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the very best of february.



1. Laura Marling-Alas I Cannot Swim
The Reading born indie-folk songstress finally gets an album out, and it's superb. 12 perfect tales of teenage romance. From the perfectly poppy Cross Your Fingers to the epically dark Night Terror. The potential this 18 year old shows is frightening.
courtesy of Sean~regular blogger at There's Affection To Rent
This is a hot album. she is hot in a weird albino way. adele and duffy have had all the hype this year, but marling is leagues ahead.
Best track: Laura Marling-Tap at my Window
Bonus: Laura Marling-New Romantic (non album classic single)
Reviews:
The Independent (5/5)
The Guardian (4/5)

2. Hot Chip-Made in the Dark
After the indie-electro-disco-dance classic The Warning, Hot Chip were under huge pressure to perform on Made in the Dark. The result was mixed. The album is basically split into slow ballad tracks and upbeat crazy ones, what people would call traditional Hot Chip. The album kicks off with out at the Pictures, into 1st single Shake a Fist and then Ready for the Floor. All3 are fantastic upbeat songs, reminiscent of The Warning but with perhaps a more rock orientated sound. The only problem is the pointless segue in Shake a Fist? adds nothing to the song or album as a whole...Where those 3 triumphed, bendable poseable falters, but the "upbeat" tracks on the album are generally great (hold on is too long and dont dance takes too long to get going, but im not complaining). The 4 ballads seem so out of place on the album, not even concentrated at the end, just breaking the flow throughout the record. Complaints about these ballads have been common, but Hot Chip have produced these sort of tracks before(The Warning and Look After Me to name 2). Those 2 tracks seem alot less contrived than the ones on Made in The dark. "We're Looking for alot of love" excepted, they seem entirely pointless, and dont suit the band at all imo. 1 would have been enough. anyway, this album is good, better than no.1 not as good as no.2...been wanting to see them live for ages, and did in October, but they were pretty diappointing :(
Best track: Hot Chip-One Pure Thought
Bonus: Hot Chip-Ready for the Floor (Soulwax Dub)
Reviews
Pitchfork (7/10)
The Guardian (3/5)

3. Goldfrapp-Seventh Tree
Maybe the best "easy-listening" of the album, and a welcome return to form for Goldfrapp. I wasn't a big fan of Supernature, and this more toned down approach seems to suit the duo alot better. There are so many really lovely songs on this album; "Clowns", "Caravan Girl" and "Eat Yourself" to name 3. A few songs are just dull i.e. "Road to somewhere" and "Monster Love", but this album is still very solid. The overwhelming triumph is the first single released A&E. It's such a tranquil, ambient song, with lyrics pretty open to interpretation (what she is saying and what they mean!). I think its about a suicide attempt (the pain slipping away) and thats why shes admitted into A&E, then she explains why she overdosed? a split with a lover? who knows. its amazing, and so is the video!
Best Track: Goldfrapp-A&E
Bonus: none
Reviews:
Pitchfork (4.6/10)
The Guardian (4/5)

gigs this month:
Stars @ Leadmill Steel Stage amazingamazingamazingamazing
Dizzee Rascal @ Leadmill pretty goood

this month in music