Another Form of Relief

I first wrote about Orouni back in September after I was sent a copy of his demo CD. A few months later he sent me a copy of his first proper full length release called A Matter of Scale, which I’m only getting round to writing about now. Which means if you want to send me a CD now, I’ll probably end up writing about it by Christmas or something.

Orouni is a French singer-songwriter, and he is very French. There is no chance that you would confuse the songs on the album with an American band simply because it all sounds so French. This is certainly not a bad thing. I’ve had it up to hear with identikit bands that sound the same, so anything that has a sound that is entirely it’s own is more than welcome. He likes to produce subtly complex songs, in that the arrangements will often sound sparse and simplistic (usually just a vocal and guitar), but repeatedly listens tend to find undiscovered nuances each time.

I’m a firm believer of the music as art mentality, and using that line of thought, Orouni is the abstract painting that you find hidden away in the corner of the gallery. Some people will glance at it and walk away, others will stand and stare at it for hours, finding lots to appreciate. The abstract words and sometimes downright bizarre turns that the songs take won’t be for everyone, but those who do take a closer listen will find lots to enjoy.

MP3 Orouni - Kiss The Flower (expired)
MP3 Orouni - The Late Polish Plumber (expired)
MP3 Orouni - Snowfall With A Sock (expired)

The version of The Perfume Conspiracy below is not the one included on the album, but rather a new version that also includes Mina Tindle sharing the vocals. Seeing as I’m a sucker for male/female vocal combinations, I’m finding I like this version more than the already solid original.

MP3 Orouni - The Perfume Conspiracy (expired)

You can also download Orouni’s entire 8 song demo CD from his website for absolutely nothing. Particulalry recommended are The Lamppost and Experiments on the Threshold of Pain.

Orouni: Website || Myspace

Orouni can also be found as part of The Limes, a collective of musicians from across the world, from France to the US. The lineup also includes the excellent Toy Fight, as well as Henry Sparrow, Mina Tindle and John Hale. I don’t know what the process for making these songs involves, but the results are enjoyable. Morning, Noon and Night is a perfect slice of gentle summer material.

MP3 The Limes - Morning, Noon and Night (expired)

The Limes: Myspace

One of the main problems that I have with the indie scene in general is that it doesn’t get angry enough, particularly in the political sense. Now I’m certainly not advocating that every band should be recording albums to campaign about the injustices of the day, but just a little more political comment would be nice. It’s not as if there’s a shortage of material to work with given the state of the world today. Of course, a few bands do seem to record the odd awful protest song (Bright Eyes, I’m looking at you), but no one really wants to tackle the issues in a meaningful way.

With that in mind, finding The Thermals was a breath of fresh air. The Thermals aren’t just angry. They are fucking angry. Their latest album, entitled The Body, The Blood, The Machine, an album about “a United States governed by a fascist Christian state, and focus on the need (and means) to escape.” A real fantasy scenario there then. Every song on the album should resonate in some way with people who keep up with cultural and political trends. Religion asserting it’s power on the population is a common theme, but the band also touch upon other relevant issues, from US foreign policy to the entitlement culture of the US (”We don’t think we’re special, sir / We know everybody is”).

This isn’t to say that there isn’t anything here for those who don’t care about the political either. The ignorant can still enjoy the sheer power of these songs. For a three piece, The Thermals certainly know how to make a big sound, powering through their songs with such urgency that they often tell a complete story and still hardly reach the two minute mark. Hutch Harris’ vocals come across in a way that isn’t all that different to John Darnielle. In a world where vocal quality doesn’t seem to be a big deal for rock bands, it’s nice to hear a band that actually has a clear and concise vocalist.

From The Body, The Blood, The Machine:

MP3 The Thermals - A Pillar of Salt (expired)
MP3 The Thermals - Here’s Your Future (expired)

Somehow, I’d managed to completely ignore The Thermals previously, despite them releasing three critically acclaimed albums on Sub Pop over the past five years. The advantage of that is that I get to explore a back catalog. The older material isn’t quite as politically savvy as the current release, but there is still a strong sense of criticising society throughout.

MP3 The Thermals - How We Know (expired)
MP3 The Thermals - A Stare Like Yours (expired)
MP3 The Thermals - No Culture Icons (expired)

The Body, The Blood, The Machine will be released in the UK on May 7, a mere nine months after the US release. The Thermals will then also spend the best part of a month touring around the UK.

