Week 14 / 2008 features Barry Adamson's new album Back To The Cat, Clato Intelecto's Metanarrative, Dodo's Visiter, Foals' Antidotes, Gonzales' Soft Power, In Flames' A Sense Of Purpose, Lullatone's Bedtime Beat, Morgan Page's Elevate, Robert Forster's The Evangelist and finally Willam Basinski's Melancholia. Enjoy!

Barry Adamson – Back To The Cat

I was introduced to Barry Adamson by listening to The Murky World Of Barry Adamson, a 1999 compilation of his songs. It's an appealing collection of soundtrack-like music with a certain spy-theme (including a fantasy Bond theme of the same name) and got me hooked up to his music ever since. In the meantime, I learned that Mr. Adamson not only makes music like soundtracks, he was actually involved in some, but also played with Visage and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

Barry Adamson
Back To The Cat

Now, he's back (no pun with the new album's title here) again, and while the two preceding studio albums since The Murky World… were pretty good, too, they were not as consistent in style of music as Back To The Cat is now. His new album stays in the triangle – but with enough variation within – of his darker soundtrack, the jazz and swing, and pop music elements. Some of the latter actually remind me of Edwyn Collins from time to time, but not for the bad. My favourites: Walk On Fire and Spend A Little Time.

Would I buy it? Yes. I'd even make a gift from it. Now I just hope my mother doesn't read this. Out now on Central Control.

Claro Intelecto – Metanarrative

Reviewing electronic-only music always has some sort of silliness in it. There aren't even lyrics to discuss, mentioning the makers and/or listeners is like a stereotypical disquisition on drug abuse and writing about the making mostly sounds like citing the Reason manual. Still, I'm really into this kind of music as heard on Metanarrative.

Claro Intelecto
Metanarrative

It's this late night, minimalist and micro house with these simple but recognisable bass lines, drums and snares, almost hypnotizing but still propulsive beats that make you fidgety. Totally deadline compatible music. My favourites: Dependant and Before My Eyes.

Would I buy it? On vinyl, yes. Would look (and sound) lovely next to Ada. Out now on Modern Love / Baked Goods.

Dodos – Visiter

This nice sounding, sometimes psychedelic folk music The Dodos make is, well, nice sounding, but nothing I can really get used to in the long term. Maybe I should listen to their lyrics?

Dodos
Visiter

No. Still, they're not bad per se, but if you want to get me angry, make me listen to it more than once. No favourites.

Would I buy it? No, although I wouldn't mind them playing during dinner in a pub. Out now on Frenchkiss Records.

Foals – Antidotes

I'm glad not all albums make me say that “much” this fast: Do not want.

Foals
Antidote

I'm really sorry (no, I'm not), but this is just another of these upbeat, indie rock, dance-punk things that really start to go on my nerves. That british accent won't help, either, until Art Brut recover from their mediocrity. No favourites.

Would I buy it? No. And please make this tune wedgie go away. Out now on Transgressive.

Gonzales – Soft Power

I like Gonzales, I don't like the 1980's (mostly). I like Gonzales for finally having provided a positive MTV experience when I first saw Take Me To Broadway, for those wacky tunes on Presidential Suite. He really surprised me with Solo Piano, a great contemporary solo piano album (duh). Did I say I don't like the 1980's too much? Now, that's a problem when it comes to Gonzales' new album Soft Power.

Gonzales
Soft Power

There are enough re-runs of 1980's American television series on Germany's television to have an always-on jukebox of annoying sitcom title melodies. There's no need for me to have a music album to do the same with my personal digital jukebox. I know the lyrics are worth listening to, I know this album neither shouldn't nor can't be taken serious, it's just I can't help it – I won't surrender to this kind of music just for the sake of it. If you like to reminisce about childhood memories, you may like it, though. Favourite songs: Theme From In-Between and Unrequited Love.

Would I buy it? No. Maybe I'll get over it when I find the time to give this album an okay-it's-not-the-1980's-it's-a-hommage second review. After all, there's some 1970's in it, too. Out now on Mercury.

