Customer Reviews

The Power Out

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i feel that i should be slightly apologetic, for reviewing this so late after the release. i actually was exposed to electrelane at a live show with le tigre in 2005. i was hooked, HOOKED after seeing these incredibly talented women perform. it took ages to find "the power out" in hard copy at the local record store, but since i've obtained it, i've relished every nostalgic moment of seeing them live and have consistently put this as my top played songs.

i don't feel that i could more adequately describe their tracks as the very able reviewers below me, but i can say that this is the most hidden jewel of all experimental-indie bands out there. almost every song evokes a very strong emotional response from within, and i have to say, if you're a person who loves being solitary and lean more towards the creative, i'd recommend this album whole-heartedly. it's an anthem album for the melancholy, but secure in their aloneness.

Not only they have a hard time sticking to one language in their lyrics, they sure can't see their listeners stay calm and content listening to one tune. A rollercoaster would be a ferry ride compared to the adventures they convey through this album. There is not a single moment of imitation in the whole album, yet one could find a little bit of everything in so many tracks. There is a probably little bit of Radiohead, a little bit of Doors, a light taste of Cardigans and a few drops of Cranberries lying around.

Having just been exposed to Joy Division this summer, it's hard for this reviewer to ignore the similar kind of vibes I get from this, the second LP from Brighton's Electrelane. Steve Albini [The Pixies, Nirvana] seems to restrain his usually dirty production for the whole of this album with the exception of "Take The Bit Between Your Teeth" in lieu of doing his best Martin Hannett impression and even then doesn't do over the top. The all girl group is for all intents and purposes frozen on record in this sparse and doomy yet morbidly moving piece of desolation in a fairly timeless fashion for future generations to discover. The overall sound is much like Patti Smith fronting Ian Curtis' ill-fated band specifically on the "Free Money" influenced "Birds" [Horses, "Birds" ... Hmmm] except for the crisp quality of sound which time and technology have afforded us. Most of the time I'm forced to imagine a stilted Verity Susman, lead singer, screaming out into the night from some isolated, dark alley in the lower/middle class section of a decaying, country nonspecific metropolis, one of the last romantics suffering for the sins of a generation whose idea of love comes from and dies in J. Lo movies and McDonald's commercials. Music this soulful has no right to be made in the 21st century.

I just want to say that "The Valleys" is the most stunning song I've heard in ages. It will stop you dead in your tracks. The entire cd is a winner, in fact.

Eletrelane are four girls from Brighton, England. These four girls may also be the, `the next big thing' in music. Their debut album, `Rock It to the Moon' created a buzz in the indie rock world. However, their new album, `The Power Out' may turn that buzz into a boom.
The first track, `Gone Under Sea' is a mellow, glistening song that is sung entirely in French. This song is quiet, but speaks volumes with lead singer Verity Susman's vocals; one minute they are sweet and soothing the next they are angry and rebellious. The rhythm of, `Gone Under Sea' and Verity's excellent vocals create a resonating melody.
`Oh Sombra!'(Oh Shadow!) is another foreign track. This time the language of choice is Spanish. `Oh Sombra!' is a very lively and has somewhat of a punk swagger. The guitars chug along while Verity rants like Courtney Love in Hole's punk heyday.
On `Take the Bit between your Teeth' Electrelane shows us that they can rock out as well as Black Sabbath can. Once again Verity's electrifying voice is focal point. She ranges from Patti Smith to Iggy Pop. This song even has a roaring guitar solo followed up by orgasmic yelps that really sex-up this metal/pop song.
Electrelane switches things up a bit with; `Birds' this somber song is all about getting over the lost of someone. `Birds' starts of somewhat depressive, (I want to see you, more than anything) but ends with a fierce bang, (it's not that I can't go on without you/busy, busy all the time) once again the band is taking advantage of the quiet/loud dynamic. At the end they tie it all together when Verity sweetly sings, (but I can't stop thinking about you.) This quiet two-minute song is one the shining moments of the album.
So far so good, right? Well, not exactly. Electrelane loose their way on, `The Valleys' and decide to take a more pious route. This song is a Siegfried Sasson poem that has been arranged for a Chicago choir. While it is, no doubt, an impressive song, this track breaks up the melody of the album. Electrelane was a little too artistic in this song. `The Power Out' was very a very cohesive album until this point.
`Love Builds Up', `Only One Thing is Needed' and ` You Make Me Weak at the Knees' are a return to, `Rock It to the Moon's' all instrumental sound. In several of these tracks Verity no longer uses her voice as an instrument. She turns to her keyboards, giving these songs a new wave strut. These songs work well together, as well as with the album. They create a stellar end to, `The Power Out'.
The band has grown tremendously since their debut album, but they have a little more growing to do. `The Power Out' is a polished gem of tangible feeling, but it is sometimes devoid in communication. While `The Power Out' may be louder than a buzz it's not quite a boom.

im no music critic. this album is amazing. i am totally 100 percent backing this album. i have not been this impressed with a cd in such a long time. i actually got chills the first time I heard "Gone Under Sea" and I have no idea what she's singing about!!! I cannot sit still to "On Parade", almost cry to "Birds" and put "You Make Me Weak At The Knees" on all my mix cds. (in fact 2 cuts from this cd have made it onto every mix cd i have made in the past couple months)
p.s. the band is nice even, they personally responded to my email! you gotta love talented and nice musicians!!!
Electrelane for President!!!=)

I was handed a promo copy of this album in December, and I've been listening to it almost every day since. I'm not good at describing music, but these women have a style that is utterly captivating and hauntingly beautiful. The stuff is spare and lush at the same time, and rocks HARD. The lead singer's voice goes off kilter a lot, and the lyrics are beautiful and sad. I haven't fallen this hard for any band since Interpol, and Electrelane blows them away. Steve Albini produced this album, so that's some good rock cred. Let's put it this way - I ripped the promo copy, and I'm STILL buying the original CD. Must have. I'm tempted to fly to England and catch a few of their shows, as I've listened to their live stuff on John Peel Sessions, and it's incredible. Give it a solo listen, you will not regret it. I love Electrelane.

I heard "the Valley" and loved it. The rest of the CD is nothing like the valley- but I still enjoy the songs. Reminds me a little of elastica. I put this on my harddrive and mixed it in with some other punky stuff- nice to have female voices in there too.

what?
where is this studio located? The studio they recorded the album in...
In an apartment house with very thin walls? angry old people living next door? It seems like it. Otherwise i could not understand these girls. It seems like they cannot afford to play like they would like to play. That they have to be restrained, do their thing quietly, cautiously not to aggravate their nighbours. Or maybe there is a little baby next door, trying to go to sleep and girls of course are well-natured and do not want to disturb.
Or maybe they just had really bad hang-overs from the party last night while recording it.

TAKE THAT BIT BETWEEN YOUR TEETH and THIS DEED would surely rock a lot if they just turned the guitars louder a bit! BIRDS would rip your heart out, if they just managed to put a bit more soul in it! The instrumental YOU MAKE ME WEAK AT THE KNEES would make JIM O'ROURKE jealous, if they just managed to make it sound a bit more sincere. would would would.

I like indie-rock. And i want to be hip and listen to new cool things (like all of us, right). And i wanted to give this album five stars, but just couldn't. Sorry. It has content, but it is brought to us just too poorly. No wonder people like their live performances. Because concerts are usually held in a place, they don't have angry music-haters-neighbours next door. Right? For one track these girls even call the old tired neighbours in and recorded a song together with them (THE VALLEYS).
THE POWER went OUT and never came back?