Album Review - Lights (Archive)OCT 01

Every now and then you come across something unusual, something unexpected, and something running against the current trend.  Archive is this unusual unexpected thing.  Recently we were browsing a clothing site for research for one of our current projects and we came across a video clip with this great tune tied to it - 'Sane' by Archive.  Our first impressions left us thinking it was something like a cross between Vampire Weekend and TV on the Radio, both favourite band's of Oberon Media, but once we jumped on youtube and checked out some of their other tunes we found far more depth and uniqueness from this seven piece band from London.  The unusual thing about Archive is that they don't really fit any genre.  They have songs which sound common enough to hit any major radio station and other songs which you feel like are from a dramatic movie scene or even be it a musical/opera.  A diverse range of instruments, 3 different vocalist, and effects are used harmoniously across all their work giving any willing individual something they'll love.  Yet while all this diversity creates a great range of sounds, they still manage to hold that very unique sound that defines them as them as who they are.  Lights is Archive's 3rd album  and was in fact released in 2006, it's just we were so impressed, we thought we should review the album. 

 

Lights quintessentially reflects the band's overall diversity.  It is not afraid to explore those unusual combinations that most people would assume wouldn't work.  'Sane', a great opening track, has a great beat to it, matched by a attitude heavy vocal and while this song probably holds the most commercial viability it is outdone by three or four other songs on the album which take listeners where they haven't been before. 'Veins', 'Fold', the eighteen minute masterpiece 'Lights', 'I Will Fade' and 'Headlights' are the songs where archive are in their element.  From soft melodic moving compositions to stirring beat heavy rock anthems, Lights never fails to surprise and intrigue the listener to just want more.

 

Highlights: Sane, Veins, Lights, I Will Fade

 

 

http://www.myspace.com/archiveuk

Album Review - High Violet (The National)SEP 13

With the exception of a few Nick Cave die-hards, it is fair to assume that most would believe that deep soulful voices accompanying bowel rumbling bass lines are a dying recipe for todays pop/indie driven music industry.  It is for this reason that the sudden rise and success of The National are a delight to hear about and more to the point, listen to.  Reinventing and modernising the once highly popular compositions & styles of Nick cave and the Bad Seeds and perhaps the lesser known Australian band "The Birthday Party", The National's latest album, High Violet, blends the melodic brilliance of Matt Berninger with rolling bass lines and all the sounds of a big band.   Throughout the tracklist 'Berninger' is backed by the harmonious supporting vocals of his fellow band members, which is no more apparent than on the first track of the album, 'Terrible Love'.  These vocals help 'sweaten' the deep tones of Berninger, allowing us to stay well clear of falling into a depressive mood  and enabling us to relax and just enjoy listening.

Highlights: Bloodbuzz Ohio, Runaway, England 

 

 

http://www.myspace.com/thenational   

Powderfinger - Not to be forgotten!SEP 09

Tonight we are attending one of Powderfinger's last concerts.  We have been huge fans over the years of this great Australian band and they are on high rotation in our studio playlists.  Whilst it was sad to hear that this is the end of an era, it is good to finally see a band who are willing to make a hard call and go out on a high!  Not many bands are willing to hang up the boots with such popularity, which often leaves them dwindling into the darkness until they're no longer remembered.  Powderfinger however, we will remember!

Miike Snow - Office TunesSEP 06

We've recently just gotten into Miike Snow, a band from Sweden, who a couple of us were fortunate enough to see at the hi-fi bar Melbourne.  To give them a genre isn't exactly easy with a wide variation of tunes on their first self titled album which is what we love about these guys, but I guess they are a more euro style of MGMT/The Presets(a bit more easy listening) If you get a chance hit up their myspace page and check out there tunes.  They are still in high rotation on the office playlist after a month or so.

 

www.myspace.com/miikesnow