Telekinesis

A Week In Music, Depeche Mode Back With New Album, The Gaslight Anthem Storm The Boards, Have Coldplay Released The Best Album Ever?

By Contributor in Music / Festivals on 08 April 2013

Depeche Mode Josh Kumra Telekinesis Bleached The Gaslight Anthem Big Black Delta The Heavy Rilo Kiley Story Books Psy Coldplay One Direction

Albums of note… In 2013, the apparent year of the comeback, Depeche Mode made a mini-one of their own, with their first album in four years Delta Machine. Dave Gahan’s still at the vocal helm and the group still enjoy looking at the darker side of pop. Something they’re still doing with great success according to our writer Dom Gourlay, who surmised “'Delta Machine' is a worthy comeback that while not quite hitting the peaks conquered so magnificently by 'Black Celebration', 'Violator' and 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion' back in the day, still sits comfortably in the upper quartile of Depeche Mode's finest releases to date.”

Another gaining the love of Contactmusic this week is Josh Kumra who released his debut LP Good Things Come To Those Don’t Wait. Give he’s only about 20/21 himself, it seems like he’s taken the title of his album to heart, and this Sony release looks set to make him a star early on in his career. Our man Jim Pusey reckoned “At its heart, Good Things Come To Those Who Don't Wait is a solid singer songwriter effort. It elevates itself beyond that by successfully dabbling in a number of musical styles along the way, while ensuring that Josh doesn't ever sound out of his depth. Certainly one of his strengths is his voice, and he gives himself ample opportunity to showcase that here too.”

Continue reading: A Week In Music, Depeche Mode Back With New Album, The Gaslight Anthem Storm The Boards, Have Coldplay Released The Best Album Ever?

Telekinesis - Dormarion Album Review

By Jim Pusey in Music Reviews on 02 April 2013

While Michael Benjamin Lerner's Seattle band Telekinesis is relatively unknown in the UK, they've managed to build a solid fan base in the States since 2009. That's thanks in part to favourable airplay by NPR stations across the country. Third album Dormarion is an irresistible mix of feedback-laden guitars, synths and Indie attitude. Clocking in at just less than 40 minutes, it's also suitably short, leaving you wanting more.

Opener 'Power Lines' suggests that the album is going to be somewhat lo-fi and quiet. Indeed, the first minute is just Lerner and an acoustic guitar, but Dormarion springs into life after that with a wall of sound. It's a dysfunctional ode to youth ("Don't mess up your hair because we're destined to fail. When I was young I thought I was a power line."), that has aspirations towards being the twenty first century 'Born To Run'. While it doesn't quite elevate itself to that height, the catchy riffs and quirky organ tell you everything you need to know about the album - it's going to be fun.

What's also evident is that despite the loud guitars and frenetic drumming, there's a simplicity to the songs that makes them endearing. Lerner's voice struggles at times, because his high-pitched delivery gets a little lost in the mix. But there's no doubting the material here is incredibly catchy. When Telekinesis shift gear and turn into a Synthpop band on 'Ever True' for example, Lerner's vocal actually seems more at home amongst the drum machines and strings because it's not battling against a wall of guitars.

Continue reading: Telekinesis - Dormarion Album Review