Audio Addict #5 2010

Issue 5: December 2010

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Marina & the Diamonds Kids in Glass Houses Athlete Mystery Jets Kanye West Good Charlotte Daft Punk My Chemical Romance We Are Scientists

Ellie Goulding exclusive interview

“My life has just got progressively more mental!�

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contents

Dear readers, Welcome to the fifth issue of Audio Addict.

Christmas has come around quicker than

NEWS

expected, which means most of us will

p. 3 Daft comeback?

be out of pocket. The weather has caused a nationwide stand still, and everyone’s

p. 4 X Factor. Love it or hate it? p.5 Rage Against the Large Hadron

getting sick of hearing Slade’s ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’.

What better way to cure your winter blues than to delve in to

Collider Machine p. 6 Eminem leads the Grammys, The Audio Addict Awards

this issue of Audio Addict? We bring you not frankincense and myrrh, but instead exclusive interviews with Kid’s In Glass Houses Aled Phillips, Will Rees from The Mystery Jets and

FEATURES

Steve Roberts of Athlete.

p. 7 Pennywise Gets Pacific

Starry-eyed Ellie Goulding graces our front-page to tell us about her phenomenal year- after being chased through the

p. 8-9 The Mystery Jets

streets of Southampton on her ‘Ellie Runs’ campaign…

p. 10-11 Ellie Goulding

The stars let rip on The X Factor, and our writers hand out

p. 12-13 Ellie on the Run

some fantasy awards to their favourite acts of 2011, in time for

p. 14-15 Ten Years of Athlete

next year’s Grammys.

p. 16 Kids in Glass Houses

In the words of Cliff Richard, Christmas is a ‘time for giving, and a time for getting’. It’s time then to get yourself out of the

p. 17 The Stars of 2011

Grinch mood and give in to Audio Addiction.

LIVE REVIEWS p. 18 Marina and the Diamonds p. 19 Mr Scruff, We Are Scientists

Merry Christmas!

Sian Robertson Editor Issue 5: December 2010

p. 20 Stornoway ALBUM REVIEWS p. 21 Kanye West

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p. 22 Good Charlotte, Botany

Marina & the Diamonds Kids in Glass Houses Athlete Mystery Jets Kanye West Good Charlotte Daft Punk My Chemical Romance We Are Scientists

p. 23 My Chemical Romance p. 24 Simian Mobile Disco, Nicki Minaj p. 25 Logistics

Ellie Goulding exclusive interview

p. 26-27 Audio Addict launch night

“My life has just got progressively more mental!”

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news features

The team

Contributors Tom Quickfall Rachel Pottle Rachael Anderson

Amy Campbell

Danielle Sanders

- Front editor

- Reviews editor Veronika

Katy Ladyman

Mihalkova

- Features editor

- Design editor

Rob Ferguson Danielle Brackenbury Elliot Muharrem Peter Smith Dan Wallwork Richard Cook Emily Sutherland Tara Perera

Daft comeback?

The robot-headed duo are back… And it’s more frustrating than satisfying.

You can’t help thinking that

popular Daft Punk fansite,

the soundtrack was a good move

something’s wrong here. With

William A. Lebreton is

after all. ‘Right now it’s the next

dance music experiencing its

not at all surprising. ‘A studio

best thing, and there’s no way

revival, it couldn’t be a better

album would have been the best

Daft Punk would have agreed to

time for a comeback of one of its

thing. Anything “Disney” doesn’t

this project without a significant

biggest acts.

exactly speak groundbreaking,

degree of freedom.’

When Daft Punk announced their return in September, we

or free, or even particularly electronic’ he says.

Stacey Maddams, a devoted member of The Daft Club sees

burst with waves of excitement.

the score as a good experience

But it didn’t last long. After

giving the robots more to

years of waiting, realising they

experiment with in the future.

came up with a soundtrack

‘After the Tron soundtrack and

album certainly makes the waves

Daft Punk using orchestral

of excitement turn into waves of

sounds with electronic sounds, I

disappointment.

hear rumours of a fourth studio album bringing in orchestral

A full cinematic score for TRON:

sounds and instruments, which

Legacy, French duo’s first full

is interesting to say the least.’

length release since 2005’s Human After All, is to be released on December 6th. Asked if he would prefer another studio album, the answer of the founder of The Daft Club, the

As William nicely remarked, ‘the Although admitting concern over Daft Punk losing their artistic control, he believes that

Audio Addict

challenge now is to wait another half-decade for a studio album’.

Words by: Veronika Mihalkova Photo by: Zach Cordner

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news features

X Factor.

Love it or hate it?

Audio Addict asks your favourite stars exactly what they think about X Factor’s reign of terror this Christmas...

Ellie Goulding:

kind of singles and in a sense all

what most people have as their

“I don’t

those X Factor singers are just

perception of creativity in this

disagree

the new Mr Blobby.”

country, which is just wrong.

Will Rees, Mystery Jets:

Words escape us, it’s like alcohol,

or agree with it, there’s a reason why

many

people

things,

buy it, you can’t question why

it’s

they’ve bought it. It just so

comedy,

happens that people like it. I’m

talent

proud of the fact that I haven’t

spotting

gone on X Factor and my songs

and it’s

are in the top 10.”

Steve Roberts, Athlete: “The X

Factor is like going to Butlins for a weekend, it’s like the Saturday night entertainment. I’m not against it but I don’t see it as a musical thing, it’s not to be taken seriously at all. Simon Cowell is probably alright, I don’t take him too seriously either but I wonder if he takes himself that seriously.

I think he’s well aware of his history putting out Mr Blobby

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“It’s so

drama. A part of me absolutely

it numbs your mind and you feel awful the next morning for watching it.”

Stornoway: “Hate it, it’s very fake and plastic,

"it's like

the

actually. I’ve

alcohol, it numbs your mind and you feel awful the next morning for watching it."

heard their

-The Little Comets

hates it and finds it sick, fake and not real but it’s pretty funny

trying to do

people who are judges on it don’t necessarily have any talent, so I don’t think it’s a very fair

an X Factor for indie bands and

competition, I think they should

that’s just quite worrying.”

form a band with them all. The X

The Little Comets:

Factor goes further to preventing

“It’s awful, a total travesty, a

music and I think it’s a really

disgrace, but in it’s defence you

shallow thing they’ve come up

can sit and watch it and find it

with, and I think it’s damaging to

difficult to switch off. Culturally

the way music is produced.”

it doesn’t offer anything and in terms of the music industry it’s Audio Addict

you realising that there’s more than one person behind the

news features

Rage Against the Large Hadron Collider Machine Scientists working on the ATLAS project at CERN take on the Christmas charts...

