On the record: Kele's fighting spirit (From Redditch Advertiser)

On the record: Kele's fighting spirit

7:00am Saturday 26th June 2010

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As lead singer of Bloc Party Kele Okereke has had great success. Now he embarks on a solo project. Will it be just as successful? Elsewhere, Macy Gray returns with a new album and teen favourite Example releases his second album. How do they fare? Read on to find out...

Kele - The Boxer

It should come as no surprise to any fan of Bloc Party that front-man Kele Okereke's debut solo album isn't an indie offering. The singer has, over the past few years, gradually turned towards the dance scene and distanced himself away from guitar music. It's probably best to forget that this is the man responsible for such tunes as Helicopter and Positive Tension. Instead, think of this album as a new artist giving a wonderful example of how good electro music can be. The tune, The Other Side highlights this. With cowbells sitting perfectly alongside the computer-generated baseline and Kele's trademark vocals, it's an addictive listen. Everything You Wanted and Yesterday's Gone are also track highlights. This is a gutsy album which must have caused a few sleepless nights for the musician, but the final result means it's been a risk worth taking.

Rating: 8/10 (Review by Polly Weeks)

Suzanne Vega - Close Up Vol. 1, Love Songs

Rather than a greatest hits album, Close Up, Vol 1 is the first of four collections of Suzanne Vega's entire back catalogue, mixing singles and album tracks which are not simply re-recorded, but largely acoustic re-workings. Subsequently, the songs have a wistful, mature tone, more a quiet reflection on attitudes to love than the exploration of passion. Vega is largely successful - slowing down Marlene On The Wall transforms the song, while focusing on lyrics accentuates Small Blue Thing's vulnerabilities. It is not perfect, with a less provocative Stockings and Headshots losing its impact without the thudding bass, but stripping the strings and drums from final track Bound is an inspired finish.

Rating: 8/10 (Review by Natalie Bowen)

Pulled Apart By Horses - Pulled Apart By Horses

Having gained a fearsome reputation for their full-on live performances, this Yorkshire four-piece have pulled off the rare feat of successfully transferring all of their intensity and aggression onto record. Their debut is comprised of 11 spiky, full-throttle sonic barbs with enough musical flourishes and fresh, sometimes funny, lyrics to keep things interesting. Former single I Punched A Lion In The Throat is a perfect distillation of their sound, a whirlwind of hoarse vocals, flailing guitars and a surprisingly catchy hook. If you like your rock 'n' roll hard and unrelenting this lot are well worth seeking out.

Rating: 8/10 (Review by Simon Harker)

Delorean - Subiza

Spanish quartet Delorean match indistinct samples, heavily accented vocals and Balearic beats to create a woozy approximation of summers lost on baking terraces. Opener Stay Close makes for a heady introduction, complete with sirens and a hip-shaking beat, while Warmer Places is a warm, afrobeat-tinged stand-out. For the most part however, Subiza has a tendency to drift into background noise. The album's chilled out, summery vibe is infectious in small bursts but over the course of its nine tracks the band fail to conjure up the variety that could have pushed it to the next level.

Rating: 5/10 (Review by Simon Harker)

Lissie - Catching A Tiger

After a number of high profile covers and duets, the debut album from American folk-rocker Lissie Maurus arrives with a great deal of hype to live up to. The combination of vocal emotion and talent along with a good selection of well-crafted songs ensures that there is no chance of disappointment. The excellent first singles, In Sleep and When I'm Alone have a Fleetwood Mac feel, whilst there is an early 1960s Phil Spector sound on Stranger. Loosen The Knot does exactly that and rocks whilst the haunting Everywhere I Go goes from barely audible whispers that tug at the heart-strings to full volume emotional outbursts. Almost guaranteed to be a big seller - and it deserves to be.

Rating: 8/10 (Review by Mike Fletcher)

The Ghost - War Kids

The Faroe Islands are not known for their musical icons so it's no surprise this indie-pop duo are currently hot property in their homeland. Radio One DJ Rob da Bank is also a fan and has released this debut album on his own Sunday Best label. While the production and electro back beats sound slick throughout, they cannot hide the fact that the songs themselves though are weak in comparison and do little to raise the pulse rate. Lead single City Lights and album closer Bad Things are not bad summer tunes, but the rest are wishy washy and all sound very similar. If you're looking for excitement then definitely look elsewhere.

Rating 5/10 (Review by Nick Howes)

Example - Won't Go Quietly

The West London rapper returns with a second album crammed with towering tunes and witty wordplay. The heroic title track is a standout, as is the triumphant electro surge of From Space and the enticing Watch The Sun Come Up. Something In The Water and Two Lives are also worth a listen, with the influence of Calvin Harris clear throughout. However, after a strong start the album begins to sag, with Millionaires a cringe worthy cheese-fest and Sick Note a crude catastrophe. But overall a sterling effort - Example certainly won't go quietly.

