Black Grape "Orange Head" (2024)

Orange Head

release date: Jan. 19, 2024

format: cd (Deluxe Edition)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,70]

producer: Youth (aka Martin Glover)

label: Dgaff Recordings - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Dirt" - 2. "Pimp Wars" - 3. "Button Eyes" - 4. "Quincy" - 5. "In the Ground" - 6. "Loser" - 7. "Milk" - 8. "Panda" - 9. "Self Harm" - 10. "Sex on the Beach" - *12. "Part of Everything"

*Bonus track on Deluxe Edition

4th studio album by Black Grape following seven years after Pop Voodoo (Jul. 2017) is a return of Shaun Ryder in unison with Kermit (aka Paul Leveridge), and also Youth was producer on the predecessor. Seven years in between albums would normally be regarded as a no-go in the music business but Ryder has made it his modus operandi one that doesn't adjust to traditions or standard approaches. Besides, he's never been an artist who sticks to one horse only. In 2021 he released his second solo titled Visits From Future Technology (Aug. 2021), and then he has been busy touring and performing as either Happy Mondays or Black Grape.

Not surprisingly, Orange Head sounds much like we've come to know of Shaun Ryder from whatever disguise he has chosen. Sometimes it's positive party dance-oriented, at other times there's more darkness and even some The Prodigy-inspired techno-rave-stuff thrown in here and there. That said, Ryder certainly represents a most lively style that I somehow feel addicted to. His notorious, slight nasal, speak-singing is one of the most original vocals in modern pop music. He even jokes about this on "Button Eyes" when going "I find it funny that I can't sing!". All lyrics basically always take a starting point in actual lived life situations mixed with skewed perspectives on politics and culture in general where you both find easily understandable references and what appears as rather cryptic narratives. Just like the music, it's one huge pot of stuff. But it works so well and it's always delivered with a sneer, a wink, and / or both. The great thing is, that since Ryder bounced back - after serious financial troubles and from years with heavy substance abuse, he sparkles and shines like ever before. He's in his 60s, life has given him obvious ups and downs and part of that is family: four ex-wives, six children, and a new perspective on life, but he's here and on top of his game, and it's just such a treat to listen to Ryder, Kermit and Youth delivering their special blend of modern pop music with loans from this and that. Musicians always steal anyway but only few understand how to do that cleverly, and Shaun Ryder has a wicked talent at just that.

It's addictive and recommended.

[ musicOMH, Louder Than War, Buzzmag 4 / 5, Uncut 3,5 / 5 stars - 👉Guardian interview ]

M.I.A. "MATA" (2022)

MATA

release date: Oct. 14, 2022

format: digital (13 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,65]

producer: various

label: Island Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "F.I.A.S.O.M. Pt. 2" - 4. "Beep" - 5. "Energy Freq" - 6. "The One" - 8. "Time Traveller" - 9. "Popular" - 11. "K.T.P. (Keep the Peace)" - 13. "Marigold"

6th studio album by M.I.A. following six years after AIM (Sep. 2016) is M.I.A.'s first album to only be issued in digital format. AIM had initially been released as her final studio album but the desire to release new material made her change her decision. MATA is a typical M.I.A. title - instead of refering to an individual, the title is an ironic pun hinted at the change of the name of Facebook to Meta. Furthermore, the front cover depicts a Christian cross in the writing of MATA in vertical letters, and M.I.A. has been outspoken in finding a meaningful life after turning to Christianity, and then, when pronounced in 'working-class' British, 'MATA' becomes 'matter' - meaning this is the / what 'MATA[r]'s. The album consists of thirteen tracks of which none is longer than 3:36 minutes and three tracks are below two minutes making it a relative short full-length album with a total running time under 33 minutes.

MATA is in many ways a typical album from M.I.A. with lyrics touching on social and political awareness. It's music about her role, about being parents, and about living at a current age where global issues demand our full attention.

M.I.A. is confrontatory in her very approach, and that has made her both extremely unpopular but also the opposite, and she's been perfectly aware of this from the very beginning of her career. The song "Popular" says everything about being just that, and that's just very much the very essence of her narrative. "F.I.A.S.O.M. Pt. 1" and "F.I.A.S.O.M. Pt. 2" are other neat examples of her gift with words to elaborate on issues of concern. Here, it's an abbreviation for 'Freedom Is A State Of Mind' ('whatcha gonna do with mine?'), which she uses to deal with exactly what it implies, and at the same time it cleverly refers to being 'Fearsome'. She speaks her mind of the things that she encounters - there's no hiding behind a public image or a media persona, and at the same time, that also reveals her conflicts of trying to be herself in a world where the media image is out of your own control. She rides along, reacts to issues and accusations and no matter what always find herself in the middle of a conflict she never asked for. And the fact that she never writes a song just to make it sound like a good hook or rhyme, but starts off by having something on her mind, and then makes a song about it incorporating rhymes, hooks, and beats is something extremely rare these days.

