The Bones of What You Believe - Chvrches

Have you ever wondered what ABBA would sound like if they were around in the modern world rather than the blossoming pop landscape of the 70s? You have? Well that's a great starting point. Now imagine what ABBA would sound like if they were around now, having gorged upon a diet of indie pop before embarking upon their debut record. Imagine a hint of New Order and a sprinkle of The Smiths and you're very nearly there. Oh wow, now that is a thought! Just imagine what kind of music a New Order / ABBA super group would make......

That is not to say that Chvrches are not original, they are, it's just that their music has a rich heritage. It is a testament to their skills at taking such influences and giving them a modern make-over, making something new and shiny in the process. The 808 drum machine has never sounded so modern*

Take the opening track 'The Mother We Share'. A stomping slab of melancholic electro-pop. Great stuff and a million miles, thankfully, from the bland pop of X-factor. It manages to walk the line between refreshing yet familiar. A great debut.

Oh and if anyone doubts the New Order influences, just check out the album artwork. Peter Saville anyone? Maybe I'm wrong but then again take a look for yourself........

* ok so I risk some smart ar*e telling me that it isn't an actual Roland TR-808 on this album but is a soft-synth simulator. Whatever!

 

Invisible Ones - Orenda Fink

There is a huge hole in the music industry and it's Kate Bush shaped - even in spite if her recent prolific output (by her standards anyway). An album every five years - I just don't know how she finds the time!

Anyway devotees have to resign themselves to seeking out similar experiences whilst Ms Bush puts the finishing touches to her latest masterpiece. Alternatives? Well this used to involve either relying upon word-of-mouth, talking critics advice or happening upon a song on the radio. Not anymore. Now it's just a quick link away. Now by just typing the words 'Kate Bush' into Last.fm or Spotify you are immediately presented with similar sounding artists. Brilliant. But not always accurate. I have listened to some real dross in my search for the next Kate Bush; warblers, crooners, the bland and the ordinary. It really is a needle in the haystack task - it seems that any new female singer-songwriter is immediately tagged with the 'New Kate Bush' ...errr.... tag. 

But not all recommendations are awful. This record by Orenda Fink comes very close to the mark. In turns quirky, interesting, dark and poppy. It's as if Kate Bush had a younger but equally adventurous sister. And that can't be a bad thing.

Dysnomia - Dawn of Midi

I love accidents... errr I'd better qualify that before I'm accused of being some sort of ghoulish ambulance chaser... Let me try again.... I love accidental discoveries.... Hhmmm, that still doesn't sound right... I'd better explain...

As only an occasional listener but regular subscriber to science podcasts, I was flicking through a quite extensive backlog looking for something to occupy my time whilst I cooked dinner. It was taking a while - probably taking longer to find something than it would've to have just completed the task in hand. But I'd started and that meant I had to finish. Frustrated at the lackbof progress in both the culinary and audio department I saw a Radiolab podcast title that caught my eye, 'Dawn of Midi'.

"Perfect!" I thought. Not only did it sound interesting, as I'd always wondered just how the digital music interface language had been created, but it was short. At a little over ten minutes I'd be able to complete the task of listening to a podcast AND prepare a delicious and nutritious meal. A win-win situation. But maybe I was setting the bar too high? Maybe.

So it was a bit of a surprise to learn that the podcast wasn't about the development of the musical instrument digital interface but instead covered the new album by a little known New York jazz trio. Whilst it was a bit of a departure by the Radiolab writers it was even more of a departure for me. I can't stand modern jazz. 

But it was too late - I was locked in. My hands were dirty from chopping veg and I had little time to mess around finding something else to listen to. I just had to get through it, grin and bear it with the knowledge that I could cleanse my audio palet with some hard rock once I'd completed my preparations.

But 'Dysnomia' is no ordinary modern jazz album. Oh no. Its strangely rhythmic patterns started to grab me. Could it be that an album without lyrics or melody was quite so .... well listenable? The trick was the layers. Depending upon what part if the music you listened to resulted in a different beat. A pattern. Skim the surface and you heard one pulse, listen in a little closer and an entirely different rhythm emerged. Maybe that is the point of modern jazz? Or maybe this was something new. Either way it was a happy accident. 

'Dysnomia' is definitely not a party album - there are no hit singles here and it's single track structure is likely to make any guests think you'd finally flipped. Nor is it something that you can just pop on in the background - its beat is too detailed to support half-hearted auditioning. Nope it demands your full attention. Give it that and get lost in the fabric of one of the most original pieces of music you'll ever hear. Just make sure you have some rock on hand have when you come out of the other side!

Tales of Us - Goldfrapp

The world's population can be divided into two types of people; those who like surprises and those that don't. For those in the negative camp the mere idea of something unannounced is enough to make their stomachs tighten, forehead perspire and legs turn and propel them to the nearest exit. If you are, like me however, one of those who are thrilled and excited at the prospect then Goldfrapp are the band for us. 

You see the wonderful thing about Goldfrapp is that you never quite know what to expect. Could it be thumping disco-flavoured beats, day-glo eighties synths or stripped-back folk-pop? Not one to rest on their musical laurels, Goldfrapp seem to revel in changing direction each and every time. Although this is not always successful, like 2010's slightly off-the-mark 'Head First', it is always fascinating.

'Tales of Us' is quite simply a stunning and achingly beautiful record. Not one to get the party going - not unless you have quite a distorted view on what a party should be like - but certainly one to help it unwind. This time around the synth-heavy pop beats have been replaced with lush strings, beautiful harmonies and  slow, carefully thought out pieces. It is a proper album - one that benefits from start-to-end auditioning. 

That is not to say that this album is boring - there are delicate pop hooks beneath those carefully orchestrated parts - just when you start to wonder if the album is ever going to pick up you suddenly find yourself humming the melody lines in the bath, on the way to work or in the pub. Well you would if you frequented the sort of pubs I go to!

Surprises? I love them. I really do and that is why you'll find me first in the queue when a Goldfrapp album is released. Ukrainian folk-rap for the next one? Who knows but count me in!