New Music: Magistrates

Magistrates hail from South Woodham, Essex. The lineup includes Paul Usher (vocals,keyboards), Mark Brandon (guitar), Thom Galbally (bass) and Andy Grant (drums). These guys play an interesting fusion of funk and pop. Imagine the early Prince, The Ohio Players and Kool & the Gang. It’s funk of the scratchy and organic variety rather than the outrageous p-funk of say Funkadelic or Parliament. Chicken-scratch guitars and nervy cymbal clashes rather than outrageous basslines and synths.

They have a distinctive lo-fi sound, probably down to the fact that ‘Make This Work’ was recorded in the guitarists bedroom on a 16 track tape machine. It works to their advantage and they don’t come across too much like musical Magpies stealing or inmitating other peoples work.

Make This Work feels as If it has enough mainstream “cross over” potential. Funk, or at least varieties of it have had a mini resurgence with artists like Sam Sparro and Hot Chip in the charts doing similar things. The song has a catchy vocal hook with well delivered vocals and charming melodies. The group have already appeared on the up and coming stages at Glastonbury and Radio 1’s Big Weekend, so it’s only a matter of time before they get their big break.

Even the video is pretty inventive and fresh.

MP3: Magistrates – Make This Work

Is It Love or Just Paris?

Despite all the hype, I’m not a huge fan of Ladyhawke’s supposed “summer hit” ‘Paris is Burning’. The melody sounds infuriatingly like Gary Numan’s ‘Cars’, the song is very repetitive and her husky and strained vocals begin to grate after the first chorus.

Remixers to the rescue then! Like Sharks circling waiting for the kill, various remixers have flocked to this potential summer anthem, hoping to get a piece of the action. Amongst them are the ever reliable Cut Copy and the ever unpredictable Peaches.

Both remixes offer considerably different spins on the song and thankfully they’re both, in the opinion of somthing who dislikes the original, far better than the original. Cut Copy turn it into an altogether more funky and danceable prospect, whereas Peaches goes, as you would expect, a bit more abrasive and nasty.

Also as a sort of a relevant aside. I couldn’t help but post this gem on Ladyhawke’s Myspace.

Enjoy!

MP3: Ladyhawke – Paris is Burning (Peaches Remix)

MP3: Ladyhawke – Paris is Burning (Cut Copy Remix)

(Sorry I can’t get a stream for the Cut Copy Remix. My googlepages isn’t uploading it for some reason)