Issue 5: December 2010
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Marina & the Diamonds Kids in Glass Houses Athlete Mystery Jets Kanye West Good Charlotte Daft Punk My Chemical Romance We Are Scientists
Ellie Goulding exclusive interview
“My life has just got progressively more mental!�
Audio Addict
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contents
Dear readers, Welcome to the fifth issue of Audio Addict. Christmas has come around quicker than
NEWS
expected, which means most of us will
p. 3 Daft comeback?
be out of pocket. The weather has caused a nationwide stand still, and everyone’s
p. 4 X Factor. Love it or hate it? p.5 Rage Against the Large Hadron
getting sick of hearing Slade’s ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’. What better way to cure your winter blues than to delve in to
Collider Machine p. 6 Eminem leads the Grammys, The Audio Addict Awards
this issue of Audio Addict? We bring you not frankincense and myrrh, but instead exclusive interviews with Kid’s In Glass Houses Aled Phillips, Will Rees from The Mystery Jets and
FEATURES
Steve Roberts of Athlete.
p. 7 Pennywise Gets Pacific
Starry-eyed Ellie Goulding graces our front-page to tell us about her phenomenal year- after being chased through the
p. 8-9 The Mystery Jets
streets of Southampton on her ‘Ellie Runs’ campaign…
p. 10-11 Ellie Goulding
The stars let rip on The X Factor, and our writers hand out
p. 12-13 Ellie on the Run
some fantasy awards to their favourite acts of 2011, in time for
p. 14-15 Ten Years of Athlete
next year’s Grammys.
p. 16 Kids in Glass Houses
In the words of Cliff Richard, Christmas is a ‘time for giving, and a time for getting’. It’s time then to get yourself out of the
p. 17 The Stars of 2011
Grinch mood and give in to Audio Addiction.
LIVE REVIEWS p. 18 Marina and the Diamonds p. 19 Mr Scruff, We Are Scientists
Merry Christmas! Sian Robertson Editor Issue 5: December 2010
p. 20 Stornoway ALBUM REVIEWS p. 21 Kanye West
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p. 22 Good Charlotte, Botany
Marina & the Diamonds Kids in Glass Houses Athlete Mystery Jets Kanye West Good Charlotte Daft Punk My Chemical Romance We Are Scientists
p. 23 My Chemical Romance p. 24 Simian Mobile Disco, Nicki Minaj p. 25 Logistics
Ellie Goulding exclusive interview
p. 26-27 Audio Addict launch night
“My life has just got progressively more mental!”
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news features
The team
Contributors Tom Quickfall Rachel Pottle Rachael Anderson
Amy Campbell
Danielle Sanders
- Front editor
- Reviews editor Veronika
Katy Ladyman
Mihalkova
- Features editor
- Design editor
Rob Ferguson Danielle Brackenbury Elliot Muharrem Peter Smith Dan Wallwork Richard Cook Emily Sutherland Tara Perera
Daft comeback?
The robot-headed duo are back… And it’s more frustrating than satisfying. You can’t help thinking that
popular Daft Punk fansite,
the soundtrack was a good move
something’s wrong here. With
William A. Lebreton is
after all. ‘Right now it’s the next
dance music experiencing its
not at all surprising. ‘A studio
best thing, and there’s no way
revival, it couldn’t be a better
album would have been the best
Daft Punk would have agreed to
time for a comeback of one of its
thing. Anything “Disney” doesn’t
this project without a significant
biggest acts.
exactly speak groundbreaking,
degree of freedom.’
When Daft Punk announced their return in September, we
or free, or even particularly electronic’ he says.
Stacey Maddams, a devoted member of The Daft Club sees
burst with waves of excitement.
the score as a good experience
But it didn’t last long. After
giving the robots more to
years of waiting, realising they
experiment with in the future.
came up with a soundtrack
‘After the Tron soundtrack and
album certainly makes the waves
Daft Punk using orchestral
of excitement turn into waves of
sounds with electronic sounds, I
disappointment.
hear rumours of a fourth studio album bringing in orchestral
A full cinematic score for TRON:
sounds and instruments, which
Legacy, French duo’s first full
is interesting to say the least.’
length release since 2005’s Human After All, is to be released on December 6th. Asked if he would prefer another studio album, the answer of the founder of The Daft Club, the
As William nicely remarked, ‘the Although admitting concern over Daft Punk losing their artistic control, he believes that
Audio Addict
challenge now is to wait another half-decade for a studio album’. Words by: Veronika Mihalkova Photo by: Zach Cordner
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news features
X Factor. Love it or hate it?
Audio Addict asks your favourite stars exactly what they think about X Factor’s reign of terror this Christmas... Ellie Goulding:
kind of singles and in a sense all
what most people have as their
“I don’t
those X Factor singers are just
perception of creativity in this
disagree
the new Mr Blobby.”
country, which is just wrong.
Will Rees, Mystery Jets:
Words escape us, it’s like alcohol,
or agree with it, there’s a reason why
many
people
things,
buy it, you can’t question why
it’s
they’ve bought it. It just so
comedy,
happens that people like it. I’m
talent
proud of the fact that I haven’t
spotting
gone on X Factor and my songs
and it’s
are in the top 10.”
Steve Roberts, Athlete: “The X
Factor is like going to Butlins for a weekend, it’s like the Saturday night entertainment. I’m not against it but I don’t see it as a musical thing, it’s not to be taken seriously at all. Simon Cowell is probably alright, I don’t take him too seriously either but I wonder if he takes himself that seriously. I think he’s well aware of his history putting out Mr Blobby
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“It’s so
drama. A part of me absolutely
it numbs your mind and you feel awful the next morning for watching it.”
Stornoway: “Hate it, it’s very fake and plastic,
"it's like
the
actually. I’ve
alcohol, it numbs your mind and you feel awful the next morning for watching it."
heard their
-The Little Comets
hates it and finds it sick, fake and not real but it’s pretty funny
trying to do
people who are judges on it don’t necessarily have any talent, so I don’t think it’s a very fair
an X Factor for indie bands and
competition, I think they should
that’s just quite worrying.”
form a band with them all. The X
The Little Comets:
Factor goes further to preventing
“It’s awful, a total travesty, a
music and I think it’s a really
disgrace, but in it’s defence you
shallow thing they’ve come up
can sit and watch it and find it
with, and I think it’s damaging to
difficult to switch off. Culturally
the way music is produced.”
it doesn’t offer anything and in terms of the music industry it’s Audio Addict
you realising that there’s more than one person behind the
news features
Rage Against the Large Hadron Collider Machine Scientists working on the ATLAS project at CERN take on the Christmas charts...
