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ZHU
Generationwhy
The music of Grammy-nominated
Steven Zhu is a reasonable mix of
Calvin Harris and Flume – even if
you don't know his name, you'd
probably recognise his 2014 hit
Faded
. Now he’s back with his
latest album
Generationwhy
,
which is already drawing
comparisons to Daft Punk. If that
isn’t thought provoking enough
for you, this record also features
DJ Khaled on
IAM
, so prepare
for another one of his keys to
success. Fans of Zhu and Skrillex's
collab hit
Working For It
will love
Electrify Me
, and the rest of this
substantiated deep bounce is
enough to keep any long-time
fan or newcomer at peace. He’s
workin’ hard for the money, he
want it all.
(Sony) Alesha Kolbe
Bug
(1988)
Although
You're Living All Over Me
from the previous year
was enormously influential (on grunge and indie rock bands
in the '80s and early '90s), this third album breakthrough
wound up the jangle, noise, pop and folk-rock. Very
accessible. The last of the original line-up with Barlow.
Green Mind
(1991)
NewYork rock critic Robert Christgau was never a fan and
dismissed this as "grunge on pot" – which it may well be.
But it is also (aside from being all but a Mascis solo album
after Barlow's departure) a pretty thrilling ride of reductive
rock and Mascis' take on country-rock.
Flying Cloud
is a
lovely dreamy ballad. On pot, of course.
Hand It Over
(1997)
The last before the lengthy break, this collapsed pop, metal-
noise, massive chords and Mascis' own take on slacker
folk-rock (as unique as Neil Young's, whose spirit is conjured
up on
Alone
) with colour from strings and horns, and some
guest singers. Recommended.
I Bet On Sky
(2012)
From their second life (Barlow back in the ranks), this
showed they'd lost none of their fire power and power-rock
(
Rude
) but it also embraced their widescreen folk-rock
(
Almost Fare
which Cobain might have admired and sung)
and Mascis' archetypal melancholy (
Stick A Toe In
). Either a
return to form or them revisiting old tropes. You decide.
Hard to believe, but Dinosaur Jr first formed
over 30 years ago.They've been helmed by sole
constant, singer-guitarist J. Mascis – although
co-founder and bassist Lou Barlow, who left
after the first five years, rejoined when the
band was resurrected after an eight year hiatus
ending in late 2005. A long and productive
career... so where to start?
DINOSAUR Jr.
And also...
Mascis' solo career has presented some interesting albums, notably
Free So
Free
(2002, with The Fog) and
Tied To Star
(2014). Barlow's career with the
lo-fi Sebadoh and Folk Implosion are worth checking out, especially Sebadoh.
For more interviews, reviews and overviews from Graham Reid visit
www.elsewhere.co.nzAphex Twin
Cheetah EP
Despite Aphex Twin’s Richard D
James taking 13 years between
albums, comeback release
Syro
netted him a Grammy in 2014
and reaffirmed him as one of
electronic music’s most thrilling
contemporary producers. It’s his
oppositional nature: even as his
earlier melodic experiments inspire
the likes of Beyonce, on
Cheetah
he goes sparse. Metronomic clicks
and rubbery bass squanches give
scant definition to the space, and
there’s no attempt to make these
instruments sound like anything
familiar; they're as arcane as
the esoteric synth referenced
in
Cheetah
’s marketing. That all
changes on
CIRKLON3
, the closest
we come to the funkier elements
of James’s catalogue. Even at EP
length, James remains an expert
at evoking a lot from miniscule
spaces.
(Inertia) Jake Cleland
Beaty Heart
Till The Tomb
There’s an edge and exuberance to
the new album from South London
trio Beaty Heart.
Till The Tomb
documents a time of personal
and artistic transformation for
the bandmembers, and follows
their debut
Mixed Blessings
with an even greater range of
styles, drawing on hip hop,
modern groove, and experimental
pop. Each track is thoughtfully
and playfully constructed on
a bed of beats, bass, synths,
and layered vocals, with lyrics
addressing the struggles and joys
of creative expression. One of
many shining moments on the
album arrives in the form of
Raw
Gold
, co-produced with friends,
touring partners and modern pop
visionaries Jungle.
(Caroline) SimonWinkler
GL
Touch
It was love at first listen when
the superduo GL introduced
themselves via their
Love
Hexagon
EP back in 2014. Ella
Thompson and Graeme Pogson
were already extremely well
known for their superlative
output through other projects,
but GL offered a fresh way to
share their passion for boogie,
funk, soul, new jack swing,
new wave and disco alongside
modern beats and club sounds.
Touch
is their anticipated debut,
and combines all this and
more. It's a moving manifesto
for the mind, body and soul to
follow: sophisticated dancefloor
material meets immersive
headphone music.
(Inertia) SimonWinkler
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