Feliz Año Nuevo con Bongito!

There we were, finally. Jamie's wet dream ... and maybe mine as well. All we needed was a bit of ocean and some magic tunes.
Try to imagine the following scenery: a beautiful bay (with several lost sea lions) surrounded by some highly picturesque hills. The sun has set recently, but the air still smells like freshly disappeared rays of light. Birds whistling bedtime-lullabies. The sound of waves smashing on the shore. Boom. Tschuck. Phiew. Boom. Tschuck. Phiew. It's creating mellow beat. Here you go, a personalized soundtrack for this romantic night. Could be perfect. In normal circumstances, this would be all it takes.

But tonight is different. The soundtrack will be upgraded. And not by just anyone, the 'one' will do it. Señor Ricardo Villalobos himself flew back to his homeland to be part of the Quinto Sol event (Latin American Musicians Festival). And he did an amazing job. After having been disappointed in the grandmaster back in Berlin, I must admit that skepticism was amongst my prejudicial sentiments. But he took it away with his first track. Well. No subtle intros or calm build-up after (this should be mentioned as well) Rareshs' amazing set, but some truly powerful tunes, marking his entire repertoire. There he was. No doubt about that. Bongo Ricky is back!

myspace.cn/ricardovillalobosonmyspace

A Twisted Sound.

I never discuss albums without having a matching concert. This time, however, a show led to a bunch of (weirdly) related reviews.

After having experienced a powerful performance by Danko Jones in the newly opened LIVE AT DOT- club, I realized that I often hold on to a bands' earlier work. In the majority of the cases, the firsts are simply their best albums (the same thing often goes for books & films). Dan Cornelius and JC gave a great show, because they're good at it. And Danko himself is a Crème de la Crème performer within the rock scene. This is not about gigs though. It's about a shift in sound. As I focused on the songs, my mind kept longing for the old tunes.

In the hallway, afterwards, I heard someone talk about The (International) Noise Conspiracy. Their new album, The Cross of my Calling, came out last month and after being left impressed by A New Morning, Changing Weather (I'm lazy, I got distracted after 2001 and never listened to their other stuff), I was eager to be pleased with some new songs.
So next day, I sat down with a cup of tea (you might say that this is not the right attitude) and turned the volume up. I am a sentimentalist and can listen to (favorite) albums for ever, but that normally encourages me to discriminate new tracks positively. But this was just Boredom of Safety. The atmosphere was way too happy. Trust me, I like sun, romance and icecream, I even like to whistle Young Folks, but here I missed the raw garage sound, and when did they ever stop making rock 'n roll? Of course, TINS has a completely different sound than Refused, the former band of lead singer Dennis Lyxzen, did. On the first albums (two albums were released before my favorite) their roots and political involvement could literally be heard. Now, even his voice seems to have lost its original roughness. Just change Noise into Love and you'll have your average emo-band.

I am aware that I seem one of those people nagging about their better musical past. "Everything used to be better!". But that's not what I'm saying. It just seems that there's a turning point for many good bands where many become Judah. And if they decide to long for a broader recognition, they often let go of their original, unique sound. That's a shame, because it makes them loose their true fans.
Not all bands choose this path. A good example of a group that gained popularity through their continuity is The Mars Volta. They don't try to exceed the underground scene, but just win every single soul that is within their reach and move the ceiling up, little by little. Although even they gave it a shot with Francis The Mute (my inner Mari is doesn't like me saying this), even this album stayed far away from mainstream. It was a different, more accessible genre that opened the doors to a new audience. But with releasing The Bedlam in Goliath they returned new and improved.
Ok, ok. I know what you're thinking. Fine, I'll give TINS the benefit of the doubt. De gustibus non est disputandum. But I'm a skeptic and this is my subjective weblog. So bla bla, it's just another hidden tribute to guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala.

Speaking about Joneses,
could someone besides TMV please keep up with the Graces?
This 60-year old diva has recently released her tenth album, Hurricane, after almost 20 years. Throughout time she adapted to modern technology, trends and , but Grace Jones has never lost her own sound and identity. She's a genuine star remaining true to herself. No Madonna. Nobody remains young forever. We wouldn't want that. Getting older has so many advantages, of which Jones is not afraid to show us. A perfect combination of up-tempo beats combined with dramatic and intimate sound, without loosing sight of her reggae background due to some Sly and Robbie-dub. With only nine tracks concluded with a dark suspension, I have been left ... craving for more...



www.thebedlam.net
www.dankojones.com
www.internationalnoise.com
www.theworldofgracejones.com

Elbow

Widely respected by bands like Radiohead, Blur, Snow Patrol, U2 and many others, I couldn't believe that I had never (ssshht) listened to this band. It was one of these typical musical examples of living under a rock for years. Fortunately, I was persuaded to go and see Elbow yesterday.

We entered the impressive building of the Columbiaclub during the first song and I can't remember the last time I turned into a soft egg that quickly. Maybe twenty notes had come out of Guy Garvey's magical throat, but that was all I needed. The only thing I clearly remember from this concert is the floating feeling I experienced for more than an hour.

The members of this Mercury-prize winning Mancester rock band have been playing together for more than 18 years, which can heard directly if you listen to them. The sound they produce is a creation of their obvious synergy. I still couldn't understand how I had managed to not know their music, but then slowly, some vague recognition appeared. I started remembering things I didn't know I knew. First melodies, than lyrics, I knew this band. I tried to let it rest, but as soon as I got back home, I googled their entire existence.
And there they were, back in my mind: Elbow.

The singles 'Any day now', 'Asleep in the back' and 'Newborn'.
The accoustic kittens version of 'Independent Woman'.
Their 'Fallen Angel' in Michael Winterbottoms 9 Songs.
The trailersong of the new Coen Brothers' Burn after Reading.

The more I read about them, the more signals started travelling my brain and the more I started appreciating the concert in retrospect. The way they played, their 'old-fashion'-style fans (they were definitly more devoted back in the old days), the warm atmosphere (even though it was literally bloody hot as well), the amount of fun they seemed to have on stage. It was one of those concerts that remind you of your first concert. Mine was Pink Floyd and although the two had almost nothing in common, for a moment I felt as if I was eleven years old again.
It was one of those classic examples of you had me at "Hello!".


Must-see/hear:
www.elbow.co.uk

www.myspace.com/elbowmusic
Elbow's cover of "Independent Woman" (Destiny's Child)
http://www.rathergood.com/independent_woman/