Tip Toe Records Compilation CD
A hot summers day, and as I write this, memories of countless boiling hours in the park listening to the likes of the Kooks and Arctic Monkeys flood back to me; an image many indie kids across the country can relate to. For the ‘underground’ Indie kids who turn their noses up at those bands who dare to sign for major labels once big, this summer’s sound is sure to arrive in the form of Tip Toe records new compilation album.
The new record, aptly named ‘Tip Toe records Compilation’ is set for release on May 27th, and on this evidence I will be submitting my pre-order soon. Limited to just 200 copies, as well as a value for money record it could prove a collectors snip if the label develop the promise shown on the LP.
Highly summery and for the majority acoustic-dominated, the artists on this album provide a pleasant change from the producer-dictated music churned out by their contemporaries.
The album begins in a driving fashion in the form of The Old Romantic Killer Band with their song, ‘The Devil and Me’. A fast acoustic track, it contains drums that provide a speedy backing rhythm.
After the pace of the first song, track two delves into a more relaxing tone that comes and goes for the rest of the LP. This time it is Bear Driver’s turn to step up, and duly deliver with “A Thousand Samurais”. Beautiful in every sense of the word, it begins with a constant but relaxing strum of the guitar, before being washed away in a multitude of melodies. Meanwhile a light tapping of a Xylophone provides a soothing overtone.
The album then weaves its way through more peaceful acoustic songs, before being interrupted by the heavier, urgent sound of King Alexander, who perform their track, ‘Shake Your Bones’. After the relative serenity of the first five songs, it lives up to its title. Aggressive guitar rhythms and dominant drumming are accompanied by attacking shrieks from the vocals. In comparison to the rest of the album, this song is chaos.
Two bands that caught my attention in particular were Yonderboy and Red Tress, who recorded ‘Frightened Rabbit’ and ‘Coast’ onto the album respectively. Acoustic classics, these two songs provide the perfect soundtrack to the perfect drive on a perfect summer’s day.
Just Handshakes (We’re British) also provide an absolute cracker of a track in the form of ‘Operation Daybreak’, a poppy song in the same vein as Kate Nash. But better.
It is plain to see that the over-riding theme of this LP is acoustic pleasure, and it oozes “potential summer classic” all over it. Usually I would not rush to buy an album even if I like it, but seeing as “Tip toe records Compilation” is limited edition, I might just have to break the habit of a lifetime.
8/10
Words : Alex Read
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Reply #1 on : Sat January 14, 2012, 08:17:29