Tindersticks Can Our Love... (Beggars Banquet)
Moonshine Orchestra Hero Stories EP (independent)
Iz Cox self-titled (independent) Local freestyling lyricist, singer and composer Iz Cox whirls around in a blizzard of rock-folk-hop with a voice reminiscent of Siouxsie Sioux twirling around your head in stereo. This is a collection of songs done with guitars and beats, with the help of the omnipresent Bob Eaglesham and a sense of humour that revolves around tracks "Expectations" and the dreary "Crying Cowboy," chock-full of barely suppressed laffs echoing from the background (is that you, Bobby?) between lyrics, which I hear tell are somewhere around 95 per cent improvised. A raw, honest, imperfect and fun offering. 7.5/10 (Lateef Martin )
Alfie If You Happy With You Need Do Nothing (XL/Select)
Ranking Roger Inside My Head (Paras/Fusion III)
Basement Jaxx Rooty (XL/Select)
Various Sound 01 Big Dada Sampler (Big Dada/Ninja Tune/Outside) In the short, sweet and precise liner notes that accompany this sometimes strange but more often wonderfully original compilation, the crux of my review is contained in five neat lines. Big Dada takes the opportunity to chuckle at all the "primo copyists," "authenticity freaks" and "neat-bearded analistas" who would try to dismiss the slightly left of centre hip hop vibe that has become synonymous with the U.K.-based label. If you are one of those people who have to shrink the music just so it'll fit into your tiny little mind, perhaps this record is a little too big for you. If you've got a fat head like me, then there's more than enough room for a record like this. 7.5/10 (Scott C) VariousPrestige House This nicely packaged compilation of French house music comes from new Montreal-based label Beat Buzz and features funky musique from artists like Cyril K, Oscar, Alex Gopher and more. The vibe on this CD is light and easy, making this one of those perfect background soundtracks for a plethora of summertime activities like beach parties, afternoon cocktail parties and evening terrasse parties. Pour me another glass of sangria, please. 7.5/10 (Krista) Donald Glaude Mixed Live (Moonshine/Koch) Part of the Derrick Carter school of new-jack Chicago DJs, Donald Glaude shows, on his live CD, why he's a meteoric riser on the North American circuit. He displays a bold, catch-a-bullet-by-the-teeth style that's both infectious and crowd-pleasing. Funky tech-housers are superbly beat-matched at a furious pace, and even the scratching is pretty dope. Washington, D.C., experienced "the Don"--now it's your turn. 8.5/10 (Peter Lightburn) East Bay Rhythm A Little Love Will Help (7 Bridges/Fusion III) Just in time for summer comes this gem featuring the crazy-funky unreleased recordings of East Bay Rhythm. The band, which features Paul Jackson, James Levi, Bill Summers, Jorge Santana, Butch Haynes and Freddie Washington, bounces through 11 songs ranging from the bass-driven licks of "Boogie Children" down to the percussive juice of "Chuda." Delivering a sound that is reminiscent of War with less of a horn section and lots of instrumentals, East Bay Rhythm represent yet another unearthed jewel in the neverending lost recordings of American funk and soul music. 8.5/10 (Scott C) City High self-titled (Universal) Wyclef Jean's latest protégés are the two-man, one-woman combo known as City High. Combining hip hop sensibilities with old-school savvy, the trio delves into the male/female conundrum with a vengeance. Jean makes sure the beats are fresh, but smooth enough to complement these urban tales. Lead single "What Would You Do" explores the gritty reality of life gone wrong, while "City High Anthem" breaks from the love scene to lay down some ground rules for the youth. Engaging, though not groundbreaking. 7.5/10 (Gerard Dee) Clogs Thom's Night Out (Brassland) Although their bio calls them "post-rock instrumental," the NYC-based foursome is closer to a classical ensemble than anything else. Smooth and thin-sounding strings weep in and out of hollow guitar pops and deep, minimal, bassoon-based soundscapes--rich, concise, repetitive and slightly experimental. These guys refresh classical music with their subtle touch, their accessible grooves, and a tiny klezmer edge. The dominant feeling that emerges from this record is neutrality. No joy, no absolute sadness, simply Zen nihilism. Probably a phenomenal live experience for those with sensitive ears and quiet tongues. 9/10 (Boss Sambosa) At Barfly tonight, June 28 and Jailhouse Rock on Mon., July 2 Thom Gossage Other Voices (Effendi/SRI)
