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.Amtrak : 4 tracks
7 inch (Narshardaa records).
Another one of these perfect bands from outerspace (well, geographically
speaking, they are based in Germany) pressing their genius on vinyl
and throwing a gig in front of you as soon as the needle hit the black
groves. A complex, peculiar mixture of post-punk bass, frenetic keys
and amazing vocals (reminding me a bit of Pretty Girls Make Graves'
Andrea Zollo way of singing, from time to time) will not let your
ear escape for the length of the a side. From the weird sirens sounds
of WŸsten, howling throughout the song before turning into melodic
waves -Stops, storms, battles at sea- to the loos, suddenly tighing
keyboard of unbehagen. Explosions. Holding back, charging. They vanish
in a snatch, letting you empty and starving from more. B side.Tetris
is the best track I have heard in years,I wa taken by surprise, bouncing
against walls. Univerell is building up from a calm stream to a raging
sea, keyboards worryingly weird. These are tidal songs of artful invention.
Beware: it is explosive!
amtrak@antipolis.org
.The Sirens The Sirens (Get Hip).
Rawknrall at its loudest, heaviest, L7 style (a bit cleaner... not
sure if it is positive, or not, though) on tracks like (I didn't
know I loved you til I saw you (rock'n'roll) , 60's garage at its
most distorted time with the rude girls... They do not sound polite,
nor proper (this time you surely know how to take that comment)
and the vocals as sexy as the sexiest soul ("Imagination").
BUT, here is what I read on their website: "ØLed by
diva Muffy Kroha, who towers above the fans in sassy 18 inch boots,
the Sirens present a brand of feminism that keeps the toughest of
blokes begging for more"...No comment.
gethip records
.Exit Iris : This Machine Kills Fashion (self-release).
"I see Red" is a hit for any indie-pop-rock lovers. It
is catchy, clear, direct, political :"come on, can't you see
we need a revolution..../we need a riot/ I see red"... just
in case you missed the title of the record and the title of this
track) and opening this exquisite 3 tracks maxi-single. All this
is good news, since now Exit Iris have your attention, you'll listen
to the record, not just hear it. "This Machine"is built
around infinite riffs and repetitive lyrics that do make you feel
the weight of the machine, slowly chewing you up. And yes, this
happens everyday, we're just numb... The last and third track is
my favorite, though, with its dark, desperate opening Joy Division
like guitar going circles in low skies. The songs alternates between
calm, sad instants and faster, louder ones to end in a guitar crying
over a heart-beat bass drums (and whispers too, pay close attention...).
"My Reality is Different than Yours" refer to too familiar
a feeling to be so different....
.Pollyana : Cow-Boys e.p.
An exquisite record of acousticism, a beautiful master piece of
minimalism (I am sure Young Marble Giant sound like this when there
was a black out). The singer might be talking about cow-boys, but
her name could be Kaia, Gata Negra, Chan Marshall... or Calamity
Jane (yes, the band And the wild west heroin). Salty eye drops sliding
down the guitar neck or in the throat of a cello, without being
whinny, ever. Track after track, you will be charmed by the intimacy,
the fragile power of this e.p. An LP will be released in September
on Eglantine record, so keep your eyes and ears open for more.
.Call Me Loretta : Crosswind (Dead Bees).
Do you miss indie music? Well, stop complaining, you found your
record....Call me Loretta is not Kim Gordon's little sis, but four
alchemists of the finest melancolic noiseyemopop. The record is
charged with tensions, angst and anger alterning instants of raw
rage and distant, monocord vocals. A "no heat, white light"
album is the best Intrepol-Sonic Youth-Purr tradition... with some
drops of Ikara Colt here and there. "Evaluation Copy"
should be on every independent radio station's playlist (well, they
ARE the only ones really concerned about playing GOOD music) , "High
As a Holed Kite", "Things I hate #4", "Liar,
Liar,Liar, Tongue's on Fire" and "I'm Trying Hard to listen"
(an instrumental, of course...) are only a few examples of these
enthralling tales of isolation, alienation, passion and longing
for innocence lost... fondu au noir, enjoy!
http://harmacy.free.fr/
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