Noblesse Oblige

Now where should I start…. A bit more time listening to more of their music I think would be good, but if I do I wont ever get round to writing the review, so time out to pour another glass and let the music waft over my ears and I suggest you join me when you take a listen.

I feel like walking away from all the ‘sounds like’ stuff and just say – intoxicating, but as a verb that doesn’t help much, let’s call it eroto-pop. Noblesse Oblige meld so comfortably with the decadence of ’20s Berlin and I can’t help but be drawn to Cabaret. Exotic, erotic and sometimes downright creepy, precisely what is missing in the plastic throw-away age of the super-club and so it is of little surprise that in these days of ‘tat is best’ and ‘lol’ exists in the dictionary, that they don’t figure in the charts.

Switching between French, German and English with either Valerie or Sebastian taking the lead vocal this is a highly versatile duet about which it is nothing other than a pleasure to write.

website

With a few releases behind them, their latest release Malady available on * is as good a place as any to start.

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My First Robot

Time and tide wait for no man and it is over a year since My First Robot came to my attention.

There is no mistaking this for what it is, German electro-beats pour out in earnest. They superbly layer guitar and vocal to generate a highly energetic and engaging sound, adding a depth of rock. Why are so many German bands so good at taking the mundane sound of equalizers and send shots of interest in to the ears? The music saws between gadgetry and guitar, each adding real interest, which just demands the volume to be turned ever higher.

My First Robot successfully negotiate the chasm between wall-paper and over-produced, to leave the audience in a space where, ‘more…’ is the only natural response.   It is never easy to type while listening to sounds that demand physical input, but needs must or else it will be another 12 months before I get round to another attempt while St Vitus Dance takes over my fingers.

Shame there is only a small out-take to post on the website:

But the good news is there is an extended playlist on their myspace page.

I will endeavour to get a review of the album written as soon as it becomes available to me.

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New Found Land Så Dansade Zarathustra Landet, Sthlm foto Lovisa Lindgren

New Found Land traverse a diversity of musical influence and settling down to hear their out-put takes the listener on a tour of the world of contemporary world music. The distinctive vocal of Anna, superbly off-setting the music, with a lilting voice reflecting the content of each track.

It would be possible to write about the sounds to be heard in the music, though as it is so diverse, it would become a list of genres across the world. One moment the uplifting beat is replaced by an introspective beat as the band explore human interaction and relationships. This nature of material marks New Found Land in a hugely exposed position to criticisms of lack of coherence, but this would only be relevant were they not consummately capable of taking on the range of music and delivering it intense feeling and emotion to the material. Their breadth of material is what makes the band of significant interest.
Life’s in your sight – Live @ Landet, Stockholm 09.11.12

New Found Land | MySpace Music Videos

As a great introduction to the band their debut LP We All Die is a superb starting point *.

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Stereo Total

Listening to the effervescent Stereo Total can’t fail but make my day seem far better. Combining sharp satirical songs with an urgent and pressing beat, the tracks all leave me wanting at least one more verse, as the tunes burst through 3 minutes of high voltage electro pop. Reminiscent of the ’80s German electogroove, overlayed with Françoise vocals, which still retains her strong French accent. The natural crispness comes from lo-fi production, which leaves the pure energy and enthusiasm to come through loud and clear.

As they continue to tour, the fan base expands and their current tour takes in:

16 Oct 2009 CDQ Warszawa, PL
29 Oct 2009 Luminaire London, UK
7 Nov 2009 Festival Music Allemand @ Nouveau Casino Paris, F
14 Nov 2009 Pling-Plong Klub @ Flucwanne Wien, AT

Luminaire show details:

Doors 8.00pm  The Luminaire 311 High Road, Kilburn, London, NW6 7JR  ticket details £8.50 adv. available at Bird on the wire

A great evening out can be expected at a Stereo Total gig.

band website

Their new album – Carte postale de Montréal – released on 9th September 2009 is a great addition to their catalogue.