Daily noise that works faster than a stream of caffeine
15 April 2025
Last weekend Coachella Festival (Coachella Valley, Indio, California) experienced its
first weekend of its 24th edition featuring techno titans THE PRODIGY who lost their
main frontman Keith Flint 5 years ago when he took his own life (March 2019).
After the fateful event the band, obviously, needed a break to mourn and reflect.
In the summer of 2022, they announced their return to the stage with a 10-date tour
of the UK, to coincide with the 25th anniversary of their 3rd LP The Fat Of The Land.
Last February the band told in a press statement
that a new album is coming sometime this year.
And last Friday they breathed at Coachella Fest and shocked the
desert.
DIY Magazine says: “The first LP in seven years, ‘personal best’ represents a triumphant emergence from protracted hibernation. An album of teeth-grinding kosmische grit, tracing slumbrous, psychic ascension one overdrive-grumble at a time, the Chichester outfit herein transfigure a matured collection of understated anthems, dominated by oblique drum machines and soft-bellied motorik… It’s one for the late night coach rides; for the wee, contemplative hours spent staring through black windows.” Score: 4/5.
(Press pic FB)
Turn Up The Volume: Their moodiest, their most chill-out, their most melodic, their
most engrossing longplayer. Actually, undoubtedly, the band’s best work in my aural
book. It all starts with a simple, instrumental synth ditty on repeat (Sirens). What follows are vintage Kraut-Traams-rock jams like Dry, Shields, Hallie and Comedown triggered by
trance-like motorik guitar lines.
Overall the production is more glossy and refined than before, and it works dazzlingly.
The final result is an amplified ambient no-fillers-almost-all-killers record. Supreme score.
FYI: Main man/voice Protomartyr’s vox Joe Casey guests on steamroller The Light at Night, SoftLizard (Liza Violet of Menace Beach) on moody groover Breathe and Soffie Viemose of Danish band Lowly on rotating pearl Sleeper.
Artist: STEFANIE PARNELL Who: Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec,
Parnell is an insightful, refined, and melodically
driven Canadian singer/songwriter. Her music will
leave you feeling comforted by the dissonant chords
and melancholic lyrics.
Parnell:“It started off as an instrumental track that my DJ friend,
Morbin, sent me in hopes for a collaboration. After the first listen,
the vocal melody came to me right away. At the time, I was going
through unforeseen health issues which naturally provoked intense
episodes of anxiety. The lyrics allowed me to ease my mind of the
paralyzing thoughts.”
Turn Up The Volume: The vocal gloominess you experience here
causes goosebumps. Parnell‘s expressive voice is the stunning star
of this heavyhearted ballad. You can really feel the tenseness and
melodrama at play. Emotive voice Angel Olsen comes to mind. A truly
gripping discovery.
And just as the sorrowing song, the single’s artwork (by Lee Thorburn
and Bryan Wilkat) and the creepy video clip are fascinating too.
In the light I can see you
In the dark I can feel you
When you’re in front of me, I can’t read you
You’re a part of me but I don’t need you
Jazz icon DR. LONNIE SMITH and the everywhere-and-anytime-present
IGGY POP teamed up for a smooth cover of SUNSHINE SUPERMAN, a hit
by sixties Scottish folk-pop legend DONOVAN, which will feature on Smith’s
new album Breathe – produced by Don Was– out at the end of this month.
Smith: “I was playing with my trio at Arts Garage in Delray Beach in Florida.
Iggy would come by and say he wanted to play with me. I let him play slaparoo
and he loved it. He enjoyed playing with us. We thought about recording a few
songs, so we went in with my trio backing us up, and it worked.”
Sunshine came softly through my a-window today
Could’ve tripped out easy a-but I’ve a-changed my ways
It’ll take time, I know it but in a while
You’re gonna be mine, I know it, we’ll do it in style
‘Cause I made my mind up you’re going to be mine…
Pick: BREATHE IN. The band’s first new track in over two years released
on their own label Rusty Cage Recordings in association with Skyfire Records.
Available exclusively for one week on Aurovine
Score: Expect a merciless succession of metal-crushing thunderclaps, hell-raising guitars, monumental vocals and a ginormous chorus. ‘Breathe In’ actually sticks as first-class glue from the first spin on with an instant impact on your head’s movements. Gigantesque, perfervid and blasting. A perfect sucker-punch to test your speakers’ flexibility.
KEITH FLINT, the flamboyant, charismatic and 100% full-blooded frontman of techno legends THE PRODIGY, was born on 17 September 1969. He would have turned 50 today. Unfortunately the troubled artist took his own life this year, on the 4th of March. A
truly sad loss for his family, friends and fans!
Let’s not forget this outstanding performer. Happy 50, Keith, wherever you are!
Here are four rip-roaring electro shock firecrackers to celebrate your birthday…
– NO GOOD (START THE DANCE) – 1994
Today 22 years ago, on 13 July 1997, techno kamikaze punks THE PRODIGY topped the UK Album Charts with their third album ‘THE FAT OF THE LAND‘. Lead single ‘BREATHE’ was released in November of the previous year and hit the top spot of the UK Singles Chart. Here comes that slam dunk…