Cougar Microbes

In 2000 Italian band Subsonica set out to produce the first music video that could be enjoyed by the deaf community and those who have hearing trouble. As such their video for the track ‘Disco Labirinto‘ became an experiment with visual elements paired with the various instruments to display.

The result is a multicoloured feast that conveysIt would be interesting to find out how effectively this approach ultimately worked out. Does the video convey the hook and catchiness of the tune?

TRACKS:

In what has become a bit of a ritual a group of friends and I catch up every year for Super Bowl Sunday as we habitually fall asleep before the game ends at 4am London time.

This year was no different and as we crammed into a South London flat to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Green Bay Packers it became clear that this was to become a bizarre tribute to Americana . Cue Sam Adams beers, Tex-Mex and much posturing.

It is my understanding that jobs in marketing are made on the back of these Super Bowl commercials and some of the ones we caught were pretty special. Which is more than can be said for the Black Eyed Peas whose performance was truly shocking.

Growing up in Italy I was frequently subjected to some dodgy techno version of a popular charting track so that it was not uncommon to hear Joan Osborne’s ‘One Of Us’ augmented by a symphony of tuts-tuts.

However, I was astonished to hear BEP rape and pillage ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’ from the 1987 film Dirty Dancing. What happened to the vaguely social conscious effort of ‘Where Is The Love?’. I’m not even snobbish so give me the smooth pop of ‘Shut Up’. Fuck it, I’d even rather listen to the upbeat exuberance of ‘Let’s Get Retarded’.

I thought the band succeeded in releasing the worst song ever committed to record back with ‘My Humps’ but my god does ‘The Time’ give it a run for its money…

TRACKS:

Up until a week ago my house was free from wailing spirits. Not so any more.

The Banshee‘s 80’s Britpop undertones are reminiscent of The Killers and Franz Ferdinand as well as the inevitable Joy Divison reference, their new single ‘Colder‘ is guaranteed to warm you up quickly. Matter of fact, the whole album will. The choruses lift and the verses, well… they keep lifting. These guys differentiate themselves with keyboard textures and effects augmented by soaring riffs and multiple layers of angular sound. They clearly like their 16-beats with a disco hi-hat, and the tracks – although carefully produced – retain a rawness that conveys the band’s energy.

But it’s for better or for worse,that the album never lets up. It feels like a rollercoaster ride without the uphill parts – it’s fast and furious all the way through. By keeping energy levels up and a constant sharpness throughout, there’s not much time to breathe and savour the anticipation of the next rush.

Don’t get me wrong, the good songs are very good indeed. Tremendous choruses, such as the skilled build-up in ‘Kicks Up‘, and ‘People Around’, with it’s deliciously soothing verses that burst into a chant. ‘Cut Me Clear’with it’s guitar riff and disco-beat on the verses, is another one I liked,  and the aforementioned ’Colder‘ is simply a cracker.

These are clever tunes, and The Banshee certainly has potential for the Indie charts, and despite sounding more British than a bacon sarnie for breakfast, the quartet – believe it or not – are Italian. Their début album ‘Your Nice Habits‘ should be out anytime now, and it’s worth keeping an eye out for.

TRACKS:

The Banshee – Your Nice Habits

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Guest post by the mystical Dorian H.

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