Review: Dark Mean - Music Box (EP)

They say nothing in life is free but fortunately for us they’re wrong. As long as you discount the cost of buying a computer and connecting it to the Internet, Canadian indie-pop band Dark Mean’s most recent offering Music Box is just that. I first came across Dark Mean via Eaten by Monsters last year, happily downloaded their first EP frankencottage, and ever since I’ve been waiting for an opportune moment to write about them. And here it is.

Released in mid-February of this year, Music Box is the second EP in a cycle of three and for my money is the better of the two so far. In contrast to its predecessor it seems happier both musically and technically, creating a sound that is contented in it’s own skin.

Kicking off with the jovial title track shows this very well and what might seem like a conflict of interests between sombre lyrics and uplifting music actually works rather well, giving the words an air of hope that otherwise might not have been there. More of the same follows on Piano & Beat before standout third track Acoustic.

As it says on the accurately named tin, Acoustic is an acoustic lament of the simplest variety and is similar to title track Music Box in it’s style. Again featuring the feeling of hope, Acoustic differs when it strips away the horns and drums and moves towards something more primal (or as primal as indie bands can be) and is something that feels very much from the heart.

The EP ends with the only actual sad track Dark Banjo and despite feeling a little forced (and slightly out of place), it does the job of proving that Dark Mean aren’t simply about happy banjos. They can make a decent fist of sad ones too.

Ignore the pragmatic song titles and dodgy band-name (the lead singer is named Mark Dean…) and give Music Box a whirl. It’s a competent and enjoyable follow-up to what was a good debut and is easily worth fifteen minutes of listening time.

You can get both EPs for free via Dark Mean’s official website or have a listen to Music Box and the excellent Acoustic over at the Mother-Blog situated on Wordpress.

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South By Southwest 2010

Here’s a novelty: me talking about something up-to-date and cool. In fact, either would warrant stopping the presses (or at least suspending them for a short time) and, as reviews of Kate Bush and Simple Minds will attest, it’s not often that I find myself on the cusp of musical trendiness.

However, today is different. Starting this Wednesday is the South By Southwest (SXSW) music & film festival and, having recently looked at the Black Atlantic’s latest offering, I thought I’d go ahead and see who else is occupying this years line-up and in the process, bring myself kicking and screaming into the musical present.

Hosted in Austin Texas, SXSW is now 23 years old and firmly established in the elite league of festivals in the US. For any Brits who are unsure, it’s closest equivalent back in Blighty is the Great Escape Festival held every year in Brighton. Both feature a variety of bands big and small, rock and electronic, loud and quiet, across a number of different venues in the city all under one banner. SXSW also has an ever-growing film and technology arm but, as a music blog, I will be skimming over that particular aspect.

So, onto this years attractions. Below are a few names out of the 100s performing that jumped out at me. Some you might know and some you might not know but all of them start to give me itchy feet and a sudden want to visit Texas next weekend.




Find the bands, the verdict and a couple of MP3s over at the Mother-Blog hosted on Wordpress.

Don't forget to visit the official SXSW site where you can find all the details for bands, tickets and venues.

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Review: The Black Atlantic - Reverence For Fallen Trees

Some of you may have noticed that it’s been a while since I posted here and that is, in part, down to the fact that there simply hasn’t been anything that inspiring recently. However, it’s also because I’ve become a bit more focused on discovering, and thus reviewing, newer or relatively unknown material. There’s something to be said for seeing a CD hit number one in the charts, but nothing beats that feeling of discovering something you love that is privy to you and few others.

It’s from one of these forays that I landed upon Netherlands-based band The Black Atlantic and their debut album Reverence For Fallen Trees, which can be downloaded for no cost on their official website. I must admit that they are not an unknown act and are in fact fairly successful in both their native Holland and across the water in the US. Indeed this month will see them play at the South By Southwest Festival in Texas in addition to a North American and European tour. So that’s my new leaf turned back over then.

So, on to the album. There’s no mistaking the style these guys are going for and it’s pretty clear from the outset of album opener Baiulus, that what follows contains minimal drums and maximum emotion. This album is not groundbreaking and, as much as it pains me to say, could well be described as ‘nice’. Plucked guitars and soft harmonies are all very good (and they are well orchestrated), but it leaves little to stand up and be listened to. Often the music becomes background with many of the songs merging into one another.

You may think this sounds like a harsh judgment but please bear with me because it’s not. Lets look at the album as a whole as that’s what it is. The digital revolution has not yet distorted everyone’s view of the ‘album’ and The Black Atlantic firmly come under that umbrella. This is an album of songs that are to be digested and enjoyed in one go and should not be allowed to become background music. This is not something for a party nor even a small social gathering. This is not something to give to your family (although they would probably appreciate the gift) nor is it something to be to put on in the office.

What it is, is something to be enjoyed in it’s entirety with no distractions. Set aside thirty minutes of your time to enjoy a band working in harmony, producing an enjoyable album that doesn’t need to be groundbreaking to be great.

As individual songs I’m a little lukewarm in my enthusiasm for Reverence For Fallen Trees but there’s no doubting the clear talent and harmony within this group. As a result, you won’t be blown away, but you’ll find it’s time well spent. And, come to think of it, when those songs are together it really is a very good record.

Visit The Black Atlantic and download Reverence For Fallen Trees on their official website.

And get the Vinyl or CD from their official store.

If you don't fancy the full album you can get the MP3s of Madagascar and I Shall Cross This River from the mother-blog on Wordpress below.
Both are stand-out tracks from the album with Madagascar being a particular Fleet Foxes inspired favourite of mine. However, I would recommend you get the whole album and have listen through as these tracks on their own don't do it full justice.


The Black Atlantic - Madagascar


The Black Atlantic - I Shall Cross This River

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