One track from the end and I'm thinking this whole album is really consistently solid. It doesn't (yet) have the completely blissful highs as Alpinisms does on a couple tracks, but it'll likely grow on me. A lot. I really like it.
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Thursday, 1 July 2010 17:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
Also can't wait to hear the full-blown production job, instead of a RS.com stream through shitty earbuds.
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Thursday, 1 July 2010 17:26 (2 years ago) Permalink
School of Seven Bells show a couple hours ago was holyshitamazing. I've caught their show 2 or 3 times before and it was great, yes, but went into tonight's thing expecting more of the same. So they were 30 min late to the stage... "My Cabal" came and went as song #1, it was enjoyable and sounded great (glad that long soundcheck was put to good use). So that was that; I was expecting them to breeze through "Fast Asleep," "Disguise," "Connjur" and the rest on autopilot, pretty but predictable.Nope. Song 2 was brand new, same with 3, 4, 5... All a BIG progression from Alpinisms, waaaayyy wayy better (and I say this with Alpinisms being one of my most played, and favorite, albums of the past few years).The new songs are more confident, less fleeting and the vocal interplay has been really pushed forward. They still do the dual vocals thing but I dare say it's improved, been spotlighted at the front of each song, more complex harmonies, just absolutely gorgeous. Meanwhile Ben Curtis has gone more in a Kevin Shields direction, guitar parts less Cocteau ambient-wash, more muscular, straight out of Medicine's "5ive" or "Aruca" era stuff, blasts of feedback stabbing between Spector-y vocal harmonies. Song tempos are all faster, easier to dance to; they've kept the drum machine but added a live fourth member who compliments it well. First new song had me floored, almost at tears, just incredibly beautiful and absolutely the right direction for their sound to go next.Watch out... This new album is really gonna be something to fuck with.― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Friday, March 19, 2010 9:54 PM
Nope. Song 2 was brand new, same with 3, 4, 5... All a BIG progression from Alpinisms, waaaayyy wayy better (and I say this with Alpinisms being one of my most played, and favorite, albums of the past few years).
The new songs are more confident, less fleeting and the vocal interplay has been really pushed forward. They still do the dual vocals thing but I dare say it's improved, been spotlighted at the front of each song, more complex harmonies, just absolutely gorgeous. Meanwhile Ben Curtis has gone more in a Kevin Shields direction, guitar parts less Cocteau ambient-wash, more muscular, straight out of Medicine's "5ive" or "Aruca" era stuff, blasts of feedback stabbing between Spector-y vocal harmonies. Song tempos are all faster, easier to dance to; they've kept the drum machine but added a live fourth member who compliments it well. First new song had me floored, almost at tears, just incredibly beautiful and absolutely the right direction for their sound to go next.
Watch out... This new album is really gonna be something to fuck with.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Friday, March 19, 2010 9:54 PM
I wrote this back in March 2010 after seeing the live show. The bolded part was referring to "Bye Bye Bye," which I think is one of the better tracks here. Live it definitely had a bigger wall of guitars than it has on record. Which I hope they keep doing live, because it was utterly moving and transportive and I can't fucking wait to experience it again in person.
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Thursday, 1 July 2010 17:29 (2 years ago) Permalink
I really think they are just that kind of act that will be best heard live -- Radiohead are kinda the same way for me, much as I love their work (still kills me I haven't been able to see them since 2003...)
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 1 July 2010 17:36 (2 years ago) Permalink
London? Anyone?
― OCD Soundsystem (Masonic Boom), Thursday, 1 July 2010 17:37 (2 years ago) Permalink
They really become more muscular live. More noise, feedback. Guitars turned waaayy up in the mix. Full-on shoegaze worship.
xp
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Thursday, 1 July 2010 17:37 (2 years ago) Permalink
Case in point:
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Thursday, 1 July 2010 17:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
That was pretty much... AMAZING.
Love the new drummer, really adds a depth and looseness that, although it wasn't missing before, still very much added to the equation.
I'll leave it to Lex to give his own impressions... but what a fabulous show.
― Cow Bingo (Masonic Boom), Thursday, 8 July 2010 22:31 (2 years ago) Permalink
it was great, and i'm so glad i got to see them in a venue that small. had never seen them before properly, but live they conveyed everything i expected from their records and then some - such a great sense of build and release. the deheza sisters' voices are actually really different! i don't know why i didn't expect that.
i also thought ben was super-hott
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 8 July 2010 22:39 (2 years ago) Permalink
shirt unbuttoned juuust enough to show off the tat in the dead centre of his chest
The Lex is lusting after a DDB. This is amusing me SOOOO much you have no idea.
