Is Disco Fever Here To Stay?

Everybody knows that the heyday of disco music was in the 1970s - the era of flared trousers, massive hair and the word 'groovy'. Some say that disco ended there, and that the genre has no place in today's music scene, where it is perhaps overshadowed by such giants as dubstep, hip hop and indie rock. Others would beg to differ - as one of my slightly intoxicated teachers claimed at my college's Summer Ball, "Disco is making a comeback! DISCO WILL NEVER DIE!"

So I decided to investigate - is disco really making a comeback? Or is it destined to go the way of Betamax tapes, Test Card F and Margaret Thatcher?...

The Evidence 

#1: The UK Top 40

Image © Atlantic Records

Take one look at the UK's current Top 40 and you'll see that disco is doing surprisingly well at the moment in terms of sales, contending with such mainstream megastars as Olly Murs and Jessie J. Daft Punk's disco-inspired track 'Get Lucky' is at #11 having spent a whole 14 weeks in the charts, and 'Treasure' by Bruno Mars - another disco hit - has enjoyed 10 weeks of great sales and is currently sitting at #16. Admittedly, both artists aren't strictly disco artists - Daft Punk are rooted more in electronica and house music than anything, and Bruno Mars is most famous for his soul/R&B sound. However, the fact that these artists have recently decided to step outside of their usual styles and produce disco songs (and extremely successful disco songs, too) proves that musicians and listeners alike are currently enjoying an appetite for funky disco tunes!

#2: Glastonbury 2013

A quick look at the Glastonbury 2013 lineup suggests that disco may not be the most popular genre at the moment, as it is outnumbered quite significantly by electronic acts and indie artists, but it is nonetheless enjoying some success on the current music scene. Proof of this can be found in the fact that disco legends Chic headlined the West Holt's Stage (featuring, of course, Nile Rodgers - the god of disco/funk guitar, and a session musician on Daft Punk's new album 'Random Access Memories'), playing to a crowd of thousands. If a 70s disco band can still headline a stage at one of the biggest festivals in the world, and completely nail their set too, then disco certainly cannot be called a 'dead' genre! The BBC, in fact, went as far as to refer to the event as "the re-birth of disco", which brings me on to the subject of...

#3: The Media Hype

It appears that my disco-fanatic teacher isn't the only person who sees the current resurgence of interest in the genre as a "disco comeback" - the world of music journalism has also noticed the direction that the genre is travelling in at the moment. Urban entertainment website Vibe has published a piece on the "fresh disco tracks" that are part of a current "disco rebirth", and British newspaper The Guardian quite recently produced an article on the fact that today's "dance music stars are drawing inspiration from the 1970s sounds of Chic, Donna Summer and Studio 54" - to give but two examples. Such articles make clear that it's not just listeners and music producers who are experiencing a newfound interest in the disco genre, but journalists too are sitting up and taking notice.

So, is disco making a comeback?

It appears so, yes! Get out your flares and your novelty afro wig, because it looks like disco is not only popular at the moment, but it's here to stay!

I'll leave you with this quote from the 1998 film 'The Last Days of Disco':

"Disco was too great, and too much fun, to be gone forever! It's got to come back someday. I just hope it will be in our own lifetimes."

PsyD

Next time on Superunknown: I'll be reviewing the four-minutes-of-epic-awesomeness that is 'Stingin' Belle' by Biffy Clyro

EDIT: Not long after writing this post, I found this image circulating Tumblr, with over 64,000 reblogs at the time of writing! I know that many people are saying that the disco genre is getting bigger and bolder than ever, but this is insane!...

Rock Around The World: Part Two (Adelaide Island, Gabon, Brazil)

I'm back! Exams are over, college is over, and I have a long break ahead of me now before I head off to uni! So here it is, the long-awaited second part to the 'Rock Around The World' feature that I started before revision took over my life...

