Day 0994 - D

White Denim "D" (2011)

Originally a 4-piece group called Parque Touch.  Once one of their members left, the group solidified into a trio for a couple of lo-fi psychedelic rock albums.   They then recruited a new fourth member before moving into a professional studio to record "D".

The mix of psychedelia, melody and decent recording techniques is delightful.   "Burnished" with its distorted, fiddly playing around with time signatures reminds me favourably of Soundgarden.  It then segues seamlessly into the fusiony fretboard pyrotechnics of "Back on the Farm".

The pace is pulled back then for "Street Joy" which is spacey and melodic.  Elsewhere "River to Consider" has a busy 'world music' percussion and jazz flute.   It's not all trippy melodic and psychedelic rock though.   "Is and Is and Is" er... is a solid rock track with Ian Curtis-esque vocals.   The album closes on a relaxed note with "Keys" which has kind of a laid-back Lou Reed "Transformer" vibe to it.

I don't quite rate this as an "I must rush out and buy this one" album, but definitely above average and I enjoyed it well enough.

Day 0841 - Dig Your Own Hole

Chemical Brothers "Dig Your Own Hole" (1997)

The Brothers Chemical (not their real names, I checked) moved quickly to follow up the success of their debut “Exit Planet Dust”.   They released the EP “Loops of Fury” in 1996 and plunged on with work for their second LP.

Electronic music is not my first love, but even I find this to be an exciting collection of tracks.   From the staccato opening bassline and punchy, ever-changing beats of opener “Block Rockin’ Beats” the album takes you on a journey of big funky bass (“Get up on it Like This” and “Lost in the K-Hole”), quirky 'found sound' laden dance tracks "Piku", to psychedelic looped soundscapes (“Setting Sun” “Where Do I Begin”).  

 The album features guest vocals from Beth Orton and Oasis’ Noel Gallagher.  The latter had met the Brothers (y’know what, they have different names… I’m not even sure they are legitimately related) and complimented them on “Exit Planet Dust”.   They contacted him about singing on the track “Setting Sun” and the result was reminiscent enough of the Beatles' groundbreaking track "Tomorrow Never Knows" that that band's lawyer attempted to sue the Brothers (you know what, they don't even look alike... really don't think they're related) for sampling it... they hadn't.

The album was another success and the brothers (y'know what, maybe it's not strictly familial, more of a term of endearment) were soon in hot demand as remixers, as well as continuing to make great music of their own.

Day 0605 - Sister

Sonic Youth "Sister" (1987)

The more I listen to Sonic Youth, the more I start to like them.  I always had the idea that they were nothing but noise-makers with not a lot of musical substance, but they actually have some pretty solid pop songs and punk songs that they dress in a coat of feedback and squealing squalls of guitar.

From what I read, their first one or two albums might have been a bit more confrontational with their sound mellowing as they developed.  Certainly "Sister" and "Evol" are perfectly accessible for the average rock person.