I've spent a great deal of this week listening to Sounds Of The Universe, the new album from dark electropop survivors Depeche Mode. SOTU follows a grand tradition of naff album names by the Mode but nevertheless shows, as they approach their thirtieth year of trading, that the trio (or duo, depending on how useful you think Andy Fletcher is these days) are as sonically inventive as ever. Expect a detailed review on www.documentaryevidence.co.uk when I get a chance. Current favourite tracks include 'Corrupt' and 'Perfect'.
After much searching I came across the tracklisting for Bovine Life's Social Electrics II, a collaborative electronic music project from 2000 / 2001. I'd lost the songnames and for once the usually-reliable Google proved itself lacking. The album was available online as a free download and features collaborations with Kohn, Nine Mile Burn and Future Pilot AKA. It's esoteric electronica for the open-minded listener only.
I'm pretty excited at the prospect of the new Sonic Youth album, The Eternal which is out in June. Their website includes a free download of the first track from the album ('Sacred Trixter'), which shows the New Yorkers to be every bit as inventive as ever. Speaking of Sonic Youth, I found myself listening to 'Be Safe', the collaboration between The Cribs and Lee Ranaldo which appears on the album Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever. It's a spoken word, stream-of-consciousness affair as you'd expect from Ranaldo over dystopian guitars and the occasional harmonic chorus from the band.
Finally, after several years of fruitless searching, I came across Kid Koala's version of 'Moon River' (from Breakfast At Tiffany's). I'd seen KK perform this live at All Tomorrow's Parties in 2004 and was suitably awe-struck by his manipulation of the Henry Mancini song using only turntables and a mixer. Well worth a listen, if you can find it.
Tuesday 28 April 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
