Stars
Nightsongs CD
Le Grand Magistery. HRH-019.
by Keith Mclachlan.
February 25, 2001.
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As the first few songs passed I wondered why Ms. Kate
liked this cause it sounded a lot like the Melys and
she has no time for the Melys, but myself, I was
thinking at least the Melys are welsh and Stars,
they're just canadian and as a former Canadian myself
I know firsthand there is absolutely no allure in
being Canadian. But then things got a lot more
interesting. It actually sounds something like you
would imagine Ian Catt's solo record sounding
like (mind Ian may have already released several
records I have no idea), if he had absorbed all of the
influences of bands he has produced in the past ten
years. There is some Saint Etienne here, some Field
Mice, of course I would need to add the Smiths though
their influence appears mostly to resonate only in the
decision to cover the most perfect of Smiths songs
'This Charming Man' and well while that cover is
interesting it is so only because while not a radical
re-interpretation it only vaguely resembles the
original by including a sample of the original guitar
riff. It is the Smiths made less sexless though, and
considering the repressed energy of the original that
is a fine accomplishment. Wearing their Canadian on
their sleeves, it is impeccably mannered and somewhat
non-aggressive save for the few profane moments.
Which, then, makes me wonder then why did not
Wordsworth cuss? Cause those bad words seem out of
place in moments of melancholy and graceful streams
the likes of which are present in loads on this
record, and their profane thoughts blunt act merely as
bluntly dimming effects, at least to my ears. The
music is indiepop/trip-hop and while the trip-hop genre
is long past its sell date somehow they charm enough
to make the disc rather outstanding actually, must be
their cuteness quotient that overcomes. This,
belonging to me, sort of reaction is entirely a
surprise as they interview poorly and I fully expected
to hate their record once I finally got around to
listening. But, somehow, I don't, indeed it is all
very pretty.
Stereo Bus
Brand New CD
EMI. 522609-2.
by Keith McLachlan.
January 23, 2000.
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That's a crap name for a record. It is something to
celebrate though, this the second lp from the Stereo Bus,
for what it truly sounds like is that quite possibly long
lost fourth record from the long lost Jean Paul Sartre
Experience. Stereo Bus' main man is Dave Yetton who handled
the sissy factor for JPSE and who also managed to sissify an
entire album by himself a few years ago when the first
Stereo Bus album was crafted mostly as a home-recorded
document of sky blue, melodic ache. This time around
however he has wrangled himself a proper band including
someone with the fabulous surname Fa'foi and apparently he
has dusted off some of those old JPSE demos and decided that
he is the true heir to their classically, polished ethereal
pop throne. Not a bad idea seeing as how Dave Mulcahy has
fallen so hard on his large face and Gary Sullivan is making
the soundtrack to my personal hell in Solid Gold Hell.
So what we have here is 11 songs that merge the dreamy guitar aesthetic of shoegazerism with the acoustic ambience of several classic kiwi-strum bands including the JPSE. The first record was spare and filled with cirrus-like arrangements and yet this new one booms from the speakers with a sound not heard since 'Bleeding Star'. The best songs are still the ones that illuminate their proudest moments with acoustic guitars and build gently to a climax that is often teased at but never achieved (sonic explosives experts need not apply) except in the strangely stimulated recesses of your beautiful cortex. It is not as sissy as they claim either, pink record covers aside, but in a world where not enough bands know how to "not rock" they are truly refreshing.
Stereo Bus
The Stereo Bus CD
Bodega. beats 005.
by Keith McLachlan.
December 28, 1997.
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Sure, Flying Nun still denies it
has even happened, but the breakup of JPS Experience is starting to seem
like a good idea these days, certainly much more than in the days of the
wake created by their announcement. Unfairly, the JPS Experience were
always considered to be B-leaguers in the Flying Nun pecking order. Never
were they considered in the same breath as bands like the Clean and
Chills, but they were the authors of some of the finest tunes to emanate
from the rich Kiwi terrain including the all time classic 'I Like Rain.'
And joyfully enough this record takes the listener back to that very song as ex-JPSer David Yetton (he is essentially The Stereo Bus) has essentially crafted a clutch of songs that harken back more to the early minimalist days of JPSE than those of the more technically savvy swan song era. Most of the songs are centered around his fragile voice and haunting guitar style. Especially on the most perfect 'Gods Fingers' where David aches for his love accompanied sadly by a quiet piano and only the most skeletal percussion. It is terribly swoonsome.
Unlike the more muscular Superette (another JPSE offshoot) most of the songs here are presented in near demo form, so the vocals aren't perfect and the presentation sometimes seems a bit chalky, but really the form is spot on for nearly all of the songs. There are some shoegazing revisited songs, a lot of dreamy ballads and some more visceral moments that were always David's strongest suit in his contributions to the JPSE. And as the ultimate bonus David Pine appears on one track playing bass reminding me that he too is working on his own material these days.
'The Stereo Bus' is probably the best walkman specialized lp of the year and certainly will appear in my top ten at the end of the year. Newsflash-coming soon the debut from Lanky, the James Laing JPSE...er sideband, hee hee, but until then this will hold you over although it is no longer available at the moment, at least not until Sony reissues it later this year.
Stereo Total
Jukebox Alarm CD
Bobsled. Bob 09 CD.
by Keith McLachlan.
September 28, 1999.
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What better time to review this album than on the verge of the release
of its successor? The group is terribly pan-European but recently I
have discovered exactly why there is no representation from Denmark in
their exciting blend of sass, raunch and cosmicality and that is
because the Danish government sees fit to charge a 218% tax on all
automobile purchases. This tax supplies 33% of government revenue and
effectively prohibits Danes from owning their own modes of
transportaion thus denying entry to nearly all of the continent's
grooviest bands (public transport hours are far too pedestrian for
rokk'n'rollers of this caliber). For short of Lars Ulrich the Danish
vein of pop music has hardly produced a shimmer of light, therefore it
could be possible that the next Noel Gallagher is residing in Denmark
at this very moment and luckily for us we will never know about it.
Anyhow, Stereo Total used to have French, Germans and Italians but I noticed some new names on this album so maybe the mix has changed but all in all other than being far more experimental than the two albums previous, this record continues their penchant for fast love, fast cars, fast kitsch and cramming as much life into one track as possible. Forget 'carpe diem' and yell 'Jukebox Alarm' instead for if you are able to live you life in such a fashion as to keep up with the highlights commented on in this group of songs then you are truly living life to the fullest, full on just like those bratty kids in Surge commercials.
Stereo Total
Musique Automatique CD
Bobsled. Bob-24.
by Keith Mclachlan.
November 10, 2001.
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Though I have yet to hear a note it appears Britney
Spears is officially all grown up on her new record.
Is it because she has decided to put some clothes on
and sing about things like not being able to make the
mortgage payment or the absurdity of Syria being
elected the the United Nations Security Council?
Nope. It is because now instead of teasing all the
horny 40 year old beer-guts and Bob Dole's dog she is
now coming out all explicit like. Woo-hoo, three
cheers for being a grown-up! Stereo Total are
grown-ups, the haggard sort actually, I've seen them
and wonder if they likely attended the same Key
Parties as Kevin Kline and Ripley as shown in Ice
Storm and came out looking like death warmed over.
But their music swings! And they needn't any press
concerning their maturation they've always been
overtly sexual, but ooo ah they turn sly here and do
it in languages other than English this time. Never
monolinguists they still always managed to tittilate
English-speaking tongues with ditties in the most
important language on earth but not this time. I see
some French, some German, some uh...well no English
but it doesn't matter because the music swings! It
sounds much better produced this time, fewer guitars
more synths and loops and samples and more vocal
effects, I guess I do miss the broken English but the
whole package is more enjoyale. Thre is a flow from
song to song and a modernity, I am usually not keen to
discussing production (leave that to the dorks on I
Love Music) but the sci-fi futurism captured on a few
tracks might be nice to apply to some of the tinnier,
ramshackle tunes of the past. It's on Momus' label
and he probably knows of the perversion they sing
about but this time I have not a clue and am forced to
enjoy the music on the merits of its sound and I do so
quite without effort. Oh and English does make a
return on the hidden tracks which turn out to be
cheeky covers of Nancy Sinatra and Lionel Richie.
Stereo Total
Stereo Total CD
Bobsled. Bob-3.
by Keith McLachlan.
February 13, 1999.
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One French gal, surely to supply the sauce, two Italian guys, probably
to supply the lust and one German, and well I suppose he is in charge
of the cool shades or something. Add them all together and you get a
record for all of your moods. There is some kitsch, some trash, some
maudlin, some merriness, some weirdness and some stupidity. This is a
compilation of the best tracks (as picked by Bobsled) from their first
two or three records and it is full on groovy! It will make you feel
like you are at the wheel of a '68 Chevy Nova cruising at speeds
exceeding the posted limit with your best girly on the vinyl bench
seat next to you making rude noises at people who stand at the side of
the road wearing pastel blouses and fitted trousers in time to the
cheesy programmed beats, mod organs and dervish guitars. They have
the euro-cool too which usually is not so cool but somehow they pull
it off without being laughable and that is something to make them even
more beguiling. There is even a cover of Salt'n'Pepa's 'Push it"
included for the kids next to the more sophisticated fare of
Gainsbourg who, I am sorta tired of people covering just to look more
euro-cool but like I said Stereo Total already possess that cool in
spades so they are allowed. Any hour of your life would surely be
happier were this the soundtrack to it.