Artist: Spiky
Album: Whimsical Fantasy
Released: Out Now
Reviewed by: Lisa Lamb

This is the first CD from talented French composer Guillaume ‘Spiky’ Muller and it is astounding. Spiky trained in Piano & Musical Theory at the Castle Of Becheville Conservatorium France since 1995 and has the demeanor, passion and Gothic ambiance.. of someone who trained in a castle. Combining a dark and twisted universe influenced by Tim Burton or Terry Pratchett, with symphonic metal and a hint of chaos theory, it’s like an orgasm for your ears. Opening with the powerful Void Factory.

The CD focuses on the story of reluctant hero Nescii (meaning “ignore” in Spanglish language), his call to adventure is strange and often surreal, through different terrain the Enchanted Grounds, Hilltop Asylum and Scarecrow Village and each song tells part of the story on this conceptual album. Often with sound effects such as birds re-creating the feeling of The Docks or toads in the case of The Thingumabob.

The most remarkable aspect of Whimsical Fantasy lies in its ability to tell a story without the visuals. Aside from the sixteen page colour booklet illustrated by the impressive artworks of Share Koziel and a bonus postcard.

The rest is fuel for your imagination, its theatre of the mind, a fable told with masterful precision, embodying the heart-wrenching emotions of Nescii and downfall of society as a whole. Spiky’s music is a tour de force helping turn cabaret inside out, currently working with bands (including Ivalys) , burlesque performers and animators, he is remarkably talented.

With a sense of originality, this distinguishes him from the vast majority of composers in his field. Creating sonic landscapes, filled with passion, drama and intensity.

This CD is incredible value, independently produced with twenty one tracks and three bonus tracks, its diverse and powerful music takes you on a journey into a world of madness and ignorance creating powerful images and making us question our own existence.

Yet it is never imposing, more like an ambient gothic piece of listening pleasure. Hardly whimsical fantasy…it’s a blooming masterpiece! You can find out more about the album by visiting this website: www.spiky.fr

For more Spiky visit Myspace

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What: Richmond Fontaine
Where: Stereo, Glasgow
When: 9th September
Reviewed by: David B

Whilst the majority of Glasgow attempted to roar on Scotland’s football team to the World Cup, a few miles from Hampden Park a couple of hundred folk chose to catch up with this alt.country band from Portland, Oregon.

Stereo in Glasgow, it has to be said isn’t the best venue if your not in the first few rows at the front. Then old lumps of concrete and ducting in this converted basement get in the way and make it interesting to say the least to get a decent view, despite the low numbers in the crowd.

However Willy Vlautin and the rest of the band made it an outstanding and intimate night. Promoting their best album to date the band launched into tracks from “We Used to Think the Highway Sounded like a River” with gusto and the songs had a much heavier sound than on the album.

Willy Vlautin is a novelist and takes great pride in his lyrics. Fantastic new songs like The Pull, The Boyfriends and 43 immediately conjure up mental images of downbeat, small-town America, where heat and dust sit alongside clapped out old pick ups and trailer trash. He is also an excellent singer and charges each song with feeling.

Its emotive stuff, and you can hear a pin drop throughout as Willy and the band sing their story songs. Fans of the Springsteen of Ghost of Tom Joad, and bands like The National or Neil Young really should check them out as it really is a mystery why such a quality group with nine albums under their belt still don’t have a bigger reputation and following.

Regrettably I am knocking a star off this review for the ending. After an evening of beauty and Americana characters the band chose to end the evening with two “melt your face” heavy guitar fuelled jams that seemed at odds with the fabulous songs that had gone before. A disappointing end to a magical night.

Here more ‘Richmond Fontaine’ at Myspace

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Artist: Dirty Projectors
EP: Temecula Sunrise
Label: Domino
Released: 28th September
Reviewed by: David B

Following the release of their album Bitte Orca earlier this year, the Brooklyn based six strong “experimental” band release the EP headed by the track Temecula Sunrise.