Anyway, MATA is another fine album from M.I.A., although, its not really among her absolute best, but in this case, much less will do, 'cause she's always right there in the midst of war zones reporting about actual human issues and not really caring about being [TaylorSwift-Reehannah-and-the-like-radio-friendly]-pop-ulaaar!

Recommended.

[ allmusic.com, Slant Magazine 4 / 5 stars ]

Ibibio Sound Machine "Doko Mien" (2019)

Doko Mien
release date: Mar. 22, 2019
format: digital (11 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,48]
producer: Max Grunhard
label: Merge Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "I Need You to Be Sweet Like Sugar (Nnge Nte Suka)" (live on KEXP) - 2. "Wanna Come Down" - 3. "Tell Me (Doko Mien)" - 5. "I Will Run" - 7. "She Work Very Hard" - 8. "Nyak Mien"

3rd studio album by London-founded musical collective Ibibio Sound Machine. The band was initially formed by the three musical producers, (Australian-born) Max Grunhard, Leon Brichard, and Benji Bouton who got together to make a blend of Afro-funk with an electronic or a Drum'n'bass dimension, and the three engaged the London-born Nigerian lead vocalist Eno Williams, (Ghanaian) guitarist Alfred Kari Bannerman, (Brazilian) percussionist Anselmo Netto and the two multi-instrumentalists, Tony Hayden and Scott Bayliss. Brichard and Bouton left the project in the hands of Grunhard and the collective was then expanded by bassist John McKenzie and drummer Jose Joyette, which means that the musical collective now counts eight members.

Musically and stylistically, Ibibio Sound Machine represents a huge melting pot of influences and styles. Sometimes it's almost clean afro-funk or predominantly Drum'n'bass, at other times it focuses more on synthpop and / or an electronic soundscape, but most of the time it's just an original blend of everything and in that respect it feels like a manifestation of modern fusion (rock).

Some songs makes me think of Grace Jones (tracks #2 & #6) or M People (track #3) and my general impression is that the end result is a wee bit difficult, 'cause where's the Ibibio Sound Machine soul if not a modern but smart copyist "band"? The album is not far from the band's previous album Uyai (2017), but I find this a much more coherent and also better mixed release. Generally, I find that the electronic and afro-funk-styled compositions turn out the best with the Drum'n'bass bits as more anonymous and somewhat retro-styled.

Doko Mien is not a clear favourite, though it definitely has its positive moments.

[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

Black Grape "Pop Voodoo" (2017)

Pop Voodoo

release date: Jul. 7, 2017

format: digital (12 x File, MP3)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]

producer: Youth (aka Martin Glover)

label: UMC Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Everything You Know Is Wrong - Intro" - 2. "Nine Lives" (live) - 4. "Whiskey, Wine and Ham" - 5. "Money Burns" - 7. "Pop Voodoo" - 8. "I Wanna Be Like You"

3rd studio album by Black Grape released twenty years after Stupid Stupid Stupid (Nov 1997). The band has in essence become a moniker for Shaun Ryder and a band effort is a difficult term in regard to this album. Black Grape is here made up by the two vocalists Ryder and Paul 'Kermit' Leveridge, and all lyrics and music is here credited the two in collaboration with producer Martin 'Youth' Glover - long-time recurring bassist of Killing Joke as well as an established remix-producer for a long list of acts. As instrumentalists, Ryder and Kermit are solely credited for their vocal performances, while Youth is also credited on guitar, bass and for programming. Other musicians contribute as session musicians but the album is without the participation of former Black Grape members Danny Saber and Bez.

Musically, it's very much the continued cycle when it comes to music with Shaun Ryder. It's alt. dance music building on old school funk and soul mixed with neo-psychedelia and bits of electronica. Both in 2012 and again in 2015 Ryder spoke of a new Happy Mondays album in the making, but that never materialised, or: it turned out that it was easier for him to release it under the Black Grape moniker.

