chilli Posted May 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 it was hardly a fracasthey were nice chaps' date=' we had a laugh about everything [/quote']nice chaps from a crap band he he Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilli Posted May 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2005 really really looking forward to seeing Bikini Atoll again...and Picastro sound lovely from their demo...as its just about to be released here's the 1st review of Metal Caresvis drownedinsoundPicastroMetal Cares[Polyvinyl' date= post: 0"]Rating: 7.5Often folk acts are as meek and delicate in person as their music would suggest, and Toronto four-piece Picastro are no exception. After L.A.-based Pehr Records released their 2002 debut, Red Your Blues, Picastro inexplicably left the label. Refusing to step on any toes, the band remained tight-lipped about the affair despite claiming how awful the experience was. Singer/guitarist Elizabeth Hysen immaculately personifies this innocuous, victimized pathos, suffering from hyperaesthesia-- a sensory condition in which victims suffer from increased sensitivity to stimuli (think Daredevil). Appropriately, Metal Cares exudes a sound seemingly tormented by sleep-deprivation, pain, and-- most pressingly-- fear. Hysen's vocals are much more prominent in the mix than on Red Your Blues, allowing her every grief-stricken crack and murmur to resonate above the equally tortured instrument parts. The track list serves as a peek into Hysen's neuroticism with titles like "I Can't Fall Asleep", "Teeth and No Eyes", and "Sharks", named after one of Hysen's foremost phobias. However, Hysen, a straightforward, no gimmicks songwriter, keeps the lyrics short and cryptic, not to mention unintelligible. On the chorus of "Dramaman", Hysen wails indecipherably amidst shrieking strings, while the ballad "Sharks" builds to a muffled chant sounding like "bigger hunter, hello hunter". Good luck trying to decode "Ah Nyeh Nyeh." With her garbled drawl, Hysen could pass for a German laptop pop artist, though her bandmates' instrumental workings borrow the most from that genre. Rather than adopting the punchy, infectious folk-pop of past tourmates Cat Power or Smog, Picastro are content with allowing their songs to methodically unfold. Opener "No Contest" patiently unfurls on a cyclical acoustic riff for two minutes before finally revealing the song's subtle yet gorgeous refrain. Despite this asceticism, the album still contains several beautiful, striking moments between the gossamer acoustic strumming and haunting strings. Hysen's hushed, sparing vocals leave a lot of open space between verses, but she's hardly twiddling her thumbs during that time. For all the allure Hysen's voice generates, her acoustic/electric interplay with guitarist Zak Hanna is the true glue that holds the LP together. "I Can't Fall Asleep" builds to a jarring chorus that features Hanna's reverb-drenched electric against Hysen's dissonant, ringing acoustic. Closer "Blonde Fires" puts a warmer, more inviting spin on this interplay, allowing the guitars to intermittently carry the lead melody. It's a sound caught between Elliott Smith and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, balancing pretty acoustic melodies with chillingly shrill clangs and screeches. But hey, that's the unapologetic, enigmatic Hysen for ya; for all we know, part of her probably wants to be "Miss Misery", but the other half simply can't stop freaking out over sharks.-Adam Moerder, May 9, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilli Posted May 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2005 frm a message boardBikini Atoll tonight! In London! Cor!Posted by bnk_ on 8th May, 22:16 | Reply to this postI saw this band yesterday togheter with Picastro, and it was realy good. This is the second time I've seen them, the first time was when they supported Explosions and I wasn't to impressed. But playing together with Picastro they made so much more sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilli Posted May 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2005 go go go go go go gigwhew, special tonight............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirkt Posted May 14, 2005 Report Share Posted May 14, 2005 I'm not there. As you can tell. I really quite fancied seeing Bikini Atoll but playin football has left me feelin total poo...i feel well sick and my leg kills cos of a nasty tackle. even tho it was me who did the tackle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest idol_wild Posted May 14, 2005 Report Share Posted May 14, 2005 Good gig, good gig.Copy_haho's sound was a bit skewed, but good nonetheless.They're no Chameleons, however. ;-)Picastro need to stop listening to Nick Cave. They were good in spells, but sinister pop music can only go so far before making one feel uneasy and dubious.Bikini Atoll worked the crowd. The crowd lapped them up.For many years I wondered who they were, having trawled through mail order record catalogues looking for Bikini Kill records.Now I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balvack Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 sinister pop music can only go so far before making one feel uneasy and dubious... and what's wrong with that 8o ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RF Scott Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Bikini Atoll were great, but I think I'd say that Picastro were very very awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balvack Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 sinister pop music can only go so far before making one feel uneasy and dubious... and what's wrong with that 8o ?UPDATE: What I meant by that was - and this is just a general observation rather than having a dig at your viewpoint -isn't it interesting to have something challenging to listen to that makes you feel "uneasy and dubious" rather than safe, cosy, and complacent?I thought Bikini Atoll were great and energetic and conveyed real emotion and enjoyment of the music, the local boys Copy_haho done good, but Picastro had something particularly special and fragile. Absolutely Beautiful. And you can quote me on that.Cheers Mike, Jenny and co. A cracking show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimr Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 I want to feel dubious.It sounds exciting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen B Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 The Picastro song i've heard has actually rather grown on me. Makes me wish i had gone now...ahem... