PET SHOP BOYS Elecectric (x2)
In 1993, I asked my Dad to help me make up the pocket money to buy my Mum ‘Very’ on cassette. Already the Pet Shop Boys’ 5th album, it was the one most famous for ‘Go West’ and the group seemed to inhabit this kinda subverted sleaziness, quintessential British desire to have it large and decades of great British songwriting to refer to. It was a world I wanted to belong to, but via the safe distance from behind my mum. Tey seemed to lose their edge with ‘Go West’, a cover of the Village People song, until this offering, some six albums later. Aside from the celebrated success of single, ‘Love Etc’ from 2009’s ‘Yes’, they’ve failed to set the world alight, or even get their fingers burnt trying. ‘Electric’ is committed without apology. Neil Tennant’s signature vocal is used sparingly, and their continued songwriting relationship with the city of dance-mad Berlin. Stuart Price, producer for the album has obviously allowed the dynamic duo to quash any ideas of the Pet Shop Boys being past it, and the beats are heavier and more in your face than much of Underworld’s most hard hitting material. It was as if Neil and Chris were sat on their sofa while watching the Olympic Ceremony , soundtracked by Underworld, and thought, ‘Let’s ‘ave it.’ A few schmaltzy, vocally indulgent tracks aside, it really is a dance lover’s kinder surprise. Emma R. Garwood
Queens of Te Stone Age Like Clockwork
Six years have passed since Queens of Te Stone Age released their last album Era Vulgaris and they are finally back with their newest offering, …Like Clockwork. Side projects and commitments in the form of Tem Crooked Vultures and Eagles of Death metal as well as line-up changes and near death experiences have kept Josh Homme and co. from fully returning to the scene, meaning their new album is one that has been long awaited. Joint once again by former members Dave Grohl and Nick Oliveri, Queens manage to deliver 10 songs much worthy of the wait. Also popping up on the album are guest stars Trent Reznor, Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears and Sir Elton John himself – having told the band they needed ‘an actual queen’. Since Homme’s near death experience during a knee operation, it seems he has began to write more from the heart and has described the album as ‘an audio documentary of a manic year’. As well as being an immensely personal record, it is also extremely pleasing to listen to. During the hiatus period, the band seem to have evolved in their songwriting, still keeping many elements from their older albums but moving towards more complex and heartfelt songs such as ‘Te Vampyre of Time and Money’. Despite the pressure of being one of the most hyped up albums for the band, …Like Clockwork shows a more raw and personal edge to their unique sound and is their most musically diverse album yet. Ellie Smith
42 /July 2013/
outlineonline.co.uk
Acid Washed House of Melancholy
Hold on to your harem pants and take tight hold of the ever-shrinking edges of your crop top. Acid Washed are releasing an album this month to add to the patchwork of excellent beat driven music coming out this season. With dance music in their blood, French acts always know the most direct route to the dancefloor and this is an immediate album, echoing the return of house music with some 90s techno house, 80s synth sounds and the welcome electro relevance of their chosen collaborators. Predominantly instrumental, there are some choice vocals to change the pace; Blaq Shampu’s R&B sound brings the album right up to date, and the new wave, droning sung melody over ‘Gasoline’ really puts the “melancholy” in ‘House of Melancholy’ to change the dynamic. Te album shifts at this almost midway point for a more introspective biopic on Franco-phonics, a post 4am wind down until the rising dawn of ‘Nautilus’ and ‘House of Melancholy,’ the title track. For me, the undulating stereo switching of ‘Hello Universe’ is the neatest embodiment of the album, fusing the best in atmospheric Euro- electronica with the direct oratory and singing of Miss Kittin. Tiny Dancer
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