Category: Muziek / Music

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Joy Division (Closer… to finality?)

grant-gee-joy-divisionShortly after its release on DVD I watched the Joy Division rockumentary by Grant Gee (much acclaimed for similar stuff on Radiohead -‘famous’ it seems-). Being a sort of old-skool fan I couldn’t escape the same sense of disappointment I had with Control. It was good, maybe even great in a way, but it certainly didn’t fully live up to my expectations. Not excluding my expectations to be the problem.

I regretted that Control didn’t fully capture the insights from Deborah Curtis’ heartbreaking book Touching From A Distance. The problem with this Joy Division rockumentary is that it is mainly a collection of people talking about the band, about Ian, but without much focus or coherence.

The influence and ‘atmosphere’ of the grey concrete of Manchester is visually well captured. The visionary approach of Martin Hannett -sound of breaking glass-. Peter Saville‘s graphics. Authentic footage. All… nice.

But nothing on Warsaw? Their early recording? And no clear chronology or backgrounds on the making of the music, the songs. Confirmation that those who survived (aka New Order) can’t sit in the same room. I only liked Stephen Morris’ funny nervousness, kinda like his drumming.

Deborah Curtis preferred not to appear in a movie with a certain Mrs. Honoré in, but her contribution would have been tremendously bigger.

So, finality? It will probably never be. There are just… opinions.

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Nonsense; rubbish

Arctic Monkeys - Humbug (dictionary)

Arctic Monkeys - HumbugNo worries, Arctic Monkeys have not released any ‘rubbish’. But Humbug does have an unexpected relaxing, deep and resonating sound with an overall pretty mature and self-confident feel to it. Gone is the overstressed, rushing, high-speed sequence of crowded, multi-melodic songs.

Most of the typical style elements have remained though but in a calmer form. Luckily there still is Alex Turner’s amazing ability to stress syllables that you didn’t even know were there. And his way to cut up sentences but still make them fit some sort of rhyming purpose.

Monkeys may be animals, I don’t feel that the Arctics are D A N . G E R . O U S here. But maybe I’m just lost in an Age of the Understatement.

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Florence+a 13 lung effort

Once upon a time (in 2009) my attention was drawn to Florence+the Machine. However, around that time I was too busy being impressed by a strong, yet fairy-like, lady voice/musician known as Bat For Lashes. But great reviews on Florence’s summer festival performances convinced me to get Lungs anyway. Florence+the machine - LungsAnd I now know (this is a confession) that I shouldn’t have hesitated in the first place.

This is truly a wonderful lady (and a machine, of whatever kind)! She put out a very strong album, that is musically substantially different from Mrs. Natasha’s (when -wrongfully- sticking to some form of comparison).

Power to this Florence that is no nightingale, but flies+sings with the firm conviction of an eagle. She has a steady and straight-forward power in her voice and in her lyrics. At most a little tremble -controlled-. The music is composed and arranged with lots of subtle layers. Enjoy the extraordinary collection of instruments.

Somewhere halfway there’s a fantastic playful, rocking interlude, clearly telling us not to mess around with her. Because I imagine she just might turn into this punk (song) princess that will set fire to your bed, despite her rabbit heart. In the way that she leaves no room for doubt (all over this record), you can tell that she has a lion heart (and lungs…).

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An acoustic evening with?

Ionic Vision Live 2009-09-04I had the unique chance to see Ionic Vision live… without travelling abroad. They played at the Bar Mondial in Antwerp with Darkmen, from IV’s label Machineries of Joy (production by IV’s lead singer).

Well, the title of my note is probably a little misleading (joke!). There are probably no bigger opposites than Ionic Vision and acoustic (remember that they “Rage against” it).

I found the performance to be completely in line with the Bitter Isolation album that I already wrote about. Except maybe for the fact that certainly the vocals were less open to compromise or emotionality (too bad for Sleep e.g.). But hey, it’s the way their game is played. Their music is genuine and hardcore EBM, but luckily (for a general fan of alternative music as myself) they are more dynamic than most other EBM bands.

The show was concluded with a powerful No Shuffle (Front 242) followed by the best pogo I’ve seen in years on their final encore. Really loved the transformation of my singing friend into a fierce animal (head) on stage.

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A threesome of music, joy and entertainment (3)

2009 drove me to an artist that did not appeal to me AT ALL, but managed to put out a single that made me wanna buy his album.

(3) Entertainment

WastelandsThe single was Last Of The English Roses and the album is Grace/Wastelands. Who suspected a romantic soul behind the tough mask of Peter Doherty? That he was able to transform convincingly (at least musically) from loose celeb and daredevil to gentle… gentleman? A soft-voiced crooner, who makes ‘sophisticated’ sound like British again? A bit retro too.

