The Album Review Club - Week #194 (page 1303) - Ants From Up There - Black Country, New Road

BimboBob said:
Just landed in the Black Isle...lovely drive through the Cairngorms. Had this on for the last 5 or so miles.

Wife said...Florence/ PJ Harvey. Why are you playing this, it's not your usual thing. Oh...album club. After 2 songs she said...that's enough thank you.
Click to expand...
Sounds like Mrs Bimbo is as perceptive as Mrs Daze!!
 
RobMCFC said:
Yeah, and it was a decent album which I gave a 7. But we've not had proper guitars for a while.

I'm looking forward to hearing why southamptonblue likes it because this is most definitely not his usual fayre.
Click to expand...

Well, firstly, I was very close to putting up an 80"s rock album, for the first time (which Midnight Oil aside) is exactly 'my thing'....I haven't yet, since I think those bands (AC/DC, VH, UFO, Guns n Roses etc etc) are a bit niche, and 'samey' to most people...unless you like those bands, you won't suddenly like an album, unless you have lived under a rock!!
Which is why most of my choices have been on the periphery of that, or totally different.......

LONDON GRAMMAR.....I was researching a fishing lake in Morocco on YouTube! A Belgian lad had put up a video of his visit there.....clicking on it, I realised I didn't want to watch him getting on a ferry and eating a bag of crisps, and was about to ditch it....when I thought, the music was very good ( wasting my young years ) so did a bit of digging.......as I've said before, I generally don't like female voices much...but this one I did, in fact it's one of only 3/4 I would say I 'really like'.
Listened to the album, and I think it's awesome.....and have found I particularly like their 'covers' ...which are basically 'deconstructed' to their most basic form....like 'Nightcall' on here. If you don't know the Kavinsky original, listen to it, and you'll see what I mean!

......guitars?? Next choice will be Slayer!! ;)
 
BimboBob said:
Just landed in the Black Isle...lovely drive through the Cairngorms. Had this on for the last 5 or so miles.

Wife said...Florence/ PJ Harvey. Why are you playing this, it's not your usual thing. Oh...album club. After 2 songs she said...that's enough thank you.
Click to expand...
And can we assume that you have taken a selection of fare from your favourite film directors with you to while away the hours whilst avoiding the midgeys?
 
Out on blue 6 said:
I will admit there was nothing I have heard so far that's anything like the brilliant PJ Harvey.
There is a lot of Florence here mainly in the vocals but I've never taken to her anyway.

There's a couple of hints of a band I really like with the same band dynamic but they are a bit darker and perceived to be more minimal.
Click to expand...
W.H Lung?
 
Not the week for me to do my usual quick 3 listens and response. I like her voice to be honest and I think I have heard Stronger somewhere on TV or a movie or something. I don't mind a wailing woman probably because I live with a very calm one so it's still novel

Are we reviewing the original 11 track album or the extended deluxe version?
 
Last edited:
southamptonblue said:
Well, firstly, I was very close to putting up an 80"s rock album, for the first time (which Midnight Oil aside) is exactly 'my thing'....I haven't yet, since I think those bands (AC/DC, VH, UFO, Guns n Roses etc etc) are a bit niche, and 'samey' to most people...unless you like those bands, you won't suddenly like an album, unless you have lived under a rock!!
Which is why most of my choices have been on the periphery of that, or totally different.......

LONDON GRAMMAR.....I was researching a fishing lake in Morocco on YouTube! A Belgian lad had put up a video of his visit there.....clicking on it, I realised I didn't want to watch him getting on a ferry and eating a bag of crisps, and was about to ditch it....when I thought, the music was very good ( wasting my young years ) so did a bit of digging.......as I've said before, I generally don't like female voices much...but this one I did, in fact it's one of only 3/4 I would say I 'really like'.
Listened to the album, and I think it's awesome.....and have found I particularly like their 'covers' ...which are basically 'deconstructed' to their most basic form....like 'Nightcall' on here. If you don't know the Kavinsky original, listen to it, and you'll see what I mean!

......guitars?? Next choice will be Slayer!! ;)
Click to expand...
I understand you not nominating any of the well known 80s rock bands for the reason that you state.

You discovered this whilst watching a YouTube video where it was used as background music. It makes sense now because I think this kind of thing works well as video backing because there’s nothing in it that will divert the viewer’s attention away from the subject. In the same way that rap works well for comedy, electronic music works well for videos and films. But as a listening experience away from this, I found it lacking.
 
mrbelfry said:
Not the week for me to do my usual quick 3 listens and response. I like her voice to be honest and I think I have heard Stronger somewhere on TV or a movie or something. I don't mind a wailing woman probably because I live with a very calm one so it's still novel

Are we reviewing the original 11 track album or the extended deluxe version?
Click to expand...

