Getting wet...

Blackplastic shouldn't like Soul Mekanik, yet it does.

Soul Mekanik always give the impression that they are quite happy to through out mildly interesting 12"s full of yawn inducing prog-house. Yet somehow on both of the two occasions that blackplastic can remember hearing them they have managed to deliver beyond that expectation.

Example one would be the ace 'C'mon Over', as featured on the similarly great Hooj (RIP) compilation Le Future Le Funk. Whilst 'C'mon Over' doesn't really do anything or go anywhere, it does nothing so nicely that you can't help but fall for its charms, bringing the mix to a nice close at the end of CD one.

Example two fell through blackplastic's letter box yesterday. As a subscriber to the Fabric CD series the latest release always turns up by default. Blackplastic slipped the CD into the car stereo this morning and things were going nicely until track three rolled around, Soul Mekanik's 'Wanna Get Wet'. Really, this track is nothing special. Don't get excited. But damn the man if blackplastic wasn't up on the tables shaking what its got by the end. 'Wanna Get Wet' sounds like the sort of straight up record that assholes would call 'funky house' whilst their eyes are getting gouged out by someone who knows better. It could definitely be an Ibiza anthem... Play it loud enough and scallys will turn up, skyone camera crew in-tow.

Pause. Deep breaths. There is something appealing in this song but it's unclear what it is. The slightly-breathy female vocals? The stuttering man in the background? The pure sunshine that oozes out of the speakers once it kicks in? It's all such a clichés.

If you can't guiltily enjoy a bit of this in the sun of an Indian summer, what can you do?

P.S. This is not the best song on the album. Stay tuned.

Fabric24 - Rob Da Bank

Rule Britannia...

Blackplastic hated all that cool Britannia stuff that became, well, cool, back in the early days of New Labour. As such it always seems to grate a little when artists deliberately play up their British-ness to make them seem more interesting*.

This means that blackplastic should hate Art Brut. Their lyrics aren’t sung, they’re kind of spouted out in a slightly aggressive British fashion and the lyrics name check such wonderful institutions of this country (NME and TopShop for example). Yet there is something rather enjoyable in their debut LP, Bang Bang Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Bang Bang Rock ‘n’ Roll kicks off with the completely ridiculous Formed A Band, yet by 40 seconds in lead singer Eddie Argos (what a name!) has already told his ‘hunnypie’ off for buying her records at the supermarket before going off into a diatribe about the fact that his stupid ‘singing’ voice isn’t ironic. If you’re not smiling by now then you haven’t got the volume up loud enough. Things get even better once we hear about Eddie’s little brother (My Little Brother), who has apparently just discovered rock ‘n’ roll. The knowingness of the wannabe cool that so many music fans (and stars) strive for is expressed poetically, commenting on the brother only listening to b-sides and bootlegs.

Things get a little less exciting on the rest of the album, but it is all very enjoyable. It probably won’t change your life and you might want to hide it at the back of your record collection should they ever become to successful but you really should hear this album. Bang Bang Rock ‘n’ Roll is one of those albums that is just the right length, leaving you wanting more (and thereby forcing you to turn it over and start again once it’s finished).

Blackplastic’s only real criticism is that the album sounds a little disposable. It is difficult to imagine where Art Brut can go from here. If you fancy giving it a go I recommend you also give emusic.com a go since it is listed there (and with their pricing and current exchange rates it should cost you less than a couple of quid… Bargain).

*Exception that proves the rule - blackplastic thoroughly enjoys Roots Manuva's affection for cheese on toast. Diamond geezer.

Top 5 rainy songs...

Okay, here is the best we have been able to come up with so far (in reverse order)...

5. The Roots - Dynamite!
4. New Order - Crystal
3. Interpol - NYC
2. Prince - Purple Rain
1. Ulrich Schnauss - Crazy For You

Water, water everywhere...

In England today it is cold and horrible. Journeys to work look at bit like this.

And what better a day to listen to a band like Interpol. BlackPlastic has been a fan of Interpol's introspectiveness for a while now but it can take a day like this to hit home how sublime they actually are. The magnificence of 'NYC' (from their first long-player, 'Turn On The Bright Lights') shimmers like wet city streets.

On a day like this you really have to try to not let the greyness of life get you down just a little bit. Give in and let the melancholy take you over... BlackPlastic will now give some thought to the 5 best rainy day songs (expect a post later).

Death From Above 1979 - Black History Month

Blackplastic stands by the fact that Death From Above (even with the 1979 they've now tagged on the end) is an incredibly stupid name for a band... Why? Because if you shorten it, it becomes DFA. The DFA is the name of a rather well known production duo and label from New York. Not everyone knows this but the DFA, as in the label / producers, also just happens to stand for Death From Above (what are the chances?).

Hence, presumably, the '1979' bit. What does it mean? No idea!

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. 'Black History Month' is the latest single to be taken from the long-player 'You're a Woman, I'm a Machine' and is a personal highlight in its original form. Whilst the album is great, when it's at its best is when the songs are given just enough room to breath and let a little bit of melody shine through their tinnitus ridden soul.

Black History Month is one such example. Available on three formats the most interesting (if you already own the original, as it doesn't appear on this format) is the limited edition black 7" vinyl (black vinyl... geddit?) featuring a remix by Alan Braxe (of Daft Punk fame) & Fred Falke. This mix deserves manages to combine Death From Above's rock sensibilities with a lush melodic chorus. Rock and upfront dance haven't gone hand in hand quite so well since Justice vs. Simian's wonderful "Never Be Alone". This mix is really deserving of its own release, and with the right marketing could become a genuine radio hit. Sadly, since it is only available on 7" that ain't likely to happen.