by Wabz
Wabz Argyle (PBS feature record)
Heads up, new Wabz incoming and you're in for a treat... trust! We live in an incredibly tough time for artists/labels to make a buck, with downloading culture as it is, an endless supply of music at our fingertips, streaming services and with so much vying for our attention – music and beyond. With that said, a couple of things strike me on this record. Firstly, having been lucky enough to host a program for some years now, a great many of the releases that come across my path are safe and those heard before. Because of this it's increasingly rare and so immensely satisfying when an album finally jumps out of the haze and commands your attention, Argyle is most definitely one such release. Secondly, Nick, real name, is not trying to imitate or merely create a sound that he thinks will be popular, freshness rains supreme and the soundscapes are original and diverse, from the downtempo sounds to 2-step, UKG and beyond. What you can expect here is an incredibly deep, emotive, varied and moving album. The sounds within give nod to and indicate a greater knowledge of the latter aforementioned genres particularly, as well as dubstep, as further demonstrated at a recent Forgotten Worlds blend corp session that had all the heads present smiling from ear-to-ear. Relative newcomer Solitaire Recordings have served up a gem, fear not. The artwork, by Nic Keays, is brilliant too... but that should hardly be surprising now should it.
Stream/purchase:
https://solitairerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/argyle
Live set on PBS/the blend:
http://pbsfm.org.au/node/45353
humbly yours,
By bevin campbell – The Blend
Jon Spencer Blues ExplosionFreedom Tower (Featured on The Breakfast Spread)
If you’re looking for an album to kick off a night of sheer joy then look no further than the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion’s new album Freedom Tower: No Wave Dance Party 2015. It’s impossible to listen to this without wanting to get up and move.
The album is a tribute to New York, the town that the JSBX have been playing around for the last 25 years. It has an addictive, driving appeal that genuinely sounds like New York’s underside, which is refreshing for a city that already has so many glitzy tributes. Highlights include ‘Born Bad,’ ‘Betty vs. The NYPD’ and ‘The Ballad of Joe Buck’ but this is really an album that’s all killer. Although the band isn’t reinventing their sound on this album, they’ve certainly nailed their shtick this time. It’s great to see a band being themselves after such a long time, and doing it at least as well, if not better, than they did at the start.
By Cat - The Breakfast Spread
This week's Top 10:
