Decoder Ring - Decoder Ring

YOURZ

In an industry where spoon-feeding audiences lyrical hooks rather than providing emotive clues through music, Decoder Ring are at odds with the de rigueur.  Very rarely, if at all, do they allow vocals of any sort to mark the passage of their songs, which swell and fall away in a tide of riffs, pads and percussion.

On this, their self-titled début, the original 5 piece line-up build soundscapes that would be at home in a full-length feature film.  In fact, the next official record released by the band was the soundtrack to the Australian film, Somersault, to critical acclaim.

Mine calls it prog but then says she likes it whereas I, after some further thought, would be more inclined to call it avant garde - a bit arty and a bit introspective.  It melds electronica and rock in a way not often done and certainly very few do it as well as Decoder Ring do.  Interestingly, in doing a little research for this review, I found out an old acquaintance of mine, while not on this particular recording, is now playing bass in the band.  So this one's for Stef.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

MINE

This album prompted much discussion between YourZ and Mine(self) about just what exactly denotes prog - and with at least one song at well over 10 minutes this album could definitely wear the label.  But there's something about most of it that makes me want to listen - as opposed to yesterday's effort which just made me snort with barely-suppressed laughter.

Perhaps it's the melding of guitar and electronica - kind of a Metallica/Depeche Mode mash-up, if you will - that makes it the ideal driving music.  As YourZ has pointed out, it's a great soundtrack - and that's exactly what you need when the road is unfolding new scenery in front of you every minute.  OK, there were moments when they put on their serious prog-pants and went hard at it - but then the skip button is only a finger-push away.  For the rest of it, I'd say...

VERDICT: TURN IT UP


For more information: http://www.decoderring.com.au/

Royksopp - Melody A.M.

YOURZ

I think Royksopp was originally pointed out to us by an old friend of ours, Dan, a sound engineer who I used to work with years ago.  But I'm not going to dispute Mine's recollections below as she probably read a good review of this album around the same time. (Mine says: no no no... I bought this when it came out in 2001, BEFORE we were an item my love, you bought the next album in 2005 and that's what you're probably thinking of)

The big question for me to come out of listening to Melody A.M. is - what's the difference between electronica and dance?  Royksopp call themselves electronica and rightly so but there's also dance elements to their music.  Mind you, it's not the 'doof-doof' school of dance but the more chilled, cool groove I really enjoy.  Either way, it's hard to believe this album is nearly ten years old.

There are some very good tracks on this, but I particularly like Remind Me, featuring vocals by Erlend Øye from Kings Of Convenience and The Whitest Boy Alive and Sparks, featuring vocals by Anneli Drecker.  But in general, this is beautifully layered, chilled music, perfect for a quiet night in with a few good friends.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

MINE

One of the albums I bought using my Music Magazine Mojo (MMM), Melody AM sounds just as fresh and interesting nine years later.  The samples, the cool beats, the instrumentals, the vocals - they're all delightful and fun to rediscover.  I could label it a Forgotten Gem, but the truth is I haven't forgotten it - I just don't play this music as often as I used to.  There haven't been the occasions for me to do so, I guess.

I mean, here we are, getting on toward half way through this project, and I'm starting to get irritated by the fact that my listening schedule is being dictated to, day after day.  Not that I don't want to listen to all the music that's being selected - I do - but I don't often have time to play some music just for the hell of it.  Hmmph.

Anyway, the only thing I can tell you about Royksopp is they're Norwegian, and put out very cool electronica.  If that's your bag, this album's the best place to start.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For further information go to: http://www.royksopp.com/

In our collection we also have The Understanding

Fonda 500 - Je M'appelle Stereo

MINE

I love stereo 'cause stereo's good to me....

Never before has anyone so accurately pinpointed how I feel about music - in music.  YourZ handed me this CD and said "You'll love this" - which of course put my back up a bit.  But then I listened to it, and I had to agree. 

Since then it's been on my gymPod almost constantly - a Shuffle - which is why it was a surprise to listen to it all the way through in preparation for this review.  I can see why it might not be picked up by someone who had a quick listen, as track one - Music Should Always Be Played By The Hands Of The Animals - is damn weird.

In fact I know this album so well because of its high rotation on the Shuffle - but I have no idea what any of the songs are called.  I just love them.  Up- or down-tempo, electronica, pure pop, whatever.  I love Fonda 500, 'cause Fonda 500's good to me.

VERDICT:TURN IT UP

YOURZ

I don't know how I found out about Fonda 500 but man, I'm glad I did.  They're a British 5 piece who write irresistable, pop songs with more hooks than a fishing charter.  From the first listen, this album became a often-played house favourite and remains so.

In trying to research the band, I discovered there's very little information about them.  But really, this isn't about me boring you with rehashed information.  This is about the music, man, and the music is just fabulous.  It veers between quiet, acoustic driven melodies, indie-pop wonders and squelchy electronica, often in the same track.  Je M'appelle Stereo also contains some of the most enthusiastic beat-boxing I've ever heard.

Listening to this, there's no doubt this is a band who knows how to have a lot of fun, which is the key for me (as I've said many times before).  But this isn't hipster style over substance - from the melodies and harmonies, the intentionally lo-fi sounding mix and production to the seemingly hand-lettered album art, Je M'appelle Stereo is intelligent and brilliantly constructed. 

If you've not heard them, check them out here or here or here and see if I'm wrong.  If you agree with me, then perhaps you can tell me why they're not huge around the world when so much lesser music is!

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://www.fonda500.com/