Massif by Dangerosa

A mini release from a band drenched in the acid-rock vibe, Dangerosa offer Massif which despite its name, is an alarming show of musical professionalism. The caterwauling August shows how Brian Jonestown Massacre may have sounded had they stuck with the sound realised on Their Satanic Majesties Second Request. The waves upon waves of technicolour are truly brought to life thanks to the possible thousands of effects pedals used; like My Bloody Valentine but with Pale Saints rather than JAMC as a primary influence. The following tracks continue in this vein; turn on, tune in and drop out. It's the damn 60's all over again and I'm pretty sure, with enough time and momentum Dangerosa can make it happen. Or at least a little window to tie-dye and bad acid. Who knows?

This release can be found here for any price: http://dangerosa.bandcamp.com/

Enjoy! I did.

Ninth Paradise by Ninth Paradise

Proudly following the Nu Gaze movement, Ninth Paradise seem to have appeared from nowhere with their self titled debut. True, as of writing they are an obscure band but why? The Horrors and Ringo Deathstarr have proved they can adopt the swirling guitars and wall of sound of MBV and Slowdive to reasonable degrees of success. But what about Ninth Paradise? Well, time will only tell.

For now, we have their debut. Listening to each of its nine songs (aha.. clever) it's easy to hear that the band wears its influences on its sleeve. The aural soothing sounds of Watching Trees Grow evokes Ride (with vocals similar also) and Picture melds My Bloody Valentine with Slowdive quite successfully. Jumping and Falling carries a distinct Dance-influence which leads Shoegaze into the 21st century quite successfully; as with Kevin Shields, there's nothing wrong with genre innovation. Though with the clear influence of older Shoegaze bands on this debut, with the chiming (sometimes droning) guitars and dreamy, stoned vocals, Ninth Dimension still manage to paint their own musical landscape.

I urge all of you Shoegazers new and old to download this album:  http://ninthparadise.bandcamp.com/album/ninth-paradise

It can be bought at any price (even £0.00). Listen to the Nu Gaze magic and help a new band!

Mauve by Ringo Deathstarr

The sophomore album from Nu gaze band Ringo Deathstarr finds the band holding the flag high for Noise Pop, Shoegaze and a fuzzy wall of sound. True, the glory days of The Scene That Celebrates Itself are far gone but the new wave of Shoegaze may have found its leading light. If My Bloody Valentine hadn't have released a new album, Mauve would have been at least a worthy supplement.
Songs like Rip and Burn stay true to the Shoegaze classic Loveless while Slack is a perfect rewrite of the early Jesus and Mary Chain sound. Alex Ghering's warm, honey dripping vocals certainly win out between the two vocalists however; even though many of the songs hold a heavy influence to Noise Pop and Shoegaze, she cannot be disregarded as a Bilinda Butcher/Rachel Goswell clone. Further along the album, Girls We Know paints a perfect landscape of lilac hues which contrasts with the Gothic basslines of Waste. If you look past the obvious influences, the core sound of the band can be found. Like the album, it's a sound of a relatively new band finding their feet and their strengths. For that, they cannot be faulted.

Monster by R.E.M.

The bolder brother of the smash hit Automatic For The People, Monster was released during a turgid time in the 90's. Most albums got depressing as drugs and suicide stole some of the decades brightest lights (one of which is River Phoenix of whom the album is dedicated). However, R.E.M. decided to adopt a carefully optimistic view and it certainly shows in the songs.
What's The Frequency, Kenneth?, Crush With Eyeliner and King of Comedy kick off the album with a heavy barrage of guitar that shimmers with touches of Glam. Michael Stipe proved he hadn't lost the lyrical strangeness from the Murmur days as he sings of identity. Strange Currencies is the Alternative Rock hit for Generation X proms everywhere; just listen to the jangly hook as Michael's pleading vocals sway and intertwine. The Kurt Cobain tribute Let Me In provides an unexpected emotional release; while it's no Everybody Hurts, it certainly ranks high in the bands song canon.
At times it's flashy and at other times it's unashamedly emotional, but one thing is for certain; Monster is a high watermark of the 90's. 

Doolittle by Pixies

A curious little gem, even for an album highly regarded. Doolittle was the followup to the critically acclaimed Surfer Rosa though rather than fall victim to the sophomore slump, this album in many ways is superior. The humorous snippets between songs have been discarded for songs which appear more fleshed out; listen to the primal howl  of Black Francis on the Proto-Grunge Tame or his Pop-without-being-commerical staple Here Comes Your Man. Even Kim Deal, before her musical presence was diminished, was a shining light; her backing harmonies fully form There Goes My Gun while her bass lines truly give the thump to Debaser. Even on the Biblical Monkey Gone To Heaven, the band do not shy away from alarming professionalism musically or thematically.
Listening to this album today, it's amazing to think how much of the 90's is predicted within each of these songs. Various leading figures from Grunge and Alternative Rock (including Kurt Cobain) call this an influential album and listening to it today, it's easy to hear why.

If You Leave by Daughter

Apart from m b v by My Bloody Valentine, I tend to shy away from reviewing new releases. Hell, none of the bands on this blog can be considered new. But Daughter, a band which formed in the heart of London in 2010, are certainly a worthy band to break that tradition.
Listening to If You Leave is a definite experience. There is a timeless feel that permeates into these songs; but rather like Hope Sandoval's Bavarian Fruit Bed, it requires a full listen in one sitting for true appreciation. Each song is a thread that slowly weaves into a beautiful, yet fragile web. Elena Tonra's tender vocals certainly sway within the instrumentation softly.
Sure, Lifeforms may hold more of a primal beauty than the wistful Winter and Youth is the single doomed to be played only on Indie radio but the mystery revolving in the music is intriguing enough. There's not much I can say to truly describe this record; the mournful yet simple arrangements are powerful within themselves; nothing is overdone - there's more found within the space of each instrument than there is with a lot of modern bands. For a debut, If You Leave certainly lays the foundation for what should be a fruitful future for Daughter.

Jabberwocky by Jani Lane

Yep, the same Jani Lane from Warrant. The same band who gave us 'Cherry Pie' and 'Forever'. With this in mind, there would be some who would cast aside anything written by the main songwriter as 'trashy'. However, even with Warrant he showed some songwriting maturity (check Dog Eat Dog).

This maturity is crystallized in the unreleased album Jabberwocky. Instead of sex, ballads or laments on a dystopian future each of the songs on this collection shows an immense growth for Jani as a vocalist, a lyricist and a musician. Listen to the desperation of 'Private Blue World' and you'll hear the emotion in his voice. During an era where Jagged Little Pill signaled a resurgence of honest songwriting, this could have been one of the brightest lights of that movement. Songs like 'Very Fine Line' and 'Pretty on the Inside' reveal more about the insecurities and the fragile concept of true love in a perfect electro acoustic style. Hell, there's even time for some optimism with the harmony-laden 'House of Cards'.

Some moments on this album surpasses even his biggest hits with Warrant. Even those who dislike Glam Metal should seek this out; whether it's for the brilliant songwriting or that Jani's vocals suit such a different genre. One day, someone in the record industry will finally come round to releasing this officially, but for now this is the perfect memorial for the fallen angel that is Jani Lane.