Wednesday 31 August 2016

Review - Radio Europa - TyDbXx




Radio Europa - TyDbXx

DL

Out Now

9 / 10

Welsh electro avant garde duo return with their second album.   

Appearing in Louder Than War’s Top 100 albums of 2015 with debut Rise Of The Gutterz Press And The Death Of Modern Thought was quite some feat.  With little media coverage they had attracted the support of a loyal following that, via several secret gigs had projected them into the eyeshot of the most discerning music follower.

Less than twelve months after their debut long-player (with a a further EP released in December last year) they are back with thirteen new tracks designed to squash your brain to a pulverised mush and question everything that may have gone before.

Recent single Tak Tak Tak is here, slightly updated but confirming the promise of what was to come with TyDbXx.  A secret act in many ways, they have shied away from media attention instead concentrating on engaging a baying public seemingly waiting for something new, and new is what they have been given.

TyDbXx is a far more accomplished affair than its predecessor.  Mixed by the massively underrated Superhand at Malt Barn Studios, it grips from track one Answers with a lighthearted but concise listing of the meanings of life from guest Pulco before launching into the powerful Clickbait Tosh, a rambling cavalcade indistinguishable reverbed vocals, massive electro tones and pulsing percussion.

The majority of vocals on TyDbXx are muffled and make the listener home in intently, it sucks you in, it’s more than a collection of sounds, it’s an eclectic emporium of emotion and feeling that rises and descends on every note.  6,000 Hands sounds like it’s been lifted straight from some On U-Sound sessions and maybe Adrian Sherwood would do well to have a listen to Radio Europa.

Another guest appearance, this time by new act Equinox shows the extremes to which the duo will do.  Equinox are another spoken word act and their contribution, Josephine, tells of the untimely death of a girlfriend which goes from remorse to hate over a subtle yet dramatic backing.  Cats Whiskers In The Wound sounds like a vocoder spewed up and torn apart, and Ghost In The House is both warm and haunting as it digitally throbs with a wonderful monotone voice.

In a world of predictable pop and over-hyped mediocrity, listening to Radio Europa is a breath of fresh air.  At less than twenty-five minutes, TyDbXx explores sounds and textures that have long been untouched.  They may not be a household name, and may never be, but there is a huge cult following awaiting them and this new release further endorses their credentials as ones who were not afraid to be different.



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Published on Louder Than War 23/08/16 - here







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Monday 29 August 2016

Interview - Maxi Jazz





Hello, is that hiapop Blog?
Yes, yes it is.
Would you like to fire a few questions at Maxi Jazz?
Maxi Jazz formerly of Faithless, one of our favourite ever bands?
Yep, that's the one.
Damn right we would!



After spending twenty years as the frontman for one of the most popular dance bands ever, Faithless’ Max Jazz is back with The E-Type Boys, a mixture of blues, funk, soul, jazz and reggae.  We couldn’t resist chatting to one of our biggest influences.



The new album with E-Type Boys is quite a departure from the sound of Faithless.  Did you approach the songwriting in a different way?
Yes. With Faithless I'd write rhymes for beats. With the E -Type Boys album, all the songs were written on guitar.

There’s a fabulous funky, bluesy, reggae feel to the album presumably taking you back to your roots.  How does it feel after fronting an electronic dance band for the best part of twenty years and what made you decide to change direction?
It feels amazing to be playing guitar and singing on stage. I never thought I'd be able to do it! I also wanted to do something entirely different from what went before.

How different was it going into the studio without Sister Bliss, Rollo, etc…?
It’s very different. With my band there's nobody else to blame if it all sounds like s••t! 



How did you become interested in Buddhism?
My girlfriend at the time began to practice Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. I read some literature that made sense so I gave it a try. After all, the promise is that one becomes happy. It worked. So I'm still doing it.

How much of your faith as a Buddhist is reflected in your music?  
I try to apply what I've learned through the ageless wisdom of Buddhism to my writing. I try to pass those messages on. 

