From: owner-seven-seas@smoe.org (seven-seas-digest) To: seven-seas-digest@smoe.org Subject: seven-seas-digest V4 #531 Reply-To: seven-seas@smoe.org Sender: owner-seven-seas@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-seven-seas@smoe.org Precedence: bulk seven-seas-digest Monday, November 7 2005 Volume 04 : Number 531 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 09:14:08 +1300 From: "Kristin Smith" Subject: seven-seas jam.canoe.ca 2 of 2 2 of 2 Echoing the minimalist sensibilities of early career-making records, "Crocodiles" and "Ocean Rain," "Siberia's" 11-tracks juggle the Bunnymen's often-copied punk-psychedelic sound with soaring guitar rhythms that are firmly rooted in the here and now. In a case of art imitating art, imitating art, Sergeant builds Edge-like riffs around singer Ian McCulloch's confident vocals ("Sideways Eight," Scissors In The Sand"), while keyboardist Paul Fleming helps listeners realize how inspirational the Bunnymen were on Coldplay's balladry with the "Amsterdam"-like "What If We Are?" And tunes like "Everything Kills You" clearly shows the band's influence stretches far, informing tracks written by current alt-darlings, Death Cab For Cutie (listen to the Sergeant-ish guitar on Cutie's "Champagne From A Paper Cup" if you need an example). Self-referential nods aside "Siberia" showcases a band that isn't interested in regurgitating themselves lyrically or melodically. Eschewing punk's current fascination with catchy one-two chords, and Brit-pop's obsession with smooth, downtempo beats, the Bunnymen have crafted a record that sounds like the work of musicians that are twenty years younger. "What offers have you got?" Sergeant jokes when asked if he's worried that up and coming bands might want to steal him away after hearing his infectious plucking on tracks like "All Because Of You Days" and "Make Us Blind." After a brief European tour, the Bunnymen visit North America later this month, and Sergeant is excited to be hitting the stage. "We've dug up some songs we haven't played for years like "Going Up" (from "Crocodiles"), "With A Hip" and "No Dark Things" (both from "Heaven Up Here"). We're trying to pick ones that will hopefully keep things interesting." Echo and the Bunnymen Canadian tour dates: 11/23: Toronto, The Carlu 12/2: Vancouver, Richard's on Richards ===================================================================== Bunnymen Online Presence: http://www.bunnymenlist.com * http://www.bunnymen.info * http://www.bunnymen.com * http://www.fotolog.net/sgtfuzz/ * http://www.villiersterrace.com * http://www.angelfire.com/wy2/discog/ * http://www.softskull.com/detailedbook.php?isbn=1-887128-89-6 * ====================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 09:34:39 +1300 From: "Kristin Smith" Subject: seven-seas www.stylusmagazine http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=3439 Echo and the Bunnymen Siberia Cooking Vinyl 2005 B iberia is new. It comes from the Bunnymen, to you. No need to form a queue. No reason to barge through. Youbll get whatbs due. If love is true. Just catch the early morning dew. A guest introduction by Ian McCulloch, there. Alright, ok, thatbs a little bit harshbof the eleven shiny new songs presented here only bParthenon Driveb is guilty of quite that level of rhyming hilarity, and I suppose it could just about be passed off as some kind of stylistic effect. Maybe. Nevertheless, those hoping for a return to the esoteric, the sublime and the sometimes ridiculous Bunnyman imagery of old may quickly find themselves turning a mournful face away from their audio-emitting device and holding back the sniffles. But wait! Dry those eyes! They havenbt written a song like that for years. And look here, bScissors in the Sandb has some bizarre musings about silverfishball is not lost! Even though the tracks have a more straightforward lyrical direction, that unmistakable voice is still there. Somewhat huskier, rather more relaxed and certainly not planning to revisit any semi-yelped paranoiabbut still well able to cut THE MUSSTAAARRD. As one might say. And the news keeps getting better. Hugh Jones (of Heaven Up Here fame) has tinkered and twiddled and tuned until Will Sergeant is channelling the deities of chime and squall to near-perfection, forming a harmonious reunion that takes the material places it may otherwise have fallen agonisingly short of. Which is why bIn The Marginsb sways and swoops as it should, why bSiberiab belies itbs frozen and scarred namesake and why bAll Because of You Daysb b& err b& sounds suspiciously like bRuby Tuesday.b bEverything Kills Youb has another stab at the rhyming overkill trophy, but by now any complaints about poetic missteps have long since been crushed by battalions of ringing soundbmarching at a Sergeantbs command. Bookending the album are two shining pearls. Released as a single and subsequently ignored by almost everyone, bStormy Weatherb has been given an annoyingly rough deal for a song that is easily as compelling and romantic as anything post-bLips Like Sugar.b And popping up where you might least expect it, taking the rest of the tunes on its fragile shoulders, is ... a piano ballad. Itbs personal, open and, with McCullochbs new-found soft vocals, bWhat If We Are?b would almost be cosy were it not for the bever hit rock bottom?b refrain, fading gently out into who knows where. Indeed, for an album which adopts the title of an area notorious for both literally and metaphorically freezing people out, Siberia displays considerable levels of warmth. Perhaps this was down to McCulloch and Sergeantbs reportedly low-key songwriting sessions with only guitars and drum machine for companybtwo friends together, producing an intimacy that comes through on record. It may owe more than a little to Jonesb production. This is not a breturn to formbbhow could it ever be? A band of this age have some many peaks and troughs in form as to render that kind of phraseology practically meaningless. Just as Porcupine should, just as Ocean Rain should, Siberia too should be taken in isolation. In the dimming light of winter, it will positively glow. ===================================================================== Bunnymen Online Presence: http://www.bunnymenlist.com * http://www.bunnymen.info * http://www.bunnymen.com * http://www.fotolog.net/sgtfuzz/ * http://www.villiersterrace.com * http://www.angelfire.com/wy2/discog/ * http://www.softskull.com/detailedbook.php?isbn=1-887128-89-6 * ====================================================================== ------------------------------ End of seven-seas-digest V4 #531 ********************************