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he race for the muchcoveted Christmas number

campaigns that have materialised

of those involved. Resonance

(mostly on Facebook) include a

project leader Steve Goldfarb

push for ‘Walk’ by heavy metal

explains that “to get that message

legends Pantera, and even the

[of CERN] out, to grab your

minimalist composer John

attention, we want to show you

Cage’s infamous 4’33” of silence.

something different.” For others,

one single has had some

The most recent entrant comes

interesting winners in its long

from a group of physicists

history. The accolade is often

working on the large hadron

hotly contested between a

collider at CERN, who,

morbidly catchy seasonal ditty

presumably on a short break

(Slade’s ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’),

from trying to reconstruct the

a seminal release from an

beginning of the universe, have

established artist (‘Bohemian

recorded a double album and

Rhapsody’, ‘Another Brick in the

DVD of covers and originals,

Wall’) or a charity-based effort

entitled Resonance. The record

(Band Aid, Band Aid II, Band

was made in the name of charity,

Aid 20). Following the success of

with all proceeds going to a

last year’s anti-Cowell campaign

children’sorphanage in Nepal.

to get Rage Against The Machine

However, it’s clear from the

to the festive top spot, the door

‘making of’ video available on

has been thrown wide open for

Youtube that this was more than

this year’s contenders. So far

a gesture of goodwill for some

like Martin White, whose song ‘Points of Order’ includes lines such as “and when black holes destroy the Earth/I’ll be in a meeting”, it was a chance to vent minor frustrations. “ The band’s own Neutralino imprint will take care of the sales and marketing, while the musicians themselves get back to the comparatively mundane task of unlocking the secrets of the universe.

Words by: Tom Quickfall Photo: Courtesy of Claudia Marcelloni

All we want for Christmas is world domination.

Audio Addict

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news features

EMINEM LEADS THE GRAMMYS With ten nominations to his name, Eminem is the lead nominee for next year’s Grammys...

Having already won Best Rap Album for three consecutive LP’s beginning in 1999, American superstar, Eminem receives nominations for prestigious Grammy awards, such as Album of the Year for Recovery, and Record of the Year for his hugely successful duet

with Rihanna, ‘Love The Way You

The Machine and Mumford and

Lie’.

Sons have each been nominated

In competition with ‘Love the Way You Lie’ is smash hit, ‘Empire State of Mind’ by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys with singer-songwriter Bruno Mars, laging behind Eminem with an impressive 7

in the high profile, Best New Artist award. Competition for the category is fierce with other nominees, Drake, Esperanza Spalding, and heart-throb, Justin Bieber.

nominations. His nominations

The Grammys are due to take

include Best Rap/Sung

place 13th February next year.

Collaboration.

Words by: Sian Robertson

As for the Brits, Florence and

The Audio Addict Awards

With the Grammys approaching, we talk to our writers about the awards they would give their favourite acts…

Dannii (reviews editor) Best Live Act: Frictions set at Shogun Audio in London Best New Album of the Year: Andy C Nightlife 5 or Break Resistance Breakthrough Artist of 2011: Icicle!

Musical Moment of the Year: Sanctuary Festival and Shogun Audio at Cable

Rob (contributor)

Elliot (contributor)

Best Live Act:

Best Live Act: Muse - they win awards for a reason

The Mars Volta, Radiohead, and Arcade Fire. Energetic, spiritual, and powerful, respectively Best New Album of the Year: Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs, without doubt Breakthrough Artist of 2011: The Good Natured who I think has a chance to make it next year Musical Moment of the Year: On a personal level, jogging with and interviewing Ellie Goulding.

Overall, the fact Arcade Fire hit #1 pleased me greatly

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Audio Addict

Best New Act of the Year: The Drums - flawless both live and on CD Best New Album of the Year: Arcade Fire - The Suburbs Breakthrough Artist of 2011: The Vaccines - forget the hype, this band’s sound excites me more than words can express Musical Moment of the Year: The Libertines at Reading Festival - I had waited for that moment for about 5 years

PENNYWISE GETS PACIFIC

features

Original Pennywise frontman Jim Lindberg joins Audio Addict’s Rachel Pottle with his new band, The Black Pacific, to reveal all.

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merican punk rock veterans, Pennywise, saw

their front man Jim Lindberg leave earlier this year, after twenty dedicated years and nine studio albums. He’s now returned with a fresh new band, The Black Pacific.

The band, completed with drummer Alan Vega, bassist Gavin Caswell and guitarist Marc Orrell spent the summer recording tracks for their selftitled debut album with producer Shaun Lopez. “Like myself he had something to prove and he really wanted to make a record that stood out from the rest of other bands,” says Lindberg.

Though if you’re expecting something completely different to Pennywise, you might be a little disappointed. “I wrote a lot of the material for Pennywise so it’s not that shocking that I’d write a song that sounds like it.” Since leaving the band he’s been filling his ears with bands like The Replacements and Jawbreaker.

So having created their own dynamic sound, the band secured a headlining support slot on this year’s Eastpak Antidote Tour, with Canadian punk rockers Sum 41.

Fast forward to the second day of tour, Southampton. It’s 6pm and teenagers shiver in the cold

The Black Pacific’s, Jim Lindberg shows us that he hasn’t sold-out, he just sells his own whiskey.

October breeze sporting Sum 41 t-shirts, waiting for doors to open.

Backstage at the Guildhall, the guys relax drinking beer and jamming on guitars, still feeling a little jetlagged.They’re stoked to be part of the Eastpak tour.

“It’s an awesome line-up, the

"They're the same psycho's that come to any show" -Marc Orrell Sum 41 guys are great and The Riverboat Gamblers guys, everyone’s really friendly,” explains Vega excitedly, who is also experiencing the European cities for the first time. As well as the UK in which the band express the great quality of our beer, the band will be travelling to several countries including France, Spain and Italy. “I’m looking forward to Paris, it’s going to be my birthday in Paris so that’ll be a good time!” states the rather enthusiastic Marc Orrell.

Despite what country the band play in they’re certain

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the audiences will be just the same. “They’re the same psycho’s that come to any show,” informs Marc in a serious tone before chuckling. “Rock fans are the same all over the world, they usually get drunk and just happy to be there” adds Jim. As they wait to go onstage, Alan and Jim go to find dinner, Marc displays his range of musical abilities by playing “Great Balls of Fire” on the piano (though maybe the singing should be left for Lindberg!) whilst Gavin keeps himself amused by watching funny clips on YouTube.

There’s no denying this band will gain a lot of support, whether it’s from old Pennywise followers or new fans they collect along the way. Either way, the band just want to make music, play shows and keep people entertained.

Lindberg emphasises how “we all feel like we have something to prove and we just want to go out there and bring the energy so people will want to come back and see us again.” So keep an eye on this four piece because it’s only just the beginning.

