OLDSKOOL TRACK OF THE DAY: The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary 1985

STREAM / DL: Greg Wilson @ Track artwork MELTING POT GLASGOW 03.11.12 (live mix)

A 3 hour live mix from GW is always a pleasure, get it while it's hot. #ProlificDJ.

STREAM: Four Tet Worldwide Mix // Jan 1999

Four-Tet posted this on his FB page today. Apparently Gilles Peterson just found this mix he did way back in 1999. Needless to say it's off the meter.

STREAM: Maximo Park New Single 'Hips & Lips'

My favourite non-footballing Geordies Maximo Park release the first single “Hips and Lips” on June 11th on V2 from their much anticipated new album,”The National Health”.

“Hips and Lips” relates a complicated tale of a relationship gone sour, guitars ring and drums build as lead singer Paul Smith intones, “You’re a puzzle to me, and you always will be” through the pounding wall of sound. It is a dramatic, thrill packed 3 minutes, and it ensures that “Hips and Lips” will be lodged firmly in your head from the get go.

ALBUM REVIEW: Scumbag Philosopher 'It Means Nothing So It Means Nothing' out now on Words On Music

I'm not sure if it's the way it's been mixed with the levels of the vocal being too loud or if it's just that I'm not too enamoured with the lead singers vocal abilities or lack thereof but something was really grating with me. It wasn't sitting right after the first two songs 'Tickbox Excercise' and 'I Like Sums' because SP's musical sound is actually tres chic.
I think vocalist Grant Madden was going for something along the lines of the kind of stuff Blaine L. Reininger from Tuxedomoon used to belt out like the legendary 'Desire'. I hope that was not what he was going for because it was a miserable attempt if it was. Whatever he is trying to achieve vocally misses the mark and just sounds flat and dare I say rather pretentious. The songs didn't get any better with 'Your Heroes At Home.'

It's a shame because the music is really good. Bassist Adam Green clearly had bucket-loads of talent and the backing vocals of Anne Reekie were tight too. I'd actually like to hear the band give her a shot at lead vocals. That and some tighter lyrics and SP have got a bright future ahead of them, they just need to sort out those lead vocals.

3/5

Gines De Passamonte

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