce their name.]
This American lot simply burn and pillage through the emotions, energy and spirituality with such zest and emotion - it is the passion incarnate. Songs to enjoy, cuddle by and get some [muscular] thinking done… If track six doesn’t get you mojo working, we’ll reimburse you! Just write in with your reason/s, proof of emotional apathy and doctor’s certificate that you ain’t frigidity sufferer and we’ll reimburse the amount in postage stamps.
9.6/10
2. Einar Örn
‘Ghostigital’
(Honest Jon’s)
Icelandic singer/poet Einar Örn’s ‘Ghostigital’ is an album of “a groundbreaking blend of words, beats and sounds which draws on aspects of Hip-hop, dub, electronic and industrial styles to create an appropriately other-worldly music which defies comparison with anything being created elsewhere in the world,” rightfully boasts the label’s [co-founded by Blur’s front man Damon Albarn] press release.
Einar - better known for his work with The Sugarcubes that, as we all know, was the launch platform for Björk’s career - and collaborator Curver invited “Captain Beefheart of Hip-hop”, former The Jungle Brothers’ former member Sensational, to contribute to a couple of tracks.
9/10
3. Santoz
‘Digital Lifeforms’
(Mute)
The man-with-dozen-art-egos - who’s already had a couple of other albums [released on own label, Intone], ‘R.H.K. Meets The Truck Bombers of Suburbia Up Town (feat. Pat Riot) Vol. 1’ and ‘Intone Unreleased Projects 1995/1997’ issued just months ago - had preceded these with ‘Digital Lifeforms Redux’ under the Santoz moniker.
He is Richard H. Kirk, the former half of Cabaret Voltaire and the disc contains the usual selection of diverse sounds, from cyber-experimentalism to dub-mixes to… There is plenty to explore as it is a double offering.
Something for the supposed rebel in the family.
8.9/10
4. Leonard Cohen
‘Dear Heather’
(Columbia)
The veteran writer/poet/songwriter/‘monastery-refugee’ Leonard Cohen returns with a new album at the age of 70. ‘Dear Heather’ is a collection of songs that sees ‘Laughin’’ Lenny still remaining one of the major songwriting forces from Canada.
His vocal method is now more of a reciting variety, deep-voiced to rival Tom Waits, but songs are less eccentric; Mr Cohen has never been a big seller but a scorer of some hits and yet not a fame maker… Gloom has never sounded so appealing - as unique as ever…
8.6/10
5. Anita Baker
‘My Everything’
(BlueNote)
It is hard t imagine that at the beginning of the 1990s Anita Baker was the biggest name on the R&B circuit, something like Beyonce nowadays [but without all that gratuitous eroticism]. Ms Baker got so big - Whitney Houston started to worry about the competition from the Ohio lady. And she should have, as someone noted that Ms Baker was “ten times the artist”.
Stepping back from the mega-fame’s limelight, Anita still can sing to shame Alicia, Pink and Xtina, interpreting songs with ease, range and mastery youngsters [AB is 42] can only dream about… ‘In My Heart’ comes near the jazz territory but this is mainly a soulful, ballady record, more on the smoochie side than on the funky. In effect, it gets a tad too laid-back and duet with ‘Babyface’ on ‘Like You Used to Do’ is too saccharine but ‘I Can’t Sleep’ - blues, jazz and soul mixed to devastating effect - shows why she is still a diva without all the extra-baggage…
8.5/10
6. Mission of Burma
‘OnOffOn’
(Matador)
Having inspired such diverse, and truly exceptional, bands as REM, Blur, Moby and Sonic Youth, it is no brainer that Mission Of Burma are considered - seminal. They stand alongside Black Flag, Husker Du and The Minutemen as underground legends of the American indie scene and have, since their break-up in 1983, reached near mythological status.
In 2001 the founding members, plus Shellac’s Bob Weston, began performing together again. The success of this reunion has prompted ‘ONoffON’, the band’s first release in over twenty years. A brilliant record that stands up well against their earlier output, ‘OnOffOn’ is another stone-cold classic from the magnificent Mission Of Burma.
