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Troy Pierce Gone Astray (Minus) It�s a hard life touring. With so many wasted hours on the road, you may as well make the most of them. That�s exactly what Troy Pierce did. In arguably his most accomplished selection of tracks to date, the fastidious German presents two new Minus EPs, Gone Astray and False compiled entirely whilst on the road. Gone Astray is an album of freeform techno, audibly more fluid and uninhibited than previous releases. In track Lost On The Way To DC10 � composed moments before a gig at said club � spaced out beeps wind their way through a classic Pierce line. Another standout, Klitkut, also pays tribute to the Ibizan after-hours, with murky rift and insistent tribal drumbeat. Second CD, False � swarming with low-slung baselines and electronic rifts � offers further proof of Pierce�s industrious disposition. When you�re so consumed by the beat as he is, life needs a soundtrack. myspace.com/troypierceminus Holly Shackleton |
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M.I.A Kala (XL) Since touring with Gwen Stefani and getting the lock down on her immigration visa, Maya Arulpragasam decided to up sticks to India with producer Switch in tow. People say the most exciting results are achieved when there�s nothing to lose and her new album Kala is a case in point. Born from the same vitriol and desire that made her debut album Arular sit awkwardly on 2004�s shop shelves, it was realised through an infinitely more confident, skilled and liberated mindset. The production pool, overseen by herself and Switch with contributions from a few select friends and luminaries, including new emcee Afrika Boy and producer Sinden, is bewildering. The tribal monster Bird Flu was a good early indication of what was to come � a bombasting chorusless anti-anthem. While Diplo�s and Timbaland�s tracks hold their own, the chemistry between M.I.A and Switch is Kala�s heartbeat. Its still culture-vulture visioning that defines her. Kala is the soundtrack of Maya�s travels from India, to Trinidad, to Africa and back home. The war stamps of Hussel, Soca thrusts through Boyz, and the dub-poached outer space echo of $20 form one giant indefinable surge of tension and energy. Two tracks deserve their own space. Jimmy, using the beat of a track she used to busk to in Sri Lanka as a kid is a Bollywood future-disco scorcher that could be her best work yet. And Paper Planes closes the album with a gunshot punctured swagger that could out-strut many a G-funk classic. myspace.com/mia Jaimie Hodgson |
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Kings Of Leon Because Of The Times (Columbia) Somewhere in the vast, elemental territory of U2�s Joshua Tree and the reptilian plains of America, a fork of lightning illuminates four alley cat figures in a strange ritual. If Kings of Leon�s previous two albums saw them evoke the sun-soaked Southern rock of �70s America, Because Of The Times has them picking up these gleaming bones and banging them together to make fire. Much has been made of their mythological roots � where strong liquor and bible verses flowed together like those famous beards. No wonder then, that this should sound like your typical, body-shaking, ailment-healing revelation. Caleb Followill�s vocals have never sounded more scorched, his voice leers like some under-sexed onlooker as the rest of first single On Call teases from the dance floor. The title track creeps and slinks its way into a rhythm as hot and regular as a panting dog, any accusations of pastiche lost in the momentum. The Kings have no need to revive American rock, they possess it already! MH |
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Ed Rec Vol. 2 (Ed Banger Records) They�ve brought the fun back to dance music, and the mind-blowing parties back to Paris. From futuristic hip-hop, to spine-tingling electronics and booty-grinding funk, Ed Banger Records know exactly which hits are going to get the crowd going. Their second label compilation, but the first available on CD and vinyl, Vol. 2 showcases the work of the entire (nauseatingly talented) family. Alongside tracks from head honcho Pedro Winter himself (under alterego Busy P), are those by his many prot�g�es, Justice, SebastiAn, Uffie and DJ Medhi, as well as some good old classics from the likes of Mr Oizo. Always up for a good knees up, to celebrate this release, the Ed Banger crew are throwing one of their world famous parties at a secret location in London in April. Keep those ears to the ground. HS |
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Fabric 33 Spank Rock (Fabric) They�re the mash-up Baltimore party-boys with a disposition for Big tunes and even bigger debauchery. Spank Rock stole the spotlight last year with debut album YoYoYoYoYo and now flex their talents with an equally choice Fabric mix. Now a staple in the collection of any discerning music fan, Spank Rock�s legendary Fabric Mix is more than just another gem. Dropping 29 good-time tunes from bass-driven Baltimore house to deep electro with a splash of funk, tracks include Brazilian faves CSS, a euphoric house number by Metro Area and singalong classic Talking in your Sleep by The Romantics. A refreshing break from the usual standard DJ chin-stroking, these guilty gems, booty-bass and secret sound effects make up a personality too loud to stay in the box. HS |
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