On the record - A-ha return with a mountain to climb

Jul 27 2009 By Polly Weeks

What's hot and what's not in this week's new releases.

A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain

Morten Harket et al have been going for long enough now to know what sells records, and this release should keep their fans happy enough. It is dated in the 1980s with songs led by synths and, of course, Morton's trademark vocals. However, given the current popularity for artists such as La Roux, Frankmusik and Ladyhawke, this style is perfectly acceptable in today's pop climate. The album opens with Bandstand, a blisteringly typical A-ha single, while title track Foot Of The Mountain is a strong tune. There are some faults with the album, though: Shadowside is positively boring, as is the terribly named Mother Nature Goes To Heaven.

Rating: 6/10

(Rating by Polly Weeks)

Will Downing - Classique

This is sultry soul, lounge style - an album from which characters in an early 1990s romantic comedy film could draw inspiration. If you find this idea quite charming, then this album from the veteran American singer is for you. It's suave, slightly cheesy and full, with more "I'm not your yesterday Baby, I'm your tomorrow" lyrics than you can shake a stick at. It's hard to pick out any individual singles as they all fill a set format, although Just Think About It stands out for all the wrong reasons. Will's lyrics aren't particularly on form, but this can be forgiven for those romantics out there.

Rating: 6/10

(Review by Polly Weeks)

The Dandy Warhols - The Dandy Warhols Are Sound

From the bad pun of their name to their constant referencing of the Velvet Underground, hubris has perhaps always been the Dandys' greatest talent. True to form, this is essentially an alternate mix of an earlier album, Welcome To The Monkey House. The story goes that in 2003, Capitol Records rejected the band's preferred mix of that album (by Russell Elavedo) in favour of a mix by Peter Wheatley (the engineer behind Sugababes and Sophie Ellis-Bextor). Now the band is setting matters right by releasing Elavedo's mix, with a different title, an amended track order and a new song tacked on the end. Do you care? Thought not. Strictly for fans.

Rating: 5/10

(Review by Steve Kerr)

Martina McBride - Shine

American country singer Martina McBride releases her ninth album, which is, well, almost exactly like the other eight. Her voice is pure, unadulterated modern Nashville, laden with vibrato and southern twang, while her songs are every bit as epic and produced as you might expect from a singer nicknamed 'The Celine Dion Of Country'. If you're unfamiliar with her work - as most people in Britain probably are - think of country crossover artists such as Shania Twain, before she turned into a chart-topping sexpot, and Faith Hill. There's very little to pick between the songs here, each is well-written and neatly delivered, but you'll be sorely disappointed if you're looking for anything approaching spontaneity or excitement.

Rating: 6/10

(Review by Andrew Welch)

Master Shortie - ADHD

"It's finally here, man. It's been a long time coming," says Master Shortie, aka London-born rapper Theo Kerlin, on Bringing It Back, the opening track of his debut album. It has indeed been a long time coming, 20 years to be precise, as he drops in a host of influences from his childhood - Thundercats and Star Wars, namely. Next up comes Nothing To Be Scared Of - his take on Adam Ant's Prince Charming, which replaces the drama and theatrics of the original for R'n'B-lite accompaniment. The rest of the 1980s-looking tracks skip by, Swagger Chick being among the highlights. They flit from one theme to another, justifying the title. It's not a strong debut by any means, and the '80s fixation seems incongruous given Shortie's tender age, but there's enough charm on display to see him though to the next to ensure he's around for a good while longer.

Rating: 6/10

(Review by Andrew Welch)

Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist

Despite the album name this is a breezy slice of psychedelic rock. Clearly inspired by Led Zeppelin, it sounds like they should be performing it on a big stage at Woodstock. The Home is a stonker of a tune with searing guitar leads which builds up to a great finale. Mornings is a summer tune and Do You is an anthemic number. There are a few dubious tracks on the album, such as The Sun, which sounds a bit too Mika-esque. However it's a good-quality album, and will appeal not only to established fans of the band but also those looking for a new favourite one.

