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Before I start this review, I had better warn you that my views on Fischerspooner are probably quite different from most other peoples, especially reviewers and snotty nosed indie kids. But I have a copy of their new LP and know the truth. THIS, is the most exciting LP that will be released this year, and I'm gonna tell you why. First though, let's travel back into the dark depths of time, to say, ooh, 2002.
I could have some facts slightly wrong here regarding dates and figures, but Fischerspooner recorded their self titled debut LP in about 1999 or 2000. In 2001, they signed a deal with Ministry Of Sound and got a heap of cash that they promptly spent on stage costumes and wigs. Around the same kinda time, Electroclash was kicking off and DJ Hell, Erol and Larry Tee and all that lot would have been treating unsuspecting clubbers to their 'would-have-been-should-have-been' a smash; 'Emerge'. Which is roughly where I came in. I can't remember where I first heard 'Emerge' although I think it might have just been at home when I got one of the original release singles on Hell's 'Gigolo' label. At the time, the music press were falling over themselves over the band, calling 'Emerge' the next step from Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love' and New Order's 'Blue Monday'. All that was lies though, Fischerspooner were MUCH better than that. But, like all the best things in life, they weren't built to last. I think the whole thing climaxed in June 2002 with a show at The Bridge, a pretty big space in one of the arches under London Bridge. Now THIS is where it got mindblowing. Fisherspooner never wanted to be normal stars, they wanted to be REMEMBERED stars. The show they put on that night was out of this world, with glitter cannons, a wind machine, fake starts on 'Emerge', cross dressing dancers, it genuinely makes the hair stand up on my arms thinking about it. Like other things that weren't built to last, Pink Floyd at The Roundhouse in '66, Menswe@r at Madame Jo-Jo's in '95 etc, everyone in the building was totally blown away, no matter what they try and tell you in retrospect. Fischerspooner didn't sell many records, it wasn't a great album and people were still getting over The White Stripes (spit on the floor) and apart from an appearance with Kylie on TOTP dueting on her single; 'Come Into My World', they were soon to dissapear (almost) without trace. Oh, and they suffered breakdowns, nervous exhaustion, a lack of direction, debt and then got dropped by their label. It didn't personally matter to me, I had danced my arse off at their show, thrashed the LP to death and was given more joy in those short few months than most bands could give me in ten years and that they had the passion, creativity and most importantly, humour to survive. File alongside KLF and see what happens.
Soooo. Fischerspooner back in 2005 anyone? It's been a funny couple of years since they vanished, electroclash as it was known is deaddeaddead, and instead we have The Others and The Rakes. LCD Soundsystem are the saviours of dance music and Soulwax had a couple of good tracks on their new LP. Daft Punk release their most middling work to date and we have new acts doing very well like The Killers, The Bravery and Arctic Monkeys. Jesus, we REALLY need Fischerspooner back, you just don't know it yet.
Their new LP is called Odyssey. I think it's out in a couple of weeks, you'll have to check their site. HMV won't be heavily promoting this album and Fisherspooner aren't planning to come to the UK this year at the moment. So, we're stuck with the LP at home and in the clubs, there are worse places to be. The first track is also the first single to be released off the LP and is called 'Just Let Go', a pulsating bass driven stomper that is sure to set many dancefloors alight across the world and REALLY should be a smash hit too. Course it won't be though, not in this country anyway, not beery enough, too exciting...
So let's have a flick through the LP then, 'Cloud' has Casey in dreamy mode alongside a hypnotic beat and lovely sawtooth synths. Think Soft Cell, think Human League, think STYLE dammit! 'Never Win' is quite a departure from their last LP, the whole affair is less dark, more poppy, it really suits them too. Although it isn't really dancefloor, my fave track on the LP at the moment is 'A Kick In The Teeth' which combines beautiful harmonies, optimistic lyrics and excellent melody. It's like a weird cousin (in spirit) to 'Wuthering Heights' by Kate Bush. But with synths and beats. 'We Need A War' pops a few digs at his home country (USA), and bounces along nicely. 'Happy' would make a good single, although whether EMI will grant the band more than one chance at a smash hit remains to be seen. The LP's closer; 'Circle (Visions Creation New Sun) is awesome. Like, Edgar Froese playing the hits of King Crimson. Or not.
