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Love Psychedelico: This Is Love Psychedelico

June 6, 2008 / James B. Eldred

Psychedelic music is weird. The Japanese are weird. You’d figure that the two combined would be an awesome black hole of insanity filled with feedback, two dozen synthesizers, kazoos and other wackiness (and some Hello Kitty references). If Love Psychedelico are any indication however, the two just sort of cancel each other out and you’re left with good-but-not-great slightly-psychedelic blues/folk rock. (However, the fact that there’s a Japanese folk-rock girl group is in itself a little weird.) While the group has been around for over a decade in their native country and had success in other parts of Asia, This Is Love Psychedelico is the band’s US debut, and is actually compilation of their previous releases. Lead singer Kumi sings in both English and Japanese on most songs, sometimes switching back and forth between the two so fast that it’s hard to keep track. The girls wear their influences on their sleeves, especially the psychedelic-era Beatles with tracks like “Lady Madonna” (which is not a cover of the Beatles song) and “Fantastic World.” Lead singer Kumi’s voice is one-of-a-kind and not always in a good way, sometimes she sinks into a talk-sing voice that sounds flat and off-key, especially in the otherwise excellent “Unchained.” They’re definitely not J-Pop but Love Psychedelico’s sound is still probably something that works a hell of lot better in Japan. (LABEL: Hacktone Records 2008)

Love Psychedelico MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, Rock

Young Knives: Superabundance

June 6, 2008 / James B. Eldred

One part Arctic Monkeys and a lot more parts Adam Ant and Gang Of Four, Young Knives are a British band who garnered some critical attention in their homeland with their 2006 full-length debut Voices of Animals and Men. While their off-kilter post-punk tunes and overall oddness (they call their bass player “The House of Lords”) is the kind of thing that makes the British press go gaga, the only crowd they’re liable to get in America are disaffected Weezer fans and They Might Be Giants fanatics looking to branch out. That’s a shame, because while their sophomore effort Superabundance is a little uneven at times, it’s a thoroughly entertaining record filled with bouncy jams like “Turn Tail,” “Fit 4 U” and the excellent ‘Terra Firma,” which features the awesomely nonsensical chorus “Fake rabbit / Real snake / Terra firma, terra firma.” Other highlights include the “‘The’ band” track “Dyed In The Wool” and “Counters,” one of the most enjoyable songs about offing yourself you’re likely to hear. Young Knives are brought down by their own wackiness, though, on the ballads “Flies” and the immensely grating “Mummy Light the Fire,” the latter of which repeats its title ad nauseam. This album is just too weird to ever break through to the mainstream, but fans of Britpop and geeks the world over should enjoy it. (LABEL: Rykodisc/Warner UK 2008)

Young Knives MySpace page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Rock

DJ Dolores: 1 Real

June 6, 2008 / James B. Eldred

He may have DJ in his name, but the Brazilian-based turntablist would probably be at home next to world music compatriots like Balkan Beat Box and later-day stuff by David Byrne. Whatever Dolores is spinning on his third album 1 Real, there aren’t any tracks that are going to get the raver kids bouncing up and down or end up on any Aphex Twin nerd’s playlist. Most of what Dolores is doing here is infusing traditional Brazilian music with his own electronic flavor. One can only imagine that dance houses across Rio are banging to track like “Deixa Falar” and “Cala Cala” but the songs don’t mean nearly as much if you aren’t familiar with what Dolores is sampling and drawing from. Occasionally though, the turntable/electronic influences are brought to the forefront and the traditional South American themes are taken back a bit. “Flying Horse” is built off of a strange vocal sample and even stranger beat; it would fit right in on an U.N.K.L.E. or DJ Shadow record. “Mutant Child (Run, Run, Run),” which according to the liner notes was inspired by a Wolverine comic book story – is a slow groove deep house kind of track, and the haunting “Wakaru” is trance, pure and simple. Dolores is politically active in his native country, and that is reflected in the lyrics of his music. However, since most of the songs on 1 Real are in Portuguese, that really won’t matter much to the American audience. Still, electronic music fans might want to check 1 Real out; it’s intelligent dance music of a different variety. (LABEL: Ziriguiboom/Crammed 2008)

DJ Dolores MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Electronica

Joshua James: The Sun Is Always Brighter

May 30, 2008 / Jeff Giles

Like the album’s artwork, Joshua James’ The Sun Is Always Brighter is composed of beautifully muted colors – from “The New Love Song” clear on down to “Commodore,” each track floats along on a quietly melancholy cloud, strung up with plaintively plucked acoustic guitars, tasteful pianos, and – courtesy of ace utility infielder Phil Parlapiano – the occasional organ, accordion, and mandolin. At the forefront is James’ high, husky voice, a deceptively fragile instrument that recalls nothing so much as Ray LaMontagne without the constant threat of suicide. Brighter offers 11 slow pitches down the middle of the plate for fans of hushed backwoods soul with a slight dash of rock – think of the more bucolic moments on early Van Morrison albums like Moondance, and you’re on the right track. Of course, Joshua James isn’t the songwriter Morrison is – hell, he might not even be the songwriter Ray LaMontagne is – but that doesn’t keep Brighter from being a wonderfully easy listen. You may be hard-pressed to remember most of these tracks after they’re done – and if you pay enough attention to the lyrics, you might worry for James’ long-term well-being – but while the record is on, you’ll wish you had a mint julep, a back porch, and a nice breeze blowing through the birches. (Intelligent Noise/Northplatte 2008)

Joshua James MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, Rock

Ready Fire Aim: This Changes Nothing

May 30, 2008 / James B. Eldred

Electronic rock is making a comeback of sorts, and Ready Fire Aim is surely hoping that they can catch the crest of that synthesizer wave to celebrity and success. However, while bands like Does It Offend You, Yeah?, MGMT, and the Klaxons are taking the classic synth-pop sound of the ‘80s and infusing it with everything from intelligent dance music, rave-inspired techno and even punk rock, Ready Fire Aim seems content to play it safe and emulate the stars of the past, with predictably boring results. “Wannabe You,” “Welcome Home,” and just about every track on their debut CD features programmed beats lifted straight from the garbage bin of the Violator sessions, and is full of second-rate retreads of something that’s already been done a thousand times over. Most importantly, lead singer Sage Rader’s (if that’s stage name, he’s an asshole, and if that’s his birth name, then his parents are pricks) bland whisper of a voice is obviously trying to come off as sexy, but instead is just incredibly annoying. Some advice for all you kids with computers and a mixing board: If you want to rip off Depeche Mode, or any of the other great electronic acts of the ‘80s, remember that while they often didn’t have any instruments aside from a drum machine and a high-end Casio, they usually did manage to find someone that could sing. This Changes Nothing is instantly forgettable. Talk about a descriptive album title. (LABEL: Expansion Team 2008)

Ready Fire Aim MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Electronica, Rock