#5 - Adelaide Island, Antarctica

When I started writing this feature, I thought that there was no way that any bands came from Antarctica - home of the eskimos, polar bears and other generally snowy things. I was proved wrong by five men, who together are Nunatak - a rock band who you could say are literally the coolest on the planet! I'll be honest here, I don't really like Nunatak's music. Embedded below is their track 'how many people', so you can listen to that and make up your own mind on what you think of them, but to me their music seems poorly mixed (the vocals are way too quiet and muffled to hear the lyrics, and the drums dominate the song), and the instruments all seem slightly out-of-tune with each other. Nonetheless, I still have a lot of respect for Nunatak; they're the first band to come from Antarctica, which is pretty badass in itself, and they strike me as a few mates making music together for fun rather than a group trying to make it professionally. They're also adventurous in their choice of instruments, combining saxophones with guitars with fiddles with drums (and the list goes on), and they make music for a good cause too - the video to 'how many people', for example, was recorded for 2007's Live Earth campaign to raise awareness for environmental issues. Nunatak's music might not be great, but there's still a lot to love about them!


#6 - Gabon, Africa

Okay, so I know this feature is called 'Rock Around The World', but readers of this blog should know by now that I love all sorts of music, not just rock (although most of my favourite bands are admittedly from the heavier genres). With that in mind, my featured artist from the African continent is Jah Sagu, a new hip hop singer/rapper from Gabon. His latest song 'Black Panther Matsotse' has been whipping up a frenzy online, gaining just under 6 million hits on YouTube in only four months - not bad for a new artist who's signed to a small record label! Upon listening to the track, it's easy to understand the hype. 'Black Panther Matsotse' has everything that one could possibly want from a hip hop tune. Its beat is fresh; simple and exciting in equal measure. Jah Sagu's rapping is filled with true passion, as if he really means every word that he says in perfect timing. The chorus is incredibly catchy - even for someone like me who speaks little French and no Gabonese and therefore can't understand a word being said, it's hard not to sing along after a few listens. The mixing and general production is very professional, with the track as a whole sounding like something that could quite easily be played alongside the likes of Tinie Tempah and Labrinth on national radio. Basically, Jah Sagu has the potential to go very far indeed. His task is simple - he just needs to keep creating material on the level of 'Black Panther Matsotse', and he could easily become Gabon's first major international superstar.



#7 - Brazil, South America

And now to South America - or more specifically to Brazil, where rockers Cruz can be found. The band seems to be closely influenced by the giants of alternative rock and grunge, as is evident in tracks like 'Someday' - here, their distinctly-voiced vocalist sings in English (despite the official language of Brazil being Portuguese), their guitarists play killer riffs throughout, and the band's bassist and drummer provide a steady, constant rhythm which is generally laid back whilst sounding completely kick-ass at the same time. Despite their Western grunge-inspired sound, however, it's important to note that Cruz aren't a copycat band. 'Someday' may be a typical grunge-rock track, but tracks like 'Imunização Racional (Tim Maia)' show a completely different, more experimental side to the band's sound. Here, Cruz use a trombone - an instrument which is rarely heard in rock - in an unusual and distinctive way, and their singer sings in his native language throughout. Evidently, Cruz are a band who have their roots set firmly in classic rock and grunge, but who aren't afraid to be creative, to have fun and to try out new things. I've embedded 'Someday' below so you can hear it for yourself. Personally, I quite like their edgy, fresh take on grunge and classic rock, but at the same time I can envision their unique features being perhaps shunned by a more mainstream radio audience in the UK or America. What do you think? Comments below please!...


  So there you have it: Superunknown's trip around the world in 7 awesome artists. I hope this feature has been as much of a learning experience for you as it has been for me, and that you're inspired to spread the word about some of the artists that I've featured - they all really deserve international success, so let's make that happen!

PsyD

Blog on Hiatus

Hiatuses are rubbish. We all learnt that when Fall Out Boy decided to call it a day for what felt like forever.

Nevertheless, I have exams - A Level exams - and I haven't posted on this blog in a long time because I've been busy memorising quotes for English Literature, researching the French Revolution for History and learning about all sorts of formulae and methods for Maths which I'll probably never use in my future career as (hopefully) a music journalist.

