Ears Burning Music Review

WEEK ONE:  Beginning Mon 21st Feb '11.

Gold Panda - I particularly like the track 'Marriage' after having heard it on Zane Lowe's show.  Should that put me off?! No, course not.  Gold Panda is one of a growing number of male producers set to sail into a slightly more mainstream acceptance flow I imagine this year and he deserves that recognition.  The rest of his 'Lucky Shiner' album is similarly strong, upbeat, positive and glitchy all at once.   

Group Love - 'Colours' - This track stood out from others, namely because it made me realise how much I've been craving GUITARS.  Much of the hyped, in-yer-face music being thrust down throats at the moment is a certain kind of electronica, with the kind of restraint that makes you think you need to be aloof to be deemed 'cool'.  Whilst I'm a fan of James Blake, for example - and the emergence of certain dub-step artists is a positive thing - I miss these kind of thick and heavy guitar riffs....in a similar vein, I've enjoyed listening to....

Yuck.  Cajun Dance Party were peers of Bombay Bicycle Club a few years ago, both North London bands, but CDP disappeared without trace, despite clear indications they could go far....dreamy, teenage guitar-based indie-pop....yes, we've heard it all before perhaps....but now a number of the original CDP members return with Yuck. 
'The Base Of A Dream Is Empty' and all its dreamy tiramisu is certainly refreshing in a climate of restraint and 'less is more' that's going on.  A touch rippy of Bombay Bicycle Club?  Jury is still out on the latter.

In the classical vein....having seen the remake of Brighton Rock recently, I have researched the original score composer, Martin Phipps.  There were moments in the film where the music was slightly drab and seemed to contribute only to increasing 'doom' and melodrama.  Conversely, there where moments where the music was painful in its beauty and measure.  I would suggest listening to his piece 'No Ring' from the soundtrack, where you can enjoy the innocent sounds of the Brighton Festival Youth Chorus alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra.  Phipps' use of sparse and almost imperceptible drones alongside these angelic voices, free of vibrato or affectation, makes for something quite stunning.  Something quite pure and vulnerable.