Primary Colours

Brit psych rock, shoegaze. Rockier than strict shoegaze, but fuzzier than garage. Has a post-punk edge. Vocals (among other things) remind me of the Psychedelic Furs and Ian Curtis. Good if you like: The Cure, Sonic Youth, The Sonics, Joy Division, JAMC, KOD, Slowdive -- even post-punkier Stooges stuff. Should be a solid fixture on any self-respecting shoegaze show.

The Horrors are a relatively new (circa ’05) band out of Southend. Once upon a time (first record upon a time) they apparently sounded like a Cramps tribute band (see: “Sheena is a Parasite”). I have no idea what happened between then and now, but, wow. This is their second record, co-produced by Craig Silvey (who writes novels), Geoff Barrow (who plays in Portishead), and music video director Chris Cunningham (seriously, have you seen “Rubber Johnny”?). Whatever, guys.

try: 4, 3, 6, 9
FCC clean

1. starts slow & vibey. bass in at 1:15, snare-heavy drums & whirlwind guitars. high circular synth riff repeats throughout.
2. upbeat. very train-a-coming sound all around. twangy, boomerangy, echoey, delayed distortion & bends.
*3. heavy, rocky. tambourine, high fuzzy keys, more prominent vocals.
*4. great fucking song. high & slidy oasis riff and grungy, gritty vocals. big & loud.
5. edgy, punky garage. buzzcocky vocals. jolting parallel-move chorus. didn’t they teach you not to do that in music school?!
*6. warbly intro. thrumming chord-keeping bass line at 0:30. smooth, low vocals and clean drumkit. delayed effects & cool stringy synth bit. false ending, play to end.
7. slower. bass drum & tambourine interplay. organy noise & croony vocals. builds, ends a few seconds early.
8. upbeat. 3/4. tambourine & hi-hat on each beat shifts to rhythm strums on each beat. repetitive, lulling.
*9. fast, bright. happy/uplifting. faraway guitars, snare-heavy kit. cool train twang.
10. a great, long, layered jam. starts off like wilco’s spiders (kidsmoke): quick timekeeper bass & rapped cymbals. moves into an eerie wash, then delayed computer beat, then warm horn sectiony synth. ends slow & pretty.