Albums of the week (released 11th August 2003) - Tiscali Music News

2003-08-11

For this week's albums, read on, but for this week's singles, please click here

---

Kosheen - Kokopelli

Having started out relatively quietly, Kosheen's debut album 'Resist' went on to sell in excess of one million copies.

True, they toured hard, both in the UK and abroad, but really it was their unerring ability to take the drum and bass genre firmly by the scruff of the neck and turn it into new and exciting shapes. New album 'Kokopelli' is another giant leap forward for the band.

Whilst the d'n'b elements of old are still apparent, the new set finds the band casting their neteven wider and coming up with a rockier, more indie-based, guiter-led sound. The album's title (and the ensuing artwork through forthcoming singles) use an American native theme and it's fair to say that, through the 'Kokopelli' album, Kosheen have developed a more powerful independence and the strength and inner pride that the mighty races had in abundance.

Buy this album here

Broadcast - Haha Sound

Broadcast are Trish Keenan, James Cargill and Tim Felton. They're not the kind of group who bash you over the head with some coarse gimmick.

'Haha Sound' steals into your mind, gently drenches it with found sounds and the sweetest melodies. Like Cindy Sherman's self-portraits, they are beautiful and unsettling - hints of ancient folk songs dipped in a world of echo.

'Fantastic...brain music of remarkable potency. You are hereby advised to set your inner metronome, be seated and wait for lift off' - **** Q

Buy this album here

Cheeky Girls - Party Time

Proving Pete Waterman ("Simon gets to go to America and I get this") wrong (again) and fans right, Transylvanian twins Gabriela and Monica Irimia - aka the Cheeky Girls - bring you the dance album of the year. Recorded and mixed @ Cheeky Studios, 'Party Time' more than lives up to its title, delivering 12 of the poppiest, catchiest, cheesiest tracks you'll hear this side of the Eurovision Song Contest - including (of course) the hit singles 'Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)', 'Take Your Shoes Off' and 'Hooray Hooray (It's A Cheeky Holiday)'.

The enhanced section of the disc includes three videos - 'Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)'; 'Take Your Shoes Off'; 'Hooray Hooray (It's A Cheeky Holiday)'; + picture gallery.

Buy this album here

Grandadbob - Waltzes For Weirdoes

Already described quite memorably as ‘Moloko meets Daft Punk’, Sheffield's newest freaky dancers, grandadbob (a.k.a. Dave and Vanessa) have notched up plenty of critical acclaim for their recent singles and rather sublime live shows (playing with Mint Royale on tour and at Glastonbury festival).

Their debut album 'Waltzes For Weirdos', recorded in their home studio is a rainbow-splattered fusion of bouncy house music, ultra late-night squelches and squalls, balearic acoustic guitar, distorted pop melodies and Vanessa's cinematic, melted-at-the-edges vocals. It's a fine debut album.

Featuring possibly the greatest chilled funky dance track of last year, 'Mmmnnn'.

Buy this album here

Nevermore - Enemies Of Reality

For two years, Nevermore's superbly crafted and complicated versatility has been brooding. Now we are once again invited into the band's dark subconscious with 2003's 'Enemies Of Reality'.

The title track pummels you with its ferocity and cerebral aggression; 'Never Purify' is a forlorn lament of the dismal reality we've surrounded ourselves in; and the emotionally evocative 'Who Decides. exudes the insightfully mature observations through hindsight of a life lived in extremes. Another perfect execution forged in the innovative heart of their own dismal abyss, 'Enemies Of Reality' is Nevermore as they should be: dark, aggressive, and endlessly enigmatic.

Buy this album here

Soledad Brothers - Voice Of Treason

The Soledad Brothers - Johnny Walker (guitar / vocals), Ben Swank (drums), Oliver Henry (guitar / saxophone) - can rightly be described as the real sound of Detroit. Associates of the MC5 and flying under the Black Panther logo the Soledad Borthers have earned the real respect of their peers and count the White Stripes among their closest friends. The band's first album for a major, 'Voice Of Treason' was recorded at Toe Rag Studios in London and carries a strong political message.As singer Johnny Walker says: 'There are a lot of political overtones to the record, particuarly the title'.
'...as good as they have long threatened..Forget Jack White and his sore finger. Right now this frazzled trio are the true sound of Detroit - confident, smart and absoloutely essential' - 8/10 NME

Buy this album here