gullbuy music review

July 19, 2005

Ellen Allien

title:: Thrills
label:: Bpitch Control

Thrills is the third full length by Ellen Allien. The album has three vocal tracks and seven instrumentals.

It is a good record. Ellen no longer has the immediate propulsion of the electroclash movement to zip her records to fame. Now she has to earn her acclaim like everyone else, and Thrills does a good job of it.

England's Glory

title:: Legendary Lost Album
label:: Anagram

Legendary Lost Album is a record Only Ones fans will want to hear. England's Glory was the band Peter Perrett fronted in 1973, before he formed The Only Ones.

The songs on Legendary Lost Album are pop songs built on a pre-punk guitar oriented structure. The recordings are rough studio tracks - they are the best the band could do with their budget, and they stand as a chronicle of a band that never saw its potential.

The Fall

title:: Hex Enduction Hour + Bonus CD
label:: Castle Music

The fourth Fall album, a pivotal and seminal part of The Fall's history.

It contains stalwart live performed tracks and some of the best, most scathing of Mark E. Smith's addled, blathering, genius. There is also a bonus disc that contains Peel Session tracks and live tracks

Go Kart Mozart

title:: Tearing Up the Album Chart
label:: Midlands Records

Go Kart Mozart is the newest band formed by Lawrence, of Felt fame. The band makes music in the style of brit-pop.

Tearing Up the Album Charts captures his love of suburbia and pop music in an uncanny way. It is a clear homage to glam music of the '70s and carries on in a DIY appropriation of that style—all catchy guitar riffs and keyboard solos. 

Gilles Peterson in Africa

various artists
label:: Ether Records

Gilles Peterson in Africa is a well-chosen compilation of Afrobeats.

The first CD covers classic tracks and the second CD includes current artists recording Afrobeat styled music.

Popul Vuh

title:: In den Gärten Pharaos
label:: SPV Records

In den Gärten Pharaos (In the Garden of the Pharaoh) was the second album by Popol Vuh originally released in 1971.

This edition of In den Gärten Pharaos has great sound as well as 20 minutes of previously unreleased bonus tracks.