Want to transcend the noise? Turn your phone off, stick on CULT WITH NO NAME (aka CWNN). Their fifth album, Above As Below is an uber-thinky, muy beautiful, neo-Frankfurt School platter (the Frankfurt school were a bunch of WWII academics championing the elite to progress culture). Artwork is by a David Bowie design collaborator, Jonathan Barnbrook.
Singer of CWNN, Erik Stein looks like the guy in the poster for W.E. – the film by Madonna, released in London whilst her ex-hubby’s second tribute to opium-addled Sherlock still haunts the screens.
Feat. guest vocals by my dear pal Kelli Ali, this is an intense album lightened with the dark humour of a true gothic heart.
There are about 14 tracks, and you can find samples on CD Baby, Last Fm, MySpace – or just buy it for less than a London travelcard on iTunes (and it’ll take you further, maaaaaan). Updates on Facebook.
Out on Trakwerx, the production is all John Foxx-y synthy pianos but excels to filmic scores and twisted Andrew Eldritch-hooks; there are songs that get in your head, songs that take you to bed, songs that spread a smile like a Nightnurse med. It’s an album that makes every second count, slows you down to bring you up. Like a sunrise over an ocean.
Hard copies, I am assured, will be available soon.
Yup – they need a video…and I’m seeing them tomorrow – maybe we’ll go to the Paul Morley talk about dead heroes at the Southbank. My book, which is nearly at completion (again, you yawn) has a bit of a dead rockstar theme…
My other music top chops at the mo are:
- The Whip (for getting places fast).
- Killaflaw (ACDC meets Booker Shade).
- Lulu James (new, unsigned, hot, stylish).
- Darkstar, super-excited about their upcoming release on Warp.
- Genuflex.
- Black Bananas.
- And there’s this out soon: Bobby Gillespie collab with The Pop Group’s frontman. This vid is by Douglas Hart (Jesus & Mary Chain). Mark Stewart meets Bobby Gillespie
Keep a rockin your freeeeeee worlds, bludz. x
And here’s a nice look in Barrio de las Lettras in Madrid. 
