Voodoo Johnson - Into The Red

There’s no doubt that a lot of great music owes something to the rock ‘n roll era. But like that pointless crush that you obsessed over for far too long before realising they weren’t all that, some haven’t yet brushed themselves off musically speaking, and started to live in the moment again.

In a world where Ipods might contain everything from electronic jazz to afro-beat influenced indie, together with a bit of post-rock or shoegaze, and yes some classic rock too, you might imagine that musicians would have opened their eyes to more diverse influences. Not Birmingham’s Voodoo Johnson I’m afraid, but why can’t they realised that nobody CARES anymore?!

“VJ” as they call themselves, say their songs “explore themes such as loss, regret and revenge.” Totally sounds like, awesome right? They also say they are championing rock in an era of people who prefer gimmicks than good music, but then proudly cite such influences as AC/DC, My Chemical Romance, Velvet Revolver, Foo Fighters and Led Zeppelin. Talking of manufactured gimmicks then − ahem ‘scuse me but My Chemical Romance?! And nothing wrong with a bit of Zeppelin of course, but being influenced by them? C’mon lads it’s hardly original.

These clever cock−rockers sound exactly like Guns ‘n Roses, which most sane people probably think are shite. There’s something ridiculous about the indulgent solos, growly rock vocals and clichéd metal riffs, it’s a parody of rock and has its place only as the soundtrack to This is Spinal Tap.

Fridge - The Sun (My favourite Independant Album of the Year)

I would like to put a word in for Editors' “An End Has A Start”. It’s probably more consistent than 2006’s “The Backroom”, but the press coverage lets face it, has been more than ample. “The Sun” then is the first Fridge album since 2001’s touching and sublime “Happiness”. In the meantime though, Kieran Hebden, Ademn Ilhan and Sam Jeffers have been very busy indeed.

If you know and love Four Tet then you’ll be aware that Kieran is the man behind all that abstract so called “folktronica”, percussion and lovely chiming melodies. He also worked with veteran Jazz drummer Steve Reid this year, creating the jazz synth inspired “Tongues”. Ademn Alhan has released two solo albums with Domino Records and Sam Jeffers, perhaps most impressively, has managed to keep going a successful web design company and study at LSE and Harvard.

Classing themselves as “rock” on their myspace is surely simply a formality. Though a three piece band, the traditional idea of playing bass, guitar and drums as tight unit has long since been discarded by these guys. And the results are rich, interwoven but minimalist soundscapes that are deep and emotive. They can sound like anything from the arty math rock of Battles (listen to “Eyelids”), to the sound of abstract folktronica.

A fan of Four Tet, "Rounds" in particular, might have to be a teeny bit more patient with this band, but the results are worth it. As with Four Tet and earlier Fridge, the off beat percussion and xylophone are intact. There is a more instrumental feel to Fridge’s later stuff (they were formerly more electronic), and if the last album was about creating a stripped down and intimate, heartwarming sound, then this follows in the same vein - with more than a few deviations. Tracks like “Oram” are instant Folktronica wonders, but it takes a couple of spins before you start to appreciate the beauty of “Clocks” and “Insects”. “Lost Time” is an anomaly of sorts − a haunting art rock inspired gem near the end of the album. Meandering, instrumental and beautiful… and better than Battles. You should get into this band.

Wire Daises - Wire Daisies (Album Review)

After the relative success of 2004’s “Just Another Day”, Wire Daisies have produced a new offering, this time a self titled effort. In 2003 they were hailed by Music Week as one of the 'unsigned discoveries of 2003' and their album, subsequently released in 2004 was praised for its consistent compilation of melodic and catchy songs, prettily articulated by the voice of singer, Treana Morris. The folky rock-pop style has been compared to the Cranberries and The Corr’s, there is certainly a melancholic feel which hints of that famously haunting number “Zombie”. But Wire Daisies have yet to achieve the success that they were predicted, catchiness alone it seems, is no longer a fast track to selling records. Though originating from Cornwall is good start, they simply lack the cool factor of Canadian contemporaries Metric, who also boast a female singer. And it’s a sense of the contemporary that this music lacks, Morris and friends seem to be continually trapped in the bedroom of late a nineties “chick rocker”, for whom this cd would probably become a blissful addition to the collection. The new album then, is simply a less consistent continuation of the 2004 debut, and without changing their sound they have churned out 12 similar sounding tracks.
“Rocket Girl” is an admittedly excellent single − “there is something about ya” Morris insists and nice bass playing too. But Wire Daisies seem to lack any ambition to be more than simply a catchy sounding band, and to many other songs are lacklustre. “Lost my way” is sultry but just lacks the style and geniune emotion of the brilliant PJ Harvey to compare one. For Chick Rockers, male and female only I'm afraid!

www.myspace.com/wiredaisies