STACK #158 Dec 2017

MUSIC REVIEWS

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Sampa The Great Birds and the BEE9 “Feelin’ sh-t is hard, man. Why can’t we just do turn-up

Paloma Faith The Architect The dazzling Paloma Faith pulls out all the stops on her fourth album The Architect . With the deluxe edition of the record spanning 19 tracks, there’s much to digest; but with Faith’s commanding vocals and incisive social commentary it’s impossible to lose interest. The album opens with a motivational speech from none other than Samuel L. Jackson, while the title track builds up to a spectacularly rousing chorus. Warrior is penned by pop-hit powerhouse Sia, and meanwhile the unmistakable voice of John Legend features on I’ll Be Gentle . Never one to do things by half measures, Faith has well and truly secured her spot towards the top of Best Of 2017 lists. (Sony) Holly Pereira Dream Wife Dream Wife Like many good bands, London’s DreamWife formed without the intention of playing more than one show. The trio’s chance encounter translates into a unabashed and spontaneous debut album that possesses a staggering vitality. The defiant Somebody counters the objectification of female music fans. Act My Age similarly packs a punch with its repeated hook not too dissimilar from a rally cry. Fire transforms into a hypnotic track with the unveiling of backing vocals which contrast wonderfully with lead singer Rakel Mjöll’s impassioned delivery, while Love Without Reason pares things back to allow the song’s sentimental lyrics to shine. The state of the world may be looking grim, but DreamWife are proof that the future of feminist music is very bright. (Pod/Inertia) Holly Pereira

music,” Sampa The Great laughs infectiously at the beginning of Casper . Sampa Tembo is known for her playful persona, but there is another side to the Zambian- born, Melbourne-residing musician: fierce, empowered, and confident. While these 13 tracks sway between smooth jazz beats with gospel undertones, the music is far too adventurous to simplify into a single genre; there’s the snake- charming Middle Eastern vibes of Rhymes To The East , the laidback, Remi Kolawole-assisted Flowers , and the wicked, glitchy Karma The Villain . Sampa is mastering her own experiences, venting frustration at Australia’s racial challenges and inquisitively breaking down musical barriers. NB: Vinyl only. (Big Dada/Inertia)Tim Lambert

Grenadiers Find Something You Love And Let It Kill You “Nothing worth having comes easy” is a phrase I’ve heard many times in my life. It’s a saying I hope Adelaide trio Grenadiers are familiar with, because their third album, Find Something You Love And Let It Kill You , certainly didn’t come easy – that’s for sure. Buttressed by a fighting spirit

that has long defined the band, they’ve overcome the sort of adversity (cash issues, multiple re-recordings, mixing troubles) which could sink your average independent act. The resulting ten-pack of tracks are short, they’re fast and they’re loud, led by frontman Jesse Coulter’s raspy, whiskey-laden grunt. There are the cheekily relatable openers Drunk And Broke and Suburban Life ; the dreary realism of Long Way Down ; the frantic, sub-two-minute Panic Attack and the pint-charging Live Fast, Diabetes . Life may have given them some lemons, but Grenadiers have

made some f-cking delicious lemonade. (Green Room Records)Tim Lambert

Cannibal Corpse Red Before Black

Sons Of Apollo Psychotic Symphony Sons Of Apollo is a new progressive metal super group, with former DreamTheater drummer Mike Portnoy at the helm. Without going into the line-up, the collective bandmembers are seasoned veterans, so we are talking about some serious players here. It shows. Psychotic Symphony is packed to the brim with so much virtuosity that it boggles the ears. Thankfully the band does keep their songwriting in check, ensuring that the album doesn’t sound like an assemblage of parts patched together. Sons Of Apollo has the potential to turn into something great, so with time the band will only get better – Psychotic Symphony is a confident beginning. (InsideOut/EMI) Simon Lukic

Tune-Yards I can feel you creep into my private life What happens when a sinking feeling is no longer just a feeling? Merrill Garbus confronts the horror head-on with her latest album as Tune-Yards. These songs are defiant anthems about race, gender, politics, the environment: percussive and powerful, right to the end. Final track Free is driven by a barely contained bassline, blown out and booming beneath Merrill's vocals. You can hear the sheer force of early hip hop and electro in the beats, as well as the playful invention that has always defined Tune-Yards' music. I can feel you creep into my private life is urgent, upbeat, and essential listening. (4AD/Remote Control) Simon Winkler

There isn’t much that hasn't been said about Cannibal Corpse. They are arguably the best-selling death metal band on the planet, and sit at the head of the extreme metal musical table. They've never pushed the boundaries of the sound by any margin, only flexing their technical skills when needed and only if the song required them to do so. "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" certainly applies to the New York act, and their 14th studio album Red Before Black continues in the same vein. This consistency should be applauded, because Cannibal have always focused on releasing solid albums that fans will enjoy. Red Before Black won’t let anyone down. (Metal Blade/Rocket) Simon Lukic

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