Album Reviews
Sounds from the TNT HiFi this month
LCD Soundsystem
American Dream
Despite having apparently split up, LCD Soundsystem are back with an unexpected new album. It's full of the sounds you come to expect from them, with plenty of squelchy synths and atmospheric stabs blended with rock guitar riffs and shouty lyrics. I have to admit I was never a fan first time round, but this album is growing on me. It's certainly worth a listen! Stand out tracks include - Call the Police and Other Voices.
Bicep
Bicep
The Irish DJ duo bring a fresh but reassuringly nostalgic sound to their first album release. Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBria a.k.a Bicep have been producing dance tracks since 2008 but this album is a great addition to the Ninja Tune stable. With an eclectic mix of genre blends including retro breakbeats and trance trip-outs. This is a great late night, post club soundtrack, and displays some really tight production and new spins on old ideas. Stand out tracks for me were Orca, Glue and Vale.
Chase and Status
Tribe
London Drum and Bass producers return with a whole box of floor fillers in this new album release Tribe. This album has influences from Grime, Dancehall and R&B and Garage. This album feels very much targeted at the mainstream charts rather than the underground but still manages to come up with some compelling material. I didn’t really expect to enjoy this album, but tracks like NRG and Big Man Skank are too good to miss.
Queens of the Stone Age
Villains
Californian rockers bring their 7th album, and stick to the format which has worked for them for so many years. The album starts off with a track which wouldn’t have been out of place on a Bowie album and sets the pace for the rest of the album. Apart from the occasional burst of ZZ Top inspired rock-outs this album is more Bowie than anything else which obviously isn’t a bad feel, but it doesn’t feel very fresh, and all the tracks feel familiar even on the first listen. There aren’t any stand out tracks for me, but if I had to choose one it would be Head Like a Haunted House.