Niki & The Dove - Instinct album review
Grimes
- Nightmusic ft Majical Cloudz video
Words: Babooshka
12/05/12
Officially out on Monday, it’s been no rushed affair getting an album from Swedish electro duo Niki & The Dove. Already two EPs down, the album, ‘ Instinct’ features tracks that have been around since 2010, re-recorded, mostly unnecessarily as the originals were brilliant anyway.
For those that followed them prior to all the BBC ‘sounds’ hype, this album already has a ‘greatest hits’ feel, albeit not in the mainstream until now.
Kicking off with latest release ‘Tomorrow’, the album starts with a track that sums them up with a slightly experimental edge decorated with an easy going melodic pop sensibility; kind of starry and other worldly in another galaxy type way. Malin’s vocals really make the ‘kook’ ingredient that seems to be all the rage with artists like Grimes right now. There’s a touch of Fleetwood Mac in this opener in places, a slight haunting of Stevie Nicks which is bearable yet supersedes and saturates overly in track 3, ‘In Our Eyes’; my affection for them only goes as far as Mick looking like my dad so skip that one if you are so inclined.
‘The Drummer’ as track 2 is just fabulousness, seeing Malin channelling her Bush (yes really, see video), all layered synths and pounding drums makes it all human with a hint of Gustaf’s vocals. The longevity of Niki & The Dove is that these tracks still sound fresh two years later, and some released just last year, can still cut it on a debut album.
‘Gentle Roar’ and ‘Mother Protect’ are two of my favourites, particularly for The Knife feel that they embrace and epitomise in ‘DJ Ease My Mind’. I still think they’ve failed to top DJ for its pure and simple expansionist electro; melody pulsating through technology and nature, dark and light (like Star Wars according to Gustaf). These tracks from the duo really do cross a few boundaries, keeping it ‘furious’ (according to Malin) and make this album so worthwhile despite the odd downturn into 80’s poop.
‘Last Night’ and ‘Love To The Test’ are two tracks of romantic, love at first sight angst, marrying you on a back seat loveliness, hold someone tight right now and enjoy, it’s no lie, lots of breath being taken away...swoooon. ‘Somebody’ takes that guilty smoochfest pleasure too far, another one to skippity, two out of thirteen isn’t bad though.
‘Winterheart’ catches you somewhere between ‘Mother Protect’ and ‘Under The Bridges’, and brings you back up to speed with ‘The Fox’. Overall ‘Instinct’ is a good album, the foundations for an amazing album in the future? It closes with ‘Under The Bridges’ that does take you back and shows much promise and if there’s one thing their tracks never lack, it’s energy...whether it be in a forest, in space or just plain weirdy popland
Talking of which, Grimes has a new video out for ‘Nightmusic’. There's a spurious attempt at a narrative that's a little muddled in mythology and religious imagery, not too much to read in to especially alongside indecipherable lyrics. Electro females and forests go hand in hand right now it seems with the comedy of Austra, the quirk art of Iamamiwhoami and now Grimes. Personally, I prefer to see her doing her stuff live but in this latest offering, 'Nightmusic ft Majical Cloudz' sounds great and Grimes looks beautifully otherworldly in an electro sprite kind of realm...enjoy below.
Niki & The Dove - Instinct - debut album streamed on NME
Words: Orac
08/05/12
NME has the glorious Niki & The Dove debut album as an exclusive stream starting from today and we urge all our fabulous readers to click here and sample a band that have excited EYHQ since 2010.
Previously available tracks such as debut single 'Mother Protect' that first attracted the lovelovelove of EYHQ have all been spendidly re-recorded for this debut including 'Under The Bridges' that brings 'Instinct' to a terrific finale.
EY Tune of The Week: Metric - Youth Without Youth
Hooky's Phil Oakey revelation / Paul Morley vs. Duran Duran
Words: Orac
07/05/12
Yet another stomping electronic Canadian gem and this week's monster tune is provided by Metric who skillfully blend Garbage Version 2.0 with a bit of Kurt Cobain and the imperial electro glam of Goldfrapp's 'Black Cherry'.
