born: Sep 1929 died: 12th June 2007
My Aunt
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
TAPE INVADERS (EP Review)
(Trade Sequence, Coined, Across, Chew)
Along with the Incidentals the Tape invaders are one of the most promising bands to emerge onto the Norwich scene in the last eighteen months. Whereas the former draw more heavily from one era (78-81 post punk dissonance) the Tape Invaders are less easy to nail down, seemingly drawing inspiration from more historically disparate sources, eg. Joy Division, Echo & the Bunnymen, shoegazing, Radiohead, late 90’s askew Scottish indie, and even that drawn out ole devil called math rock. The result however is an intriguing guitar hybrid alternating between edgy causticity, chiming beauty and the downright introspective. For the most part this works. However a tendency towards the Biffy Clyro compulsion of breaking tunes up in a jarring off-kilter manner doesn’t always serve them well. Frustratingly occasional gaps appear, momentum is lost, and as is this listener who finds himself holding on for something crashingly exciting to kick in, whereas awkward little hollows are dragged out. For the most part the band overcome this apparent clumsiness with a willingness to experiment with a broad raft of ideas and directions. Moreover they triumph through the possession of cracking good tunes!
Tape Invaders, in essence, occupy similar territory to Bloc Party, though where Kele Okereke's vocals writhe with teeth bared and a desperate closed-eye intensity, Tape Invaders too often tend to drift off into a nondescript murmur. I concede though this is being very picky; the gulf in sound-recording quality twixt the two is utterly chasm-like, and I have faith that in time and in the right studio the Tape Invaders can iron out what are, after all, minor glitches, and ultimately garner a substantial following as is suggested by the potential of this material.
This EP is audible and purchasable here: http://myspace.com/tapeinvaders
If you live in Norwich you can also purchase the EP from Soundclash Records (St.Benedict's) and Revolution Recs (near main Castle Mall entrance) It's CD format only, priced at £2.49
Along with the Incidentals the Tape invaders are one of the most promising bands to emerge onto the Norwich scene in the last eighteen months. Whereas the former draw more heavily from one era (78-81 post punk dissonance) the Tape Invaders are less easy to nail down, seemingly drawing inspiration from more historically disparate sources, eg. Joy Division, Echo & the Bunnymen, shoegazing, Radiohead, late 90’s askew Scottish indie, and even that drawn out ole devil called math rock. The result however is an intriguing guitar hybrid alternating between edgy causticity, chiming beauty and the downright introspective. For the most part this works. However a tendency towards the Biffy Clyro compulsion of breaking tunes up in a jarring off-kilter manner doesn’t always serve them well. Frustratingly occasional gaps appear, momentum is lost, and as is this listener who finds himself holding on for something crashingly exciting to kick in, whereas awkward little hollows are dragged out. For the most part the band overcome this apparent clumsiness with a willingness to experiment with a broad raft of ideas and directions. Moreover they triumph through the possession of cracking good tunes!
Tape Invaders, in essence, occupy similar territory to Bloc Party, though where Kele Okereke's vocals writhe with teeth bared and a desperate closed-eye intensity, Tape Invaders too often tend to drift off into a nondescript murmur. I concede though this is being very picky; the gulf in sound-recording quality twixt the two is utterly chasm-like, and I have faith that in time and in the right studio the Tape Invaders can iron out what are, after all, minor glitches, and ultimately garner a substantial following as is suggested by the potential of this material.
This EP is audible and purchasable here: http://myspace.com/tapeinvadersIf you live in Norwich you can also purchase the EP from Soundclash Records (St.Benedict's) and Revolution Recs (near main Castle Mall entrance) It's CD format only, priced at £2.49
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Padrika Tarrant
Attended Bridges' creative writing group today. Listened to my friend Paddy reading from her second novel 'Silver' (the first, 'The Knife Drawer' is in the hands of a top literary agent, and the manuscript is currently being viewed by several publishing houses) I've always known she was capable of stringing a few words together, but today I felt I was in the presence of a unique literary talent. The closest music related comparison I can make is from when I first heard 'Sliver' by Nirvana, and realised just how good they were.
http://www.saltpublishing.com/books/smf/9781844713431.htm
http://www.stridemagazine.co.uk/Stride%20mag%202007/Feb%202007/pigeons.htm
http://ink-sweat-and-tears.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2007/1/27/2686820.html
http://www.saltpublishing.com/books/smf/9781844713431.htm
http://www.stridemagazine.co.uk/Stride%20mag%202007/Feb%202007/pigeons.htm
http://ink-sweat-and-tears.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2007/1/27/2686820.html
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
27/02/07 POLYTECHNIC Cold Hearted Business (single review)
(Shatterproof 7"/CD/Download)
Thought all the fey mancunian whimsies had been eradicated in '88 by King Of The Slums and Dub Sex. Apparently not. S'pose it's difficult to spot 'em when still in pushchairs...