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I honestly thought Tricky was destined to float in limbo for eternity after his last effort, a half-assed attempt at rock on Mission Accomplished, but I daresay the EP was a mic check, 'cuz Blowback is the next. There are times when the pop-cheese is remarkably appalling, like Vegas game-show riffs on "#1 Da Woman From," and then there are moments of cinematic rock brilliance. One might get a clue with guests like Live's Ed Kowalcyk, the Red Hot Chili Peppers (save drummer Chad Smith), alt-soul diva Ambersunshower, Cyndi Lauper (sorry, but she's gotta go) and the rich voice of Hawkman, who performs a haunting cover of Nirvana's "Something In the Way." There are plenty of times where I have to ask myself what the hell Tricky is doing, but finally, after a long time, it's a good thing. 9/10 (Lateef Martin)
Before Arab Strap, there was Nottingham's Tindersticks, masters of the smoky, whisky-soaked, lovelorn dirge. There's still a hint of that old frigid bleakness, and a couple of Velvet Underground lullabies, but the core of this album is infused with strings, brass, wah-wah guitar and an organ. The result is very smooth and shapely, very '70s soul--so much so that it borders on cheesy. This new-found rhythm and texture rides along with Stuart Staples' vocals, also exploring strange, new, passionate worlds. Hats off to the new girlfriend/wife, she's clearly done wonders for old Stu. 8.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)
If the name has you guessing barefoot cracker tracks from the archetypal front porch, guess again. After proving his mettle with the stripped-down pop-rock perfectionism of locals Atomic Folk, Jack Nicholls has done an about-face. Whereas AF was top-shelf, purist guit-rock, Moonshine Orchestra enriches the palette, drawing in keys, strings and percussion for a veritable sonic banquet--laid out with exquisite taste by Montreal's golden boy of studio recording, Claus Frostell. At the heart of MO, however, is Nicholls' established musical voice, precise and passionate, rooted in rural honesty and satisfying lyricism. Now let's see how this project translates to the stage. 8/10 (Rupert Bottenberg) With Gazelle and Finaldi at Café Campus tonight, June 28, 9pm
Hippies, hippies everywhere, even in Manchester! Think Badly Drawn Boy, Beta Band and Gomez, but with more ideas and different substances. Simple, classic pop tunes, harmonies and lyrics float atop a mildly discordant, droning yet sweet soundtrack generated by deep, suave strings, easy-listening horns, bubbly acoustic guitar and all kinds of percussive toys. Folkedelia? Probably not, but such a fuzzy tag wouldn't be far from the mark. Some of the sonic experimentation doesn't pay off, such as the shrill burst of recorders on "Umlaut," but the rambling stoner groove persists regardless. 7.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)
When U.K. pop-ska heroes the English Beat called it a day, mid-'80s, Roger and fellow frontman Dave Wakeling reconfigured with General Public. Problem was, that band was a bit too "general public," too disposably AOR to be anything but a step backward. Roger's belated return is two steps forward. While grounded in history for the hardliners, with solid brass and hooks worthy of the Beat in their prime, the reggae riddims and '80s electropop melodies get digitized into drum & bass and "rave" mode in a very natural fashion. A couple of weak tracks aside, this is catchy, current stuff, nailed down by Roger's warm, resonant, unmistakable voice. 8.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
The Jaxx's debut LP Remedy was second only to Daft Punk's in terms of just how anxiously it was awaited, and when it finally hit the streets, people went nuts for the then very innovative sound of the duo's Camden-meets-SoHo-meets-the-ghetto sound of house music gone brilliantly mad. Unfortunately (and somewhat inevitably), while their second album Rooty attempts to recapture much of the vibe of the first, it definitely lacks that raw inspiration and winds up sounding a bit contrived. There are a few gems like "Romeo" and "Do Your Thing," but then there's the Tomb Raider theme "Where's Your Head At." 7/10 (Krista)
Gossage, the drummer-leader here, has had vast experience in many musical fields--folk, rock, African, celtic, bluegrass and rock. He even has a couple of tours with Les Misérables under his belt. Of late he's been getting more calls in the jazz field, with people as diverse as John Labelle, Joshua Ell, Joel Miller, Rainer Weins and Tom Walsh's NOMA. He brings all that experience to this CD, his jazz debut featuring a marvellous group (Remi Bolduc, Frank Lozano, Gary Schwartz and, in from New York, George Mitchell). The session features eight distinct Gossage originals ranging in length from the 13 minutes of "Red Hook" to "Parade," a miniature clocking in at 1:59. A debut disc to be proud of. 9/10 (Len Dobbin) CD launch at Lion d'Or, Sat., June 30, 10pm