Emika – Emika (Ninja Tune)
Despite moments of dark, brooding, classically- tinged brilliance, this album is just boring.
stuff. So when I saw Emika was on the infamous NT I sat up and I listened. She creates her electronic music in her bedroom in Berlin (of course) and says her main inspiration is the Dr Who theme tune (can’t argue with that one). Mary-Anne Hobbs and Thom Yorke are both said to be fans; I, however, am not so much. Despite moments of dark, brooding, classically-tinged brilliance, this album is just boring; too many tracks all at the same pace and with the same feel makes Lizz a dull girl. There’s one piano piece in there called Credit Theme, which is beautiful, but for me the rest didn’t really add up to much. There was certainly no stand out obvious song to be used as a single, and mostly it made me feel like quite depressed, but not in a Smiths or Cure way. So, if you like miserable electronic music I would suggest Joy Division would be a better choice. Emma Garwood
T L Lisa Hannigan - Passenger (Hoop Recordings / PIAS UK)
isa Hannigan’s journey in music began with singing and touring alongside Damien Rice, who she worked closely with for more than seven years. Now, in 2011, Hannigan returns with a slightly more daring and markedly more confident sophomore album, ‘Passenger’. Whereas Hannigan’s
Mercury-nominated debut felt like a playful dabble of an album – as if she had decided it might be fun to put together a record while she had some spare time – ‘Passenger’ feels like an altogether more cathartic album, exploring the craft of songwriting in a way that feels decidedly different from previous Lisa Hannigan releases. Earthy lyrical imagery explores the themes of travel and growth that run central to the album, exploring the human condition just as much as the circumstances backdrops of each song’s story. Despite the development between albums, there are still perceptible nods to debut ‘Sea Sew’, however, such as the inclusion of sea-oriented tune ‘A Sail’ and the light-hearted, poppy feel of ‘What’ll I Do’, which could sit just as easily on Hannigan’s debut as on ‘Passenger’. The album could easily see a second Mercury nomination for Hannigan, and will certainly see her step out from beneath Damien Rice’s shadow in full. Lauren Razavi
ime was, you could rely on anything Ninja Tune brought out being absolutely second to none; they were talked of in hushed, revered tones, rather like John Peel. An artist had really made it if
Ninja Tune had accepted them onto their roster. From Mr Scruff to Roots Manuva, it was all solid
Earthy lyrical imagery
explores the themes of travel and growth that run central to the album.
Justice – Audio, Video, Disco (Ed Banger / Because) J
If anyone was going to keep up the mantle, it’d be Justice.
ustice are doing it for team Ed Banger with their release of Audio, Video, Disco this month. After the heatbreaking news that DJ Mehdi had died following an accident, there’s one less pair of French wonder-hands to grapple with the gallic electro we so often love. If anyone was going to keep up
the mantle, it’d be Justice. Following their benchmark debut ‘†’, their second full-length release starts with a He-man like wet dream. All heroism and might, it sets the tone for an album produced with comedy and inventiveness. There’s a flamboyance to this record, which doesn’t take itself too seriously; there’s echoes of glam-rock, new wave and infectious guilt! A couple of tracks from the previous album hinted at a more frantic, filthy direction with songs like ‘Stress’ and ‘Genesis’ only sitting comfortably when you were prepared to let go of comfort itself. I loved it. I was expecting them to push that further, like Felix da Housecat did with ‘Elvis’, but it wasn’t to be. If I park that, and allow the new direction in, that channels Late of the Pier, MGMT and Midnight Juggernauts (whose Vincenzi Vendetta features for Justice), I am ready to get all over the record. Tiny Dancer
outlineonline.co.uk / October 2011 / 41
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64