For some indie-artists making new songs is all about finding the absolute maximum of creativity and put it in those songs. As is the case with Dutch Uncles, a 5-piece english indie/math-rock formation. They are known for their unusual flows of rhytm, their experimental nature, and the intelligence of their songs, putting them right in front of a progessive pop movement that seems to be coming out of the UK lately.
Recently released album Out Of Touch In The Wild, might be (compared to their previous work) the one that hits the right not. While previous work, either solely stood out in creativeness, or in catchyness, most of the songs on this LP, have both. Singles Bellio, Fester were already amazing if you ask me, and now we have 8 more tracks of similar quality. It could well be that the previously mentioned were randomly selected as singles, since it doesn't matter anyhow. Inconsistensy has made room for pure quality.
A quick taste, as an intro to the album:
There is already a lot going on in these 2 minutes. It starts of as a really slowly building piano pop-song, a surprisingly quick guitar tune sets in, and then the smooth warm voice of Duncan Wallis blends it all together. And this is basically what you can expect from them across their entire work, but never before, they were this spot on.
I realise this is not for the untrained ear. Even though the guitar work is often catching on quick, the changes of tempo in the songs are unwelcome at first. It makes you lose track of what is going on. Their songs are not easy as such, but I'm convinced this is one of those albums that will grow and grow. One year from now, this album will have left me with some tracks that I will be still playing regularly.
So why waste more time not training your Dutch Uncles receptors?
(Love the Memphis Industries Coral Video thing, that's going on lately.)
The songs of this band for me, are just special in a sense, that you cannot imagine them being written by yourself or anybody else not in the band. They are their songs, and you can tell that simply by listening to them. Moreover, the lyrics are worth mentioning on their own. Not quite the sentences you can easily drop on top of some poppy beat. But on this album, perfectly fitting the music.
And one from a while back (not on this album):
Where as the previous album Cadenza may have been more accesible at first listen, Out Of Touch In The Wild takes as few spins to show its true nature. Doesn't mean that being more complex, means being less beautiful, since this album is one of the most fascinating pieces of music I have heard in 2013. Full of songs with different identities, making Dutch Uncles as a band stand out from the crowd. Only disappointment of the album: there are only ten songs on it. Still, it takes some effort from you, the listener. So go ahead and try to get into this band, and especially this album. Believe me, it's worth your time.
4 stars out of 5.
Slowdive - Souvlaki Space Station
Album: Souvlaki (1994)
Caribou - Jamelia
Album: Swim (2010)
Stephen Wilkinson aka Bibio is here to take us to dreamland once again. He is one of the few artists that can blend different styles together, without you realising that someone is trying to do so. Making electronic music more human again, making folk-music more intense, and touching the best aspects of triphop as well. His unbelievable skilll is out on LP again, titled Silver Wilkinson. Bibio albums have been doing something to my head on a regular basis over the last few years, but it felt like he was still looking to find his true identity. To say that he has found it, is pushing it, but he is getting close. According to interviews he has changed his music a bit on purpose. While his albums Mind Bokeh, and a personal favourite Ambivalence Avenue were more purely electronic, this album sounds more harmonic, more natural in a sense. You can just tell more live instrumentals were included, and a fun fact, for a few songs Stephen included recording material outside in his garden to symbolise the new sound.
Let's start of with lead single "A Tout a L'heure":
To show he hasn't forgotten his roots, we get a beautiful third track on the album called Wulf:
And while most people would say there is not much going on here, which I can imagine, the vibe coming from this song is so intense, and shows his talent in electronica music. But this album is more of him sitting down with his guitar and playing some of the best folky songs I have heard all year. Like in Raincoat:
I hope you are now in love with this album as much as I am. Maybe its just me, but while more and more singer/songwriters, that are hitting the festivals and the charts, are sounding more and more alike, the stand-outs like Bibio are the acts that really do it for me. I hope I can convince you too. Give it a try, and let me know what you think.
I give this album a staggering 4.5/5 stars.
By the way, the blog's youtube channel is updated with some Bibio tracks among them. Check it out, and thanks for the views lately.
Autre ne Veut - Play by Play
Album: Anxiety (2013)
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