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WEEKLY ROUNDUP :: W/C 16/10/06
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:: Tina Dico
:: Loney Dear
:: Zox
:: Aklid:: Beatfreakz:: Seth Lakeman:: Moistboyz :: Yummy Bingham:: Rolo Tomassi:: Recoup ::
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20 October 2006 / No Label Required / Various Formats
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By Sugar Sweet Ste
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Zox – The Wait
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New Yorkers Zox unleash their powerful debut for SideOneDummy Records and their 13 tracks on “The Wait” include more bits of Ska, the odd element of dub and straight up, wire tight indie with a tidy anthem gazing attitude – highlight is the ambitious “Better If It’s Worse” – an infectious rumble. MMM ½ . www.zoxband.com
Various Artists – Finger Lickin Thang 4
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This is a ‘best of’ for the Finger Lickin label – a real mix of funk and dance featuring Slyde, Plump DJ’s, Soul Of Man, Stereo and the Drumattic Twins amongst others. Expect electronic bass shaking pulses and scratching, under a funky disco jam. MM ½. www.fingerlickin.co.uk .
Aklid – Kabyle Mental
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I don’t know why we got sent this, but Aklid’s album (Because / 12 Trk CD) sounds like some sort of Middle Eastern brand of traditional music sung in French. Not that I’ve anything against people enjoying this kind of music, even though I’d only be most likely to hear it as “act number 14” at the next Eurovision song contest. Rock and Roll it isn’t and it’s as distant from the contemporary scene as the Earth is from Pluto - it surely has to be of limited appeal. ½ M
Beatfreakz – Superfreakz
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Beatfreakz exploit the fact that they describe themselves as freaks – ie. The singer is a small person (3’3”) and the drummer is super tall (7’5”) – a great selling point I’m sure and one that will have the Equal forums in deep discussion for a while – but to business, “Superfreakz” (Ministry Of Sound / Data) is a dance record built around a sample of MC Hammers “You Can’t Touch This”. They claim the song was written by Rick James before he went to the music scene in the sky, but it’s hard to see any other real input other than the use of a sampler. Yes, it’s a bit bob. M.
Seth Lakeman – The White Hare
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With a vibrato shake of the vocals and plenty of time spent in the upper Tenor register, Seth Lakeman has enough melodies to keep a boyband in singles for a year. “The White Hare” (1 Trk CD – EMI) is a gentle sojourn involving banjos, guitars and reflective folky pop. Seths vocal work is the best bit over an ordinary acoustic led vibe. www.sethlakeman.co.uk . MM ½
Moistboyz – That’s What Rock And Roll Can Do
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The delightfully named Moistboyz must surely realise that their brand of sleazy rock , tattoos and dubious swagger is probably verging so much on the extreme, that it’s verging on the camp. The music on “That’s What Rock And Roll Can Do” (Schitzel Records) however is gutsy lite metal with a touch of post New Wave L.A. It does come across as a decent, pretty memorable heavy work out. MM ½ . www.moistboyz.com.
Yummy Bingham – Come Get It : Feat Jadakiss
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Age 19 – Godchild of Chaka Khan and Aaron Hall. Daughter of producer Osborne Bingham Jnr. Immersed into the singing world of soul showbiz, Bingham has pretty much had opportunities on her doorstep. “Come Get It” (Motown / Universal) though is rather ordinary (ie. there’s a lot of this stuff around, particularly on the underground scene) . The whole thing is kept as lo-fi and scratchy as possible but ends up sounding like Bubble gum girly pop with adequate singing. M. www.motown.com
Rolo Tomassi – EP
