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09:55 AM - Radio 4: Enemies Like This
I already told you about Radio 4's new album coming out this month - and I imagine that at this point you've hopefully at least listened to the title track, "Enemies Like This." There hasn't been much in the way of downloads yet (nor even streams - despite mention of plans to roll out new tracks on myspace before the release...). The album is about what I've come to expect from Radio 4 - dancey with tons of layers of great instrumentation and masterful percussion. Though the last album got some complaints for being a little heavy on the electronic side (though it's certainly not like they're sitting there pumping beats out of a computer), and still a far cry from the fuzzed-out bliss of Gotham, Enemies Like This seems to rely more on the stronger elements of Stealing Of A Nation. The much more direct approach of songs like "Absolute Affirmation" from the last record has apparently stuck, as there are less vocal filters and overwhelming alien sounds bouncing around the tracks. "Punchy" could be an easy way to describe it. There's not really any filler here (though that's debatable with the dubbed-out "Ascension Street" which, though a good track, meanders a bit in the way that "Coming Up Empty" did, but never fear, I'm sure there will be a ton of killer remixes of it soon enough.) As for subject matter - the title implies more heavy-handed political rhetoric like their last effort, but it's misleading. There certainly are moments where there's no question that the government is the target of the lyrical assualts, but much of the time it can be just as easily argued that much more personal issues are at stake - in fact there are a number of definite love songs on here. The band even offers a song-by-song explanation for you on their website - here. Though I doubt that it will end up being a single, "Always A Target" is my pick for the best track off the album. It has what feels like a perfectly balanced mix of straightforward and simpler dance music with just enough glitchy nuances to keep it recognizable as a R4 song - plus that great catchy-as-hell slower chorus thing that they're doing so well these days. Also highly recommended: "Grass Is Greener" and "Packing Things Up On The Scene." One thing that always goes unmentioned is the contributions of others to the Radio 4 records. For one thing, Nick Forte has been adding often subtle, sometimes not-so-much, touches of knob-twisting noises that have added quite a bit to the music and production, wether it's always obvious or not. Also of note: the artwork on this record is great. It's what I've wanted their artwork to be - very close to that of their fantastic posters with utilitarian angular lettering and two-color perfection. A very nice touch. Radio 4 will be on tour in Europe and the states through May and June, with a show at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC on July 6th. Small Sins opens on the American dates. This week they're playing a not-at-all-a-secret show (actually there was an ad in the Voice apparently, so yeah...) at the Annex on Thursday. Enemies Like This comes out May 16th on Astralwerks. Pre-order it from Insound. Listen on myspace or stream "Enemies Like This."
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