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 This is the debut album from Leeds' Kaiser Chiefs. If you've heard the rather amazing singles "I Predict A Riot" (a rather girly tale of being scared by the drinkers in town) and "Oh My God", then you're starting to get a feel for where the band are at.
An amazingly raucous and catchy mash of Boomtown Rats, Squeeze, XTC and many other weird and wonderful sources. Wicked, roaring guitars rise up on tracks like "Born To Be A Dancer". Elsewhere, Gary Glitter fights the Fall and Gary Numan watches on "Saturday Night" which I'm sure contains the lyric "We're birds of a feather/And you can be the fat one". What next? Hyacinth Bucket references? A "Last Of the Summer Wine" stage at Glastonbury? I hope so, because Kaiser Chiefs really have managed to hit the nail bang on the head. They make classically English music, songs that you can sing a long to or riot to. This album could be banged out over a football ground PA or played in an arty loft in NYC. It's a damned good debut and things are looking big.
Sylk 130 is Philadelphian DJ King Britt and various collaborators.
Well known for his dancefloor classics, here he"s trying
something a little different. His debut album "When the Funk
Hits the Fan" was a 70"s inspired affair. Here,
he pays tribute to the 80"s. I know everybody is having a rummage through that
decade for inspiration, but this is decidedly different from Daft Punk and
Les Rhythmes Digitales. It takes a little nod to the more soulful recordings
of that era. It"s deep, free of irony and deliciously varied.
Obviously, he gets some suitably 80"s collaborators in on the act. Alison Moyet
turns up for her first vocal outing in 4 years on the incredibly beautiful "Skipping
Stones". Forget what you thought you knew about her, this is fresh and inspired.
Elsewhere, Martin Fry (ABC) is made funky and Pos and Trugoy of Del La Soul
are put to work with Jazzy Jeff to fine effect. Of course, this is no retro
cash-in. This is serious music with contributions from modern underground legends
James Poyser, Vikter Duplaix and Ursula Rucker. Making one of his final appearances
here is saxophone legend, the late Groover Washington Jr, going out on a triumphant
high. An effective and funky collision of the past and future, not to mention
rather sexy. Feel it.
The DJ Kicks series has built up quite a reputation for itself. The pitch is simple, take fresh talent and ask them to
knock up a mix album. It is worth remembering though, that
with the big name mix albums the record company usualy
pick what tracks the DJ has to mix. Here, they are picked
by who mixes them. A prime selection of downbeat beaty
mayhem ensues. Some names are familiar (Cinematic Orchestra,
Grantby, Underdog) others are new to me. All top notch.
If you enjoy music in the DJ Shadow/Mo Wax/Ninja Tune kind of vibe, then
you will be a happy chappy/chappess with this. |
