ENON "High Society"
(Touch'n'Go - 15 tracks)
Behind this kitch cover more than life is hidden John Schmersal's new group (Brainiac) and Toko Yasuda (The Lapse and a stint at Blonde Redhead). But don't worry Don't miss, if the ex-Brainiac is at the origin of this new training, we don't find the trace of his noise'n'roll angular here (or at very rare occasions, moreover, pleasant). Enon plays in a quieter and more accessible style. The guideline seems clear: take the headline rules as a basis American pop-rock, and play with it to give a result creative and often off-beat. In fact, depending on whether it's Toko or John singing, approaches really change. Or the group touch on a more or less classic indie rock (John), or Toko takes us into the twists and turns of electronic pop kitch to be stored between his former colleagues at Blonde Redhead and a strawberry chewing gum. Each of his songs is a hit in power, but most of the songs remain sung by John, who doesn't get too bad. We're just closer to Pavement, and as for the solo album by the singer of Pavement, the indie-pop melodies can really intoxicate you with irresistible tubes, but the group may also forget certain limits and then you risk frankly indigestion. However, the album has enough excellent titles to forget about small slippages. Don't goujats, Since when does a surplus ketchup prevent you from savoring A good dish?
(mg)

- - See also: Pavement, Blonde Redhead

HOT SNAKES "Suicide Invoice"
(cd 12 tracks - Swami records)
This San Diego supergroup, which includes John Reis (Rocket From The Crypt, Sultans, Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu, ...), Rick Froberg (Drive Like Jehu, Pitchfork), John Sinclair (Mule, Delta 72) and Gar Wood (Beehive) and the Barracudas, Tanner, Fishwife), gives us its definition back rock'n'roll with this second album as enjoyable as the previous one. For those who love Drive Like Jehu, knowing that here you find the singing and the original guitars, I have no argument to you Give so that you're interested in this record. For others, I can just make it clear that this huge group marked the emo/noise/hardcore scene during the decade passed with two absolutely incredible and indispensable albums, I'll never tire of listening. Automatic midnight so out of 2000, so I was pleasantly surprised by its freshness. and its spontaneity, where John's rock'n' roll riffs They were as well as they liked Rick's beautiful voice. This quartet combines all noise emotions in DLJ tension with Rocket's punk-rock emergency. Played as if it were the last time, each piece is imbued with emotive power. Who kicks your ass. Maybe a little less direct, but certainly better worked than the first one, this album is a rare pearl that we'd like to discover more often... MY ALBUM OF THE ETE
(Greg)

- - See also: Sultans, Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu, Rocket From The Crypt, The Wipers

NATURAL SNOW BUILDINGS "Ghost folks demo"
(11 titles - self-production)
The previous Natural Snow Buildings demo had to capture my attention with wobbly compositions, but to melancholy as touching as a Black Heart Procession. The Parisian group is coming back today with equally compositions dark, but more instrumental. We're navigating in a discreet universe and stripped, during which the auditor barely dares whisper. Difficult to disturb the tranquillity of this music winter. We're ingested by this distant emotion, these arrogant atmosphere which production deliberately fuzzy puts perfectly in relief. We're obviously thinking about Godspeed You Black Emperor. to whom we would have taken away the sonic surges, But Natural Snow Buildings develops a quasi-ecclesiastical aspect, without drums, the music of a sad and actionless film; we move forward at their own pace, along a deserted road, such as those that you find in the Highlands of Scotland, with these little churches And these few sheep. Some may get bored quickly, during that others will benefit from this rare moment...
(mg)

- - See also: Godspeed You Black Emperor, Black Heart Procession, Dirty Three

SONIC YOUTH "Murray Street"
(7 tracks - Geffen/Universal)
New sonic cuvée of these unstoppable and prolific New Yorkers as inventive. New immersion in acidity and softness of That big apple, New York. In the noise and calm of Murray Street (two streets from the World Trade Center). In the flow of these long songs noisy pop rock to which the quartet (now here quintet With the official arrival of Jim O'Rourke) got us accustomed. From the outset we can say that this album is quite revealed. little surprising. More accessible and melodic than 'NYC ghosts and flowers', it is also intended to be less experimental and therefore less disturbing despite a yet-controlled package, licked and ready to depart in dissonant spirals enjoyable (like that of 'Radical Adults and its excellent copper twilight very free jazz). Even more predictable, these long songs keep a grace and this poetry that is intended always in motion. The sound space it frees is the fruit a unique artistic vision because it is far too personal, which is constantly aimed at to go beyond what the format of a rock song requires. Don't worry nothing has begun and nothing will undermine freedom and creativity of these unbearable sculptors of raw sounds that give us still Here a lot of fun. And for extreme lovers who could be blasé listening to this umpteenth album, they still have the opportunity to search through the other 'hidden' of these crazy creators (last project The Diskaholics Anonymous Trio featuring Thurston, Jim and Mats Gustafsson in sax for a very noise project, very free... very sonic.)
(ChrisA)

