18 July 2008

by Rob McCrae

Underground Railroad, Marvin, Cajun Dance Party, Sam Sparro, Madam, L-Vis 1990, Psychedelic Horseshit, The Splendour, She & Him, Templeton Pek, Vanadium, Reemer

"A musical interpretation of an old proverb that blisters along like the sound of a ground-shaking fist."

Underground Railroad – Sticks and Stones
A musical interpretation of an old proverb that blisters along like the sound of a ground-shaking fist and resembles firmament scraping early 90s group The God Machine in its bombast. Impressive.

Marvin – That One Time
The first hip hop lyricist to write a song about avoiding a fight with a piece of cheese flan but trivialities aside (and if you can pretend it’s about guns and jacking cars) then the Brixton MC undoubtedly has a slick pair of chops while the actual rap has a pleasing balance throughout.

Cajun Dance Party – Colourful Life
They’ve just finished their A-Levels and are now preparing for a British tour, but disappointedly this sounds like they’ve been told to write a up-tempo toe tapping annoying number at gunpoint and the results are as empty as a rugby fan's head.

Sam Sparro – 21st Century Life
Clearly it was going to be hard to spin the glitterballs as vigorously as debut single 'Black & Gold' and although this does sound like a camped up Prince it’s more disco confetti than the proper floor-shaker you dreamt of.

Madam – Fall On Your Knees
Reminiscent of Cat Power without the shadow of madness tinting her golden vocals, Madam is the project of Sukie Smith who resembles a torch singer for some sad cowboys and sings as melancholy as a man with spurs could handle.

L-Vis 1990 – Apple Bass
London-based producer who harks back to the bass heavy rose tinted days of the Detroit scene splicing it with a samples and disappearing vocals to make a mix that you could imagine coming up to in an abandoned warehouse in East London.

Psychedelic Horseshit – New Wave Hippies
Great name, if you’re looking to get booked down the bill at truckers festivals, but the good thing about this band is that it does exactly as it says on the disc, elongating into an extended jam that sounds like a fat man has fallen on a synthesiser and mumbled incoherently before anyone could stop him.

The Splendour – Money
Making money the subject of your song feels incredibly clichéd but this project, formed from the cinders of The (original) Pipettes, and has definitely longevity especially when you observe the spine tingling vocals of Justin Gourlay toying with your composure.

She & Him – This Is Not A Test
Actress Zooey Deschanel (from, er, Elf) switches her dilettante talents to music hooking up with Portland singer/songwriter M.Ward for an inconsequential ditty that showcases here short-applause-on-the-karaoke voice and mundane execution.

Templeton Pek – No Association
Birmingham seems a good starting location for a band to come from, the yearning to leave is strong and this imbues the songs with an almost maniacal edge. Revel in the Panic At The Disco overtones and the startling vitality in the vocals.

Vanadium – Thin Ice
Megadeth are clearly a big influence on the guitarist who ploughs through his rolodex of chugging riffs and solos offering distraction from the vocals which sound like someone tugging their larynx through a fresh gravel pit. As an instrumental it would work very well.

Reemer – Maniac
The band have appeared on an episode of Hollyoaks and do a passable impression of McFly after they’d listened to Bon Jovi records on a loop. Factor in the pogo punk edge and haircuts that need gel and you’ve got a truck full of girlie fans who won’t give a hoot about what they sound like.

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