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AUDIO Killian Barry Zara Hedderman Gary Ibbotson
Karen O / Lambchop This (Is What I Wanted To Tell You) [City Slang] Following in the same sonic vein as 2016’s Flotus, Lambchop’s 13th studio album This (Is What I Wanted To Tell You) is founded on melancholy, remorse and nostalgia. Once again, Kurt Wagner’s aptitude for constructing elaborate eye-catching song titles – see the cryptically named track two; Crosswords, or What This Says About You – and delivering melodies plagued with alluring distorted vocal dubs and glitching instrumentation that make it seem like the world around him is falling apart is unparalleled. In eight concise songs, neatly wrapped-up in 45 minutes, the Nashville native is plain-spoken in his struggles with a relationship’s shifting dynamic (“You said you don’t know me and you don’t love me”) while at the same time retaining a sense of humour (“I ‘get’ the press like anybody else”). Don’t be dismayed as there’re light moments. Everything for You channels Californian alt-rockers Cake with a potent bass line that anchors a jubilant melody. It’s the moment of sunshine gleaming through a heavy, cloud infested sky. While this contemporary style appears to be the new normal for Lambchop, Wagner revisits his altcountry roots with wails of pedal steel on the beautifully endearing The December-ish You. You can’t help but feel that, judging by the album’s title, Wagner and his flock of lambs are fully comfortable and confident continuing down this varied musical path. ZH Like this? Try these: Atlas Sound - Parallax Panda Bear - Buoys Dirty Projectors - Dirty Projectors Avey Tare Cows on Hourglass Pond [Domino] David Portner, the Baltimore-born musician behind the Avey Tare moniker and founding member of Animal Collective, revealed that he experiences synesthesia when listening to – and presumably whilst composing – music. Tare’s third solo record, Cows on Hourglass Pond, then, proffers a kaleidoscope of colours, as per the album’s striking artwork. Lo-fi production tempers the arrangements, particularly Eyes On Eyes, making for a no-fuss and zero frills affair. The overall mood flits from meditative (Nostalgia in Lemonade) to the invigorating Saturdays (Again). ZH Danger Mouse Lux Prima [BMG] Considering this collaborative collection has been teased for over a decade – it’s a shame that Lux Prima had ended up a largely banal and inoffensive affair. Ranging from smooth R’n’B to dream pop and trip hop, producer Danger Mouse provides his usual crisp backing instrumentation to Karen O’s often flawless vocal performances. At its best; beautiful and cinematic, at it’s worst; sleepy and meandering – Lux Prima is a broadly enjoyable listening experience, albeit a readily forgettable one. GI Ian Brown Ripples [Polydor] Weezer Weezer (the Black Album) [Atlantic] Ripples, the legendary Stone Roses frontman seventh full-length album comes ten years after its predecessor, My Way. From the outset, the record is rife with underwritten tracks, lacklustre performances and run-of-the-mill vocal deliveries. While the basslines generally provide some nice grooves, the majority of the instrumentation plays out like Stone Roses-lite. Squelchy synth riffs are often mundane and rarely bring anything to the songs on that they feature. Brown’s charisma is still undeniable but unfortunately, the music on which that charisma is applied is largely bland and generic. GI CLICK IT OUT… Weezer’s consistent inconsistency and brazen disregard for emulating their halcyon days have led fans to approach new releases with exasperated resignation. If the Teal Album was an unexpected detour into wedding band territory delivered with a knowing wink, album 13 hitches the Weezerwagon to throwaway pop-rock in the mold of Maroon 5. With some nifty Weezer-esque melodies trying to get out, and less dross than you might expect, the Black Album’s success is that it keeps Rivers and co. in the conversation without entirely squandering residual goodwill. KB We know it and so should you food, fashion, photography, film, books, magazines, music, design, drink and a curated section of events for you to consider www.totallydublin.ie