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Sheffield guerrilla squad, Rolo Tomassi unleash “EP” (Holy Roar Records) and it’s what can only be described as a Sci-Fi version of Deep Purple and The Mars Volta shaking it up with a death metal vocalist . There’s plenty of shouty / screamy action and like fellow plotters That Fucking Tank, they enjoy tearing out your ears although tracks like “Cirque Du Funk” do provide plenty of intelligent refinement. Despite the yells. MMM ½ . www.rolotomassi.tk
Loney, Dear – Sologne
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Sweden’s Loney Dear wield their acoustics proudly . The album “Sologne” (Something In Construction) is full of the heady, smooth vocals and gentle percussive strolls. “The Battle Of Trinidad & Tobago” sounds so traditionally Irish that you can even detect a hint of a Dublin accent . The sweeping melody of “The City , The Airport” is still a great single and this is generally an exciting vibrant album. www.loneydear.com . MMM
Recoup – Worthwhile
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Ambient bleeps and bloops from Recoup soundtrack the trios album “Worthwhile” (7 Trk CD, Initiate Records). South African Pieter Theron’s breathy vocals are fitting and the semi-stadium sounds could sound like Talk Talk, although there are few chorus’s amongst the frequent wig outs. A lot of the tracks are just far too long and the epics could be accused of being too self indulgent, as the ideas are spread out just a little too sparsely. www.recoupmusic.com . MM
Tina Dico – Give In
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Dico’s third cut from her album “In The Red” is another offering of mellow pop driven by guitars and a bit of C&W. “Give In” (1 Trk CD, Finest Gramophone) is full of fine voice and easy listening gestures, but it really won’t set the world alight. www.tinadico.com . MM
Various Artists – Stereo Sushi
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The latest collection from Hed Kandi’s imprint Stereo Sushi is another series named “Sashimi” (2xCD 24 Trks) with sharply pointed dance floor cuts courtesy of D-Ramirez, ‘S’ Man, Plump DJs, Eric Pridz and Todd Terry. Plenty of electro thumping housey stuff then. MM
Various Artists – The Kings Of Techno
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Always exploring the obscure and defining genres, the excellent “Kings Of ..” (Rapster – 2 x CD – 20 Trks) series focuses on Techno via the playlists of Laurent Garnier and Carl Craig. Garnier starts off with well…Iggy Pop, as part of The Stooges on the original Pre-Pistols runway rocker, “No Fun”. Then there’s Aretha Franklin, The Temptations and then a jump into the world of more comtempory electro pioneers – it’s a history of Detroit and a damn good one. Carl Craig picks up some brilliant cuts via Visage, Kano, Art Of Noise and the mighty Nitzer Ebb. Maybe this is one of the best “Kings Of....” yet. MMMM
Various Artists – Hed Kandi : Back To Love
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If you’re running a disco franchise then it makes sense to get your soundtrack out there . Hed Kandi are doing just that and as their brand begins to seep into every town “Back To Love” 2006 (2xCD 25 Trks) has plenty going for it. Basement Jaxx, Barbara Tucker, N-Joi, X-Press 2 and Fire Island. If you’re there on a Friday night (Tokyo Project anyone?) you’ll know what I mean…MM ½ . www.hedkandi.com
Various Artists – Ministry Of Sound : Fifteen Years
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Not one disc but three spanning 47 tracks – where do you start?. With C J Mackintosh, Jazzy M and Marc Hughes making the selections, there’s a diverse choice. Ce Ce Peniston to Incognito to M People to Everything But The Girl. Babs Tucker turns up again as do Sounds Of Blackness and P.M. Dawn – Oh Yeah !. That’s just Mackintosh – Jazzy is a bit more focussed – with Jaydee, Stardust and Armand Van Helden whilst Hughes sprinkles in Gus Gus, the rising Junior Jack, Eric Prydz, X-Press 2 and Chicken Lips. This definitely an historical compendium and in some ways three complete albums in their own right of classic MoS moments. MMM. www.ministryofsound.com .