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilli Posted May 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 ive lived with the Picastro cd's for the last three months, their music is quite astonishingly beautiful. I thought last night was another superb night & i thank all those in the audience whose open minded appreciation, really rubbed off on all the artists that played. The touring artists were very very happy with Aberdeen & this really does help the cause of programming artists that would not normally come to Aberdeen; word is spreading.cheersmike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NARC Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 I really enjoyed the gig. The company was great for a start (!). Copy Haho are the best Aberdeen band I have seen yet. They have unpredictable melodies, which is great because they aren't self-indulgent as post rock songs can tend to be. They know how to finish songs off decisively.Picastro were alright, very pretty sounding but rather subdued.Bikin Atoll were not bad at all, although definitely playing for the crowd. But you can't blame them for that I suppose.Overall the night was good, although as I'm sure other people noticed rather spoiled by a couple of base, abhorrent sluts who ruined my evening inside and outside of Exodus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen B Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 I really enjoyed the gig. The company was great for a start (!). Copy Haho are the best Aberdeen band I have seen yet. They have unpredictable melodies' date=' which is great because they aren't self-indulgent as post rock songs can tend to be. They know how to finish songs off decisively.Picastro were alright, very pretty sounding but rather subdued.Bikin Atoll were not bad at all, although definitely playing for the crowd. But you can't blame them for that I suppose.Overall the night was good, although as I'm sure other people noticed rather spoiled by a couple of base, abhorrent sluts who ruined my evening inside and outside of Exodus.[/quote']They spread easier than Bertolli. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
framheim Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 copy haho were awesome last night, absolutely on top form. i just hope the pictures i took come out as good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest valley69 Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Balvack' date=' but Picastro had something particularly special and fragile. Absolutely Beautiful. And you can quote me on that.[/quote']I bloody will as well cos without a doubt picastro were the best band there by miles. Quality drumming that gave it so much depth and intense as hell. I loved it to bits!!!! Id say that the band are masters at making quiet into intense and merge a wall of beautiful yet haunting noise. Bikini were good and copy haho are a decent band as well. Picastro- oCh AYe! They WILL take you to another place.I couldnt stop bobbing my head to Picastro, if anyone saw a bald dude rocking out at the front that wiz me...it was annoying as fuck when folk were talking during the set btw, not only for Picastro but for Bikini as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest idol_wild Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 .. and what's wrong with that 8o ?I don't listen to music to make me feel dubious. I listen to music because it makes me happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stuartmaxwell Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 awesome night again picastro were outstanding-cd is great too-soooo goood, BA were fab, i was lovignthe sound of the enw stuff- i await it on 12" and copy ah choo played a great set, def the best i have seen them.kudos to interesting music, nae kudos to the fuckers (in the proper crowd) talking/laughing loudly through the setcheers to all involved with the show, its great when hard work comes to life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balvack Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 Visual recordFor those kind and interested folks who asked about the pix: a moody (i.e. grainy !) selection is herehttp://gallery.aberdeen-music.com/showgallery.php?cat=3074 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeinzHines Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 It was a shame i couldnt have made this....Has Albini got rid of what i think was Bikini Atols only downfall, muddyness?.....I think they are great...but just too muddy sometimes...has it been overcome?Copy_haho are one of my favourate bands...not just locally, but actually one of my favourates, not a big fan of picastro though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilli Posted May 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 It was a shame i couldnt have made this....Has Albini got rid of what i think was Bikini Atols only downfall' date=' muddyness?.....I think they are great...but just too muddy sometimes...has it been overcome?Copy_haho are one of my favourate bands...not just locally, but actually one of my favourates, not a big fan of picastro though....[/quote']The most noticable thing about Liars Exit is that Albini's production makes it soundsoo natural & clean, Gideon's songcraft come to the fore & the instrumentationgell perfectly. If the reviews for this release are less than superb, i'll be amazed. Of this music genre, there will be nothing better released this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowball Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 The most noticable thing about Liars Exit is that Albini's production makes it sound soo natural & clean' date=' Gideon's songcraft come to the fore & the instrumentationgell perfectly. If the reviews for this release are less than superb, i'll be amazed. Of this music genre, there will be nothing better released this year.[/quote']thanks, just registered to say really great night, I bought Liars Exits &The Picastro CDWOWwill come again to these events of interesting music Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
french_disko Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 There's a(n unreleased) Picastro track on the Wiretapper CD given away free with June's Wire magazine.More info here - http://www.monotremerecords.com/news.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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