Nuggets - 14 May 2008

Congregation - Congregation
By Jennifer Perkin
Stunning debut record from a New Cross bedsit duo who are channelling some serious deep and dark country blues. It’s simplistic and old school in a Seasick Steve kind of way, but unlike the lovable bluesman (and Congregation labelmate) they aren’t just a live experience – this is a great record that warrants repeated listens. Victoria Yeulet’s nasal voice is distracting at first, but once you’re on her groove it’s hypnotic and guitarist Benjamin Prosser sounds like he was born sporting braces and a slide guitar. The record covers the classic themes of love and loss, the songs could have all been written 100 years ago, and the recording is impeccably vintage, but it still feels vibrant and relevant. A delicate balance, a great genre piece.

Bad Reaction - Had It Coming
By Nadeem Ali
It’s hard to know what to say about Bad Reaction’s straight down the line hardcore. It’s pretty potent stuff and does exactly what you’d expect of Bad Brains/Adolescents/Germs influenced hardcore would do. It is super fast, super punchy and super fun. It might be far from original but sometimes originality isn’t what matters. ‘Had It Coming’ makes you wish you were the down the front at some shitty little dive getting pushed around by idiots but having the time of your life as Bad Reaction blast out their pummelling punk rock. What they lack in innovation the band makes up for with guts, spirit and commitment.

Gablé – 7 Guitars And A Cloud Of Milk
By Eddie Robson
Bizarre, brilliant second album from French pop mentalists Gablé, the kind of record you’d expect Syd Barratt and Keith Moon to have made if they’d been born forty years later. Rattling through eighteen tracks in 33 minutes, the record seems to be composed exclusively of left turns: the woozy chamber music of ‘Ella’, the hyperactive electro-pop of ‘Birds Sucks’, the self-explanatory ‘Purée Hiphop’. It’s a lively, eccentric alternative soundtrack to your summer, especially if you’re a Mighty Boosh fan. Pour yourself a Pimm’s and drop a tab of acid into it for the ideal accompaniment.

Flight Of The Conchords – Flight Of The Conchords
By Lisa Holmes
If you haven’t borne witness to the musical genius of New York based New Zealanders Bret and Jermaine in their brilliant TV series then this CD of featured tracks is more than sufficient introduction. Meet the Rhymenocerous and the Hiphopopotamus, mourn the state of society with two robot guides (following the gassing of humanity and the best ‘binary solo’ ever– ever the social commentators – and Stephen Hawking impersonators). Paying homage to Bowie and The Pet Shop Boys amongst others this album succeeds where other comedy tie-ins fail because it’s actually good. The lyrics are witty rather than playing for cheap laughs. It isn’t sick and twisted just slightly wrong in the head with a talent for dissociation. Make the Conchords your boom kings, “affirmative”?

Iron Maiden – Somewhere Back In Time (The Best Of: 1980-1989)
By Pete Charles
As far as heavy metal is concerned, it doesn’t really get much better than Iron Maiden. A monumental 69-date 2008 world tour accompanies this 15-track celebration of the band’s earliest and best work. Even teenage fans will recognise the familiar gallop of ‘Run To The Hills’ and the satanic majesty of ‘Number Of The Beast’. Also including live versions of ‘Wrathchild’ and the practically fossilised ‘Iron Maiden’, it really is essential Maiden. We’re prepared to stubbornly overlook the fact that it is just three songs shy of their 1985 ‘Life After Death’ compilation. A shameless cash-in, maybe, but believe us, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.