W/e 18/09/26 - Kai Angel, Ibibio Sound Machine, Lake Malice, Bloc Party, Jamie XX

• 

• 

• 

• 

Andy

Kai Angel - Went downhill after the opening track. Not sure what this was all about at all 2.5

Bloc Party - Really enjoyable. Totally fits with their earlier peak if a bit more personal 7

Ibibio Sound Machine - I’m not a big fan of world music but these lads make their stuff so funky it’s hard to ignore 6.5

Lake Malice - This wasn’t a bad dose of the modern nu-metal sound, except went it went a bit drum n bass 6.6

TotW - Moving On by Bloc Party

Jamie XX - I’ve never got in with the XX family of acts at all and this is no exception, but I can very much see what others see in it. Just not for me 4

Guy

Kai Angel – Not for me. This was autotuned and just a bit tuneless. Not much to redeem it frankly. Mercifully short. – 3.5

Bloc Party – Decent album although perhaps doesn’t hit the heights of some earlier offerings. Moving On is a great tune though – 7.5

Ibibio Sound Machine – really enjoyed their last album and this is another good effort. World Music mashed up with dance vibes. Interesting and fun – 7.6

Lake Malice – more of that odd tuneful stuff followed by inane screaming. 90s btch is a classic pop tune but some of the others are real ear-bleeders – 5

TOTW – Return to Sender – Ibibio Sound Machine

Jamie XX – I thought I’d like this more than I did. It’s very easy listening, ambient house. Perhaps not surprising that the stand out track, Loud Places, has Romy on vocals – 7.7

Phil (New)

3 Kai Angel

Some of the less distorted tracks like Having Fun, whilst still garbage, were slightly more listenable, the end of the last track was the high point, I don't get this overly distorted style.

5.8 Bloc Party

Felt this had a bit of the feel of a west end musical. Clunky theatrical story telling lyrics that just didn't work for me, not a patch on previous albums.

7.9 Ibibio Sound Machine

Great vocals and a really warm sound. Particularly liked the subtle electronic elements. Lots of TOW choices on here. Return to Sender and Love were class. Not heard of these before, looking forward to hearing more.

6.5 Lake Malice

First listen didn't get on with this at all, but actually a couple of the heavier tracks were pretty good Main Character Energy the highlight.

TOW - Return to Sender - Ibibio Sound System

7.9 Jamie XX

Super opener with Gosh. The build in Hold Tight is superb.

Phil (OG)

Kai Angel 4

If you’d asked me who would be the next minimalist composer to have an impact on East European hip hop, I’ll be honest, John Cage would not have been high on my list.

Bloc Party 5

Now that Phil C has noted the similarity between the songs on this album and those of a musical, I can’t hear it any other way. It is a song cycle that tells a story, which is precisely what a musical usually does. But that doesn’t make it bad. The lyrics do that on their own. It’s not that they’re voyeuristic or overly detailed, it’s just that they’re so frequently juvenile. The music does a decent job of making the album listenable but it doesn’t stop me keep wanting to shout “Oh, get over yourself!”

Ibibio Sound Machine 7.2

As dance music goes, pretty good. A solid groove, strong vocals and plenty of musical variety. It’s just missing something that would make it unignorable and I don’t know what that something is. Whatever it is, I bet they’re great live.

Lake Malice 5

Apparently Lake Malice are an “alternative metal duo” from Brighton. Well, we do all sorts round here but this lot? Put it this way - if I did want someone to, er, rock out for me, theirs wouldn’t be the first number I’d call.

TOTW – Ibibio Sound Machine - Love

Classic

Jamie XX 5

Not quite as tedious as his recent album but still not one I’d willingly listen to without first demanding a fee.

Simon

Kai Angel 2

No idea what he's going on about obvs but I doubt I'm missing much - very hard to find anything to enjoy or appreciate here.

Bloc Party 7

Has the same urgency as previous albums - wouldn't say I was the biggest fan but enjoyed this, Coming On Strong, Pigwig and Moving On in particular are all tunes.

Ibibio Sound Machine 7

Appealing follow up to their last album - maybe not quite as vibrant as I remember that one being but certainly has plenty going for it.

Lake Malice 4.5

Reminded me of that Spiritbox album we did a couple of years ago and has as little appeal as that did.

TotW: Bloc Party - Coming On Strong

Jamie XX 7

First time listen for me - bit of a mixed bag overall, some of it is definitely in my wheelhouse (particularly Hold Tight) but some duffers as well (I Know There's Gonna Be, etc).

Mark D

Kai Angel 3.5

The second (i.e. first) and last tracks were almost OK. The random heavy metal track at least broke up the rest. Spent most of it wondering 1) where he was from and 2) what actually constitutes music.

Bloc Party 6.75

Liked the idea of this album but the music / style felt one-trick quite quickly. Second half picked up (Stories and Moving On) as the relationship went sour (?)..

Ibibio Sound Machine 7.5

Undeniable groove to the whole album. Some of the tracks were a bit free form / jamming for my taste but others really great, particularly with the electronic / 80's feel.

Lake Malice 6.25

This was like a frantic and poppier Spiritbox. There's some great riffs but songs all felt like they were designed for v. short attention spans and not much in the way of subtlety. Exhibit A - Main Character Energy.

TOTW - Ibibio Sound Machine - Return to Sender

Jamie XX - 6.5

Good at points but a lot of the time lacked the drive I like from DJ / dance music.. It would be good in a crowded club for an hour but didnt blow me away..