I liked the moment we both realised it was a tattoo. Like "Is that a tattoo?" :;stares:: "Or is it a shirt?" ::stares some more:: "I don't know, but I'm really enjoying trying to figure it out" ::both stare a little more::
The thing is, Benjamin is such a sweetheart that I feel really bad about lusting after him the way I do, whenever he comes over and talks to me and he's just like this big, bouncy oversized puppy and he's *lovely*. And then I feel really really bad about trying to stare at his chest for half an hour.
― Cow Bingo (Masonic Boom), Thursday, 8 July 2010 22:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
Well if he didn't want you to stare he shouldn't be wearing his shirt that way..
I didn't mean to end up standing at the front (really), just wanted to stand somewhere where I could see..
― jellybean (back again) (Jill), Thursday, 8 July 2010 22:51 (2 years ago) Permalink
This is very, very true.
Christ, was it crammed enough, though. I don't think that was a 150 capacity venue. I think that was more like a 75 capacity venue they rammed 150 people into.
― Cow Bingo (Masonic Boom), Thursday, 8 July 2010 22:53 (2 years ago) Permalink
i thought i saw you jill but wasn't sure!!
staring at ben's chest was very calming after the mad group of girls next to us decided to take 9484397 photos of each other throughout the entirety of "ilu". i get taking photos of your friends at gigs but a) so many? b) you couldn't wait til between songs?
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 8 July 2010 22:53 (2 years ago) Permalink
Still trying to work out if the new drummer is an extra Curtis brother or not. He kinda looks like a cross between Benjamin and Brandon - but I think two sets of siblings in one band would be too much for anyone.
― Cow Bingo (Masonic Boom), Thursday, 8 July 2010 22:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
Can I just --
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Thursday, 8 July 2010 23:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
"heart is strange", "dust devil" and "ilu" are my immediate favs on the new album
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 8 July 2010 23:14 (2 years ago) Permalink
Stupid me for pre-ordering the album so I could get the free tickets and actually having to wait until I get the physical copy before I get to hear how great it is... OK, I lie, I've been listening to the live MP3s, but I can't wait to hear how much more intricate and layered the recorded material is.
I hope I'm not building it up too much - but I pretty much already know, based on the live material, that this is going to be my album of the year.
It's just that kind of build and momentum - they manage to achieve this kind of trance state with their music which is not entirely motorik, and yet not entirely "dancefloor dynamics" either - they just have such a great sense of being able to create a mood and sustain tension.
― Cow Bingo (Masonic Boom), Friday, 9 July 2010 09:59 (2 years ago) Permalink
oops. sorry for not coming over to say hi last night. we rushed off for food afterwards because my friend and I were hungry.
Kate, the album is steaming on the rolling stone website. thought it a bit odd that they couldn't give us the album last night.
― jellybean (back again) (Jill), Friday, 9 July 2010 10:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
Yeah, I don't understand why we couldn't just get the album on the door, since we'd all already paid for it. (well, obviously not the plus ones, but if you were on the list, you'd bought it.)
I suppose coz it's not technically coming out until next week.
― Cow Bingo (Masonic Boom), Friday, 9 July 2010 10:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
Cos you mite put it on the interwebs... o wait :(
― X-101, Friday, 9 July 2010 11:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
THIS NEW ALBUM IS SO DAMN GOOD
Stream (reposting): http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/151087
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Friday, 9 July 2010 16:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
They're playing with IUD (Gang Gang Dance side project) in late July which is a weird but cool booking :)
― the food has a top snake of 1 (ulillillia), Friday, 9 July 2010 16:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
THIS NEW ALBUM IS SO DAMN GOODotmfm
― ♥ ᶫᵧᵒₒᵛᵤᵉ ♥ (LOLK), Friday, 9 July 2010 19:31 (2 years ago) Permalink
it's like all the best parts of liz fraser and blinda from mbv yet something completely their own
and that's only the vocals!!
― ♥ ᶫᵧᵒₒᵛᵤᵉ ♥ (LOLK), Friday, 9 July 2010 19:34 (2 years ago) Permalink
album of the year?
― the new hot dawg stand in compton (Pillbox), Friday, 9 July 2010 20:53 (2 years ago) Permalink
^ probably
― ♥ ᶫᵧᵒₒᵛᵤᵉ ♥ (LOLK), Friday, 9 July 2010 23:16 (2 years ago) Permalink
Streaming is working on the sviib.com site now btw.
