New Mat Hop
Through the doorslot today then were a couple of reconditioned CDs - our first forray into New & Used at Amazon, though I'm not sure why. Amusement Parks On Fire's Blackout EP and Magnétophone's The Man Who Ate The Man. They both came the day after I ordered them. While, in the meantime, I sit here still waiting on the Rough Trade order I put in at the beginning of the month as well as the UK Record Shop order I had confirmation of dispatch for on the second of the month. Way to go guys.
Amusement Parks On Fire are one of those British bands doing something that not many British bands seem to do any more and doing it pretty darn well. That is to say, really big, mini-epic tunes with vocals. Like what Hope Of The States tried to do but only really got right with The Red The Black The White The Blue The Green (or, y'know, whev). I saw Amusement Parks On Fire in Drowned In Sound and on MTV2 an absolute age ago but have somewhat avoided records by them until now and even now have only dipped my toes in the EP bucket. Still, if the EP is anything to go by they're a hot prospect (howevermany years late I am to fully recognise it).
Magnétophone are, as I think I've mentioned before, a Birmingham based band who namecheck Broadcast in their thank yous. Much in the vain of Broadcast they're something of an ideas pop band, happy to wander away from the pop fold, despite making, essentially, songs with lyrics and choruses and hooks and beats, if something shiny catches their eye. Assisted on a number of occasions by King Creosote, their music is all backwards and warped, written with fictional instruments and on a different wavelength to most. Yet, and like all avant pop, when they do decide to chuck in a vocal you might find yourself humming it for the rest of the day, so don't think it inaccessible. We're on track six, just under half way through the album, and so far we're very pleased.
Amusement Parks On Fire are one of those British bands doing something that not many British bands seem to do any more and doing it pretty darn well. That is to say, really big, mini-epic tunes with vocals. Like what Hope Of The States tried to do but only really got right with The Red The Black The White The Blue The Green (or, y'know, whev). I saw Amusement Parks On Fire in Drowned In Sound and on MTV2 an absolute age ago but have somewhat avoided records by them until now and even now have only dipped my toes in the EP bucket. Still, if the EP is anything to go by they're a hot prospect (howevermany years late I am to fully recognise it).
Magnétophone are, as I think I've mentioned before, a Birmingham based band who namecheck Broadcast in their thank yous. Much in the vain of Broadcast they're something of an ideas pop band, happy to wander away from the pop fold, despite making, essentially, songs with lyrics and choruses and hooks and beats, if something shiny catches their eye. Assisted on a number of occasions by King Creosote, their music is all backwards and warped, written with fictional instruments and on a different wavelength to most. Yet, and like all avant pop, when they do decide to chuck in a vocal you might find yourself humming it for the rest of the day, so don't think it inaccessible. We're on track six, just under half way through the album, and so far we're very pleased.