The album was met by better reviews than Uncle Dysfunktional (2007) by The Mondays, and it went as high as to number #15 on the UK chart list. Two songs were chosen for single releases: "Nine Lives" and "I Wanna Be Like You".

Pop Voodoo might as well be credited Happy Mondays - it's hard to tell the difference, and what remains are the fingerprints of Shaun Ryder's presence: the characteristic vocal and the half-mad, witty and semi-offensive lyrics. And then there's Kermit, or: where is he? He's there, at times popping up, adding rap, but it's mostly Ryder you notice. My guess is, Youth made most of the music, and he does a fine job composing, playing, programming, producing and mixing a style that fits Ryder's voice. It's neat, warm, funky and danceable club-music, but it does sound a bit outdated, and it just lacks outstanding hooks and rifs, although, it's quite coherent and also clearly bettering Ryder's many recent attempts.

Not great, not bad - somewhat easily forgettable BUT with a nice groove, entertaining moments, and ultimately slightly bettering the '97 album as a more coherent release, although, it's without a great hit like "Get Higher".

[ 👍allmusic.com, PopMatters, musicOMH 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Stromae "Cheese" (2010)

Cheese [debut]

release date: Jun. 21, 2010

format: cd / vinyl (2022 reissue) (gatefold)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,02]

producer: Mosaert

label: Mosaert / Vertigo / Mercury / Universal - nationality: Belgium

Track highlights: 1. "Bienvenue chez moi" - 2. "Te quiero" - 3. "Peace or Violence" (4 / 5) - 4. "Rail de musique" - 5. "Alors on danse" (5 / 5) (live) - 6. "Summertime" - 7. "Dodo" - 8. "Silence" - 10. "House'llelujah" - *12. "Alors on danse (90's remix)"

*Bonus track on CD and vinyl (first time on vinyl in 2014).

[Stromae presentation of the album]

Studio album debut by Belgian electronic artist Stromae (aka Mosaert, aka Maestro, aka Paul Van Haver) formerly known as Opsmaestro. The full album debut follows several single releases and the self-released four track ep debut Juste un cerveau, un flow, un fond et un mic… (2007). From early on, Stromae wanted to be in full control of his music and together with brother Luc he established the production label Mosaert (one of several anagrams for Maestro).

Cheese is mostly electronic dance but since Stromae appears to be influenced by Belgian chanson, African music as such and world music in general, there are traits from other styles and genres to be found on an album that still holds up as something almost extremely coherent, thanks to Stromae's sense for arranging and also his unique vocal.

I did not come across the album until a few years later and after listening to the major hit song "Alors on danse" via the satiric sketch video by French actor and comedian Jamal Debbouze.

Cheese is a wonderful and strong debut on which Stromae showcases his speciality concerning subjects and themes. On a superficial level, his music and songs are playful and full of joy and positivity - related to the dance genre - but his lyrics are quite opposite and deals with injustice, prejudice, poverty, discrimination, and personal conflict - a formula he has continued ever since.

Cheese is Stromae's third best album - in a total of three, which may not seem impressive but when this first came out, it was great. It still is.

Highly recommended.

[ 👎allmusic.com, 👎The Guardian 3 / 5, Album of the Year 4 / 5 stars ]

Jean Michel Jarre "Chronology" (1993)

Chronology
release date: May 1993
format: cd (2015 remaster)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,96]
producer: Jean Michel Jarre
label: Sony Music - nationality: France

Track highlights: 1. "Chronology, Part 1" - 6. "Chronology, Part 6"

11th studio album by 'Jean Michel' Jarre originally released as Chronologie by Disques Dreyfus.
On this Jarre blends his own original style of progressive electronic of the 70s with something that sounds like disco rave or electronic dance, which may display a nicely produced sound - at least on the remaster, but the compositions doesn't work all too well, I think. There's a bit too much re-takes on his repertoire, which makes it sound more like a remix album - updated bits and pieces from other familiar compositions.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Kele "The Hunter EP" (2011) (ep)

The Hunter EP, ep
release date: Oct. 31, 2011
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,90]
producer: XXXChange

label: Wichita - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "What Did I Do?" (feat. Lucy Taylor) - 2. "Release Me" - 3. "Devotion" - 4. "Goodbye Horses" - 5. "Cable's Goodbye" - 6. "Love as a Weapon" - 7. "You Belong to Someone Else"

7-track ep by Kele, lead vocalist of Bloc Party with four tracks produced by XXChange (aka Alex Epton) (tracks #1, #3, #6 & #7); track #2 by RAC (aka André Allen Anjos) & QNESS (aka Qhubani Ndlovu, South African DJ); track #4 by Daniel Lindegren & Fred Falke, and track #5 by Kele. This is his second solo album not counting single releases. Style-wise, it's a move into a bolder dance-pop universe. My initial response was disorientation and a negative feeling, but as I have come to learn with Bloc Party, new releases rarely deliver the expected and The Hunter EP has something else to offer than meets the "eye". Met on its conditions as a dance music release, this is not entirely bad but it doesn't present any great tracks either.
Not recommended.