T
he race for the muchcoveted Christmas number
campaigns that have materialised
of those involved. Resonance
(mostly on Facebook) include a
project leader Steve Goldfarb
push for ‘Walk’ by heavy metal
explains that “to get that message
legends Pantera, and even the
[of CERN] out, to grab your
minimalist composer John
attention, we want to show you
Cage’s infamous 4’33” of silence.
something different.” For others,
one single has had some
The most recent entrant comes
interesting winners in its long
from a group of physicists
history. The accolade is often
working on the large hadron
hotly contested between a
collider at CERN, who,
morbidly catchy seasonal ditty
presumably on a short break
(Slade’s ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’),
from trying to reconstruct the
a seminal release from an
beginning of the universe, have
established artist (‘Bohemian
recorded a double album and
Rhapsody’, ‘Another Brick in the
DVD of covers and originals,
Wall’) or a charity-based effort
entitled Resonance. The record
(Band Aid, Band Aid II, Band
was made in the name of charity,
Aid 20). Following the success of
with all proceeds going to a
last year’s anti-Cowell campaign
children’sorphanage in Nepal.
to get Rage Against The Machine
However, it’s clear from the
to the festive top spot, the door
‘making of’ video available on
has been thrown wide open for
Youtube that this was more than
this year’s contenders. So far
a gesture of goodwill for some
like Martin White, whose song ‘Points of Order’ includes lines such as “and when black holes destroy the Earth/I’ll be in a meeting”, it was a chance to vent minor frustrations. “ The band’s own Neutralino imprint will take care of the sales and marketing, while the musicians themselves get back to the comparatively mundane task of unlocking the secrets of the universe. Words by: Tom Quickfall Photo: Courtesy of Claudia Marcelloni
All we want for Christmas is world domination.
Audio Addict
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news features
EMINEM LEADS THE GRAMMYS With ten nominations to his name, Eminem is the lead nominee for next year’s Grammys...
Having already won Best Rap Album for three consecutive LP’s beginning in 1999, American superstar, Eminem receives nominations for prestigious Grammy awards, such as Album of the Year for Recovery, and Record of the Year for his hugely successful duet
with Rihanna, ‘Love The Way You
The Machine and Mumford and
Lie’.
Sons have each been nominated
In competition with ‘Love the Way You Lie’ is smash hit, ‘Empire State of Mind’ by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys with singer-songwriter Bruno Mars, laging behind Eminem with an impressive 7
in the high profile, Best New Artist award. Competition for the category is fierce with other nominees, Drake, Esperanza Spalding, and heart-throb, Justin Bieber.
nominations. His nominations
The Grammys are due to take
include Best Rap/Sung
place 13th February next year.
Collaboration.
Words by: Sian Robertson
As for the Brits, Florence and
The Audio Addict Awards
With the Grammys approaching, we talk to our writers about the awards they would give their favourite acts…
Dannii (reviews editor) Best Live Act: Frictions set at Shogun Audio in London Best New Album of the Year: Andy C Nightlife 5 or Break Resistance Breakthrough Artist of 2011: Icicle! Musical Moment of the Year: Sanctuary Festival and Shogun Audio at Cable
Rob (contributor)
Elliot (contributor)
Best Live Act:
Best Live Act: Muse - they win awards for a reason
The Mars Volta, Radiohead, and Arcade Fire. Energetic, spiritual, and powerful, respectively Best New Album of the Year: Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs, without doubt Breakthrough Artist of 2011: The Good Natured who I think has a chance to make it next year Musical Moment of the Year: On a personal level, jogging with and interviewing Ellie Goulding. Overall, the fact Arcade Fire hit #1 pleased me greatly
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Audio Addict
Best New Act of the Year: The Drums - flawless both live and on CD Best New Album of the Year: Arcade Fire - The Suburbs Breakthrough Artist of 2011: The Vaccines - forget the hype, this band’s sound excites me more than words can express Musical Moment of the Year: The Libertines at Reading Festival - I had waited for that moment for about 5 years
PENNYWISE GETS PACIFIC
features
Original Pennywise frontman Jim Lindberg joins Audio Addict’s Rachel Pottle with his new band, The Black Pacific, to reveal all.
A
merican punk rock veterans, Pennywise, saw
their front man Jim Lindberg leave earlier this year, after twenty dedicated years and nine studio albums. He’s now returned with a fresh new band, The Black Pacific. The band, completed with drummer Alan Vega, bassist Gavin Caswell and guitarist Marc Orrell spent the summer recording tracks for their selftitled debut album with producer Shaun Lopez. “Like myself he had something to prove and he really wanted to make a record that stood out from the rest of other bands,” says Lindberg. Though if you’re expecting something completely different to Pennywise, you might be a little disappointed. “I wrote a lot of the material for Pennywise so it’s not that shocking that I’d write a song that sounds like it.” Since leaving the band he’s been filling his ears with bands like The Replacements and Jawbreaker. So having created their own dynamic sound, the band secured a headlining support slot on this year’s Eastpak Antidote Tour, with Canadian punk rockers Sum 41. Fast forward to the second day of tour, Southampton. It’s 6pm and teenagers shiver in the cold
The Black Pacific’s, Jim Lindberg shows us that he hasn’t sold-out, he just sells his own whiskey.
October breeze sporting Sum 41 t-shirts, waiting for doors to open. Backstage at the Guildhall, the guys relax drinking beer and jamming on guitars, still feeling a little jetlagged.They’re stoked to be part of the Eastpak tour. “It’s an awesome line-up, the
"They're the same psycho's that come to any show" -Marc Orrell Sum 41 guys are great and The Riverboat Gamblers guys, everyone’s really friendly,” explains Vega excitedly, who is also experiencing the European cities for the first time. As well as the UK in which the band express the great quality of our beer, the band will be travelling to several countries including France, Spain and Italy. “I’m looking forward to Paris, it’s going to be my birthday in Paris so that’ll be a good time!” states the rather enthusiastic Marc Orrell. Despite what country the band play in they’re certain
Audio Addict
the audiences will be just the same. “They’re the same psycho’s that come to any show,” informs Marc in a serious tone before chuckling. “Rock fans are the same all over the world, they usually get drunk and just happy to be there” adds Jim. As they wait to go onstage, Alan and Jim go to find dinner, Marc displays his range of musical abilities by playing “Great Balls of Fire” on the piano (though maybe the singing should be left for Lindberg!) whilst Gavin keeps himself amused by watching funny clips on YouTube. There’s no denying this band will gain a lot of support, whether it’s from old Pennywise followers or new fans they collect along the way. Either way, the band just want to make music, play shows and keep people entertained. Lindberg emphasises how “we all feel like we have something to prove and we just want to go out there and bring the energy so people will want to come back and see us again.” So keep an eye on this four piece because it’s only just the beginning.
