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

2 February, 2012

Is Tropical-Lies

Filed under: dance,electronic,lo-fi,pop,Recorded Reviews — Tags: Is Tropical, lies — willmunn @ 20:25

Another one of those lost singles of last year that I’ve refound after a major clear up is the third single, Lies (released late October) by Is Tropical to be lifted from their acclaimed debut album Native To (released last June).

Now prior to listening to Lies I’d made a completely wrong assumption about the Is Tropical, for some odd reason I’d got it into my head that the band were another guitar led rock band, so when spinning the said single for the first time you could have knocked me over with a feather, the three-piece band actually weld together infectious pop with lo-fi dance and otherworldly electronics to create a contagious mix of catchy melodies and to die for hooks. In fact if I had to compare the sound of Lies to anyone imagine MGMT covering The Pet Shop Boys more poppy electronic moments.

The single I was sent only contained the one track but Lies has left me intrigued and desperate to hear more and if you like the idea of something a little different, fizzy pop with a lo-fi dance twist, then you’ll enjoy discovering Is Tropical for yourselves.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 8

www.istropical.com

 

16 November, 2011

You Love Her Coz She’s Dead-You Love Her Coz She’s Dead

Filed under: dance,electronic,punk,Recorded Reviews,techno — willmunn @ 20:00

For those of you who may not have heard the hard hitting electro punk band You Love Her Coz She’s Dead before I’ll give you a quick breakdown for you. The band are a Brighton based female/male duo, who to date have released a handful of singles, an itunes “hot picks” EP, a number of remixes and appeared on a few compilations here and there. The bands evocative blend of punchy electro-punk has also soundtracked the likes of Channel Four’s Skins and Teen Wolf .

The bands self titled album is a collection of new tracks and reworked oldies that Jay and Elle felt truly represent the groups sound and ethos.

If you want a quick description of the band they take uncomprimising techno beats, nintendo games and throbbing basslines, add Elle’s vocals (that range from almost poppy to full on screams), throw in some punk attitude, turn up the heat and boil. You Love Her Coz She’s Dead are not for the faint hearted, if you’re looking for sweet melodies and sing-a-long choruses, I suggest you move on and look elsewhere. If, however you want something a little more hedonistic. if you want a bang ubbling upto date headfuck of a sound you’ve come to the right place.

The album opens with Leap Of Desire 1, that slowly builds from the swaying snyths to a full on techno stomp, with ballistic glitchy beats combine with Elle’s kick to the balls vocals, from here the band begin to build momentum with the bass kicking beats of Sunday Best, a track that features looped vocals, organ and a distorted guitar riff. From here on in the band throw everything and the kitchen sink into their sound, one minute you have bubbling dubstep beats the next you have a mangled guitar. This Is A Raid even manages to throw a few pop hooks (particularly in the vocal department and the melodic breakdown) into the proceedings proving that despite the harsh beats and non-stop bass the band know how to lay down a eurphoric hook or two.

You Love Her Coz She’s Dead self-titled debut is a crazed frantic, fist in the air, jump up and down on the dancefloor that’s not easy to describe, but will sound incredible in a sweaty smoke filled club, it’s energetic, it’s uncomprimising, it struts with attitude and pulsates with more vim than most acts can muster in a lifetime. It’s a bold brash and bolshy affair for fans of the Crystal Castles, Sleigh Bells, hard electro, experimental punk and people to rid their shackles act crazy.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 8

www.youlovehercozshesdead.com

11 October, 2011

Victoria & Jacob-Festival

Filed under: chill wave,dance,electronic,indie,lo-fi,pop,Recorded Reviews — willmunn @ 14:04

Last year I reviewed a lovely little single by duo Victoria & Jacob, a beautiful lo-fi combination of indie folk, pop and subtle electronica, the band picked up plaudits from the likes of Steve Lamacq, Tom Robinson (6music), Word Magazine and Time Out, among others. The band then went on to share stages with the likes of The Mystery Jets, Jeremy Warmsley and Big Deal, wowing audiences across the UK with their mesmeric sound.

