singles
their recent output it is endlessly listenable and
yet instantly forgettable. DT
STEREOPHONICS ***
ALOG / ASTRAL SOCIAL CLUB **** Innocent (V2) THIS MONTH’S
Split Series #20 (FatCat)
A less self-congratulatory release than recent
FatCat still do these weirdbeard split 12”s, back-slapping celebrations for a decade of hits,
despite having changed almost unrecognisably this is a welcome return to the bright tunes with DVD PICK
as a label in 13 years active. Fair play, like. dark undertones that have long been a Kelly
Norway’s Alog offer a long, rickety track of what Jones speciality. An unconvincing Beach Boys-y
DEAD SET
sounds like techno built with twigs; Leeds’ CDR start is remedied comprehensively by the bitter-
18 (4DVD)
mainstays Astral Social Club create clotted, sweet recollection of youthful promise yielding
Charlie Brooker’s cynicism of celebrity and love of zombie films collide
vaguely rhythmic mashups that sound like a to youthful naivete. DT
in this brutal satire of celebrity culture and the desperate bores who
river of acid. NG
pursue it. Dead Set is a zombie film set in the Big Brother house
CHASE & STATUS FEAT. PLAN B
where, isolated from the rest of the world, the contestants quickly
****
become the only remaining survivors. ****BB
End Credits (Vertigo)
The end credits in question belong to the forth-
RUSSELL BRAND: SCANDALOUS
coming Michael Caine hoodie-clobbering vehicle,
18 (4DVD)
Harry Brown, which looks pretty good like. This
Scandalous is a consistently amusing hour-and-a-bit of stand-up;
is meat and potatoes acoustic/vocal stuff under-
Brand’s irresistible charm and observational humour is impossible
pinned with some gnarly drum‘n’bass stabs and
not to find enchanting. Despite this, it’s also a great deal more self-
haunting synths, and makes the crossover from
indulgent than Brand’s previous material, tending to focus heavily on
screen to club nicely. RH
that kerfuffle with Andrew Sachs, and, after the event being headline
news for two months, I wouldn’t be that enthusiastic about paying for
THE DEAD WEATHER ****
yet ANOTHER different perspective on the event. ***AB
I Cut Like A Buffalo (Third Man/Columbia)
What do you hear MESRINE
when members of The WEEZER *** 15 (Optimum)
Raconteurs, The Kills and (If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want Based on the life of France’s most wanted man, Mesrine follows
QOTSA collide? Almost You To (DGC) the life of Jaques Mesrine, accountable for 39 crimes and the only
the expected: a funky
Weezer have long profited from the consistency
man to ever escape from La Sante prison. With such great material
organ swaggering around
of their slacker-made-good output and this
to work with, it’s a shame that the film lacks any real tension or
with a stroppy bassline
jaunty stomp-along is no different. A take on The
suspense.**CS
and a scratchy guitar in tow. This bluesy garage
Jam’s A Town Called Malice with what sounds
rock has cocky lyrics and bags of attitude but
like Good Charlotte howling along may not bode
JIMMY CARR: TELLING JOKES
falls short of being exciting. AP
well but is salvaged by a wry lyrical account of
18 (4DVD)
the tribulations of geek love. DT
Carr’s trademark one-liners are here in abundance, but fall somewhat
KLAUS KINSKI *** flat; what works well on a TV panel show wears a little thin over the
Happiness Happiness (Ankstmusik) course of 90 minutes. There’s the occasional laugh-out-loud moment
If I said Klaus Kinski were the least Welsh-
(particularly on taboo subjects such as Fritzl) but this certainly won’t
sounding band ever to record for the Ankstmusik
demos
convince any detractors. **ED
label, I bet they would use that quote in future
press material. If this helped sell their histrionic
PEEP SHOW SERIES 6
TAFFRONAUT VS CHUPACABRA
North Walian mangling of Arab On Radar to a
18 (4DVD)
www.myspace.com/taffronautvschupacabra
wider audience, I would be happy to help. NG
To the glee of students everywhere, Mark and Jez are back - and
I have a suspicion this Cardiff-based duo
cringeworthy as ever. Mark’s still bug-eyed over IT geek Dobby, while
MARINA & THE DIAMONDS *
are treating this nine-track CD as an album,
Jeremy’s fallen for bisexual Russian temptress Elena: cue many mor-
Mowgli’s Road (679)
not a demo, but hey: it does a sterling job of
tifying moments. The characters show no development, but that’s half
DEMONSTRATING what they can do together.
of their awkward charm. Nothing groundbreaking, but still hilarious.