I'm therefore leaving this message here just to say that I'll be back... just, after my exams are finished.

And just as Fall Out Boy came back with an amazing new album, I'll return accompanied by some great blog posts, just for you, as a bit of a 'sorry for not posting for ages' present. I'm talking reviews, interviews, more articles about the history of music like the NWOBHM one I posted a while ago - the lot.

See you on the other side!
PsyD

Rock Around The World: Part One (Mexico, France, Japan, Australia)

I'm back! Sorry about the lack of posts these last few weeks, but I've been really busy organising a band night at my college! I would post more details, but I don't want to inadvertently give away the name of my Sixth Form... let's just say that the concert took a LOT of planning; it went ahead the other day and it was fantastic! And now that it's over, I have a bit more time on my hands to write articles here. So without any further ado, here's an article that I've been thinking about writing for a while now...

Everyone knows that the biggest rock and metal bands are generally from Britain and America. There are exceptions, of course - Rammstein, Nightwish and Sabaton are a few that come to mind. But on the whole, music from countries outside of the UK/America gets ignored by radio stations, magazines and other forms of music media. Here's my contribution to reversing that trend. Welcome to the first part (of two) of my 'Rock Around The World' feature, in which I review tracks by artists from all 7 continents of the globe.

#1 - Mexico, North America

First off, we're in Mexico, where the post-hardcore band Words can be found. Their track 'We Are The Coldest' was released last year, and quite frankly it's awesome. The band blends killer guitar riffs, screaming, melodic singing and powerful metal drumming effortlessly, creating material that seems like it would sound perfect on a live stage. Like all good metal tracks, 'We Are The Coldest' has a heavy and powerful pulse throughout which makes headbanging irresistible, and mosh pitting highly likely! If you're a fan of bands like Rise to Remain, (early) We Are The Ocean and Bullet For My Valentine then you should definitely give these guys a listen.

You can check them out at www.youtube.com/user/wordstheband and www.facebook.com/wordstheband

#2 - France, Europe

And now we travel about 5,700 miles to France; the home nation of singer Florent Mothe. You probably won't have heard of him if you live outside of France, but he has quite a following in his home country. He started his career by composing and playing his own rock and metal tracks, before becoming famous for appearing in the musical Mozart l'Opera Rock. More recently he has released his electro-pop debut solo single 'Je Ne Sais Pas' from the album 'Rock In Chair', which is due to be released next month. His career spans many genres - metal fans should check out his early songs 'Goodbye' and 'Walk The Line', in which his voice sounds similar to those of classic metal singers like Bruce Dickinson, but with the unique edge that has made his career such a success to date. Fans of musicals definitely need to listen to 'Le Bien Qui Fait Mal' and 'Vivre à en Crever' from Mozart l'Opera Rock, because they are powerful, passionate and catchy as heck! And more mainstream pop fans should have a listen to his latest single - 'Je Ne Sais Pas' is one of those songs that you'll listen to once, and then you'll be singing it in your head for the next two weeks.

In fact, here it is, embedded into the blog so you can listen to it right here and right now! Be prepared, this song is as addictive as 'Gangnam Style'...



#3 - Japan, Asia

And now for another metal group; this time from Japan. Lynch. is a five-piece metal band, who have released 6 albums and 11 singles (the first of which is entitled 'A Grateful Shit'... I'll let you come to your own conclusions on what that song is about...) since their formation in 2004. One of those tracks is 'Liberation Chord' - a two-minute-and-fifty-second romp through basically every aspect of the metal genre. There are quiet moments, with acoustic guitars and solemn singing. There are loud, aggressive moments with screaming vocals, screaming guitars and drums that have been hit as hard as Europe was by the recession. There are moments that sit comfortably between these two polar opposites. And even better, all of these sounds work together; the song sounds completely connected throughout, connected by a single thread, the single sound that makes Lynch. unique. The only problem with this track is that the end comes much too soon; but you can't blame Lynch. for purposely leaving their fans wanting more.

