In danger of
being lost over the Xmas silly season are three EPs of quite outstanding
quality. hiapop Blog thinks they deserve to be heard and gives you a quick resume
below. Don’t be a pudding, make sure you
hear them all.
Radio Europa
– Feral Is As Feral Does So Yeah Up Your Chuff EP
DL
9 / 10
Out Now
Some bands
are just never happy. As if releasing
one of the year’s best albums in Rise Of The Gutterzz Press And The Death Of
Modern Thought less than two months ago wasn’t enough, Radio Europa returns
with a five track EP of weirdness for your pay-what-you-like delectation.
Wanting to
‘get the EP out there’, the band have exclusively revealed that they are now working
on their second album. That’s quite some
output, but with the wealth of ideas that the act clearly as, it’s no surprise.
The new EP
has less of the anger of the album, but as much of the eccentricity, distortion
and originality of its father. Opener, Story
Time Is In Session With Radio Europa tantalisingly sets the scene as a single
fuzzed out tone sees the tracks introduced.
Trot On
Swine The Time Is Thus combines weird with a pulsing bass line and a vocal that
maybe takes its lead from the early Fats Comet releases, and Our Furry Little
Friends Will Pass On The Disease Of Life is pure horror.
Clearly influenced
by punk and the like, Radio Europa are daring to be different, and different
they certainly are. Genius fighting to
break free – remember the name.
Fifi Rong – Violently
Silently EP
CD / DL
9 / 10
Out Now
Beijing
born, London based Fifi Rong has one eye on the commercial and one eye firm in
the alternative on the brilliant new five track EP. The artist that has worked with the likes of
Boris Blank, Tricky and Roots Manuva has assembled a mini journey through
trip-hop related themes tinged with eastern delights.
At times she
has more than a passing sound of Martina Topley-Bird on her incredible Quixotic
album as Once bounds along with poppy abandon and ‘that’ voice which will no
doubt become a main focal point. But,
beneath the unique voice are fascinating delights.
The EP is
some trip as opener Intro later reveals itself as a ‘premix’ to Once with
contains samples of following tracks Slow Poison and Since When. Since When
then makes a further appearance in a remixed version entitled Outro.
It’s all
super stuff and will have you hooked from the off. Yes, it’s poppy and yes it’s easy to listen
to, but it also displays a huge talent and a head full of stunning ideas. It’s one of the most creative song collections
of the year and one which certainly makes mouth-watering prospects at the
thought of an album.
ticktock – Fault Lines
EP (The Big Oil Recording Company)
DL
8.5 / 10
Out Now
Austere
electronica artist Sebastian Zieler (aka ticktock) has assembled an interesting
and affectionate grasp of five low-key but highly polished alternative pop
tracks. Both vocally and instrumentally
there’s a hint of The Beloved led by the sweet voice of Jon Marsh.
Opening track,
Opt In Opt Out Opt Not is a catchy little thing gently brushing past like a
soft breeze against your cold cheeks. With a lovely bassline, the track slowly
builds from gentile beginnings to a fuller more complete sound. Synth effects shoot in and fly out and the
sound of the track switches midway from calm to dark.
Off The Map
takes things clinically too, as the sound of ticktock is one of high quality
and perfectionism. A drumbeat enters as
the track closes together with heightened voices before lead-track Pastel
Clouds a generous slab of weirdness with a treated vocals and randomly
scattered blips and bleeps. It confirms
Zieler as a clever musician who is capable of writing some stirring stuff.
With the wonderfully
entitled Stripped Of Reuptake Inhibitions the pace is lifted with a more
prolific, though still restricted percussive beat and, closer Everything Free
And Perfect Lover takes a more dreamt approach.
Sumptuous stuff.
Published on Louder Than War 19/12/15 - here
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