Florence and the Machine

Lungs

Universal / Island Records

July 4^th 2009

****.5/5

There has been an increasing amount of chatter stirring in the musical world for Florence and the Machine. Hailing from London, Florence Welch and her accompanying band have been teasing the general public with snippets of her impending LP. The latest television advert for O2 introduced “Cosmic Love,” one of the most tantalising songs of the year thus far, showcasing her truly splendid voice. It acts as a perfect benchmark for “Lungs” their debut album.

From start to finish the music flourishes in tandem with her incredible voice. Playful strings dance with pulsating beats to result in a body of material that is both energetic and involving. It starts with the rousing Dog Days are Over where comparisons to a modern-day Kate Bush are sure to arise. The music itself sugar-coats themes of malice and spite as heard on Kiss with a Fist and Girl with One Eye. Lungs contains musical compositions quite similar to that of Bat for Lashes, but reaches a higher state of intensity predominantly due to Florence’s powerful vocals. The true definition of a bonus track comes in the shape of a mesmerising cover of Candi Statons .You Got the Love.

A thrilling and exuberant debut.

The Laundry Shop

Grandstanding

Medicine Ball Records

Out Now

***/5

Emanating from Dublin The Laundry Shop comprises of two Irish blokes and a Swedish lady who have just released Grandstanding, their debut LP on Medicine Ball Records.

Grandstanding as a whole unfortunately flat-lines leaving the listener with little to take from it. It is quite listenable; however it lacks any genuine freshness or imagination. At times there are blatant overtones of the Pixies/Sonic Youth on show.

There are a few relatively exciting tracks. Stranger in the Headlights mixes dreamy sounds with ripping choruses while the other highlight Kiss and Tell adopts the same formula. The other tracks possess quicker tempos but fall a bit short due to the unimaginative hooks. For instance Highs and Lows does work well in an advertising campaign for Discover Ireland (its becoming more and more evident that advertising is steadily becoming a vital source of income and exposure for bands nowadays) but as a separate entity it proves a tad uninspiring. Grandstanding, unfortunately, is the blueprint of an album stuck in the past offering very little direction to the future.

Dave Morrisey / www.bubblewrap1.blogspot.com

The Holy Roman Army

Collapsed Adult Records

On Release Now

***.5/5

Brother and sister Chris and Laura Coffey from Carlow, now based in Dublin make up The Holy Roman Army. Taking time out from their day jobs as a doctor and psychologist respectively they have made their 11 track debut album, How the Light Gets In, produced by Steven Shannon at Experimental Audio and released on their own Collapsed Adult label.  Blending samples, synths, vocals and guitar creating a sound that ‘ encompasses electronica, hip-hop, dub, post-rock and shoegaze indie” or so says their myspace. That  description covers a lot of bases, as does this album. Reverb, fuzzy guitar bounces, base reminiscent of Portishead on ‘He’s Not Responding’ with back and forth vocals between the duo that could stand alone as straight up acoustic songs.  Laura takes the lead softly, sweetly opening ‘Caught in the Wire’ a song that starts simply and progresses through layers of layers of sound to a heady, scratchy almost claustaphobic ending. ‘Lastwood’ is a more melancholy song, with piano, lots of space puntuacted by a syncopated fuzzy beat, it doesn’t move anywhere fast, but that’s ok, here comes the ‘dub’ sample and the final bars of the song lift with the sounds of a choir and some brass thrown in for good measure. Although the layering and electronic doo-whizzery abounds on this record How the Light Gets In manages to maintain a certain simplicity and overall sense of slow moving forward motion. Eerie, achey, slightly downbeat, melancholy with uplifting moments of redemption, How the Light Gets In is a finely produced, confident and all together lovely record. Listen loud.

E.P

The Funeral Suits

Eye Spy

On release now

***.5/5

The Funeral Suits deliver a fresh and frantic quartet of songs on their latest e.p Eye Spy. Opener ‘Start of the End’ kicks off with a snappy drum line and  a slow burning intro with clear, smoky vocals, backed with some tasty synth work which descends into an all in rock out. Good start. ‘Helsinki’ skips the gentle intro and gets straight down to business led by a great guitar line. ‘Dani is Karl’ hits out with guitar and frenetic drums and over the phone style vocals, another tight tune. Final song ‘Acidhappy’ takes a turn from what preceeds it, with more gentle guitar riffs complimenting melodic vocals and a gently driving four four beat. Keep listening, this 24 minutes opus does descend into some sort of trip. Great e.p. Can’t wait to catch these guys live.

Catch The Funeral Suits Upstairs in Dolan’s with Lost Chord on August 16th.

Single

Mugger Dave

Got a Lot on My Mind

Released on iTunes June 26th

****/5

Mugger Dave are a Galwegian trio, Simon Noble on guitars and vocals, Sean Herriot on bass and backing vocals with Niall Curran on drums. Mugger Dave believe in ‘loud and live’ and have been making waves in their native Galway since forming in 2007. Opening with a catchy guitar riff, Simon launches his slightly off-tune vocals, and in trots Niall with gently galloping brushy drums. And we’re off, comparing themselves to The Kinks, maybe it’s the sunshine but I’m hearing something akin to grungey Beach Boys in the warm breaks and harmonies. Something sixties and irresistible anyway.