STACK NZ Jan-Feb #59

MUSIC

REVIEWS

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GET ON UP

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Release Date: 11/02/15

Justin Townes Earle Absent Fathers January 16 Getting to 33 is a great achievement in itself for Justin Townes Earle (above), the son of Steve Earle has followed in his father’s footsteps – in more ways than one. Having won the battle with alcohol and drugs, he’s continued to build himself a successful career with his own blend of soulful country, folk and blues. Now sober and recently married, there’s no stopping him. Following the success of his fifth album Single Mothers, released only four months ago, Absent Fathers is the companion piece. Both were recorded in the same session, and were intended for double album release. But Earle ultimately decided the albums needed their own specific identities. The titles of both records reveal much about Justin and his upbringing, and he continues to tell his story, with his sincere introspective songs. Through truthful revelation lies a new maturity, with every newly created album. Along with his trademark guitar pickin’ and straightforward honest presentation, his touring band appear to know and feel these songs with great respect. A standout track, not intended for this release, was recorded while in Australia on his recent visit, a beautiful cover of the Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams , added as a bonus. Denise Hylands

backdrop of modern soundscapes, it felt like a fleeting gimmick. But their sophomore effort sees the twosome dusting off another set of voiceovers, this time with a distinct interplanetary theme. Tense recordings from the Apollo 8 control in Houston are sampled along with several other news reports on the race for space. “Ten minutes that shook the world” plus other iconic quotes are underscored by zappy synths and ominous nuances. Occasionally, the music overwhelms an individual speaker and some of it is, frankly, forgettable. But there’s enough bombast in parts, almost evoking Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds , to cover these cracks. “The greater our knowledge increases, the greater our ignorance unfolds,” declares one vintage announcer. A timely nod to our abuse of technology’s gifts, perhaps. Or a reminder, like PSB’s albums, of that eternally fine line between propaganda and information. GarethThompson mildly infuriating inflated sense of self worth. They seem to approach every album as though they’re bestowing unparalleled musical genius onto their audience. It can be terribly off-putting at times, but the scale and grandeur they lend their newest album The Mindsweep admittedly lends itself to some interesting output. Sounding as though they’ve been commissioned to pen the soundtrack to a cheesy Channing Tatum scifi screened exclusively in iMax in 3-D, Enter Shikari are on an unrelenting futuristic nu- metal bender here, with production as slick as Tatum’s chest. Emily Kelly Enter Shikari The Mindsweep January 16 Enter Shikari have always possessed a

James Brown’s extraordinary career is vividly brought to life in this colourful biopic anchored by a terrific turn from Chadwick Boseman as the Godfather of Soul. Director Tate Taylor (The Help) doesn’t shirk from highlighting the less savoury aspects of Brown’s personality – the shameful way he treated his band (in particular his long-time collaborator Bobby Byrd, brilliantly played here by True Blood’s Nelsan Ellis), the domestic abuse of his wives and his battle with drugs – but Get On Up concentrates on the positives, namely his ground-breaking working in R’n’B and funk. Wisely, Boseman sticks to lip syncing to Brown’s original recordings, but the singer’s incendiary live performances are superbly recreated, making this a must for any music fan. John Ferguson

JIMI: ALL IS BY MY SIDE

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Release Date: 12/02/15

A biopic of the legendary guitarist was long overdue: unfortunately, unlike Get On Up, Jimi: All Is By Side does not feature any of Hendrix’s original music, as the makers were unable to strike a deal with his estate (session man Waddy Wachtel instead handles the axe work). However, director John Ridley turns that into a positive, offering up instead a dreamy, impressionistic account of a crucial year in Hendrix’s life which saw him move to London to launch his career. Outkast’s André Benjamin brilliantly captures the guitarist’s laidback charisma and there are fine performances from the two British women in his life at the time: Imogen Poots as Keith Richards’ ex-girlfriend Linda Keith, and Hayley Atwell as Hendrix’s girlfriend Kathy Etchingham. John Ferguson

Public Service Broadcasting The Race For Space February 23

When this London duo released their debut album, Inform-Educate- Entertain , it seemed risky to predict a follow-up. A series of archival film snippets, set to a

SUMMER EDITION 2015 JB Hi-Fi www.jbhifi.co.nz

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