hiapop Blog trawls through the albums that are too good to be
forgotten and urges you to listen to some more fine music.
Gioumourtzina
– Blakk Metall (Inner Ear Records)
LP / CD / DL
8.5 / 10
Out Now
Don’t be misled by the title of
this album or the inverted crucifix on the sleeve – it’s probably akin to Adele
calling her new album ‘Grunge’ as she vomits green puss into a mouldy bucket. Instead Gioumourtzina, the Greek duo of
Anestis Neiros and John Tselikas are a largely instrumental synth based
act.
Unable to find suitable band
members they formed as a duo with the initial premise of electronica and
shoegaze. Their sound has developed into
something more complicated and whilst they remain a D.I.Y. outfit they have a very professional and accomplished feel.
Think Depeche Mode in their Black
Celebration/Violator/Music For The Masses era’s and you won’t be far
wrong. In fact Palaces in the Terror has
several moments not dissimilar to Stripped at times, and Lobby Raver contains a
wicked bass line very reminiscent of The Cure.
Several tracks feature muffled
voices and bytes which almost become a trademark for the duo and all eight
tracks are thoroughly entertaining as drum patterns and bass gargles combine.
Monkoora –
Pale Slopes (Hot Gem Tunes)
DL
8 / 10
Out Now
If you like
‘weird’ then you’re in the right place with the new mini album by singer and
visual artist Julie Crawford (aka Monkoora).
It’s all very raw but incredibly addictive and very much in the same
area as the stunning Coco Rosie album Heartache City from late last year – adventurous
and redefining unique, it moves skilfully between ambient psychedelia and
hip-hop.
Featuring detuned
instruments and untuned vocals it wanders through varying genres carefully
weaving them together in a quite brilliant soundscape. To Run thrives on a tribal beat with chanting
and whistles and incoherent vocals. It
all sounds like a recipe for a disaster but far from it.
Crawford has
the potential to make quite a name for herself and with Pale Slopes she’s well
on the way from opening track Hiding Behind Horizons – layered vocals and
ethereal tones provide an alternative to Alternative as she proves there are no
boundaries to her sound.
At the
delicate age of 22 she already has an incredibly experienced head on her shoulders
and creates melodies that will linger for quite some time. Certainly one to watch.
Afro
Cluster – We Don Land EP
CD / DL
8 / 10
Out Now
Cardiff may not
be top of your list for the source of a fine jazz/soul/afro-beat combo but, now
is the time to think again. War, corruption
and greed are all tackled over five tracks of startling quality. Brass sections are highly polished, basslines
throb, guitar lines are funky and vocals are delivered with power and
precision.
It’s all
brilliant stuff and as catchy as a Nora virus though far more pleasant. Hip-hop beats and scratching also make
appearances and Love Thing in particular is a fine fine tune the like of which
is simply hard to come by.
There are
clear influences by the Godfathers of afro-beat, Fela Kute, and soul, James
Brown, and both would be proud to be associated with the band who would fill
any stage with the en masse of their multitude of members. In fact, an
appearance at Glastonbury this year will only serve to extend their credentials
further.
We Don Land
roughly translate via Nigerian Pidgin English as ‘we have arrived/we have
landed’ and that is certainly the case for Afro Cluster. Remember the name, this won’t be the last you
hear of them.
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