'Youth Without Youth' thunders to a brilliant chorus melody with shimmery Tears For Fears synths and tribal drum patterns and it all sounds so good despite possible long term ear damage from New Order's Brixton gig last Wednesday (more on that below).
Metric have actually been around for quite a while with a successful career in North America winning several Juno awards in Canada and the band have recently been busy recording a new album in New York called 'Synthetica'. Fronted by Emily Haines, Metric have been compared to Muse...poor things. Do not under any circumstances let the Muse tag put you off for 'Youth Without Youth' has dominated our playlist since last Thursday...
'Synthetica' is released in Canada and the US on June 12thwith Europe to follow a few days later
Hooky - Philip Oakey was Joy Division's Sheffield roadie
In a recent interview with The Star to promote a forthcoming performance of Joy Division tracks, legendary bass player Sir Peter Hook revealed a previously unknown pop fact - Steel City's most famous son SynthLord Philip Oakey was Joy Division's 'roadie' (for a very brief moment in time).
This pop revelation took place at Sheffield's The Limit over thirty years ago...
'Phil Oakey helped us load in,' says Hooky, sipping water in the city's Fusion cafe before breaking into a smile. 'I remember his fringe was getting over his eyes and he kept ramming the flight cases into the wall. It was really weird'.
Hooky also talks about the acrimonious
spilt from New Order (or 'New Odour' as he now calls them) and is currently involved in legal action with Bernard and co.. Hooky knew nothing about New Order's touring plans with a replacement bassist until he heard the interview live on Radcliffe and Maconie's BBC radio show - a move that Hooky calls 'disgusting, despicable and cowardly' adding; 'They never told me about it'.
'But to me they’ve killed a great band. It holds such bad feeling. It wasn’t one person made that band great, it was the combination of all of us. To my mind they’re a tribute band and by not sorting out the use of the name properly they’ve got a legal fight on their hands'.
Putting aside the dreadful sound mix at Brixton's New Order last Wednesday with bass booms that drowned out all the melodies including gems like 'Round & Round', white noise and Bernard's faulty mic...things just didn't feel the same without Hooky up on that stage. New Order without Hooky is a bit like The Human League girls going on tour without Philip or Depeche replacing Dave Gahan or Kraftwerk touring with only one of the original band members left. If we all accept this then we may as well book tickets to see Bucks Fizz fronted by David Van Day of Dollar.
Hooky was very much missed last week at Brixton and EY prays for a speedy New Order reconciliation
between Hooky and Bernard...
For Hooky's full interview with The Star,
please jump here.
Duran Duran to open the Olympics - Twitter goes into meltdown
Last week's announcement that New Romantics Duran Duran had been chosen as the most unlikely band to open London's Olympics resulted in one of the biggest Twitter meltdowns since Jeremy Clarkson's brain last asked his mouth to say something stupid.
There were endless trending tweets during this 'twitterstorm' questioning why such an old act had been chosen. To be fair to Duran, Le Bon and co. do actually boast an impressive back catalogue when it comes to singular anthems and catchy tunes but the critics were in no mood to appreciate one of our glossier UK music exports.
Amongst the more
memorable tweets was this one from UK comedian Al Murray: 'Duran Duran to headline 2012 Olympics gig? Far more worrying than rooftop missiles', whilst journalist Tony Parsons who is not usually famed for his wit tweeted with: 'Duran Duran to headline Olympic gig? Who is running the 1500 metres - Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett?'
Perhaps even more surprising is Paul Morley's weekend article for The Guardian in which the former ZTT operative goes in for the kill and explains why he still hates Duran thirty years on...
