Stripmall Architecture | Albino Peacock ep (object007)
CD + Digital Album
Stripmall Architecture is one of those bands that makes you wonder why they aren’t as popular as bands such as Love and Rockets, Siouxsie & The Banshees, or even Ladytron. They have an incredible collection of material available to form a rock solid opinion of; including two full-length albums as well as a plethora of singles.
The latest offering from the band is entitled “Albino Peacock EP”, and I must say that these four songs are the best group of songs I’ve heard since they released their Sawtooth EP under the name Halou.
One of the differences between Halou and Stripmall Architecture has been the step away from the mellow electronics and an embrace of straight ahead indie rock; both styles are easily mastered by Ryan and Rebecca Coseboom, the core behind SMA.
From the first few chords of Lemoncholic, you can tell immediately that this is a song that the band is especially proud of. Firstly, it’s incredibly fun and has a bounce to it as if the spirit of Robert Smith of The Cure somehow was guiding the controls. I laughed when I thought that the word ‘lemoncholic’ was a play on the spelling of melancholy (I still need clarification on this). The song lyrics tell a different tale altogether and could almost be construed as political; almost as if it were an ode to Julian Assange and Wikileaks.
Lauren, I Said has a beat that is reminiscent of ‘The Only Time’ by Nine Inch Nails, but with a much more feminine and seductive groove which invokes the spirit of Daniel Miller. I could easily hear this song played at an alternative nightclub…very single-worthy.
Stripmall Architecture have made a career of smashing boundaries with their music but this EP could easily be hijacked by the gothic crowd due to the darker themes displayed throughout. A fantastic example of this is the third track entitled Peacock; it’s even more sultry than Lauren, I Said and clearly invokes parallels in sheer attitude with Siouxsie & The Banshees or even Bauhaus; this is definitely one of the best vocal arrangements that I’ve heard from Rebecca Coseboom and she has a ton!
Lastly, is one of my favorite songs released by SMA to date and it’s entitled One Of Three. Once again, your inner electronic erogenous zone will be pleasured with the early New Wave/Electronic influence. The song is very percussive and minimal and brought images to mind of The Normal’s “Warm Leatherette”.
Don’t just take my word for it. Be sure to check out Stripmall Architecture’s Bandcamp page and listen (and buy) their stuff.
…I didn’t even mention how amazing their album artwork was…
Stephan Mathieu | Remain (LINE_047)
Stephan Mathieu | Remain (LINE_047)
CD + instant MP3 download
Edition of 500
After 10 years of being a subsidiary of Taylor Deupree’s 12k label, Richard Chartier has taken the LINE imprint and has begun issuing releases under his own banner as well as re-issuing music that has been long out-of-print and virtually impossible to obtain as high quality Apple lossless files.
I actually had the honor of being the very first person to make an order at the online LINE website shop, to which, I received an email from Richard Chartier himself thanking me for doing so and he let me in on the next half-dozen releases due out on the label.
The first official release to see the light of day on the new LINE label is Stephan Mathieu Remain (LINE_047). It’s 60 minutes of beautiful, electroacoustic, droning sound that utilizes Janek Schaefer’s Extended Play (LINE_036) material, albeit in a reprocessed format that is absolutely stunning and mesmerizing.
I liken Remain to an aural equivalent of Barnett Newman’s Vir Heroicus Sublimis, 1950-51, which I had the pleasure of seeing firsthand at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City a few years ago. It is a warm, flowing release that wraps around you like water, and in which, you swim in the sound.
One thing I’d like to add about LINE is that when I received this package in the mail, included in it were two gorgeous postcards and a hand-written ‘thank you’ note from Richard Chartier himself. It’s little things like this that keep music aficionados like me loyal to the very end.
-CONJUR
Solo Andata does it again: »
Just came across the album from the minimal drone masters from Australia. Rich, dare I say deep even. I’ve been enjoying their self titled release on 12k, and now this album (which has been out for a couple of months. Quite Lovely!
a lily | wake:sleep
A stunning album. Light, dense, organic and so full of love, it’s contagious. The first half of the album is like morning pieces -light streaming in through the windows, waking you up with clicks, whirs, and glorious melodies. While the second half of the album are like time shifts, so long and pure and comforting me to sleep. James Vella has a knack for these organic textures, regardless of instrumentation, and the melodies woven throughout stick in my mind for days. If you want some warmth and love in your life, then by all means pick this one up.
-MERKUR
Apparat | Duplex
Even though this is several years old, it still seems ahead of it’s time. Duplex is an album that reeks of many long late-night/morning edits, yet still somehow contains a great amount of heart. Mostly light and detailed instrumentals, the few tracks with vocals ‘Wooden’, and ‘Contradiction’ seem to balance out the epic graciousness of the album. fans of Yasume and Isan will certainly appreciate this, if they don’t already have it!.
-MERKUR
Hammock | Raising Your Voice…Trying To Stop An Echo
This little gem is all silvery somnolence with sheets of guitars soft as warm tears on a fresh white cloth. Rising high above other recent shoegaze revivalists, Hammock has both the tunefulness and the sincerity to sweep you up and keep you totally interested.
-LEE RYAN
