A bunch of White Lies

Spiritu-mi critic trece printr-o perioadă ce nu poate fi definită decât ca hyper-bitchy. Şi-mi pare rău pentru victimele colaterale, cum ar fi, în fapt, şi White Lies. Zilele trecute le-am văzut noul clip, preview single-ul pentru viitorul album. Melodia păstrează acelaşi ambiguu, post-punk feel, tipii nu se dezic nici la versuri, acestea păstrând acelaşi motiv al dezrădăcinării şi al dorului dramatic de casă şi masă, motiv identificabil şi în veterane precum "Farewell to the Fairground". Şi totuşi, făcând abstracţie de piesă, nu pot decât să jelesc lipsa de ingeniozitate a brain council-ului din spatele video-ului. Asemănare jenantă cu "Evil" de la Interpol- check. Tema abuzată a apocalipsei/a bolii traumatizante făr' de leac/a copilului cu conştiinţă de adult, crescut în aceeaşi creşă cu Haley Joel Osment din The Sixth Sense/a trupei mesianice- check. Întrebarea mea, de bun simţ, de altfel, este: câte videoclipuri cu muzicieni izbăvitori, puşi în situaţii cataclismice sau epidemice mai pot apărea? Pare-se că într-atâtea încât s-ar cere pentru a se depăşi numărul de clipuri cu saxofonişti senzuali din anii '90.

Compare and contrast, my friends:
(even the video thumbnails look the same.)

Interpol 2010

At long last, the lingering wait that confounded itself with agony has almost come to an end. Interpol's eponymous album has been scheduled for release in September this year and, from what my ears have been given as bait so far, I guarantee you- it is as promising as can be.

Unlike most bands, Interpol hasn't abandoned and disowned its signature sound, but more on the contrary- it has embroidered it into an intricate tapestry of musical empirism.

The first extract off the album, which benefitted from a futuristic video, is Lights. Constructed as a 6 minute long piece, Lights is an epic journey through the land of apprehension, doubt and uncertainty. The guitar dialogue is at its highest form, bringing subtle nuances and complementing the dark, encrypted lyrics. It retains a similar mystical feel to the one in 'Lighthouse' and 'Untitled'.

Another track that was released as an album preview is Barricade, a more melodic tune, centred around alienation, suppression and limitations. The song starts off in full gear, with a corrupting riff that sets the tone for the whole song. The drums accelerate the pace, creating the perfect environment for the convulsed lyrics to unfold in. A series of disconnected, almost cliché-like phrases slip in at the end of the song, reconfirming Paul Banks' preference for evasive enumerations. Nevertheless, it's still a mature song.

Subtlety, commitment and poise. The only thing remaining is to wait for the whole album.

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Lights



Barricade

Evocative songs

• Air- La femme d'argent

This sophisticated track by the electronic french duo, Air, fully encompasses the complex Western-European vibe that is expected of jazzy tunes. To me it stands firm as an element of nostalgia in the memory vault, conjuring up the atmosphere of brewing, cosmpolitan cities I've visited and loved, such as Rome, Paris or Budapest.

• The xx- Intro

AMAZING INSTRUMENTAL!

I looked for it a hundred lives, after I'd heard it in a commercial on Discovery Channel. It immediately got me tangled up and since I've found it a couple of days ago, I've been listening to it like a fucking maniac! For me, it evokes artificially induced memories of distant realms, forgotten languages and mystic landscapes.

• Aphex Twin- Avril 14th

A simple, yet intricate piano piece. The picture it paints in my mind is that of a long buried age of refinement and charm, alien to today's society.

Foals-Total Life Forever 2010

Quenching anticipation and calming spirits, Foals' latest album, Total Life Forever, was finally released in May 2010, much to every fan's absolute rapture. Being the successor of the already cult-established 2008 Antidotes, TLF has some mammoth shoes to fill, for sure.

One of the spotlight stealers and my personal favourite is Miami, a song some have classified as being too slow, compared to what they were used to from Foals. To some extent it is, there's no doubt about that, but as far as I'm concerned, there shouldn't be any complaints when the guitar waves are present. And when the math rock feel is present, what more could you want?

Definitely worth a listen.

!!

PIXELS- DANCING ON ME

Trupa Pixels- Un exemplu de formatie care a inspirat cu toata capacitatea vantul indie care a trecut pentru o scurta perioada pe meleagurile noastre viking-izate si heavy metal-izate.

Au adoptat riff-urile haotice si sporadice tipic indie, creandu-si un sound, care desi poate parea neprocesat si cam primitiv la capitolul coordonare instrumentala (chitari-synth, chitari-orga) este totusi un exponent al muzicii de calitate.

Solistul, dupa cum se poate observa ascultand melodii gen "Rockstar" sau chiar "Dancing on me", incearca din rasputeri sa-si muleze vocea si accentul dupa stereotipul britanic al rockerului sofisticat, uber-snob, picat direct din oaza hipsterilor. De sunat suna bine, exceptand scaparile falsetto si scremuiturile de constipat.

Pixels imita, dar imita cu succes, iar intr-o tara in care originalitatea este tinuta la marginea satului, mimetismul este solutia facila pentru evolutie. Sa nu uitam, dragi oameni, ca traim in patria formelor fara fond, pana la urma.

Videos

These are some videos that capture that artsy vibe that is usually the common denominator of most indie music videos. These particular ones share a sort of Pre-Raphaelite aesthetic, both in the imagery and the motifs used.

1. Wild Beasts- All the King's Men

The theme is, as it can be desciphered from watching the video, the love of women from all the seven seas. The pure, virginal and wholesome girls in the video carry a strong resemblance to the maidens portrayed in Renaissance paintings, most notably Boticelli's and are the object of proverbial fascination. Although "All the King's Men" doesn't really have a plot or a story, just a couple of maidens dancing around in forests and carrying torches and branches, it is still a pretty piece to watch. + beautiful colours



2. Delphic-This Momentary

The romanticized themes and motifs are replaced by an honest portrayal of life in the former communist contry, Ukraine.



3. Jack Penate- Pull My Heart Away

It is an attempt at an artistic piece. It has the vintage look to it and it tries its best to be different. Good, but not extraordinary.



4. Florence and the Machine- Rabbit Heart

Again, the stereotypical Renaissance maidens. This time the influences can be traced back to greek-roman antiquity and the legendary banquets thrown by them. The traditional symbols of Bacchus (wine, grapes) are present, alongside traditional Pre-Raphaelite ones, such as naturalistic elements (flora, grass, rivers)



5. Mew- Introducing Palace Players
An unconventional video. The motifs do not tie together in the same spectrum of meaning. The colours are mainly from a dark and cold palette, but nevertheless entertaining for the eye.



6. Noah and the whale- 5 Years Time

Exploits the small English village theme in full force. The manner of directing is similar to others, as far as the colours are concerned. Same old film sortta look as in Jack Penate's "Pull My Heart Away".