After the explosive response to Silent Alarm in 2005, Bloc Party became known for hooky songwriting and English charm. A Weekend in the City, the group’s anticipated follow-up, is a flaccid affair that ultimately misses its mark. The brilliant guitar work of “Song for Clay” and “Hunting for Witches” and the otherworldly chants on “The Prayer” offer some redemption, but the record is ruined by embarrassing lyrics and corny production from U2 crony Jacknife Lee. Trading the consistency of their debut for watered-down pop appeal, Weekend could just as easily be The Vice Guide to Coldplay.
Various Artists What’s Happening in Pernambuco
If you’re as musically adventurous as you claim, you’ll love this comp of off-the-beaten-track Brazilian music from a little-known region somewhat removed from the Sao Paolo/Rio route. Traditional-styled songs mutate before your ears into vocoderized hip-hop bass drops; bossa nova scratch-fests and punky samba throwdowns abound, as well as all the super-duper syncopated percussion you’d expect from South America. This ain’t your parents’ Tropicàlia or your basic Brazil jazz album. Yet for all its electric, youthful intensity, a mellow, soulful flavor rolls through this inspired collection.
Andrew Thomas Gaps in the Sun
Kompakt’s new MP3 label steps into the light with a full-length ambient release from New Zealand’s Andrew Thomas. Shifting between the piano-laden solitude of tracks like “Lit From Failing Light” and the pure droning energy of “M and K” and “I Am Here Where Are You,” Gaps In the Sun hums with Thomas’ gently swirling brand of nouveau ambience. Aimless yet comforting, the tracks wind and loop through an equilibrium of textural warmth, crisp static pulses, and reserved instrumentation on their way to nowhere in particular-which is often the comfiest place to be.
The Emperor Machine Vertical Tones and Horizontal Noise Part 5 EP
You gotta love The Emperor. The man has that BBC Workshop thing going on, combined with the maximum amount of funk that’s probably allowed per individual living in Stafford. Lashings of analog richness are the order of the day, perfectly produced in a psychedelic, demented disco fashion. I’ve previously fantasized about him collaborating with Mr. Oizo-imagine the unimaginable results. The brand new track “Labocatocs” features here, with the outstanding album favorite “Rimramramrim” in a previously unheard extended form.
Mr. Pauli vs. Alden Tyrell Little (SYD Remix)
Always had a soft spot for Clone/Viewlexx. The Dutch are great, aren’t they? Woord! This is the last of the Box Jam remix series, and sees French guy SYD remix Mr. Pauli and Alden Tyrell’s “Little” track. This is emotional, ever-so-slightly gay robo-disco that sounds like it was made by someone with a moustache (which can only be a good thing in my book). On the b-side you have two brand new Pauli tracks, and he does a convincing job of making them sound like they were made in 1984. Proper.
Funky Transport Love Come Save Me
Funky Scotsman Iain McPherson brings out some atonalities that make me only imagine what he was doing before putting it all together. This is straight-up outrageous fun-crazy, guitar-strumming, FX’d dance music with an offbeat touch. Strings play out a melody that sets the mood for those late nights at Snafu.
Dr. J (from 1Luv) & Phil Asher feat. Amalia The Little Things
London music don Phil Asher busted out a lot of housier bits in 2006. For ’07 he brings back the true sounds. “The Little Things (You Do To Me)” is all about the little things: a well-weighted balance between sublime grooves and addictive vocals, with an interesting soundscape.
Wax Tailor Hope and Sorrow
The French instrumental hip-hop virtuoso returns with a much sunnier outing than his previous brilliant work. It’s better than the majority of instro-hop worldwide, but lighter on the cinematic feel and heavier on the collabs. Songbird Charlotte Savary shows up again on compelling tracks like “The Man With No Soul,” “To Dry Up,” and the rewarding finale “Alien in My Belly,” as do rhymers The Others on “House of Wax.” But it is the Dap Queen herself, Sharon Jones, who steals the spotlight on the disc’s soulful opening salvo, “The Way We Lived.” Poet Ursula Rucker bats cleanup on “We Be,” but it continues to be Wax Tailor’s impeccably timed instrumentals that hit the homeruns.
The Gang Font Featuring Interloper
Not since early-’90s jazz-core outfit Iceburn has a band fused punk and jazz so well. Featuring Hüsker Dü’s Greg Norton, The Gang Font is a math-rock band that employs jazz drumming and improvisational guitar riffs to produce interstellar progressive rock that deviates from anything Thirsty Ear has offered in the past. While rock bands from Titan to Hella proudly trumpet their prog influences, The Gang Font fits more in line with The Mahavishnu Orchestra teaming up with Dave Brubeck than the band’s psych-math contemporaries. Featuring Interloper might be the end-all for tech-music nerds everywhere.
The Blow Poor Aim: Love Songs
Originally released in 2004, The Blow’s Poor Aim: Love Songs is an electro-pop record that could fare as well on MTV2 as on any late-night college radio show. But on this reissue, the Portland duo invites some company over, in the form of remixes from Lucky Dragons, Strategy, YACHT, and others. The end result of this unexpected treat from Olympia-based indie stalwart K Records is a twisted blend of synth-pop paired with the hits of Justin Timberlake. The Blow may change the way diehards view K releases, and make punks and club kids dance together.
