Category: Album Reviews

Originally posted on Noise Cannon: http://noisecannon.com/2015/12/15/noise-of-the-year-2015/

With a subdued personality comes a powerful album and this is one that’s all about the music; every little bit, whether it’s original or a blend of samples, matters. Opening with ‘Gosh’, this album hits you with a repetitive beat and you’re not sure where it’s taking you. It then develops in to a huge moment of ecstasy as it moves into a zone of ethereal tones, making you feel as though you’ve entered into another world. The feel good energy of ‘I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)’, featuring Popcaan and Young Thug adds a fun loving flavour to the album that no one ever expected. Then again, did anyone really know what to expect from the first full length release from Jamie Smith, the quiet one from The xx? Tracks like ‘Girl’ and ‘Sleep Sound’ surely laid the foundations, nevertheless, In Colour went far and beyond these tracks, even mixing up ‘Sleep Sound’ a little so as to create a seamless transition in the track-listing.

This album has a club night vibe, from the highs to the lows, with ‘Loud Places’ (featuring Romy, The xx) sitting in the middle of moody and energetic. What Smith did when making this album was extremely clever – creating a sound to play with live, to amp the bass and mix it up with greater definition and feeling, so that when you go to listen to it again it means so much more. Highly anticipated with many teases in the run up to the release, the hype around this album was built up to no end, and thankfully, it was well worth the wait.

Originally posted on Noise Cannon: http://noisecannon.com/2015/11/24/fish-tank-jane-ep/

It’s time to talk about Jane, the new EP by Kent bred trio Fish Tank. Get ready to buy a new pair of shoes as these toe-tapping beats will burn a hole right through the ones you’re wearing currently.

Opening with the thrashy leanings  of ‘Barbarella’, Fish Tank set up a slight punky edge to their usual math-rock mash of melodies. It’s one that people will no doubt throw their bodies around to, nevertheless there’s still that soft touch of pop. Quite frankly, it’s hard to pigeonhole them into a specific genre, but that is all part of the Fish Tank charm.

‘Lily’ comes in a little softer with more of a poppy energy that fans of The Wombats would struggle to resist. A slower melodic pattern that still packs a punch; this track is easy to get along with, perhaps a little too easy, but it doesn’t make a you switch off, no – you want to hear more.

‘The Phantom’ is why you’ve stuck around thus far, it captures the natural essence of the band – there’s no sugar coating the rough elements: every little bit is raw, and the track explores a blend of different melodies that work together like a hot mess that you just can’t get enough of. Just as you think the song is over, there’s a little something extra. It almost seems like the guys are trying to fit lots of ideas into one song, and although you may wish they had explored these further in this EP, it certainly keeps  you keen to hear more in the future.

Jane closes on what seems to be a steady going number, however ‘The Wizard’ has a mystical air about it, building up to a haunting shimmer around the halfway mark, before continuing as normal…ish. Fish Tank leave you wondering what exactly it is you’ve just heard and that’s  the ruddy beauty of it. This is their best work yet, and all of it achieved without abandoning their original, kooky charisma – a splendid trio that bring something a little different to the table, leaving the listener with all kinds of good feelings.