Rating 7/10 (Review by Simon Monk)

Ed Harcourt - Lustre

The fifth album from the one-time Mercury Prize nominee sees a warm, expansive sound dominate. Wife Gita, on backing vocals and violin, Ashley Dzerigian (bass/double bass) and Jetplane Landing drummer Raife Burchell anchor a revolving cast of up to 10 backing musicians, but Harcourt's voice and unusual lyrical flourishes dominate. The back-to-back stand-outs of Church Of No Religion and Heart Of A Wolf provide the album's high point, though Killed By The Morning Sun and closer Fears Of A Father are hauntingly beautiful. An interesting curveball, the rockier A Secret Society sees Harcourt's vocals echo Razorlight's Johnny Borrell, but a strong showing should delight fans old and new.

Rating: 8/10 (Review by Tom White)

Macy Gray - The Sellout

Bristling with earthy energy and euphoric melodies, Macy Gray's latest album is a crowd-pleaser. Featuring collaborations with everyone from Bobby Brown, Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses, Matt Sorum formerly of Velvet Revolver, The Bodyrockers' Kaz James, and Slash, the songs are varied, both in style and quality. Listen out for the opening number Beauty In the World which has a folk-tinged, gospel sound, That Man (Ting Tings inspired) and The Comeback whose furious and emotional tone brings the album to a soaring close.

While not every song makes its case (On and On is a suitable title for a dreary non-song) those that do are fantastic. Macy certainly sounds more like a modern soul diva than she has in recent years.

Rating: 7/10 (Review by Sarah O'Meara)

Various Artists - 101 Barbecue Songs

The sun is (almost) out and so it seems logical that the first batch of summer albums is on the way. This one is five discs long and each CD is full of summery tunes including The Beach Boys' Fun, Fun, Fun, Wham's Club Tropicana and Andy Williams' Music To Watch Girls By. There's also plenty of contemporary songs on show including tracks from Katy Perry, Roll Deep and Tinie Tempah. Like most compilations there are several fillers and songs which should be left in the past - Dancing In The Moonlight by Toploader anyone? However there's enough quality on the album to make this a strong compilation and there's no need to panic, it does of course, have the absolutely necessary barbecue tune Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince.

Rating: 7/10 (Review by Polly Weeks)

Singles by Polly Weeks

:: Scissor Sisters - Fire With Fire

The first single to be taken from the Scissor Sisters new album Night Work lacks the instant appeal of their earlier tunes but is still good quality pop.

:: Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg - California Gurls

This is half slick American pop, half euro electro dance. It's catchy enough and sounds like it belongs on a summer teen flick.

:: Wiley - Electric Boogaloo

The Grime star returns with this pop-dance number which features singer Jodie Connor and J2K. It should be a radio hit and place well in the charts but it lacks the power of his previous singles such as Wearing My Rolex.

On the road

:: Joan Jett, The 100 Club, London, June 14

Elfin and slight she may be but feisty punk protagonist, Joan Jett, lead singer and guitarist with The Blackhearts showed her metal at London's 100 Club and opened her sold-out intimate gig in true rebellious form, thrashing out her riotous classic Bad Reputation. Sporting a smattering of tattoos, signature shag haircut and dressed head-to-toe in a black skin-tight outfit, the founding member of the iconic all-girl rock 'n' roll band, The Runaways, managed to defy her years appearing toned and achingly pretty while still reminding her audience she's no angel. Backed by an all-male band, the fiery Philadelphian innovator belted out the first song she ever wrote - fantastic honky tonk number You Drive Me Wild, alongside glam-rock track Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah), I Love Playing With Fire and Fetish - all delivered with their fair share of adult gestures, sexual swagger and attitude. Joan included her early teen-themed songs in her set list, namely The Runaways track School Days and Cherry Bomb. Joan constantly involved her audience who were united in clapping and chanting the lyrics back to rock anthems ACDC, I Hate Myself For Loving You and of course her biggest hit, I Love Rock N' Roll. This little lady proved she's every bit an icon.

Kyle Eastwood band at Ronnie Scott's (8-10 June)

Accomplished electric and double bass player Kyle Eastwood, son of Clint, and his band including Graeme Flowers on Trumpet and Andy McCormack on piano start off the set at Ronnie's playing the mellow title track from Eastwood's latest album Metropolitan, followed by more vibey rhythmic numbers including Rue Perdue and Samba de Paris. There's a cosmopolitan theme to Eastwood's collaborative compositions as they play an ambient Marrakech, which was inspired from a trip to Morocco. It's a vibrant gig that builds up speed towards the finale, with the best and funkiest track of the night - Hot Box. While the band round off the evening with a tune from the big band era - Big Noise, with the additional sound effect of a whistling Eastwood.

Tour dates

:: Pixie Lott has just confirmed her first ever headline tour. She'll be playing hits from her debut album in November. Beginning at the Glasgow Clyde Auditorium on November 24, she then plays throughout the country before finishing at the Manchester Apollo on December 18.

For further details visit www.pixielott.com.

:: Pharell Williams and Co. return to the UK for two dates only. N.E.R.D. will perform at London's HMV Forum on June 21 and Manchester's Academy on June 23. For full details visit www.myspace.com/nerdofficial.

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