Original.
 
RobMCFC said:
I understand you not nominating any of the well known 80s rock bands for the reason that you state.

You discovered this whilst watching a YouTube video where it was used as background music. It makes sense now because I think this kind of thing works well as video backing because there’s nothing in it that will divert the viewer’s attention away from the subject. In the same way that rap works well for comedy, electronic music works well for videos and films. But as a listening experience away from this, I found it lacking.
Click to expand...

The fact I noticed and was distracted by it, and instantly, whilst I was 'zoned in' on finding/watching one of my biggest interests.....shows, for me, it was the opposite!
 
Out on blue 6 said:
They're really good but no The XX
Click to expand...

Of all the references bandied about so far this is the one that I agree with the most. In my review I'll be making the point that I don't need many bands of this type but of the three, maybe four that I'll pay attention to The xx is one. They're similar but provide different things. You get a groove and focus on rhythm from them that you don't get from LG. I think Hannah Reid is a better singer than Romy Madley Croft but then the The xx take quite a different approach to the vocals anyway.

I am also warming to my earlier slightly facetious comment that this thread could do with a bit of Dead Can Dance. Going on my shortlist.
 
threespires said:
Of all the references bandied about so far this is the one that I agree with the most. In my review I'll be making the point that I don't need many bands of this type but of the three, maybe four that I'll pay attention to The xx is one. They're similar but provide different things. You get a groove and focus on rhythm from them that you don't get from LG. I think Hannah Reid is a better singer than Romy Madley Croft but then the The xx take quite a different approach to the vocals anyway.

I am also warming to my earlier slightly facetious comment that this thread could do with a bit of Dead Can Dance. Going on my shortlist.
Click to expand...
What it does highlight is just how many such quirky arty bands there actually are, each has its year of being branded the next big thing, lots of promise etc, and jaut as quickly fade away. In many ways, it works against them and the ones that seem to last longer are the ones that slowly find a niche audience, rather than get pushed by the radio stations and promoters. Such as the XX I guess.

Last year it was the last donner party, before that english teacher, the year before wet leg. Chvrches, Wolf Alice, Vukovi etc. Around the same time as the xx, Everything Everything were all the rage, and before them florence. Wonder who it will be this year
 
Coatigan said:
What it does highlight is just how many such quirky arty bands there actually are, each has its year of being branded the next big thing, lots of promise etc, and jaut as quickly fade away. In many ways, it works against them and the ones that seem to last longer are the ones that slowly find a niche audience, rather than get pushed by the radio stations and promoters. Such as the XX I guess.

Last year it was the last donner party, before that english teacher, the year before wet leg. Chvrches, Wolf Alice, Vukovi etc. Around the same time as the xx, Everything Everything were all the rage, and before them florence. Wonder who it will be this year
Click to expand...

Whilst I wouldn't personally bracket all those bands together or agree in all cases with the quirky label I think I'd agree with the general thrust of your point about the barriers and route to longevity.

I'm not sure the issue is restricted to the types of bands listed above. There's a handful of behemoths these days and then everyone else really cultivating their hopefully sustainable niches.

LGs music is relatively simple but well crafted and they are quite low key in a way that confers a sort of humility (possibly illusory, possibly not) relative to the likes of The Last Dinner Party or Wet Leg. It's probably hugely unfair but I tend to view a band like LG as simply wanting to get their music out there and connect with an audience and a band like TLDP basically just wanting to be famous/big. They're both legitimate reasons to want to be in a band but the former appeals to me much more than the latter.
 
Coatigan said:
What it does highlight is just how many such quirky arty bands there actually are, each has its year of being branded the next big thing, lots of promise etc, and jaut as quickly fade away. In many ways, it works against them and the ones that seem to last longer are the ones that slowly find a niche audience, rather than get pushed by the radio stations and promoters. Such as the XX I guess.

Last year it was the last donner party, before that english teacher, the year before wet leg. Chvrches, Wolf Alice, Vukovi etc. Around the same time as the xx, Everything Everything were all the rage, and before them florence. Wonder who it will be this year
Click to expand...
Wet Leg and The Last Donner Party (preferably) have cleverly kept the momentum by releasing 2nd albums and I wonder how much pressure English Teacher will be under to do the same.
I'll put this forward as to who it will be this year and I reckon will get a nomination at the Mercury's
Heartworms. She meets the quirky niche audience thing
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top