Spider & the Flies - Something Clockwork This Way Comes - 2009

So, how do you describe Spider & the Flies?  Well, honestly it's only two guys.  Two members from the Goth group The Horrors from Southend-On-Sea named Tomethy Furse and Rhys "Spider" Webb.  Having been a huge fan of the Horrors and learning that these two were making music using a variety of analog synths and records from the BBC Sound Library.

The music is cold, alien, sci-fi and strange.  It borders on being Drone, but there's enough variety in it to keep it from totally going off the deep end.  Regardless, it's a tough listen to get all the way through.  I mean, I like it as a side project to the Horrors.  As it stands by itself, meh.  I really am drawn to it, though, as these guys are just so strange.  And I like it.

Try if you like, just be careful.

Spider & the Flies - Something Clockwork This Way Comes - 2009

Ian Broudie & the Lightning Seeds - Smoke Rings & the Four Winds - 2005 & 2009

Technically, there is no such group as Ian Broudie & the Lightning Seeds.  There's also no such album as Smoke Rings & the Four Winds.  But, they are two separate releases, Ian's last solo outing and the last Lightning Seeds album.  Both, are soft and eloquent, but wholly ineffective and forgettable.  It's nice to hear Ian's voice, again, though.

After these releases, Ian released an album with the Wild Swans, and produced Miles Kane's albums.  Other than that, nothing.  Supposedly, he's busy in his home studio, doing what, I don't know.  And if you go to the official Lightning Seeds website, you get nothing but a white screen.  I know that he's been busy for 3 decades, but it's sad to see such a talented musician and songwriter finally call it quits.

But, don't be too disturbed, I still have a couple of his albums to post, yet.  But, enjoy this one, while we're at it.

Ian Broudie & the Lightning Seeds - Smoke Rings & the Four Winds - 2005 & 2009

Frozen Plasma - Momentum - 2009

Stupid, stupid watermark.  Every time I load a new cover up, I see that fucking stupid little circle thingie.  Drives me crazy...

I discovered this band when I learned of the obscure music genre of Futurepop or Darkwave.  I found them when I found VNV and De:Vision, etc.  They aren't anything spectacular, but they are another great band writing songs that sound a bit dark, a bit EBM, a lot electronic, a hint of Industrial, and roots in Depeche Mode, Cause & Effect, and the likes.  Another set to add to your Futurepop library.

I got lazy on this one, only making one cover and forcing you to either pack it into a single case, or labelling each cover so you can recognize 1 from 2.  I've got the album up front, and mixes on the back.  I had to compile the album plus an EP and a single to make this one.  And, if you've seen the original cover, this one's a definite improvement.

Side note, my electricity went out for about 3 seconds and turned my computer off.  Now, though, I can't access my external hard drive that has all of my music on it.  I can get to all the rest, just not that one.  My computer says it doesn't recognize it.  If I've lost that drive, I have no more music.  If I have no more music, then I only have what's left on my primary hard drive, which puts us right at a month, and then I'm done.  Let's pray I can figure out what's wrong with this drive, or I could have to call it quits for lack of material....

Disc 1

Disc 2

Depeche Mode - Sounds of the Universe - 2009

I think that the last good album DM released was Ultra.  In this new millennium, they just haven't been able to pull a good one out, telling me that they've outlived their usefulness and ideas.  Honestly, it's a sad thing when VNV Nation and De-Vision sound more like Depeche Mode than Depeche Mode does.

This album, though, was an interesting listen, with equally interesting b-sides to boot.  It showed maturity and growth, and was an album written to represent the ages of the men performing them.  I found it almost sad, remembering the days when I was young and going ape-shit over any new material that they released, and knowing that as I grow older, so do all of my idols and rock gods. 

On that note, it behooves me to say that if a group wants to remain relevant, distinguished and at least respected, they need to write music that represents their ages.  Let your sound mature as you do.  Some examples...

Performers whose music has matured and represents them accordingly -
U2
Sting
Peter Gabriel
A-ha
Tears For Fears
Erasure
Pet Shop Boys

Performers whose music has not matured, and does NOT represent the artists' age -
Duran Duran
Cure
New Order
Depeche Mode

What's funny (not in a hahaha way) is that the four groups I put in the stagnant non-growth immature category are my top four groups as it is.  In fact, 1, 2, 3, 4 in order, just like that.

But, I digress.

I think that this is DM's last good album.  It should have been their swan song.  It's unfortunate that it wasn't.  They've tortured us with one more stale, agonizingly dull album.  As it is, maybe they aren't done yet.  There's always hope for one more...

The entire album, the b-sides, and Gahan's guest vocal on Nostalgia.  Probably my favorite non-DM song by Gahan.  Maybe I'll do the remixes later, not sure, none of them were very good anyway...

Disc 1

Disc 2

Horrors - Primary Colours - 2009

The last great band, unfortunately.  To me, they represent the last of Post Punk, the last of Britrock, the last of what I had considered "alternative music."  Their first album was great, but this album is when they really knocked the shit out of the park.  This is when I fell in love with the sound, the appearance, all of it.  They all look like Eddie Munster's brothers, and I am so jealous.

It shouldn't take long to fall for them, I only had to listen to it once.  Every track has it's moment, some more than others.  Stand outs include Mirror's Image, Who Can Say, Sea Within A Sea and Whole New Way.

Whole New Way was originally released prior to this album as a stand-alone single, but I slapped that puppy on the back end of this album.  The cover is the original, and the inside pic just rocks!

They have released two more albums that are equally as good, in fact, Luminous is probably better. 

But, as I said, they are the real deal and they are the LAST deal.  Enjoy it while they last....

Horrors - Primary Colours - 2009

Duran Duran - All You Need Is Now - 2009

After the nightmare that was Red Carpet Massacre, I was somewhat afraid of what the boys were going to come up with on this album.  I cringed and winced when I heard the opening notes of AYNIN, wondering what the hell they were thinking with that wailing siren noise, and Simon shouting.  I figured they screwed the pooch again, and we'd have another bomb and fizzle and I just didn't know if I could take it any more.

But, the melody drifted into the chorus, and I took note.  I listened to a few more tracks, and nodded my head.  Yeah, I think this will do.

After collecting all the bonus tracks, b-sides, unreleased and whatnot, we have a full 80 minutes of new materiel, counting the Ronson track that Simon sings on.  You have a stud named Dominic Brown playing guitar like Andy never could.  You have some true 80s sounding tunes that really bring back the times when I was young.  Yeah, some of the songs are crap, but that's why we have the skip button.  But, for the most part, we have some real gems.  This is the best Duran album in 20 years....  and I'm actually sort of sad to say that.

I mixed the track listing all over the place, front to back.  I feel it's a very cohesive arrangement, and closing with Boys and Record Collection is really tight.   I used the variety of pics available to make a different front cover with the same typeface.  Also, so many cool graphics available, I had to actually make an inside cover.  So, once you print the cover, turn the paper over and reload it, and add the other graphic for the inside.  Line it up, I can't guarantee it will if your printer is shit.

Anyway, enjoy the last great Duran album.  Doubt we'll get any more...

Duran Duran - All You Need Is Now - 2009