In the puffed-up, posho wake of Florence
Taffronaut: jazz and electronic musician who’s
****ED
Welch, are we now to be bombarded with more
been on TV a couple of times. Chupacabra: pro
caterwauling kooks than you can shake a sixth-
drummer for hire, leans towards a Latin feel.
THE AVENGERS: SEASON 2
form leavers’ assembly recital of Squawk Of The
Together: interesting and original, if occasionally
12 (Optimum Classic)
Goblin Queen at? Mowgli’s Road fancies itself
washed-out, sound worlds possessing early-
This groundbreaking 1960s espionage series is finally available on
as original and wittily idiosyncratic. It is actually
Warp bleepiness and Good Looking Records
DVD. Follow the adventures of these two extraordinary agents as they
ear-poo of the lowest order. PM
jazz’n’bass bongoliciousness. NG
fight crime and avenge the innocent. Fully restored and re-mastered,
this collection also includes the surviving two-and-a-half episodes of
MRK 1 **
CALUM ROSS & THE SCARLETS
season one. Essential viewing for any nostalgic fan of the show. ***AF
X-Tatik / Moving Toad (Contagious)
www.myspace.com/calumrossandthescarlets
As dubstep goes, there seems to be a thin line HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE
Cardiff-based Calum Ross leaves no stone un-
(like the song) between love and hate for me. This 18 (Icon)
turned in his (and his band’s) attempt to revisit
double A-side doesn’t really cut it, with X-Tatik Detective Aidan Breslin is a grieving widower who begins to investigate
the golden age of mod, via melodic jangly-pop
sounding like a badly under-produced demo. a series of violent serial killings, each one seemingly influenced by the
and the wearing of a suit. This disc contains
Moving Toad steps it up significantly but doesn’t Biblical texts of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. As Breslin delves
only one track, Bye Bye, as does their Myspace
really bring anything new to the table. JA deeper into the case he uncovers a shocking revelation that will forever
(although it’s titled Baby Bye Bye there). It has
change his life. This is an average supernatural thriller. **AF
the requisite heavy breathing organ, lyrics about
SMOKE FAIRIES *****
haircuts and “the summer of love” and a simple-
Sunshine (Music For Heroes) DISTRICT 13: ULTIMATUM
as-you-like chorus, but feels a little polite: closer
Smoke Fairies sound like a Deep South version
18 (Momentum)
to Crowded House than the pill-jittery mania of
of The Velvet Underground, with two Nicos sing-
The French Government lied; they had no intention of cleaning up
The Who. NG
ing. Richard Hawley and Jack White are both
District 13. The sequel to the cult phenomenon sees our protagonists
fans; Sunshine is a beautiful and haunting song
GLORY BOX
Leito and Damien re-united in their ongoing attempts to overthrow
that would not sound out of place as part of the
the ruthless drug lords and corrupt cops that dominate the District.
www.myspace.com/gloryboxuk
soundtrack to a David Lynch movie. Amazing
However, as the duo progress, they uncover a devastating conspiracy.
I assume they are named after the Portishead
single. DN
Excellent entertainment! ***AF
song, but this doesn’t really telegraph the style
that Cardiff trio (‘fraid it’s capital-centric this
SNOW PATROL ***
IP MAN
month – horses, courses etc) Glory Box attempt
Just Say Yes (Polydor)
15 (Cine-asia)
here. Unless you’re one of those people who
This is the classic biopic of the fearless Chinese fighter Ip Man, who
AKA Lightbody’s Lament (Again) this precursor
thinks that ‘having a woman singing’ is a gene
defied the Japanese empire and went on to became a courageous
to the forthcoming retrospective Up To Now re-
in itself. Rachel Collier’s vocals are clear and
leader of the Chinese people. The brutality of the Sino-Japanese war is
mains yet another retread of the Patrol singer’s
jazzy, although they do remind me more of Nelly
fully realised here as the Chinese fight to overcome adversity. This is a
heart-bruised romantic disillusionment – only
Furtado than I’d prefer; the band are, well,
thrilling adventure. ****AF
this time underscored by a bizarre 80s synthe-
light and jazzy too, all acoustic plucking with
sizer backing track. Nevertheless, like most of
intermittent alto sax runs. NG
BUZZ 49
NOVEMBER 2009.indd 49 28/10/09 10:37:11
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