Friday, 28 March 2008

The Last Shadow Puppets

The hype is starting to rise around this collaboration of Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) and Miles Kane (The Rascals). The album "The Age Of The Understatement" is due out on the 21st of April with the first single of the same name out the week before. Now, before I start, I'll make it plain. I'm a huge Alex Turner fan, he's one of my favourite lyricists of all time. In contrast, I do not like The Rascals, as far as I can tell from what I've heard and seeing them live twice (both times supporting Arctic Monkeys) they are just a less talented version of Arctic Monkeys.

As soon as you hear this, you can't help thinking "thats Arctic Monkeys doing a version of Muse's Knights Of Cydonia". The galloping rhythm, as well as many of the effects on the guitars, sound like the epic ending to Muse's 4th album, but without the huge ending riff. So, a disappointment? Hardly.

As for the sound itself(and this is going on hearing one song), the description in this months Uncut: "The Last Shadow Puppets album is a big production number", seems to suit it well. There's definitely far more to it musically than anything by Arctic Monkeys or The Rascals. It's got a full orchestra, arranged by Owen Pallett, who also arranged for Arcade Fire. Lyrically, it's as good as you'd expect from Alex, but Miles clearly knows what he's doing as well, and his talent is far more present here than it is in any Rascals song I've heard.

This song has grown on me so much since I first heard it, and I have high hopes for the album. The duo clearly compliment each other perfectly, their voices suit each others really well, although Turner's is far more prominent here than Kane's.

So, here is the single, to be released April 14th, enjoy::

The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement

Thursday, 27 March 2008

Muse - HAARP

With an estimated 75,000 people a night, more people attended Muse at Wembley Stadium last year than attended Leeds Festival or Glastonbury... unless people went to both nights...

Anyways, HAARP is a double disc album, the first being 13 tracks, recorded on July 16th, and the second, a 20 track DVD, recorded on the 17th. Just listening to the opening track Knights Of Cydonia gives me shivers down my spine, and from watching the DVD you really do see why Muse seem to own a monopoly on Best Live Act awards. Basically, it's the most stunning thing you've ever seen, the bands performance is brilliant, it's clear to see how far they have come as musicians if you compare with 2002's live DVD "Hullabaloo", recorded live in Paris.

So here is a taster, it's not on the album, it's the iTunes bonus track.

City Of Delusion (Live At Wembley)


I tried to upload a video, but it didn't work, so go HERE to watch Unintended - Live At Wembley

So listen/watch, then go and buy HAARP (it £12 at Tesco, and for a album and a DVD that's pretty good) and revel in the pure brilliance of the greatest band on the planet.

Ben Gibbard - 6Music

The genius that is Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service) was in the BBC 6Music hub on Tuesday with, bassist for Death Cab For Cutie, Nicholas Harmer.

He played Cath, from Death Cab For Cutie's 6th (proper) album "Narrow Stairs", due out May (either 12th or 26th, I'm not sure), which sounded really good, I can't wait to hear the album version with the full band. He also played "Title & Registration" from Death Cab's 2003 album "Transatlanticism".

Here is the full session, including the two songs and some talking.

DOWNLOAD

Pendulum - In Silico Taster

Pendulum's new album "In Silico" is due out May 12th, and they have changed their sound a lot as I have mentioned on here quite a bit... basically, they have gone for a far more rocky-dance feel.

Anyways, this is a Mini-mix of the new album by one of the band members, and it gives a good idea what the new album is going to sound like

Pendulum ‘In Silico’ (El Hornet Mini-Mix)

1. Showdown
2. Granite
3. Granite (Dillinja Mix)
4. Granite (Breakfastaz Mix)
5. Visions
6. The Other Side
7. Propane Nightmares (Van She Mix)
8. Different
9. Mutiny
10. Propane Nightmares
11. Propane Nightmares VIP
12. Propane Nightmares (Cell Dweller Mix)
13. Midnight Runner
14. 9000 Miles
15. The Tempest


DOWNLOAD