Transatlantic Underground

by Tom Lee

04.02.2007





Hello all. I'm still attempting to make this a quarterly column, but the dictates of moderate career stagnation; personal ambition and leisure travel sometimes prevent things from flowing ideally. Not everything featured here is absolutely fresh. It all makes my ears happy though…

I'll begin with non British or American bands, as per custom. Parma's Isabel at Sunset have impressive myspace offerings. Their combination of ultra embossed stadium Mod and a Death Cab-worthy sense of trepidation is no mean feat. "Kevin Keyboards and the Wannabe indie Stars" is heartbreakingly beautiful. "Waiting for the Dino's to Come" takes early Oasis into lofty and likable territory. The Italian-English lyrics somehow charm with an Al Stewart-aping effect. I hope somebody with influence takes note. I loved Fourth Floor Collapse's debut EP and album half a decade ago. Now relocated from Perth to Melbourne, selections from last year's Books With Broken Spines show no let up in quality. "Occupation" is worthy of Jeff Buckley circa Grace and Siamese Dream era Smashing Pumpkins.

Looking stateside, Oklahoma via NYC trio the Muggabears have dazzled me with their ability to make the morose memorable. Last year's Teenage Cop EP contains cuts to inspire indie cult-hood. "Married to the Moon" evokes the Afghan Whigs being smited by Make Believe circa Shock of Being. "I'm Coming True" has a dangerously melodic sadness. It's like Josh Rouse and the Wrens with an exaggerated porous glint. As those familiar with my ramblings will know, I fell in love with Denton's S-1 Committee last year. Singer Mike Muniwoki has a new side project with his Brooklyn friend Shana Lehar on vocals. The Yankee Dollar's artificial orchestral dream pop sounds like somebody finding Kansas with a Brian Wilson back catalogue. "Spent the Day at the Seaside" has faded newspaper grease glamour that Melys fans will know well. "Ask Me Now" stretches the typical S-1 automated beat and disarming melody around spacious singing and Belle and Sebastian resignation. I've also been feeling the '90s facing drums 'n breaks dished out by Tampa Bay's Mash Tator. "Jazz" and "breakcore mix" nod to Reprazent and Mu-ziq respectively.

As far as Brit-land goes, it's taken me over eighteen months to give a deserved shout to South West London's Why Lout? 2005's Its Been Time mix-tape is one of my favourite UK hip hop albums ever. It dazzled me start to finish, from a smoke filled riff on "Guns of Brixton," through an incredible re-tread of Art Brut's "Emily Kane" to the Gang of Four referencing "The Best Things." Their friend Akira the Don makes charming hip hop and Billy Bragg tinged pop. Check out Why Lout and Akira in collaboration on the Elastica sampling "Boom," featured in the downloadable "Rah" mix tape.

I was intrigued by the Chalkwell Ladies when one DJ'd at my uncle's farm back in 2005. Their mix of drum n bass and pastoral pleasantries needs to be heard to be believed. It's rare to hear something truly original, but these girls succeed. Leeds duo The Banzai Kittens have also impressed me for a long time with their hair metal and cat inspired Nintendo pop. "Can We Still Be Friends" is a hair-raising song. "Stop Whinging and Play Your Guitar" should close any "girls in bands?" debates conducted by stupid people of varying genitalia.

I'll end my UK mentions with a familiar face. The bloke behind Miss Black America's Seymour Glass pseudonym has long been one of my favourite songwriters. He's back DIY'ing two solo albums in 2007 while MBA are on sanity preservation hiatus. Despite alluding to a new career as "the ugly Jeff Buckley," his Open Mouth alias operates in a similar vein to prior acoustic songs with his band. His current split single with Dexy on Angry Liberal has the fan boy in me rapturous. "Castle Keep" replicates Radiohead's The Bends for a post V for Vendetta world. That's about all for this instalment. Tunes are welcome as always. Akira the Don's "(Oh) What a Glorious Thing" is playing through as I sign out. I'm smiling. Hopefully the artists mentioned above will be in the end of year polls soon enough. Have a good one.



Links:
Isabel at Sunset
Fourth Floor Collapse
The Muggabears
The Yankee Dollar
Mash Tator
Why Lout?
Akira the Don
Akira the Don (2)
Chalkwell Ladies
Chalkwell Ladies (2)
Bonsai Kittens
Open Mouth