The Thermals: Website || Myspace

No matter how much great new music I discover, there is always one album that will seemingly ever remain my favourite: Pinkerton by Weezer. While I love the album dearly, it does make me listen to a lot of crappy songs. The crap I’m referring to is pretty much everything Weezer has recorded in the time since it’s release ten years ago. If any other band had produced that much rubbish I would have given up on them long ago, but I’m incredibly forgiving when it comes to Weezer. Apparently I still hold some subconscious hope that they can make another Pinkerton.

Every now and again though, something comes out from the Weezer camp that intrigues me a little. The last time this happened was a few years ago with the album five demo recordings, most of which never saw the light of day officially. A couple of weeks ago, Idolator put a up a new demo from Rivers entitled ‘Pig’. I have no idea exactly where it comes from or what it’s intended for. The only thing I do know is that I kind of like it.

In just the course of a few minutes, Rivers narrates an entire lifespan of someone, from a happy childhood through to getting married and having kids to eventual death. It’s quite an achievement to cover the life cycle so efficiently, and on the most part, it’s made to sound pretty good. There’s nothing here beyond an indifferent voice and an acoustic guitar in a style that isn’t a million miles away from Elliott Smith. The only problem is that it seems to fall apart a couple of minutes in when Rivers moves from gentle narration to over the top high pitched singing.

It’s certainly a good effort though, and the most interesting Weezer related material I’ve heard in the past five years. I look forward to hearing more of it, even if I’m probably setting myself up for further crushing disappointment.

MP3 Rivers Cuomo - Pig (expired)

Everything seems to be coming up Johnny Foreigner at the moment. Fresh off the back of supporting Los Campesinos! and Sky Larkin on their recent tour, the band have now reached the finals of the Road To V competition. Road To V allows unsigned bands to battle for a place at the V Festival later on in the year, and Johnny Foreigner have made it to the final list of 14. This means they will now play for some industry types, and as I understand it, will be appearing on a Channel 4 program about it in the future.

With all this excitement, it would be easy to forgive the band if they focused on their established songs rather than coming up with new material at the moment, but they have gone and released three entirely new songs for free download. Production values, while still not the highest, are certainly improved here on many of the past songs. None of these songs deviate from the established Johnny Foreigner formula: these songs are the musical equivalent of a mosh pit. They jump around flailing limbs in all directions, and if anyone gets in the way, it’s not their problem. There’s such wreckless abandon to these songs, it’s surprising the band doesn’t need new instruments after every gig.

MP3 Johnny Foreigner - Suicide Pact Yeh (expired)
MP3 Johnny Foreigner - Our Bipolar Friends (expired)
MP3 Johnny Foreigner - Cranes and Cranes and Cranes (expired)

Johnny Foreigner’s new single, a split 7″ with Sunset Cinema Club featuring Yes, You Talk Too Fast and each band covering the other, is either out now or will be very soon. It even comes with 3D glasses apparently.

Johnny Foreigner: Website || Myspace

When I first came down with a cold about a month ago, I didn’t expect to still be getting over it this long after. While the cold part itself has subsided, it did spawn a wonderful ear infection that was very painful for some time, and has left me almost deaf in one ear even longer. That said, I am feeling a fair bit better now, some lingering “unpleasantness” aside. As such, it’s time to get back on board the blog bus as the last month has brought a ton of fantastic music that I want to share, but that I haven’t been able to listen to for more than five minutes without any pain. Proper updates will resume in the next post, but as a way to kickstart things once again, Another Form of Relief proudly presents “Ear Infection Minimix 2007″:

MP3 Modest Mouse - Shit Luck (expired)
MP3 Fountains of Wayne - Sick Day (expired)
MP3 Mobius Band - The Loving Sounds of Static (expired)
MP3 Death Cab For Cutie - The Sound of Settling (expired)
MP3 Tegan & Sara - I Hear Noises (expired)
MP3 The New Pornographers - Ballad of a Comeback Kid (expired)

Christ, I can spin a post out of anything.

I’m not dead.

But I do have something of an ongoing ear infection. My enthusiasm for music is somewhat dulled when I can only hear properly out of one ear.

It’s getting better though, and so posts will be returning soon. Just give me a few more days.

—

And if you’re anywhere near London, you might to want to keep June 18 avaiable. I’m just saying..