28 October 2011

The Horrors - Skying


My Rating: 3.5/5
Listen Music Samples
Watch Live Performance in NYC
Watch Live Performance in Glastonbury
Watch Live Performance on Daily Habit

A third Horror's album.....still those cool and fashionable post punk/noise rock sound based on their acclaimed and successful 2nd album......nevertheless, this one is more lower tempo and laid back with more synth and dreamy approach.....even more pop and easy-listening approach this time...reminds me the scent of Suede especially with quite similar vocal!!........nevertheless, it's still not a bad follow up of their last successful album which at least can retain their reputation as still an indie hit in the scene!! 

Silver Apples - Silver Apples/Contact


My Rating: 4.5/5

Knowing Silver Apples is legendary 60s electronic/kraut/space rock band amongst those greats like Neu!, Hamonica, Faust, Can, Kraftwerk, etc. due to the hype on them of last few years.......as I like to looking foreward, so I'm not too fond of past great bands generally.......having listened some their clips in my notebook previously, but not too aware of how great they are.....until I accidentally bought this CD at very cheap price in Fopp, London few years ago......I haven't listened this CD in these few years until tonight after a busy working day.......while I put this CD in my CD player, I am totally stunned......just too too impressive.......while I listened back Kraftwerk, Neu!, etc., I just felt they are great PAST bands........but when I listen Silver Apples, I am shocked how visionary of their music in 60s...... even now, I still think their music is ahead of nowadays electronica bands......their music is just too visionary, too avant-garde but very accessible and fun!!.........with inventive oscillators (what they called Simeon), unique drumming set up and dedications, this 2-man-band can just make you have a jaw-dropping listen experience!!

Seeing the CD inlay texts, some interesting quotes as below of Silver Apples' short-lived but unusually interesting band career:

'Silver Apples began in 1967 as a 5-piece band working at New York's Cafe Wha? calling ourselves "The Overland Stage Electric Band". We had 3 guitars, Danny Taylor on drums and me (Simeon) as lead singer.........One night I plugged in an old oscillator that a friend had loaned me, and started swooping the room with electronic sounds. The band hated it, but I thought it was kind of cool. One by one the guitar players quit, and that left Danny and me!..........So, this was Silver apples, I sang, played bass, beeps, boops and swoops, and Danny held it all together as best as he could with inventive drumming..........The first job we got was in front of 30,000 people!.....an all-day concert in Central Park's Sheeps Meadow.........I nearly peed in my pants when I saw the crowd. The promotor guy told us we could only play 5 or 6 songs.........That was fine with us because we only knew 5 or 6 songs, so we played..........Then, the next day, when newspaper came out, we were all over them. They all talked about "the unique sound of Silver Apples"........'

What a dream start and career for a band, a ground breaking band with new sound in 60s and even now!!

7 October 2011

Mogwai - Earth Division EP


My Rating: 4/5

Normally I tend to not buying EP due to its limited playing time that is not long enough to create a complete vibe and concept to listeners I think……but since I like this Scottish post rock legend’s last album ‘Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will’ so much, I am very interested to have a listen on their new music before their next release…….. as seeing there’s only 4 tracks with playing time just like some pop songs at 3-4 minutes, so I have no expectation at all before listening……but just less than 20 minutes’ play of the whole album, I am just impressed!!! (for an EP?!)........Mogwai just played some new stuff (at least partially if not all new) in these 4 tracks with more melancholy and minimal approach with more focus on string and piano plays…..much less brutal and powerful, but still epic post rock stuff….reminds me those strings-laden post rock bands like Mono, etc……Maybe this EP is a sign of their new direction or just an one-off test drive….time will tell!!! 

In The Country, Live in City Hall Hong Kong, 30 September 2011



Not really a typical jazz fan….but like some avant jazz or jazz fusion stuff like my favourite Norwegian label, Rune Grammofon, or Smalltown Supersound, etc……not always pay too much attention on this jazz festival in Hong Kong, but this year they feature this Rune Grammofon act, 'In The Country’, so very excited to go to this concert…..the band played last Friday in this boring venue, City Hall that no photo, no video, no standing, no fun, just sit back and keep silent and be polite……really ruined the concert atmosphere……….the trio in fact are very young musician and they brought a lot of jokes, smiles and relaxation…..and also most importantly brought us a very good show with the excellent piano and percussion play…..an impressive jazz jam!!