I wasn't really supposed to review this album, but it's had a lot of good reviews (Drowned In Sound and NME each giving it 9/10) so naturally I had to hear it for myself.
For some reason they remind me of The xx, even though the music isn't similar. The production is brilliant - it's very atmospheric at times - and sounds like nothing else out there. The vocals aren't the most unique, but the music is like a mixture of hip-hop, weird percussion, horns and 6ft Japanese drums. Sounds great doesn't it? Because of the Japanese connection, it does sound like it was made in the Far East, and Massive Attack would be proud of 'Three Thousand'.
My favourite has to be "Attack Music", because the swishing-sword samples and the weird bass clarinet really make it unique - and it's so damn catchy! Combining beat-dominating tracks and elegant instrumentals (such as the closer "5", I thought I was listening to Vespertine for a while) this album has a lot to offer.
It's a great album; the album title says a lot about this album, because the special moments on this album are usually hidden.
It's not perfect, and there could be improvements, but it's an impressive album that will take more than a couple of listens to 'get'. That's why I think it's my favourite album so far this year, tied with 'Heartland'. A must-listen.
| 1 | Time Xone | ||
| 2 | We Want War | ||
| 3 | Three Thousand | ||
| 4 | Hologram | ||
| 5 | Attack Music | ||
| 6 | Fire–Power | ||
| 7 | Orion | ||
| 8 | Canticle | ||
| 9 | Drum Courts–Where Corals Lie | ||
| 10 | White Chords | ||
| 11 | 5 |
Rating: 4/5
Released January 18th
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