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Electrelane rock the world

 
 
Totem Polish
15:31 / 09.05.05
Hi, I'm Totem Polish and this is my first post, so bear with me.(Adopts fanboy tone) I don't know if anyone's heard this yet cos it only came out today but I am nothing if not in love with the new Electrelane cd 'Axes'. Its a seriously melodic krautrock album that in its later stages goes completely out there with Silver mt. Zion type choral stuff and there's a realy cool Leonard Cohen cover on it too.
 
 
GogMickGog
17:35 / 09.05.05
Yes yes yes!

Love this record to pieces.
It's one of those things I put on while doing something else. It was only when I PAID ATTENTION, that I realised quite the extent of the strange noises coming from my stereo. It feels really tight, despite all being recorded live.
GREAT stuff!
 
 
Mike Modular
22:24 / 09.05.05
Why shouldn't it be tight? They're a tight live band...

I'm really, really looking forward to hearing this. Forgot it was out today, shall make time tomorrow to get it, because Electrelane are, well, excellent.
 
 
rizla mission
08:34 / 10.05.05
ditto.

Was initially pretty underwehlmed by the vocal-led / indie pop song approach they took on 'The Power-out', but grew to love it after a few listens.

This new one reportedly combines aspects of that with loads of their more rocking / far out stuff, and furthermore was recorded live in studio by Steve Albini and is named after a heavy cutting implement favoured by vikings! What could possibly go wrong??

Despite a lack of record buying money, I'm severely tempted to pop down the shops and get this at lunchtime.
 
 
GogMickGog
15:40 / 10.05.05
Nmm yeah, but some live records (I'm thinking "Kick out the Jams", and "Metallic K.O.") can sound real sloppy. I realise that these are concert recordings etc, but the point still stands. Albini deserves respect for getting such a fine performance from this unit.
 
 
Totem Polish
21:49 / 10.05.05
Not heard 'The Power Out' yet. This one makes great use of what's almost avant-boogie woogie piano. Like Keith Jarrett playing Bo Diddley or something which almost made me wet myself when I listened to it on headphones. Kind of like that last Boredoms album, except not as showy. Guess the krautrock wierdbilly crown has a bunch of new pretenders.
 
 
Mike Modular
01:10 / 12.05.05
Totem, there's more of that piano action you dig on The Power Out, too. Rock It To The Moon mostly lets loose with a farfisa, however.

Finally got Axes now. It's hard to judge it properly when played at a low, late-night level, but I'm guessing that it'll be rocking me quite pleasingly in the morning. The train sounds on 'Gone Darker' are genius, though. Wish I could have seen them play the other night. Stupid work...

As for the live aspect: I suppose it's maybe become less common for albums to be recorded that way since the advent of multitracking (ooh, some 40 or so years ago...) but it's hardly a rare thing. Doesn't Albini insist on it, anyway? Even with electronic bands, like Labradford...?
 
 
Regrettable Juvenilia
09:15 / 12.05.05
I've been a big fan of Electrelane for a while now, although they keep making non-musical aesthetic decisions that worry me - increasingly poor album art, unsmiling Wire covers - however I'll be sure to check Axes out as on balance everything they've done to date is worth buying.

If there's anything on the new album that's at all like 'I Want To Be The President', I'll be a very happy bunny indeed. That's the style I want to see them explore further.
 
 
Regrettable Juvenilia
09:24 / 12.05.05
Essential Electrelane:

- pretty much all of Rock It To The Moon especially 'The Invisible Dog', 'Film Music', 'Blue Straggler' and 'Spartakiade';

- 'I Want To Be The President' and 'I've Been Your Fan Since Yesterday' from the EP named after the former song;

- their cover of Bruce Springsteen's 'I'm On Fire' (b-side to the single 'On Parade', which come to think of it is also ace);

- 'Gone Under Sea', 'Oh Sombra!', 'This Deed', 'Love Builds Up' and especially 'Only One Thing Is Needed' from the album The Power Out.
 
  
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