'Unnecessary Niceness', an LP of that era sums the HMV backed Polytechnic up. Teeth glean with an SR brush-away whiteness. Utterly polite, 'Cold Hearted Business' has had corporate makeover; radio friendly, kind on the ears, chummy with the kids & cosying up to mum and dad. Nothing to scare the dog. They ARE the new Kooks, they WILL shift units, and they HAVE been Single Of The Week in The SUN! Share prices will rise, and nought else will matter...
Polytechnic are a thoroughly decent indie band* with all serrated edges removed. The hearts of millions will be warmed, but you'll soon be bored.
Cravings for my Herman's Hermits Greatest Hits CD returns....
Thought all the fey mancunian whimsies had been eradicated in '88 by King Of The Slums and Dub Sex. Apparently not. S'pose it's difficult to spot 'em when still in pushchairs...
'Unnecessary Niceness', an LP of that era sums the HMV backed Polytechnic up. Teeth glean with an SR brush-away whiteness. Utterly polite, 'Cold Hearted Business' has had corporate makeover; radio friendly, kind on the ears, chummy with the kids & cosying up to mum and dad. Nothing to scare the dog. They ARE the new Kooks, they WILL shift units, and they HAVE been Single Of The Week in The SUN! Share prices will rise, and nought else will matter...
Polytechnic are a thoroughly decent indie band* with all serrated edges removed. The hearts of millions will be warmed, but you'll soon be bored.
Cravings for my Herman's Hermits Greatest Hits CD returns....
Out 26/02/07. listen: www.myspace.com/ukpolytechnic
*see Won't You Come Round on Transgressive Recs26/02/07 When The Music Stopped
It did so quite unexpectedly.
I'd heard voices on the stairs(?) Had the volume been challenged?
Phone my neighbour, take a peek outside.
He'd cracked her head, drawn blood, she said.
Peggy Sue had stopped. I knew why.
I'd heard voices on the stairs(?) Had the volume been challenged?
Phone my neighbour, take a peek outside.
He'd cracked her head, drawn blood, she said.
Peggy Sue had stopped. I knew why.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
25/02/07 HEADLAND - Love Hate (single review)
(Touchy Feely Records)
Cute little electro-sampler that saunters along most fussably with nods to Spirit In The Sky, Marc Bolan and the Rubettes. Indisputably part of a currently recognisable electro-pop scene, nevertheless 'Love Hate' would not have sounded out of place on Peel circa 1984 (think/google Dr Calculus according to age....) Slightly younger listeners may also be reminded of Earl Brutus, though Headland reject bombast for a smoother sashay across the indie dance floor. Maybe in need of a snappier hook-sample to set the charts alight, but a sly little groove-temptress nonetheless.
Cute little electro-sampler that saunters along most fussably with nods to Spirit In The Sky, Marc Bolan and the Rubettes. Indisputably part of a currently recognisable electro-pop scene, nevertheless 'Love Hate' would not have sounded out of place on Peel circa 1984 (think/google Dr Calculus according to age....) Slightly younger listeners may also be reminded of Earl Brutus, though Headland reject bombast for a smoother sashay across the indie dance floor. Maybe in need of a snappier hook-sample to set the charts alight, but a sly little groove-temptress nonetheless.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
24/02/07 Relegation Looms
Three weeks into the most wretched head cold, brief respite from the wet misery of Angel Road was offered by a stupendously magnificent Brentford goal early in the second half at Bradford. We could yet stay up! West Ham could pull 3 goals back!! Mourinho might yet prove not to be an alien!!!
Alas and alack, sh*t, b*gger and w*nk, Jo Kuffour is sent off on 85 minutes. A*se, t*ts, and a big loud f*ck, Bradford score equalizer (streaky penalty on 88 minutes) 1-1 final score. 2nd from bottom. 5 points adrift of safety (Bradford) and naff all solace in other results - Bournemouth, sans Sicknote, win at Oldham?!!
Descent into misery ensues; face down in the biggest puddle in slough of despond etc...general pessimism..etc...etc...Could be worse: We are not Rotherham.
West Ham were crushed 4-0 by Charlton, and do seem doomed for the drop. At least that nice Icelandic gentleman will pump money in for a promotion push. Greg Dyke will probably take a bucket round the BBC.....
Alas and alack, sh*t, b*gger and w*nk, Jo Kuffour is sent off on 85 minutes. A*se, t*ts, and a big loud f*ck, Bradford score equalizer (streaky penalty on 88 minutes) 1-1 final score. 2nd from bottom. 5 points adrift of safety (Bradford) and naff all solace in other results - Bournemouth, sans Sicknote, win at Oldham?!!
Descent into misery ensues; face down in the biggest puddle in slough of despond etc...general pessimism..etc...etc...Could be worse: We are not Rotherham.
West Ham were crushed 4-0 by Charlton, and do seem doomed for the drop. At least that nice Icelandic gentleman will pump money in for a promotion push. Greg Dyke will probably take a bucket round the BBC.....
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