Mark KE

Kai Angel - 4 - what the dickens was that all about. Will doubtless be high on the bill at Reading next year.

Bloc Party - 6 - a band I never really warmed to, I think a lot of it's due to his vocals which I find really grating. The music on this one's not too bad mind you, so overall it's okay, apart from Pigling which is terrible.

Ibibio Sound Machine - 8 - Anglo Nigerian electro afro funk saves the day, love this lot and all the albums we've done by them, was a breath of fresh air this week.

Lake Malice - 4.5 - rinse and repeat my review of so many other similar Bring Me The Horizon wannabes, these kind of histrionics are simply not my thang at all.

TOTW - Return To Sender, by Ibibio Sound Machine

Sam

Kai Angel , I didn’t hate the crazy Russian as much as everyone else but it wasn’t great either. 5

Bloc Party : it ain’t no Silent Alarm but there are bits of decent driving indie . Odd clunky lyrics don’t help either . 6

Ibibio Sound Machine: not really my bag but it was definitely funky at times . 6

Lake Malice : a mix of decent modern rock and auto tuned nonsense. But overall this weeks winner with a whopping 6.8.

TOTW Lagoon Blue by Bloc Party

Jamie XX : obviously very talented and there are are some delicious moments here . But it needs more cohesion and a bit more lead in its pencil . 7.2

Carlo

Kai Angel – 4.2

OK, so I picked this album based on their previous week’s release, which, having skimmed it, seemed to have a lot more going on. Sadly, this one did not. As with most of you, not for me either!

Bloc Party – 5.8

A new listen for me. Harmless enough on the ears, but didn’t really rock my boat.

Ibibio Sound Machine – 6.6

Funky energy that slowly helped me get into Monday morning after a celebratory weekend.

Lake Malice – 6.7

I thought this had a really interesting mix of electronica, metal and rock. Not a massive fan of the metal part, but it kinda worked, I think!

TOTW: Lake Malice – Chrome Red

Classic: Jamie xx – In Colour – 7.9

Nice to listen to the full album. Most of the tracks tick my boxes. Stranger in a Room is a great tune.

Erol

Kai Angel - a weird listen and like others, I had no idea what was going on here. Lacking direction and cohesion. 3.5

Bloc Party - disappointing. A big step down from their previous music. This just didn’t hang together. 5

Ibibio Sound Machine - funky afro disco beats which had me bobbing around. A lot of fun. 7.4

Lake Malice - screeching vocals, thrash guitars and drums, and too much distortion. They’re aiming for a BMTH sound but this lacks measure and balance. 6

TOTW - Love, Ibibio Sound Machine.

Jamie XX - I’m a big fan of Jamie’s work, but his album last year (?) was better. This has some good tunes on it but it lacks a few belters. 7

Matt

Kai Angel - 5 clunky

Bloc Party - 5.2 draggy

Ibibio Sound Machine - 6 funky

Lake Malice - 5.4 screechy

TOTW - Ibibio Sound Machine, Return to Sender

Paul

Kai Angel (3.5)

That was a long 26 minutes either way very few redeeming features.

Bloc Party (7.1)

Yes a decent album didn’t mind the storytelling concept but just lacks any real bangers to reach the heights of their older work.

Ibibio Sound Machine (7.8)

Enjoyable funk infused electronic Afro beats. All very uplifting!

Lake Malice (5.5)

A jarring start. Can’t fault the energy but did descend into screaming at points which made it a difficult listen.

TOTW - Ibibio Sound Machine - Return to Sender

Jamie XX (8.1)

Enjoyed that, builds really nice atmosphere in places. Gosh and Loud Places are crackers.

Jim

Kai Angel - 2

Soulless bollocks

Bloc Party - 7

A more subtle but often as good version of old BP. Still has some edge and driving bass, but it was hard to not think of a Disney soundtrack on some tracks after your comment Phil !

Ibibio Sound Machine - 6

Didn’t really get on with this, didn’t flow. Was better when it chilled out for a few tracks in the last third

Lake Malice - 4

Mmm another off the production line of overly dramatic rock. Doesn’t feel like much thought has gone into it.

TOTW - Block Party, Coming on Stong

Jamie XX 8.5

A few tracks don’t quite work but most of it is original, thoughtful and somehow banging in subtle way. Set the path for many that followed. Gosh, Obvs, Hold Tight and Loud Places are all brilliant

Annette

Kai Angel: 2.5

Bloc Party: 7

Ibibio Sound Machine: 7

Lake Malice: 5.5

TOTW: Lbibio Sound Machine- return to sender

Classic: Jamie xx - 7.5

Adam

Kai Angel 2

Modern soundtracking for Guantanamo.

Bloc Party 8

Big fan of this band. Doesn’t meet the heights of SA or AWITC. Would have preferred some deep cuts rather than reflection on still watching stories after a breakup. Does has that distinctive reflective sound in some tracks and they can kick it up a notch on tracks like Pigwig.

Ibibio Sound Machine 7

Get them hips moving on the dance floor. Funky electro beats. Awesome.

Lake Malice 4

Like Bring me the horizon, a k-pop band and a video game had a love child. Not one that you want to get to know.

TOTW Bloc Party - Moving On

Classic 7

He knows how to make good dance music and soundscapes. Loud Places the stand out track.