Photos by: Katy Ladyman Words by: Rachel Pottle

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features

Fresh From Eel Pie Island: The Mystery Jets have come a long way with three albums and numerous live appearances. Audio Addict’s Rachael Anderson, caught up with guitarist Will before taking the stage in Brighton as part of their UK autumn tour.

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his year has seen the four piece travel the world “we

started with a week in America, playing in Toronto, New York and

become official, but they were

and since then they’ve

together a long time before that.

developed and changed a lot as

“I met Blaine at nursery school

a band. “When we were doing

when we were about 3 or 4 and

those parties, we were making

then with the guidance of his

this progressive, sort

dad Henry, we started making music in the summer holidays, then we met Kai our bass player and Kapil our

quite naïve music. Since then

"We all want to live in America, do another album... something raw"

we’ve kind of fallen in love with pop music a bit more and started to hone our song

L.A. and then a month travelling

writing with

around Europe doing little

tracks like

club shows and now we’re in

drummer when we were about

‘Young Love’ or ‘Two Doors

England, it’s been a lot of fun”.

14 or 15. That’s when we started

Down’. We’re now making songs

doing proper gigs; we’re like a

that are a bit more delicate,

weird sort of extended family.”

sculpted and more of a pop

Recordings, 2004 was the year

Their infamous parties on Eel

sensibility”

that saw The Mystery Jets

Pie Island were a long time ago

First signing to Trangressive Records and then 679

Just another day at Eel Pie Island…

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of psychedelic and probably

Audio Addict

features

The Mystery Jets

In a daze…The Mystery Jets contemplate their new sound.

The band are close friends of DJ

purpose is to make your body

The Mystery Jets are coming

Erol Alkan who produced their

move as much as possible”.The

towards the end of promoting

second album Twenty One, not

Mystery Jets went on to sign to

Serotonin and after 3 albums

they’re most successful but

Rough Trade Records in early

you find yourself asking where

probably their most popular

2009 leading to the release of

are they going next, “We all

record. Erol brought a different,

their 3rd album Serotonin in

want to live in America, do

almost dancier sound to The

2010 and them playing a whole

another album quite quickly, do

Mystery Jets.

host of festivals over the summer

something raw, unpretentious,

as well as a special one off gig at

not very fussy and not too epic

Somerset House as part of their

just quite scratchy and live.”

“Twenty One’s my favourite because the process of making it for me was really enjoyable, I’m really good friends with Erol, he’s a great

historical the best thing actually

"We're like a weird

friend and someone I have a lot of respect for. It’s interesting working with someone who is a DJ and involved in the club world because they listen to music in a different way, for them music is much more about having a purpose and that

Summer Series. “It’s beautiful,

sort of family.." was the dressing rooms and the rider was amazing like champagne bottles etc. It was an amazing gig and I it was a bit

They are a well-known and popular band but never really had chart success, this doesn’t seem to bother them but you do wonder what the future will bring for the five boys from London.

Photos by: Nacho Alegre Courtesy of Camille Augarde

of a crowning moment for The Mystery Jets, quite an important chapter for us.”

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"I think fear can really hold you back when it comes to being creative."

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Audio Addict

features

STarry eyed Audio Addict’s Racheal Anderson talks 23 yearold Ellie Goulding.

are, you’ve got to do a lot of

rise in female artists within the

work.”

industry, some examples being

Ellie hasn’t really stopped touring since the album was released. “My life has just got

E

llie Goulding is a singer songwriter from Hereford.

If you haven’t heard of her by now you’ve probably been in a bubble for the past year as she’s well and truly taken over the world of pop with the very emotional and beautiful music she makes.

progressively more fucking mental! I was with Katy Perry the other day saying she was a really

Marina and the Diamonds, and her current support act Sunday Girl. “I don’t think I have reinvented anything, You can

"I met my boyfriend this year too, did not expect to meet my soul mate."

big fan and I was like ‘What… is going on?’ There’s Rihanna

dress something up as much as you want, but it doesn’t mean it’s going to be good.

I write everything really close to my heart and I don’t

hold back. I love pop music and I’m not afraid of it, I think fear

Ellie studied Drama at The

saying she wants to do stuff and

University Of Kent before

I can’t really take it in, I met my

leaving part way through her

boyfriend this year too, did not

degree to pursue a career in

expect to meet my soul mate.

With Ellie’s tour coming towards

music, “I realised I could write

There are moments that keep my

the end, many fans are eager for

my own songs and sing, people

feet on the ground, my band are

a quick second album and next

were starting to get really excited

amazing, so clever, so talented,

week sees the re-release of her

about me because they had

we’re happy with what we do...

debut record entitled Bright

heard me singing, so I moved to

We feel like a family.”

Lights. Featuring six new tracks

London with no money. God it

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it includes a beautiful cover of

was a nightmare!”

his tour has been Ellie’s longest. Playing 21 dates

In September 2009 she signed to

throughout October and

Polydor Records and within 6

November, she is coming towards

"My life has just got progressively more fucking mental!" months she’d won the BBC’S Sound of 2010 and the Critic’s Choice Award at the Brits, all before the release of her debut album Lights in March.

However it wasn’t all as easy as it sounds as Ellie explains, “It doesn’t matter how good or how determined you

can really hold you back when it comes to being creative.”

‘Your Song’ by Elton John, which is also the soundtrack to the new John Lewis Christmas advert.

the end of what has been

“I’ve got a vision forming in my

a tough ride for the pop

head; I need to read a lot more

sensation, “It’s been good,

books and I’ll go away for a few

it’s hard, you have to keep

weeks but I’m very much in this

the morale up, I stuff my

Bright Lights mind frame, I’m

face, and I’ve put on loads

really excited about the new

of weight! You kind of look

songs, and they’ll be out soon.

forward to the days off, not that

They just sound a bit more

we don’t love it but it’s taxing

mature I think, like they’ve come

because my voice is strong but

a bit further.”

can be weak at the same time.”

The past 12 months have been

A lot of people would say Ellie

nothing but a whirlwind for

Goulding has almost reinvented

pop’s latest star but the next 12

the female singer songwriter

are set to look even brighter if

with her originality and real

her second album is anything as

passion for music, inspiring a

good as her first.

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features

Ellie On The Run

U

sually, a meeting with a pop

and see if I could make a

pace was pretty fast and being

star is being in the right

difference. Which I think I have

a non-runner, I hated every

place at the right time. They

done, because so many people

second of it. But when it all came

tend to be awkward situations;

have started running through it.”

to an end, she was happy enough

a case of either being too star

Nike tops and put us all on the

conversation, or trying too hard

Audio Addict runner’s thoughts…

to impress your new-found best

Elliott, 19 from Essex:

Ellie is so passionate about

struck to make any meaningful

friend.

“I’ve met my fair share of high-

Not Ellie Goulding. The night

profile artists, most from being in

before her show at the

the right place at the right time.

