James Blake - Enough Thunder - Tweeted 'First Listen' Review

Recently I have taken to tweeting my immediate reaction to albums as I listen to them, in their entirety, for the first time. I click play, let the album play through, and tweet. I haven't edited my tweets, just laid them out to read as an article as best they can.

Without further ado here are my tweets for: James Blake - Enough Thunder 

I acquired James Blake - Enough Thunder today. Time for a first listen review! #nowplaying

I've seen Blake live, and I have his self-titled album, as well as his CMYK EP. Based on this I've concluded he's a bit of a minimalist...Therefore, starting from now, you will only get one tweet per tack... ready, set, go!

Once we all agree - Blake has a unique and somewhat haunting ability to move a listener with the soundscapes he crafts and his voice alone

We might feel unsound - when ill fitting beats and most abrasive noise is melted by a few strokes of ivory

Fall Creek Boys Choir - theres a strange and talented dog playing the piano by this creek; and Bon Iver's going with the creek's flow...

A case of you - Soul-full, and a great demo of Blakes largely overlooked vocal ability. Some nice imagery, but also some clichés...

Not long now - experimental, but constructed intelligently. The chords change naturally, whilst supplementary concepts jostle for attention

Enough Thunder - a piano and voice accompaniment close out the E.P. The Piano travels, and the voice follows, as thunder chases lightning

The Horrors - Skying - Tweeted 'First Listen' Review

Recently I have taken to tweeting my immediate reaction to albums as I listen to them, in their entirety, for the first time. I click play, let the album play through, and tweet. I haven't edited my tweets, just laid them out to read as an article as best they can.

Without further ado here are my tweets for: The Horrors - Skying 

Just put the Horror's album on. Time for a first listen review! #firstlisten

The first track 'changing the rain' is appropriately named. It's piddling down out side. But? what are they going to change it into? The sleeve notes don't really help me understand this mysterious practice of 'changing rain'. I'm inclined to go with rainbows. Or snow. They seem like scientifically viable options. More realistic than changing rain into DVDs, for example.


First thoughts on the Album, 1 and 1/2 tracks in. I like it, the lyrics aren't easy to follow. The vocal is definitely part of the sound. Clearly audible lyrics aren't exactly being prioritised over the general atmosphere of the tracks. They blur into the greater sound. All the tracks so far have been trippy, and full bodied. Sort of like a hippy wine might be.


Track 3, I can see through you, the intro seemed a bit Human league. 


Skying so far has a very cohesive sound. No stand out tracks on the album as yet. I'm guessing the horrors wished to produce a body of work. There is a clear sound and concept flowing through 'skying'. 'Endless Blue' is the first track to challenge the image of the others.


Endless Blue has a lethargic introduction; sharp contrast to cutting guitars and an abrupt change of energy which define the tracks' body.


'Dive in' was a bit of a dream to listen to. It lets your mind wander.


'Still Life' is playing now. The only track I've heard prior to this first play. The reverse effect on the guitar reminds me of this...The Velvet Underground Venus in Furs:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nGsUbZpCKM&feature=fvst The Horrors track is much breezier. It feels a Brighter track.


Got to say, 'Still life' is a very arty name for a track.


The brass in the back ground, and the build up lend Still life an almost anthemic quality.


'Wild Eyed', the next track feels much darker. I'm finding it a difficult listen, but I can appreciate the way it is changing...


Its amazing how well the Album artwork summarises the sound of the album. A wash of interplaying colours distorting an idlic vision. This is the kind of album that plays havoc with Synesthesia. It's hard to explain but, like the album cover artwork, I cannot ascribe one colour to what I'm listening to.


'Moving further away' might be my favourite so far... Only 2 tracks left. Still time to change my mind. 


'Monica Gems' seems out of sorts. Elements of it are superb, then others are leaving me really cold.


'Oceans Burning', has a very progressive rock start! Didn't see that coming! Stirring thoughts of Pink Floyd in my head (too far?).


4:30mins in to oceans burning. Didn't realise it was 7minutes long! Progressive was a good call!
Here's another word I'm yet to use and feel I should: Ambient. You can tell its indie as there was not super fast guitar solo, or double bass drums...


Its' all over now, so time for a few final judgements.


I think the drums may have let the album down a little. They were a bit same-y. Thin in places.
At the same time, if the drumming was more complicated, I'm not sure it would fit. Though, thats probably a moot point. I got a little bored of the echo vocals as well, despite being pleasantly surprised by cool hair sing-y man's voice.


Its definitely music to brighten up a darkened room. The tracks are full of atmosphere, and the album is worth some attention. It's not to everyones taste for sure. If you want to try it, I recommend you darken a room. Press play, and let your mind wander. Maybe whilst wearing retro clothes and studying 80s polaroids by the glow of your light up casio watch... Maybe.

DZ Deathrays - 'Ruined my life' - Tweeted 'First Listen' Review

I have taken to tweeting my immediate reaction to albums as I listen to them, in their entirety, for the first time. I simply click play, let the album play through, and tweet. 

