4Play

March 2, 2005

Sondre Lerche - Two Way Monologue - Astralwerks
Let’s start with the obvious question and get it over with - Norwegian Lerche’s name is, to the best of our knowledge, pronounced “Sawn-druh Lair-kay.” Got it? Good. Now onto the more interesting facets of this singer-songwriter – his music. This is Lerche’s second album, but the first that has introduced him to American consciousness, and for good reason. A cohesive, pleasant, and standout listen, Lerche melds the best of mellow David Bowie with a hint of Damien Rice, a good dash of Burt Bacharach and a little Rufus Wainwright to make for a set of playful, rich songs that discern themselves with Lerche’s own easily discernable flair. From the poetry of “Wet Ground” to the upbeat “Counter Spark,” the pretty closer, “Maybe You’re Gone,” and the communicative title track, his plaintive voice, songwriting talents, and natural-to-the-ear arrangements make this one a winner; and now that you know how to say his name, you can tell all your friends about it.


The Streets - Original Pirate Material - Vice/Atlantic
Half rap, half spoken word, all UK garage-scene cool, The Streets’ Mike Skinner may be one of the most original-sounding voices in this genre, both because of his thick cockney accent (even in performance) and his witty, detailed compositions. Even when his vocals start sounding a little repetitive in tone, they fit this set of songs so well you can almost picture Skinner and his mates dragging themselves to their industrial jobs or waiting on the dole. The best songs often tell stories, and Skinner has this approach down, from the London-lifestyle tale of “A Day In The Life Of A Geezer” to the drug-scare of “Stay Positive” - it’s also refreshing how Skinner manages to take something from the narrative style of American rap but doesn’t copy the sound at all, instead evoking the feel of the working-class British communities. There should be a lot more from him coming our way.


Low - The Great Destroyer - Sub Pop
Duluth, Minnesota’s Low were in danger of getting in a rut on previous efforts. Not that they weren’t good efforts - it’s just that the band’s method of keeping everything low-tempo was a bit limiting, given their obvious talents. So it’s nice to see the growth on this disc, as they veer from their usual darker sound to a (gasp!) dare we say more positive approach that actually gives many of the tracks more strength and adds a nice fresh touch to their sound. Tunes like “Stand Back” and “Broadway (So Many People)” bring to mind early R.E.M., and the anthem “California” is a standout. The foundations of what has made Low’s songs good are still there - the strong melody ideas and striking instrumentation - but the changed-up dynamics (perhaps courtesy of producer Dave Fridmann, who’s worked with the Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev) are a welcome element.


Paris Combo - Motifs - DRG Records
You can almost see the cigarette smoke curling up around the eclectic members of Paris Combo as they take the stage, most likely in Cannes or some equally posh European celebri-city. Bringing together an Australian keyboardist, a French drummer, a French-Algerian guitarist, another guitarist from Madagascar, and Frenchwoman Belle du Berry on vocals, this is a truly cosmopolitan group that appeals to retro fans and hipsters alike. Unpretentious in their approach to their music, there are elements of many things here, including jazz, swing, and the obvious influence of Edith Piaf, which is no insult. Performed mostly in French and arranged with a sense of both creativity and elegance, this is simply great modern lounge music perfect for the warmer days yet to arrive.