HOME | MESSAGE BOARDS | SEARCH
FREE MP3s | SUBSCRIBE TO SOUNDSXP BY EMAIL
Add to My Yahoo! | Add to Google | Subscribe with Bloglines | RSS

Contents
Album Reviews
Single Reviews
Gig Reviews
Interviews
Demo and self financed Reviews
News
Offers
Vented Spleen
 


tba

 

unclesam.gif (3495 bytes)Calling all music fans based in the UK...  Do you want your views to be read by 5000 people a day? Contact soundsxp and become one of the contributors.
 


Various: Dark Was The Night

Passion Pit: Sleepyhead (EP track)

Betty & The Werewolves: David Cassidy 7”

Crystal Stilts: Love is a Wave 7”

Sin Fang Bous: Clamour (album)

Nodzzz: s/t (12” LP)

Love Is All: A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night (album)

Sons of Noel and Adrian: A Wreck Is Not A Ship (track)

Slow Down Tallahassee/ Standard Fare: split 7”

Piney Gir & The Age of Reason Of All The Wonderful Things (single)

Navvy: Idyll Intangible (album)

Various: Cathedral Classics Vol 1 (Sonic Cathedral comp)

Fanfarlo: Reservoir (album)

Camera Obscura: My Maudlin Career (album)
 

Contact Details:

Email: SoundsXP

Or post to:
SoundsXP,
30 Somerville Road,
London, SE20 7NA, UK

UK releases only.

Please note: If submitting demos or self financed releases - we currently have a backlog of such material. It could be some time before your item is reviewed.
 


stop the war.gif (2575 bytes)

 
 
 
 
Album Review


Club 8 Strangely Beautiful
Stereo Test Kit


Article written by James G
Jul 17, 2005.

First there are ‘rock’ bands, that sneerily strangle screams out their geetahs, while drummers flail behind. Then there are ‘indie’ bands that usually possess an altogether gentler approach, wistfully strumming acoustic guitars and half-speak their vocals. Then there are the REALLY understated acts, that espouse anything too ‘rawky’, in favour of subtle, subtle, changes in melody, rhythm and emphasis. Swedish duo Club 8 make the last mentioned acts sound like Witchfynder or Discharge (look them up!) on speed. Doing an impression of Megadeth. Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating slightly, but this is restrained. Gentle. Gentler than gentle. And it’s absolutely fantastic. All credit to Club 8 for realising they do what they do so well, and therefore not trying to do everything else too. A one trick ‘my little pony’? Well, yes, maybe, but it’s so lovely. As each track goes by, they seem to pull you further and further into their soft, fluffy world, until by the time ‘Cold Hearts’ is in full flow, a quick check of the medical equipment by my bed shows my heartrate has slowed to that of a frozen sloth, such is the calm being generated by the music and delicious vocals of Karolina Komstedt.

Air, St Etienne, The Cardigans and Camera Obscura are all supplied as reference points, yet, without wanting to labour the point, I would suggest that most of ‘Strangely Beautiful’ is gentler still. Criticisms? Maybe the lyrics don’t bear too much analysis, being predominantly of the ‘me and you’ variety. And penultimate track, the appalling ‘Saturday Night Engine’, shows why the rest of the album works so well. But other than that, this is wonderful.

Link:


Untitled Document What's your view? Comment on the Forum

Other discussions on the SoundsXP forums right now...




Spread the word: Email this article

© Copyright SoundsXP.com
Top of Page

 
 
Features


NAT JOHNSON - Interview


BROKEN FAMILY BAND - Live


SLOW DOWN TALLAHASSEE - Live


WAKE THE PRESIDENT - Live


WAVE PICTURES - Live


SCREAMING TEA PARTY - Live


DARREN HAYMAN - Live


SPEEDMARKET AVENUE - Live


BRAKES - Interview


OF MONTREAL - Live