Rating: 7/10

(Review by Polly Weeks)

People In Planes - Beyond The Horizon

People In Planes are a five-piece band from Cardiff, formerly known to indie fans as Tetra Splendour, and to super, super indie fans as Robots In The Sky before that. Opening track Last Man Standing whirrs into action, and for all the world it sounds like Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody is singing. Whether that makes you turn it up or off depends on your disposition, but things change from there, with the song, and album as a whole entering more American college rock territory. In fact, a number of the band's songs have been used in American films set in colleges, including John Tucker Must Die. Flesh And Blood is a low-key stormer, while the epic Pretty Buildings is begging for an appearance over the dramatic closing scenes of an episode of Grey's Anatomy or The OC. It looks as if the quintet have found an identity worth hanging on to.

Rating: 7/10

(Review by Andrew Welch)

The Answering Machine - Another City, Another Sorry

Fresh from supporting dates with Doves and the Manics, The Answering Machine themselves release a debut album worthy of any self-respecting indie heavyweight. Produced by Dave Eringa, it comes out of its corner with a confident swagger of delicious basslines, raucous guitars and tales of lost love and hope. The energy levels start high with the title track and stay there throughout in gems like Obviously Cold and singles Cliffer, Oklahoma and Lightbulbs. By the time you're ready to stop pogoing around the bedroom, the beguiling The Information will be there to bring you back down to earth, revealing fully the breadth of talent at the band's disposal. A brilliant beginning.

Rating: 8/10

(Review by Rob Wells)

Reverend And The Makers - A French Kiss In The Chaos

Once upon a time, The Reverend was merely known as a friend of the Arctic Monkeys. His debut album, The State Of Things, was billed as exactly that: a state-of-the-nation address from an opinionated mind. However, the subject matter - lairy love affairs and kitchen-sink melodrama - belied his intent. Now, with even more fire in his belly, The Rev, or Jon McClure as he's also known, really has something to shout about. He's not happy about the BNP, the prospect of a Conservative government or the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as he says overtly on Manifesto/People Shapers, Hard Time For Dreamers and No Soap In A Dirty War respectively. The Makers step up too, delivering more of the grooves and dance beats that promised so much first time around. McClure still needs to find his true voice - there's too much vitriol but not enough depth - but this will more than do for now.

Rating: 8/10

(Review by Andrew Welch)

Hot Gossip - You Look Faster When You're Young

This Milan trio speaks the international, radio-friendly language of contemporary indie rock with impressive fluency: a dash of angular post-punk stop-start here (via Franz Ferdinand) and a dollop of 1970s NYC rock there (thank you, The Strokes). The press release nails it when it promises listeners that they'll feel like they've known these songs all their life. Rather than being a sign of rock'n'roll genius, however, this just reflects the fact that when your influences are tripled-filtered, what comes out sounds so generic as to be instantly familiar. Not bad, though.

Rating: 6/10

(Review by Steve Kerr)

Singles by Polly Weeks

The Twang - Barney Rubble

This is lads' rock with a twist. Some nice summer, South American-style beats make this a likeable tune from the Birmingham boys.

Beastie Boys featuring Nas - Too Many Rappers

A great return from two hip-hop icons - if this week's singles were judged on skill alone then this should be number one.

The Chemists - A Love Like No-One Else

Very similar in style to Feeder and A (remember their song Starbucks?), if you like your late 1990s indie-rock then this offering from the Bristol five-piece will be comforting stuff.

On the road

Live reviews

Placebo - Camden Roundhouse, ITunes Festival, July 14

Being an old-school Placebo fan, I left this gig with mixed emotions. The indie stalwarts were definitely on form in their performance, with Brian's vocals in particular still just as strong as 10 years ago. However, there was too much new material and very little of the songs which made them great in the first place. It's not as if they needed to play Teenage Angst over and over, just a simple drop of Pure Morning and 36 Degrees would have sufficed. Saying that, the new material is strong and the rest of the audience seemed happy, so perhaps I'm just a stickler for tradition.

(Review by Polly Weeks)

Upcoming tours

X-Factor runners-up JLS celebrate their No 1 single by announcing a new tour for 2010. The four boys begin by heading to Ipswich on February 1 and finishing in Glasgow on February 21. For more information visit www.gigsandtours.com.

American indie band Yo La Tengo arrive in the UK for three gigs in three days as part of their European tour. Starting at the ABC in Glasgow on November 6, they move onto the Academy 2 in Manchester and finish up a day later at The Roundhouse in London. For more information visit www.yolatengo.com.