2010 August Archive - The Recommender

THE RECOMMENDER – FOE

We’ve waited for the right time to give FOE a push on The Recommender, following her appearance on our fifth mixtape, back in May, with the thunderous hit-in-waiting, Charity Cases. With all the slacker beauty of Elastica’s Justine Frieschmann at her most deadly, this 20 year old from Fleet will push all of your buttons at once. In the UK we have a saturation of talented female solo alt-pop artists, so it’s going to take something special to break through and keep winning the inevitable comparisons. FOE, real name Hannah Clark, has the musical craft, the killer looks, the swagger and the style that’s required. Interestingly, she also reminds us of the period in time when all the female pop artists worked on matching the male artists for attitude, aggression and independence – the likes of P J Harvey, or Courtney Love, or Donita Sparks, were all empowered frontwomen during their respective periods in music and this has a genetic bloodline with Hannah’s music too. She informed us that she’s inspired by the likes of Nirvana, Pixies, Sonic Youth and all those artists “that do whatever the fuck they want“. This defiance appears throughout her music and that attitude aims its shots directly at the belly of grunge. Sub Pop would have snapped her up in an instant twenty years ago. All that fuzzed and dirty distortion on the guitars and the alluring, can’t-be-bothered vocals are very much Seattle-born. However, it’s a little unfair to suggest that her tracks are purely reflecting a time long gone, for even though she holds up a mirror to this period in music, there’s still a contemporary stare coming back at you from deep inside those irresistible, dark eyes. On the track, A Handsome Stranger Called Death, she produces a theatrical, melodic vocal, over the styled, slower pace – something the likes of Nirvana deliberately rejected. Also gone are the elements of thrash and punk, as each track is packed with new ideas. She’s produced by her “partner in crime“, Adam Crisp, from Entrepreneurs, who you may know from his amazing remixes of the likes of Marina’s Mowglis Road, among many others. Hannah’s provided vocals on his solo work too and told us that you will likely see them performing at each other’s live sets. Like it or not, it’s perhaps what the industry will be looking for next, once the 80s obsession is over, and FOE brings us the perfect modern mixture of early 90s with a very contemporary twist. You have been warned. (MB)

FOE – CHARITY CASES

FOE – CHARITY CASES (IS TROPICAL REMIX)

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Published: August 16th, 2010
Author: The Recommender
Category: The Recommender
Tags: A Handsome Stranger Called Death, Charity Cases, Charity Cases (Is Tropical Remix), Foe, Grunge, Tiny Ambulance, Tyran Song

THE RECOMMENDER – TROPHY WIFE

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Before we moved to Brighton and gave birth to The Recommender we lived in the city of Oxford. Any tourist would expect a collection of Olde English charm upon arrival in ‘The City of Dreaming Spires’, yet Oxford consistently drops the jaws of even the best-researched visitor, with not only its history and architecture but also its amazing atmosphere. Stroll through the cobbled streets between the universities at night and you feel the city breathing its story at you through it’s 1000 year old walls. However, there’s another Oxford and it continues to be an important part of its culture – the music. We all know of Ride, Radiohead, Supergrass et al, but the evolution continues with Foals and more recently with Trophy Wife. The cities connotations and unique atmosphere seem to bleed into the music, for even though all the aforementioned bands created different sounds, they all seem to have an intellectuality, alongside a middle class feel within them. However, any link of a musical caste is a little presumptive, for Oxford also has it’s mix of cultures, classes and deprivation. Is the link found in the accent (or lack of one)? Is it missing an edge more easily obtained from the likes of Manchester, Glasgow or London? Either way, the unifying thing is an intangible element, but clearly the commonality is something very ‘Oxford’. Trophy Wife have all the potential to rise to the heights of their forebears and a slot supporting Foals on their Autumn tour will aid them, as well as unify their geographical ties. Two original tracks are floating around, being light and bubble-like in their nature as they are. The excellent Take This Night begins with a twinkle and a tap, before a guitar riff dances into view. The layered, angelic vocals complete the picture and the dreamy ride is off, as they speak directly to you about “secret places” and requesting that you “take me there“. It’s the musical equivalent of dancing with your eyes closed – all encompassing, but peaceful. Before you realise it you’ve been transported to a disco pace and a thick set of musical stratum. The sound is perfected on the track Microlite, with the charm switched on from the start, pushing a metronomic four beat behind vocals that remind us of The Stone Roses at their haziest and most yearning. It’s rare to find music this delicate and fragile, that still affects your feet as much as your mind. Like the city the trio call home, theirs is a sound throbbing with atmosphere and energy, whilst maintaining a classy brume throughout. (MB)