Rhythm & Booze An online music webzine created by music lovers for music lovers.

30 May, 2012

Severin-Macabea

Filed under: electronic,noise,pop,Recorded Reviews,shoegaze — Tags: macabea, Severin — willmunn @ 05:25

London based electronic noise pop duo Severin follow up the recently released Everything Breaks EP  (reviewed on this very site) with a brand new single in the shape of Macabea as a download release.

Now if you’re yet to have discovered the sounds of Danny Sanchez (guitars/noise) and Elizabeth Anne Martin (beats/guitars/electronics/vocals), Macabea serves as a stunning introduction to what the band are all about, fuzzy distorted riffs collide magnificently with bubbling electronica to create a dense wall of sound, whilst Elizabeth delivers a beautiful, hook-laden, poppy vocal that manages to pierce through the heady mix.

In truth the term noise-pop does the dynamics of Macabea and Severin themselves something of a disservice, I sense that there’s something of a indie shoegaze influence buried within the grooves of the duo’s set up, whilst the band’s pop sensibilities and shimmering vocals leave you baying for more.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

www.facebook.com/severin666

1 February, 2012

Straylings-Entertainment On Foreign Grounds

Filed under: alternative,americana,indie,Recorded Reviews,shoegaze — willmunn @ 13:59

Sometimes in this job of reviewing an album will turn up with a press release that instantly grabs the attention, the accompanying words of endorsement that was posted alongside the debut album by the Straylings is one such scripture. The sheet mention’s the Straylings in the same hushed tones as My Morning Jacket, Calexico, PJ Harvey and Grinderman among others, whilst it also notes that only do the band contain the stunning vocals of Dana Zeera but also feature Oliver Drake, formerly of the greatly underrated Rough Trade band The Veils among their personnel.

To date the London based band have received plaudits from everyone from Artrocker to Steve Lamacq, with last year’s debut EP receiving coverage from both the aforemention Lamacq and Huw Stephens among others.

After reading all the accompanying bumf around the band, I settled back expecting to be dazzled, only I wasn’t quite expecting to be left breathless, Entertainment On Foreign Grounds is, for a change, deserving of all the hype, the comparisons may have initially pricked my attention, but in truth they barely do Straylings any justice, their sound is unique, compelling and hardly needs a leg up. The eleven tracks on here are simply incredible, a delectable mix of reverb drenched guitars, shimmering beats and Dana’s compelling, jaw dropping sultry vocals that has the ability to seduce and break in the space of a heartbeat.

The album opens with Carver’s Kicks, a restrained flurry of controlled feedback, swirling atmospherics and Dana’s glorious glacial vocals that instantly bewitch and entrance. The album continues in the same effortless fashion, gorgeous melodies collide majestically with waves of reverb, delicate piano fades in and out of the mix whilst the band create a heady mixture of indie shoegaze, acid fuelled blues and cosmic Americana.

Tracks effortlessly seep into one another to create a unique sprawling whole that intoxicates from start to finish, trying to pick out highlights is almost impossible as the album works as a stunning cinematic piece but special mentions have to be thrown out to the delicate piano led Marie & The Dusty Lands, the chiming rattle and passionate howled vocals of Kings Of The Mire, the country tinged shuffle of The Unravelling Of Mr ED and the near five minute epic closing salvo of To Lay Down Roots.

Straylings have released one of the best debut albums for a long, long time, Entertainment On Foreign Grounds is a truly bewitching album full of drama, passion and originality, whilst the combination of Drake’s lead guitar and Zeena’s captivating vocals will leave you in a  long lasting daze of wonderment.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.facebook.com/straylings

17 January, 2012

Charlotte Gainsbourg-Anna

Filed under: folk,pop,Recorded Reviews,shoegaze,singer-songwriter — Tags: Anna, charlotte gainsbourg, new single — willmunn @ 19:06

Many of you will recognise the name of Charlotte Gainsbourg as the daughter of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, many of you will recognise her from such films as I’m Not There (Bob Dylan biopic) and the rather controversial Anti-Christ, but I’m sure only the hardened music fans will know Charlotte from her debut album (Serge produced) Charlotte Forever released way back in 1986.orate with

Since those tender formative years in music Charlotte has released a further two album 5:55 and IRM, each one receiving critical if not commercial acclaim, the latter album saw Charlotte collaborate with Beck on a number of tracks and once again he appears on her latest two disc affair Stage Whisper alongside such names as Conor O’Brien (of the Villagers), Noah & The Whale and cult singer-songwriter Connan Mockasin among others.

Stage Whisper is an ambitious affair featuring both live and previously unreleased studio material, but on the evidence of latest single, Anna, Charlotte is more than up for the task, the track, available as a download affair, is simply stunning, a truly beautiful combination of acoustic guitar, plucked Eastern strings, piano and Charlotte’s seductive laidback cooed vocal all combining to create a lovely dreamy affair that’ll have even the most hardened of cynics drifting in ethereal bliss.

