This Month on The End's Stereo

17/03/2008

Posted by Music Blogger

Tawiah – ‘In Jodi’s Bedroom EP’

Tawiah’s talents were brought to our attention here when Gilles Peterson included her track ‘Watch Out’ on his 2007 label compilation ‘Brownswood Bubblers Vol. 2’. Her soulful vocals, hook and its classy production made it the real standout moment on a very good album. It’s also the lead track on her debut EP, ‘In Jodi’s Bedroom’, though not its finest; that accolade is reserved for the epic ‘Every Step’. There is quality running throughout the six tracks, which offers serious promise for her debut album that is apparently in the works. If you’ve not yet heard of her, expect loads of hype later in the year, but don’t be put off when music journos go on about her being a graduate of the Brit School.

www.myspace.com/tawiah

Autechre – ‘Quaristice’

Autechre released their ninth album at the beginning of the month, amid much sweaty excitement from armies of IDM geeks on message boards. Apparently composed pretty much exclusively using the hardware that they toured with on their ‘Untilted’ tour, this gave them the ability to come up with hours of new ideas and material almost immediately, which is probably why every one of the 20 tracks feels like a much longer piece edited down. Not as dry and sterile as ‘Untilted’, the album has more melody, but at times is still a challenging listen. ‘Quaristice’ is all abstract, industrial freeform rhythms that cast off the constraints of musical theory; most definitely not background music. It demands you sit up and pay attention, play it from start to finish and really immerse yourself in it. Favourite track: Fol3 (no12), this is one to piss the neighbors off with, it sounds like an explosion in a hoover factory, played backwards, really slowly.

www.autechre.ws

The Orb - 'The Dream'

The Orb’s new long player ‘The Dream’ kicks off promisingly, with the title track giving you the wonderfully surreal sensation that aliens have just landed in your head and you are about to find out if there really is life on Mars. Just what we’ve come to expect from these sultans of ethereal dub. Unfortunately, by track three the album has taken a bit of a downward turn with a mini-gaggle of fairly sub-standard tracks, more ambient ramblings, and some uninviting vocals. Just when you think all is lost, however, suddenly the aliens have re-landed, the fog has lifted and The Orb are back in the game. From ‘Lost and Found’ onwards, the album finds its legs again, and you are bombarded with purist old school Orb; all dirty dubby basslines and intangibly trippy layers. It’s really quite simple: stick to what you do best, and you shall forever hold a special place in the hearts of mushroom–munching music-lovers right across the globe.

http://www.theorb.com/

Benga – ‘Diary of an Afro Warrior’

Those familiar with a Benga DJ set may be expecting an album of smashers. Not so. Well, not entirely. The album opens with ‘Zero M2’, all swirling keys and acoustic bass, and as the album progresses there’s plenty of the abstract and unexpected in this LP; from the beats and tempo of ‘Someone 20’ to the brass and ride cymbals in ‘B4 The Dual’ to the soothing pads of ‘Loose Synths’ there’s plenty of substance here. Of course there’s no shortage of bangers either; the album’s loaded with shuddering basslines, frenetic percussion and terrifying synths, all laced with that Benga groove. In short, well worth a listen. Look at that, we wrote 105 words about the album without mentioning ‘Night’…Oh.

www.myspace.com/bengabeats

Win a copy here.

Hercules and Love Affair – Hercules and Love Affair

Ok, the Hercules and Love Affair album may have had more hype than global warming recently, but listen to the album and every melodic beat and loop justifies it. It’s been getting plenty of airplay here in the office, it’s paced slowly enough for your front room, yet with enough energy and groove for the dancefloor. Think of a marriage of vintage disco, Chicago and acid house, with plenty of melancholic rhythms and dreamy vocals. Heavenly!

www.herculesandloveaffair.com