I love the artwork. Sensuality. A lost love. A young woman in delited despair, waiting for a boy to kill her, 25 and still alive? Maybe it will do to break her heart? Or just wait, for a new love to… grow on a tree.

I don’t care what the part of Stephen Street of Graham Coxon was in (co?)writing, producing or other guidance. This is a darn good album.

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A threesome of music, joy and entertainment (2)

Now here’s a 2009 record that was a pleasant surprise for me.

(2) Joy

Bat for Lashes - Two sunsShe’s angelic, demonish, elf-ish, poetic, soft and brutal. Adorable. She sings, whispers, cries, howls and rips your heart out. Artist. She (mrs. Natasha Khan) creates music that’s not heavy in itself yet very outspoken. Feathers and fur. The most varied rhythms, instruments and vocal hooks are mixed into an overwhelming sound, a mindblowing trip between a rock and Two Suns.

Get carried away on the wings of joy of this breathtaking medieval electrobabe, this newborn fairy of piano magic. Get hit by Bat For Lashes. The dream you dreamt hoping you were Daniel. Seductively carressed.

But I can’t stop thinking of the late Lunascape. It was probably less eclectic, more electronic and ambient, but still…

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A threesome of music, joy and entertainment (1)

2009 has already seen the release of various lovely works of music (check out previous notes). A certain threesome however has not yet been given the attention they deserve (shame on me!).

(1) Music

All The Plans by Starsailor combines the best of their 3 previous records (musically and lyrically), and more…

Starsailor - All the plansThere are the softer acoustic sounds, the great melodies -let’s dance-, some heavier guitars/emotions and on top of it the very distinct vocals. The touch of electronic, subtle backing vocals and lots more of tasteful sound bites complete this extremely well balanced and inspiring record.

Soon I regretted not having bought the edition with the acoustic extension. But, hey, that’s what iTunes is for… Will love the guys forever for assuring me that luckily I don’t have his eyes…

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Talking about Sea and Power

One of my favourite indie bands is British Sea Power, so I wholeheartedly shouted “Yes” when they asked me Do You Like Rock Music?

British Sea Power - Man of AranAnd now, kind of suprisingly, they’ve composed a soundtrack to the 1934 documentary Man Of Aran, by Robert Flaherty, showing the harsh life at those Irish islands (off the west coast). So not only did I want to get their CD, but also have a look at this movie. And what an impressive experience it turned out to be.

The power of the sea, its overwhelming might, through this black on white eye. No hiding here (we’re all in this together). All to get the boat on shore. Get wet now, will you. We definitely should fix that hole. Look for sand in the crevices. Spread it on the sea weed. Grow potatoes. Lessons for youngsters: how to catch a crab so you can catch a fish. But leave the shark hunt to the grown ups. We need oil for lamps.

And what a fine craft is shown. Camera positions, framing, the imagery and its editing, the stills, the shadows, capturing the enormous splashes.

Man of AranI was highly impressed by both the movie and the (new) soundtrack. Both are so powerful and completely take you onto the rocks and the sea of Aran. These are the kind of surprises you love BSP for. Feel the shivers when you hear how the theme from the song True Adventures (from Open Season) gently comes back again in… It Comes Back Again.
Let’s call them Irish Sea Power (for now).

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Straight from Ireland and very untrue

Jerry Fish CollectionAs a huge fan of An Emotional Fish (a follower from ‘Celebrate’ -still mad about it- and their debut -strong pop-, to ‘Junk Puppets’ -rock it, baby- to ‘Sloper’ -sort of folk-pop’ish-) I was oh so excited in 2002 to find out that leadsinger Gerard Whelan had returned to the planet of music as Jerry Fish and assembled the Mudbug Club to help him out. So I got their CD Be Yourself to hear a detached, relaxed sound with jazzy lounge music full of positive vibes. And I was really happy to see that mr. Fish collaborated with his former emotional co-species. Of course I couldn’t resist buying the 3 EP’s from the CD as well. 2004 saw the release of the live CD/DVD “Live at the Spiegeltent” that both perfectly capture the joy of playing and performing. But then… silence.

Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club - The beautiful untrueUPTO NOW… as them Mudbuggers are back with the beautiful The Beautiful Untrue. I had to go upto the source to get it (shame on local and internet stores!), but that resulted in a signed copy (thanks, Jerry!).

True they remained to the essential approach as described. But it’s even more refined and some distinct female voices bring something… ecstatic.

It builds on the finest tradition of romantic crooning. But don’t forget to add some latin influences. Sometimes it leans more towards whispering, sometimes towards weird cabaret, Gavin Friday-style (he’s Irish as well and I’m a fan as well). A deep, dark voice, clear trumpets and horns, a well-placed touch of guitar makes some great late night movie lounge atmosphere on a little glittering disk.

Check out some videos (new & old). Look at the (sometimes shy?) rock star. Do I see a future crooner behind those eyes?