NinetynineCountry of origin:Australia Type of music generally:Alternative pop/rock Status:Most recent release, Bande Magnetique LP (2010) See also:Wikipedia's entry on Ninetynine Comparisons:Coming from the same indie rock roots as Sleater-Kinney, Cat Power, Lois, but mixed with something Pram-like Covers/own material:Own General comments:Alternative indie pop/rock, stripped down but with the unusual addition of vibraphone, xylophone, and glockenspiel and Laura MacFarlane's lovely sometimes off-kilter vocals. The interesting instrumentation helps give the sound and songwriting a unique flavour. (Neile) Recommended first album:Any of the later discs; 767 is my favourite of the three I own. Recordings:
99Release info:1997—Patsy (Australia)—patsy 01 Availability:See website for availability Ecto priority:Recommended for indiepop/rock fans Group members:Laura MacFarlane—vocals, guitars, drums, keyboards, viola, xylophone Guest artists:Michael Nichols—bass on 2 tracks Comments:This is Ninetynine's first album, which I picked up because I liked 767 so much. Also clearly indierock sound but quite different in sound now from her former bandmates, sleater Kinney. And worse, I'm not going to be any good at articulating that difference. Anyway, I like this quite a lot. The recording quality on this isn't terrific, but the songs and overall sound of the collection show a lot of promise. Still, while I like this and enjoy it when I play it, I still find I pick up 767 or 180o before this one. They just seem a little more distinctive. (Neile) 767Release info:1997—Patsy (Australia)/endearing records (Canada)—ndr 011 Availability:See website for availability Ecto priority:Highly recommended for indiepop/rock fans Group members:Laura MacFarlane—vocals, drums, vibraphone, xylophone, guitars, keyboards Guest artists:Rhonda Simmonds—guitars, bass, keyboards, vocals, xylophone, glockenspeil, drums on 1 track Comments:A lively collection of alternative pop songs with occasional hints of Stereolab of the off-kilterness of Pram. Most songs are prtty forward-motion driven and nicely crafted. (Neile) 180oRelease info:2000—Patsy (Australia)—007/radio 4 Availability:See website for availability Ecto priority:Highly recommended for indiepop/rock fans Group members:Laura MacFarlane—vocals, vibraphones, keyboards, guitars, drums Guest artists:Michelle Mansford—bass on 2 tracks, guitar on 3 tracks, vocals on 1 track, vibraphones on 2 tracks, xylophone on 1 track, keyboards on 2 tracks, glockenspiel on 1 track Comments:This one shows even more Pram-like off-kilter tendancies, but still has a nice indiepop sensibility, mixing it up nicely. Driving, yet pop-py and catchy. "Cois il hamdu lilah" is especially weird and wonderful. This is occasionally, like on "mesopotamia," quite mournful. (Neile) |
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