Late of the Pier = Indie/Synthy/Shouty/blahblahblah. But I like.

Alkan did a good job now, I think.

best part of their Bears Are Coming release = prism glasses that came with

This LP is gross, like an album the Mighty Boosh would make. Worse than the comedy Numan bits are the mock-pomp fake-Muse bits w/bad dbl-gtr. The whole thing's like a winking face emoticon on wax.

Saw them close the Secret Garden Party at the weekend - pretty awesome live show! And there's a lot less ironic Barley posturing than I expected, ie basically none.

By and large, they came across like Add N To (X) playing the Rocky Horror soundtrack, straight. I'm all for that sort of behaviour.

By and large, they came across like Add N To (X) playing the Rocky Horror soundtrack, straight. I'm all for that sort of behaviour.

-- CharlieNo4, Tuesday, July 29, 2008 9:34 AM (29 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

this sounds dope

You may also be interested in....

i am loving this album so much. for shame

I'm, erm, kind of distracted by their goodlookingness. Is it going to be work the 20 minutes it's going to take to watch a YouTube video? Charlie is intriguing me with that description, but we often disagree on music.

eh? they're standard lanky indie streaks of piss to look at

yrs, a 40yr old man

oh - hai kate! :-D

Yes, that's very very attractive to this 40 yr old woman! Could you not tell it was me before you even got to the end of the post? ;-)

I've got halfway into the video (stupid connection speed) and so far really like the drums and the squelchy synth noises. The vocals aren't really doing it for me, I think I'd like them better if they went a bit more Daft Punk.

Wait, I've got another minute and the purple dude just turned up so I'm going to go and look some more.

there are daft punky bits - which these days = squally synth noise stuff - throughout.

rather than muse - a lot of the tracks remind me, really randomly (as acoustically there's no similarity) of the first supergrass album. all the energy and lurching around.

Well, I liked the first song - but that could have had a lot to do with the undeniably GREAT video. (That Bears song.) I don't know if I'd have had the same positive reaction if I'd just heard it randomly in a club.

It always really kind of sways me too much, watching music rather than listening to it. I'm aware that I shouldn't be judging bands by these criteria, as it's the work of a director and art crew...

I know that image and art direction and videography are all an important part of a band's appeal. But I still feel suspicious and manipulated when I respond to that too quickly.

I'll watch another song.

Focker:
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cz5Dei5O3xY&hl=en&fs=1";></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cz5Dei5O3xY&hl=en&fs=1"; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

bah to nu nu nu ilx code :-D

I'll watch that one next, in about half an hour, or whenever this bloody slow connection lets me.

So far, their videos are utterly fantastic. Whoever does their art direction is a genius.

But the problem is, I'm really not really noticing the music. The drums in this one (has a Space title) are not as fantastic as that one with the Bears. They're just kinda boring sub Franz Ferdinand indie disco.

They are also exceedingly cute as far as indie streaks of piss go. (I especially like the ginger one, he's lovely, he is.)

i can not get the rythmn monotone synth line of Space and the Woods out of my head

That's the one, the drums just picked up. Connection just froze again, just as it started to get good.

I like this in a kind of weird prog-synth-romo-freako way that I *didn't* like MGMT.

Just got to the middle 8. Fuckin' hell, the drummer kicks ass. I think this is what lifts it above bog standard pseudo-80s shit - good rhythm section.

Wait, the kick-ass drummer is the cute ginger one?

This changes EVERYTHING.

Hello new favourite band of the moment.

Whoever does their art direction is a genius.

But the problem is, I'm really not really noticing the music.

otm

I'm trying to listen to that song Alang posted above without looking at the video, and it does actually sound quite good. This one sounds more like a playful version of Trans Am's Sex Change.

Don't like the singer, but the drumming is just fantastic.

Wow, an NME-feted band I don't hate. Astonishing.

this is pretty good, although they're sorta stuck in 6th gear for the majority of proceedings

"the enemy is the future" and "space and the woods" probably the best tracks, "heartbeat" and "broken" close behind

You're wrong. It's fairly universally acknowledged that Bears Are Coming and Focker are the best of the bunch.

