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indie-snob>+!#
passionoia by black box recorder
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Well, well, well. I'm serious about this. Updates every day. Recent reviews include the Like Young and Sorry About Dresden. I think I'll do one for Stephen Malkmus after this. Many concert reviews to come in May. We're busy here at Indie-Snob HQ. Bless Us. 7 For all those familiar with Black Box Recorder and the geniuses behind it (John Moore and Luke Haines), you'll already know that perhaps the maturity level behind the music is low (not obscene, just elementary, specifically songs like "Facts of Life"). The fact is, though, that the British band Black Box Recorder is so fun to listen to with sexed up electronics, vocals and instrumentation. I must say that I fell in love with the band with their second true LP, "The Facts of Life." Sarah Nixey's voice comes into the tracks as soft whispers, usually silently sexy, but on this release, many times her vocals are drown out by the back-up vocals, like in "GSOH Q.E.D." and "British Racing Green." This makes me sad. As kitchy, catchy and cute as the vocals are, they just aren't up to par. The first time I think the album could be getting better is in "British Racing Green" when we hear a majority of solo from Nixey with just a little bass going in the background, the topics once again dealing with British culture, rock 'n' roll and love (I think it could be safely said that these topics pretain to most of their songs). "Being Number One" starts with great, slightly dark electronics and seems to be one of those songs you really would get on the dance floor with. Here, we hear the use of back-up vocals ENHANCING what's already there, and thank god. I think at this point, you can safely assume that Black Box Recorder is good again (and thank god). "The New Diana" makes me want to classify Black Box Recorder as Eletroclash, the music movement of course dealing with image over musicianship, and I think we can see here that maybe Black Box Recorder is just that, this sexy band with a sexy lead singer and sexy subjects. "I want to be the new Diana / visiting the shore occasionally / lying on the yacht reading photo magazines," the song goes. Comparing Sarah Nixey to Princess Diana of course may raise some eyebrows, but when you listen to this... I guess you get the feel for the glamour of both Diana and Black Box. Perhaps the MOST FUN, SEXIEST song on the album is "Andrew Ridgley." "I was brought up to the sound of the synthesizer / I learned to dance to the sound of electronic drums" and other lyrics hinting to the roots of BBR redeams this album somehow. Maybe it's that... or that you really want to just move to this song. Damn catchy melody! Coming at a time when the electroclash movement is at its height in popularity with bands like Ladytron, W.I.T. and singular artists like Peaches, Felix Da Housecat and Miss Kittin already becoming well-known in the UK and across Europe, BBR delivers a more poppy, lo-fi version of what could become. The thing is, Black Box Recorder used to be magnificent. Here, I feel they're only good, overall. "England Made Me" and "The Facts of Life" were just such great albums, I think that this is stepping down a little, not stepping up, which is unfortunate. Still, this is a good album. Get "Facts of Life" first though... it's a brilliant album after a couple listens. Check out if fans of: Ladytron, Miss Kittin, W.I.T. (Whatever It Takes), Cat Power, Goldfrapp, Ida, Arab Strap, Belle & Sebastian, or maybe even Beth Orton If you want to buy this album, though, let me suggest Amazon.co.uk, its like ten pounds, so 14 bucks versus the 20 you'll pay at any US-based record store. Very much worth it. |