Festival is the band’s follow up single and once again Victoria & Jacob offer up a stunning laidback lo-fi affair complete with bubbling synths, gorgeous languid vocals and hazy pop hooks that’s just perfect for those lazy autumn days and sweet intimate nights in.

The single is backed with the scattered beat friendly, Franz Kirmann remix, a track that up’s the tempo of the track whilst still managing to retain the warm organic sound of the original.

Festival is a wonderful relaxed affair that should equally find favour with fans of chill wave and lo-fi indie pop, whilst the glitchy remix on offer showcases a more electronic dance friendly direction that could open the band to an even wider audience.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

22 June, 2011

Ludwig Amadeus-I’ve Been Up

Filed under: dance,electronic — willmunn @ 12:59

Ludwig Amadeus is a German born British bred songwriter and producer who is beginning to create waves with his unique blend of electro house and disco funk. Ludwig’s debut single, God Only Knows My Shoe Size received loads of coverage from the likes of Radio One, XFM, Kiss, NME and Ministry Of Sound, whilst follow up single Don’t Wanna Feel Like This also received loads of attention from all the major players.

I’ve Been Up is Ludwig’s third single to date and once again Ludwig offers up a new slant on his already potent mix of electro-pop, Ludwig up’s the tempo and invites London rapper Ikes to help out on a verse or two, creating an infectious club banger that’ll appeal to anyone who likes strong beat, a catchy hook and a contagious vocal refrain.

The single is backed by a couple of remixes that in truth don’t really add much to the original, though having said that I’m sure the lengthy Josh Torrent mix may well find appeal in the underground DJ world even if it’s only to splice and dice into a mix.

Like I said if you like throwing yourself around to modern day electro house or funk ridden dance you’ll love  Ludwig’s latest I’ve Been Up, it’s catchy, fun and with enough elastic bounce to fuel any dancefloor.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 8

www.size9records.co.uk

10 May, 2011

Katrina Blue-The Day After

Filed under: dance,jazz,pop,R&B / Soul,Recorded Reviews — willmunn @ 13:20

Katrina Blue is a 25 year old  Nottingham based singer-songwriter, who combines her skills as a classically trained pianist and her love of music in general to create a stunning combination of pop. soul and jazz that has seen audiences across the UK captivated by her music, piano and gorgeous vocals. 

Katrina’s delicious blend of styles soon found the attention of Flourish Records, who promptly signed her up and have helped her record her debut EP, The Day After, a brilliant five track affair that showcases Katrina’s effortless blend of styles and wonderful voice.

The EP opens with the massively addictive statement of intent, Hypnotized, a hook-laden, piano fuelled pop classic, that begins with solo piano, finger clicks and Katrina’s dazzling vocals before developing into a massive full bodied pop monster complete with strings, electric guitars and a wonderfully contagious chorus. 

Don’t Change Me showcases a smouldering soulful jazz side to Katrina, light and airy instrumentation is used to focus her gorgeous vocals, whilst the chorus again features a delicious hook that fans of mature pop will find themselves showering with adulatation. Butterflies adds some wonderful vocal harmonizing to an already potent mix of soul and pop forming yet another effortless uplifting classic, whilst the EP concludes with two different remixes of Hypnotized, proving that Katrina even manages to hold her own on the dancefloor with her strong vocals and massive hooks combining effortlessly with a mix of electronica and drum & bass.

The Day After is a wonderful and invigorating introduction to a brilliant new talent, Katrina Blue is equally adept at pop as she jazz or soul, each of the five tracks on here, each have there own charm and character, whilst as a whole work to highlight the unique and ever infectious stylings of Katrina. If you like well constructed pop, jazz, soul or even vocal and strings driven drum & bass you’ll find something to love here.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.myspace.com/katrinablue

www.facebook.com/katrinablue

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