Photos by: Katy Ladyman Words by: Rachel Pottle
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features
Fresh From Eel Pie Island: The Mystery Jets have come a long way with three albums and numerous live appearances. Audio Addict’s Rachael Anderson, caught up with guitarist Will before taking the stage in Brighton as part of their UK autumn tour.
T
his year has seen the four piece travel the world “we
started with a week in America, playing in Toronto, New York and
become official, but they were
and since then they’ve
together a long time before that.
developed and changed a lot as
“I met Blaine at nursery school
a band. “When we were doing
when we were about 3 or 4 and
those parties, we were making
then with the guidance of his
this progressive, sort
dad Henry, we started making music in the summer holidays, then we met Kai our bass player and Kapil our
quite naïve music. Since then
"We all want to live in America, do another album... something raw"
we’ve kind of fallen in love with pop music a bit more and started to hone our song
L.A. and then a month travelling
writing with
around Europe doing little
tracks like
club shows and now we’re in
drummer when we were about
‘Young Love’ or ‘Two Doors
England, it’s been a lot of fun”.
14 or 15. That’s when we started
Down’. We’re now making songs
doing proper gigs; we’re like a
that are a bit more delicate,
weird sort of extended family.”
sculpted and more of a pop
Recordings, 2004 was the year
Their infamous parties on Eel
sensibility”
that saw The Mystery Jets
Pie Island were a long time ago
First signing to Trangressive Records and then 679
Just another day at Eel Pie Island…
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of psychedelic and probably
Audio Addict
features
The Mystery Jets
In a daze…The Mystery Jets contemplate their new sound.
The band are close friends of DJ
purpose is to make your body
The Mystery Jets are coming
Erol Alkan who produced their
move as much as possible”.The
towards the end of promoting
second album Twenty One, not
Mystery Jets went on to sign to
Serotonin and after 3 albums
they’re most successful but
Rough Trade Records in early
you find yourself asking where
probably their most popular
2009 leading to the release of
are they going next, “We all
record. Erol brought a different,
their 3rd album Serotonin in
want to live in America, do
almost dancier sound to The
2010 and them playing a whole
another album quite quickly, do
Mystery Jets.
host of festivals over the summer
something raw, unpretentious,
as well as a special one off gig at
not very fussy and not too epic
Somerset House as part of their
just quite scratchy and live.”
“Twenty One’s my favourite because the process of making it for me was really enjoyable, I’m really good friends with Erol, he’s a great
historical the best thing actually
"We're like a weird
friend and someone I have a lot of respect for. It’s interesting working with someone who is a DJ and involved in the club world because they listen to music in a different way, for them music is much more about having a purpose and that
Summer Series. “It’s beautiful,
sort of family.." was the dressing rooms and the rider was amazing like champagne bottles etc. It was an amazing gig and I it was a bit
They are a well-known and popular band but never really had chart success, this doesn’t seem to bother them but you do wonder what the future will bring for the five boys from London. Photos by: Nacho Alegre Courtesy of Camille Augarde
of a crowning moment for The Mystery Jets, quite an important chapter for us.” Audio Addict
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"I think fear can really hold you back when it comes to being creative."
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Audio Addict
features
STarry eyed Audio Addict’s Racheal Anderson talks 23 yearold Ellie Goulding.
are, you’ve got to do a lot of
rise in female artists within the
work.”
industry, some examples being
Ellie hasn’t really stopped touring since the album was released. “My life has just got
E
llie Goulding is a singer songwriter from Hereford.
If you haven’t heard of her by now you’ve probably been in a bubble for the past year as she’s well and truly taken over the world of pop with the very emotional and beautiful music she makes.
progressively more fucking mental! I was with Katy Perry the other day saying she was a really
Marina and the Diamonds, and her current support act Sunday Girl. “I don’t think I have reinvented anything, You can
"I met my boyfriend this year too, did not expect to meet my soul mate."
big fan and I was like ‘What… is going on?’ There’s Rihanna
dress something up as much as you want, but it doesn’t mean it’s going to be good. I write everything really close to my heart and I don’t
hold back. I love pop music and I’m not afraid of it, I think fear
Ellie studied Drama at The
saying she wants to do stuff and
University Of Kent before
I can’t really take it in, I met my
leaving part way through her
boyfriend this year too, did not
degree to pursue a career in
expect to meet my soul mate.
With Ellie’s tour coming towards
music, “I realised I could write
There are moments that keep my
the end, many fans are eager for
my own songs and sing, people
feet on the ground, my band are
a quick second album and next
were starting to get really excited
amazing, so clever, so talented,
week sees the re-release of her
about me because they had
we’re happy with what we do...
debut record entitled Bright
heard me singing, so I moved to
We feel like a family.”
Lights. Featuring six new tracks
London with no money. God it
T
it includes a beautiful cover of
was a nightmare!”
his tour has been Ellie’s longest. Playing 21 dates
In September 2009 she signed to
throughout October and
Polydor Records and within 6
November, she is coming towards
"My life has just got progressively more fucking mental!" months she’d won the BBC’S Sound of 2010 and the Critic’s Choice Award at the Brits, all before the release of her debut album Lights in March. However it wasn’t all as easy as it sounds as Ellie explains, “It doesn’t matter how good or how determined you
can really hold you back when it comes to being creative.”
‘Your Song’ by Elton John, which is also the soundtrack to the new John Lewis Christmas advert.
the end of what has been
“I’ve got a vision forming in my
a tough ride for the pop
head; I need to read a lot more
sensation, “It’s been good,
books and I’ll go away for a few
it’s hard, you have to keep
weeks but I’m very much in this
the morale up, I stuff my
Bright Lights mind frame, I’m
face, and I’ve put on loads
really excited about the new
of weight! You kind of look
songs, and they’ll be out soon.
forward to the days off, not that
They just sound a bit more
we don’t love it but it’s taxing
mature I think, like they’ve come
because my voice is strong but
a bit further.”
can be weak at the same time.”
The past 12 months have been
A lot of people would say Ellie
nothing but a whirlwind for
Goulding has almost reinvented
pop’s latest star but the next 12
the female singer songwriter
are set to look even brighter if
with her originality and real
her second album is anything as
passion for music, inspiring a
good as her first.
Audio Addict
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features
Ellie On The Run
U
sually, a meeting with a pop
and see if I could make a
pace was pretty fast and being
star is being in the right
difference. Which I think I have
a non-runner, I hated every
place at the right time. They
done, because so many people
second of it. But when it all came
tend to be awkward situations;
have started running through it.”
to an end, she was happy enough
a case of either being too star
Nike tops and put us all on the
conversation, or trying too hard
Audio Addict runner’s thoughts…
to impress your new-found best
Elliott, 19 from Essex:
Ellie is so passionate about
struck to make any meaningful
friend.
“I’ve met my fair share of high-
Not Ellie Goulding. The night
profile artists, most from being in
before her show at the
the right place at the right time.
