Batch #1

Here are some short reviews of my recent purchases:

Consumer Electronics "Crowd Pleaser" LP [2009]
Philip Best is joined by Gary Mundy and Mattin in this latest vinyl-only release, limited to 500 copies. Obviously, this was a must have. Truth is, Philip's vocals make this record. Without them, it would be a rather dull noise affair. The vocals are processed and savage, tearing out from the jet-engine thunder and harsh white static, full of the cyptic brutality previously heard on Whitehouse CDs. Noise wise, not as good as "Nobody's Ugly", but the vocals kick your head in.
(4 out of 5)

Current 93 "Aleph At Hallucinatory Mountain" CD [2009]
I read some reviews before buying this and discovered that Tibet and co had gone for a rock guitar sound. Bad bad bad, I thought. I know this isn't the first time, but previous results were pretty crap. Nevertheless, I bought it and upon first listen wasn't quite sure what to make of it all. A mixture of electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, violin, etc, all with David's usual incomprehensible lyrics. Further listens convinced me that it wasn't as bad as I'd feared. "Invocation Of Almost" being a solid opener, "On Docetic Mountain" being my favourite and reminding somewhat of "Moonlight, You Will Say", to the dulcet folk of "UrShadow". A pretty good album, albeit with a few dull points, especially the boring repetitive electric guitar on "Not Because The Fox Barks".
(4 out of 5)

Sally Doherty "Electric Butterfly" CD [2009]
I haven't been into Sally for very long, I bought the reissue of her (and the Sumacs') "Black Is The Colour" album the other month and absolutely loved it, so I thought I would explore her music even more, so here I am buying her new solo record. I knew that "Electric Butterfly" would be more pop sounding, which isn't what I usually listen to, but what I have heard is fucking amazing. A hundred times better than anything in the charts these days, this woman has a beautiful voice and superior songwriting skills. Superbly written and expertly executed, eleven emotive songs with are going to be played on my stereo for a long while to come. Especially "You're Falling" and "Where Have You Gone To?".
(5 out of 5)