8.4/10
7. Wu-Tang Clan
‘Legends Of The Wu-Tang’ (RCA)
‘Disciples Of The 36 Chambers’ (Sanctuary)
Wu-Tang Clan’s first ever ‘Greatest Hits’ package is the testament to the most revolutionary Hip-hop act of the 90's. The sixteen tracks are taken across their four collaborative albums 'Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), 'Wu-Tang Forever', 'The W' and 'Iron Flag' with the addition of three tracks that were previously available only on Wu-Tang related compilations and soundtracks.
The above compilation was released in October by RCA but, a month earlier, the crew had a live set, ‘Disciples Of The 36 Chambers’. It could have been their last dates together because WTC have been in disarray much earlier than the 9/11 tragedy and the egos have grown even bigger since. With ODB gone to that big place beyond - it feels like this is the last effort by the once mighty rap-crew. New songs will be hardly forthcoming under their collective flag, methinks.
8.3/10
8. Jill Scott
‘Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds’
(Epic)
Jill's energy has made a shift toward reflection since her debut, 'Who Is Jill Scott?'. The messages of life's language find their way to Jill Scott during her quiet moments. The nouns, verbs and melodies, together, suggest that life can be beautiful as we make it, so it's only natural for the album to be called 'Beautifully Human - Words and Sounds: Vol. 2'.
Draping her thoughts against the production backdrop of a secret few, she also sought the expertise of Raphael Saadiq, P-Nut, Pete Kuzma and Ant Bell. Leading the 17-strong set is the first single 'Golden', which is an anthem that fluidly weighs our very existence on the same scale as a luminous natural resource. 'Fact Is (I Need You)' shines a light on both sides of the gender divide while 'Cross My Mind' allows Jill's memory to travel back before launching forward on this sublime album.
8.2/10
9. Biffy Clyro
‘Infinity Land’
(Beggars Banquet)
‘Infinity Land’, Biffy Clyro’s third album in three years (that’s some work rate!), is a testament to doing things their own way. Their bloody-minded slowly-but-surely approach has seen them outlast some of their peers and produce this: the most intelligent, abrasive, poppy, idiosyncratic, downright magical album to come out of Britain in years.
Biffy Clyro’s ‘Infinity Land’ (out since the beginning of October) is a fine example of British musicianship, inventiveness and bravery to refuse the template of what a contemporary band can be… And do live - see our recent Review.
8.1/10
10. Phoenix
‘Alphabetical’
(Source/Virgin)
French House was the sound for summer 2000 making Daft Punk, Air and Cassius household names. Their countrymen, Phoenix, rode the wave of popularity and, with their genre splicing debut ‘United’, managed to (pardon the pun) unite the rock and dance crowds. With their funky, infectious tunes they became the ubiquitous soundtrackers to the summer.
‘Alphabetical’, the follow-up to 2000’s ‘United’, is everything their debut was - uniting rock and dance crowds with funky, inventive and infectious tunes - cranked up to 11. None of the Gallic magic and charm is missing in the canon of these premier exponents of French pop beauty. Sunny record, summery to have a day out… if the damn roads weren’t congested and the beaches polluted!?
‘Phoenix’s ‘Alphabetical’ may ease the pain of being stuck in the Festive traffic, so - don’t wrap it in advance.
8+/10
10a. Dianne Reeves
‘Christmas Time Is Here’
(Blue Note)
At the time of a year when there are plenty of Chrimbo releases, from ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes’ Sinatra to some second rate compilations - ‘The Bestsest Xmas Album Ever! [Reprise]’, one has to look far and wide to find something different… Dianne Reeves’ ‘Christmas Time Is Here’ is one of the finer examples that one doesn’t need to make glitzy seasonal rubbish…
‘Little Drummer Boy’, ‘The Christmas Song (Chesnuts)’, Thad Jones’s classic ‘A Child Is Born’ and the title track provide good excuse to raise a glass again and again and then some.
Have a soulful Christmas.
8/10
Scott, SashaS, Totem & Klam
23-12-2004
All these albums are available now via their respective labels
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