Southampton Guildhall, four
I’m tempted to use the phrase
students from Southampton
‘blood, sweat, and tears’ to
Solent University were asked
describe what I had to endure to
if they would like to go jogging with the pop sensation herself. Walking to university every day was exercise enough for most of us, but we all agreed to go anyway, the 5-kilometre run being a small consequence of meeting Britain’s latest pop darling.
E
running. What she’s doing for her fans is such a great thing and I hope she keeps it up for years to come. I hope I get the chance to do it again, but this time with a few months of training behind me…”
– Ellie Goulding meet Ellie Goulding, and I’d almost be right; there was certainly buckets
really love it, so decided to
of sweat, thankfully no
get other people involved. People
blood (just blisters…),
think I’m a nerd, but shame on
and dare I say, tears of
people who laugh at it because
joy at actually finishing
I’d much rather my fans were
the run!”
wasted on drugs or just being…
guest list for the show that night.
"Shame on people who laugh. I'd much rather my fans doing that rather than getting wasted."
llie enjoys running; “I just
doing that rather than getting
Danielle, 19 from Essex:
lazy.” She knows it’s not typical
“Normally my answer to a
custom for a pop star to do this
5k run would be “You
sort of thing as well. “Yeah it’s
must be must joking?!
different, I just think it’s good
Hah!” But when you’re
because everything I’ve done to
asked to run 5k with Ellie
do with music is pretty dark and
Goulding? My answer
I’ve been through a lot of stuff
soon turns into “Of course!”
Rachael, 20, from Brighton:
I was dreading the thought of the
“Having the opportunity to run
run, but when she arrived I
with Ellie Goulding was truly
thought how lucky I was and
amazing, when I first found out
would give it my best shot. The
that I’d be running with her, I
to write my songs, but there’s this whole other thing about me which is running. I like it so much I just wanted to get people who are into my music involved
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to sign our special ‘Ellie Runs’
Audio Addict
features was ecstatic but realised that
fan, I must have been the
and thought no more of it.
I can’t really run, so quickly
only person dedicated (read:
So when I was asked the day
became nervous and quite
obsessive) enough to have
before the show, I was ecstatic
scared!
known she runs in the cities
to say the least! I had been jogging regularly over the summer whilst working with the military in Germany, but since resuming university, my beer belly had started to reappear and the thought of jogging again worried me a little, but it was fantastic! The 5k seemed a breeze whilst jogging alongside Ellie the entire time, and she was lovely and understanding to those who couldn’t keep up as easily. The whole experience was surreal!” Ellie says:
However, waking up to beautiful
she gigs in. I had tickets for
“I really enjoyed it. Sometimes
weather with the thought that
the Southampton show, but
we have five people, sometimes
not everyone gets to run with
couldn’t find any information
ten. Last time we had a girl
Ellie Goulding everyday spurred
on a scheduled run in the city,
who… she was lovely, but she
me on to do
was underage and she couldn’t
well and enjoy
really run very far, so to have a
the run instead
lot of people who can actually
of dread it!
run is really cool. Last tour we
Meeting Ellie
did it in every city and I was fit
was great; she
as hell. Just running in every
was so lovely,
city. However, it’s a really long
friendly and
tour and a demanding show
down to earth,
physically too, so we’ve made
seeming like a
sure we haven’t done it every
friend rather
day.”
than a famous
Words by: Rob Ferguson, with contributions from: Danielle Brackenbury, Elliot Muharrem, and Rachael Anderson Photos: Courtesy of Solent SU Press
musician!” Rob, 20, from Basingstoke: “Being a huge Ellie Goulding
Audio Addict
13
features
ten years of athlete
Racheal Anderson talks to Athlete drummer, Steve Roberts to find out what’s next for the
released Singles 01-10, a greatest
that record on our own, in our
hits album. “Every album sounds
own studio and it was really
quite different and we’ve been
creative, really independent. But
quite comfortable with that, I
the first record is really special
think sometimes that kind of
to us because we were really
thing can come across as quite
young and excited. We couldn’t
thlete have been together
erratic. That’s a real positive
believe that somebody was
10 years now. After 4
from our point of view for things
actually paying for us to be in
albums and a number of
to change as much as they need
the studio, recording stuff and
successful singles many fans are
to.” says Roberts.
then we were on the radio.”
Athlete has been through a lot
Athlete are half way through
together as a band and each
their current UK tour. Their
Formed in 1999, Athlete’s early
album they’ve written really
‘homecoming’ gig was at the
years were their most successful.
reflects what’s happened
HMV Forum on Saturday
They won an Ivor Novello award
around that time. “I don’t have a
and was described by their
for single ‘Wires’ and a Mercury
favourite album…looking back
tour manager as ‘their best
Prize for their 2003 album
I think it’s probably Beyond The
London show ever.’ “I really
entitled Vehicles and Animals.
Neighbourhood because we made
really enjoyed Saturday night.
band...
A
confused as to what’s next for the 4-piece from London.
These successes earned them a lot of publicity, leading to their second album Tourist reaching number 1 in the UK album chart in 2005. Most recently thy have
"We couldn't believe that somebody was actually paying for us to be in the studio"
Drummer Steve Roberts decides to take a break from Athlete’s moving day.
14
Audio Addict
features "we've really got something to say and we've got something fresh to put into it" This time it’s more to mark the
milestone together, after four
fact we’ve been around for 10
albums Athlete aren’t planning
years and we’ve got the 10 year
on splitting up anytime soon
anniversary album of all the
but they’ve decided to take a
singles”.
break, “we feel like it’s a natural
Having reached the 10-year
point to take some time out,
we’ve been doing that process of making an album and touring it, then once you finish
that you start writing and you make another album and you tour it. We just decided let’s not do that again, let’s do it when we feel like, when we’ve really got something to say and we’ve got something fresh to put into it.” It’s hard to understand why Athlete have never really made it, even with a number 1 album and several successful singles a lot of people still don’t know who they are and it’s clear to see that they rely on a strong following of loyal fans. It would be fantastic to see them come back having gone in a slightly different direction, with a new album reaching out to a wider audience to finally getting the recognition they deserve. Photos: Courtesy of Mike Gourlay
Audio Addict
15
features
Kids In Glass Houses Dish the DIRT...
Aled through the looking glass
Audio Addict’s Danielle Brackenbury caught up with a very tired and hung-over Aled Phillips, to get his thoughts on the whirlwind ride that is being the front man of one of the UK’s hottest
S
bands ince supporting Lostprophets at the
Southampton Guildhall 9
signings to say thank you, “It’s
second album Dirt. The album
no skin off our noses to just
includes the single ‘Undercover
spend an hour scribbling our
lover’ which features one of The
names and just saying hey and
Saturday girls Frankie Sandford.
taking a picture”. Although Aled
With the song’s big 80s vibe, the
says they get asked to do the
band thought it would be a great
strangest of things “some woman
idea to get a female vocalist in on
put her baby on the desk and we
the act “it turned out she was a
signed her baby, I also received a
big fan of our band and it all just
doll that was covered in writing...
fell into place” says Aled.
