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Tokio 7AM. Nagasaki Swim
Nagasaki
Swim, the Rotterdam based band around Jasper Boogaard, is on its way to
release its new album. One of the singles is Tokio 7AM. Of course, it
is still a soft sounding song, as Boogaard's voice is soft-toned to start with. Within
that universe this single is a tough song. Based on its driving rhythm
and the accumulation of instruments Nagasaki Swim is in an almost
rocking mood. Not that long ago I was travelling around the time and
town mentioned in the title to the airport also mentioned, so I can
relate quite well to this song. But that is not enough for a review.
Although the music fits in with internationally more famous bands like
The War on Drugs, Nagasaki Swim is able to give its own swing to Tokio
7AM, which makes it more likeable than its U.S. colleagues. More
sympathetic too.
Tawny
Ellis returns the blog with a song that in my younger years would have
been called Adult Oriented Rock. You can guess what I thought of that
kind of music then (and in most cases still do). Elephant is a song that
I can recommend though. Ms Ellis manages to mix the kind of music that
conjures up memories of the better Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks
songs in their Fleetwood Mac hey day days with smooth rock. Yes, that
all sounds very mature but not less pleasant at that. Her voice takes me
through the song with ease, while the accompaniment of band and
background singer make the song so suave in sound. Think of a nice
sounding piano that slowly tinkles away some solo notes, sustained by
a warm Hammond organ, while the rhythm section is solid enough to keep
us all awake. Simply very well done.
Chris
Eckman's previous album made it well into my favourites of the first
quarter of this century as did one of The Walkabouts'. It's time for a
new album, that will arrive later this month ('The Land We Knew The
Best'). In the meantime we have a first single. It is a slow affair drenched in
the kind of beauty that comes with the best songs in Eckman's oeuvre.
The kind that are of the slowest country rock one can imagine. His voice
has its usual depth. For the first time in a long while, I am wondering
what a song would sound like with Carla Torgerson at his side. Town
Lights Fade is a song that could have been a The Walkabouts song and my
feeling is that Chris Eckman avoided this association for a long time.
Not here, and he touches the top of his songwriting skills with ease.
That combination of mystery and every day life that graces all his best
songs is here in all its glory. Only two weeks to wait for the album to
come.
While
writing it is only one more day before the album is out, when you read
this it is here. Night Or Day is the second single from the album and
it is so easy to listen to to. No, it's not a major party song like
'Take Me Out' or 'Do You Want To'. Yes, it's a song to slowly undergo,
to let it creep under your skin. A song that fits our ages. We are all
21 years down the road since 'Take Me Out'. Heck, I even visited Sarajevo
and the spot where the crown prince was assassinated since then. Night
Or Day is a piano driven song with a keyboard solo besides a guitar one.
But when all is said and done you will find that Night Or Day is a
party song, a song to move with and on. It's simply more subtle but
suits Franz Ferdinand quite well.
Met
alsof schuift De Toegift weer iets meer richting Spinvis, maar verliest
zichzelf niet. Allesbehalve zou ik zeggen. De band wordt steeds
vloeiender en mystieker. alsof klink zo volwassen, alsof de band al
jaren actief is in plaats van op weg naar de tweede LP (7 februari en een mysterieus klinkende titel,
'kleine auto, grote hot wheel'). De prachtige single vervloeit over in
het instrumentale 'ii', dat de sfeer alleen maar mystieker maakt. Naast
Spinvis moet ik ook denken aan de nestor onder de Nederlandse
singer-songwriters Boudewijn de Groot. Zanger Maxim Ventulé heeft zeker
wel eens naar hem geluisterd als ik de frasering in zijn stem hier hoor.
alsof klinkt fantastisch door de manier waarop de keyboards blenden met
de achtergrond zang. Het lijkt wel Keltische mystiek met klanken die
door de mist, die over een Iers moeras hangt, door klinken. Deze single
maakt heel erg benieuwd naar de nieuwe plaat. Nog één maand wachten.
More
from The Netherlands, Tilburg to be exact. Mood Bored can be found on
this blog since the release of its first single. With All The Time the
band sets another step towards its second EP, 'Too Much?'. All The Time
is a song that holds back in a nice way. The tension is slowly built up
without giving away whether it will be released or not. The bass plays
in a familiar (Krist Novoselic) way, almost slacker style, with the drums
as it were pushing it forward. The guitar plays just a few notes. This
gives singer Myrte Driesenaar all the time in the world to sing the
verses. The chorus is tougher of course. Mood Bored plays brilliantly
with the light and the shade during All The Time. And that release? You
will have to listen for your self to find out. Let me conclude that I'm
totally pleased with Mood Bored's new single.
With
Out Of Depth, containing the title of the upcoming debut album 'Fading
Image', 11 April, Amsterdam's Marathon sets another step in its career. Ever since
2022 the band can be found here. Singles, a live show and and EP. With
Out Of Depth the band is closer to Rotterdam band Tramhaus than ever
before. And I'm not sure whether I'm happy with that development. Kay
Koopmans is emulating Lukas Jansen, while the music has the same energy.
Agreed, the music almost moves into metal territory towards the end of
Out Of Depth. That makes it different alright. Still, I'm inclined to
give Out Of Depth the benefit of the doubt. Successful bands are there
to copy and then find your own voice, but I thought Marathon was attaining its own already. So, based on the past, I'm sure that
Marathon has the imagination and quality to do so. I'm still looking
forward to the album.
The
Murder Capital is on route to its third album. To be honest, I have
both previous albums but lost interest in both after a while. That makes
me sceptical of number three before its release. Single Words Lost Meaning
nevertheless is interesting enough to write about. It's grungy and dark.
What's happening here, is saying I love you has gone out of style but it's also uncertain by what
it will be replaced. Will it be I need you or I don't need you any longer?
That is what I get out of the lyrics. Both are negative in my opinion.
Singer James McGovern sings with a near dead voice, not exactly bringing
something to the party or answer. The music matches the uncertain mood. Words
Lost Meaning is a dark affair, not a song to play under all
circumstances. Intriguing it is though.
If U Know U Know. Cari Cari
And
here's Cari Cari once again. Present on the blog since 2018 with
'Anaana' and working towards album number three as well. Don't expect
any surf ridden and reverb drenched song this time around. If U Know U
Know is the most easy going song the Austrian duo has released to date.
Drummer and singer Stephanie Widmer and guitarist/singer Alexander Köck
are totally laidback on their latest song. In how far this is
representative of what is to come, I can't tell yet. My anticipation is
tested but listening to the song again, I can say that If U Know U Know
is quite alright. Live it will come with some more attack, I expect. A
whole album like this may be a bit much though.
To my surprise I've already reviewed three albums by The Men. As an excuse I can state that the first two were in the first two years of the blog in 2012 and 2013. The third one was ten years later in 2023. With Pony the band returns with a new single and a truckload of punkrock energy. If I have to compare, Pony is the sleazy version of traumahelikopter's latest album, 'Save Yourself'. The Men is around for a long time. Upcoming album 'Buyer Beware', release 28 February, is the band's 15th. Judging by Pony the band has not given in an inch where energy and songwriting is concerned. Pony is upbeat, dirty and has a melody despite all the storm going on in the two minutes and 50 seconds the song last. Take a listen and you notice how the band saves and releases energy the whole time in the verses. The Men know how to make a song interesting.
Wout de Natris - van der Borght
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