Congrats to this week’s winners WH Lung for nabbing a top 10 spot for the year and just squeezing into our top 50, with their previous offering sitting proudly at #22. A TOTW is the icing on the cake.
Mark has his first 😀 since May. Phil clings onto his ☹️ for dear life.
Popol Vuh at best intrigued, converting 1 or 2 to their calming Kraut vibes. Justin might be happy that he no longer has his trio in the classics bottom 3.
Andy
WH Lung - This is decent indie with a touch of the groove, sure I remember them being more dancey last time around 6.5
Kelly Lee Owens - I hated the last album we did of hers and this is a marked improvement, actual tunes rather than just computer noises. It's still best enjoyed in a rave situation so I'm not going overboard but not unlistenable 5
High Vis - Nice bit of hardcore that almost dips its toe in a Madchester adjacent sound thanks to the singer's Scouse accent 7.5
Japandroids - I really enjoyed this, a bit of a modern take on classic turn of the century college rock. The vocals are reminiscent of a whole load of US alternative stuff from back then. Shame they're splitting up 8
TotW - D&T by Japandroids
Popol Vuh - Well, that was interesting Phil!! A bit more in a classical vein than the jazz stylings I feared at moments. Not one I'll come back to a ton but a very intriguing selection 5.5
Guy
W H Lung - The spawn of Hookworms. This band has all the elements I love. Tuneful vocals, jangly guitar, repetitive riffs and 80s synths. First listen I thought this lacked something over the last album but second listen just got better. - 8
Kelly Lee Owens - Started off pretty strongly with some of the earlier tracks having a real zip to them. But things went downhill a bit in the second half and it all got a bit noodley- 6.5
High Vis - the love child of Madchester and post-punk. I actually liked it. The music is great and although normally I don’t get on with shouty singers, I’m this case it ensured the band sounded fresh rather than simply an early 90s pastiche. - 7.5
Japandroids - I didn’t warm to this. Had a feel of those frat-rock bands - albeit a bit more tuneful. Mostly forgettable. I won’t be shedding a tear that this is their final album. - 5.8
Popol Vuh - Wow. This was a change from the norm for sure. It felt a bit like the musak they might play in the background of a speakeasy. I didn’t hate it but it wafted right over my head - 5
TOTW - How to Walk - W H Lung
Phil
WH Lung
Enjoyable enough synth pop. That’s about it, really 6
Kelly Lee Owens
More synth sounds, some danceable, others more woozy. I didn’t find much of it engaging 5.5
High Vis
An interesting bunch, capable of creating soundscapes that remind me of some of the best early 80s bands. Unfortunately the singer thinks he’s Jaz Coleman and shrieks most of his vocals. It rarely works, spoiling what might otherwise have been a decent album 6
Japandroids
A likeable if predictable slab of blue collar guitar rock. No fancy guitaring and few overdubs that I could hear. I don’t have a lot to say about the band or the album except to say I enjoyed it but am unlikely to ever listen to it again 6.5
TOTW: Japandroids - Chicago
Classic
Popol Vuh
I first heard this record when I was at university. The director of the college radio station had connections in the German music industry of the time and every week different imports would turn up in the station’s library. I listened to them all – Nektar, Wallenstein, Guru Guru – and this. It stood out because it wasn’t even rock music. But I loved it and played tracks from it on my then show. But I couldn’t buy it anywhere until the early 80s when a US reissue turned up at the Virgin megastore. I now play it all the time and I think it’s one of the most astonishing albums I’ve ever heard.