I still have that in my bedroom actually”.
months ago, Kids in Glass
Supporting the likes of the
Houses have kept themselves
Manic Street Preachers and
2010 is nearly over but 2011 will
busy throughout this year.
Lostprophets at the Guildhall.
see the band play a few festivals
Aled claims it’s a triumph for the
over the summer. While also
band to be headlining. With only
knuckling down writing and
10 tickets left for the show it’s
recording demos for album
clear just how big this band have
number 3, which will hopefully
become in recent years. Aled
be released late next year.
explains “I think Dirt kind of
Words by: Danielle Brackenbury Photo: Courtesy of Kirsten Sparks (Roadrunner records)
"some woman put her baby on the desk and we signed it" - Aled Phillips The 5 piece band from Cardiff in Wales released their first album Smart Casual back in 2008. Early
16
this year they released their
helped our live shows a lot as we feel a lot more confident.” Joining together with Macbeth footwear Kids in Glass Houses have put on a string of in-store Audio Addict
The stars of 2011
the locals
Audio Addict brings you the local acts that are set to make it big this coming year. groups around at the
you’d be hard pushed to
different they sounded
moment that sound
find elsewhere in
compared to the other
like us,” says guitarist
these parts.
bands on the bill.
Neil Allen. “We’re
After the release of a
They will be playing
trying to get away
couple of demos
shows around
from the ‘generic’
recorded and mixed
Southampton in the
indie and add our own
by band members
tail-end of 2010, and
personal touch to it.”
themselves, excitement
will then be looking to
Shaping up to be one of
It’s not difficult to spot
grew steadily and
expand out and tour all
Southampton’s biggest
the post-rock influence.
reached fever pitch
over the UK.
new breakthrough
With sparse, dreamy
when their first show
acts of 2011, Cardinals
vocals and a heavy
was announced. People
are something a bit
emphasis on delay
turned up in their
different. “I don’t
pedals, the band have
droves and applauded
http://www.myspace.
think there are many
developed a sound that
the band on how
com/cardinalsbanduk
‘The new champions of
DJ Jennarate
Scott Atrill and Kevin
they like to call
Amongst glitter balls,
huge impression on
themselves)
glow sticks and strobe
the London scene,
have so far
light lasers, meet
being the first up-
shared the bill
Solent’s very own DJ,
and-coming female
with the likes
Jenna Barker.
DJ to play at Matter
of Jeniferever,
By day she studies a
nightclub. Though her
Engineers,
Digital Music degree
most fun experience
Portugal.
and by night ‘Jennarate’
is when she played in
The Man and
can mix up some
Ibiza. “ Playing in the
Danananaykroyd,
cracking tunes and
sunshine with dolphins
playing at local venues
spice them up with the
swimming round the
the Joiners, Hamptons
use of accapellas and
boat was possibly one of
and Goblets.With some
spin-backs.
the best things I’ve ever
new material in 2011,
After 5 years of DJing
done.” Celebrate New
Waking Aida definitely
across UK clubs, she is
Year’s Eve with her at
have the chance to rule
steadily
London’s Renaissance
not only the South
climbing up the
Rooms and get involved
coast!
industry
in the biggest party
ranks.
of the year.
Cardinals
Waking Aida In 2008,
Post-medio-core’ (as
University friends Josh (bass) and Alex (drums) met their guitarist James Cleary via YouTube. At first, the instrumental post-rock act were happy being a three-piece but also realised that a second guitarist could help bolster their sound. The band eventually put an add for him and James Matthews joined. “So now there were four of us, but none of us could/wanted to sing” recalls bassist, Josh. Eventually, the band
Words by: Veronika Mihalkova Photo by: Jasper Tandy
decided to stick to
http://www.myspace.
being instrumental.
com/wakingaida
She has appeared alongside
Words by: Rob Ferguson
Energy and made a
Words by: Rachel Pottle
big names
http://soundcloud.
such as
com/jennarate
Audio Addict
17
live reviews
MARINA AND HER BRIGHTON DIAMONDS: THE LAST OF THE UK TOUR
Words by: Sian Robertson
in a personalised American jock jumpsuit, holding a foam burger in one hand and a take-away carton in the other. Following this, she thanks her fans and gushes, ‘I know it sounds corny but Marina and the Diamonds is all I care about... and as long as I have you listening to me then that’s all that matters’. Fans share in this cringe-worthy moment that almost feels like Diamonds are a girl’s best friend: Marina performs at her last UK tour date.
D
espite the ice-cold
I’m a feminist so I’m ok with
November air, the last
this’ she laughs. And indeed
handpicked stop for the ‘Burger
the sense of girl power that
Queen Tour’ draws in a huge
emanates from the songstress
crowd of teenage variations of
appears to be thrown right back
Marina, with their sparkly eye
at her, literally.
make-up and glittery hair- and that’s just the boys.
soulful rendition of ‘The Family
dress to a skin-tight black cat
Jewels’. A wall of sound- brought
suit with giant neon flashing
in by a playful, ‘Girls’ comes as
love-heart belt. Marina’s mish-
a shock to the system- not least
mash of style and unique
because this is a bubblegum pop
performance technique (a lot
act and her band of Diamonds-
of karate type hand waving) is
not a hardcore metal group. It
entertaining to say the least.
pays testament to the sound
V
the forgotten backing band, consisting of keyboardist, drummer, synthesist and pigeonbobbing-headed guitarist. A fan decides to lob a tampon on stage, which Marina promptly picks up. ‘It has Marina hearts Hollywood on it’ she tells the audience rather confused, ‘Well
18
as a pre-cursor to ‘I am not a Robot’. From a dark sultry velvet
well as the timing and skill of
confetti falls from the ceiling.
The first costume change comes
She begins the night with a
capabilities of the venue as
it might end in ‘happy’ tears, as
ocally her performance is faultless, despite this being
the last stop on her long 9-month tour. Songs, ‘Numb’ and ‘Obsessions’, are performed by Marina alone at her keyboardwith a backing band of the few hundred that watch her.
Marina is blown away by her wind machine.
