Saint Etienne – Tales From Turnpike House (Sanctuary) album review

Casual observers may think that Saint Etienne are yet to make an album which isn't a conceptual love-letter to The Big Smoke in all its grubby, doomed romantic glory. But following 2002's musically ambitious return-to-form Finisterre (itself the soundtrack to an elegiac film about England's capital), Bob, Pete & Sarah turn in a bona fide electro-pop concept album about a 24-hour stretch in a London tower block. Making astute use of former Beach Boys harmonic collaborator Tony Rivers and, er, David Essex, Turnpike House grows warmer and friendlier with repeated exposure – 'Milk Bottle Sypmhony' and 'Side Streets' shine especially brightly.

Charlie Ivens


originally appeared in The Fly magazine, June 2005 issue

Roisin Murphy – Ruby Blue (The Echo Label) album review

Those expecting an album of disco floorfillers will leave disappointed. Following the runaway success of Boris Dlugosch's chart-shafting remix of 'Sing It Back' five years ago, Roisin Murphy's band Moloko suffered an identity crisis from which they never really recovered. 2001's Things To Make and Do album milked the oddpop cow, but 2003's scrappy Statues rightly passed most people by. On Ruby Blue, a newly solo Murphy claws back some ground on the far leftfield. Collaborating with experimental producer Herbert, she returns to the fertile soil which begat 1999's underrated I Am Not A Doctor. Found sound samples rub bony shoulders with jazz rhythms and Murphy’s still bewitching vocals; the result is like Solex and Laurie Anderson partying round Lali Puna's gaff. Worth the travail.

Charlie Ivens

originally appeared in The Fly magazine, June 2005 issue

Malcolm Middleton – Into The Woods (Chemikal Underground) album review

The uncertain tone is set from the off. "I'll sell my guitar/Get an education," sings sometime Arab Strap chap Malcolm Middleton hopefully on the inappropriately jaunty 'Break My Heart' – "I'd rather have you/Than sing these shit songs". This unexpected attack of rational thought is capsized rapidy: "I’ll fuck my guitar/And I’ll drink myself dead/I’ll be an education". While shifting itchily in his own skin, Middleton seems more comfortable than Strapping colleague Aidan Moffat with crafting digestible tunes. But the real strength of Into The Woods, Middleton's markedly happier follow-up to 2004's perverse 5:14 Fluoxytine Seagull Alcohol John Nicotine, is his unabashed candour colliding with the aforementioned melodic flair. Current single 'Loneliness Shines' is but a winsome taster: go down to the woods today.

Charlie Ivens

originally appeared in The Fly magazine, June 2005 issue

Joy Zipper – The Heartlight Set (Mercury) album review

Now past the label hassles typifying their last couple of years, laconic duo Joy Zipper are finding their feet – and their feet are playing trans-Atlantic Twister. Tabitha Tinsdale – she of the misleadingly childlike vocals and mischievous lipcurl – has one set of toes in Boston, wiggling along to Belly and The Breeders' chunky powerpop ('You’re So Good'), and one in Portland, prodding around in The Dandy Warhols' sandpit. Vinny Cafiso, similarly, is stretching across to London for a little pastoral pre-Britpop bonding with Blur ('Thoughts A Waste Of Time'), while keeping one extremity firmly in Weezerville USA. Definitely their most confident and coherent collection yet – while erring on the twee side at times – 'The Heartlight Set' is smart indie fuzzpop par excellence.

Charlie Ivens

originally appeared in The Fly magazine, June 2005 issue

The Chap – Ham (Lo Recordings) album review

In part two of their "French food" series, wayward North-Londoners-by-proxy The Chap follow last year's gloopy debut The Horse with an album which delights in tipping a suitcase full of old rave samples into a cauldron full of grubby Krauty powerchords, Bontempi drums and "will these do?" vocals. Look, don’t expect any sense out of them, they left orbit some moons ago.

Charlie Ivens

originally appeared in The Fly magazine, June 2005 issue