STACK NZ Nov #57

MUSIC

REVIEWS

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Yusuf /Cat Stevens Tell ‘Em I’ve Gone Out Now

collaborator Robyn on Rong (defined by the refrain “What the f*** is wrong with you?”) and the single Monument. Röyksopp have always been pretty ambitious, but this fifth LP may be their definitive statement, ranging from expansive cinematic grandeur to pointed emotional intimacy without ever dwelling in any one genre for long. At the same time, widescreen throbbers like the vocoder-loaded opener Skull will have no trouble dominating the late-night dancefloor. The duo have called this their darkest work lyrically, and that certainly comes through on nocturnal cuts like Compulsion and the quivering Here She Comes Again . But there’s a lot of feel-good levity too. Namely, Thank You is a beautiful send-off that closes the first disc and should appeal to fans of Air’s immersive dream-pop. DougWallen Ariel Pink Pom Pom safe approach to any new Ariel Pink record. For starters, Pom Pom is the first album in a highly prolific career to be solely attributed to Ariel Pink, but by his own admission it’s also the most collaborative. Spiritualized’s Jason Pierce, and famed/infamous Kim Fowley of ‘70s rock group The Runaways contribute to the collage, along with other band members.The result is a characteristic, unpredictable November 14 To expect the unexpected is a

Lost on the River The New Basement Tapes November 7 If you’re one of music’s most respected producers, you don’t say ‘no’ to a box of unseen Bob Dylan lyrics, written during the recording of the original BasementTapes in 1967. “Would you like to do something with these?” Dylan’s publisher askedT-Bone Burnett. With Dylan’s

While the lyrical reference of mankind’s struggle for peace and freedom is common throughout Yusuf/Cat Stevens’ first new album in five years, the songs, five originals and as many covers, lean towards R&B music of Yusuf’s youth. His own compositions including the autobiographical Editing Floor Blues sound folky, the diverse covers, Jimmy Reed’s Big Boss Man, Edgar Winter’s Dyin’ To Live (just voice and piano) and the obscure Procol Harum song, The Devil Came To Kansas feature musical contributions from Richard Thompson (guitar), Charlie Musselwhite (harmonica), singer Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Tuareg group Tinariwen. Billy Pinnell Royksopp The Inevitable End Out Now for Norwegian duo Röyksopp. But they’re not exactly leaving us with a shortage of material: The Inevitable End spans two CDs and 17 tracks. Such a marathon will inevitably drag in places, but there’s enough radiant, ambient warmth and brooding pop gems to offset the slower patches. It helps that guest stars stop by periodically, including their recent True to its title, this is indeed the final album

approval, Burnett found a team of performers to transform the words with music. Elvis Costello, Rhiannon Giddens (Carolina Chocolate Drops),Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and Marcus Mumford (Mumford & Sons) were sent the same 16 pieces of prose, and each of their contributions became part of this creative collaboration. With additional lyrics turning up, Burnett’s team spent two weeks working, recording and breathing

new life to the words of a musical master, untouched for nearly 50 years. Backed by a music bed of Americana sounds, Johnny Depp even drops in on guitar. Burnett’s aim was to stay true to the lyrics’ orignal spirit. One for the Dylan fans – we know you’re out there. Denise Hylands mix of wistful AM radio rock, strange tape textures, stream of consciousness skits, and stream of unconsciousness pop, including standout single Put Your Number in My Phone. On the melodic side there’s also Dayzed Inn Daydreams, some surreal psychedelic sounds on Dinosaur Carebears , and a couple of high-intensity punk tracks in the form of Goth Bomb and Negativ Ed . It’s all somewhat chaotic yet somehow coherent; a portrait of the artist as a contradictory, conflicted, confounding and constantly challenging

pop chameleon. SimonWinkler

Graham Reid revisits some interesting albums that you should have heard.

Coverdale/Page Coverdale/Page (1993)

BBM Around the Next Dream (1994)

Magazine Real Life (1978) The dark post-punk debut by singer/writer Howard Devoto and pals which is full of menace, Dave Formula’s great keyboards, literary and political references and driving songs with actual melodies. Terrific.

Headless Chickens Body Blow (1991) The second Headless Chickens is their best, coming between the twisted industrial artrock of their debut, and a later era of bewitching dance singles (something that began with the ubquitous Cruise Control , included here). Body Blow was aptly titled, containing the knock out punches of Gaskrankinstation and Railway Surfing. Recently reissued on vinyl.

While we wait for the next installment of Led Zepp reissues here’s one that’s more interesting than you might expect. Critics rightly sniffed at Jimmy Page linking up withWhitesnake singer David Coverdale as the Robert Plant stand-in. (Page and Plant weren’t on speaking terms at the time). But give it a go, it stands up pretty well. Ersatz Zepp but not bad.

And while we’re at it. Around the same time former Cream legends Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce got together with Gary Moore (ex--Thin Lizzy) for this one-off. It was never going to be Cream but it’s power trio blues- rock and not without interest.

NOVEMBER 2014 JB Hi-Fi www.jbhifi.co.nz

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