DHS-LP 03 (H)

Well, lots of time has passed and sadly I failed to add an album in the last round so I will tackle everything in chronological order:-

S - Interpolantics
I have given this several full listens now (and some half listens when it came out, most notably on a journey up the motorway in a mates car).  Anyway, the last time I played it was the end of last year and sadly it's not one I think I will revisit in full.  Something about the lead singers voice grates on me - there were plenty similar at the time (I'm mainly thinking the Bravery here, again good in small doses); I get through the first half of the LP quite easily (NARC, Take you on a cruise and Slow Hands is a solid little back-to-back trio) but after Public Pervert I find myself starting to want other noises to listen to, which is a great shame because I very much like the final tune (you need to be in the right frame of mind for it I think) and it is one I am happy to go and listen to as a standalone track.  Can't remember if we're rating these - seem to remember some scores on ten first time round; so - 6/10.

D - Exit Planet Dust
I don't really need to say a great deal here because I'm openly a big fan of this record and have added one of my all time faves of theirs in our main lists (One too many mornings.... one of the lushest electronica records I'd ever heard when it came out and it still has huge appeal now..... Chico's Groove is also very lovely in the same vein).  I think it is far easier for me to state the disappointment in the penultimate two tunes... Life is Sweet is not great for my money and Playground For a Wedgeless Firm is simply poo, can't dig it at all.  Fortunately they finish on Alive Alone which is a droning warm acidy trip which has some really lovely production considering the era.  8/10.

S - Setting Sons
To be truthful I didn't properly get into the Jam until I went to uni and a flatmate just hit me up consistently almost everyday with The Smiths and The Jam.  I had of course heard and loved the BIG singles, In The City; Down In The Tube Station At Midnight; Eton Rifles, That's Entertainment which I still think are some of the most important and influential social comment pop records that have been released in the UK (in the late 90's and throughout the 00's we had so many virtual copycat bands (in terms of format, comment and content) so numerous that I cannot even begin to list them - it almost became depressing - not one of them came within a country mile of what Weller managed).  Anyway - this is another of those LP's that I know but haven't ever really listened to all the way through unless by accident at uni as it's nice to revisit it fully from top to bottom.  This, I think is the most solid LP we've had on thus far.... there is only one minor, and I do emphasise minor, dip; Wasteland - and it's almost ludicrous mentioning it because musically it is superb it's just that everything else outstrips it lyrically in my opinion.  I am not a fan of the Heatwave cover because I think of the original as really quite sacred, that said I do understand why Weller did it and his move into blues-ier territory was a bold step when he made it.  Slight hijack:-  I have to say here, in case we never get another stab at The Jam on the LP front (which we may not if we're trying to vary it up a bit) that one of my favourite tunes they ever released was English Rose.... very much off-kilter compared to their more well known jumpier, punk-infused efforts but it's just a beautiful love song - I'm not big into schmaltzy when it comes to songs but this is pristinely crafted and beyond reproach in its delivery.  8.5/10

I will save my comments for Dubno.... at the next interval which is July if memory serves.

VIVALDI - THE FOUR SEASONS - RECOMPOSED BY MAX RICHTER
I do not wish to bang on too much about this album because it might seem too self-indulged. I found it purely by accident and it is one of my most treasured finds of the last decade I would say.  I am a HUGE fan of Vivaldi's original (safe to say I was essentially raised on Vivaldi's Four-Seasons, Mozart and Beethoven) but this epic re-envisioned, modern take has totally blown me away with its scope (even in spite of its lack of distance in terms of running time!).  You will, if you know the work, recognise much of the melodic phrasing - however there are some totally new sounding interpretations and some which really throw you off-track whilst still pulling you in with their familiarity.  The main pull for me on this LP is the modern composers touch with long drawn-out, driving melodies underneath the main phrases... it is for want of a better analogy Vivaldi for the electronic generation.  Some of my reactions (hairs on end - prickly neck syndrome) to certain pieces have been akin to that of hearing an absolute belter of a deep melodic house track.  I may be alone with that reaction but I had to share this one on here...it's already very important to me and I'm shocked at how much so seeing as if someone had said to me "Ok, we're gonna take Vivaldi's Four Seasons and re-imagine it with a modern touch...." I would have categorically told them, in two words, where to go.  My only criticism of this record is that it is just so phenomenally short at 45 mins but it is so perfectly and considerately put together that I can just about forgive it this shortcoming... sometimes I just want tracks to be twice the length but all I end up doing is playing the whole LP back to back to quench my thirst.  I hope you enjoy one or two even if you don't know the original or like classical music.

H