What are your views on social media?  Good, bad, indifferent or is it just a sign of the times?
Like most new things there's incredible potential for good. It depends on people to use it wisely.



I’m coming for a meal, what are you cooking?
You're cooking! I'll provide the champagne.

You became an Associate Director of Crystal Palace FC a few years ago, how do you think they will fair this coming season?
I live with hope that we can do a Leicester City and pray the football gods still smile fondly upon South London.

Is Sam Allardyce the right man for the England job?
Yes!

Presumably the name the E-Type Boys comes from your love of cars – are you racing again yet following your accident a few years ago?
I haven't been racing for the longest time and I miss it terribly! But it's all-consuming, you can't race and think about anything else, there's no room!



Are there any artists or singers about at the moment that excite you?
Laura Mvula and Clean Cut Kid are two acts doing great things at the moment. 

If you could work with any musician living or dead, who would it be and why?
Jimi Hendrix. Why? Because I think we'd get on.

What are your hopes for Simple..Not Easy ?
I hope people like it, buy it and come to the gigs. Then we can make another one!

What are you plans for the rest of the year?
Work


Maxi Jazz & The E - Type Boys new album Simple..Not Easy is out September 9th, with the single Bitter Love out September 2nd.



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Published on Louder Than War 22/08/16 - here











Watch! - Alsarah & The Nubatones - Ya Watan






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Friday 26 August 2016

Watch! - Lost Under Heaven - Lost Under Heaven








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Listen! - Men in the Sky - MITS 2.0







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Listen! - Lost Children - Hillside






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Listen! - Living Dead Girl - Autumn






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Watch! - Maxi Jazz & The E-Type Boys - Bitter Love






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Listen! - Hannah Peel - All That Matters




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Review - Lark – Funny Man The Remixes




Lark – Funny Man The Remixes (Standard Lamp Records)

CD / DL

Out Now

8.75 / 10

Experimental post-punk alternative ensemble release remix version of last year’s critically acclaimed album.   

The concept of Funny Man – The Remixes is certainly an interesting one – pass over the reins of an original that was a deeply personal and satisfying project to the hands of eighteen different artists for their take on each track.

Some of the entrusted parties will certainly be well-known.  Band Of Holy Joy for instance tackle Glue Me and present little more than one and a half minutes of subtle bleakness which holds gorgeous amounts of horror within its timeframe.

Louder Than War favourite, Pulco also appears as he joins the massed ranks in their quest to strip down each composition and re-assemble their own interpretation.  Pulco’s voice can be heard in the background far easier than the original Curtains which is also featured in versions by Keely Forsyth, Bones And The Aft and Lord Adonis.

The stark difference in the versions of Curtains is enthralling to say the least.  Forsyth concentrates on her own voice against a monotone backing whilst Bones And The Aft maybe offering the closest to the original in a lovely acoustic effort.   Lord Adonis adds a psychedelic electro feel with some stunning additions against a drumbeat that threatens to break into ‘drum and bass’ at any moment.

Lark presents a dark industrial noise that swells like a huge bleeding heart clearly throwing every emotion into the music that they produce.  The Remixes acts as the perfect extension to an already impressive album by allowing different styles and slants to its remarkable listing. 

Hank And Sonja add a weird grinding Country version of Praying and Ilfordi Ven sends chilling PiL recollections down the spine.  The Mr McCLone mix of Kitchens evokes an early experimental synth sound along the lines of Blancmange’s Irene And Mavis EP and in itself is well worth a visit to the album.

The creative juices of Lark probably didn’t need any further assistance, but with Funny Man The Remixes a rather stunning bow has been added to the bow.




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Published on Louder Than War 14/08/16 - here






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Thursday 25 August 2016

Thursday 18 August 2016

Listen! - The Slow Revolt - Stitched Hearts





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Watch! - Rosie Bans - The Fall








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Listen! - The Bordellos - Gary Glitter EP







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Listen! - Lark - Shakes (The BoyleAndShaw Mix)





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Wednesday 17 August 2016