Wild Beasts - Limbo Panto

Well, would you look at that. Thanks BH

I will do the old fashioned thing for this one and wait for the physical thing next week. Surprised by the lack of excitement around here.

I saw them live last week-- first show as a five-piece, first show with the new material. It was reserved but really lovely.

they're a five-piece now? what does the new one do?

I've listened to Smother a couple of times. My first impressions are it's a lovely record but not much of a development from Two Dancers. The production is really incredible but a few of the tracks are too similar to songs on the last album, especially the drum patterns on a few songs. As I said earlier on this thread I was hoping they would bring put some of the pomp from Limbo Panto, well it seems like that's just not going to happen now. My favourite Wild Beasts songs are still Brave Bulging, Devils Crayon and Woebegone Wanderers, those songs seem like a different band to the one they have become. I do think this album will grow like the last one did I just have to accept they are a different and perhaps more sensible band now.

constantly surprised that ILM doesn't give much of a hoot about them. can't wait to hear the new album.

and yeah the band that made Woebegone Wanderers and Club Of Fathomless Love; *that's* the Wild Beasts i love.

@thomp mostly she plays a Juno-D?
The drum parts on all the new songs are mechanical, as if they were designed by a drum machine. Fills are fills of omission rather than elaboration. I really liked it, I would listen to Smother online but I don't like "streaming"

Oh, she (the new member) mentioned too she was from another band, but I'll need a moment to remember

and yeah the band that made Woebegone Wanderers and Club Of Fathomless Love; *that's* the Wild Beasts i love.

― piscesx

I'm a big fan of their second single "Assembly" which is maybe their most ridiculous moment and wasn't even on Limbo. My friend met the singer a while back and asked why don't they ever play it live, he said they've actually forgotten how to play a lot of thier earlier songs. I wouldn't be surprised if on their next tour they don't really play anything from the first era. I can't really see how those songs would fit in to the sound they go for now.

listening to the stream

so good!

I'm quietly anticipating this.

'Two Dancers part II' would suit me just fine (loved "Albatross" already)

general all round very positive reviews from the UK at least
http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/3023/Wild-Beasts-Smother.aspx

Okay just like Two Dancers this has grown on me a lot after a few plays. It's a really beautiful record and they really are one of the best bands out there.

thx own

ppl who are listening to this record, does it have a game-changer on it like two dancers i & ii was in the middle of the last record? or does it just kind of do its thing?

It's subtle, low-key and very much of a specific mood.

I read them describe Two Dancers as a night out and Smother as pillow talk.

In tone it's similar to a record like Yo La Tengo's And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out IMO.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/79/18294_158867.jpg

Smother is the upcoming and third studio album by British indie rock band Wild Beasts. The album will be released on May 10, 2011 on Domino.

Track listing:

1. Lion's Share - 4:14
2. Bed of Nails - 4:18
3. Deeper - 3:01
4. Loop the Loop - 4:06
5. Plaything - 4:21
6. Invisible - 2:58
7. Albatross - 3:12
8. Reach a Bit Further - 3:36
9. Burning - 4:44
10. End Come Too Soon - 7:32

Ah yes, the new member is Katie from Sky Larkin.

I'm surprised how much I love Albatross now, I was so underwhelmed the first few times I heard it. It really works in the context of the album and but not as a single. I think the record company will struggle to find any singles on the album this time.

Loop the Loop is my favourite song at the moment, one of the best things they've done. Also really liking Burning, it reminds me of something Bjork might come up with.

Loving this so far. "Loop the Loop" is my fave for the moment but I'm pretty sure this is the kind of album where each song will be a fave at one point or the other. I'm hearing a bit of Junior Boys in the slinky sound they've perfected.

That was my first thought too - interviewed them a couple of years ago, and the one album they all agreed on was Junior Boys. Smother has really grown on me last couple of weeks - wish there were more Tom tracks, though: "Invisible" is stellar.

yeah and I guess the JB remix of Fun Powder Plot also helped make that connection more obvious

This band is amazing.

Colour Of Spring, Long Fin Killie, David Sylvain, all sorts of things. Smother is wondrous.

Mix in a bit of Blue Nile as well. My first listen went from "Hmmm, not sure" to "Wow, this really is a remarkable work" fairly quickly!

http://stereogum.com/702502/wild-beasts-smother-inspiration-mixtape/mp3s/

i was supposed to see them for the first time this Friday but a stupid work mission will prevent me from going. so gutted

Colour Of Spring

There was a Guardian piece the other day where they said Talk Talk were their collective favourite band or words to that effect.

this has too many 'the chorus is the song title' songs

That's bad?

Mix in a bit of Blue Nile as well. My first listen went from "Hmmm, not sure" to "Wow, this really is a remarkable work" fairly quickly!

― Gerald McBoing-Boing

I agree with all of this. It took about two days from thinking this is just quite pleasant to this is probably the album of the year.

I found the last one deathly dull. Is this much different?

I'd say if you didn't like Two Dancers there's not much chance you would like this one.

Just out of interest did you give the last album quite a few plays? cause it was such a grower and so is this one.

I found the last one deathly dull. Is this much different?

Last one is anything but dull.

I'll give you guys the benefit of the doubt and give it another go. But I fear I'm not that up for Elbowish mood-rock at the moment *ducks*

Way more energetic than Elbow.

Well, last album was. This new one has less energy and discord, but is still very direct.

I was just re-listening to Long Fin Killie for the first time in years when the new one came out, so that popped up in my mind right away.

this one is better than Two Dancers. i still miss old, very different 1st album Wild Beasts. shame we'll never get that band back but some of their very best stuff is on this one.

this one is just so lush - can't understand some of the skepticism around "Albatross" which is simply gorgeous and a pretty good summary of what this album is about.

It is, but on first hearing of Albatross in isolation I just went 'meh' at it; it needs context, for me.

showing up The Strokes this evening on bbc telly! surprised to hear unofficial 5th member lady singing along.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpKzqulSFo4

http://sickmouthy.com/2011/05/21/wild-beasts-smother/

what's that a link to

My blog.

oh

Oh. What were you hoping for?

new album is great!

this is so good