...in the making.

I like to think of this Mini-album (Ep doesn't quite fill the boots this time) as a hopeful viewing glass into what Sam Beam will come to create in the future.
We have listened to the lo-fi genius of "The Creek Drank the Cradle", and we were contempt (who "We" is exactly, I'm Unsure)
"The Sea and the Rhythm" was a pleasent intermission Ep, further presenting Iron & Wine's capabilities
"Our Endless Numbered Days" way a step forward, away from the Lo-fi-homerecorded masterpeice that prequeled it. This was studio recorded, much crisper, with the same unmatchable songwriting by Sam Beam.

Then in Febuary 2005- this teaser of talent was released. "Woman King"- by far one of the Finest Ep's ever released. It is such a radical change, yet bizzarly enough it is tamed into subtlety...For example- the title track "Woman King" starts and instantly a change is recognisable...heavy purcussion, faster tempo, angry guitar; it's a new Mr.Beam. "Evening on the ground" is the most violent song Mr.Beam has ever written and performed. He even uses the "F" word! Ha, it just sounded odd on an Indie-Folk album.
Alas! It maintains this beauty- "Jezebel" is quite possible the Finest Song ever written, it is a reminder of what Iron & Wine has always been like, and how that will always be an active element in his work

The recent Calexico & Iron&Wine colaberation did not live up to the wonder of the Ep, but that is another story, no?

For fans of the previous installments from Iron & Wine, do not fret! Sam Beam has not changed, he still writes, sings, and plays like ever before, this may just be an experimental "phase". But i hope beyond hope that he realises just how well this experiment worked, and what a brilliant step it would be to use this new found style in a Full Album!

Highly Acclaimed and Recommended!

Never thought this would be my thing, really- Never-in-a-million-years did i think that an Indie-Art-rock band from scotland would develop into one of my "All-time-favorite Bands"
Jumping the Gun a bit to the recommending, but i cannot recommend them highly enough. They will send you into a state of psycodelia (there isnt even a real word adequet enough to describe them, I had to make one up!)
They Guitar work is second only to perhaps, Jesus himself. Incredible stuff. Now, i can't play the guitar, but after listening to this it is more than a motive enough to take it up- if one day i could produce "Musical-Bliss" like these Scottish lads are able to conjure.
Perhaps you may feel that the fact i only own two of their albums, renders my review Void- perhaps...but I am definitly going to buy the whole back-catalogue (and the up and coming new album)...Mogwai are influential musicians, and for anyone who loves their guitars, or fancies listening to the kind of music GOD listens to, then "Goverment Commisions" is best place to start, then work your way from there.

Massively Recommended

If i were to take the backing music from every "A-Team" episode, then added some of the RZA (Who most notably worked on the soundtrack music on Kill Bill) and dressed up in a fused 60's wig with 80's rawk shirt. Then i would be suited and booted, ready to form the sounds similar to that which The Go! Team produces.
They are the perfect acompaniment to a deliberatly tacky 80's spahetti western or jap-rom-com-som esq show. Their debut album "Thunder, Lightning, Strike" is the soundtrack to my overimagination. The tracks are beautifully synthetic, yet marvelouslly intsramented- "Get it together" is simply the greatest thing ever performed on the Recorder! "The power is on" is a start reminder of any fight scene remenisent of David Carradines younger days, each song is a masterpeice on its own.
If anything, it is a symbol of youth- it's fusion of 3 decades of music through the use of ironically deliberate sound effects and its great use of electronic and guitar work makes The Go! Team the perfect addition to anyones musical collects, and it will become (like it has for me) an album you'll look forward to remenising about in years to come.

A Must have album!

In the words of Jeff Jaques "it sounds like someone took Daft Punk and threw them down a flight of stairs- scuffed, bruised, and pissed off French house music with throbbing electro sizzle scattered liberally about"
Down to a T. This is amazing French House music (poney pt1&2 are apparently Anthems in the netherlands). Their Debut album "Ok Cowboy" lived up to its apparent hype. Like all things french, there is an abstract and artistic flare to it. This is more than apparent in Vitalic's work. "Repair Machines" for example, is a juttered, electrefied track that sounds as it there was some beatboxing robot, walking down the street and performing angry busks for money. It is violent, addictive- and you still cant help but pull on your leather jacket (real or not) and strutt around in your own bedroom. This is how all clubbing songs should be. Say No! to remixes of "The Darkness" and "Tony Cristie" and replace it with Vitalic- those who swore by the crappy culbbing songs of before will lose all their sense, skin and will; when they submit to the mind-controlling beats of Vitalic.
I'm sure Daft Punk do not mind sharing their title with their european counterparts, afterall, there is plenty enough room for two Vitalics
:-p

Massively Recommended to all Dance Fans and non-Dance Fance alike!

Did Karen O spawn a child when the rest of the world was not looking? Nirmala Basnayake sounds so much like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' front lady it is shocking. But i digress, that may be down to the fact that their music is similar, except controller.controller has more bass guitars and less screeching.
This Ep "History", i feel, is a nearly perfect precursor to their up and coming album X-amounts (11th oct in the Usa, curse living in the Uk!!). History is, alas, not very varied- each song very similar to the one previous...but you simple will not give a rats arse about it. Their formula is ideal, their sound is very much like "Disco Rock", it blends the alternative rock genre with "Must-dance-to" beats and "vibes" (Predominantly down to the BASS GUITAR OVERLOAD the band employs) When i use the term "Disco Rock", i do not mean the tacky style of 80's metal music that is played at school disco's, i mean- Huge Bass, Guitar and Vocals that you cannot help but phuUUNNNK to.
They are quite ideal as an interlude. As much as i would love to see them as frontliners, until X-amounts i will still see them as a supporting act. Their Ep though, is fantastic. It's value is much higher than the albums of many of those who attempt this subtle blend and fail (it even beats most who jump the of "Disco Rock")
Basically, if you are a fan of either the Dance genre, or the Alternative/indie genre, then give this amazing Teronto group a try, they certinatly fill that rather empty crossover between Clubbing anthems and Rock

Must Buy!