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Dimitri from Paris exclusive playback at the Ministry of Sound
USHERED into the Lounge of the MoS, the handful of special invitees listened to the French ambassador of house music as he crafted a mix of the tracks from his latest release, Return to the Playboy Mansion. Monsieur Dimitri played for an hour as we drank in the suave elegance of the mix, the man himself and the ‘Playboy’ atmosphere. Many DJs get too drawn into getting the perfect mix – but not Dimitri. His headphones were off to hear his work being played on the truly superb sound system in the MoS Lounge.
Lt Jim Berry, 1 R Irish
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Brigade live at the Portsmouth Pyramids
YOU could be forgiven for thinking you were at a Busted gig, with the majority of the fans being too young to hold a provisional driving licence, but the night was far from tame. Brigade knew how to provoke a crowd with tracks from their second album, Come Morning We Fight. Every bit the showmen, they whipped the fans into a frenzy and left them baying for more. Their emo-style rock might not be avant garde but they are genuine originators and, with no queues at the bar, it proved to be an excellent night.
Cpl Ray Kalaker, RETDU(B)
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www.brigadeofficial.com
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Groovycide on MySpace
AFTER a four-year break, the British Forces Germany rockers have reformed with an energised set and fierce ambition. Building on their 2004 debut album Eventually, released on a leading UK indie label, the four lads have been busy with live gigs in Germany. What’s more impressive is an appearance in Q Magazine and having been previously played by legendary late DJ John Peel. Of the band’s free MP3 downloads, available on MySpace, the infectiously charged Everybody Hurts (REM), and U2’s Vertigo stand out.
Cpl Tom Robinson, 151 Tpt Regt, RLC
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www.myspace/groovycide.com |
This Story
(Brandi Carlile)
AS one of Rolling Stone magazine’s ‘ones to watch’, Brandi Carlile’s second album has her touring the UK with Newton Faulkner. A sweet and soulful mix of blues, country and rock, this is music to listen to after a dinner date when you and your beloved want to relax and chill out. Late Morning Lullaby and Have You Ever stand out as music you can lose yourself in and just drift away. While it doesn’t smack you in the face straight away, This Story will slowly grow on you and delivers all it promises.
SSgt Mo Morrison, 3LSR Regt, RLC
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www.brandicarlile.com
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We Leave At Dawn
(Envy and Other Sins)
THIS group won the Mobile Act Unsigned talent competition, which was screened on Channel 4 last year. They claim to have influences ranging from music artists to authors to the Victorian age. One might describe them as an offbeat outfit. Their music however does not reflect this and is mediocre to good British pop. The album is not a bad debut, but it does not particularly stand out from all the other Brit Pop around at the minute. Only time will tell whether Envy and Other Sins have what it takes to hold onto the fame that they have won already.
Bdr Luke Stevens-Burt, 5 Regt, RA
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www.envyandothersins.co.uk
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Weathers Coming...
(Phoebe Killdeer and the Short Straws)
WHO? She is an Anglo-French singer who fronted Nouvelle Vague before her mischievous streak led to her sacking. Her debut solo album is by no means a chart-denting commercially viable release. If you wandered into a backstreet theatre in Paris and watched an obscure Gothic musical this would be the soundtrack. It’s a precocious mix of haunting brass, rockabilly rhythms and ghostly vibes with Phoebe’s storytelling vocals. It’s a fine piece of innovative music, though hard to recommend due to its enigmatic nature.
Cpl Charlie Lloyd, RLC
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www.myspace.com/
phoebekilldeer |
SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING
(COUNTING CROWS)
THE American rock band’s fifth album after a five-year sabbatical is a conceptual idea split into two defined halves. The initial six songs sound lively and electric. They are proficient in the delivery but ultimately dispensable. The latter eight songs have an unplugged feel. They are delicately poignant and some pleasing moments drift by though it can dissolve into bouts of blandness. It adds up to a varied set that will appeal to Counting Crows’ devotees but will hardly expand the fan base.
Cpl Charlie Lloyd, RLC
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www.countingcrows.com |
11
(BRYAN ADAMS)
CANADA’S most famous musical male export has released his 11th album, entitled 11 to coincide with 11 tour dates in 11 days. But maybe it’s time he settled back and enjoyed his millions because listening to 11 is like watching your Dad dance at a wedding. Adamsjust churns out clean pop ditties tailored for single sales and airplay. Take the second track I Thought I’d Seen Everything with the predictable ending ...’til I saw you. Not his finest hour.
Lt Jim Berry, I R Irish
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www.bryanadams.com |
DIAMOND HOO HA
(SUPERGRASS)
THE sixth studio album from Supergrass is possibly the best since I Should Coco. Diamond Hoo Ha is testament to the band’s own fun loving attitude and inventiveness. With a touch of glam and pop punk, the album shows how far the Brit poppers have come in the last 14 years. It’s energetic and exudes flamboyant qualities like an old flame it’s time to rekindle the love affair. Diamond Hoo Ha needs to be your next purchase.
Cpl Ray Kalaker, RETDU(B)
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www.supergrass.com |
STREET SURVIVORS
(LYNYRD SKYNYRD)
A DOUBLE album with a live CD of exactly what you expect from Skynyrd– honky tonk, blues and rock ‘n’ roll. Some fabulous axe work on each and every track hits you as you hope but you can’t help wondering where Sweet Home Alabama is, such was the impact it had. While it doesn’t punch your lights out, Street Survivors does exactly what it says on the tin. This is an album for Lynyrd Skynyrd aficionados who will most certainly enjoy it.
SSgt Mo Morrison, 3LSR Regt, RLC
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www.lynyrdskynyrd.com |
THE LA’S
(THE LA’S)
LIVERPOOL’S The La’s are best known for their ode to heroin, There She Goes. Despite having been around for more that 20 years, they’ve produced only a handful of singles and just one album. The self-titled album is proof that they are not the one-hit-wonder act you might initially think. The La’s are no such thing and the album draws you in from the very beginning with their wonderful 60s rock and Britpop sound. Fans will appreciate the previously unreleased material but newcomers will love their sound.
Lt Jim Berry, I R Irish
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www.myspace.com/callinall |
THE GREAT ESCAPE
(BOYS LIKE GIRLS)
ALTHOUGH rightly described as the new Fall Out Boy, this is just the problem with this four-piece band. They are another young group with a large, young fan-base who religiously follow bands like McFly and Busted, and which fit firmly into this musical category. They are a talented group and have received a lot of attention from other big groups but, in my opinion, there is nothing that makes them stand out from the rest of the chart topping pop-rock boy bands. Over 22s need not listen.
Bdr Luke Stevens-Burt, 5 Regt, RA
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www.myspace.com/
boyslikegirls |
RETURN TO THE PLAYBOY MANSION
(DIMITRI FROM PARIS)
SIX long years have passed since After The Playboy Mansion mixed by Dimitri from Paris was released but the series finally has a contender for surpassing the original 2000 collection. Return To The Playboy Mansion is divided into Partytime and Sexytime and is packed full of the cool retro grooves and contemporary house beats that are Dimitri’s trademark. Partytime captures the image of a sophisticated bash at the Playboy Mansion. Sexytime picks up where Partytime leaves off – you can practically hear a Playmate purring next to you.
Lt Jim Berry, I R Irish
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www.myspace.com/
djdimitrifromparis |
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