Slottsfjell 2008: the DiS review
DiS's love affair with Norway continues as we're again in the country for another superb festival, this time featuring Fuck Buttons, Stereolab, Miracle Fortress and more»
Articles
thatbirdslove has written the following articles:
The Futureheads at Oxford Academy, Thu 06 Mar
The Futureheads sound like they’re just itching for some stage pyrotechnics. Even if they have songs about kidnapping and murder, it never sounds that way. It’s simply invigorating, and they’re so enthusiastic, I ignore just how Universal-rating it sounds»
Bella - No One Will Know
It is poppy, yes, but catchy? Maybe. Sadly it's completely lifeless all the same. Bella’s No One Will Know is completely digestible, and more dangerously, completely forgettable»
White Hinterland - Phylactery Factory
White Hinterland's Phylactery Factory totally sounds like Joanna Newsom packed herself a white-hot jazz band and took ‘em on the road - except she’s dropped the Celtic harp and the psych-folk naturalismo»
Chris Bathgate - A Cork Tale Wake
Much of A Cork Tale Wake showcases Chris Bathgate's bare-bones cyclical melodies supported by conventional singer/songwriter guitar strumming, with the not-so-fussed vocals and ambiguous lyrics of self reflection and speculation. But what sets this album apart are the jewels of sonic experimentation that wither in and out»
Jonquil - Lions
When most pop screams NOW! Jonquil screams ANYTHING BUT NOW! Unlike most popular rackets disguised as bands that, more often than not and sometimes indirectly, represent the modern liquidation of the metropolis, the sounds of Lions are muted and smooth around the edges»
Noise Soldiers: a portrait of southeast noise
'Noise' music has had a place in the avent-garde since the early 20th Century, but still the mainstream turns a blind eye to its possibilities. DiS investigates why a succession of Oxford-based musicians are ploughing a particularly noisy furrow»
Fjord Rowboat - Saved The Compliments For Morning
With an album design that looks like a Christmas card and tracks which sound like snowflakes, where Fjord Rowboat attempt to be shoegaze they merely sound elevator, and where they attempt to be atmospheric they sound plain apathetic»
The Besnard Lakes - Volume 1
With its foggy and discordant noise leanings, The Besnard Lakes' Volume 1 has much in common with a David Lynch film; hazily indecipherable yet oddly familiar, and full of smoky loops and ghostly vocals»
Rory McVicar - Now That You're Mine
McVicar maintains a vocal rawness that is intimately and adoringly humbling, making the single ‘Now That You’re Mine’ a sweet-treat teaser for what’s to come»
DiScover: HREÐA
Oxford’s latest ‘other / other / other’ outfit, quartet HREÐA, make a name for themselves whilst instilling exciting pastures with prize-winning presentations of cinematic musical gestures»
The Pony Collaboration - The Fast Lane
Let this be a lesson to you: always be suspicious of bands with ‘pony’ in their name...»
The Monks Kitchen - The Wind May Howl
The Wind May Howl is seamless folk-infused psychedelia, providing nostalgic charm without having to shove itself down your throat. Even though it sports a rather pint-size packaging of a mere six tracks, it is effective evidence of The Monks Kitchen’s magic...»
Nancy Elizabeth - Battle And Victory
Even as Battle And Victory stands as a stunning instrumental achievement, it could do without the pesky whispers that seem to operate more like uninvited, interrupting conversations at the cinema than actual vocal arrangements...»
The Monks Kitchen - Bringing Hurricanes
Coming from the same label that brought you The View, it’s difficult to expect more than a couple of a charlie-run-ins with the law and one pair of skank-ass jeans, but don’t let that keep you clear of the sunny sounds of western Londoners The Monks Kitchen...»
The Favours - Islands
The Favours sound like a band who didn’t get the memo that outed Garbage as absolute garbage...»
Other Passengers - We Are All Other Passengers
Just because it’s easy to simply categorise Other Passengers as just another post-rock outfit with nothing interesting to say, don’t make the mistake of branding their accessibility as a lack of capacity...»
Mando Diao - Good Morning, Herr Horst
Word on the street is that Mando Diao’s latest single ‘Good Morning Herr Horst’ is inspired by a Stockholm tramp who hangs about the financial district and messes with the rich kids, whether or not that moulds a face-melting musical tour de force – you should be so lucky...»
Paris Motel - In The Saltpetriere
Paris Motel bring back the lavish instrumentation of stage production with pervasive cinematic qualities and celebrated showmanship you can instantly recognize and easily surrender to...»
Jack Peñate - Torn On The Platform
The latest effort from peachy-piece Londoner Jack Peñate is this single ‘Torn on the Platform’, a peppy pint of rock-boogie-woogie...»
Scouting For Girls - It's Not About You EP
To apparent flooding demand, London power trio Scouting for Girls release their debut ‘It’s Not About You’ EP, a chaste trilogy of musical coming-of-age tales of love and loss...»
Colleen at Oxford The Jam Factory, Mon 11 Jun
Colleen (Cécile Schott) flutters about her contraptions laid out on the floor – clarinet, wind chimes, acoustic guitar, and cello. She fiddles with delay pedals and loop machines, setting straight all last-minute details, which are imperative in creating her enchanting, minimalist magic...»
DiScover: Joe Dangerous
Brighton’s own Joe Dangerous makes a buzz without a full-length album, without a label. With modest musical shapes that seep with sore disposition without tailing a lagging distance or uneasy void, J.D. is a most exciting pop prospect...»
The Blow - Poor Aim: Love Songs
This upgraded re-release of Poor Aim: Love Songs is worth experiencing, then, even if it’s just for those screaming cats...»
Wolf & Cub - Vessels
Considering Wolf & Cub’s flashy gig record, including spots supporting Queens of the Stone Age and TV on the Radio, the sight of a debut album generates excitement of unspeakable amounts...»
The Mighty Roars - Daddy Oh
The Mighty Roars’s ‘Daddy Oh.’ is their third release, but despite preconceived notions, in this case the third time’s definitely not a charm...»
Bonde Do Role - Solta O Frango
Perhaps a certain record company is attempting to cash-in on the popularity of a certain trendy, ultra-cool, ultra-sexy Brazilian sextet. (It’s a bit of a poor man’s CSS, but shush, You didn’t hear that from me). Whatever the case, look out for ‘Solta O Frango’ on DJ turntables at a wedding near you...»
Buen Chico - Gold From Lead
Maybe Buen Chico intended to display some sort of range, but the dark/light changes here are a bit coarse on the ears and too messily arranged to make this release exciting...»
I Was A Cub Scout - I Hate Nightclubs
I Was A Cub Scout is a group I really pine to enjoy, but it just doesn’t happen...»
The Maccabees - About Your Dress
‘About Your Dress’ flaps about like the wings of a young hummingbird struggling to stay in flight...»