Various Artists – Love & Disaster Vol. 1 – 10″ (Love & Disaster)

I’m a day or two late with this review, as I only managed to shift that bloomin’ Delphic album from my record player this morning. Addictive bugger.

Anyway, this is the first of what is likely to be a series of releases showcasing ‘new music from new Manchester artists’. That’s exactly what it says on the sleeve, and as of right now, you’d be seriously struggling to name 5 other worthy names than those featured on this 10″. Good timing, L&D.

The label has been spawned by a group headed by Dan Parrott (ex-Channel M Music). Endorsing all that was great about the much-needed but poorly-viewed television programme, Love & Disaster seeks to add a sense of unity to the cause of Manchester’s music scene and get the message out that the city shouldn’t continue to hark back to the Hacienda days. It’s 2010 for God’s sake…

Airship kick things off with ‘Kids’ – a soaring indie-pop anthem-in-waiting. The boys were the first band to play at Leeds Festival last year, and supported The Editors on their UK tour. I only caught them at the former, but I have no doubt that they were able to pull it off in the big venues, such is their huge sound.

‘Kids’ is sugary-sweet, yet with the same sense of maturity emitted from bands a lot older. Youthful energy combines with song structural composure to create a sound akin to Modest Mouse and Pixies looking back over old photo albums with fond memories. The vocals remind me of The Thrills in an ‘I’ll try and sing along to this, but won’t be able to get the pitch right’. Damn those singers with better vocal range than us wannabes. With plenty more songs of this quality already – check out their EP, Spirit Of The Beehive – and gaining the experience and exposure seemingly at will, surely it’s only a matter of time before one of the majors snap them up.

Dutch Uncles are up next with ‘OCDUC’ (… no idea). Appearing on practically ever music blog last year, particularly for their single ‘Face In’, the non-Netherlands natives look ready to get more mouths talking this year. This being the first taste of them in 2010, it’s quite good. Not as catchy or as immediate as ‘Face In’, but their quirky, progressive take on guitar-pop is back in bundles. A looping riff with piano intro and backing, laquered over with Duncan Wallis’ opinion-polarising vocals. A band very much suited within the scene of last year’s buzz bands – Dananananaykroyd tour support amongst other things of note. Forward-thinking, and not looking to the past for much reference or guidance. We like ‘OCDUC’, whatever it stands for.

Jo Rose might be more familiar to people as the star behind 2005 Sony/BMG signees Fear Of Music. His solo work though, is a different brew altogether. I’ve said before that he’s like Conor Oberst but better, and that still stands. ‘Lastbreath, California’ is the piano-led ballad that the song name connotates it might be, and twice as beautiful. Almost Neil Young-esque in accent, and as captivating in lyrics as the best wordsmiths out there. See for yourself at Friends Of Manchester Festival – 30th Jan @ Jabez Clegg (hey, Dutch Uncles are playing too). A low-key contender for the singer-songwriter to look out for this next few years.

And last but not least, there’s the exclusive treat of an Everything Everything remix of current buzz band Delphic’s ‘This Momentary’ single. EE are just plain super. We’ll be talking about them a whole load more when their debut album comes out, but yeah, big things and all that. Anyway, they’ve worked a treat on their fellow BBC Sound of 2010 listers’ anthem, making it even more chilled out than before. Gone is the roaming bass and tribal-esque percussion. Inserted are lots of blips, whistles and synths. Not too much though, the original track still floats along – these added elements just swirl around it doing their own thing. The breakdown isn’t as intense, but goes all warpy before the song signs out on a bird call via flute. It’s hard to make a great song better, but this take on it isn’t bad. One for the collector fans of both bands, and who knows where they might be in 5-10 years time.

‘We are nothing / Let’s do something real’ sighs James Cook in repetition as the mini-compilation comes to a close. These artists are already breaching out from being unheard nobodies, and into the distinct actuality of Manchester having something real to shout about indeed. There have been significant musical exports since the ‘glory days’ that our city has severe issues over letting go, but perhaps the crop ready for harvesting has never been this bountiful or consistent.

A fine sample of just some of the talent that Manchester has to offer. It seems the London scribes and industry folk have realised this – now it’s just a case of convincing some of the overly-proud locals…

Love & Disaster Volume 1 is available now on 10″ vinyl from Piccadilly Records and Pure Groove, or digitally via Boomkat and 7Digital.

http://www.loveanddisaster.co.uk