Is Charlotte Gainsbourg a singer/musician or an actress first and foremost, well when she delivers good’s like Anna or the aforementioned Anti-Christ, who cares, let’s just be thankful and celebrate the wonderful creative mind of Charlotte.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

http://www.charlottegainsbourg.com/

11 September, 2011

Inca Hoots-Creatures

Filed under: electronic,indie,pop,Recorded Reviews,shoegaze — willmunn @ 20:38

Inca Hoots are a four-piece hailing from Worcester, they combine a number of different influences and genres to create a unique take on the indie genre incorporating everything from electronica to samba!

To date the band have built something of a loyal fan base on the back of their constant hard gigging around the local area and further afield, the band have been regularly featured on the likes of BBC Introducing and well as performing at a number of music festivals including this years Worcester Music Festival.

Creatures is the band’s debut self released mini album and I have to say it’s something of a corker, in fact so much so I’m currently kicking myself for not checking out Inca Hoots sooner, I shall certainly be catching them live in the very near future.

The seven track affair opens with a stunning statement of intent with Leafs, a glorious mix of swirling synths, infectious guitars and a glorious hook-laden vocal that instantly grabs the attention. As introductions go Leafs is flawless, it’s engaging, the lush instrumentation draws you in and the vocals leave you aching for more.

Luckily Creatures is no mere one hit wonder, the band follow up Leafs with the rather wonderful Light Pollution, a more delicate affair with twinkling keys, spiralling guitars and a heartfelt croon. Sleeping Lions continues the high standard with the band delivering layers of synths and intricate guitars, whilst frontman Stu Matthews once again unleashes a passionate indie drawl captivating the listener with both the intriguing lyrics and the lush instrumentation.

The likes of Sine Cera and Escailer have all sorts of layers and time changes going on that’s almost impossible to describe what’s going on, Escailer, in particular sees the band indulging in a stunning technical workout, seemingly crossing genres effortlessly as the track lurches through a number of tempo and style changes, bedazzling, intriguing and intoxicating the listener.

The mini album perhaps saves the best for last in the shape of 10,000 Alcoholics, a stunning combination of indie and electronica (complete with synth break down) and the simply incredible Cuneo, a track that combines subtle, bubbling electronics, marching beats, a wonderfully understated middle section of beats, glitches and synths, layers of looped guitar and the intriguing mantra like vocal hook of “we’re like little kids with sticks poking at jelly fish” a stunning finale to a dazzling release.

Creatures is a jaw dropping release, I’m not sure what I expected from Inca Hoots but I wasn’t expecting to have to pick myself up of the floor, the collage of looped guitar, subtle electronics, synth hooks and intoxicating vocals seduce and bewitch, the band have delivered a brilliant and unique debut that captivates and demands your undivided attention.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

http://incahoots.bigcartel.com
http://weareinca-hoots.bandcamp.com

Letting Up Despite Great Faults-Paper Crush

Filed under: chill wave,electronic,indie,Recorded Reviews,shoegaze — willmunn @ 16:40

Letting Up Despite Great Faults is something of a sonic diary of founding member, Mike Lee, hailing from Los Angeles, the band have already made a major splash stateside with rave reviews from such heavy weights as Pitchfork an Rolling Stone among others.

Paper Crush is the UK’s introduction to the wonderful sound of Letting Up Despite Great Faults, combining an intoxicating mix of  lo-fi indie rock and hushed shoegaze to form a glorious, dreamy take on infectious indie pop that instantly hooks the listener in, both lulling and captivating from the opening few seconds of Repeating Hearts all the way to the closing moments of Helium.

The aforementioned opener, Repeating Hearts sets the mood with lo-fi jangly strummed guitars, delicious synths, laidback beats and gorgeous half whispered, understated vocals that hook you in and demand your fall attention right from the off. From the beautiful opening track, Letting Up Despite Great Faults continue to weave their magical spell of blissed out beats, hushed pop hooks and soft delicate vocals on the equally mesmeric Sophia In Gold, before the band turn up the amps slightly for the addictive debut UK single Teenage Tide, a stunning, catchy affair that brings to mind the contagious alternative pop of (the criminally underrated) Joy Zipper.

I Feel You Happen seems to continue the theme of adding to the band’s sound as the mini album progresses, the band add driving bass and a fuzzy feedback drenched guitar to proceedings to create a wonderful lo-fi noise element to proceedings, whilst the mostly instrumental Aurora wouldn’t sound out of place on the recent Chill Wave classic Piano Player by Memory Tapes.

The six track affair is completed in the same rich vein that runs throughout the disk only this time the band add more beats and pepper their sound further with their take on electronica whilst still maintaining the dreamy pop melodies and charming vocal hooks.

Paper Crush is the second release on Hit Or Heist Records (checkout the Simian Ghost Review) that is something of essential purchase for anyone who enjoys hushed indie, dreamy shoegaze, infectious glitch pop or lo-fi, it’s a brilliant bewitching, inviting affair that seduces the listener into blocking out the outside world, surrendering their hearts and allowing the record to take hold.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.lettingup.com

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