Southampton Guildhall, four

I’m tempted to use the phrase

students from Southampton

‘blood, sweat, and tears’ to

Solent University were asked

describe what I had to endure to

if they would like to go jogging with the pop sensation herself.

Walking to university every day was exercise enough for most of us, but we all agreed to go anyway, the 5-kilometre run being a small consequence of meeting Britain’s latest pop darling.

E

running. What she’s doing for her fans is such a great thing and I hope she keeps it up for years to come. I hope I get the chance to do it again, but this time with a few months of training behind me…”

– Ellie Goulding meet Ellie Goulding, and I’d almost be right; there was certainly buckets

really love it, so decided to

of sweat, thankfully no

get other people involved. People

blood (just blisters…),

think I’m a nerd, but shame on

and dare I say, tears of

people who laugh at it because

joy at actually finishing

I’d much rather my fans were

the run!”

wasted on drugs or just being…

guest list for the show that night.

"Shame on people who laugh. I'd much rather my fans doing that rather than getting wasted."

llie enjoys running; “I just

doing that rather than getting

Danielle, 19 from Essex:

lazy.” She knows it’s not typical

“Normally my answer to a

custom for a pop star to do this

5k run would be “You

sort of thing as well. “Yeah it’s

must be must joking?!

different, I just think it’s good

Hah!” But when you’re

because everything I’ve done to

asked to run 5k with Ellie

do with music is pretty dark and

Goulding? My answer

I’ve been through a lot of stuff

soon turns into “Of course!”

Rachael, 20, from Brighton:

I was dreading the thought of the

“Having the opportunity to run

run, but when she arrived I

with Ellie Goulding was truly

thought how lucky I was and

amazing, when I first found out

would give it my best shot. The

that I’d be running with her, I

to write my songs, but there’s this whole other thing about me which is running. I like it so much I just wanted to get people who are into my music involved

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to sign our special ‘Ellie Runs’

Audio Addict

features was ecstatic but realised that

fan, I must have been the

and thought no more of it.

I can’t really run, so quickly

only person dedicated (read:

So when I was asked the day

became nervous and quite

obsessive) enough to have

before the show, I was ecstatic

scared!

known she runs in the cities

to say the least! I had been jogging regularly over the summer whilst working with the military in Germany, but since resuming university, my beer belly had started to reappear and the thought of jogging again worried me a little, but it was fantastic! The 5k seemed a breeze whilst jogging alongside Ellie the entire time, and she was lovely and understanding to those who couldn’t keep up as easily. The whole experience was surreal!”

Ellie says:

However, waking up to beautiful

she gigs in. I had tickets for

“I really enjoyed it. Sometimes

weather with the thought that

the Southampton show, but

we have five people, sometimes

not everyone gets to run with

couldn’t find any information

ten. Last time we had a girl

Ellie Goulding everyday spurred

on a scheduled run in the city,

who… she was lovely, but she

me on to do

was underage and she couldn’t

well and enjoy

really run very far, so to have a

the run instead

lot of people who can actually

of dread it!

run is really cool. Last tour we

Meeting Ellie

did it in every city and I was fit

was great; she

as hell. Just running in every

was so lovely,

city. However, it’s a really long

friendly and

tour and a demanding show

down to earth,

physically too, so we’ve made

seeming like a

sure we haven’t done it every

friend rather

day.”

than a famous

Words by: Rob Ferguson, with contributions from: Danielle Brackenbury, Elliot Muharrem, and Rachael Anderson Photos: Courtesy of Solent SU Press

musician!”

Rob, 20, from Basingstoke: “Being a huge Ellie Goulding

Audio Addict

13

features

ten years of athlete

Racheal Anderson talks to Athlete drummer, Steve Roberts to find out what’s next for the

released Singles 01-10, a greatest

that record on our own, in our

hits album. “Every album sounds

own studio and it was really

quite different and we’ve been

creative, really independent. But

quite comfortable with that, I

the first record is really special

think sometimes that kind of

to us because we were really

thing can come across as quite

young and excited. We couldn’t

thlete have been together

erratic. That’s a real positive

believe that somebody was

10 years now. After 4

from our point of view for things

actually paying for us to be in

albums and a number of

to change as much as they need

the studio, recording stuff and

successful singles many fans are

to.” says Roberts.

then we were on the radio.”

Athlete has been through a lot

Athlete are half way through

together as a band and each

their current UK tour. Their

Formed in 1999, Athlete’s early

album they’ve written really

‘homecoming’ gig was at the

years were their most successful.

reflects what’s happened

HMV Forum on Saturday

They won an Ivor Novello award

around that time. “I don’t have a

and was described by their

for single ‘Wires’ and a Mercury

favourite album…looking back

tour manager as ‘their best

Prize for their 2003 album

I think it’s probably Beyond The

London show ever.’ “I really

entitled Vehicles and Animals.

Neighbourhood because we made

really enjoyed Saturday night.

band...

A

confused as to what’s next for the 4-piece from London.

These successes earned them a lot of publicity, leading to their second album Tourist reaching number 1 in the UK album chart in 2005. Most recently thy have

"We couldn't believe that somebody was actually paying for us to be in the studio"

Drummer Steve Roberts decides to take a break from Athlete’s moving day.

14

Audio Addict

features "we've really got something to say and we've got something fresh to put into it" This time it’s more to mark the

milestone together, after four

fact we’ve been around for 10

albums Athlete aren’t planning

years and we’ve got the 10 year

on splitting up anytime soon

anniversary album of all the

but they’ve decided to take a

singles”.

break, “we feel like it’s a natural

Having reached the 10-year

point to take some time out,

we’ve been doing that process of making an album and touring it, then once you finish

that you start writing and you make another album and you tour it. We just decided let’s not do that again, let’s do it when we feel like, when we’ve really got something to say and we’ve got something fresh to put into it.”

It’s hard to understand why Athlete have never really made it, even with a number 1 album and several successful singles a lot of people still don’t know who they are and it’s clear to see that they rely on a strong following of loyal fans. It would be fantastic to see them come back having gone in a slightly different direction, with a new album reaching out to a wider audience to finally getting the recognition they deserve.

Photos: Courtesy of Mike Gourlay

Audio Addict

15

features

Kids In Glass Houses Dish the DIRT...

Aled through the looking glass

Audio Addict’s Danielle Brackenbury caught up with a very tired and hung-over Aled Phillips, to get his thoughts on the whirlwind ride that is being the front man of one of the UK’s hottest

S

bands ince supporting Lostprophets at the

Southampton Guildhall 9

signings to say thank you, “It’s

second album Dirt. The album

no skin off our noses to just

includes the single ‘Undercover

spend an hour scribbling our

lover’ which features one of The

names and just saying hey and

Saturday girls Frankie Sandford.

taking a picture”. Although Aled

With the song’s big 80s vibe, the

says they get asked to do the

band thought it would be a great

strangest of things “some woman

idea to get a female vocalist in on

put her baby on the desk and we

the act “it turned out she was a

signed her baby, I also received a

big fan of our band and it all just

doll that was covered in writing...

fell into place” says Aled.

