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SAINT ETIENNE HOME COUNTIES
David
Urban and rural. Te two, as the citizens of Norwich and their county cousins demonstrate, can lead very different lives, and have different attitudes, politics and priorities. But what of ‘sub-urbia’, that doughnut ring of commuters caught in the middle ground? Take, for example, the London overspill that is the Home Counties. After their live soundtrack to Paul Kelly’s 2014 film How We Used To Live (featuring archive film of post-war London) Saint Etienne return with a 16 song collection dedicated to the world into which they were born. Home Counties arranges itself into three distinct sections, punctuated by radio soundbites sampled from morning, lunch and afternoon. Tis is a world that revolves principally around work and dreams, and the relationship with a capital city that is never far away, or easy to escape from. Glorious throughout with Sarah Cracknell’s seductive vocals and strong melody lines, you will experience the urge to get away that is Dive; intrigue at the story of the Enfield poltergeist Heather; and be transported to the original Dunton Plotlands during the beautiful spoken word opening to Sweet Arcadia. But indulge yourself and savour this album in its entirety. A celebration of post-modernism. A classic.
ALT-J RELAXER
Erin
Tere’s a lot riding on alt-J’s third album Relaxer. And relax it does not. In the best way possible. Eight songs contain worlds, galaxies, and universes of musical exploration. Already released 3WW and In Cold Blood are intense, the former boasting vocals from Wolf Alice’s Ellie Rowsell and the latter a flurry of Morse code lyrics and off-putting bass. Quite surprisingly for many fans, House of the Rising Sun is a cover of the timeless tune made famous by the Animals, and alt-J make glorious work of it. Te rest of the album takes us through more experimental keyboard sounds and continues the wacky journey already introduced us to with previous records. Hit Me With Tat Snare and Deadcrush are insane, layered tracks, with hanging, distorted vocals and heavy basslines. Adeline harkens back to previous album Tis is All Yours with sweet acoustic guitars layered over soothing piano notes, while closing track Pleader is satiatingly incongruous. Relaxer is a trip through folk, through electronic, through alternative experimental music with a solid alt-J stamp plastered all over it. Tere’s a sense of urgency, an uneasiness that permeates the record; all eight songs have something ethereal, something ephemeral, and something eerie about them. Relaxer is both the most, and the least, alt-J album ever made. Te band ramp things up for third record, each song offering something brand-new to the palate of alt-J’s decadently experimental repertoire; the only thing missing is Bloodflood Pt. III.
DENAI MOORE WE USED TO BLOOM
Nick
At 23 Jamaican born, and British raised Denai Moore is an impressively self-assured Nu R&B artist whose musical inspirations look like a fascinating Venn diagram of everything that’s great in modern music. Vocally she shares a range and sound with Lianne La Havas, but her music is more challenging, her lyrics more considered and personal, whilst remaining soulful and deep. Opening with Let It Happen, synth snaps vie with multi-layered vocal takes, subtle brass, detuned guitars and 80’s drums to form a smooth fondue that provides if not a template, at least a map for the journey through We Used To Bloom. Fidgety pinpricks of acid squidge around the trumpets of Twilight, her breathy Elliot Smith cover which oozes classy sincerity. Do Tey Care About Us has political chutzpah, strings, slo-mo drum-machines and that voice carrying everything on its slender shoulders. She sings as if taking you in her arms and melodically whispering meaningful truths. Wonky Bring You Shame recalls Vinni Reilly’s unique guitar technique and in a few words disarms you, “when will I find a home in myself”. Te album never catches fire or invites you to dance, but wears plenty of heart on it’s sleeve and dreams big. If she unlocks the funk and gets her groove on, she could be a very big deal.
32 / JUNE 2017 /
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