#4 - Australia, Oceania

Single artwork, © Silverchair

 Scrolling through a playlist of songs by Australian artists, something about 'Straight Lines' by the chart-topping alternative rockers 'Silverchair' (who are now on hiatus, sadly) caught my attention. I can't really put my finger on why - maybe it's the singer's very individual, androgynous and above all talented voice. Maybe it's the band's genre mash-up - their music is slightly reminiscent of Coldplay, as they take elements of indie music in the general laid-back feel of 'Straight Lines', elements of classic rock in their guitar tones and elements of electronica in their use of keyboards throughout. There's even something funk-like about the basic but complex-sounding rhythms played by their drummer. Whatever it is, I like 'Silverchair's sound. It's easy to listen to, relaxed and above all it just sounds new - and that's why 'Straight Lines' made me stop and listen. It sounds fresh.

'Straight Lines' is available to listen to on the band's Myspace page, over at www.myspace.com/silverchair

Stay tuned to the blog, because soon I'll be posting Rock Around The World: Part Two, in which I'll review material from South America, Africa and Antarctica! Until then, check out Words, Florent Mothe, Lynch. and Silverchair, and leave a comment on my blog saying what you think of them!

Rock on,
PsyD

Alive in the Superunknown #9 - Skyfall by Adele

Just last week, pop legend Adele won the Golden Globe award for best original song with her track 'Skyfall' - the theme to the James Bond film of the same name. Now, I haven't seen the film 'Skyfall' (I know, I know, it's apparently a really good film. I just haven't got around to seeing it yet...), so I can't comment on the song in relation to the plot or production of the film, but I've been listening to it nonstop for several months now so I'm in a very good position to review it as a standalone song!

James Bond films always have had legendary, award-winning soundtracks. Chris Cornell's 'You Know My Name', which featured on 'Casino Royale', won a Satellite Award and a World Soundtrack Award, and was nominated for a Grammy. Shirley Bassey's songs 'Diamonds are Forever' and 'Goldfinger' have gone down in music history, with the latter being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008. Adele's song is no different - in fact, I'd go as far as to say that 'Skyfall' is not just on par with other James Bond themes - it entirely surpasses its predecessors. 

Here's a breakdown of just what makes this song so awesome...

Atmosphere: 'Skyfall' creates an atmosphere that just screams 'James Bond' - it sounds suave, sophisticated and mysterious just like 007 himself! Melodically, it shares some similarities with past Bond themes, especially 'Goldfinger' and 'You Know My Name', and this means that if you were living in a cave and somehow didn't know that 'Skyfall' is the new Bond theme, you'd be able to identify it as part of the series from its sound alone.

Lyrics: The lyrics of 'Skyfall' can be summed up in one word: Epic. With such phrases as "This is the end / Hold your breath and count to ten / Feel the earth move and then / Hear my heart burst again / For this is the end.", Adele brings to mind chilling images and creates powerful emotions which make listening to this track a real experience.

Production: Adele's voice sounds absolutely beautiful on this track, and it's not just down to her personal talent - the mixing and production of the song is second-to-none. Nowadays, so many producers overdo their effects, but 'Skyfall' proves that a song doesn't need heavy autotune and excessive synthesizers in order to be a hit. Adele's voice sounds real, and it contains a class of raw, human emotion that is too often destroyed by computer effects in the songs of many other singers.

Instrumentation: Another remarkable feature of 'Skyfall' is the use of traditional, orchestral instruments (especially strings and brass), and the blending of these sounds with relatively new musical technologies (electric guitars, percussion and electric bass, for example). Just as the production of Adele's singing adds to the emotion and the overall honest feel of the track, the use of real instruments, not computer imitations, is what makes this song sound as fantastic and as long-lasting as it does.

'Skyfall' isn't a throwaway, 15-minutes-of-fame pop track. It's an unforgettable masterpiece, and a song which I feel will be remembered for many years to come, even when the hype surrounding the film itself has died down. 
                 Adele: Your track is golden. It deserves its Golden Globe.