WHITE LIES BOUND TO GAIN A LIFE

Seen: White Lies, 20 January 2009 @ HMV Oxford Street

Last year we mentioned that White Lies had a sparkling bright future ahead of them. After playing various festivals around the world it was just a matter of time before the album To Lose My Life. Unlike their bright future the album is filled with dark songs mainly inspired by death. The demo’s of the three main songs we discussed last year Death, From the Stars and Unfinished Business are still excellent and haven’t left their soul at the studio’s editing board. New single To Lose My Life is bound to sing around in your head forever, as the chorus “Let’s grow old together and die at the same time” is ultimately catchy. Harry McVeigh’s voice is distinctive but above all breathtaking. The songs on to Lose My Life are characterised by slick keyboards and synths as well as edgy guitar and bass lines flowing into a sublime album.

The release of To Lose My Life was celebrated with an instore at Oxford Street’s HMV. At the outset the plastic scenery was never going to do justice to the intimate feel of the music. Nonetheless White Lies managed to create a personal atmosphere and clearly enjoyed every second of the long anticipated release. The set kicked off with Unfinished Business, which was followed by To Lose My Life, EST, A Place To Hide, The Price of Love and finished with arguably their best song to date Death.

WHITE LIES: listen


Read more

TONIGHT: FRANZ FERDINAND AT ROUGH TRADE

Seen: Franz Ferdinand, 19 January 2009 @ Rough Trade

It has been a good three years since the release of Franz Ferdinand’s second album You could have it so much better with Franz Ferdinand (2005). Nevertheless their worldwide fame has been merely increasing over the years. Arguably obtaining the status of one the biggest bands the 21st century has produced to this day. As part of the promotion for their long awaited third album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand they are playing a series of intimate secret gigs across London town this week. Kicking off at a secret wristband only instore at Rough Trade last night.

The 250 lucky lucky fans were treated to an exclusive preview of the bands new album. Unlike the previous albums Tonight is a concept album, which refers to The Odyssey and James Joyce’s Ulysses as is most striking in Franz’s new single Ulysses. Besides the theme the most obvious element in which Tonight, to a certain extent, differs from previous work is the overall sound. In essence the album is filled with pop songs but these songs have got a more experimental twist to them as was ever so clear during their performance.

Tonight’s set commences with two classic Franz Ferdinandesque tracks both Send Him Away and No You Girls are straight on pop tunes with a rather catchy chorus combined with highly danceable rhythm sections. Live Alone is filled with bleep synths but as the song progresses they’re pushed to the background by a über catchy chorus “ “wherever you are, whoever is there, you know I’ll be here, whishing I could be there”.

Halfway during the set Bite Hard starts slow but soon goes into another up-tempo synth filled tune “we ride together, we die together”, with the scorching guitar solo at the 2:22 minute mark, turn it into another great tune. Single Ulysses gets the crowd chanting, the already instant hit, chorus “laa-lalalalaaa, Uylesses, I’ve found a new way”. Turn It On rolls into a lovely drum beat and razor guitar riff, turning it into another flat out wonderful song.

The set concludes with What She Came For, which starts of with a very classic Franz feel “I’ve got a question for you… Where do you see yourself in five minutes time?” As the song strides along the inevitable explosion comes at the end of the song when it turns into a full on punk tune, with explosive drums and squeaking guitars.

No, this is not the Franz we knew 3 years ago, this is better. They’ve found a healthy balance between their pop feel and their drive for more experimental songs. At moments when you feel the songs are turning into slightly cheesy pop songs the bands surprises and steps in at the right moment to turn songs around into proper tunes. Where other big bands such as Coldplay and Kaiser Chiefs have failed to achieve the standard of their debut album, Franz Ferdinand has come back with a more than decent third album which will most surely please first minute, last minute as well as new (cavemen?) fans.
Read more

HISTORIA

Seen: Cajun Dance Party, Good Shoes, Loverman, 15 January 2009 @ Astoria 2

In its thirty year history Astoria has become one of London’s most prominent venues. Hosting the worlds biggest bands from U2 and Nirvana to upcoming bands in its smaller sister venue Astoria 2. However over the last couple of years plans to construct a railway station, which connects the centre of London to the east and west, have put Astoria’s future in uncertain hands. Sadly the ultimate decision to tear down Astoria has since been made.

To celebrate the last night at Astoria a final gig was organised on 15 January. Besides various DJ sets from the likes of Lightspeed Champion, Mystery Jets, Frederick Blood Royale and many others Loverman had the honour to kick off what would be one of the last gigs at Astoria ever. Their dark hardcore punk music sounds promising to say the least. Whilst the drums fracture your skull, the emphatic screams fix to your throat like pieces of broken glass. The vigorous ergo energetic performance by the front man got a fair share of the crowd going berserk, all the signs of an amazing night, that had yet to be fully unrolled.

The hype machine that is Cajun Dance Party released their first full-length release “The Colourful Life” on major label XL Recordings. With another release planned for 2009 everything seems to go well for these teenagers. However, their live performances, although well prepared, lack the natural energy and enthusiasm you would expect from such a promising band. The unnecessary dramatic and pitiful approach by front man Daniel Blumberg plainly doesn’t work. Neither does the total lack of unity within the band’s style (jumpers, leather jackets, dresses, make up, boots, sneakers, beards etc.) add to their arsenal of wise before their years pop songs. To some these factors might come across as utterly irrelevant, however, these are the predominant factors that distinguish the average drama high school performance from a proper gig.

London’s Good Shoes had the privilege to play the last gig in Astoria’s bright history. Unlike the middle of the road performance by Cajun Dance Party Good Shoes were bound to end the night with a cracker from the advent of their set in the tiny bar overlooking the main stage. Front man Rhys words “If you vandalise it, it isn't going to matter because it is going to be fucking knocked down anyway.” were wisely followed by the crowd as Good Shoes kicked off with old favourite Photos. The eloquent mixture of old and new songs made me eager for the much-anticipated follow up to debut album Think Before You Speak. By ending the set with crowd favourite Morden resulting in a total mayhem of limbs, guitars, glasses and sweat Astoria was given its the last worthy push.

CAJUN DANCE PARTY: listen
GOOD SHOES: listen
LOVERMAN: listen

Read more