I still have that in my bedroom actually”.

months ago, Kids in Glass

Supporting the likes of the

Houses have kept themselves

Manic Street Preachers and

2010 is nearly over but 2011 will

busy throughout this year.

Lostprophets at the Guildhall.

see the band play a few festivals

Aled claims it’s a triumph for the

over the summer. While also

band to be headlining. With only

knuckling down writing and

10 tickets left for the show it’s

recording demos for album

clear just how big this band have

number 3, which will hopefully

become in recent years. Aled

be released late next year.

explains “I think Dirt kind of

Words by: Danielle Brackenbury Photo: Courtesy of Kirsten Sparks (Roadrunner records)

"some woman put her baby on the desk and we signed it" - Aled Phillips The 5 piece band from Cardiff in Wales released their first album Smart Casual back in 2008. Early

16

this year they released their

helped our live shows a lot as we feel a lot more confident.”

Joining together with Macbeth footwear Kids in Glass Houses have put on a string of in-store Audio Addict

The stars of 2011

the locals

Audio Addict brings you the local acts that are set to make it big this coming year. groups around at the

you’d be hard pushed to

different they sounded

moment that sound

find elsewhere in

compared to the other

like us,” says guitarist

these parts.

bands on the bill.

Neil Allen. “We’re

After the release of a

They will be playing

trying to get away

couple of demos

shows around

from the ‘generic’

recorded and mixed

Southampton in the

indie and add our own

by band members

tail-end of 2010, and

personal touch to it.”

themselves, excitement

will then be looking to

Shaping up to be one of

It’s not difficult to spot

grew steadily and

expand out and tour all

Southampton’s biggest

the post-rock influence.

reached fever pitch

over the UK.

new breakthrough

With sparse, dreamy

when their first show

acts of 2011, Cardinals

vocals and a heavy

was announced. People

are something a bit

emphasis on delay

turned up in their

different. “I don’t

pedals, the band have

droves and applauded

http://www.myspace.

think there are many

developed a sound that

the band on how

com/cardinalsbanduk

‘The new champions of

DJ Jennarate

Scott Atrill and Kevin

they like to call

Amongst glitter balls,

huge impression on

themselves)

glow sticks and strobe

the London scene,

have so far

light lasers, meet

being the first up-

shared the bill

Solent’s very own DJ,

and-coming female

with the likes

Jenna Barker.

DJ to play at Matter

of Jeniferever,

By day she studies a

nightclub. Though her

Engineers,

Digital Music degree

most fun experience

Portugal.

and by night ‘Jennarate’

is when she played in

The Man and

can mix up some

Ibiza. “ Playing in the

Danananaykroyd,

cracking tunes and

sunshine with dolphins

playing at local venues

spice them up with the

swimming round the

the Joiners, Hamptons

use of accapellas and

boat was possibly one of

and Goblets.With some

spin-backs.

the best things I’ve ever

new material in 2011,

After 5 years of DJing

done.” Celebrate New

Waking Aida definitely

across UK clubs, she is

Year’s Eve with her at

have the chance to rule

steadily

London’s Renaissance

not only the South

climbing up the

Rooms and get involved

coast!

industry

in the biggest party

ranks.

of the year.

Cardinals

Waking Aida In 2008,

Post-medio-core’ (as

University friends Josh (bass) and Alex (drums) met their guitarist James Cleary via YouTube.

At first, the instrumental post-rock act were happy being a three-piece but also realised that a second guitarist could help bolster their sound. The band eventually put an add for him and James Matthews joined. “So now there were four of us, but none of us could/wanted to sing” recalls bassist, Josh.

Eventually, the band

Words by: Veronika Mihalkova Photo by: Jasper Tandy

decided to stick to

http://www.myspace.

being instrumental.

com/wakingaida

She has appeared alongside

Words by: Rob Ferguson

Energy and made a

Words by: Rachel Pottle

big names

http://soundcloud.

such as

com/jennarate

Audio Addict

17

live reviews

MARINA AND HER BRIGHTON DIAMONDS: THE LAST OF THE UK TOUR

Words by: Sian Robertson

in a personalised American jock jumpsuit, holding a foam burger in one hand and a take-away carton in the other. Following this, she thanks her fans and gushes, ‘I know it sounds corny but Marina and the Diamonds is all I care about... and as long as I have you listening to me then that’s all that matters’.

Fans share in this cringe-worthy moment that almost feels like Diamonds are a girl’s best friend: Marina performs at her last UK tour date.

D

espite the ice-cold

I’m a feminist so I’m ok with

November air, the last

this’ she laughs. And indeed

handpicked stop for the ‘Burger

the sense of girl power that

Queen Tour’ draws in a huge

emanates from the songstress

crowd of teenage variations of

appears to be thrown right back

Marina, with their sparkly eye

at her, literally.

make-up and glittery hair- and that’s just the boys.

soulful rendition of ‘The Family

dress to a skin-tight black cat

Jewels’. A wall of sound- brought

suit with giant neon flashing

in by a playful, ‘Girls’ comes as

love-heart belt. Marina’s mish-

a shock to the system- not least

mash of style and unique

because this is a bubblegum pop

performance technique (a lot

act and her band of Diamonds-

of karate type hand waving) is

not a hardcore metal group. It

entertaining to say the least.

pays testament to the sound

V

the forgotten backing band, consisting of keyboardist, drummer, synthesist and pigeonbobbing-headed guitarist.

A fan decides to lob a tampon on stage, which Marina promptly picks up. ‘It has Marina hearts Hollywood on it’ she tells the audience rather confused, ‘Well

18

as a pre-cursor to ‘I am not a Robot’. From a dark sultry velvet

well as the timing and skill of

confetti falls from the ceiling.

The first costume change comes

She begins the night with a

capabilities of the venue as

it might end in ‘happy’ tears, as

ocally her performance is faultless, despite this being

the last stop on her long 9-month tour. Songs, ‘Numb’ and ‘Obsessions’, are performed by Marina alone at her keyboardwith a backing band of the few hundred that watch her.

Marina is blown away by her wind machine.

