Best So Far!

Jul 1, 2005 · 2 minute read

Shamelessly stolen from Sweeping The Nation!

They're never going to make another Technique again. Once you've accepted that fact, all of New Order's post-1988 output is more palatable, somehow. Waiting For The Sirens' Call is a elegiac collection of songs that hits all of my New Order buttons. though I concede that they could sing out-of-tune with bad mikes while a pantomime horse dances on stage, and I'd be happy…

"What can I get for ten dollar?" I don't care if she's real, a fake art student who works with Justine Elastica, or a time-displaced Neneh Cherry; this album is fantastic. Wonderful beats, some fun and weird vocals, plus "I salt and pepper my mango", which is my favourite lyric of the year so far (Apart from "bing-bong-bing-bong", naturally).

Their first record on Sanctuary saw them crashing in at the charts at No. 72 (I mean, really, what with the charts the way they are, I don't want to know how many albums you have to sell to reach those lofty heights). It's a shame, as it's the most accessible album they've made for years. I want to find the time to write a full post on it, to be honest, but highlights include: Sarah Cracknell's almost perfect Kylie impression on Stars Above Us, the backing vocals that drench the album, the final minute of Milk Bottle Symphony, and all of Teenage Winter.

They were up in Manchester when I was there in April; I could have got my copy of the album signed, you know. Anyway, easily the best of the current post-punk revival bands, even if the BBC is trying to wear out So Here We Are by playing it all over their Wimbledon coverage.

Pips Sleater-Kinney's The Woods to the list. Both have heavy Dave Fridmann production, but I think it works better in Low's case than with S-K. You have to love an album that starts with "Tonight the monkey dies"…