Hello! Welcome to a new feature called Dream Streams, where its my aim to round up some streams of some of the best albums to have recently come out/been made available to listen to. Not sure if I'm going to carry on with conventional album reviews, simply because I don't think its a very interesting method in all honesty. Its tiresome to write sometimes and lord knows nobody reads anything lengthy unless theres a rating at the bottom (Not something I think should get in the way of an album you might enjoy).
So yeah, I've 3 recent albums to talk briefly about and share with you today so I hope you enjoy and have a good listen if it takes your fancy!
ALUNAGEORGE - BODY MUSIC
Yes, after such unending hype AlunaGeorge finally released their debut album Body Music last monday and if you dig well crafted Electronic Pop songs, you're in for a treat. As the title suggests, this is an album for the movers and shakers of the world. Not to say you can't enjoy it in the comfort of your armchair, but if your head doesn't start bopping I'll eat my beanie. The London duo, made of childlike singer Aluna Francis and Musician/Producer George Reid, put together old favourites like stomper singles "You Know You Like It" and "Your Drums, Your Love" with excellent new r'n'b tinged material like the alluring "Just A Touch" and smooth sailing album opener "Outlines" and somewhat ferocious garage-esque choons like "Lost & Found". Its a really enjoyable album and if chart success as well as collaborations with other UK upstarts Disclosure is anything to go by, its the first of many from a certified duo of pop legends in the making. Have a listen below...
POND - HOBO ROCKET
Now as anyone who knows my musical taste will tell you, I love Tame Impala. But its spinoff/other group Pond that have always lived somewhat unfairly in the shadows of Kevin Parker's main article. Indeed, former Tame bassist Nick Allbrook's group is a much more primitive affair in terms of song writing and production but for those into good old fashioned rock records, thats not a bad thing. Anthems come in full swing on the band's (short but sweet 7 track) 5th album Hobo Rocket with latest single "Xanman" sounding like George Harrison's "Wah Wah" had he co-written it with Kevin Shields. Similarly "Giant Tortoise" shares the weird 60's psychedelia meets 90s shoegaze sound that puts guitarist (and Tame synth player) Jay Watson in the spotlight he quite deserves. Elsewhere on "O Dharma" and "Aloneaflameaflower" the band seem to share MGMT's taste in the weird and whackier side of psych rock with slow Syd Barrett/Pink Floyd-esque jams. If that sounds like your bag, give it a listen below...
SWIM DEEP - WHERE THE HEAVEN ARE WE
It would seem, despite the great groups that still pour out of the West Midlands, that the 'b-town scene' is dying. Peace and their charming debut album In Love seeing the group explode into the world of nationwide adoration was the first bullet wound to the scene and Swim Deep's debut Where The Heaven Are We may just be killing blow. The hits that gave Swim Deep their name are of course still stellar pieces of pop songwriting with optimistic synth plodders "Honey" and "The Sea" and perfect album opener "Francisco" giving off the air of feelgood vibes (I know, I said it, puke). Its still, the band's first real hit "King City" that continues to steal the show with the perfect getmeoutofthismiserabletown lyric "fuck your romance I wanna pretend, that Jenny Lee Lindberg is my girlfriend". Elsewhere the album falls perhaps a little flat. The songs aren't bad, they just could have been so so much more. Still as album closer "She Changes The Weather" finishes off, you have to commend the boys from Brum for getting this far without trying all that hard. Blast it in your lugholes below...
And thats it! Hope that was interesting or something took your fancy. If you feel like having a look at some real reviews for the AlunaGeorge and Swim Deep albums, check out my girlfriend Kayleigh's reviews on Renowned For Sound here and here, she sums them up rather perfectly.
Otherwise see you soon, feel free to write in and hope you enjoy your not so frequent (I will improve!) dose of music. Be safe :)
www.alunageorge.com
www.pondband.com
www.swim-deep.tumblr.com
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