Yes, it truly seemed that Marina’s found a new home- one where the girls adore her, the boys wear make-up in ode to her, and tampons are thrown lovingly at

The encore is rounds off with a

her.

lively rendition of her hit single

Photos by: Polly Hanrahan

‘Hollywood’, with Marina dressed

Audio Addict

Scruff's Orange Night Out Orange Rooms receives a visit from ‘turntablist’ extraordinaire Mr Scruff, as label Ninja Tune, celebrates their 20th year.

live reviews

Scruff’s set got off to a fairly

next record, keeping his head

inauspicious start, with some

about him as every five minutes

low-key tunes. But then suddenly

somebody leaned over his decks

the woofers kicked in with an

to shake his hand, and always

almightily thunderous rhythm

obliging.

and Scruff-style shaking speakers

A

to a swelling audience. The crowd flocked towards the sound in a manner that would have put the Pied Piper himself to shame.

Mr Scruff show is something a little out of the

ordinary. The man has an uncanny symbiosis with his merchandising. There is nobody

Careful, steady, and grooving,

else out there who draws such

suddenly dropped into the Keep

a fanatical following, largely

It Unreal crowd pleasers like

based on a bunch of podgy line

‘Spandex Man’ and ‘Get a Move

drawings.

On’, delving into the adrenaline soaked, stomping bass favourites as the night progressed.

There was a nice mix of the Mr Scruff came to Orange Rooms slightly surreal tunes and bits of this week a little later than

old fashioned hip hop vocals

planned. We expected to see him

tempted in every now and again

here last month, but that was

over the usual dazzling array

cancelled and we all had to wait a of breaks, funk, soul, ska, jazz while, but fuck it, he’s here now,

and Latin records. Scruff deftly

so let the party commence!

blended the raucous horns into the chilled African Drums of the

Mr Scruff is about as down to earth as they come, completely infatuated with music; he lives to mix and is always one to promote the virtues of a good cup of tea.

So all in all, this was another fantastic night and another ecstatic crowd with Mr Scruff showing how it should be done as per.

Words by: Peter Smith

We Are Scientists:

Live at Portsmouth Pyramids Leisure Centre A sell out crowd at the Portsmouth Pyramids Leisure Centre, plays host to California’s own We Are Scientists.

A community swimming pool in the quaint area of Southsea, seems like a very bizarre place to hold two of music’s biggest characters, but is it? The muggy atmosphere consumes as you walk through the doors into the

1400 capacity room. It may be

divided the crowd. Die-hard fans

a swimming pool by day, but

will have loved the inclusion

put your trunks away as We Are

of newer tracks like ‘Jack and

Scientists spill to the stage like a

Ginger’ and the epic ‘Pittsburgh’

shaken up can of lager.

whilst the bandwagon anxiously

A surprising mix of age groups

awaited the classics.

makes up the crowd

The hilarious banter between

demonstrating We Are Scientists’

songs and hyperactive stage

universal appeal. However, it’s

presence once again proved that

clear many younger members of

We Are Scientists are the most

the audience weren’t even aware

amusing live band around.

of a third album, so starting the

Words by: Dan Wallwork

set with ‘Nice Guys’ instantly

Audio Addict

19

live reviews

I

Live at Southampton University t’s not often Audio Addict’s

delicately in the palm

Elliot Muharrem ventures

of his hands.

into the deep dark depths of Southampton Uni’s Highfield campus for fear of alienation, but tonight they host Stornoway, so predispositions are let go. A pretty packed out crowd are here to see a band who have been dubbed as folk’s most forwardthinking band, or ‘nu-folkers’ if you prefer.

"A lone violinist strolls onto the stage to serenade an expectant crowd"

The first sing-along comes as we hear the heartfelt ‘Fuel Up’, a song chronicling a wistful journey through childhood with the literal and overlying lyric “drive on, drive on”. However, it’s a shame to hear the instruments bleed into each other as the song climaxes and the details that make the band so appealing have been

A lone violinist strolls onto the

lost in a wall of sound.

how well they’ve managed to

stage to serenade an expectant

M

command this silence. Even as

crowd, an introduction to the multitude of instruments about to greet us tonight. They play ‘The Coldharbour Road’, possibly one of their more unfamiliar tunes, but a great example of their ability to fuse a rustic sound seamlessly with a delightful melody.

uch foot stomping and dancing ensues as ‘We are

the Battery Human’ sends a wave of energy through the crowd, (even the city-slicker types near

revolution! To free the battery human” is resounding in heads,

certainly masters in the art of

pegged onto them.

of the amp stack. The backing members of the band float on and off the stage when needed, and I find myself playing (and losing) a tracking game as lead singer Brian Briggs holds me

whisper the chorus back to them.

"lead singer Brian Briggs holds me delicately in the palm of his hands"

“So join the new revolution,

folk’ tag Stornoway have had

set that adorns the stage on top

beautiful moment but instead

a good hoedown). The liberating

the most clear signal of the ‘nu-

1970’s black and white television

not the need to interrupt this

The band’s most popular single

Southampton, and they are

or the audience are glued to the

the chorus kicks in, people feel

me whom I imagine must crave

This is Stornoway’s first time in

holding an audience. Either that

20

Stornoway:

to date ‘Zorbing’, completes the

And then comes the most

two-song encore, following

glorious moment of the gig. The

a harmonica-assisted ‘Long

band asks for silence as they step

Distance Lullaby’. The crowd

away from their microphones

leaves fresh in the knowledge

to play ‘The End of a Movie’

that Stornoway, (and ‘nu-folk’

unamplified to a hushed crowd.

for that matter), have the ability

Only a couple of mumbles from

to command and empower one’s

a few people can be heard, as

spirit… and possibly even free it.

the majority are as amazed to

Photo: Courtesy of Robin Ball

Audio Addict

album reviews

Kanye West

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Roc A Fella/Def Jam) Words by: Richard Cook

"flows into a stadium synth set with a bongo beat background" monster on this track, firing out the rap of her life. ‘Dark Fantasy’ is an exceptionally emphatic opening track, formulating a sky rising, immense feeling, echoed through lyrics, “Can we get much higher?”.

E Yizzy returns with arguably the best album of the year…

W

hether he’s throwing juvenile tantrums at

music award ceremonies or provoking the highest authority

luminary pop figurehead Elton John, along with a host of other hip-hop and R ‘n’ B artists in between.

motive ballad ‘Runaway,’ features Pusha T, one half

of hip-hop duo Clipse. Kanye’s character’s inability to commit to the woman he loves provides a darker and sadder aspect to the record.

The album begins with a piano interlude performed by Elton John, it flows into a stadium synth set with a bongo beat

It’s hard to pick out any low points of the album, Kanye West has truly delivered this time.

Composing an opulently dazzling

in the world to describe what

background. There is a celestial

LP, think what you want of

he saw as “the most disgusting

feel that portrays Kanye’s

Kanye West outside of the music,

point of his presidency”, Kanye

protagonist arriving home to find

once you have immersed yourself

West is without doubt one of the

his wife being unfaithful and

in the tantalising rhythms and

most controversial stars in music

then Kanye, undertaking the role

nigh on perfect vocals, there

today and he is often more well

of God, announces to “Let there

is no denying that Kanye has

known for his contentious antics

be light” in order to highlight

produced one of the greatest

then he is for his music… until

the act of betrayal.

albums of the year.

