CD binge...



Four Tet - My Angel Rocks Back And Forth

Although you may think you've never heard of Four Tet you probably have, it's the sort of music that trendy BBC producers love to have as background music in there TV programs - a gentle example of folktronica (ie electronica with samples of acoustic instruments basically - it doesn't really have much to do with folk music as such I'm afraid). This 5 track EP contains 2 remixes - which I was dreading, Four Tet's music seems a bit un-re-mixable to me. Fortunatly the remixers have been chosen carefully and bring the required extra 'oomph' to there chosen songs. However the new tracks from Four tet are a bit throwaway - which is a shame. This CD also comes with a DVD with all his promo videos, the video to 'No more mosquitoes' with Mr Tet as a baby being harrassed by grapes is particularly disturbing.



Autechre & The Hafler Trio - ae3o&h3ae

I'm not convinced that Autechre had anything to do with this, neither of the two tracks contain there very liberal attitude to a regular beat, instead what we have here is two tracks of drone based ambient music which seems to be designed purely to put the listener's teeth on edge (I'm a great believer that some music should be uncomfortable to listen to, if everything was nice and melodius the world would be a very dull place). Special mention has to be made of the packaging, the two 15 minute tracks are split over two 3" CDs, which are in turn embedded within normal sized perspex CDs all packaged in a beautiful piece of textured papercraft with some translucent slides - worth owning for the packaging alone!



Isis - SGNL>05

Isis are a heavy metal band, you can tell that by the way the singer shouts, but they are possibly one of the most intelligent metal bands around - dedicated to producing some of the heaviest, apocalyptic music you'll ever hear; but being fully rounded enough to know when to turn the volume down and to not be afraid to introduce a bit of quiet. This old EP contains two almost ambient tracks, two of the finest examples of doomy sludgy metal I've ever witnessed, and a (dare I say it!) subtle remix from Justin Broadrick of Godflesh fame - I just wish they would get off there collective arses and release some new stuff.



Throbbing Gristle - Mutant TG

I've always been a bit curious about Throbbing Gristle as they have been a big influence on some of the bands I've grown up with, but I've never got round to listening to them due to there scary back catalogue (24 hour CD box sets anyone?), and there equally scary reputation. However after watching a documentary about there enigmatic former frontman/woman Genesis P-Orridge (him and his wife recently had matching breast implants - who says romance is dead?) on my new disinformation DVD I realised there music isn't that scary, and having this CD recommended by The Milk Factory website helped. Even though it's a remix CD it's mean't to be fairly kind to the originals - although being a Gristle virgin I can't say for sure. What I can say is there are some jolly good tunes here, big up respect to the Ratcliffe Remix of Hot on The Heels of Love which sounds like Slam at there finest; and the spooky, fucked up remix of Persuassion by some one called Motor. Carl Craig, Two Lone Swordsmen and original members of TG: Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti also provide remixing duties - all good stuff.



Swans - Soundtracks for the Blind

Where to start? Well who were Swans? Basically Michael Gira who played guitar and vocals and who now records as The Angels of Light and who runs Young God Records; and Jarboe, a fairly scary lady who sung and provided keyboards - I'm unfortunatly not familiar with her current work. This was there last of about 15 albums, it's a seriously daunting double CD package - produced from old songs, live recordings, tape loops and quite possibly the kitchen sink. Some of it sounds like The Angels of Light, some of it is almost ambient, some of it sounds like Sonic Youth - the main problem is there is almost too much to take in! I can only really give an honest opinion of the first disc - which is obviously great. The funny thing is the stand out track is possibly the slimest: a two and a half minute track called Live Through Me which seems to have been constructed by various guitar loops which just makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up - this is followed by a frankly scary live version of a song called Yum-Yab Killers which finishes with Jarboe screaming 'Blow your brains out!' like some sort of demon woman. I look forward to exploring this album and the rest of there back catalogue.



The Bad Plus - These are the Vistas

The Bad Plus are a piano fronted jazz trio (ie piano, jazz and drums) who have a reputation for doing modern cover versions. This CD contains covers of Blondie, Nirvana and The Aphex Twin amongst there own compositions. There version of Smells like Teen Spirit is brilliant, staying faithful to the way the original song; it gently spirals out of control but adds that 'jazz' feel, there own songs are pretty good too - although on this CD the rythmn section seems to be a bit less physical compared to there latest CD, which I think is a bit of a shame.



TV on the Radio - Desperate Youths, Blood Thirsty Babes

Nice suprise to find the import version of this in Oxford Street's HMV for a reasonable price as I wasn't looking forward to waiting so long for the UK version. A pretty remarkable album, even though it can't help but dwell in the shadow of The Young Liars EP, which was fucking ace! This is still a pretty remarkable album, the music is constructed from remarkably simple basic elements: the simplest beats, a few loops and minimal guitar riffs - but when these are added to wonderfully soulful vocals the overall sound is something that I haven't heard before. Standout track by a mile is Dreams; a really sad (but in a good way) lament about the lack of people's desire to dream (christ, that sounds pretentious) - *sigh*. Anyway, easily the most listened to of this bunch of CDs by yours truly.