This is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to the most classic pieces of music around, nor of the latest releases; just a few releases you may not have heard which I feel are worthy of mention.
The third full-length album from Nine Inch Nails, The Fragile is a difficult album. If you like to be able to like things on the first listen, this album may be too much effort for you. If you're prepared to live with it for a while, though, the rewards are worth it, as this is Reznor's most mature, accomplished work. The double album's almost classical depth and scale are everything that was promised by the natural but innovative lines of progression that his music has followed, from Pretty Hate Machine, through the Broken and Fixed EPs, to the Downward Spiral and now beyond.
Appropriating various new influences into the mix, Trent, in his characteristic style, twists them into vivid soundscapes. The lyrics also take things a step further than previous 'Nails offerings, introducing a subtle indirectness that is often much more effective than his more venomous rants. Some of the instrumental pieces are gorgeously insiduous, certainly no mere space-fillers.
High Points: 'The Frail', 'The Wretched', 'We're In This Together', 'The Fragile', 'No', You Don't', 'The Great Below', 'Into The Void', 'Please', 'Starfuckers, Inc.', 'The Big Comedown'.
David Arnold's music has always begged to be used for a bond theme, and his collaborations, particularly 'Play Dead' with Bjork, have always been stunning. So an album of Bond Covers all of which are collaborations, was always going to be an amazing prospect, especially when the list of collaborators included Propellorheads, Leftfield, Iggy Pop and David McAlmont. McAlmont's feminine voice does wonders with Arnold's luscious arrangement of 'Diamonds Are Forever', and the splicing of Arnold's music with Leftfield's offbeat approach is gorgeous on 'Space March'.
Arnold's minimalistic slant on 'From Russia With Love' is the perfect backdrop for Natacha Atlas' floating melody, and Chrissie Hynde's teaming with Arnold on 'Live and Let Die' does everything with the old McCartney song (from back when he was still quite good) that Gun's 'N' Roses should have done.
High Points: 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' featuring Propellorheads, 'Diamonds Are Forever' featuring David McAlmont, 'Space March' featuring Leftfield, 'From Russia With Love' featuring Natacha Atlas.
If i had to name two bands that were worthy of more recognition than they are getting, one would be Puressence, but probably even before them would be Lamb. Lamb's eponymous debut album was a seamless mix of soft drum'n'bass, trip hop and orchestral arrangements, and this, their follow-up is even better. The songs fit together beautifully, to produce a flowing, whole work. The tempo and the style vary, but the dark yet sensuous theme remains.
The lyrics especially mark this out as a masterpiece, from the poignant strangeness of 'Alien' to the everyday wisdom of 'Little Things'. Also, as an aside, this stuff is amazing live. Their set at Glastonbury blew my mind. A must-see live act.
High Points: 'Little Things', 'All In Your Hands', 'Bonfire', 'Ear parcel', 'Alien'.