Yes, it truly seemed that Marina’s found a new home- one where the girls adore her, the boys wear make-up in ode to her, and tampons are thrown lovingly at
The encore is rounds off with a
her.
lively rendition of her hit single
Photos by: Polly Hanrahan
‘Hollywood’, with Marina dressed
Audio Addict
Scruff's Orange Night Out Orange Rooms receives a visit from ‘turntablist’ extraordinaire Mr Scruff, as label Ninja Tune, celebrates their 20th year.
live reviews
Scruff’s set got off to a fairly
next record, keeping his head
inauspicious start, with some
about him as every five minutes
low-key tunes. But then suddenly
somebody leaned over his decks
the woofers kicked in with an
to shake his hand, and always
almightily thunderous rhythm
obliging.
and Scruff-style shaking speakers
A
to a swelling audience. The crowd flocked towards the sound in a manner that would have put the Pied Piper himself to shame.
Mr Scruff show is something a little out of the
ordinary. The man has an uncanny symbiosis with his merchandising. There is nobody
Careful, steady, and grooving,
else out there who draws such
suddenly dropped into the Keep
a fanatical following, largely
It Unreal crowd pleasers like
based on a bunch of podgy line
‘Spandex Man’ and ‘Get a Move
drawings.
On’, delving into the adrenaline soaked, stomping bass favourites as the night progressed. There was a nice mix of the Mr Scruff came to Orange Rooms slightly surreal tunes and bits of this week a little later than
old fashioned hip hop vocals
planned. We expected to see him
tempted in every now and again
here last month, but that was
over the usual dazzling array
cancelled and we all had to wait a of breaks, funk, soul, ska, jazz while, but fuck it, he’s here now,
and Latin records. Scruff deftly
so let the party commence!
blended the raucous horns into the chilled African Drums of the
Mr Scruff is about as down to earth as they come, completely infatuated with music; he lives to mix and is always one to promote the virtues of a good cup of tea. So all in all, this was another fantastic night and another ecstatic crowd with Mr Scruff showing how it should be done as per. Words by: Peter Smith
We Are Scientists:
Live at Portsmouth Pyramids Leisure Centre A sell out crowd at the Portsmouth Pyramids Leisure Centre, plays host to California’s own We Are Scientists. A community swimming pool in the quaint area of Southsea, seems like a very bizarre place to hold two of music’s biggest characters, but is it? The muggy atmosphere consumes as you walk through the doors into the
1400 capacity room. It may be
divided the crowd. Die-hard fans
a swimming pool by day, but
will have loved the inclusion
put your trunks away as We Are
of newer tracks like ‘Jack and
Scientists spill to the stage like a
Ginger’ and the epic ‘Pittsburgh’
shaken up can of lager.
whilst the bandwagon anxiously
A surprising mix of age groups
awaited the classics.
makes up the crowd
The hilarious banter between
demonstrating We Are Scientists’
songs and hyperactive stage
universal appeal. However, it’s
presence once again proved that
clear many younger members of
We Are Scientists are the most
the audience weren’t even aware
amusing live band around.
of a third album, so starting the
Words by: Dan Wallwork
set with ‘Nice Guys’ instantly
Audio Addict
19
live reviews
I
Live at Southampton University t’s not often Audio Addict’s
delicately in the palm
Elliot Muharrem ventures
of his hands.
into the deep dark depths of Southampton Uni’s Highfield campus for fear of alienation, but tonight they host Stornoway, so predispositions are let go. A pretty packed out crowd are here to see a band who have been dubbed as folk’s most forwardthinking band, or ‘nu-folkers’ if you prefer.
"A lone violinist strolls onto the stage to serenade an expectant crowd"
The first sing-along comes as we hear the heartfelt ‘Fuel Up’, a song chronicling a wistful journey through childhood with the literal and overlying lyric “drive on, drive on”. However, it’s a shame to hear the instruments bleed into each other as the song climaxes and the details that make the band so appealing have been
A lone violinist strolls onto the
lost in a wall of sound.
how well they’ve managed to
stage to serenade an expectant
M
command this silence. Even as
crowd, an introduction to the multitude of instruments about to greet us tonight. They play ‘The Coldharbour Road’, possibly one of their more unfamiliar tunes, but a great example of their ability to fuse a rustic sound seamlessly with a delightful melody.
uch foot stomping and dancing ensues as ‘We are
the Battery Human’ sends a wave of energy through the crowd, (even the city-slicker types near
revolution! To free the battery human” is resounding in heads,
certainly masters in the art of
pegged onto them.
of the amp stack. The backing members of the band float on and off the stage when needed, and I find myself playing (and losing) a tracking game as lead singer Brian Briggs holds me
whisper the chorus back to them.
"lead singer Brian Briggs holds me delicately in the palm of his hands"
“So join the new revolution,
folk’ tag Stornoway have had
set that adorns the stage on top
beautiful moment but instead
a good hoedown). The liberating
the most clear signal of the ‘nu-
1970’s black and white television
not the need to interrupt this
The band’s most popular single
Southampton, and they are
or the audience are glued to the
the chorus kicks in, people feel
me whom I imagine must crave
This is Stornoway’s first time in
holding an audience. Either that
20
Stornoway:
to date ‘Zorbing’, completes the
And then comes the most
two-song encore, following
glorious moment of the gig. The
a harmonica-assisted ‘Long
band asks for silence as they step
Distance Lullaby’. The crowd
away from their microphones
leaves fresh in the knowledge
to play ‘The End of a Movie’
that Stornoway, (and ‘nu-folk’
unamplified to a hushed crowd.
for that matter), have the ability
Only a couple of mumbles from
to command and empower one’s
a few people can be heard, as
spirit… and possibly even free it.
the majority are as amazed to
Photo: Courtesy of Robin Ball
Audio Addict
album reviews
Kanye West
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Roc A Fella/Def Jam) Words by: Richard Cook
"flows into a stadium synth set with a bongo beat background" monster on this track, firing out the rap of her life. ‘Dark Fantasy’ is an exceptionally emphatic opening track, formulating a sky rising, immense feeling, echoed through lyrics, “Can we get much higher?”.
E Yizzy returns with arguably the best album of the year…
W
hether he’s throwing juvenile tantrums at
music award ceremonies or provoking the highest authority
luminary pop figurehead Elton John, along with a host of other hip-hop and R ‘n’ B artists in between.
motive ballad ‘Runaway,’ features Pusha T, one half
of hip-hop duo Clipse. Kanye’s character’s inability to commit to the woman he loves provides a darker and sadder aspect to the record.
The album begins with a piano interlude performed by Elton John, it flows into a stadium synth set with a bongo beat
It’s hard to pick out any low points of the album, Kanye West has truly delivered this time. Composing an opulently dazzling
in the world to describe what
background. There is a celestial
LP, think what you want of
he saw as “the most disgusting
feel that portrays Kanye’s
Kanye West outside of the music,
point of his presidency”, Kanye
protagonist arriving home to find
once you have immersed yourself
West is without doubt one of the
his wife being unfaithful and
in the tantalising rhythms and
most controversial stars in music
then Kanye, undertaking the role
nigh on perfect vocals, there
today and he is often more well
of God, announces to “Let there
is no denying that Kanye has
known for his contentious antics
be light” in order to highlight
produced one of the greatest
then he is for his music… until
the act of betrayal.
albums of the year.