Other stand-out songs include

Released: 22nd November

The Chicago based rapper has

‘Monster’ the second single to be

Download: ‘All of the Lights’,

called upon a gargantuan

released from the album, in

‘Monster’, ‘Dark Fantasy’

assembly of stars to help create

which Jay Z and Bon Iver appear

Rating: 4/5

his best album to date. From

alongside Kanye. However, it

indie-folk star Bon Iver to

is Niki Minaj who is the true

now.

Audio Addict

21

album reviews

Good Charlotte

Cardiology (EMI/Capitol Records) 8 years to when we first heard

on love, music and the good

The Young and the Hopeless. Good

things in life, which is actually

Morning Revival was the only

quite refreshing to hear during

album not to reach gold status

these bad financial times.

in America back in 2007 so hopefully by going back to their Finally, the new Good Charlotte album is here and it’s a pleasure to say that this is some of their best material yet...

Fans will be pleased to know that they sound like the ‘old’ Good Charlotte, with less synth and electronics and more drums and guitar. Cardiology’s nothing that we haven’t heard before; in fact it’s almost like stepping back

old sound they can achieve the success they deserve with this record.

The first albums have a very innocent sound to them and even though Good Charlotte have grown up and matured they have still managed to keep their

With unoriginal track names

style youthful and appealing for

such as ‘1979’ and ‘Last Night’

this album.

though, it might seem that Good Charlotte have run out of ideas, and with a total of 15 tracks on the album, it can be a little lengthy and repetitive. Yet the album is still energetic with

Released: 1st November Download: ‘Counting the days’, ‘Alive’ Rating: 3/5 Words by: Emily Sutherland

catchy pop punk lyrics focused

Botany

Feeling Today EP (Western Vinyl)

If ever an EP came out at the wrong time of year, it’s this.

Internet research suggests that

opening title track, a slice

Feeling Today is only a precursor

of dream pop that virtually

to Stephenson’s debut full

swells. Ashley Rathburn’s vocal

length, a consequence of years

emphasises the carefree nature

amassing music and cultivating

of the EP as a whole, urging the

(pun intended) the Botany

listener to “take your time, throw

sound. If the album continues

your troubles away”.

in the vein of EP closer ‘Agave’,

‘Benefactress’ provides a

the insistent hypnotism of its four-to-the-floor rhythms and

Spencer Stephenson’s debut is

reflective calm, complete with

brimming with beat-driven

bird sounds and meandering

compositions drenched in sun

drums, while ‘Minnow Theme’

and hazy, chill wave melodies.

is a pure and joyful charge,

Stephenson’s style slots nicely

wearing its Manitoba influence

in alongside those of Caribou

on its sleeve. ‘Waterparker’ is

and Four Tet, and references

similarly up-tempo and upbeat,

Released: 9th November 2010

to both can be heard through

as if someone had locked the

Download: ‘Agave’, ‘Waterparker’

his sampling of interesting

young Texan in his room with

Rating: 3.5/5

instrumentation and sounds.

a sampler and the Beach Boy’s

The shimmering tone of Feeling

22

Today is in evidence from its

back catalogue.

Audio Addict

competently building structure proving a highlight of an already fascinating set, the results could be exceptional. Quick as you can please sir.

Words by: Tom Quickfall

My Chemical Romance

album reviews

Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (Reprise) Words by: Veronika Mihalkova Despite a drastic image change, the Jersey rockers’ fourth studio album is typically MCR, just more mature and less theatrical.

O

here and there, something very uncharacteristic of MCR. In some, as in ‘Bulletproof Heart’, the slow parts beautifully

n each of their albums,

take turns with the faster

My Chemical Romance

ones, there’s no chance to get

have so far always seemed

bored.

to come up with new

E

identities and a new concept world, and this process has usually been accompanied

ven by looking at the song titles, it’s easy to

tell you are dealing with

by a whole new image.

a My Chemical Romance

Throughout the years, as

album. There is an obvious

ridiculous as it might appear,

playfulness in titles as

the most apparent and

‘S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W’ or the

memorable signifier of a new

first single ‘Na Na Na [Na

chapter in band’s life was when front man Gerard Way’s hair changed from long black goth style of their breakthrough Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge era to short platinum blonde with the release of the following concept album The Black Parade.

"based around a set of outlaws dressed as futuristic cowboys in 2019's California"

Now four years later, with a new

progresses, there is no story,

(so far) just touring drummer

Danger Days… is not a concept

Michael Pendicone (formerly

album.

of The Bled), MCR are back on track with Gerard’s hair shining bright red. Danger Days… was said to be rockier, full of hate and their defining work. As the title suggests, the album is based around the lives of ‘The Fabulous Killjoys’ - the bands’ alter egos, a set of outlaws dressed as futuristic cowboys in 2019’s California. In an interview with NME, Gerard said even though there is a character of a pirate radio DJ ‘Dr. Death’ who guides you as the album

In ‘Look Alive, Sunshine’, Dr. Death introduces himself and the intro proceeds straight into an energetic bomb ‘Na Na Na [Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na]’ that immediately grabs even the most

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na]’.

Not as much as on previous albums, but there is also sense of theatrics in (not just the title of) ‘Save Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back’ which has been occurring in their work since the very first record I Brought You My Bullets You Brought Me Your Love and earned them the often misused emo tag.

In a playful yet dynamic manner reminiscent of ‘I’m Not Okay (I Promise)’ and later‘Teenagers’, MCR managed to capture the feel of their live shows and prove musical maturity.

half-hearted listener and drags

Released: 22nd November

them into the world of Killjoys.

Download: ‘Na Na Na [Na Na Na

There is a great flow in all the

Na Na Na Na Na Na]’, ‘Save

songs and they greatly connect

Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back’,

to each other. Most of the songs

‘Destroya’

are fast-paced optimistic pop

Rating: 3/5

punk anthems full of energy, reminiscent of 80’s synths

Audio Addict

23

album reviews

Simian Mobile Disco Delicacies (Delicatessen)

If you were one of those left feeling largely disappointed with Simians last effort, Temporary Pleasures, then prepare to reestablish your relationship with the exceptional Londonbased duo.

