Album Review
Delphic - Acolyte
Release Date – 11th Jan 2010
As one of NME’s “tipped for big things in 2010” the pressure on Delphic to release an impressive debut album was huge. Fans and critics around every corner, waiting to see what the Manchester
Acolyte was no disappointment, it is an unusual mix of indie, pop and techno, an overlap that we don’t often see in modern music, making Delphic’s Acolyte a breath of fresh air, taking us away from mainstream generic indie, and injecting the listener with 11 tracks of something special.
Album Review
Vampire Weekend - Contra
Release Date – 11th Jan 2010
Vampire Weekend’s self titled debut was a masterpiece of modern music; it had depth and originality.
It became highly successful due to its interchangeability of melody and rhythm, often found in major forms of African and Caribbean music.
Heavily anticipated follow up album “Contra” however, is as much as a gem as its predecessor, which to most is a surprise; it is often the difficult follow up album that is the end of a band.
There is a fantastic range of sounds and styles to the album, with the guitar being heard a lot less throughout, replaced by a wide range of diverse instruments, an unusually richer sound is produced.
African and Caribbean influences are still the predominate, with songs such as “Diplomat’s Son” using a mix of African instruments and techno drum beats to create a breezy, summer anthem. However, also within the album are hints of punk, Jamaican reggae and Californian ska, elements that were not greatly used in their debut, making this follow up album as great, if not even greater that the first.
E.P Review
Leeds quintet Ellen & the Escapades are still relatively unknown across the country, they are however, beginning to rise to fame, deservedly I might add.
E.P Review
Ellen & the Escapades - Ellen & The Escapades E.P
Release Date – 14th January 2010
Appearing on the introducing stage at the Reading Leeds festival, ears began to pick up and slowly but surely people began to recognise the talent of this new, upcoming folk band.
Their self titled E.P is a calm and peaceful collection of folk beauty, with front woman Ellen Smith’s vocals resembling a female Bob Dylan or an early K.T Tunstall that almost calms and sooths the listener, “Yours to Keep” is a fine example.
The use of a harmonica, keyboard and a sliding guitar are also key in the process of calming and captivating the audience.
If Ellen & the Escapades keep producing music of this quality, they surely cannot fail.
Album Review
Release Date – 12th Feb 2010
Owl City’s Adam Young started out writing music in his parents' basement, turning to music as a result of his insomnia, and after listening to his latest album, “Ocean Eyes”, I can imagine he never had trouble with sleeping again, being subjected to the 12 tracks of tedious and monotonous pop that is “Ocean Eyes” certainly sent me to sleep.
Covering childlike topics such as going to the dentist, and pondering over fireflies is a blatant attempt to draw in a younger crowd, to secure his place in the mainstream, with the belief that The Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus fans could finally make him famous after two, previously unsuccessful albums.
However, these weak and emotionless topics are not the most annoying thing about this album.
It is in fact his breathy vocals and limp laptop synthesizer that is the most displeasing.
Sounding like a thinner, cuter version of “The Postal Service” or like an obvious rip-off of electro-popsters “Hellogoodbye” is not a good sound for any one.
If I was Adam Young, I would head back to the drawing board and try to create something original.
Album Review
Lightspeed Champion – Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You.
Release Date – 15th Feb 2010
Since his debut “Falling off the Lavender Bridge
However “Life Is Sweet! Nice to Meet You” shows the challenge was met head on, with the ex-Test Icicles front man coming out on top.
It is expertly produced, enticing and beautifully written.
Hyne’s alluring lyrics becoming more and more charming with every song, topics such as fear and loneliness seen in tracks such as “Faculty of Fears” and “I Don’t Want to Wake Up Alone” are covered with compassion and empathy, not to mention the delicate melodies that walk with them hand in hand.
This great album is a must listen to all indie fans, and with its release, Lightspeed Champion should get the mainstream attention he deserves.
Album & Gig Review – Double Feature
Charlie Bath – “In Between Happy & Me”
Release Date – 26th Feb 2010
“In Between Happy & Me” is the breathtaking debut album from Leeds based singer songwriter Charlie Bath; an artist to defiantly look out for in the future.
Containing heartfelt lyrics, sensationally composed music, and an awe-inspiring voice that puts mainstream artists such as Kate Nash to shame; it is a breath of fresh air for the singer songwriter genre.
The whole album has an alluring charm, an undeniable beauty that keeps the listener captivated throughout.
Lyrics as outstanding as Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba tug at the heart strings and pure emotion reminiscent of City and Colour’s “Sometimes” or Ryan Adams’ “Gold” flows through its veins, leaving the listener taken a-back by its honesty and raw emotion.
Tracks such as “Genuine Heart” and “Letting Go” describe lost love and missed chances in such a way that relates to all, digging up feelings that everyone has, but most cannot express, making the album a triumph on every level, a triumph for which Charlie Bath should be proud.
I went down to the “In Between Happy & Me” release show at Brudenell Social Club to see if Charlie could deliver live as she did so magnificently on her album, I wasn’t disappointed.
Support acts Dougal and James Owen Fender both bubbled with originality and talent, warming up the Brudenell Social Club crowd perfectly for the headline act.
With no time to waste, Charlie Bath and her backing band took to the stage, the room was filled with cheers and whistles, and on the eve of her birthday, Charlie Bath couldn’t help but smile.
She then began to play one of the most original and tantalising sets the Brudenell has ever seen, every person in the room wasn’t expecting this night to go so well, even Charlie herself, as I later found out.
Consisting of song after song of acoustic-folk beauty, with personal favourite “Brooklyn” among one of the many tracks that made my jaw drop and made me sway from side to side, this was a set to remember.
In my opinion some one so talented live deserves mass recognition, recognition that I hope comes sooner rather than later, and even though she has not yet made it into the mainstream, I am sure she will in the near future, Charlie Bath is a must see.