Other stand-out songs include
Released: 22nd November
The Chicago based rapper has
‘Monster’ the second single to be
Download: ‘All of the Lights’,
called upon a gargantuan
released from the album, in
‘Monster’, ‘Dark Fantasy’
assembly of stars to help create
which Jay Z and Bon Iver appear
Rating: 4/5
his best album to date. From
alongside Kanye. However, it
indie-folk star Bon Iver to
is Niki Minaj who is the true
now.
Audio Addict
21
album reviews
Good Charlotte
Cardiology (EMI/Capitol Records) 8 years to when we first heard
on love, music and the good
The Young and the Hopeless. Good
things in life, which is actually
Morning Revival was the only
quite refreshing to hear during
album not to reach gold status
these bad financial times.
in America back in 2007 so hopefully by going back to their Finally, the new Good Charlotte album is here and it’s a pleasure to say that this is some of their best material yet... Fans will be pleased to know that they sound like the ‘old’ Good Charlotte, with less synth and electronics and more drums and guitar. Cardiology’s nothing that we haven’t heard before; in fact it’s almost like stepping back
old sound they can achieve the success they deserve with this record.
The first albums have a very innocent sound to them and even though Good Charlotte have grown up and matured they have still managed to keep their
With unoriginal track names
style youthful and appealing for
such as ‘1979’ and ‘Last Night’
this album.
though, it might seem that Good Charlotte have run out of ideas, and with a total of 15 tracks on the album, it can be a little lengthy and repetitive. Yet the album is still energetic with
Released: 1st November Download: ‘Counting the days’, ‘Alive’ Rating: 3/5 Words by: Emily Sutherland
catchy pop punk lyrics focused
Botany
Feeling Today EP (Western Vinyl)
If ever an EP came out at the wrong time of year, it’s this.
Internet research suggests that
opening title track, a slice
Feeling Today is only a precursor
of dream pop that virtually
to Stephenson’s debut full
swells. Ashley Rathburn’s vocal
length, a consequence of years
emphasises the carefree nature
amassing music and cultivating
of the EP as a whole, urging the
(pun intended) the Botany
listener to “take your time, throw
sound. If the album continues
your troubles away”.
in the vein of EP closer ‘Agave’,
‘Benefactress’ provides a
the insistent hypnotism of its four-to-the-floor rhythms and
Spencer Stephenson’s debut is
reflective calm, complete with
brimming with beat-driven
bird sounds and meandering
compositions drenched in sun
drums, while ‘Minnow Theme’
and hazy, chill wave melodies.
is a pure and joyful charge,
Stephenson’s style slots nicely
wearing its Manitoba influence
in alongside those of Caribou
on its sleeve. ‘Waterparker’ is
and Four Tet, and references
similarly up-tempo and upbeat,
Released: 9th November 2010
to both can be heard through
as if someone had locked the
Download: ‘Agave’, ‘Waterparker’
his sampling of interesting
young Texan in his room with
Rating: 3.5/5
instrumentation and sounds.
a sampler and the Beach Boy’s
The shimmering tone of Feeling
22
Today is in evidence from its
back catalogue.
Audio Addict
competently building structure proving a highlight of an already fascinating set, the results could be exceptional. Quick as you can please sir.
Words by: Tom Quickfall
My Chemical Romance
album reviews
Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (Reprise) Words by: Veronika Mihalkova Despite a drastic image change, the Jersey rockers’ fourth studio album is typically MCR, just more mature and less theatrical.
O
here and there, something very uncharacteristic of MCR. In some, as in ‘Bulletproof Heart’, the slow parts beautifully
n each of their albums,
take turns with the faster
My Chemical Romance
ones, there’s no chance to get
have so far always seemed
bored.
to come up with new
E
identities and a new concept world, and this process has usually been accompanied
ven by looking at the song titles, it’s easy to
tell you are dealing with
by a whole new image.
a My Chemical Romance
Throughout the years, as
album. There is an obvious
ridiculous as it might appear,
playfulness in titles as
the most apparent and
‘S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W’ or the
memorable signifier of a new
first single ‘Na Na Na [Na
chapter in band’s life was when front man Gerard Way’s hair changed from long black goth style of their breakthrough Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge era to short platinum blonde with the release of the following concept album The Black Parade.
"based around a set of outlaws dressed as futuristic cowboys in 2019's California"
Now four years later, with a new
progresses, there is no story,
(so far) just touring drummer
Danger Days… is not a concept
Michael Pendicone (formerly
album.
of The Bled), MCR are back on track with Gerard’s hair shining bright red. Danger Days… was said to be rockier, full of hate and their defining work. As the title suggests, the album is based around the lives of ‘The Fabulous Killjoys’ - the bands’ alter egos, a set of outlaws dressed as futuristic cowboys in 2019’s California. In an interview with NME, Gerard said even though there is a character of a pirate radio DJ ‘Dr. Death’ who guides you as the album
In ‘Look Alive, Sunshine’, Dr. Death introduces himself and the intro proceeds straight into an energetic bomb ‘Na Na Na [Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na]’ that immediately grabs even the most
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na]’. Not as much as on previous albums, but there is also sense of theatrics in (not just the title of) ‘Save Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back’ which has been occurring in their work since the very first record I Brought You My Bullets You Brought Me Your Love and earned them the often misused emo tag. In a playful yet dynamic manner reminiscent of ‘I’m Not Okay (I Promise)’ and later‘Teenagers’, MCR managed to capture the feel of their live shows and prove musical maturity.
half-hearted listener and drags
Released: 22nd November
them into the world of Killjoys.
Download: ‘Na Na Na [Na Na Na
There is a great flow in all the
Na Na Na Na Na Na]’, ‘Save
songs and they greatly connect
Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back’,
to each other. Most of the songs
‘Destroya’
are fast-paced optimistic pop
Rating: 3/5
punk anthems full of energy, reminiscent of 80’s synths
Audio Addict
23
album reviews
Simian Mobile Disco Delicacies (Delicatessen)
If you were one of those left feeling largely disappointed with Simians last effort, Temporary Pleasures, then prepare to reestablish your relationship with the exceptional Londonbased duo.
