| Music
New music on the decks by Matthew Clark
TALKIE WALKIE
by AIR
on VIRGIN RECORDS
Rating: *****
 Jean
Benoit Dunckel and Nicholas both grew up in Versailles,
met at college, and formed Air in 1995. Several singles
and their debut album caused a considerable stir. Air’s
music is distinct and imaginative techno of a slower, ambient,
fluffier kind, one of their hallmarks being an intriguing
mix of exotic samples. Everything gets slowed down, and
juiced through bizarre filters. Their recordings feature
orchestral, classical and even mock-disco motifs, laced
with samples of horns, film music, and electronic bubbles.
This is their fifth album, and it’s another multi-faceted
adventure. In some ways more melodic than some of their
previous work this album also has a more mature feel, excelling
in both production and musical imagination. To some extent
the pop and polish erodes Air’s distinctive spacey
urban edge. Nevertheless, there are some truly knock-out
moments.
SET LIST
by THE FRAMES
on ANTI RECORDS
Rating: ****
 The
Frames, led by singer, songwriter and guitarist Glen Hansard,
made their debut at a music festival in their hometown,
Dublin, in 1990, releasing their first album, Another Love
Song, in 1992. They have since released another five albums,
three of which went platinum in Ireland. For some years
they have been steadily gaining an enthusiastic band of
devotees, who are particularly dotty about their live shows.
The band is basically a five-piece rock band (including
a violinist), and is becoming another of those massive Irish
rock exports. Although not novel in terms of style, or virtuosity
as musicians, The Frames nevertheless have an engaging Celtic
charm and natural musical expression that is immediately
appealing. This album features many of their more popular
songs from previous releases, and the audience just love
it.
CROWNING GLORY
by KING BATHMAT
www.kingbathmat.com
Rating: ****
 John
Basset certainly chose a highly unusual, if unforgettable
name as an alias. For the last seven years he has been working
at his music, and released his debut album, Son of a Nun
in 2003, an album that scored some very favourable reviews.
Crowning Glory is his second album. King Bathmat, who lives
in Hastings, is an entirely one-man outfit. The songs are
all written and recorded by John, who also handles the distribution
and promotion of his recordings. He does a very professional
job, producing, essentially, good quality Brit-pop. At times
somewhat reminiscent of Oasis or Coldplay, the album is
sensitively produced, with good musicianship and some great
melodies. The sophistication of what Bathmat manages to
achieve on his own makes you wonder what sort of levels
he might achieve should he ever get signed to a label with
some clout.
Youth in Dub
by Orchestra Mystique
www.Youth.me.uk
Rating: ****
 The
main man of the Veils is singer/songwriter and guitarist,
Finn Andrews. Finn was born in London, in 1983, and got
into music after moving to New Zealand in his early teens.
There, he played regularly in a twelve-piece folk band in
a folk club located in a gun bunker, situated half way up
a dead volcano near Davenport. Moving to London in 2000,
he started the Veils, essentially a Brit-pop-sound band,
who signed a deal and started recording an album. A legal
wrangle with the record company resulted in extensive delays
and the band changing labels. Three singles were finally
released, and now their debut album. Finn has a great voice
and is a capable songwriter, and the band deliver all the
necessary scope of sound. The album is a competent debut,
but tends to be somewhat thin when it comes to stand-out
moments.
copyright The Insight 2004
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