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Various
- Fopp Award for New Music Sampler
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| We don’t have Fopp stores in Leeds. In fact, a cursory glance at the map on the website reveals a Fopp-less gulf between Manchester and Edinburgh. Perhaps this is why I get the feeling that I don’t really 'get' the four tracks from the bands that will be playing at the Fopp Award For New Music that appear on this sampler. |
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The Abdominal Snowman’s 'The Amazing Frog Eating Bat' kicks off proceedings with a fancy break beat and Hammond organ combination that clamours for my immediate interest. However it soon becomes apparent that, like the band’s name and choice of song title, the music borders on a ridiculousness that makes it all but inaccessible. Based around one riff and with no progression, I am left wondering how this is groundbreaking or unique enough to warrant an award for new music.
I have to admit, I’m slightly concerned at this point. Am I too much of an indie snob to appreciate new bands? Am I getting too old for this shit?
Monkeytribe go some way towards restoring my faith with a dark electro offering. With both vocals and tone reminiscent of London songmistress Bishi, they perhaps suffer from a slight amount of overproduction but otherwise are inventive and fresh enough to warrant their position on this CD.
Moving on to Scotland’s Thee Comrades, who are nice enough. But then again, so are pears. And I don’t buy pears that much. The band doesn’t distance themselves enough from the standard indie fare that any punter can hear in any British city on any day of the week and, once again, the overall feeling is one of confusion – why are they being rewarded for 'new' music?
Bouchereau merely compound this feeling. Once again, they make pleasant (this time reggae-based) noises, reminding me that summer will one day return to this dark corner that we call Yorkshire, but they appear to be ploughing an already-cavernous furrow.
If this was my introduction to 'new' British music, I’d have some serious concerns for the UK music scene. However, gladly, I’m aware of a massive amount of other new and unsigned bands who are currently treading far more original and inventive paths. This award just goes to prove that the haul of good new music won’t necessarily be found where people from the industry tell you to dig – it takes a much more objective and personal process to uncover those gems. |
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| James Haddrill - 6/10 |
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Name:
James
| Date:
20/02/06 | Reply
"...it takes a much more objective and personal process to uncover those gems."
Amen.
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