COMETS ON FIRE
Avatar (Sub Pop; CD)
Alright I confess to never having heard of these guys until their track 'Sour Smoke'
leapt out at me from the "new psychedelia" compilation given with the last issue of Uncut
and I just HAD to get the album. And what an ear opener it is. The opening track 'Dogwood Rust'
is a maelstrom of noise, ripping guitars distorted with echo and reverb--the kind of track your Dad would
have told you to turn off ,or you would tell your kids to turn off if you hadn't discovered it first.
BUT at the same time it has that visceral edge that reminds you why you got into rock music in
the first place.
The album is awesome with echoes of the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver, The Allman's ,
Hendrix and Led Zeppelin yet in a new context. Apparently the fourth album by this five piece from
Eureka in Northern California, it is dominated by the twin duelling guitars of Ethan Miller and Ben Chasny.
All of the seven lengthy tracks are great with the standouts being the aforementioned two tracks and
'The Swallows Eye' which is full of blazing guitar riffs and feedback the like of which has not been
heard for many a day.
Not content with this opus the band members, apart from Ben Flashman the bassist,
all front side projects under the titles Howlin' Rain (Ethan Miller), Six Organs
of Admittance (Ben Chasny), Colossal Yes (drummer Utrillo Kushner )
and Noel Van Harmonson. However it is when they all get together that the sparks fly. This is one
album that has to be played as loudly as peace with the neighbours will allow.
www.subpop.com
Pat Curran
DRAGONTEARS
2000 Micrograms From Home (Bad Afro; CD)
We dig Baby Woodrose here (and we still need to review their past two albums
- things are a tad disorganised at the moment). Unfortunately their new Draghontears spin
off project, which was made in conjunction with On Trial, does little to ignite the body or soul.
There may be elements of some cool psychedelic bands, and the spirit of Roky is lurking in the shadows,
but the constantly bubbling oscillators and guitar drones make this more like a discarded
Spaceman 3 or Loop recording than anything revelatory, sexy or ass shakin'.
www.badafro.dk
Jon 'Mojo' Mills
THE KARTOONS
Introducing…(Monsters Records; CD)
Hot on the trail of their recently released Undelivered mini-album comes
a welcome and upgraded CD reissue of The Kartoons first album. Back in 1998, Introducing came out
on vinyl. It has now been remastered for CD and contains two bonus tracks 'La Mia Citta' and 'No No No'
making it an 18 track album. The sound is a whole lot cleaner and positively sparkles in places.
It's a sprightly and harmonious collection of the Italian group's own compositions and a few
choice covers such as The Outsiders' 'Filthy Rich', The Beau Brummels' 'Don't Talk To Strangers'
and The Gunga Dyns' 'No-one Cares'. If you have heard Undelivered, then Introducing
is the origin of that sound. 'We Got Time', 'Free To Go', '(I'm Just) Losing Sleep', 'Another Kind',
'Every Single Time', etc all tread very Misty Lane friendly paths
ranging between melodic garage and folk rock featuring singer (and official Rokes website founder),
Francesco Ficco's plaintive wistful vocals. Francesco narrates the path between the band's two albums
in the accompanying booklet, which also contains the lyrics. A very neat repackaging and upgrading
all round and well worth seeking out. The Kartoons website still needs updating, but you can contact
them at the email address below.
kartoons2000@yahoo.com
Paul Martin
MICHAEL RAULT & THE MIXED SIGNALS
Sure Are Fun (CDR EP; No Label)
Here's the third to my knowledge, self produced CDR release by this
fine young unit. It can't be too long before someone gives 'em the break they deserve.
I'd love a vinyl collection of the contents of their last three CDRs. If you're a fan
of great raw retro garage bands like The Swingin' Neckbreakers, you'll wanna hear this crew
as well as they exhibit the same feisty abandon and play garage rock like it's fresh and new.
Here we have three self-penned numbers 'Sure Is Fun', Sold! You're Mine' and 'The Things You Said'.
All three kick ass. If you haven't heard them yet, you really ought to. Contact them at
Do_the_dog@hotmail.com and check their webpage at
www.myspace.com/michaelrault.
Paul Martin
THE NOW PEOPLE
The Last Great 20th Century Love Affair (Bird Song; CD)
Now here is a treat. I didn't know they still made albums like this!
A beautiful, melodic, harmony drenched and, in parts, harpsichord driven album that brings back
memories of Harpers Bizarre, The Association and mid period Beach Boys to name but three '60s icons.
Featuring Steve Stanley (who wrote 11 of the 12 tracks) on lead guitar and vocals (YES the very
same Steve Stanley who writes all those erudite sleeve notes for those wonderful Rev-Ola reissues)
Probyn Gregory from Brian Wilson's band on horns and banjo, Alan Rubens on harpsichord and
Nelson Braggs on drums, aided and abetted on various tracks by Nick Walusko
and Darian Sahanaja from Brian Wilson's band and Mike Randle from
the late Arthur Lee's band, this is an aural delight.
The tracks flow gently to give the album an overall airy good feelin'
sound reminiscent of The Yellow Balloon and The Critters.. The songs are all of a high standard,
and repeated listening brings fresh delights like the use of a Theramin on 'A New Life For Us' a gentle
bossa nova which has that 70s A&M sound
down to a tee, or the wonderful backing vocals on 'Something Happened'. A cover version of 'Trust'
written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams in 1968 has a wonderful string arrangement and the fact
that it blends in seamlessly lets you know how strong the album is.
I cannot recommend this album highly enough it is a delight from start to finish.
The sleeve notes end with the phrase "to be continued" and I can only hope that in this case unlike
The Millenium it is true.
www.thenowpeople.com
Pat Curran
GRUFF RHYS
Candylion (Rough Trade; CD)
Mr. Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals fame is straight out of the musical
starting blocks with a pop and looking good in the race to place as one of the top records of this
still young year with his sophomore solo effort. Navigating that tricky space between whimsy
and pastiche, this record is a pop pickers delight. Ranging from the infectious kindergarten hip hop
of the title track to the 14 minute plus psychedelic wig-out of the closer, the Welsh magpie wears his
influences on his sleeve yet never veers into crass revivalism nor unnecessary braggadocio about his
(clearly quite extensive) musical knowledge. So what you get is a healthy serving of tropicalia stylings,
proper notorious Byrd brothers country musings, interspersed with some contemporary avant-pop and pastoral
psychedelia just to keep the whole thing ticking over. Assisted by the lovely Lisa Jen, who provides
subtle but crucial backing vocals, and Mario Caldato Jr of Beastie Boys fame on production duties,
the finished article is truly enjoyable. Indeed the Playschool style cardboard lion that adorns
the cover is perhaps the clearest proof that you can judge certain records by the cover: a quaint
construction made with very basic components to create a fun companion that you can play with and trust.
Nice to meet you Candylion.
www.gruffrhys.com
Arthur Cravan
