Occasionally,
albums get caught up in the themes of the day, in the news we see and hear, or
just generally don’t get the coverage they deserve. We felt
rather guilty and decided to give the albums credit where it was due.
Lark – Funny
Man (Standard Lamp Records)
LP / CD / DL
8.75 / 10
Out Now
Funny Man was released in July of 2015 and it’s an abolsute
travesity that it slipped under the LTW radar as it could well have been one of
the albums of the year.
Lark is the creation of songwriter, artist and frontman Karl
Bielik. Based in London, they create
infectious, bass heavy soundcrashes which leave indelible marks long after they
have been heard. There’s a punk element
to the sound of Funny Man but, also hints of krautrock and pioneers on
industrial electro in Einsturzende Neubauten with crashing beats the enormity
of which really have to be heard to be believed.
There’s often an anger in the sound and a sometimes dark dance
beat (A Fishing Trip) figting to break free.
When the band slows in down a notch of two – check out Curtains – the
darkness descends even further and the haunting horror of their amazing sound
if flipped to the other side. Standout
track Girl sets the tone for one of the most exciting albums around as it pumps
immediate life and energy into the proceedings.
A remixed
version of Funny Man will be out very soon.
Neurotic Wreck –
Priceless, Bloody Priceless EP
DL
8 / 10
Out Now
Sometime
member of The Bordellos, Dan Shea (aka Neurotic Wreck) released his EP via
Bandamp back in April. Opener, Let’s
Make Hate has echoes of the mighty Vukovar of who also plays a part of with some incredible drum sounds
and a highly infectious strapline which is difficult to forget (job done,
eh?). Life In Sepia has echoes of Roddy
Frame in terms of songwriting and as such is well worth a listen, a subtler
affair with guitar, tambourine and light percussion it again is a highly
addictive tune.
With an
album, Glow Ghosts In Subspace due out on 14 July (Net Label Day), the tone has
firmly been set. Shea has the ability to
write some rather fine songs and the prospect of a longplayer, with a decent
bit of publicity behind it could see him become much better known than you’d
expect.
Lyrically,
Priceless Bloody Priceless is enagaging and the album available as a free
download from Bandcamp should you so wish but with music this good, you really
out to stub up a few coffers.
Ashley Reaks – If I
Hadn’t Become An Artist And A Musician I Would Have Been A Serial Killer Or
Killed Myself
DL
8.5 / 10
Out Now
We’ve
featured several Ashley Reaks releases on Louder Than War in the past (including
two albums in 2015) and so to miss this one was particularly unforgivable. The potential cricketer career was put aside
in favour of music and collage, and the rest they say is history.
Six albums
in the last five years is quite some output and it doesn’t mean any lack of
idea or originality either. Following on
from his collaboration with Hull poet Joe Hakim on the album Cultural Thrift,
Reaks returns to the fold with tried and trusted musicians in the form of Dave Kemp (saxophone),
Nick Dunne (guitar) and the incredible vocals of Maria Jardardottir.
With nine
tracks, each one about a different serial killer Reaks (ironically) conjures up
musical collages of electronica, jazz
and scathing bass along a backdrop of post-punk and Afro-funk beats. Uneasy
listening by his own admission, but the like of which you will rarely hear.
Often
chaotic and high charged, Serial Killer is a must listen for anyone slightly
bored with todays music scene. Album
opener Mr Death Is Dead sets the scene perfectly and the lyrical gymnastics of
Tweed Creeper are fascinating. Smelly
Bobby Tulip fuses 70s disco sounds with some lovely reverb touches and the
rolling percussion of Fur Coat Hunter ensures there is no let-up in this
infectiously entertaining collection.
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