Kele "The Boxer" (2010)

The Boxer [debut]
release date: Jun. 21, 2010
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,70]
producer: XXXChange (aka Alex Brady Epton)
label: Wichita Recordings - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Walk Tall" (4 / 5) - 2. "On the Lam" (4 / 5) - 3. "Tenderoni" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "The Other Side" (3 / 5) - 5. "Everything You Wanted" (4 / 5) (live at The BBC) - 6. "New Rules" (3,5 / 5) - 7. "Unholy Thoughts" (3 / 5) - 8. "Rise" (3,5 / 5) - 9. "All the Things I Could Never Say" (4 / 5) - 10. "Yesterday's Gone" (3,5 / 5)

Solo studio album debut by Kele (aka Kele Okereke), frontman and vocalist of Bloc Party, is released after Kele in early 2010 openly declared to be gay, and the songs on the album deal with aspects and consequences of homosexuality in modern Britain.
Bloc Party surely has divided people and music fans in Britain and elsewhere. The band came out on top of the new retro post-punk wave (post punk revival), which flurished on both sides of the Atlantic. The band's initial indie rock style was the new frontier and Bloc Party had a massive hit with "Banquet", which had me fall for the quartet, and because of that everyone expected the bond to post-punk as their style - sort of: "That's it then! Interpol elaborate on the style from New York and Bloc Party attack it from London". But Bloc Party quickly side-stepped and sought out new playgrounds and it took me a while getting used to the band's experimentation with electronica but eventually I found huge pleasure from it. Now, Kele goes even further on this, which naturally is less guitar-based, but it still holds water, even as an indie rock combo with alt. dance, glitch pop in an electronic compound. It's really addictive when played loud. "Tenderoni" was initially a strange song but after a few listens at high volume, I really got into it, and after fifty and more, it's just a monster of a track.
Recommended.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, NME 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Kele "Tenderoni" (2010) (single)

Tenderoni, cd single

release date: Jun. 14, 2010
format: cd
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: XXXchange [aka Alex Brady Epton]
label: Wichita - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Tenderoni" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "One Day of Strength" (3,5 / 5) - 3. "Tenderoni (Larry Tee & Beckwith Remix)" (3 / 5)

1st single release from the forthcoming solo album by Kele Okereke, lead vocalist in Bloc Party.

~ ~ ~

KeleOkereke: (aka Kelechukwu Rowland Okereke- full name) born Oct. 13, 1981, born and raised in Liverpool, England. Lead vocalist and rythm guitarist in indie pop, alt. rock, post-punk revival act Bloc Party (from early 1999). Kele's first solo releases were mainly exclusively for the electronic scene of alt. dance and synth pop. He has however, also made the cleaner singer / songwriter and folk rock album Fatherland (2017).

~ ~ ~

Bloc Party "Intimacy Remixed" (2009)

Intimacy Remixed (remix)
release date: May 11, 2009
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5]

Tracklist 1. "Ares (Villians Remix)" - 2. "Mercury (Hervé Is in Disarray Remix)" - 3. "Halo (We Have Band Remix)" - 4. "Biko (Mogwai Remix)" - 5. "Trojan Horse (John B Remix)" - 6. "Signs (Armand Van Helden Remix)" - 7. "One Month Off (Filthy Dukes Remix)" - 8. "Zephyrus (Phase One Remix)" - 9. "Talons (Phones RIP Remix)" (4 / 5) - 10. "Better Than Heaven (No Age Remix)" - 11. "Ion Square (Banjo or Freakout Remix)" - 12. "Letter to My Son (Gold Panda Remix)" - 13. "Your Visits Are Getting Shorter (Double D Remix)"

Remix album by Bloc Party. Again, a remix release of their latest studio album. This time I actually find it a welcome release. Stylistically, the band has moved into electronic and alt. dance, which makes this more of a digestible remix. Kele obviously has a certain something for club and dance, and this only adds to their new style. "Talons" is still a great track in this outfit.

