--
Login
|
Logout
| User:
Not Signed In
| Email | Cart | Items
Home |
Magazine
| Photography |
Discussion
| Buy | Sell |
My Account
| About
www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk
Band:
Black Neon
Label:
Select Label
Title:
Arts And Crafts
Tweet
Review (1)
Release Details
Add Release
Releases (2)
Articles (0)
Cover Art (0)
Versions (0)
Edit Release
Releases List (2)
Reviews (1)
Pictures (0)
Summary (0)
Related (0)
Jukebox (0)
List All (1)
Band:
Black Neon
Title:
Arts And Crafts
Reviewed By:
Adam Wood
Date Published:
20/08/2006
Label:
Select Label
Format:
CD
Release Year:
Label
Lookup:
One-man band Steve Webster knew only 17 words of German before he decided to take his Black Neon project all the way to Berlin to record 'Arts and Crafts', a delightful slab of electro-pop rock. ‘Ode to Immer Wieder’ opens the album, a rolling instrumental that pays homage to earlier Brian Eno and the almost choral stylings of 'Trans Europe Express'-era Kraftwerk. But all that ’70s Berliner nonsense stops there, as 'Arts and Crafts' unravels its über pop sensibilities.
The stand out track, ‘Ralph and Barbara,’ is a quirky story of one man’s dream to escape Germany and go with his wife to Mexico, played out above the delicate auspices of a backing that owes more to Love and the Beatles than to Bowie or Numan. Webster’s vocals carry off a warm charm not unlike Ben Gibbard on Postal Service duty, only without a crippling inability to communicate to the opposite sex.
Despite this, Webster can also exact a Germanic cool on proceedings. ‘The Ghosts’ is a Tiga inspired slice of kitsch upon which Black Neon’s subliminal 80's inspired electronics show their full force. ‘The Truth’ is a threatening, feedback drenched violation of Death in Vegas’ ‘Aisha,’ and in ‘TX81Z’ the bass line thunders agreement with a relentless fuzz box shudder.
Black Neon’s record lurches between the demonic and the kooky without seemingly breaking sweat. Despite having been around for over five years and claiming that Black Neon will never play live again, Webster has only just begun to hit all the right notes. 'Arts and Crafts' is very nearly a masterpiece.
Track Listing:
Commenting On: Arts And Crafts by Black Neon
Header
Comment:
Your Name
Your Location
ie London, England
tick box before submitting comment
First
Previous
Next
Last
Related Bands
(edit)
Related Labels
Memphis Industries
Review Header
Delightful slab of electro-pop rock recorded in Berlin by Black Neon, the moniker for one-man band Steve Webster
Articles A-Z
View All
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Arts And Crafts - CD
Delightful slab of electro-pop rock recorded in Berlin by Black Neon, the moniker for one-man band Steve Webster
First
Previous
Next
Reviews A-Z
View All
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Top Articles (Current Magazine)
Stephen McLaren 'Put Me On The Television' Video Premiere
Hector Gannet Live at Polestar Studios
Jeremy Thoms Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities #2
Nicky Crewe A Life in Music
Steve Hackett Interview
McCookerybook and Rotifer Interview Part 2
Philip Parfitt Interview Part 1
U2 Raging Pages
Paul Brett Interview
Top Reviews (Current Magazine)
Rats on Rafts Excerpts from Chapter 3: The Mind Runs a Net of Rabbit Paths CD (Nonplace)
Lost Doves Set Your Sights Towards the Sun CD (Green Tea Productions )
Still Corners The Last Exit CD (Wrecking Light Records )
Telescopes Songs of Love and Revolution CD (Tapete Records)
Gary Lucas The Essential Gary Lucas CD X2 (KFR )
McKenzie FIX Pandora's Box CD (Crystal Seven Records )
Barry Gibb Greenfields CD (Universal Music)
RVDS Moods and Dances 2021 CD (Bureau B)
Celeste Not Your Muse CD (Polydor)
Arlo Parks Collapsed in Sunbeams CD (Transgressive Records)
Delightful slab of electro-pop rock recorded in Berlin by Black Neon, the moniker for one-man band Steve Webster