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The Horrors+Ariel Pink+Zomby+Fruit Bats

Posted by Jakub

The Horrors
Wow. just wow. this new single from The Horrors is one of the more subdued but catchy singles of the year. I know I know the band’s aesthetic or how they carry themselves might not be everyone’s cup of tea but musically its just refreshing, at times it reminds me of why I loved U2’s Achtung Baby or INXS when I was really young and I have to name drop those records because everyone else is saying Joy Division. The video below is simple and stylized pretty well, good lookin’ band.

Ariel Pink melts together some of the more popular sounds that we’re the softer side of the 70’s but adds that lo-fi touch. He would be the last character i’d expect to use a saxophone but makes it work, can’t wait to buy this record.

Zomby is one of the more well known dubstep guys in the US I think because of his digital releases get a ton of love on iTunes US and eMusic, he can be hit or miss for me but Digital Fauna grabs me right away with its catchy drive, nothing reaching for attention, and this switch up to shuffle right in the middle of the song.

You know how if you sometimes see something more than 7 times and then you finally are like okay i’ll buy in and I guess i’ll check it out, that’s how it was with Fruit Bats. I’m still on the fence of if I like it, I guess I can add it to my upbeat Americana folder, in there with America and a few Old Neil Young songs I like….there, not to shabby, maybe i’ll put it on cassette and drive cross country with it.

The Horrors – Whole New Way

[audio:newhorrors.mp3]

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Can’t Hear My Eyes

[audio:arielhear.mp3]

Zomby – Digital Fauna

[audio:digzomby.mp3]

Fruit Bats – The Ruminant Band

[audio:fruitbats.mp3]

The Horrors – Whole New Way video

6 Comments Leave A Comment

1

Ray Drainville says:

October 22, 2009 at 3:59 pm

Horrors = Joy Division? Not if you’ve ever heard the latter–the Horrors’ sound is far more lush. The first album reminded me of Bauhaus (Mask especially), the second of the Chameleons. But they wear their influences lightly. This song, though, it’s tickling the back of my mind & I can’t figure out what it’s reminding me of. Probably a band a college friend of mine liked but I wasn’t so sure of :)

2

slofu says:

October 23, 2009 at 12:30 am

Thank you for posting, Jakub. Digital Fauna is good, and I finally got to see the Horrors live [in Detroit]; great show.

4

AndresM says:

October 23, 2009 at 3:06 pm

I don’t know Ray, JD never had a bass like that and this guys voice sounds nothing like Ian’s. I can see some Bauhaus/ Chameleons tho. Let’s hope they don’t just turn into another band like Elefant.

jakub, that zomby track just made my day. thanks

5

Sean says:

October 23, 2009 at 6:40 pm

I don’t know how you could be on the fence with Fruit Bats, that album so so solid and enjoyable. Start to finish it flows so incredibly well and everything is recorded perfectly, his voice sounds great! The way that pedal steel kicks in on Primitive Man is one of my favourite moments of the year! I’m less into electronic stuff though and more into folky sounds in general even though this record is more pop than anything. New Califone album is incredible as well (I bring that up because Tim Tutili plays on a few songs on The Ruminant Band).
I’m testing the waters with the Horrors, their aesthetic is really off putting to me but I’ve heard a lot of nice things about their latest record.