Listening to it you can immediately see why Bjork collaborated with band leader Dave Longstreth recently. None of that collaboration makes its way here but you can see what attracted the Icelandic star, and it’s a shame as this is badly of some help.

This EP is full of edgy, spiky music where rhythm’s and melody come together in an haphazard style. To be brutally honest it sounds like they got different songs cued up at the same time on the mixing desk.

Maybe that’s the intention but the overriding feeling here is of a band trying to be way too clever to appeal to the hipsters in NY. It makes uncomfortable listening and it couldn’t end soon enough for this weary listener.

For more Dirty Projectors visit Myspace

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Reviewers: We are being contacted by Promoters to feature live reviews and albums on the site, if you would like to get involoved with attending shows for us all over the UK and/or reviewing albums/ singles for us, Please get in touch via gettothefront@gmail.com

Artist: The Pastels / Tenniscoats
Album: Two Sunsets
Label: Geographic
Released: 7th September
Reviewed by: David B

A couple of months ago us kind folk at Gettothefront.com tipped you off to a new album to be released in September by the unlikely combination of indie veterans from Glasgow The Pastels and Tokyo pop duo Tenniscoats.

Well we are delighted to announce that the album Two Sunsets is no let down and lives up the expectation created in the summer when we first heard the single Vivid Youth.

The album is a collection of 12 separate songs, that somehow seem joined and seamless. They run perfectly from one to the next to create a warm and summery blast of fresh air.

The first track Tokyo Glasgow is perfectly named and sets the scene for what’s to follow in this collaboration between two very different cities. Its beautifully understated warm and unforced. This is true for much of the album and its mission accomplished in their joint desire to create something untouched by the coldness of technology or computers and to sound as molded by human hand.

This is an album well worth checking out. Maybe it could all become a little familiar for some as it does create a dreamy, whimsical soundscape, however kick back in a park on a warm sunny day, and this could be the perfect soundtrack.

(8/10)

For more Pastels visit Myspace

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What: Sneaky Sound System
Where: Islington Academy
When: 19th August
Reviewed by: Andrew Banks

The Antipodean act reached Islington via Sydney in what can only be described as an event to unite the clubbers. There was shape throwing aplenty amongst what appeared to be a very up for it crowd, some people being a little too up for it. This reviewer receiving a request of ‘I’m from Australia and want to get wasted. Do you have any pills?’. Upon declining said request, the fan went back to his position staring vacantly without emotion at the stage, completely unmoved by what was unfolding before him. This was not typical of the vast majority of the crowd, whose sweat poured as the Sneaky beats pounded.

Sneaky Sound System roll out what can only be described as a club set, a happy house club set, a place where their roots are firmly planted. A space where their fans are happy to be taken. The band consists of two DJs and two cracking front people, the afro sporting Miss Connie being the one at the forefront of most of what happens and providing most of the strong lead vocals. A joy to behold she is, a joy to behold. Between the four of them they roll out juicy beats and phat lyrics.

The Sneaky’s are all about putting smiles on the faces of the audience, hence the happy house, and helping them forget their troubles for a wee while. After all, who would sing a song about seeing UFOs?

If I had one criticism of the set it would be that it perhaps went on a tad too long. My bones not being up for the sustained clubbing and dancing that they used to be. But hey when it’s this much fun who cares! A great rendition of Eurythmics Sweet Dreams sticking particularly fondly in the mind. And where else could they finish but with their biggest success to date and what many were calling for……. altogether now…….UFO……..UFO…….UFO……….UFO.

Scissor Sisters have been quiet for sometime now, are the Sneakys ready to step into their shoes?

A whole heap of fun and I can’t help thinking that if they manage to pull a stage show into the equation somewhere then their lot might just grow and grow like a giant sunflower. Just keep grinning during the journey!

Here more ‘Sneaky Sound System’ at Myspace

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Reviewers: We are being contacted by Promoters to feature live reviews and albums on the site, if you would like to get involoved with attending shows for us all over the UK and/or reviewing albums/ singles for us, Please get in touch via gettothefront@gmail.com