The singer has grown on me, I like his voice better live than on the records. I just like the rhythm section more and more. that's the key to why I like them so much more than yr usual NME/Carling Nurave, I think - they do actually have a really tight drummer and bassist who can stop and start on a dime (5p UK) to pull of those mad histrionic Zappa/Beefheart segues.

Played them for the people I stayed with this week, and he said they reminded him of Stump, which also seemed a fair assessment.

oh sorry for being wrong about my favourite tracks

You didn't say favourite, you said "best". ;-)

unbelievably, this gets better with repeat listens

lou what are the best few songs on this

"Broken", "Space And The Woods", "Heartbeat", "Focker", "The Enemy Are The Future" for me, but it's pretty consistent.

eh ill stick to klaxons

based on "space and the woods" and "hearbeat" they have way better instrumental hooks than vocal ones

synth player is the man in this band

well i dig this shit, is all

I'm still loving "Bears Are Coming". Some really great percussion on that track.

Also the "Space and the Woods" video, which is keen.

unbelievably, this gets better with repeat listens

It does, it does!

Bears Are Coming has some of the best drums I've heard in YEARS. My friend said "meh, this sounds like a techno version of Adam and the Ants with prog bits" to which I said AND YR PROBLEM WITH THAT IS?!?!?!

My second fave song is FOCKER - mainly for the tronic youth breakdown bit at the end where they go all BOOM TISH TISH BOOM CHUCKA CHUCK BOOM TISH TISH BOOM CHUCKA CHUCK BOOM TISH TISH BOOM CHUCKA CHUCK - wub wub wub - BOOM TISH TISH BOOM CHUCKA CHUCK.

But I am a sucker for wub, as you well know.

I don't think they sound much like Klaxons at all, but then again, I've only heard two Klaxons songs in my life and though they were very "meh" so YMMV.

Synth player, "the man"? In those frocks? Dude weareth outfits that Brian Eno would dismiss as "a bit gay" - but hey. It's all good.

I think it's clearly all about THE DRUMS THE DRUMS THE DRUMS AND EVEN MORE DRUMS!!!

I have seen them live a couple of times now, the drummer does all that shit WITHOUT click track and without headphones, I do not know how, only conclusion = HE IS MADE OF WIN.

funny, just picked the album up again today after a two-month gap, and can confirm it's even better now than it was in the summer. currently obsessing over 'the enemy are the future' - so many layers!

you mean like all that weird stuff in Bears? and is it actually a teacup or something like that you can hear being used just before the munchkin orgy section?

does anyone else hear this album less as tracks, more as 45-70 second chunks of crazy stuff.

i found it very difficult to STOP listening to this, but i managed it. for about a week. and cos you asked for it (hem) here are tracks in my order of aceness

Focker
VW
Space And The Woods
The Bears Are Coming
Whitesnake
Heartbeat
Random Firl
The Enemy Are The Future
Hot Tent Blues / Broken
Bathroom Gurgle
Mad Dogs And Englishmen

"currently obsessing over 'the enemy are the future' - so many layers!"

YES. and glad i got the album proper, as the download i had cut this short - not long after the funky 'locked groove' synth section.

hurrah for the 'wub wub wub' in focker

I like me some angular synth punk but wish more of this was slower and funkier.

"The Enemy Are The Future" is my favourite, and one of my tracks of the year. So lush, so addictive, and one of the most genuinely outrageous song-titles in recent memory just to add icing.

Played them for the people I stayed with this week, and he said they reminded him of Stump, which also seemed a fair assessment.

― hard, ginger, nuts (Masonic Boom), Sunday, 28 September 2008 15:48 (3 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

OK, I'm officially interested now.

it's an easy life, yes it's an easy life it's an easy life

NO IT'S A HARD LIFE HARD LIFE IT'S A HARD LIFE HAAAAAAARD!!!

no it's an easy life yes it's an easy life

See them live, they're really incredible. Like, they do ALL of that mad switching stuff totally live.

I thought it was all going to be sequenced to a click track but no, the rhythm section is totally prog, and Boy Synth Wizard Potter triggers the samples to the drums, rather than vice versa so they can do all those mad SPEED UP and slow down and mainly SPEEEEEEED UP things live and loose and beautiful.

