playlist - March 2010: Johnny Cash... Deplhic... Girls... and more

Johnny Cash - Ain't no Grave: the "final studio" album from the old fella, posthumously completed by Rick Rubin and tail ending the indispensable American Recordings series. This one is spine-tingling; he sounds ancient, weary, but still disturbingly strong and unbroken, like some 500 year old vampire-wizard-king, ... if you were unlucky enough for him to take a mild dislike to you, he'd slit your throat with a long fingernail and drink the warm blood with an air of resigned sadness. Don't look directly into his eyes... r.i.p Johnny.

Here We Go Magic - Here We Go Magic: noodling and atmospheric, powerfully evokes a physical landscape, like a soundtrack to some lost european art-house film about young love and camping. An anglicised, less fantastical Sigur Ros, reminiscent of a less bloody minded My Bloody Valentine.

Massive Attack - Hegioland: ... oh I dunno. Sounds well constructed but somehow a bit dead. Not bland, just lacking some kind of soul. Like they found a master tape of Guy Garvey vocals from some lost album and appropriated them... completely out of context. Bring back Tracey, boys.

Girls - Album: unapologetic, radio-friendly, teenage surf rock. Handclaps and guitar riffs. Simple, singalong choruses, a band to hire for your high school dance... very much in the vein of Urge Overkill. Liking "God Damned".

Beach House - Beach House: oh cripes. The Carpenters @ 2010. dearie me. I'd like to throttle them. You know the way kid's tv presenters will perform some stupid, trite song slightly too slowly and with over enunciation... in a word - twee.

Delphic - Acolyte: on first impression they sounded a bit too much like the Editors. On further investigation they sound like the Editors via Duran Duran, with a liberal sprinkling of New Order... which is definitely No Bad Thing At All. Yet again I find that the nefarious machine that's been stoking the hype behind these lads is uncannily on the money. More club-by than expected too... good driving music and uber-radio-friendly. The review's album of the month. (cheers M for the tip off).