HOME | RSS | MESSAGE BOARDS | SEARCH  

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.
 


The Lodger: The Good Old Days (single)

Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago (album)

Various Artists: Savage Pencil Presents: Lion Vs Dragon in Dub

The Manhattan Love Suicides: Cluster[FECK] EP

Hefner: The Fidelity Wars (2CD reissue)

The Raconteurs: Consolers of the Lonely (album)

Ladybug Transistor: Always On The Telephone (single)

The Wave Pictures: s/t (album)

Hefner, Watkins, Trout and Lee: s/t (album)

Shout Out Louds: Our Ill Wills (album)

Brian Jonestown Massacre: My Bloody Underground (album)

The Virgins: Rich Girls (single)

 

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)

 
------------------------
Web Pages referring to this page
Link to this page and get a link back!


 
 
 
Album Review


iLiKETRAiNS Progress-Reform
Fierce Panda


Article written by Ged M
Jun 28, 2006.

If iLiKETRAiNS set the National Curriculum for History, everyone would gain A*s. Polar exploration, the decimation of the railways, the Cold War as seen across a chess board, they can spin a great yarn and back it with an irresistible tune. That said, there’s a clear iLiKETRAiNS formula and it’s all over this 7-track mini album: a gentle opening, emphasising David Martin’s mournful voice and his powerful stories, that builds gradually towards a massive climax of storming guitars, with shades of Radiohead, Interpol and British Sea Power.

Opening track (and previous single) ‘Terra Nova’ tells of Scott’s doomed expedition to the South Pole, the unrelenting bass underlining the tragedy and the glacial sound painting a picture of endless desolation, that grows in scale until it ends in a blizzard of guitars. ‘No Military Parade’ is a coda to the first track, a musing on British failure, and again ends in a firestorm of sound. ‘A Rook House For Bobby’ tells the story of 70s pawn-pusher Bobby Fischer, and ‘Citizen’ is its sequel. The latter breaks the mould with its quiet contemplation and no big finish! Showing that not all songs are history lessons, ‘The Accident’ is an intriguing tale about a poisoning, told with piano and trumpet backing, while ‘Stainless Steel’ is another individual cameo – “they won’t make me out to be/ the monster you made me become”- that has an almost Pink Floyd effect within the climatic squall of guitars and electronica. The album ends with ‘The Beeching Report’ revealing their fascination with the pre-60s railway system.

As Pink Floyd stressed, there’s no place in rock’n’roll for education but there’s something about iLiKETRAiNS’ approach that fascinates with informative detail. It might take a few listens to embed the songs in your heart but that’s always been the sign of a band who can last for more than 3 minutes. And they sound nothing like the Libertines so that’s a recommendation squared!


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


WINDMILL - Live


LONG BLONDES - Live


THE BEES - Interview


FANFARLO - Live


MGMT - Live


FOALS - Live


BISHOP ALLEN - Interview


MY SAD CAPTAIN - Interview