(Sorry the teacup munchkin noises aren't done live, they're all triggers on Potter's lovebox. (except for the bits that are actually cowbell.) The mad drumming at the beginning is, though, it's an AMPLIFIED BEDFRAME!!! How can you not love a band mad enough to use an amplified bedframe as an instrument, Fabulous Furry Freak Brother stylee?)

See, I don't think these guys belong in Nu Rave at all - they're far more along the Captain Beefheart continuum.

I am actually going to go to ::GASP:: Bugged Out at Heaven to see them again. Oh, the shame!

Mark, they're more like an amalgamation of all the good things that Klaxons / MGMT / Foals promised in theory but didn't deliver in practise, but younger and brattier and wittier and more inventive and more instinctive and more reckless and more (sigh) "angular" (but in the best sense of the word). It's also quite "teenage MySpace electro", as someone put it on another thread - but again, in a good way.

I am absolutely longing to see them live. Which shouldn't be too difficult, considering they're local.

Well, they're in NYC right now and not planning on going home for a while so it might be a while. Sorry!

And they're more textural than angular. (ha ha, ILM bugbear words)

Now, you just hand them back, d'you hear?!

Another band who match their jumpy angular/textural (!) electronics to a trad live rhythm section, without any pre-programmed beats, are Holy Fuck. They were astonishing when I saw them play last week.

first band in ages i want to go out and see live (and not just from kate's enthusiasm)

(actually go on tour with, be a roadie for, if i'm getting just a little carried away.)

also: what mike said about inventive and instinctive and reckless.

I am actually going to go to ::GASP:: Bugged Out at Heaven to see them again. Oh, the shame!

― post-apocalyptic time jazz (Masonic Boom), Thursday, 23 October 2008 14:56

WHO ARE YOU AND WAHT HAVE YOU DONE WITH KAET

THE LORD OF THE BEASTS COMMANDED ME!!!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/legolass20034/Graphics/a2113387.png

OK, OK, So I'll get one, already! Sheesh!

(:-)

LOOK INTO MY EYES. YOU ARE GETTING SLEEEEPY. VERY SLEEEEEEEPY. YOU WILL BUY THE ALBUM. YOU WILL PLAY IT LOADS. YOU WILL LOVE THIS ALBUM. YOU WILL BE MY SLAVE. AND WHEN I SNAP MY FINGERS YOU WILL AWAKE AND NOT REMEMBER ANY OF THIS CONVERSATION.

http://a864.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/96/m_dfef676d68d68237db20063060f51d77.gif

ooh-er

Hi, there. How yz all been?

(bye)

It's not Kate Moross what did the artwork. Apparently it's a man named Daniel Has Potential.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhpee/

Very interesting stuff - I *love* the map of the album he did, I wish that had been included in the album as a poster or something!

just saw them in a ridiculously sweaty zodiac/carling academy/whatever it is now: by the end they were topless, and all I could think was 'oh if only Kate were here!'

they were ace, btw.

Biggest disappointment of 2008 albums list = where the fuck is Fantasy Black Channel

So anyway, I take it this bunch have packed it, yeah?

so young, peace god

These guys were really great. What ever became of them?

the main songwriter joined connan mockasin for the completely incredible 'please turn me into the snat/forever dolphin love' album. then left connan mockasin who subsequently put out a lamentable record last year. absolutely no idea on the others

That explains so much about Connan Mockasin

that album last year was so pathetic, and after such a truly classic record

I know this is going to sound uncharitable, but they're one of those bands I'm *so glad* never put out a followup. After the amount of hype, and the impossibility of sustaining it, and how many brilliant bands get savaged for failing to reach the giddy heights of their debut - I just think it's so much better that they put out one such perfect record, and then disappeared. It's just a fantastic artefact of a moment. I don't want to know what happened next.

http://www.factmag.com/2015/05/21/late-of-the-pier-drummer-ross-dawson-dies-in-sudden-accident/

aw hell

rip

not sure about this LA Priest stuff tbh