And On We Go (195-191)

I'm not really someone who is into doing things the long way round, I usually try find shortcuts. So doing these in five albums per blog is certainly not my preferred style but I hope it will add more insight to the records that are being listed. And on we go.

195. Gui Boratto-Chromophobia [Kompakt 2007]

An album to sooth the soul. The midway point between ambient drone and minimal techno. This is music to get lost in, anywhere in the world. Be it walking to university, going on the tube, in the bath, running through an open field. It's transcendent. Most albums have to played in certain environments or when you're in a certain mood. However in no way is this album emotionless, it breathes life into your very soul. The drone like beats looping and looping over each other will wrap your mind into another universe and take you there for a good hour and ten minutes away from whatever it is you're doing.

194. Ponytail-Ice Cream Spiritual [We Are Free 2008]

The only way I can truly describe this band is imagine The Rugrats fronted by Angelica on some kind of intense sugar high. The main talking, and probably divisive point, about this band is lead singer Molly Seigel's vocals and on their own yeah they're a bit horrible. Yet with the chaotic instrumentation around them, they are just another insane tuning of an instrument really. Ponytail are loud & chaotic but hardly violent, this is party music. When I say party music I mean that point when everybody's so drunk that anything sounds good. (Listening to this now sober is certainly interesting).

193. Patrick Wolf-Lycanthropy [Tomlab 2003]

Released when he was twenty and much of it recorded before then, this album is incredibly mature. A young man wrestling with a world with so many questions about himself, about other people and the world around him. Along with the observant view of the world, in particular the track "The Childcatcher", the album is musically diverse. Instruments change from track to track allowing for an album that never suffers from a lack of ideas. From the gorgeous string soaked "Pigeon Song" to the heavy synth infused "Paris" this album has enough musical twists and turns to keep anyone gripped right until the end.

192. Amusement Parks On Fire-Amusement Parks On Fire [Invada 2005]

Shoegaze in the 21st century has never sounded so sad. This album aches and hurts right from the heart-achingly beautiful strings over the opener "23 Jewels" to the sheer fury that rages through the albums centre-piece "Wiper" a song that builds and builds under layers and layers of guitars. Taken to perilous heights at times, this album is certainly a throwback to that late 80s early 90s period but my no means is it a bad one. I can't drive but if I could, I would wait until it was at least 1am, grab this album stick it on in the car and just drive and see where the road took me. An album of true emotional velocity, to take you anywhere when your heart has sunk.

191. Akron/Family-Love Is Simple [Young God 2007]

Imagine if instead of going to India The Beatles had gone back in time to the USA and met the American Indians. That's kind of how this album sounds. Gorgeous melodies over plucked guitars with tribal drums thrown into the mix. An album that evokes that free spirit feel, where anyone can feel comfortable in it's surrounding. There is nothing threatening here just an album to share the good times with your friends through those long summers that you wish would never end. Open, honest and sincere this album greets you with open arms and embraces you with the worlds biggest hug.