Featured: Morton Valence, Royal Treatment Plant
Two small but HOT London-based bands for you today, both of them caught by chance at the Constitution in London when I went to see the Happiness (see previous posts.)
Morton Valence is almost indescribably good electropop. Luckily I found another review that more eloquently does them justice.
"There's a new wave of bands emerging on the back of the revivalist art rock of Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party. "Bohemian rock" groups together Canadian acts such as Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene and English bands such as the Mystery Jets and the Guillemots. Mirroring the prepiness of early 1980s outfits like Talking Heads but with a distinct emphasis on performance, there are definite common threads between these groups: an eclectic mix of instruments, intelligent lyrics and the marriage of indie pop with the vaudeville. Morton Valence are another emerging band that could easily fit into this category.
The band are unashamedly eccentric: one track is sung entirely using a megaphone, keyboards - perched on ironing boards - are stamped on and, as songs collapse half way through into cacophony, lead singer Rob Hacker picks up a trumpet and blasts it into his mic. The result of this controlled chaos is that the audience are kept on their toes at all times, not knowing quite what to expect next. One of the more surprising highlights of the set was a cover of the Cameo hit Word Up, sung in Cantonese. While the group may not be quite the finished article, songs such as Sailors and Man on the Corner (both featured on their debut single), show that, for all their quirky inventiveness, they are also capable of writing a damned catchy pop tune."
(Read the rest at Times Online)
The reviewer correctly identifies "Sailors" and "Man On The Corner" as their two best pop tunes, and they are posted below for your enjoyment.
Royal Treatment Plant may not be revolutionary but they're damn good. I might be slightly gay for lead singer Princess P - whose careless attitude and enigmatic stage presence really makes this band special. Please excuse Princess P's self-described 'lady noises'. A must see live.
"Catch them while they’re still underground, see them before they learn how to behave in polite company and find out why Royal Treatment Plant are a band to drink Martini’s to." (Live Onstage May 06)
"Crack Whore" and "Trained" I'd call as their two best songs. Judge for yourself. Nothing to buy yet, hopefully they'll release something soon! Until then, I truly recommend making it down to their next gig at the Luminaire (see website or myspace for details.)
Well you heard it here first!
Download:
Sailors - Morton Valence
Man On The Corner - Morton Valence
Trained - Royal Treatment Plant
Crack Whore - Royal Treatment Plant
Buy:
Man On The Corner (EP) - Morton Valence (Rough Trade)
Morton Valence is almost indescribably good electropop. Luckily I found another review that more eloquently does them justice.
"There's a new wave of bands emerging on the back of the revivalist art rock of Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party. "Bohemian rock" groups together Canadian acts such as Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene and English bands such as the Mystery Jets and the Guillemots. Mirroring the prepiness of early 1980s outfits like Talking Heads but with a distinct emphasis on performance, there are definite common threads between these groups: an eclectic mix of instruments, intelligent lyrics and the marriage of indie pop with the vaudeville. Morton Valence are another emerging band that could easily fit into this category.
The band are unashamedly eccentric: one track is sung entirely using a megaphone, keyboards - perched on ironing boards - are stamped on and, as songs collapse half way through into cacophony, lead singer Rob Hacker picks up a trumpet and blasts it into his mic. The result of this controlled chaos is that the audience are kept on their toes at all times, not knowing quite what to expect next. One of the more surprising highlights of the set was a cover of the Cameo hit Word Up, sung in Cantonese. While the group may not be quite the finished article, songs such as Sailors and Man on the Corner (both featured on their debut single), show that, for all their quirky inventiveness, they are also capable of writing a damned catchy pop tune."
(Read the rest at Times Online)
The reviewer correctly identifies "Sailors" and "Man On The Corner" as their two best pop tunes, and they are posted below for your enjoyment.
Royal Treatment Plant may not be revolutionary but they're damn good. I might be slightly gay for lead singer Princess P - whose careless attitude and enigmatic stage presence really makes this band special. Please excuse Princess P's self-described 'lady noises'. A must see live.
"Catch them while they’re still underground, see them before they learn how to behave in polite company and find out why Royal Treatment Plant are a band to drink Martini’s to." (Live Onstage May 06)
"Crack Whore" and "Trained" I'd call as their two best songs. Judge for yourself. Nothing to buy yet, hopefully they'll release something soon! Until then, I truly recommend making it down to their next gig at the Luminaire (see website or myspace for details.)
Well you heard it here first!
Download:
Sailors - Morton Valence Man On The Corner - Morton Valence Trained - Royal Treatment Plant Crack Whore - Royal Treatment PlantBuy:
Man On The Corner (EP) - Morton Valence (Rough Trade)
posted by Brittany at 6/28/2006 06:54:00 am
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