Lex ([info]alexmacpherson) wrote in [info]poptimists,
@ 2008-07-02 12:19:00
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Entry tags:video club

I never said I was true, Charlotte, Charlotte
You lot have been quiet recently, maybe some new music will spark you into life again?

Video for Booka Shade's terrific summer anthem 'Charlotte' which is probably the best track after 'Control Me' on The Sun & The Neon Light. Odd to hear such a short edit - the full version is obv better, fuck a radio edit - but the bassline and the sirens and the drum fills still make me grin all over my face. Beach party anyone?



Second, I went to see Erykah Badu at the Brixton Academy on Monday and it was mind-blowing. Her New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) album is my album of the year, maybe decade, by a million miles - it really is momentous - but I don't believe we've talked about it much on poptimists. I went on about what a genius Erykah is at length yesterday, thoughts anyone? Here is a live version of 'Soldier', one of the best tracks on the album, from earlier this year - I definitely recommend checking out 'The Healer' from the same session too.


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[info]stevem78
2008-07-02 11:59 am UTC (link)
both great - i keep forgetting about 'soldier' when i think of the album highlights

no internet at home at the moment so can't grab new stuff or hear it as much but this be rectified soon

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[info]alexmacpherson
2008-07-02 12:14 pm UTC (link)
'Soldier' seems v much in the tradition of TLC's 'Waterfalls'...it's all about the details for me; initially it seems like such a simple song, that military beat and the mournful voice winding its way through them, but it's all about Erykah's subtle vocal inflections ("...this ain't no time to kill") and the way the background shifts imperceptibly behind her (those spooky backing vox coming in on "baptised when the levees broke").

Plus, really fucking great, righteous, compassionate lyrics: Erykah feels you, but doesn't let you off the hook. "To my girls on prescription pills - I know how you feel" to "And if you think about turning back - I got the shotgun on your back".

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[info]alexmacpherson
2008-07-02 12:16 pm UTC (link)
plus "what am I talkin' about? Everybody know what the song's about" - such a great way of saying "cut the disingenuous bullshit, we ~all~ know what's going down"

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[info]koganbot
2008-07-02 12:48 pm UTC (link)
"Charlotte" is a beach party as envisaged by Depeche Mode, maybe. E.g., a Beach Party where people stand around in groups. --I don't know if I mean that as a compliment or an insult. This doesn't have Depeche Mode's affected glumness, but there's still a "sensibility" wafting through the atmosphere that seems kinda bullshitty. But then, I generally liked Depeche Mode, thought the affectations were a shtick that were running cover for the melodies and dance force, which they had more of than, say, New Order did.

I had "Control Me" penciled in as my number 15 on yesterday's Top 31, but then dropped it down to 20.

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[info]alexmacpherson
2008-07-02 01:20 pm UTC (link)
Booka Shade would definitely take any comparison to Depeche Mode as a compliment.

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[info]alexmacpherson
2008-07-02 04:56 pm UTC (link)
why have only ~two~ people answered this, jesus

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[info]piratemoggy
2008-07-03 03:32 pm UTC (link)
This post inspired me to immediately get on eMusic and download the Booka Shade album. I am disturbed I had not heard their excellent music before. Nom nom shades of elegant melancholy + intrusive electro.

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[info]alexmacpherson
2008-07-03 04:29 pm UTC (link)
Glad you like it! You must also get their last album Movements if you can - it's even better (in the meantime look up 'Mandarine Girl', 'Body Language', 'Darko' and 'In White Rooms' on youtube)

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[info]piratemoggy
2008-07-10 09:45 am UTC (link)
Bvgger, I somehow missed yr reply and have SQUANDERED my downloads. Will have to buy it on Amazon Marketplace in the unlikely event that I get paid for something in the near-ish future. Am v. much enjoying Neon & Sun thingy, was listening to it whilst I was meant to be writing a Linkin Park review the night before last.

LP review is worst thing have ever written, as a consequence but oh well.

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[info]alexmacpherson
2008-07-11 10:28 pm UTC (link)
Here is Movements! http://www.sendspace.com/file/ebuw0i

And the original versions of 'Mandarine Girl' - http://www.sendspace.com/file/m8ekp1 - and 'Body Language' - http://www.sendspace.com/file/t1r2w0

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[info]piratemoggy
2008-07-12 06:24 pm UTC (link)
Awesome! Thank you for this, I shall give it a good listen.

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