‘Nerve Salad’ takes us on a

‘Hakari’ is the standout track of

menacingly dark and scabrous

the record, an offering of sci-fi

trip through an eerie and echoic

effects and dirty techno rhythms

ghost ride, which leaves the

that make you tingle all over

listener feeling uncomfortably

before dropping into the

anxious, but then techno was

filthiest, most rambunctious

never meant to put the mind at

muscular bass beat that would

ease. Heavy bass lines and big,

be far from out of place in

in your face melodies are the

the bottomless basements of

ground works to this album.

underground Berlin. Delicacies

‘Thousand Year Egg’ begins as

certainly lives up to its name,

an underwater adventure, huge

offering the listener a rare treat.

synth and deafening sirens, evokes a moment of panic amongst the constant trickling,

The album starts with a kind of

inducing signs of a drug fuelled

meaty jelly substance otherwise

bathtub experience.

Released: 29th November Download:‘Hakari’,‘Aspic’ ‘Nerve Salad’ Rating: 3.5/5 Words by: Richard Cook

known as ‘Aspic.’

Nicki Minaj

Pink Friday (Young Money Entertainment / Universal Motown) Fortunately, hip-hop plays a fair

are great pop songs with an

part here as well. In fiery

innovative twist.

‘Roman’s Revenge’, we get to explore a darker side to Nicki’s voice as her alter-ego Roman Zolanski meets Eminem’s Slim Shady, both feeling like a ‘dungeon dragon’. Apart from Seeing that Nicki Minaj has

Em, artists such as will.i.am,

recently been proclaimed as the

Drake, Kanye West, Rihanna

new queen of hip-hop, there is

and Natasha Bedingfield appear

perhaps too much of a pop side

alongside.

to her debut album. Raised in New York but of a Trinidadian descent, the 25 year old singersongwriter and rapper rose to stardom with a buzz single ‘Massive Attack’ released in April this year, followed by ‘Your Love’ in August.

24

Nevertheless, except for a few tracks most notably ‘Right Thru Me’ where the over-sweetened melody and auto-tuned voice are nothing but disturbing, the album shows a great crossover of hip-hop and pop. Both singles ‘Your Love’ and ‘Check It Out’ Audio Addict

Vocal versatility, ingenious lyrics and their shameless delivery is what makes Nicki stand-out whereas in her pop and R ’n’ B moments she sounds just like another average starlet. Let’s hope we hear more hip-hop from the new queen on the next album.

Released: 19th November Download: ‘Roman’s Revenge’, ‘Your Love’ Rating: 4/5 Words by: Veronika Mihalkova

album reviews

Logistics

Space Jams (Hospital) and were sold separately. Then

Hospital front man, London

arrives Space Jams, Logistics new

Elektricity.

album is a back catalogue of his greatest tunes, some of which have never been released.

Matt Gresham aka Logistics has been a busy bee over the past 6 years. You only have to look up Logistics on Youtube to see the vast collection of tunes by the Hospital Records DJ. Since signing to the label in 2004 he has produced over 90 tunes.

Many of these tracks were not featured on any of his LPs

It is hard to pinpoint a favourite on the Space jams LP as their are 21 absolute masterpieces on

Space james features the dance

the album. A personal highlight

floor hits ‘Together’ and ‘Inside My

has to be ‘Together’. Its just

Soul’ and also features

one those songs that sticks in

more recent singles such as

your mind with its chilled yet

‘Cosmonaut’. You only have to

energetic bass line.

listen to the first part of the album to appreciate how talented he is. All of his hard work has

This is a must have album for Logistics fans old and new.

definitely paid off. The album

Released: 15th November

doesn’t just feature Gresham

Download: ‘Togther’

on his own though, there are

Rating: 4/5

a handful of collaborations including Illskillz, Cyantifc and

Words by: Danielle Sanders

Raygun Youth: HOSPITALITY - MARCUS INTALEX - CYANTIFIC LOMAX @ Junk 5/11/10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8alkZk8pR0

Audio Addict

25

AUDIO ADDICT: We worked hard, tore our hair out and scrimped and saved, but we managed it.

Audio Addict put on their first show on Wednesday 15th November at the Solent Student Union, and if you weren’t there, you definitely missed out.

Words by: Tara Perera

Audio Addict writers on the launch night.

AS GODS

F

irst on were Bristol’s

songs off their upcoming album,

Members:

incredible metallers, As

The Journeyman, which is due to

Howard Ridgeon - Vocals

Gods. They brought a fusion of

come out early next year. They

Ell Ridgeon- drums

empowering and fantastic vocals

definitely got the crowd into

WJ Plumb- bass

from lead singer, Howie Ridgeon,

their groove, and introduced

Fred Spooner- guitar

and face melting shredding

themselves to a new onslaught of

Jonny Price- guitar

abilities. They played a variety of

listeners.

Genre: Metal

FLOODS

Sounds like: Killswitch Engage/As I Lay Dying/All That Remains

Members: James Power – Vocals

Performance Rating: 4/5

Joe Page – Guitar

Find out more: www.myspace.

Joshua Dunne – Bass

com/asgods

Colin Cooper – Guitar George Dixon – Drums Genre: Post Hardcore Sounds like: Underoath/ Comeback Kid/mewithoutyou Performance Rating: 3/5 Find out more: myspace. com/ukfloods

26

Audio Addict

N

ext on were St. Albans’ bad boys Floods. Containing a

member of Watford’s None The Less, and Your Demise’s ex drummer, they bring a cross of post-hardcore frenzied angst, with wondrous vocal harmonies.

LAUNCH NIGHT Unfortunately, the band’s less

screamer, James Power, taking

inclined to scream vocalist has

the floor and marching around

departed, so they didn’t seem

like no one was watching.

exactly full. They still tore the venue up, although perhaps maybe scaring the crowd off with

BEVE AND THE BEATROOTS

B

Members:

Vocals

Beve (Steve) Finch - Vocals

Ed Seymour – Guitar

Charlie Holter - Guitar David Welch - Guitar

Genre: Covers

eve & The Beatroots aren’t

Chris (Squelch) Welch - Bass/

Sounds like: Well..covers.

really the type of band you

Vocals

Performance Rating: 4/5

would expect to see on a bill like

Olie Marchant - Drums/

this, but regardless, we put them on anyways. They’re a fantastic

and really bring the party. The

and danced and sang along for

covers band from Eastbourne,

crowd absolutely loved them,

their entire set.

BURN THE FLEET

L

astly, the mighty

come from this city that are

Members:

Southampton hero’s, Burn

better to see live, rather than

Andrew Convey - Vocals

The Fleet took the stage, and

listen to on CD. They played

James Swabey – Bass

impressed the SU’s occupants

a variety of material, some of

Jack Spurway - Guitar

to a great degree. The band are

which many of their followers

Dan Northover – Drums

extremely tight when they play,

knew all the words too. They

and one of the only few that

came, they saw, they conquered.

Genre: Alternative/Rock Sounds like: Tiger Please/ Drawings/Wolf Am I Performance Rating: 5/5 Find out more: www. myspace.com/ burnthefleetband Floods photos: Courtesy of George Dixon Burn the Fleet photos: Courtesy of David Rowett

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