― seandalai, Friday, 9 July 2010 23:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
this is a really pretty record. beautifully arranged....seems really shiny and glasslike. it just glides across the surface of the water
― peel ya frap back (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Sunday, 11 July 2010 16:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
Really can't wait to hear the album tomorrow in full-quality CD sound, played loud. I've had this album streaming on near-repeat at work for the past week or however long it's been out. Probably heard it 20 times by now...
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Monday, 12 July 2010 16:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
I get almost zero low-end sound on these pathetic headphones, so really just want to hear the full-scale production.
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Monday, 12 July 2010 16:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
Also, this is just a gorgeous-looking band.
― he's always been a bit of an anti-climb Max (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Monday, 12 July 2010 17:02 (2 years ago) Permalink
ok two tracks in and this already smokes the debut
― RIP la petite mort (acoleuthic), Monday, 12 July 2010 17:05 (2 years ago) Permalink
THREE tracks in and it KILLS IT DEAD
― RIP la petite mort (acoleuthic), Monday, 12 July 2010 17:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
OK, I'm old enough to get over it when people I hate like bands I love. But I am still childish enough to be annoyed when ILX0rs I hate start using screen names based off bands I love.
;_;
Because I pre-ordered it, I have to wait for the post to deliver it. Should have selected pick-up.
― Cow Bingo (Masonic Boom), Monday, 12 July 2010 17:26 (2 years ago) Permalink
But I am still childish enough to be annoyed when ILX0rs I hate start using screen names based off bands I love.
hm?
― RIP la petite mort (acoleuthic), Monday, 12 July 2010 17:36 (2 years ago) Permalink
A question which I don't expect an instant answer to, but please bear it in mind:
I've got the deluxe edition of the new CD that comes with an 'alternative' version of Alpinisms thrown in. Would be interested in reading opinions as to whether this differs much from the original album, which I've not heard.
― Jeff W, Monday, 12 July 2010 17:39 (2 years ago) Permalink
is la petite mort a band?
― hot dub grime machine (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 12 July 2010 17:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
it's a well-worn expression I used in a way that tickled me enough to turn into a screen name
in other news, this album is still very good, if not quite up with tracks 2, 3 and 4 (i.e. Lex OTM for now)
― RIP la petite mort (acoleuthic), Monday, 12 July 2010 17:42 (2 years ago) Permalink
LJ i think she's talking about whiney
― k3vin k., Monday, 12 July 2010 17:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
oh yeah haha
― RIP la petite mort (acoleuthic), Monday, 12 July 2010 17:46 (2 years ago) Permalink
xxxxxpost
ah masonic c'mon it's whiney!
indie buzz band....77 reference...testicles...it's like asking a bird not to spread its wings and fly
― hot dub grime machine (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 12 July 2010 18:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
every song has good elements to it! 'dial' is probably my favourite other than those 3. this album is much better than the debut, and it's also got its own sonic profile - finally this band is a thing, and although it's not music that i find viscerally thrilling, the songs are good enough to justify buying into them, luxuriating in their sprawl
― RIP la petite mort (acoleuthic), Monday, 12 July 2010 18:52 (2 years ago) Permalink
I didn't know the deluxe edition came with an alternate version of Alpinisms! I just wanted the tarot cards.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Monday, 12 July 2010 19:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
Tarot cards? TAROT CARDS?!?!??! arrarghghghghgghhg Benjamin why do you do this to me. Can you get this version in the UK? This is deliberately to torture me and make me buy more than once copy since I had to pre-order the normal one to get into the secret gig.
This is not fair. I want those tarot cards.
mutter mutter mutter
― Cow Bingo (Masonic Boom), Monday, 12 July 2010 20:06 (2 years ago) Permalink
I don't KNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW which version I am getting. I checked the order and it says a signed copy. It does not say which version. I am gonna hope that this means that it's a special limited edition but if it isn't waah wah wah I'm gonna do a sad obsessive fan cry all the way home.
I want me those tarot cards.
― Cow Bingo (Masonic Boom), Monday, 12 July 2010 20:14 (2 years ago) Permalink
Tarot cards, tarot phenomenonTarot Cards domestic HAaaaaands!!!
― Mark G, Monday, 12 July 2010 20:16 (2 years ago) Permalink
Relax, you only get seven tarot cards, not a full deck. You can't make predictions with them or anything.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Monday, 12 July 2010 21:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
I don't care how many of them there are, I still want them. Sheesh.
― Cow Bingo (Masonic Boom), Tuesday, 13 July 2010 09:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
If it were my band, I would create an entire deck.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Tuesday, 13 July 2010 09:46 (2 years ago) Permalink