In Flames – A Sense Of Purpose

This is my first paid review! Okay, not really. I was asked for it by a good friend, and I'm pretty sure I was invited to some pizza afterwards for either just writing something about In Flames, or for actually enduring to listen to A Sense Of Purpose until the end. As I'm still not sure about the reason I can't tell if the meal was adequate. Why so? I don't like growling and drums played at the speed of an AK-47, and my dear friend knows that.

In Flames
A Sense Of Purpose

To be honest, I don't have a single clue about melodic death metal, True Norwegian Black Metal or the always appearing nordic trolls, nor why it's not okay to be Dani Filth (though this seems obvious). My nearest semi-regular encounter with guitars with cojones is when CKY is randomly played in iTunes, as System Of A Down is too much for me already (except for Chop Suey!, of course).

What I do know and hear is that In Flames play eff-ingly amazing. There's absolutely nothing going wrong, every strike of a chord is perfect, every hit of a drum hits the mark. Even in composition it's really good music, very melodic, well done speed changes, the lyrics are also worth mentioning. I'm surely not off the mark to say they're probably one of the best in their genre. It's just… The growling. Oh why? Favourite songs: Disconnected and March To The Shore.

Would I buy it? No – but seriously, I'm not too far from doing so. One day, and then right away, once they stop growling. Still, I really respect the quality of this music already. It's just not my kind of style the way it currently is. Out now on Nuclear Blast.

Lullatone – Bedtime Beat

The Japanese you could say with a smile. Wikipedia says: Lullatone is a popular music group based in Nagoya, Japan, whose music is characterized by an innocent, child-like quality and spare, lo-fi sounds.

Lullatone
Bedtime Beat

Can't argue with that. A nice regression you shouldn't miss. Favourite songs: Your Snore and Goodnight Train.

Would I buy it? Yes. Even if you don't like it, you just couldn't be mad at them. Out now on AudioDregs.

Morgan Page – Elevate

I stumbled upon The Longest Road (feat. Lissie) by Morgan Page while listening to KCRW; it features lovely vocals, a catchy tune, and a stomping four to the flour. So do “Americans” finally know now how to make electronic music – or even dance music?

Morgan Page
Elevate

Nope. The Crystal Method already didn't, and my hope was once more dashed. While I really dig the voice of Lissie (may I say it's sexy?), the following tracks soon become pretty dull without her. As if this wasn't bad enough, most of the remixes are pretty heartless, too, including to completely ruin Nelly Furtado's Maneater, a song I don't like but now even more admire how well it was produced. What a pitty, this album had potential. Well, Lissie still has. Favourites: The Longest Road (feat. Lissie) and F**ck Was I (Morgan Page Remix) by Jenny Owen Youngs.

Would I buy it? No. I wouldn't mind dancing to it if it should be played in a club, though. Out now on Nettwerk.

Robert Forster – The Evangelist

Now that's some nice singer/songwriter music by Robert Forster of The Go-Betweens!

Robert Forster
The Evangelist

Nice – but not great. Similarities to the already mentioned Edwyn Collins are apparent, but then again, not for the bad, too (Robert Forster had an album produced by him). Favourite songs: Did She Overtake You and Let Your Light In, Babe.

Would I buy it? Yes, but only on sale. Out now on Tuition.

William Basinski – Melancholia

Sometimes, music catches emotions in an astonishing way, and now and then even those you'd like to repress. In this case, William Basinski undoubtfully fulfils the album title's announcement.

William Basinski
Melancholia

Forget about these heartache songs, those love songs about broken hearts. This is what really is painful. Favourites: Untitled and Untitled. Go figure.

Would I buy it? Yes (seriously), and I bet this album comes with a free prescription of Prozac! If you should happen to like this kind of music, I recommend the Defcon soundtrack by Alistair Lindsay. Melancholia is out now on Cargo Records.

What do you think? Which album is your favourite of week 14 / 2008?