Magic Wands - Aloha Moon
Aloha Moon is one of
the unheralded finds of 2012. Magic Wands have an electro sound that is vaguely
reminiscent of a lot of artists, but really quite unique. The album starts out
softly with The title track and Teenage Love, but really kicks up a gear with
Kaleidoscope Heart which follows the format of several of the best songs on the
album - a basic catchy beat with great riffs, Soft vocals and a huge powerful
sound. Warrior, Wolves and Kaleidoscope Heart are probably the biggest sounding
tracks on the album, while there are darker tracks that sound kind of like The
XX making electro music (Crystals, Space), and also rockier tracks with a
little bit of a Ladyhawke / Muse type feel (Black Magic, Kiss Me Dead). This is
really simple effective electronic stuff, a short album which delivers
throughout - from a 10 track album I originally marked down 7 as standout
tracks.. Excellent stuff.
Top tracks: most of
them
Sounds like:
Ladyhawke, School Of Seven Bells, Muse, The XX
9/10
Graham Coxon - A&E
Since the split of
Blur Graham Coxon has gone on to become basically a one-man punk rock outfit,
and while Damon Albarn remains in the headlines with acts like Gorillaz, in his
own right Coxon has produced some excellent music relatively under the radar. This
is slightly more electro than much of his previous stuff, though it is still an
album filled with his usual catchy riffs, repetitive lyrics and unmistakable
gruff vocals. Highlight tracks for me are 'What'll it take', which is basically
a dance track by Coxon standards, and 'Running For Your Life' which is a superb
reflection of violent nights out in England, and provides an interesting
perspective on the attitude of the youth of the country. An excellent rocker of
an album.
Sounds like: Kind of
like a punky English Jack White
Top tracks: City Hall,
What'll It Take, Seven Naked Valleys, Running For Your Life
8/10
Alabama Shakes - Boys
And Girls
The debut album from one
of the years most hyped groups, this is very powerful, soulful, bluesy stuff.
They have an old school soulful rock sound, the like of which you don't see
from many new bands these days. The album itself gets off to a very strong
start, and for me it peaks with the third track 'Hang Loose', which has a
superb catchy beat and is instantly memorable. After this there is nothing too
notable until the album rounds off with a couple of very strong tracks, 'I
Ain't The Same' and 'On Your Way'. Is the hype justified? Probably. There is no
doubt they have a great unique sound, and they have kicked off with a strong
debut album. Based on the power of their music, they are definitely a band to
look out for on the live circuit.
Sounds like: Amy
Whinehouse, Janis Joplin
Top tracks: Hang
Loose, Hold On, I Ain't The Same
7/10
Bear In Heaven - I
Love You, It's Cool
When sampling this
album I got a distinct feel of new order from Bear In Heaven, which is
obviously a huge compliment. However when listening to the songs in full, an
electro sound is pretty much all they have in common. This is low-fi electro
stuff, they produce a decent sound though the tracks are generally monotonous
with little deviation. Their are few highlights to speak of on I love you it's
cool, the album passes you by with barely a whimper.
Sounds like: Soft
Moon, Tame Impala
Top tracks: Idle
Heart, Sinful Nature, World Of Freak Out
5/10
The Chap - We Are
Nobody
On this evidence, the
chap produce solid organized low-key electronic music, which makes for pleasant
listening rather than something that will pick you up and shake you. Many of
the tracks are repetitive, and at times the lyrics are delivered in a robotic
style. For me the best songs on the album are the less repetitive ones, a
couple of which are real standouts. There is some good stuff on We are Nobody,
though it is definitely more solid than spectacular.
Sounds like: Metronomy,
but maybe a little more disco
Top tracks: Talk back,
What Did We Do, This Is Sick
6.5/10
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