27 November 2009
	CD Review Randall Abrahams' Picks

THE FLAMING LIPS: Embryonic (Warner Brothers) I doubt anyone would take the bold leap to describe Wayne Coyne and his band as romantic. Titles such as Yeah, I Know it's a Drag . . . But Wastin' Pigs is Still Radical don't set heartstrings aflutter in a manner akin to Michael Bublé. But there certainly lurks an unabashed sense of adventure and excitement when you give any Flaming Lips album a whirl. Ever since I fell in love with the band - in 2002 with the release of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots - I've been in little doubt that Coyne & co are willing to "boldly go where no other band had gone before". A sense of immense promise unfolds when you're about to listen. This is not background music unless you're taking the space shuttle for a quick burn to Mars. There's a squall of cellular interference on "The Sparrow Looks Up at the Machine", so be warned. If you're listening at volume in your car you'll be diving for your favourite plastic contraption. But these (and other) electronic incidents scattered across Embryonic cannot conceal the palpable sense of tenderness, regret and reflection. Evil could so easily be misunderstood by simply glancing at the title but no-one has ever accused Coyne of being anything less than circumlocutory. The song (or mini symphony) reminds me of the director DW Griffith's film The Birth of a Nation, in which his sense of loss at the destruction of the pastoral lifestyle by the modern industrial city is the key focus. Similarly, "See the Leaves" is a reflection on both climate change and nuclear devastation. And don't worry: the next tune, "If", isn't a reworking of that maudlin Bread 1970s cliché; it's an ode to individuality and the ongoing fight against tyranny. Embryonic forces one to listen and think. That it's also musically adroit and runs as a seamless album make it a firm contender for this year's "best of" list. BLK JKS: After Robots (Secretly Canadian) To my mind, however, there's far more here in common with King Crimson and some of the 1970s prog "supergroups". It's so weird what comes around. Five years ago very few would own up to listening to Three of a Perfect Pair (In the Court of the Crimson King at a push). Now google searches for Japanese group Flower Travelin' Band are on the rise. Luckily, the pompous lyrics and technical high jinks have been refined (and condensed) and BLK JKS are able to deliver wonderfully warm and often dramatic music. "Standby" is majestic without being overblown - a tall tale in the spirit of Zeppelin but not as obviously steeped in fantasy novels and in-your-face machismo. "Lakeside" features a cascading melody and a massive guitar flourish to conclude a momentous outing - Rush would be proud. The record is, however, tempered with a conspicuous level of exhilaration and enthusiasm, as though the band were forging a new path using age-old stones. I'll be at the Bassline to see them when they perform there again in December. THE STONE ROSES: The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary Edition) (Sony) So is it really more than an acid flashback to the Hacienda? Well, this version goes deep, the drums thud and the guitars waft across the speakers. I absolutely dig it - the music remains essential and the promise of the band (and the genre) is a marvel to behold. Unfortunately, it all ended in tears; but at least this artifact remains as wonderful as the day it was first minted. Back to the future indeed.