Bloc Party "Intimacy" (2008)

Intimacy
release date: Aug. 21, 2008
format: cd (LTD. O-Card)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,08]
producer: Jacknife Lee & Paul Epworth
label: Wichita - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Ares" (4 / 5) - 2. "Mercury" - 3. "Halo" (4 / 5) - 4. "Biko" (4 / 5) - 5. "Trojan Horse" (4 / 5) - 6. "Signs" - 7. "One Month Off" - 8. "Zephyrus" - 9. "Talons" (5 / 5) [PLAY LOUD!!] (live) - 10. "Better Than Heaven" - 11. "Ion Square" - *12. "Letter to My Son" - *13. "Your Visits Are Getting Shorter" (4,5 / 5)
*Bonus track on Limited Edition

3rd studio album by Bloc Party follows 1½ years after A Weekend in the City (Feb. 2007) and it already appears as an attempt to combine the sound of Silent Alarm produced by Paul Epworth and the 2007-album produced by Jacknife Lee simply by putting the two producers together for this one. The two are aside from production, also credited programming and keyboards. The Limited Edition contains two bonus tracks of which the last simply happens to be the second best song on the album.
The album doesn't sound like either of the two previous studio albums and it reveals a combo of electropop, alt. dance, and indie rock. Although, it doesn't sound alike, it's still very much the natural progression from A Weekend in the City with more electro and more dance, however, they're still able to incorporate Russell Lissack's guitar skills - as he once again demonstrate his abilities as an exceptional instrumentalist - just listen to "Talons" - that song is like a rocket launch or a flame thrower. I just love the sound of that guitar and it makes me wanna go out and buy one again. It's Bloc Party when they're best: "And when it co-o-o-mes, it'll feel like a kiss"... The first 100 times I was really annoyed by the simpleness and repetitious "Mercury", but today I find it pretty damn good, and overall it's truly nice to witness these guys' change of style. Instead of copying other post-punk revivalists and indie rock bands, these four guys go their own way and by doing that, they lose lots of fans and critics but they sort of say: "we don't make music for you - we do this now!" And I applaud their attitude and their will to experimentation.
Highly recommended.

2008 Favourite releases: 1. Sigur Rós Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust - 2. Bloc Party Intimacy - 3. Alanis Morissette Flavors of Entanglement

Bloc Party "Silent Alarm Remixed" (2005)

Silent Alarm Remixed (remix)
release date: Aug. 29, 2005
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

producer: various

label: Wichita - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Like Eating Glass (Ladytron Mix)" (2 / 5) - 2. "Helicopter (Sheriff Whitey Mix)" (2,5 / 5) - 3. "Positive Tension (Jason Clark Remix)" (2 / 5) - 4. "Banquet (Phones Disco Edit)" (3,5 / 5) - 5. "Blue Light (Engineers Anti-Gravity Mix)" (2 / 5) - 6. "She's Hearing Voices (Erol Alkan's Calling Your Dub Reworking)" (1,5 / 5) - 7. "This Modern Love (Dave Pianka's Making Time Remix)" (1,5 / 5) - 8. "The Pioneers (M83 Remix)" (2 / 5) - 9. "Price of Gas (Automato Remix)" (1,5 / 5) - 10. "So Here We Are (Four Tet Remix)" (2 / 5) - 11. "Luno (Bloc Party vs Death From Above 1979)" (1,5 / 5) - 12. "Plans (Replanned by Moqwai)" (2,5 / 5) - 13. "Compliments (Shibuyaka Remix by Nick Zinner)" (2,5 / 5)

A remix album by Bloc Party of the band's debut released 6 months after the original album. Now, why was this ever necessary? I bought the album without listening to it first. Having heard only good music from this band, I just wanted everything they released, but this was a waste of money. Everything they had done so far was in the spirit of the new post-punk revival wave. Even the cover is a 'repro' of the artworks by Peter Saville and Joy Division but here the music goes elsewhere. In retrospect, it only signals that the band is much more than just post-punk but the result is not good, although a lesser version of "Banquet" doesn't manage to ruin the song. Almost all tracks are club dance remixes of every song on the original album with a few daring exceptions.

Daft Punk "Homework" (1997)

Daft Punk
Homework (1997)
[debut album]

"Around the World"

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