Whatever. This LP is mindglowing. Bring it into your world.
I could have some facts slightly wrong here regarding dates and figures, but Fischerspooner recorded their self titled debut LP in about 1999 or 2000. In 2001, they signed a deal with Ministry Of Sound and got a heap of cash that they promptly spent on stage costumes and wigs. Around the same kinda time, Electroclash was kicking off and DJ Hell, Erol and Larry Tee and all that lot would have been treating unsuspecting clubbers to their 'would-have-been-should-have-been' a smash; 'Emerge'. Which is roughly where I came in. I can't remember where I first heard 'Emerge' although I think it might have just been at home when I got one of the original release singles on Hell's 'Gigolo' label. At the time, the music press were falling over themselves over the band, calling 'Emerge' the next step from Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love' and New Order's 'Blue Monday'. All that was lies though, Fischerspooner were MUCH better than that. But, like all the best things in life, they weren't built to last. I think the whole thing climaxed in June 2002 with a show at The Bridge, a pretty big space in one of the arches under London Bridge. Now THIS is where it got mindblowing. Fisherspooner never wanted to be normal stars, they wanted to be REMEMBERED stars. The show they put on that night was out of this world, with glitter cannons, a wind machine, fake starts on 'Emerge', cross dressing dancers, it genuinely makes the hair stand up on my arms thinking about it. Like other things that weren't built to last, Pink Floyd at The Roundhouse in '66, Menswe@r at Madame Jo-Jo's in '95 etc, everyone in the building was totally blown away, no matter what they try and tell you in retrospect. Fischerspooner didn't sell many records, it wasn't a great album and people were still getting over The White Stripes (spit on the floor) and apart from an appearance with Kylie on TOTP dueting on her single; 'Come Into My World', they were soon to dissapear (almost) without trace. Oh, and they suffered breakdowns, nervous exhaustion, a lack of direction, debt and then got dropped by their label. It didn't personally matter to me, I had danced my arse off at their show, thrashed the LP to death and was given more joy in those short few months than most bands could give me in ten years and that they had the passion, creativity and most importantly, humour to survive. File alongside KLF and see what happens.
Soooo. Fischerspooner back in 2005 anyone? It's been a funny couple of years since they vanished, electroclash as it was known is deaddeaddead, and instead we have The Others and The Rakes. LCD Soundsystem are the saviours of dance music and Soulwax had a couple of good tracks on their new LP. Daft Punk release their most middling work to date and we have new acts doing very well like The Killers, The Bravery and Arctic Monkeys. Jesus, we REALLY need Fischerspooner back, you just don't know it yet.
Their new LP is called Odyssey. I think it's out in a couple of weeks, you'll have to check their site. HMV won't be heavily promoting this album and Fisherspooner aren't planning to come to the UK this year at the moment. So, we're stuck with the LP at home and in the clubs, there are worse places to be. The first track is also the first single to be released off the LP and is called 'Just Let Go', a pulsating bass driven stomper that is sure to set many dancefloors alight across the world and REALLY should be a smash hit too. Course it won't be though, not in this country anyway, not beery enough, too exciting...
So let's have a flick through the LP then, 'Cloud' has Casey in dreamy mode alongside a hypnotic beat and lovely sawtooth synths. Think Soft Cell, think Human League, think STYLE dammit! 'Never Win' is quite a departure from their last LP, the whole affair is less dark, more poppy, it really suits them too. Although it isn't really dancefloor, my fave track on the LP at the moment is 'A Kick In The Teeth' which combines beautiful harmonies, optimistic lyrics and excellent melody. It's like a weird cousin (in spirit) to 'Wuthering Heights' by Kate Bush. But with synths and beats. 'We Need A War' pops a few digs at his home country (USA), and bounces along nicely. 'Happy' would make a good single, although whether EMI will grant the band more than one chance at a smash hit remains to be seen. The LP's closer; 'Circle (Visions Creation New Sun) is awesome. Like, Edgar Froese playing the hits of King Crimson. Or not.
Whatever. This LP is mindglowing. Bring it into your world.
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