THE WHIP - BLACKOUT

THE WHIP are the latest ‘electro-rock’ band to make a name for themselves, following hot on the heels of ‘Does it offend you, yeah?’ and ‘Just a Band’. With basslines perfect for big room clubs, and tracks that were made for remixing, The Whip are sure to be the next big thing. (Well, for this month at least!)

ROBYN - BRAND NEW RETRO

Robyn’s sound is gaining a lot of recognition in the press here at the moment. Tracks like ‘With Every Heartbeat’ are nothing new. And I really mean that. Robyn’s self titled album (her 4th) was recorded and released in 2005. A quick re-badge and a little polish and hey presto - The Sound of the Summer ’08! Having said that, ‘Cobrastyle’ does rock.

Konichiwa Bitches!

So I’m listening to some cool music at the moment, putting together some thoughts for the next edition of Borrowed Beats, and I keep coming back to a track that i love but can’t put my finger on why. And then I remember. GhostFace Killah. Sampled the triplejaysus out of it. But It’s undoubtedly cooler than the original, which was very very cool.

And that got me wondering about:

 
Cool.

Cooler

Coolest.

via Astrochimp.

And the cool track? Love is Blue by Johnny Johnson. ( Give it 30 seconds )

Willie Nelson Wynton Marsalis - Two Men With The Blues

Where to begin? You’re computer literate, net savvy groovers so I’ll begin by assuming you know nothing about Willie Nelson. And that’s probably a good thing. See, Willie has probably done a duet with everybody that’s ever cleared their throat.  And with limited success, but forget about all that. In fact, forget everything you though you knew about Willie Nelson.

Two Men With The Blues brings together two of the most important figures in Country and Jazz to share their love of Blues and Jazz. The result is a beautiful and often playful synergy of great musicians playing music they love. When interviewed Willie said:

‘Record labels had to know what to call it before they could sell it, so they called it Blues, Jazz, Bluegrass, Gospel and whatever. But some music incompasses it all. So what do you call it? And that’s pretty much what I like to play.’ 

The album opener is a scene setting loose and jazz infused blues version of Jimmy Reed’s ‘Bright Lights, Big City’. It hints at what’s in store - subtle arrangements that allow the whole band to shine, not just the headliners. Mickey Raphael’s harmonica and Wynton’s horn spar and play through out the album, with bass, guitar, keys and drums getting their moment in the spot light. Hank Williams ‘My bucket’s got a hole in it’ becomes a New Orleans march cum eulogy for beer, and showcases Nelsons picking and wry comedic timing.

Two Men With The Blues is unlike anything I’ve heard this year - a celebration of music. A worthy addition to anyones collection. Go get it!

THINK: The best Jazz / Blues album this year!
WATCH: Willie & Wynton’s clip.
READ: Willie & Wynton’s site.
BUY: Two men witthe blues at amazon

Tilly and the Wall - O

Tilly and the Wall were the coolest indie kids on the block. Cardigan and pigtail wearing chicks, they appeared on Sesame Street ( and covered ABC, naturally) and they have a tap dancer for a drummer. I remember that was the single line intro Marcus gave me when he turned me on to Tilly’s 2006 album Bottom of Barrels. The album was filled with close harmonies about rainbows and birds singing. ‘O’ is not that album.

From opener ‘Tall tall glass’ you know that Tilly et al have grown, and are bolder, louder and angrier. First single ‘Pot Kettle Black’ shows how creative they are when it comes to making the most of Pressnall’s galloping rhythms, turning two feet into an entire rhythm section. Goodbye sunrise songs, hello Party Rock. This is as loud as we’ve every heard Tilly, and they’ve fleshed out their sound with more than just volume.

‘Cacophony’ would have sat nicely on ‘Bottoms of Barrels’with its Tap-tastic intro and three-part vocal harmonies, but it too ventures into new territory with live drums and sax, with limited success it must be said. Tilly’s arsenal of glockenspiel, tap dancing and multi-layered vocals are thankfully present on the rest of the album, but there are still many surprises for long term fans. The album closer, ‘Too excited’ could be a mission statement or a mission-complete statement - swearing like sailors sluts on shore leave, they leave us as they began, with heavy reverb guitars and a proclamation - “I don’t give a shit if I’m cool enough“, and in the process prove that they most certainly are.

THINK: Go! Teammeet The Ting Tings (in tap school)
WATCH: Pot Kettle Black vid
READ: Tilly’s homepage and myspace
BUY: ‘O’ at Moshi Moshi