7. Ghostpoet – Meltdown

I’ve liked Ghostpoet for a little while now, so was glad this track was as good as the previous. The drum track is tight, and the piano sounds like it’s been reversed – which is nice. The female vocals (around 1.30 in) sound great too. The strings around 4.30 in build beautifully, and offer a smart segue into the next track (of which I’ll definitely be checking out!) Really like this.

8. JAWS – Surround You

Effected keyboard kicks this track off and it’s only around 20 seconds in we hear the band in its full force. A guitar track mirrors the vocal line during the verse and it sits quiet – before everything kicks in again for the chorus. There’s quite a brit-pop feel to the reverb on the vocals, but the track is way past that. It’s great – kind of ‘Empire of the Sun’ with a brutal hangover that’s preventing them from being so damn upbeat.

9. William Basinski – Nocturnes (excerpt)

The first thing you notice is its run time – 11 mins 23 second. Uh oh.
It sounds a little like a recording of some kids hammering away at a piano. Except the recording is being played back at 700 x slower than it was recorded. Or perhaps it’s a little bit like a computer’s first attempt at writing incidental music. Either way, I have to say it’s actually kind of nice. Despite the dissonance, it’s fairly relaxing.

10. Dutch Uncles – Flexxin (Eve session)

If I’m honest, the vocal line grates a little on this one. But the overall mix is nice, and there’s some nice cello and xylophone lines in the background. I’d like to listen to a couple of other tracks to give them a fairer review – but this one didn’t do it for me.

11. Amateur Best with Chilly Gonzales – Ready for The Good Life

The track starts with some beautiful piano riffs, building quickly to the lead vocals. Gospel style choir quickly joins the number – which sounds great. In many ways, I wish a full band had kicked in to support the piano – but I’m sure that’s my over-produced mind playing tricks. The piano plays us out in a Steve Reich repetitive arpeggio. Very nice track.

12. Bibio – A tout a l’heure

The last Bibio track I heard, I loved, so I had high hopes for this one. And it delivered.
The track is perfect montage music I think. A tight rhythm section provides solid footing for the squeal of a synth and the twang of a 12 string guitar, with the vocals kicking in around 45 seconds in. The vocals are drenched in echo and chorus – but in an analogue sort of way. In fact, the whole track sounds like its been put through a sort of ‘last summer’ graphic equaliser – I really like it.