'Some groups could float, sometimes self-consciously, sometimes serenely, between those two camps - Human League, Japan, Depeche Mode, ABC - and others occupied a more purist, thoughtful zone, advocating mental glamour - Gang of Four, New Order, Associates, Magazine, the Smiths. The hardcore New Romantics were definitely all about the clothes, cosmetics, travel and showing off; as a response to grievous, turbulent times, Steve Strange, Spandau Ballet, Wham! and Duran Duran preferred the dolled-up posing in pampered cliques inside VIP sections of exclusive nightclubs. They weren't privileged, but pretended they were, which could be annoying if you didn't get the joke, and especially annoying and complacent when it isn't a joke'
Our own personal view on the Olympics opening show is that they really should have got the Pet Shop Boys to do it. Everyone loves the Pet Shop Boys - can you imagine it all kicking off to the chords of 'West End Girls'? (the games that follow would probably still be a bit boring though).
To read Mr. Morley's Guardian article in full, please jump here.
Electronically Yours 'Synthtastic!' - Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music
Depeche to work with Fever Ray producer
NME's 100 Best Tracks of The Eighties
Words: Orac
04/05/12
Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan has this week revealed some tantalizing news to Spin. 'Twenty tracks' have already been demoed and Mode are on course to completing their new studio album by late November.
On the subject of how quickly the band are progressing with new material, Dave told Spin: 'We have a deadline of the end of November, and there's no reason we why we won't meet that at the rate we're going'
Dave also announced that accomplished Fever Ray producer Christoffer Berg will be joining Mode in the studio along with Ben Hillier who'll be overseeing production duties. Sir Martin Gore has been encouraged by Dave to try his hand at co-producing the new album following some impressively sonic demos that have impressed the Mode frontman.
Mode Devotees should now saving their hard earned cash for live dates next year with Dave revealing; 'There are already plans in place to be touring next year'.
Dave gave a video interview with Rolling Stone magazine yesterday in which he talks about the new album...
In other DM news this week, fashion giants Doir have released a new advert worldwide that features one of the 90's finest tunes 'Enjoy The Silence'. Whilst the advert doesn't contain barren landscapes, a deck chair or a crown, there are one or two visual nods to Anton Corbjn's iconic Super-8 DM videos for 'Silence' and 'Strangelove'. Click below for the stunning full length cinematic version...
NME has been covering popular music now for 60 years and to celebrate this unique anniversary, the magazine has been publishing best of polls that span every decade since the 50s. Of particular interest to EY readers will be NME's top 100 singles of the 80s - a superb poll of tracks that will serve to remind people just how wonderfully varied that decade was.
OMD creep into the chart at number 96 with perennial electro fave 'Enola Gay' but it's the Godfathers of UK electro The Mighty Human League who steal the headlines and bragging rights by deservedly coming in at 11 with 'Love Action'. Other genre faves include Soft Cell at 84 with 'Tainted Love' and Depeche at 63 with 'Never Let Me Down Again' whilst one of our absolute Pet Shop Boys faves 'What Have I Done To Deserve This' is at number 30.
New Order's return to London's Brixton Academy was marred by atrocious sound problems on Wednesday night and we had to leave 40 minutes into the gig in order to protect our ears (more details here with feedback from angry fans), but Bernard and co. will by buoyed by this NME poll.
Several New Order gems appear in NME's countdown and we won't spoil the Top Ten for you.....jump here for a really terrific poll of top tunes.
Last week's announcement that New Romantics Duran Duran had been chosen as the most unlikely band to open London's Olympics resulted in one of the biggest Twitter meltdowns since Jeremy Clarkson's brain last asked his mouth to say something stupid.
'Some groups could float, sometimes self-consciously, sometimes serenely, between those two camps - Human League, Japan, Depeche Mode, ABC - and others occupied a more purist, thoughtful zone, advocating mental glamour - Gang of Four, New Order, Associates, Magazine, the Smiths. The hardcore New Romantics were definitely all about the clothes, cosmetics, travel and showing off; as a response to grievous, turbulent times, Steve Strange, Spandau Ballet, Wham! and Duran Duran preferred the dolled-up posing in pampered cliques inside VIP sections of exclusive nightclubs. They weren't privileged, but pretended they were, which could be annoying if you didn't get the joke, and especially annoying and complacent when it isn't a joke'
