Electrelane's second album, The Power Out, is also their debut for the esteemed, arty British label Too Pure, the perfect home for a band that resembles so many of the imprint's other acts. The similarities appear early on, with the Stereolab-eqsue motorik and French vocals that drive "Gone Under Sea," the wobbly-yet-charming singing on "Birds" that recalls Pram's Rosie Cuckston, and the intricate interplay of guitars and keyboards on every track that bring to mind th' Faith Healers (and their later incarnation, Quickspace). But these similarities are far from derivative; instead, on The Power Out, Electrelane feel like they're in the tradition of these other messy, angular, decidedly British art-punk bands, so much so that it's hard to imagine the band on any other label (with all due respect to Mr. Lady, who released Electrelane's debut, Rock It to the Moon). But even though the group perfectly defines the way that so many British art-school bands have sounded since the late '70s, in Electrelane's hands it still seems fresh. The Power Out also seems fresher than Rock It to the Moon, perhaps because, paradoxically, it's more focused than their debut. That's a relative term, though; the noodly, jam-based feel that dominated Rock It to the Moon is still here, particularly on The Power Out's more ock-based songs such as "Take the Bit Between Your Teeth" and the closing instrumentals, "Only One Thing Is Needed" and "You Make Me Weak at the Knees." But overall, the songs are more concise here, giving songs like "On Parade" and the lovely "Enter Laughing" an immediate, if not exactly poppy, feel. The band finds different ways to channel the ambitions it so boldly displayed on Rock It to the Moon: "Oh Sombra!" is an eerie, passionate song fashioned from a sonnet from Spanish poet Juan Boscan, and "This Deed" borrows a line from Nietzsche to fit its appropriately dramatic air. Most striking of all is "The Valleys," a choral ock piece that features Chicago A Cappella and Verity Sussman's arresting vocals, and attains a ceremonial, spiritual grandeur that hasn't been seen in many ock records save the Microphones' Mount Eerie. The Power Out manages to be unique without being a radical departure, and it augurs more good things for Electrelane's stint with Too Pure.
This is a great instrumental band...amazing live. The fact that electrelane is an all female ensemble is a plus. If you've never heard of them, I suggest you listen to them now. The power out is a great album. Best played loud.
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i have one of those slight itches i can't scratch. more like i entered dolphin heaven and they haven't invented back scratchers. i don't know why i use crest whitening listerine to brush my teeth. germs are fun to swallow. i guess that's it for now...
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i got some bad news. i just heard that electrelane, one of my favorite bands is about to take an indefinite hiatus."we have decided that the upcoming gigs will be our last for the foreseeable future" says their myspace page, so if you live in europe, please, see them for me.it hurts when beloved bands break. can't they just stay together? maybe if i stomp strong and clap like a fool they'll ...
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I love everything about this track. The sensual groove and bass, the choir... the harmonies and melody... I can listen to this on my iPod on the bus, shut my eyes and be somewhere completely different in my imagination.I'm Electrelaning up as am going to see them at Koko in a couple weeks. Yay to me for having foresight to book tickets during a recent bout of poverty and depression, as underst...
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This is a great instrumental band...amazing live. The fact that electrelane is an all female ensemble is a plus. If you've never heard of them, I suggest you listen to them now. The power out is a great album. Best played loud.
More >
i have one of those slight itches i can't scratch. more like i entered dolphin heaven and they haven't invented back scratchers. i don't know why i use crest whitening listerine to brush my teeth. germs are fun to swallow. i guess that's it for now...
More >
| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Gone Under Sea |
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| 2 On Parade |
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| 3 The Valleys |
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| 4 Birds |
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| 5 Take the Bit Between Your Teeth |
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| 6 Oh Sombra! |
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| 7 Enter Laughing |
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| 8 This Deed |
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| 9 Love Builds Up |
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| 10 Only One Thing Is Needed |
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| 11 You Make Me Weak at the Knees |
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Click to purchase…
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 "The Power Out")
