Review: Nicki Jane – Of Pigeons and Other Curiosities

Review: Nicki Jane – Of Pigeons and Other Curiosities
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NICKI JANE OF PIGEONS AND OTHER CURIOSITIES Shaman Yes, it is comforting to know that there is still enough space in the world for a little dark cabaret. On Of Pigeons and Other Curiosities, Nicki Jane swings around her guitar or piano with a bitter assurance reminiscent of Nick Cave. Through restraint, she’s more subtle

Review: Rachel Goswell – Waves are Universal

Review: Rachel Goswell – Waves are Universal
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RACHEL GOSWELL WAVES ARE UNIVERSAL 4AD Rachel Goswell: You might not recognize the name, but I’d have a hard time believing that someone who has any interest in my column wouldn’t have heard her voice in either Slowdive or Mojave 3. Her solo debut is as stunning as Neil Halstead’s (also in both previously mentioned

Review: Le Concorde – EP

Review: Le Concorde – EP
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LE CONCORDE EP Space Kitty It is always a pleasant surprise when a CD bears a sticker telling of guest artists featured within and you ultimately realize the band sticker is underselling the talent and potential of the band. Sure, the appearance of the Psychedelic Fur’s guitarist, John Ashton, and their saxophone player, Mars Williams,

Review: Bella Morte – As The Reasons Die

Review: Bella Morte – As The Reasons Die
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BELLA MORTE AS THE REASONS DIE Metropolis If you’re intent on categorizing bands into genres, you might want to ignore Bella Morte’s existence. Caught somewhere between industrial and synthpop with a touch of something gothic, Bella Morte again prove that creativity is a whole lot more interesting than the paint-by-numbers approach by flowing seamlessly between

Review: Midlake – Bamnan and Slivercork

Review: Midlake – Bamnan and Slivercork
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MIDLAKE BAMNAN AND SLIVERCORK Bella Union Typically, Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins) and his lovely Bella Union record label release quality albums. Bamnan and Slivercork from Midlake is quite easily the worst lazy clone of a Flaming Lips release that you could ever imagine. It’s detached without any sense of purpose other than to remind me that

Review: Strange Boutique – The Collection 1988-1994

Review: Strange Boutique – The Collection 1988-1994
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STRANGE BOUTIQUE THE COLLECTION 1988-1994 Metropolis Faith and the Muse is certainly a fine band with their ethereal rock and theatricality, but I’ve always felt that Monica Richards’ best work was locked in a secret capsule called Strange Boutique. The sound isn’t all that far removed from Faith and the Muse; I always felt like

Review: Delays – Faded Seaside Glamour

Review: Delays – Faded Seaside Glamour
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DELAYS FADED SEASIDE GLAMOUR Rough Trade Undoubtedly the Delays will draw comparisons to The Byrds, love children and braided hair adorned with flowers in the pre-Altamont 60s due to the cascading of songs like “Nearer than Heaven.” Which I suppose is fine as long as you’re not intending it as an insult. Personally, I hear

Review: Davantage – Unholy

Review: Davantage – Unholy
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DAVANTAGE UNHOLY Black Rain 5/5 Davantage failed to impress me the first time with their debut album, Broken Influences. Unholy generously offers 13 tracks of some of the best dark electro I have heard in a while. Title track, “Unholy,” sold me instantly with stunning dance-floor beats and anthem electro. “T.C.A.” and “Davantage 03″ bring

Review: The Retrosic – God Of Hell

Review: The Retrosic – God Of Hell
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THE RETROSIC GOD OF HELL Metropolis 4.5/5 Prepare yourself for another new act storming into the U.S. industrial scene. The Retrosic has already been named #1 in the German Alternative Charts, “Album of the Month” in several music magazines and the winner of several “soundchecks.” The comparisons are obviously going to be of Wumpscut (even

Review: Apoptygma Berzerk – The Harmonizer DVD

Review: Apoptygma Berzerk – The Harmonizer DVD
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APOPTYGMA BERZERK THE HARMONIZER DVD Metropolis 5/5 With the influx of mediocre music DVDs lately, my expectations were pretty low for Apoptygma Berzerk’s latest, The Harmonizer DVD. I was absolutely blown away with the quality and content of this package that APB has unleashed. Over 90 minutes includes a legitimate live performance (mouths and words