The Sigla Blog

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE
Strawberry Jam
Domino Records
****
In discography terms, this frantic four-piece outstrip Arcade Fire’s output, but both share a multi-layered approach to what they do. If Arcade are the serious uncle, Animal Collective are the manic, goofier cousin. Now it seems, they also share a producer in Scott “The Wizardâ€? Colburn, who might be responsible for things […]

AMIINA
Kurr
Ever Records
****
Does Iceland boast any cheesy chart-toppers or MOR rock? You wouldn’t think so based on the bulk of its homegrown music, that geographically eclectic vein that charms the outside world. Whether it’s the irreverent experimentalism of Bjork or the fey rhythms of múm, each act often captures something of the landscape from which it […]

THE NATIONAL
Boxer
Beggar’s Banquet
****
2005’s Alligator secured a universal thumbs up from music journalists and bloggers alike, and many of that critical cabal wondered if the Ohio-born Brooklyn-based five piece could possibly equal it. Kicking off with the gorgeous, piano-led Fake Empire and the Interpol-inspired Mistaken for Strangers, you begin to hope Boxer sustains this standard . […]

Just posting this here as it isn’t up on The Irish Times site.
FIONN REGAN
The End of History Heffa
****
By virtue of age, nationality and a deal with Damien Rice’s Heffa label, Fionn Regan has probably steeled himself for the inevitable comparisons, but then he’s also managed to get himself signed to Bella Union (owned by […]

Here’s the final Electric Picnic installment in today’s Times (pasted below for those without subscription). I’m sorry to bid farewell for another year, but I have never been so glad of running water, a warm bed and flushing toilets - I would’ve made a very poor Neanderthal. Oh, and will someone please tell those fantastic […]

My back hurts, my legs ache and 20 hours sleep wouldn’t go amiss, but this year’s Electric Picnic was well worth it. Really enjoyed practically everything I saw except for a disappointing Hot Chip and Bernard Sumner’s constant shrieking during New Order’s set on Saturday night.
Especially loved The Rapture, PJ Harvey, Yo La Tengo, […]

METRIC
Live it Out
***
If Manchester was the musical Mecca of the late 80s, Toronto is the noughties, anti-baggy equivalent. After Stars and Broken Social Scene, come Metric, whose singer Emily Haynes light up the latter’s ‘Swimmers’ with her sultry lilt. Their second album opens disarmingly with ‘Empty’, all quiet guitars and brushed drums before it explodes […]

Technically speaking The Eraser is a solo album, but Thom Yorke vigorously refuses to utter the word ’solo’ to describe this nine track collection. In a post on their website earlier this year, the Radiohead singer casually mentioned that he’d been working on some of his own material, insisting, “I don’t wanna hear that word […]

Listening to the wistful philosophy of Juana Molina, it’s hard to believe, that in another life, she was one of Argentina’s biggest TV comedy stars. Here, she coyfully tells us stories over guitar and we think we’ve found another talented singer songwriter. And then you start to notice something else: eccentric electronic flourishes and experimental […]

Originally released less than two years ago, Ray Lamontagne’s debut album Trouble is re-released next week via Warner’s.
Ray Lamontagne
Trouble ***
After hearing a Stephen Stills song on the radio at 4am, Ray Lamontagne quit his factory job, stocked up on requisite albums and decided to become a musician. If Stills’ influence wriggles its […]

During the week I played The Spinto Band’s album for a friend who remarked: “They’ve got that really trendy sound, don’t they?”. I assumed his blunt observation referred to the kind of multi-instrumental flaky pop rock beloved of The Flaming Lips and lesserly Clap Your Hands Say Yeah favoured by the Delaware six piece. Last […]

To the strain’s of Liverpudlian anthem, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, Manchester’s most famous son, clad in a smart black suit, strode purposefully to the Olympia’s centre stage. Moments before when the lights dipped, the crowd chanted Morrissey’s name and he obliged by kicking things off with a theatrical bow before launching into ‘First Of The […]