Jul 29, 2009

I'm batting for Lashes (and baseball-batting Erasure)

Despite my recent nigglings at this year's Mercury Music Prize, I still feel the need to tip a winner.

Last year, my bet for Burial got given a hefty Elbow, although my Klaxons tip in 2007 came wonderfully true.

So here's who I'm putting a dime on this year. Bat For Lashes sounds like Suzanne Vega riding a pretty horse which has the face of Kate Bush. This alone is enough to win the Mercury.

BFL's music is indebted to the 80s, but not in as a denim-tearingly obvious way as La Bloody Roux. Who, incidentally, needs to give her keyboards back to Erasure so when I break into their studio, I have something to pummel them with.

Seriously. Vince and Andy should have given up existing 22 years ago, when they were still truly different and interesting.

La Bloody Roux, for that matter, should also have stopped existing 22 years ago. And she's only 21. When Mr La Roux and Mrs La Roux got jiggy in their south London bedsit in order to create a musically and mentally deranged Alison Moyet, someone should have thrown a great big bucket of cold water over them. Then recorded the startled screams. And sold that recording 22 years later on the basis of, yes, this still sounds better than anything that little dampened La Roux sperm would ever have created in its lifetime.

Where was I?...

I suspect Kasabian will be the favourite, although the Mercury's been quite blokey for the last few years and they probably need to tick the chick box in '09. Very cynical I know, but you don't come to this blog because it reads like Hello!, do you?

She deserves it more than the others, though. Who do you tip for the Mercury?

6 comments:

Phill said...

Yes finally a voice I can agree with La Roux MY ARSE! Also little boots meet my big boots! I'm gettin fed up with this 80's obsession I was brought up believing it was the decade of the devil and haven't really changed my mind.

Isaac Ashe said...

I would actually like Kasabian to win it - of all these albums it's the one I've enjoyed the most.
The Invisible's LP is good too.
I must say Kasabian's only my favourite so far though - I'm yet to sample Led Bib or Sweet Billy Pilgrim in full.
Though moan and gripe, loads of my favourites were overlooked blah sniffle plop.

Fat Roland said...

Phill - Nothing good at all came from the 80s. Not a single thing. Apart from some good things, but apart from them, there was NOTHING.

Isaac - I caught Kasabian the other month and, yes, they were very good. But I stand by my 'tick the chick box' prediction!

steve said...

Oh no, the 80's were a marvelous time - New Order, Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, Clan of Xymox, Cybotron (and electro in general), Derrick May (techno), Kraftwerk (Computer World), Human League, early Ministry, The Revolting Cocks, Front 242, Duran Duran, The Clash, Echo & the Bunnymen, Talk Talk, Skinny Puppy, Madness, The Specials, Gary Clail and On U Soundsystem, The Cure, The Beastie Boys, Wax Trax! records, Nettwerk recordings- to name a few - the list goes on and on! Need I school you on why the music we love today and from the nineties is largely indebted to the sounds from the eighties? Look at the list of influences name-dropped by all the artists on the first AI compilation for starters. :)

As for Bat for Lashes, I was reminded of the last M83 lp a bit, which is a good thing. I hate to admit it, but they sounded pretty good, at least from what I heard so far. I don't know why I hate to admit that.

Fat Roland said...

Steve - Apart from *those* good things, and The Shamen, S'Express, yes and even Orbital, NOTHING GOOD CAME FROM THE 80S!

My argument seems to be chafing around the edges slightly.

steve said...

Haha, I guess it can be a matter of opinion. For example, if you look past the goofy hair and makeup of bands like Duran Duran, and listen to the synths fro Nick Rhodes (who credits Kraftwerk as a major influence), one can appreciate them more. BUt that could be a whole other topic.

I just think the 80's get a bad rap, usually from the classic rock types who think it was all crap, but when you have groups like Devo, the Jesus and Mary Chain, and Pet Shop Boys, who pretty much set out to destroy the classic rock aesthetic, it's understandable.

I guess I think the 80's should get more credit than it's given.