Momma takes it be a nose. But it was a close run thing...
Andy
Regina Spektor - I'd only heard her theme from Orange is the New Black before which I quite enjoyed but this was absolutely fantastic I thought. Looking at her bio she's got a whole lot of classical training so the wonderful orchestration should come as no surprise. A couple of big old epics in here too for fans of anything overblown (but not nonsense) She's a very very rich man's Lana Del Ray 8.5
Momma - Really enjoyed this one too, albeit for very different reasons. They wear their lo-fi indie influences on their sleeves and do a cracking job, like a slightly more competent Beebadoobee. Rockstar is an absolute choon 8
Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band - This was decent, I think I preferred it to the Shack album Mark picked for us a few weeks back. He's got that scouse singer songwriter thing that Ian McNabb, Pete Wylie and Ian Broudie have mastered in the past. Really nice stuff 7.5
Gwenno - I feared the worst as I assumed that singing in Cornish meant this was going to be harcore folk music. Fortunately the music was much more acceptable than that so this was relatively listenable, especially as the vocals, whatever they were, didn't go full Welsh sounding. A mildly diverting artefact (full disclosure, I only listened once to this, who knows what would happen on a second spin) 6
Track of the week - the absolutely magnificent Spacetime Fairytale
Jesus and Mary Chain - I was never a fan of these back when we were chucking fireworks around at school and while I appreciate them more these days I've got to admit I find a lot of it quite samey. Definitely my second favourite Scottish Reid brothers in pop 6.5
Guy
Regina Spektor - It is a decent effort from a musical perspective but it does sound like Lana del Ray and that's not a good look for me 5
Momma - Nothing necessarily wrong with this album but it was pretty forgettable Indie IMHO - 6.3
Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band - Quite enjoyed this. It's the jingle jangle soft pop Indie I like. 7
Gwenno - As per all comments, you fear the very worst but it's far from bad. Music is decent with a bit of a jazzy feel to some of it. Who knows what she's saying and I thought it weakened as it went off after a decent start 6.5
Track of the week - Kismet - Michael Head
Jesus and Mary Chain - Probably my favourite band when I was 14/15. Played the vinyl off this. Struck an innovative balance between heavy reverb and harmonic melody. Just Like Honey is such a quality tune but there are so many others 9.5
Erol
Regina Spektor - Apparently she is a classically trained Russian-American pianist. Enjoyably mellow pop accompanied by her piano with a nice symphony backing. Sometimes though, it’s all a bit too theatrical for me. 6
Momma - fairly decent indie guitar music by another indie-girl guitar band! 6.5
Michael Head - all very soft and drifty. Lots of percussion with a horse hair drum brush. 5.5
Gwenno - quite pretty and ethereal at times, but the vocals don’t do it for me. I’ll stick to Tom Jones and the Stereophonics next time I want to hear Welsh music. 4
Mark
Regina Spektor - good to finally listen to her stuff after reading about her on and off over the years, she's a real talent. Clever inventive songwriting, vocals come and go a bit but on the whole a great listen, and quite different from so much other stuff around. Will check out more of her stuff - 7
Momma - didn't love it at first but much better on second listen once the songs grow on you, stuff like Speedway 72 and Rockstar is decent grunge-lite, like her vocals as well. - 6.5
Michael Head - fantastic album from a great songwriter, I'm a sucker for this sort of melodic scouse indie pop, always have been. This had bits of Nick Drake, Edwyn Collins, The Coral, some gorgeous laid back summery jingle jangle - 8
Gwenno - well this was a turn up for the books. Another name I'd heard of as she's on Heavenly Records, but had no idea she sings woozy folktronica in Welsh/Cornish and it's rather lovely I thought - 7
TOTW - The American Kid, by Michael Head.
Simon
Regina Spector: refreshingly different to our usual offerings - doesn't always work (see Loveology) but when it does it soars (see Coin). 7.8
Momma: nothing wrong with it per se but it's rather formulaic and they're not doing anything interesting enough to stand out from the crowd. 6.5
Michael Head: this isn't the kind of thing I'd normally gravitate towards but there's some quality songs here (e.g. Fluke). Reminded me a bit of Steve Mason. 7.5
Gwenno: ethereal and enchanting - always had a bit of a soft spot for this kind of stuff. 7.5
Jesus & Mary Chain: Beach Boys style melodies set against a backdrop of pure noise - a brilliantly simple idea, perfectly executed. 8.5
TotW: the majestic Coin by Regina Spector.
Sam
Regina Spektor : gorgeous voice but never seems to take off properly. Obv influenced by Billy Joel which is why Andy lurves her …6
Momma : proper rock band and it gets better through the album 7.5
Michael Head : scouse pub singer . No ta . 4
Gwenno : when I was in vampire club there was a strange offshoot that dressed as pirates , knocked up a bit of plywood resembling a ship and attacked each other shouting in Cornish. They would have liked this . I didn’t . 4.5
Jesus and Mary chain : anyone see them in the 80’s ? I wish … what a band . Stunning album. Still sounds amazing . 9
Tune of the week Spider by momma
Matt
Regina Spektor: 7.8
Momma: 6.5
Michael Head: 6
Gwenno: 7
Jim
Regina Spektor 5.5
For sure it’s well produced and she has some skills, but not for me
Momma 8
Not hugely original but ticked many boxes and a handful of TOTW contenders
Michael Head 6
Nice enough but I forgot it pretty quickly
Gwenno: 6
Definitely not as bad as feared.
Jesus and Mary Chain 7.5
Only remembered a few of these from the day, and whilst its obviously influential, I didnt really warm to it
Justin
Regina Spektor too much quirky girly americana around at the moment. If you want to listen to this style of music Joanna Newsom does it much better 6.5
Momma not the most original sound but really liked it. 7
Michael Head reminds me of the coral. Pleasant sounds. 6 9
Gwenno not the worst ever but Welsh language mystic electronica not for me 5
Jesus and the Mary Chain I like a bit of fuzzy guitar noise but on the whole a bit too drone for me 6
Totw momma speeding 72 (the grass michael head close second)
Comments