I haven't edited my tweets, just laid them out to read as an article as best they can. So without further ado here are my tweets for: DZ Deathrays - 'Ruined my life'

Just bought the new DZ Deathrays' album... first listen time?? It's been a while... All right twitter, lets see if this band are as cool as their name! #nowplaying (and first listen reviewing) DZ Death Rays - Ruined My Life

First track, Blue Blood and straight off I'm getting that 'Death from Above 1979 feeling', and I love it. On to track two faster than the Flash can run after 16 cans of redbull...Track 2 - Licking Knives. I wonder if it was by licking knives the singer came to sound so much like Sebastien Grainger?

Track 3 - Yeah - another example of the different shades of fuzz you can put on a guitar and mix with effects pedals... darker in feel

The mess up - Track 4 - DZ have a very cohesive sound, they keep phasing from DFA to White stripes and back again... it's cool

Wow, onto track 5 faster than Sonic after over dosing on chilli dogs. This one's pace and pent up anger, brilliantly channeled.

Track 6 - the one that made me buy this E.P. Through decent headphones it's got a crushing introduction.

This steezy DZ E.P. is riff heavy; heavy being the operative...No idea where Gebbie Street is though...Google maps tells me Brisbane...

That's it, short and sweet. 6 songs, and refreshingly, none longer than 3 minutes 51.

At worst DZ Deathrays are a DFA 1979 tribute act who got bored and wrote new material. From where I stand, thats never going to be that bad.

"DZ - thrash pop band from Brisbane, Australia. Started playing house parties will most likely end at one. This is the middle part." #dudes

http://dzdeathrays.tumblr.com/

Bon Iver - Bon Iver - Tweeted 'first listen' Review

Recently I have taken to tweeting my immediate reaction to albums as I listen to them in their entirety for the first time. I click play, let the album play, and tweet. I haven't edited my tweets, just laid them out to read as an article as best they can.

Without further ado here are my tweets for Bon Iver - Bon Iver *The first of these first listen reviews I did - You'll probably be able to tell. 

You know that feeling you get when you put on a record and its everything you hope and fear embodied in sound. I'm getting that right now. its been a while since I got the shivers listening to something...Haunting. 

I might Tweet first listens more. My mind is unraveling with the music, and my thoughts are awash with sonic wonderment. Well, its all over, it all got a bit 80s at the end. Well, it was a bit 80s most of the way through. Like the Hoff. David 80's face Hoff.

Crystal Fighters - Star of Love Deluxe Edition - Tweeted 'first listen' Review

Recently I have taken to tweeting my immediate reaction to albums as I listen to them in their entirety for the first time. I click play, let the album play, and tweet. I haven't edited my tweets, just laid them out to read as an article as best they can.

Without further ado here are my tweets for Crystal Fighters - Star of Love (Deluxe Edition)

Bought the crystal fighters album. Time for a tweeted first listen? Yeah! not done one since Bon Iver (who I forgot to name when reviewing).


I'm going to multitask. By the end of the eve I might even have another blog post done. Glastonbury Revisited. 


"From somewhere high above the old hills of our home, Love will come to conquer" - I haven't even pressed play and this album has a message. 


1st track "Solar System". Captivated and caught up in the bass. 60 seconds not yet gone. First impressions - Intelligent tribal dub. The first thing that stands out about this album is how well 'tribal' beats and dub step style bass can interplay. The effect of the vocals on this crystal fighters album is also entrancing. They make industrial tones sound much more organic. xtatic truth - this is the first song on the album I recognise. 


I can sense Reggae undertones in the lead vocals... they could polarise. 


Crystal Fighters - Champion Sound - to date I've only heard this on Jools. So far the recording is much more refined, softer and expressive. 


after a down tempo song (that didn't rock my world) the beats back. Nice use of track contrast. 


"At home" is pleasantly surprising. Considering my preconception as to what this album would hold, this album is more varied than expected. 


Next track "I love London", you can tell it wasn't written over the last week, lets put it that way....


"Swallow" - I've been listening to this for months. Evidence that dub bass can fit and enhance more conventional song writing. Incredible. 


Crystal fighters: "With You" - How indie synth heavy dance music should be? Definitely. 


Into the acoustic bonus tracks. Pretty cool. The spanish language their guitars are speaking adds sunshine warmth missing on other tracks. Acoustic Version Espanyol - Me Gusta... Estupendo! Think I might actually be more in the mood for these acoustic tracks. As much as I love electro, its just not human. 


I'm on the last track. The album has highs and lows. Definitely well intentioned, both in its sentiments and its musical ambitions. Not everything works, but not everything has to. It sets the ground work for some exciting concepts to be explored further. It also shows how timeless acoustic music is, and how no matter how inhuman a sound you can create, it can always be humanised. On the whole, a sterling record. It had lows, but the highs always help you forget.