Hercules and Love Affair
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I bought a CD on Wednesday. An actual CD! One of those things with the annoying plastic on the outside and sticky tape around the top that leaves gunk on it that pisses me off. I think it's been a very very long time since I've paid for a ridiculously overpriced new cd. It was kind of fun. Usually I just buy everything digitally from a number of sources or I'll order used cd's (I'm not picky!). I went to the local Barnes & Noble with my wife because she needed to find a bunch of new books to read. I figured I'd spend the time in the cd section. I'm surprised that I knew a majority of what they were peddling there. Oh, but which one, which one to buy!? I went through every section and browsed here and there. The sales girl kept trying to be coy and flirt with me. I went to their kiosk thingy and made a list of all new electronic that was released fairly recently. The girl was confused as to why I needed to do that. I went through most of the list until I found something they had. There was one copy of this Hercules and Love Affair CD. By the way, they access a lot of Pitchfork and Allmusic Guide reviews on their kiosk robot. I thought to go through more of the list but I figured, why bother. I usually am lucky with these things. When I cracked it open it became clear that I was going to be happy with my purchase. I noticed it was released by DFA Recordings (check), had Tim Goldsworthy helping on a lot of tracks and production (check), and Antony of himself and The Johnsons did a lot of production, vocals, and lyrics (triple check). It's good. I now know that this thing has hit the top 40 charts in several countries. On first listen my wife said, "this doesn't sound like something you would listen to", and some of the songs I would agree. But, there are some really great songs that just sneak up on you. It has this really strong Italo/space/cosmic/slow motion disco kind of feel to a lot of the tracks. There are some fantastic baselines and really detailed, atmospheric, electronic sounds. I like it. Count me as a fan. Who knows if I will ever buy another new cd, but if this is the last one it was worth it.
Comments (29)
Hercules and Love Affair – This Is My Love 4:58
Hercules and Love Affair – Raise Me Up 3:51
I liked this record, I believe Bartleby once did a thing on H&LA..very positive and Ben Heller did one, negative..Me dig.
To each his own. If I was keeping up I probably would've noticed someone else had posted on it. I'm going to work on that. I think the album gets better as you go along. The last 3 clubby kind of tracks are probably my favorites.
The singing doesn't appeal to my disco-bilities, but the grooves definitely achieve orbit. I guess others put it in as Hercules & Love Affair. I used to worry bout the already posted thing, but if you are saying something original (like you did) I don't think it matters.
I don't think it matters either. I totally brought a different perspective yo! :p
Nuff reperspec'!
I went into this disc only knowing that Antony was involved and I hadnt heard much of their stuff either. It didn't take much for the songs to hit me, I loved the disco vibe on the faster songs. Oh, and those machines at B&N are wildly addictive.
brittany I really had thoughts like "how can I get one of these home and make it work". I could play with one of those on the couch for hours.
they get pretty fun too when you make a game out of them, like a 'six degrees of separation' and see who can do it the quickest. the prices though, man, i don't know if i've ever bought an album from there.
does B&N have the bar code read play preview machines.. those are a tire kickers dream.
brittany - yes the prices were out of this world. It's a wonder they keep that part of the store going. I've seen more expensive at other stores though. Nothing like spending $20 on one cd.
Cody - Yeah it's one of those. I'd settle for one that could hook up through wifi. I think B&N's catalog could be a little broader for my tastes though. They do have a fine soundtrack section though and it's the only place I know where you can easily pick up a Blossom Dearie or Edith Piaf album. That or kids bop and contemporary christian music.
Yeah, the scanner systems have improved over the years, but they certainly don't have everything and especially world or other things you might not even have an idea of what they sounded like. When CD listening stations started coming into all the stores I didn't think they were always the best thing for business (as a retailer). We used to joke that they created a phyllum of people called TK's..Just there to kick the tires but with no intention of buying. Of course they were also used to fleece record companies who had to pay for "placement."
I liked a store in Denver that you could just bring a stack of cd's to a cd player and they would open them all up for you and you could listen to them to your hearts content. If you didn't like it they'd just reshrinkwrap them and stick em back on the shelf as a new cd. I've always wanted to play with one of those make your own mix cd kiosk things that other countries have. It's probably limited there too on what you can put on a disk. In Japan they have music stores like video stores where you can check albums out. Man I wish we had that here. My friend Kohei had a sizable collection from those.
Cody, at a large unnamed (or already named) retail media chain it's not "placement," it's "cooperative marketing." Or, at least, it used to be....
Fisty, I wish B&N clerkesses still flirted with me. Nothing like a girl with a book in her hand.....
Yes..coop funds. An account I dealt with allowed you to "place" records on their shelves for a fee. another reason for the demise of the former record industry.
Ivy - She was a nerdy girl in a short skirt with knee high black boots and funky tights. Like Juno meets hooker. I wondered if she saw me hanging out with my smokin hot wife while roaming around the store. I don't need the attention but it's nice. I'll take it when I can get it.
Cody - To quote The Jerk, "Ah... It's a profit deal!" :)
This reminds me of a cross between '70s Sylvester, Communards & Erasure(who both were heavily influenced by Sylvester as well). Cool stuff. And that voice is so unusual.
I was going to say something about H&LA until you mentioned a nerdy girl in short skirt with knee high black boots.
OK, I'm back now. I love this album- as you say, it sneaks up on you with a lot of intricacy and Antony's voice fits these grooves like a glove. They're playing in London next week at a sizeable venue - maybe time to go see them.
they are riotous live. im obsessed obsessed obsessed :)
August - I didn't think of it but I can totally see a Sylvester/Communards sound to it. I love Antony's voice. He's gifted.
Jonh - It would be a cool show to see for sure. There will definitely be a lot of energy there. Antony's voice really does work well on this album. I'm surprised but not really. Especially after I heard the My Robot Friend track "One More Try" he sang on a few years ago. This H&LA album made for his voice. The man has got some serious soul.
they've got made style as well my dear :)
Now would that be home made or custom made? ;)
Ha, you ain't right Sam. Give that girl a spelling break!
Actually, when I first started listening to them I immediately thought of Sylvester but his voice sounds more like Communards. Antony is custom made gifted, hehe.
To quote Mohammad Ali, "I'm a bad man". :p
Antony is custom made gifted. I think angels made him.
fist and August: Late to the thread, but I've been describing Antony's work in Hercules and Love Affair to my friends as heavily influenced by Sylvester's electro-disco recordings on the custom S.F. label Megatone - with a soupcon of Andy Bell and Jimmy Somerville. So great minds think alike - again!
It's like we're Borg and Mog is the hive. Resistance is futile. Your music will be assimilated. :)
I am a big Antony fan and just came across the posted song as a video on Youtube. It's good!
I am new to Mog (just started today!)
It's all good!
I am a big Antony fan and just came across the posted song as a video on Youtube. It's good!
I am new to Mog (just started today!)
It's all good!