Search - Colin Newman :: Bastard

	Colin Newman Bastard Genres: Pop, Rock Former Wire frontman Newman is an extremely influential art punk who's consistently stretched the boundaries of what can be done in rock & roll. So it's extremely disappointing that Bastard not only lack vocals, but is... more » « less
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CD Details

All Artists: Colin Newman
Title: Bastard
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Swim
Original Release Date: 1/1/2002
Re-Release Date: 7/16/2002
Genres: Pop, Rock
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 723724440326

Synopsis

Amazon.com

Former Wire frontman Newman is an extremely influential art punk who's consistently stretched the boundaries of what can be done in rock & roll. So it's extremely disappointing that Bastard not only lack vocals, but is extremely dull. Newman says in his press kit that he was inspired by the post-rock bands on Chicago's Kranky and Thrill Jockey labels--in particular Tortoise. But what he really means is that he was prompted to include some organic instrumental sounds (mostly drums and guitars) in unremarkable ambient house instrumentals such as "Slowfast (Falling Down the Stairs With A Drumkit)." Don't you hate it when your heroes disappoint you? Jim Derogatis

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CD Reviews

Techno primer for the post-punk set

10/10/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Colin Newman's original band Wire started off making highly influential, subversive guitar-driven post punk, disbanded for a few years, and came back with an interesting, subversive synthesizer/sequencer-driven post new wave sound. Newman's own solo career has shown rampant experimentalism-- his underrated (and sadly out of print) "Provisionally Entitled the Singing Fish" can safely be called one of the first ambient recordings of the 80's released on a major label, while "Commercial Suicide" had Colin working with a chamber orchestra. So it comes as no surprise that "Bastard" continues the artist's envelope-pushing ways. What strikes me most about this disk is its integration of the "old" and "new" Wire sounds: slashing, brittle guitars, real sounding drums, and lowdown bass pepper the electronica throughout, bringing some joyously unexpected twists and turns to the proceedings. Try as I may, I can't get into "pure" techno/electronica-- far too sterile, monotonous and predictable for these ears, but I can see "Bastard" at home on the CD racks of both recovering 30-something punks, and today's club hopping techno kids looking for a little soul with their sequencing. Leave it to Colin Newman to come up with a techno album with a human touch."

Trance-dance is not for everyone, but...

Billy Campbell | Dallas, TX USA | 03/11/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"...I have always liked it. Being a Wire and Colin Newman fan, I had to hear this. And while it is not much like his other work, I found it worthwhile. If you've heard and liked Seefeel, for example, you will probably like this. Repetitive riffs dominate. Some reviewers have called this dance music, but I wouldn't physically dance to this, nor expect to hear it in a dance club. But the hook-like samples, slowly evolving background, and interesting percussion can make the mind dance. There are no vocals, but I didn't miss them. Again, not everyone's cup of tea, but mine and maybe yours if you like listening attentively."