Screamadelica – 20th Anniversary Edition
Primal Scream, Creation Records/Sony Music
Oh, 90s. I didn’t think you’d be back so soon but with the current ‘shoe-gaze revival’, I stand corrected. And like flannel shirts, oversized cardigans and combat boots, Screamadelica is a touchstone for the 1990s. On their breakthrough third record, Primal Scream cast their gaze firmly toward the future – blending their indie-rock sound with dance beats and gospel choirs inspired by the acid house scene. While the sound may not be as groundbreaking today, what remains timeless is the euphoric sense of hope. When Bobby Gillespie sings ‘I’m movin’ on up now, getting out of the darkness, my life shines on’ without a hint of irony on the opening track, you know everything will be just fine.
Andrew Searle
I am the Dance Commander + I Command You to Dance
Ke$ha, RCA Records/Sony Music
Listening to Ke$ha’s remix album’Dance Commander…’ is much like having one of the sleazy, drunken one-night-stands many of her songs revolve around. Sure, it’s fun in parts – particularly the club-ready mixes of Blah Blah Blah (DJ Skeet Skeet) and We R Who We Are (Fred Falke). Then there are the awkward moments you’d rather forget about, like the aimless TiKToK (Untold Remix), and the meandering F**k Him He’s a DJ – the sole original track here, which is even less witty than the title suggests. But at the end of the night, it leaves you feeling hollow, cheap and quite dirty. Which is probably exactly what Ke$ha was going for, actually.
Andrew Searle
Angles
The Strokes, RCA Records/Rough Trade
As the title suggests, nothing is straightforward on the The Strokes’ fourth record. The tracks here are jagged and spikey – drawing schizophrenic influences from 80’s pop, 70’s psychedelic and garage rock. Even the album’s poppiest moments such as the soaring chorus of Taken For a Fool, or the reggae-tinged opener Machu Picchu are laden with complex, unpredictable melodies. Angles isn’t an easy listen – instead it’s an album that begs to be listened to closely – a classic slow-burner. Consequently the LP features some of their most rewarding tracks to date. Fans expecting a rehash of The Strokes’ earlier work may be disappointed, however Angles pushes the band into unexplored, at times choppy, but always intriguing territory.
Andrew Searle
Beth Ditto EP
Beth Ditto, Deconstruction
It was only a matter of time before Ms Ditto began the process of becoming an icon in her own right. Here is the first chapter or so, a pamphlet with instructions on how to get your groove on. It’s not particularly elaborative, and at is a little thin in parts, but there’s enough boppy production to make it a delight. Lead single I Wrote The Book is a potential kiss-off to her ex, an up yours that has swagger. Elsewhere and Open Heart Surgery has might and umph that this girl needs – after all, she can deliver it big – her music should be as such as well. Here, it’s only 50 per cent really, but Ms Ditto is still loveable, regardless.
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
Moment Bends
Architecture in Helsinki, Modular
This band has a unique sound as far as bands go at current. However, throw them in time machine and travel back to the ’80s… and well, it’s Scritti Pollitti and the likes all over again. Is this a good thing? Well, if you lived it the first time, no, possibly not. But if you didn’t, or worse, were born in the ’90s, this will all seem shiny and new. Current single Contact High is a gay love song worth hearing and That Beep, one of last summer’s anthem, also crops up. This is fun, big bouffant fun, but its appeal depends on how modern you like your music. And how informed that taste is.
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
Alexis Jordan
Alexis Jordan, Sony
What do you mean you haven’t bought this album already? Shame on you! Alexis Jordan is fast becoming a gay icon with her electro-pop sound, catchy beats and euphoric songs. Happiness was her first single from the self-titled album, which has been an instant hit. The second single from the album Good Girl is set to be a top ten hit too. However, the rest of the album isn’t as slick as it misses a certain cohesiveness. Between ballads and over produced songs it’s a bit hard to get into, but that doesn’t impede her obvious talent as a great singer. Definitely one to watch.
Ollie Pincott
Femme Fatale
Britney Spears, Sony Music
Britney always seems to be on the comeback trail, and here on her seventh album another slab of pop tunes is offered. Featuring the recent hit Would You Hold it Against Me, which has been described as Britney kills dubstep, and a massive fifteen other danceable numbers that are tinged with electro, trance and dub-step-lite sounds. There are catchy songs like Til the End of the World and (Drop Dead) Beautiful but for an artist on their seventh album I hoped for more, by album seven Madonna had both Like a Prayer and Ray of Light under her belt. Find some deeper meaning Britney.
Graeme Watson
