Mother & the Addicts – Science Fiction Illustrated
This album has turned out to be a real surprise bonus coming, from my perspective, slightly out of nowhere. Ultimately, given they’re signed to Chemikal Underground, home to the deceased Aerogramme, the legendary Arab Strab and the high priestess of Scottish indie, Emma Pollock, I suppose I should have paid more attention to Mother & the Addicts from the start.
Similarly, even once I did start listening to this album through it still didn’t quite grab me by the throat, instead worming its way in more subtly via a hook here, a chorus there and the gradual spread of a warm feeling of enjoyment.
Style-wise this is a tremendous mix. They throw in jangly 80s indie at times, splashes of Britpop, shades of angular New Romanticism on occasion and even some fuzzy, distorted, 70s-style funk guitar. I kid you not, it could even be the soundtrack to an indie version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at times, but maybe that’s just the title playing tricks on me. It’s odd though, and a truly unusual mixture, but it works.
The tunes are pretty good, but I think deep down the guitar playing is what pulls me into this: never obtrusive, but the rhythm and the hooks were enough to pull me in, until I slowly but surely began to love this record.
Mother & the Addicts – All in the Mind
Mother & the Addicts – So Tough
These are great songs, and I love the loose-wristed guitar jangle of All in the Mind. A steady thrumming groove throughout. The singer seems to be doing a Mark E. Smith impression at the beginning, which is OK with me since I sort of like the Fall. But this band doesn’t strike me as being anything like the Fall otherwise, so it’s a bit odd.
A proper (ie professional) review said that this album could have been released in 1986, 1992 or 2003 and it wouldn’t have sounded out of place. I like that – it’s about the best description I’ve seen so far.
I’ve heard this band’s name thrown around so much and never listened until my mate posted a video of theirs on my myspace. Feeling it lots!
oh yeah, baby, oh yeah.
I like it too, but I’m a little surprised how popular it’s proving, because it didn’t grab me immediately: took a few listens. Splendid – go, Scottish music scene!
there’s something very rousing about it. makes me want to turn it up real loud and dance around. : )
RESULT!
(With gin, Marcy, it helps
)
it’s a wee bit too early on this side of the pond to pour myself a gin, but i’ll play it later on with a drink in hand so i can experience the full effect.
ach! new music? why on earth would I want to hear that? *puts on oasis album and ponders how pete doherty is these days*
Now I do need a gin!
that was me practising for a job at NME. I think I’m going to be editor by next week. now to go and listen to kate nash’s album, gosh, she’s almost as good as lily allen…!
Kate. Nash.
I give up.
Actually, my Mum asked me about James Morrison the other day, and I told her that he was like a poor man’s James Blunt. It occurred to me afterwards that there might well be no greater insult in the music world.
having your album highly reviewed in a newspaper comes close though.