- - See also: Thurston Moore, Blonde Redhead

OSWEGO "Oswego"
(cd 7 tracks - Bcore Disc)
Composed of two ex-Kerosene 454 (Erik Denno, guitar, Singing and Darren zentek, drums, guitar), by a Most Secret Method (Ryan Nelson, drums) by Mike M (bottoms) and Chris Turco (guitar, vocals, drums), this Washington DC group came out last year. a cd 4 tracks on Bcore that served as a beautiful presentation. At the time, some had been surprised by the cleanliness and calmness of this music closer to pop It's hardcore. After this surprise, I had found the rather interesting content, of course it changed, but Like Juno or Smart Went Crazy, technical skills And melodic research couldn't leave ice. This New album is exactly a continuation of the EP, recorded to Inner Ear Studios by Jay Robbins, these fresh and delicate pieces are delicious to have a good summer. As if Burning Airlines ran across karate, the jazzy side less. Finally not far from Beauty Pill (some members make it also gone), this style seems to be the new way to speak DC musicians who drop the side hardcore to evolve into thinner things. So if you are open, that you don't spit on the melodies and that you like smart music, you'll certainly like this record...
(Greg)

- - See also: Juno, Burning Airlines, Dismenberment Plan, Beauty Pill, Karate, Smart Went Crazy, Most Secret Method

SEVEN HATE "Matching the profile"
(cd 11 tracks - At(h)ome/Enragés/Dialektik)
It's always a joy for me to discover a new album from the Quatuo Poitevins. This fifth opus marks an important turning point. in the group's career, followed by the previous one "Is this glen", "Matching the profile" sees a new direction of the musical is slowly emerging. We feel that the influences of the group (the Thugs, Hard-Ons, Mega City Four, Senseless Things...) are always present, but others came to it. So it's kind of to Texas is the Reason, Samiam, Sensefield. or Get Up Kids that we must now see some similarities. Gone is the melodic hardcore that was their field of composition The Seven Hate are now doing what's called the e-pop-core. It's impressive how many groups can follow this development. in France, I am thinking in particular of the Bushmen and Shaggy Hound who were evolving. Both in more punk registers to end up with more things. pop. By the way, if we take the last albums of these two bands, The closer to today's Seven Hate is more than easy... But all this is not to displease me, so much "Is this I was tired of (some facilities and own clichés) to this style), so this album is a real little overflowing bomb. freshness, sincerity, emotions ("Serial Tape Burner" is magnificent), power and punkitude (when same. The level is much more technical than in the past. real research at the composition level is, on the other hand, the voice remains close to what we know, whereas I would have it Well seen a little more sluggish. In addition, production is ensured superbly by André Gielen, a strange choice when his previous works, more metal, are known. (Lofofora, Hoax, Mass Hysteria, Tagada Jones, Skunk...). And even if it's album has little to do with the hits "Homegrown" that marked my youth forever, I really like the new direction taken by the group, and I think at last, international recognition should be considered. For those who didn't love in the past, I strongly advise you To look at this album...
(Greg)

- - See also: Shaggy Hound (end), Texas is the Reason, Bushmen At the end of the game), Samiam, Sensefield...

KARATE "Cancel/Sing"
(2 tracks - Southern/Chronowax)
Between two albums ('unsolved' (2001) and 'some boots' to be released next autumn) and after a European tour Geoff, Jeff and Gavin decided to make it happen a little pleasure in releasing these two titles that I consider to be totally essential if you like the universe music for the Geoff Farina Trio. 'Cancel' (11 minutes) and 'Sing' (15 minutes) are real progressive jazzy rock pearls cut into elegance and refinement. They give the same place to the texts spoken. Geoff only to the dexterity and feeling of each Musician. Everything is clear. Cohesion and quality the sequences of the various parties confirm any the instrumental wealth and mastery that emanate from These three great musicians. Their game is so safe to use It will of course be impossible for you not to excite and to ask for it again. Relaxants and beautiful, 'Cancel' and 'Sing', which are constructed Like non-improvised jams really bruising perfection. A single regret that comes out at the end of each listening... Even long, these two titles are still too short.
[chris.A.