No one has really tried to match it, although Eno has certainly tried. You can also hear echoes of this album in the work of Talk Talk and even Kate Bush. It isn’t everybody’s cup of tea but if you fall under its spell there’s no turning back 10
Simon
W H Lung: another fab offering from WHL, arguably their best yet - the sound is bigger and bolder than ever, a hypnotic blend of pulsating synths, fuzzy guitars and catchy hooks that positively soars. Majestic. 8.2
Kelly Lee Owens: decent enough slice of dancefloor electronica, although it does veer too close to cheesy EDM at times. Lacks the substance and sophistication of the far superior Floating Points album. 7
High Vis: curious mix of hardcore and Madchester baggy - kicks off sounding like Northside but there's plenty of the former in the mix as well. Didn't hate it but struggled with the aggressive vocals which were just off-putting. 6
Japandroids: can't say I really took to this - it was a largely one-dimensional barrage of uninspiring drums and guitar riffs, together with a not particularly appealing vocal. Alice was a half decent song though. 5.5
Popol Vuh: had no idea what to expect here but was pleasantly surprised - I found it all rather intriguing and alluring, certainly at the outer reaches of my musical horizons (although pushing the boundaries is never a bad thing). 8
TotW: W H Lung - I Will Set Fire To The House
Sam
WH Lung: joyous ! A great tonic in the dark times at the moment. 8
Kelly Lee Owens : a decent bunch of dance bangers , occasionally let down by waftiness . 7
High Vis : decent bit of angsty rock . Never really took off properly though . 6.6
Japandroids: cracking slice of rock this . They have broken up before and got back together. 7.7
Popol Vuh : Hmmm , sorry mate this was pretty dull . I understand the skill involved but it wasn’t for me : 5
TOTW: Lilac Sky by WH Lung
Mark
WH Lung - more great stuff from the new Paris Angels, really looking forward to seeing them live next year - 7.5
Kelly Lee Owens - I like it most when she really steps on the gas rather than some of the twiddly ambient stuff from her last album, saw her supporting Primal Scream a few summers ago and she was ace - 7
High Vis - great bit of righteous baggy post punk, vocals like a cross between Shawn Ryder and Jaz Coleman - 7.5
Japandroids - rollicking no holds barred blue collar rock, loads of big soaring singalong choruses and interesting lyrics, shades of The Hold Steady in places. I remember wanting but failing to see them at Reading a few years back, not gonna happen now they're breaking up - 8
TOTW - Alice by Japandroids
Justin
WH Lung - gave this quite a few listens. Works great as an overall album and the indie synth vibe works well. No standout tunes, but works as an album. 6.9
Kelly Lee Owens - this to my ear is quite retro old school trance/ambient. Love songs like Dream State. A quality slice of electronica. 7.2
High Viz - This was a Northside/Flowered Up mash up with a bit more shouting. Loved it. 7.5
Japandroids - pretty standard indie 6
TOTW Untethered - High Viz
Popol Vuh - I always enjoy a bit of piano/classical/ambient hybrid. There is a lot of this type of stuff around at the moment and interesting to hear something so old that would still fit into the genre these days 7
Jim
WH Lung 8
Another to tip-top synth-pop offering from this bulging genre. Not quite as uplifting as the last one, but still hugely enjoyable with a handful of TOTW contenders: I Can't Lie and I Will Set Fire... in particular. We have a lot to thank New Order for
Kelly Lee Owens 8
Super-slick trance that sounds fresh which grew and grew on me. First half of dancefloor bangers with a back-end including some pool side chilling out. Took me back to the Sonar day session. The delicious Dreamstate is one of the best trance tracks I've heard in a while, reminded of the harder Lost Tribe anthem 'Gamemaster'. She is a talent
High Viz 6.5
I heard more big 80s rock guitars akin to U2 than Madchester tbh and whilst this mixed with more fashionable aggressive singing was an unusual combo, I didn't warm to it as much as most of the class.
Japandroids 6
Hold Steady storytelling was an interesting approach, but the tunes were pretty MOR rock.
TOTW: KLO: Dreamstate
Popol Vuh 5
Mmm not so sure how to assess this, and we’ve certainly had nothing close to it so far. Nice relaxing background sounds that didn’t offend is probably the best I can offer.
Erol
WH Lung - one of my favourite albums of the year so far. Packed full of uplifting synths and really well crafted tunes with catchy, moody vocals. ‘Soaring’ is the right word. Looking forward to seeing them early next year. 8.5
Kelly Lee Owens - really enjoyable techno/trance bangers followed by more mellow foot tappers in the second half. Dreamstate is a great tune. I couldn’t stop myself from waving my hands in the air. 7.9
High Vis - 90s inspired indie-rock with some great guitar sounds. They just need to find another vocalist who has a less aggressive, caustic style. 6.5
Japandroids - apart from one noteworthy tune (All bets are off), this was pretty rough around the edges. It won’t take long for this to fade from my mind, along with most of the other mediocre American frat bands that I’ve heard over the years. 5.5
TOTW - WH Lung, I Can’t Lie (with Dreamstate a close second).
Popol Vuh - I struggled with this. While I can appreciate its artistic merit, it did little for me. 5
Annette
WH Lung: 8
Kelly Lee Owens: 7.5
High Vis: 6
Japandroids: 5.5
TOTW: WH Lung - Lilac sky
Matt
WH Lung: Great swooping synths and guitar hooks. This album felt less of an homage to the 80s than their last one and more their own thing. Loved it. 8
Kelly Lee Owens: Sophisticated and smooth trance but perhaps needed to shift gear more often (as contrary as that sounds when discussing trance). 7.2
High Vis: Surprisingly coherent mix of agit post-punk, baggy and 80s. Exciting stuff. 7.8
Japandroids: Standard and nice enough indie. 6.8
TOTW: Lilac Sky, WH Lung
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