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Song of the Week
‘We Will Not Be Lovers’ (Live) by The Waterboys
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Irrelevant Review 1: The Chemistry Experiment
Here’s a new thing feature: Giving a single listen to an old album and then writing a verbose and irrelevant review about it. Starting now.
The Chemistry Experiment are a band. They formed in St Ives but it’s unclear whether this was the satellite town of Cambridge or the seaside resort on the South West coast of England. I suppose it doesn’t matter but for some reason it helps to contextualise the music. I’m going to go with the seaside resort because it’s a more poetic vision and I went there once for an school art trip.
I’ve never heard of The Chemistry Experiment before which might say a great deal about my musical knowledge. Luckily, in the ‘About’ section of this blog, I’ve got a nice disclaimer stating that I’m not setting myself up some kind of authority on music and as such, who cares if I don’t know who they are? I can get out of jail any time I like. Stick that in your papier-mâché pipe made of old copies of The Stool Pigeon and smoke it.
Their album ‘The Melancholy Death of the Chemistry Experiment’ came out in 2005. This was when New York indie ruled the waves and The Strokes, Stellastarr* and Interpol dominated the indie clubs where cool kids hung out and drank Red Stripe in for £4 a can (fuck you London Astoria 2, where are you now eh? Demolished, that’s where, you overpriced shit). This was also the time when The Darkness were being ironically ironic and we all drove flying gold cars and ate wads of cash for breakfast as the idea of a possible global economic crisis seemed about as likely as edible money or flying automobiles.
Giving it a spin, it’s clear this eleven track album quite literally bucks the trend of the mid-noughties party we all had. It’s a dour collection of ominous songs that are layered with keyboards, strings, the odd flute, occasional trumpet and plodding mid tempo bass lines. Hardly New York indie cool. How do they expect anyone to dance and drink overpriced lager to this? Steven Kirk’s vocals are so deadpan that when he becomes upbeat, like on ‘You’re The Prettiest Thing’ or ‘We Were Never Wrong’ it sounds weird. Weird in the way Gordon Brown smiles; it doesn’t feel natural and you’re wondering if he might hurt himself.
Although this doesn’t mean this record is bad. It’s actually the opposite of that. So good then. Possibly great even. Kirk’s voice is menacing in a soothing way. The music is epic in a humble manner. The album is challenging in an accessible style. It reminds me a bit of the Tindersticks if they were less pretentious and didn’t give you a tension headache.
Perhaps a pagan funfair is more apt a simile for this record. Everyone’s having some nice traditional fun whilst trying to ignore the uneasy suspicion they’re going to get sacrificed by men wearing animal heads at some point in the evening. Maybe this is what the album title is in referring to. I’d like to think so.Listen to the whole album on Spotify here.
Website: www.chemistryexperiment.co.uk
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[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]‘Ocean Floor for Everything’ by How To Dress Well
How to Dress Well have a new album due out late this year. Here’s a song from it.
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[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]Song of the Week
‘All Wisdom Is Gone’ by Dear Comrade
This is the title track from Dear Comrade’s début album released New Year’s Day 2012.
Wondering why it sounds a little like Stellastarr*? Well there’ s a few reasons. Firstly, it’s produced by Tim O’Heir who produced both Stellastarr*’s first and third albums. Secondly, drummer Arthur Kremer is in both these bands. Thirdly, they’re both from New York. Also, I’m convinced Shawn, Stellastarr*’s singer features on this track but I can’t find any confirmation of that. Anyway, this is how Stellastarr* should have ended up like, rather than the unfortunate decline of quality they actually experienced.
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‘Follow Baby’ by PEACE
Well this is fookin’ ace. Released last month, you can purchase this song here which is the Brummie foursome’s début single.
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High Res
All past, present and future Songs of the Week now in a Spotify playlist (where available). Click the image to link though.
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[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]‘Jupiters/Ocoras’ (12”) by Four Tet
A new song by the inimitable Kieran Hebden
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(Some More) Advice to Bands
Further to my last post on this topic, I felt compelled deep with my soul to disseminate more advice to unsigned bands as it’s pretty unbelievable how many make the very basic mistakes. So hark, here is ten more rules to help you go from penniless unsigned artists to, well let’s face it, still a penniless and unsigned artist but at least you’ll have some more fans. Click on the READ MORE to continue: -
Song of the Week: ‘Plains’ by Wye Oak
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Song of the Week
‘Weightless’ by City and Colour
Come because of the music, leave because of the writing.
*SAXOPHONE SOLO*