- - See also: Geoff Farina

TWELVE HOUR TURN "Perfect progress perfect destruction"
(cd 9 tracks - No Idea)
Sorry, but once again we'll have to break your Twelve Hour Turn is a group of Gainesville, Florida ( like Hot Water Music) and makes post-hardcore-emotional very High quality, imagine the guitar riffs of Drive Like Jehu associated with Fugazi's groove and with the nervousness of Four Hundred Years. "Yeah, another umpteenth clone in the same way..." Well, non-dear friend, I'll stop you everything right away, you're mad in the eye, this group really has a huge potential. The ideas slept, the three voices are judiciously used, breaks and other breaks impress, the melodies are crying (listen to "Sleep" comes early for you" and we talk about it again, this piece to be overtaken The thirtieth listener on my plate), and the sound is terrible. I had the enormous privilege of seeing them on June 20th. in Reims (thank you to Phil Burn Out, fucking their only one date in France...). Their first album (The victory of flight, 99) and the maxi (Bend break spill, 01) had already attracted my attention, but frankly next to this album It's gnognotte...More the cover is beautiful. To be discovered emergency.
(Greg)

- - See also: Four Hundred Years, Army of ponch, Fugazi, Drive Like Jehu, Some Soviet Station

KURT "The guard"
(cd 8 tracks - Nova recordings)
What good it feels like to take a good slap like this from time to time. Kurt comes back to us after a discographic silence Four years, but then what a comeback. Since 1994 the German trio we proposes his skilful mixture of noise and emocore, some Call it screamo, whatever, I understand myself. "Kurt" (97) on x-mist had already laid the basics of this style and "schesaplana" (98) on x-mist again (it's still This label, which deals with the vinyl version), had only strengthened them. Their music also evokes the search for a Drive Like Jehu. The darkness of Unwound as the power of a Guzzard or Shotmaker. This third album holds eight tubes to scream under the shower, the sound is excellent (certainly the best they could have have), the rhythm is frightening, like a compressor roller, the guitar squeaks, and the melodies are there (when same. By the way, I find the singing more interesting than before because it's less pushed. In short, the correct qualifier It's: Killing. We just regret the slightly short duration...
(Greg)

- - See also: Drive Like Jehu, Guzzard, Unwound (from the beginning), Shotmaker, Jr. Ewing

NE555 "Level one"
(cd 10 tracks - POGO Records)
I received this record a long time ago, so I apologize to of the group for this intolerable delay...Behind NE555 se hides Nico roadie/Light men/third man from [P.U.T. invested in the POGO label. Nico makes electronics hard classable, cold music at the frontiers of the indus where elements from universes as varied as the big beat, techno, ambient, and experimental encounters, The term "futuristic" could never be applied as well. Thus, Aphex Twin, Scorn, Front 242, and Prodigy in the same mixer. I find the compos a little long, maybe the goal was to let the atmospheres arise, which many neglect, But for me, on some headlines, boredom sets in. Actually I thinks that the music of NE555 isn't going enough, isn't enough direct. An effort that Nico will not fail to make by the future, I have no doubt... let time do its work to fully appreciate the tinkering of this extraordinary project. Let us note the presence of of four remixes at the end of the album, by Rune, Groom, zenopede, and [P.U.T. (my favorite, with its long quasi-post-rock intro Labradford).
(Greg)

- - See also: Aphex Twin, Scorn, Prodigy, Techno Animal, Front 242

EGGO "Panoplie"
(cd 9 tracks - La Baleine / Equal Musik)
When I see the bio in this group, I feel anything but want to listen ...At any rate is clear, they really want to acquire a certain notoriety, and give itself the means to do so... Okay, the content Isn't too bad, it's not really the kind of thing we listen to here, but I admit that it doesn't leave it indifferent... He is a French duo who evolves in electronic music. Proper use of programming, highlighted by plans low groovy. Wider atmospheres, also reminiscent of well the trip-hop of the beginnings of Morcheeba and Massive Attack which the current Loudspeaker of Lamb. On the other hand, I really don't like not that very trendy style of production where everything seems swollen in bright, crazed too clean. I don't like no longer the use of voices that further strengthens this side "radio". I can see this music passing between Buddha Bar and St Germain in the fashionable bars of the capital. Whatever he As I think, I think that these French have no complexities in They deserve amply global recognition.
(Greg)

- - See also: Lamb, Morcheeba, Jazzanova...

WEEPING MINDS OF SILENCE "Sa(ch)aren
(cd 5 titles - Self-production)
This group of Blois formed in 1996 delivers a noise with accents emo. After two demos and two splits (with Free for all for one and Skaal System for the other), these five titles, recorded by Fred Gramage (decidedly we see it everywhere right now, the new Fred Norguet?) at the studio Pôle Nord, arrives at a time when the French noise scene resumes colours. Strongly marked by Portobello Bones (a song shouted, the other more lyrical, binary rhythms all in power, a dissonant guitar, etc.), their music is not lacking in originality, even though I find that this influence is not yet everything to digested. A group to watch closely All the same, I think on stage it must be Very nice...
(Greg)

- - See also: Portobello Bones, Bananas at the Audience, Noise Surgery, Doppler

 

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