‘Nerve Salad’ takes us on a
‘Hakari’ is the standout track of
menacingly dark and scabrous
the record, an offering of sci-fi
trip through an eerie and echoic
effects and dirty techno rhythms
ghost ride, which leaves the
that make you tingle all over
listener feeling uncomfortably
before dropping into the
anxious, but then techno was
filthiest, most rambunctious
never meant to put the mind at
muscular bass beat that would
ease. Heavy bass lines and big,
be far from out of place in
in your face melodies are the
the bottomless basements of
ground works to this album.
underground Berlin. Delicacies
‘Thousand Year Egg’ begins as
certainly lives up to its name,
an underwater adventure, huge
offering the listener a rare treat.
synth and deafening sirens, evokes a moment of panic amongst the constant trickling,
The album starts with a kind of
inducing signs of a drug fuelled
meaty jelly substance otherwise
bathtub experience.
Released: 29th November Download:‘Hakari’,‘Aspic’ ‘Nerve Salad’ Rating: 3.5/5 Words by: Richard Cook
known as ‘Aspic.’
Nicki Minaj
Pink Friday (Young Money Entertainment / Universal Motown) Fortunately, hip-hop plays a fair
are great pop songs with an
part here as well. In fiery
innovative twist.
‘Roman’s Revenge’, we get to explore a darker side to Nicki’s voice as her alter-ego Roman Zolanski meets Eminem’s Slim Shady, both feeling like a ‘dungeon dragon’. Apart from Seeing that Nicki Minaj has
Em, artists such as will.i.am,
recently been proclaimed as the
Drake, Kanye West, Rihanna
new queen of hip-hop, there is
and Natasha Bedingfield appear
perhaps too much of a pop side
alongside.
to her debut album. Raised in New York but of a Trinidadian descent, the 25 year old singersongwriter and rapper rose to stardom with a buzz single ‘Massive Attack’ released in April this year, followed by ‘Your Love’ in August.
24
Nevertheless, except for a few tracks most notably ‘Right Thru Me’ where the over-sweetened melody and auto-tuned voice are nothing but disturbing, the album shows a great crossover of hip-hop and pop. Both singles ‘Your Love’ and ‘Check It Out’ Audio Addict
Vocal versatility, ingenious lyrics and their shameless delivery is what makes Nicki stand-out whereas in her pop and R ’n’ B moments she sounds just like another average starlet. Let’s hope we hear more hip-hop from the new queen on the next album. Released: 19th November Download: ‘Roman’s Revenge’, ‘Your Love’ Rating: 4/5 Words by: Veronika Mihalkova
album reviews
Logistics
Space Jams (Hospital) and were sold separately. Then
Hospital front man, London
arrives Space Jams, Logistics new
Elektricity.
album is a back catalogue of his greatest tunes, some of which have never been released.
Matt Gresham aka Logistics has been a busy bee over the past 6 years. You only have to look up Logistics on Youtube to see the vast collection of tunes by the Hospital Records DJ. Since signing to the label in 2004 he has produced over 90 tunes. Many of these tracks were not featured on any of his LPs
It is hard to pinpoint a favourite on the Space jams LP as their are 21 absolute masterpieces on
Space james features the dance
the album. A personal highlight
floor hits ‘Together’ and ‘Inside My
has to be ‘Together’. Its just
Soul’ and also features
one those songs that sticks in
more recent singles such as
your mind with its chilled yet
‘Cosmonaut’. You only have to
energetic bass line.
listen to the first part of the album to appreciate how talented he is. All of his hard work has
This is a must have album for Logistics fans old and new.
definitely paid off. The album
Released: 15th November
doesn’t just feature Gresham
Download: ‘Togther’
on his own though, there are
Rating: 4/5
a handful of collaborations including Illskillz, Cyantifc and
Words by: Danielle Sanders
Raygun Youth: HOSPITALITY - MARCUS INTALEX - CYANTIFIC LOMAX @ Junk 5/11/10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8alkZk8pR0
Audio Addict
25
AUDIO ADDICT: We worked hard, tore our hair out and scrimped and saved, but we managed it. Audio Addict put on their first show on Wednesday 15th November at the Solent Student Union, and if you weren’t there, you definitely missed out. Words by: Tara Perera
Audio Addict writers on the launch night.
AS GODS
F
irst on were Bristol’s
songs off their upcoming album,
Members:
incredible metallers, As
The Journeyman, which is due to
Howard Ridgeon - Vocals
Gods. They brought a fusion of
come out early next year. They
Ell Ridgeon- drums
empowering and fantastic vocals
definitely got the crowd into
WJ Plumb- bass
from lead singer, Howie Ridgeon,
their groove, and introduced
Fred Spooner- guitar
and face melting shredding
themselves to a new onslaught of
Jonny Price- guitar
abilities. They played a variety of
listeners. Genre: Metal
FLOODS
Sounds like: Killswitch Engage/As I Lay Dying/All That Remains
Members: James Power – Vocals
Performance Rating: 4/5
Joe Page – Guitar
Find out more: www.myspace.
Joshua Dunne – Bass
com/asgods
Colin Cooper – Guitar George Dixon – Drums Genre: Post Hardcore Sounds like: Underoath/ Comeback Kid/mewithoutyou Performance Rating: 3/5 Find out more: myspace. com/ukfloods
26
Audio Addict
N
ext on were St. Albans’ bad boys Floods. Containing a
member of Watford’s None The Less, and Your Demise’s ex drummer, they bring a cross of post-hardcore frenzied angst, with wondrous vocal harmonies.
LAUNCH NIGHT Unfortunately, the band’s less
screamer, James Power, taking
inclined to scream vocalist has
the floor and marching around
departed, so they didn’t seem
like no one was watching.
exactly full. They still tore the venue up, although perhaps maybe scaring the crowd off with
BEVE AND THE BEATROOTS
B
Members:
Vocals
Beve (Steve) Finch - Vocals
Ed Seymour – Guitar
Charlie Holter - Guitar David Welch - Guitar
Genre: Covers
eve & The Beatroots aren’t
Chris (Squelch) Welch - Bass/
Sounds like: Well..covers.
really the type of band you
Vocals
Performance Rating: 4/5
would expect to see on a bill like
Olie Marchant - Drums/
this, but regardless, we put them on anyways. They’re a fantastic
and really bring the party. The
and danced and sang along for
covers band from Eastbourne,
crowd absolutely loved them,
their entire set.
BURN THE FLEET
L
astly, the mighty
come from this city that are
Members:
Southampton hero’s, Burn
better to see live, rather than
Andrew Convey - Vocals
The Fleet took the stage, and
listen to on CD. They played
James Swabey – Bass
impressed the SU’s occupants
a variety of material, some of
Jack Spurway - Guitar
to a great degree. The band are
which many of their followers
Dan Northover – Drums
extremely tight when they play,
knew all the words too. They
and one of the only few that
came, they saw, they conquered.
Genre: Alternative/Rock Sounds like: Tiger Please/ Drawings/Wolf Am I Performance Rating: 5/5 Find out more: www. myspace.com/ burnthefleetband Floods photos: Courtesy of George Dixon Burn the Fleet photos: Courtesy of David Rowett
Audio Addict
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