The Weekly Froth #29

Holy Ghost!

Our weekly look into the blogosphere where we talk about six tracks we found out about in the previous Wednesday-to-Wednesday seven-day period.

Track of the week:

‘Static on the Wire’ by Holy Ghost!

I love Holy Ghost!, no wait, I lurrvv Holy Ghost! – yes, with two Rs. Or however that scene with Woody Allen in Annie Hall goes (or was it Manhattan? Anyway…). That Static on the Wire EP is just ridiculous, and I can’t wait for it to come out on vinyl so I can get my hands on a physical copy. It’s super catchy, in an understated disco fashion. Easy on the ear, with lovely vocals and some great lines (even a bit of nifty guitar playing which I believe comes courtesy of John MacLean of The Juan MacLean). It’s just incredible how everything they put out is so good and *breathes* New York so resolutely – or at least how I imagine New York at its best would be. Perhaps Woody Allen should’ve used it in his ode to NY; that is, if the song would’ve been made in the 1970s. Which it wasn’t. Good thing, because now I can actually buy a spanking new copy of this!

http://hypem.com/track/1100757/Holy+Ghost++-+Static+On+The+Wire

‘Tessa’ by Antoni Maiovvi

Last year Antoni Maiovvi released his soundtrack to an imaginary sci-fi B-flick called Shadow of the Bloodstained Kiss, which I adored. Now he’s back with the EP Zulawski, and I just love the sense of menace in his music, this sense of a dystopic movie made decades ago. The music is also very cinematic, and none different with this track. So much happens in the five-and-a-half minute span of ‘Tessa’, it evokes so much images. If you like it, grab that EP as the third track on it (‘Ghostray’) is especially wicked.

http://hypem.com/track/1094915/Antoni+Maiovvi+-+Tessa

‘Beautiful People’ by The Books

Is this song about declaring war on the Bible? Maybe. The start is reminiscent of Church chanting, there’s an “amen” in there, the 13 figures might just be Christ and his twelve apostles and they “besiege the book of figures”. Truth be told though, I’m not sure; despite the fact I’ve studied English I’m not sure what half these words mean, and there is a fair share of mathematics involved as well. Perhaps there lies a code in those numbers and tangents and what not, so if you happen to know more about numbers than me be sure to holler. It is nicely pieced together though, and musically and textually there’s a hell of a lot going on for a song under three minutes long. It’s maybe even a tad overboard… hmm.

http://hypem.com/track/1104576/The+Books+-+Beautiful+People

‘Marchin’ In’ by Lo-Fi-Fnk (Silver Columns remix)

Hey now Silver Columns and Lo-Fi-Fnk: I love you and all, but this is a rather straightforward remix of ‘Marchin’ In’. The track was released earlier this year by the Scandinavian duo as a prelude to their new album (which they said they were halfway with in, like, December 2008 but you can’t rush a good thing, can you?). I liked that track, but this is just putting drums on it to make it a bit more, well, dancey I suppose. The original was understated, and Silver Columns adds nuances audible on the dancefloor. As it is, behind my computer, I’m not too big a fan. Both bands’ original output are fab though, so as long as they keep on doing that I’m not going to get disappointed with any of this. Nearing the end it seems to get a bit better, but it’s a bit late by then.

http://hypem.com/track/1100222/Lo+Fi+Fnk+-+Marchin+In+Silver+Columns+remix+

‘Tenderoni’ by Kele Okereke

“Attn: Bodyrox – don’t sue”. Surely I’m not the only one thinking that right, surely? It might not be entirely a copy, but it does feel like it “borrows” certain elements from that song and perhaps one or two others. And it may all sound very fresh to Kele’s ears, but it really isn’t. Not as far as I’m concerned at least. Sure, it might not be Bloc Party so in his oeuvre it might be innovating, but in context I wouldn’t really say it adds to the musical landscape.

http://hypem.com/track/1102220/keleokereke+-+Tenderoni

‘Pay for Love’ by Sidwho? (James Paton edit)

Sidwho? released the perfectly titled ‘Vote Bowie for President’ last year, and now they’ve got the backing of James Paton (Cage & Aviary, y’know? Of course you do.) This one is slick and smooth with some nifty bass and guitar action in between. And we’re talking disco with this, people! At some moments it is a bit too understated to kill the dancefloor but played loud and clear, there is plenty to hang on to – bass, African sounds that take over in the second half and the guitar. Though perhaps if the voice would be belting it out it might have been a bit more accessible. Now, if they could only make a track around the five minute mark… ‘Pay For Love’ stands at 13 minutes, and I’ve paid money to see one act play a set shorter than that.

http://hypem.com/track/1097547/Sidwho++-+Pay+For+Love+Jamie+Paton+Edit+

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