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Resources:
Zox
Rolo Tomassi
Loney,Dear
Rapster Records
Ministry Of Sound
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FIRST IMPRESSIONS... [ -
The Whip -
May 68 -
LoneLady -
The Drums -
]
DRUMMING UP SUPPORT... [ -
The Drums -
]
WIGAN OUT TO THE PSYCHEDELIC SOUNDS... [ -
Moco -
The Loungs -
]
THE APOCALYPSE YOU CAN DANCE TO... [ -
Rammstein -
]
ROCKIT TO THE MOON... [ -
Oceansize -
Vessels -
And So I Watch You From Afar -
]
BRIT POP SHINES ... [ -
Brett Anderson -
]
HALCYON DAZE... [ -
Delphic -
]
FRIENDS OF MANCHESTER FESTIVAL (NIGHT)... [ -
Vagner Love -
Young British Artists -
exLovers -
The Answering Machine -
Jo Rose -
The Black Knights -
No Tokyo -
]
FRIENDS OF MANCHESTER FESTIVAL (AFTERNOON)... [ -
Kin -
Standard Fare -
Optional Wallace -
Plank! -
]
NEVER MIND THE BARRACKS... [ -
Arficeden -
Cyril Snear -
]
SUPPLY AND DEMAND... [ -
Audio Supply -
]
NO RETRO FOR TOTO... [ -
Run Toto Run -
]
RISE OF THE FALLEN... [ -
Factory Star -
Pearl Divers -
]
GREAT SOUNDS FROM START TO FINNISH... [ -
Joensuu 1685 -
Barberos -
Asleep Beneath Volcanoes -
Advances In Mathematics -
]
A MATCH MADE IN HELL... [ -
Future Of The Left -
Kong -
]
WEIRDO LO-FI POP... [ -
Bird Names -
Crooked Rooks -
]
RAILING AGAINST THE MAINSTREAM... [ -
Graham Dunning -
]
STEALING HEARTS... [ -
The Steals -
]
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS... [ -
The Bent Moustache -
Kin -
Mr Heart -
]
HOW MANY BOYFRIENDS?... [ -
This Many Boyfriends -
]
THE LAST CHAPTER... [ -
The Black Knights -
Lux Decorus -
]
BOWING OUT DISGRACEFULLY... [ -
International Trust -
]
OUT ON THE EDGE... [ -
Vuk -
Denis Jones -
]
NOVEMBER RAIN... [ -
]
WARPED OUT... [ -
Battles -
]
THIS FEELING IS ALL I WANT... [ -
Puressence -
]
THE LONELINESS OF A LONG DISTANCE GIG PROMOTER ... [ -
Victorian Dad -
Drink And Drive -
]
FIZZY POP PARTY... [ -
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart -
]
BLACKPOOL ROCKS AGAIN... [ -
The Membranes -
]
ANSWERING BACK... [ -
The Answering Machine -
Post War Years -
]
VERY PROMISING... [ -
We Were Promised Jetpacks -
]
SUNDAY - THE NEW FRIDAY?... [ -
Frazer King -
Little Engine -
]
ANNUAL APPOINTMENT... [ -
The Fall -
No Tokyo -
]
I HATE GOLF... [ -
]
IN-SYNCH... [ -
Only This Remains -
]
VAGINA ANALOGUE... [ -
The Flaming Lips -
]
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SET THE CONTROLS......
PIGEONS FLY OFF ROUND THE COUNTRY...
YET MORE NEW DATES ANNOUNCED...
FRIDAY "FRIENDS OF MANCHESTER" ACADEMY 3 GIG POSTPONED...
TWISTED WHEEL GET THEIR FAC RIGHT...
MANCHESTER ICONS BACK ON...
IN CONVERSATION...
MODERN ENGLISH IS HERE...
SET YOUR ALARM CLOCK NOW......
DINGO RETRO...
FRIENDS OF MANCHESTER - WHAT, WHERE, WHEN...
BACK TO THE TOP...
HOT VOLTAGE...
A DIFFERENT STYLE OF PAINTER...
MANCHESTER'S NEWEST POP STARS ON THE ROAD AGAIN...
FRIENDS OF MANCHESTER UPDATE - LAST CHANCE FOR TENNER TICKETS...
MANCHESTER'S QUEER NOISE ...
STANDING IN THE WAY OF CONTROL ...
WINTER / SPRING JAZZ AT BAND ON THE WALL...
ARFICEDEN TAKE ON JANUARY...
WOTGODFORGOT SPRING OFFENSIVE...
WOTGODFORGOT SPRING OFFENSIVE - SECOND WAVE...
POP ART...
2010 STARTS HERE...
THIS SHOULD SCARE THE ORANGE PEOPLE...
J C CLARKE HASN'T BEEN KNIGHTED - HE SHOULD BE, BUT FOR NOW HERE'S SOME TOUR INFO...
TWISTED WHEEL TAKE ON 2010 WITH TOUR AND ALBUM...
LOADS MORE FRIENDS!...
EDITORIAL: WHY I DID WHAT THEY TOLD ME...
FAUST COME FAUST SERVED (sorry...)...
CHRISTMAS CRACKERS...
A DAY OUT WITH FRIENDS...
AIR CAV CHRISTMAS GIG: WIN TICKETS!...
DELPHIC WELCOME THE NEW DECADE...
MM RECOMMENDS: A GREAT CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR ANY MANCUNIAN MUSIC FAN...
EVERYTHING EVERYTHING SIGN ON THE DOTTED.....
OCEANSIZE - * MANCHESTER GIG CANCELLED* - ...
RUBY LOUNGE DECEMBER: JOSH, FRAZER AND A NYE HOUSE PARTY!...
BLOWOUT'S AUTUMN OF CONTENT...
MUSEUM SEEKS JOY DIVISION ARTEFACTS...
MANCHESTER URBAN ARTISTS BUILD A MUSICAL FUTURE ...
RADAR RELEASE...
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