Marc Viellard, Ecrivain’s Neighborhood

If you follow our Britpop Podcast, you know that I've had a bizarre obsession with all UK bands since 1991. Admittedly, between Sally & I, we'll confess that we may not keep up with the latest/hottest UK bands, but we do know what we generally like.

Scanners basically got all the right formula for my music taste: melodic, a little upbeat (even dancey), great guitar playing and great lyrics delivered by a girl singer called Sarah Daly.

Since the band's formation in 2004-ish, they've been doing the tried-and-true singles releases. They finally worked their way to their debut album, Violence Is Golden in 2006, all the while opening up for established acts like The Charlatans (a Britpop favorite here) and The Wedding Present.

With 2010 here, Dim Mak Records is releasing their sophomore album, Submarine next month. We have an advance promo that I've been listening to non-stop since December. I knew the instant I heard their opening track, "Jesus Saves", that they had me at "Each picture tells a story/we've seen it all before/it's either death or glory/of casualty of war.".

I believe their first single from the new album will be "Salvation", although an excellent track, I felt there were stronger songs. However, the song does feature some great lyrics like "I'll take you to my grave" (by the sound of the song it's more upbeat than depressing). You can sample a B-Side off their single by downloading the Don Diablo remix of the track on RCRDLBL. I found out about the free track via the Dim Mak mailing list.

I did download the remix and I'll have to say, it's very bass-heavy. The song sounds very different from the album mix, and doesn't really represent Scanners, in my opinion. What I like about Scanners is that they're lyrical, and the remix strips out all of the lyrics and made it into a techno dance song. There's a time and place for that, just not what I like about the band.

The electronic/dance thing does bring up an interesting point though: Scanners seems like a band that balance the electronic/synth and indierock. I really like that about them.

Other songs to consider for my new mixtape will probably be between "Jesus Saves", "We Never Close Our Eyes" and "Sleepwalking Life". There is one strange song called "Half a Mind (Dreamer Forever)" which is really good, except it's fades out suddenly at the end of the song.  Kind of fitting for a 'dream' song, I suppose.

2010 is starting off wonderfully with Submarine. If you generally like British music, you'll find that Scanners will fit nicely in your collection. I know you'll probably forget when their album is release next month, so I'll make it a point to announce their touring dates (if any are announce) in the upcoming months. Watch this space.

Kordan, I’m still befuddled.  When I finally sat down for a proper listen of Longing, my immediate thoughts were “where did I go?” and “how long am I staying for?”  As I’m sure I mentioned in previous reviews, the power of Kordan lies in their ability to transport listeners to a strange, rich realm of multi-sensory experiences.  Perhaps that’s an exaggeration; but for most of us, whose lives are defined by shopping malls, mid-size vehicles, Starbucks lattes, and the occasional wild night of domestic brews and bar darts, Longing feels like a vacation from the mundane.  We will never be this hip, but for roughly half an hour we can pretend.

The Longing is essentially an elaboration of Fantasy Nation, Kordan’s first EP released July of last year.  Same bag of tricks, that is.  Dizzy, spacious sound layers over a steady beat—at the core, dance grooves with an experimentalist complex.  Where Fantasy Nation tapped the club vein, Longing searches for the abstract quality of pop music.  Listening to the album is like listening as a musician attempts to define city or love or life simply in audio.  Of course, this reads pretentious, as does any creative adventure that involves conceptual thought.  The reason I’m not harder on Kordan is simple:  despite the possible pretense, I can’t imagine the band playing any other style of music than this ultra stylized pretty.  There’s truth in purposeful cool, even if it’s easy to spot the GWBs (Girls With Bangs) and BWGs (Boys With Glasses) somewhere in the crowd.

Thanks to production magic or magic hands, “Fantasy Nation” and “Tokyo Tears” softened a bit from their EP debut:  flavors steeped, mechanics fine tuned, less thrust more lust.  Actually, compared to Longing, Fantasy Nation sounds decidedly reduced, as though Eisele and co. were practicing for grander occasions.  Such is the occasion.  Besides “Fantasy” and “Tokyo,” tracks like “Mirror” and the haunting “Shinjuku” stand out while in sum, the album remains fairly amorphous.  Eisele’s distant vocals amidst the instrumental mixed bag keep Longing interesting, but I wonder what’s next for Kordan.  Logically, the progression favors total ethereal bliss (as it is, the lyrics seem secondary), but I accept all bets. 

For now, the band keeps busy with live shows in and around New York City.  Visit their Website / Myspace / Facebook for more information. The Longing is set to officially release in February of 2010.  You can preview the album here.