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18 July 2006
Edu K, Illegal (Man Recordings)
Due to the fact that Edu K's Illegal is a mashup album with White Stripes and Michael Jackson (and others, we'll get there), I'm thinking the title may well be an accurate representation of the legality of this EP, but like those original As Heard on Radio Soulwax mixes let's overlook that little aspect for the fun. So forget the really limited appeal of mashups, their novelty and simplicity -- I've a feeling Edu K knows this full well. He's just out to have some fun. Now for "K", fun = sex, so we have "Sex-O-Matic" (Edu K's tenor-chanting Portugese rap over "Zombie Nation"), "Sexxx-O-U" ('80s hit "I.O.U" by Freeez with the same sing-song rap/spoken word style). The "Blue Orchid" mashup -- well, it's all about the riff, of course, and the vocal style's the same every song, but K's baile funk adds a genuine party flavour. Either way, here's a suggestion: if you're throwing a party, stick "Bundalele Baile Jean" in the middle of the playlist and just see what happens.
[Insound]
— Dan Raper
multiple songs: [MySpace]
Hip-hop 
Middle Distance Runner, Plane in Flames (Middle Distance Runner)
If careers were built on youthful charm, the members of Middle Distance Runner would already be stars in their own right. There's a distinctly young vivacity to the songs on their debut, Plane in Flames. From the handclaps that kick things off on opener "Naturally" to the chiming, pining "Up in a Tree", there's a sense of wide-eyed fun running throughout the disc. Not that everything here is sunshine and roses -- "Switch It Up" and "The Madness" infuse the disc with some darkness, and "Out of Here" injects a little Radiohead-lite desperation into the mix. Moreover, Middle Distance Runner goes out of its way to flex its muscles and display some diversity, with "Man of the People" tossing in some Hives-like garage rock, "Shoot the Shit" cribs a little Soundtrack of Our Lives, "Hooks" comes over as a blippy-to-anthemic Postal Service nod, while "That's a Lie" ends things on a Jesus and Mary Chain wall of guitars. But one of the most impressive aspects of this disc is that it's a self-produced affair. Erik Dean does a surprisingly good job of mixing this disc to highlight the songs' various strengths, and the whole affair is surprisingly confident and well-structured for a personally realized project. Ultimately, Plane in Flames is a strong debut from a band that proves it has the chops, if not quite yet the distinctive identity, to be a great indie rock band.
[Insound]
— Patrick Schabe
multiple songs: [MySpace]
multiple songs: [streaming]
Indie / rock 
Pink Skull, Blast Yr Akk (Tone Arm)
The members of Pink Skull call themselves postpunkpsychedelicdiscohouse pioneers. Besides the fact that such a label is bound to muck with line wraps everywhere, it sounds to me like they're a band in search of an identity. Blast Yr Akk is the debut full-length CD from the band (at least, they're calling it a full length, even though it doesn't even quite hit the half-hour mark), and it goes in the house direction at first, but then it jaunts into ambient, and yes, the post-punk influence shines through, and oh, why not finish it with a Roxy Music cover? That last is a surprisingly faithful cover of the excellent "In Every Dream Home a Heartache" (here without the "a Heartache"), and the Pink Skull treatment is one of sparse drum work and distorted synths, and the album's sole appearance of sung vocals, which sound oddly like Leonard Cohen. Along with "In Every Dream Home", the disc's other highlight also doubles as the best song title I've seen this year: "If You Know Can, Then I Guess You Really Know Music". A solid beat and a building wall of synths actually manages to recall some of Can's more experimental moments, making this reviewer a happy man. There are ambient bits ("Grand Viziers After Party"), and there are dance-y bits (opener "In Touch"), but nothing sticks around long enough to make an impression. Pink Skull is confusing. Perhaps its members intended it that way, but the result is an album that floats by without ever leaving a distinct impression. Well, except for that one title.
[Insound]
— Mike Schiller
"If You Know Can, Then I Guess You Really Know Music": [MP3]
multiple songs: [MySpace]
Electronic / House 
Amy Speace, Songs for Bright Street (Wildflower)
Joan Collins is a folkie at heart, so it's not a huge surprise that she can spot talent. One of her label's finds is Amy Speace. And Speace makes the most of the opportunity thanks to some great songwriting and a talented, seasoned supporting cast that includes Gary Louris of The Jayhawks and Golden Smog as well as Soozie Tyrell, known for her work recently with a certain Mr. Springsteen. "Step Out Of The Shade" sets things off on the right foot as she mixes some pop with some folk and a touch of alt.country. She also touches on some adult contemporary ground with "Water Landing" that is rather reflective but "Not The Heartless Kind" sounds like a light version of Lucinda Williams as does the sultry slow dance of "Shed This Skin". A much better effort is the simpler, acoustic folk entitled "Two" that is easily comparable to British folk singer Kate Rusby. The rowdy and raunchy "The Real Thing" is the real honky-tonk barroom kind of thing. But the first real highlight is the slow, Celtic-tinged waltz-y "Make Me Lonely Again" that is primarily guitar and sweet vocal. A surprise is a solid, old-school country revamping of Blondie's "Dreaming" which is sure to get your attention. Other pleasers are the slow but very pretty country folk of "Row Row Row" and the toe-tapping "Double Wide Trailer".
[Insound]
— Jason MacNeil
"Step Out of the Shade": [M3U]
"Not the Heartless Kind": [M3U]
Singer-songwriter
Various Artists, Imaginational Anthem Volume 2 (Tompkins Square)
The first Imaginational Anthem volume was a striking acoustic guitar collection that pulled together legendary performers with nearly forgotten should-be legends and the younger guitarists following in their footsteps. Just as engaging, Volume 2 follows that same pattern, but with an almost completely different cast of characters. The emphasis is on rare and new tracks, and there's some fantastic ones. And while the finger-picking style associated in the general consciousness with John Fahey is still the dominant way of playing here, the collection ultimately showcases quite a diverse array of approaches, including the aggressive yet gentle style of Fred Gerlach, Micheal Chapman's bluesy melancholy, and the dark open atmospheres created by Christina Carter (of Charalambides). Overall it's an impressive showcase of guitar talent, present and past.
[Insound]
— Dave Heaton
Eclectic
.: posted by Editor 8:47 AM
