But I’m going to make some and take you out.”

(—Gang Colours, ‘Fancy Restaurant’)

Words & Illustration: Craig Carry

Gang Colours is the alias for English musician and producer Will Ozanne. Based in Southampton, Ozanne’s Gang Colours’ debut album ‘The Keychain Collection’ was released last year on Brownswood Recordings, the independent label belonging to the DJ and broadcaster Gilles Peterson (who had a late night BBC Radio 1 show; currently broadcasts from BBC Radio 6).

What’s immediately apparent about ‘The Keychain Collection’ is the album sleeve’s photograph of a gorgeous Monington & Weston piano. Indeed, the grand piano is a key element to the album’s fragile beauty. Combined with the delicate piano playing is some wonderful interwoven electronics and Ozanne’s hushed vocals – which has drawn many comparisons to that of James Blake. Throughout the album’s ten tracks is an obsessive attention to detail where intricate layers of sound reveal themselves after repeat listening. The album deserves close attention; it requires much playing in the early hours to reveal its full beautiful charm.

Ozanne, as well as a talented producer and musician, is also a fine lyricist. ‘The Keychain Collection’ features some stunning lyrics, most notably in the single ‘Fancy Restaurant’ (a definite highlight) where Ozanne sings: “I know you don’t care that much about money / But I’m going to make some and take you out.” The refrain is repeated until the song’s end (at under three minutes). The combination of delicate piano with an electronically manipulated drum and bass arrangement backdrops the refrain, while Ozanne’s words will linger for a long time in the listener’s ears.

On the third track, ‘To Repel Ghosts’, Ozanne sings “Will they ever find out / you never told / how was I supposed to know”. The vocals are backed by a child-like voice echoing Ozanne’s own hushed vocals, creating an eerie and mysterious mood. A vocal sample is looped over the following track, ‘I Don’t Want You Calling’ where the silence between notes play as vital a role in its composition as any individual instrument. In fact, it’s a full three minutes in when we first hear Ozanne’s ‘true’ voice when he simply repeats the song’s title “I Don’t Want You Calling” before the irresistible piano notes drift back in momentarily before the song comes to a close. It’s amazing to think, in another musician’s hands, these songs could easily be fleshed out to twice their duration. But therein lies the real charm of Gang Colours: the temptation to over-do things is always resisted. Ozanne is a master of subtlety.

Even the lyrics themselves (when there at all) – like the lead single ‘Fancy Restaurant’ – are to the point and wonderfully simple. Yet that simplicity never takes away from the heartfelt nature and effectiveness of those very words. Take, for example, the stunning ‘Pebble Dash’ where Ozanne sings: “You don’t have to / Change for me”, the beautiful refrain is repeated, like ‘Fancy Restaurant’, until the song’s soft end.

The sequencing of the album is also immaculately conceived. Two piano notes are quietly repeated on the opening to ‘On Compton Bay’ while stunning electronics build until Ozanne’s vocals emerge at the 2 minute mark. The track fades out before slowly fading back in – layer by layer – revealing the true magic present in Gang Colours’ artistry. The quality found in the album is reminiscent of my own personal favourite electronic records put out by Morr Music (B Fleischmann’s ‘Welcome Tourist’) or City Center Offices (Ulrich Schnauss’ ‘Far Away Trains Passing By’).

My personal favourite at the moment is the sparse piano closer ‘Rollo’s Ivory Tale’, which brings the album to its sparse conclusion. In fact, the piece feels more like a ‘sketch’ than a fully realized piece of music – and combined with the sounds of chirping birds – a wonderful nostalgic feeling is conjured up. It’s like a childhood’s infinite number of recollections and memories rolled into a two-minute piece of music.

On a quick first listen, Gang Colours’ debut may sound somewhat subdued in tone. However, ‘The Keychain Collection’ is a true “grower”, one which deserves repeat dead-of-night listening to reveal its true charm and warm, beating heart.

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The debut full-length by Gang Colours, ‘The Keychain Collection’, is out now on Brownswood Recordings.

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https://soundcloud.com/gangcolours
http://brownswoodrecordings.greedbag.com/gang-colours/
http://www.gillespetersonworldwide.com/brownswood-recordings/

A gross oversight on The Wit Tank’s part meant Looking 4 Myself somehow didn’t make the cut. Apolz Usher and better luck next time.

Wow, this summer’s been such a scorcher so far, I don’t think I can handle that boiling, incandescent sun a moment longer!

Thankfully Thursday 21^st June saw the arrival of the midsummer solstice meaning that the days are now getting shorter at last and the unbearable heat that’s been plaguing us will finally start to abate.

Seeing as we’re now halfway through the year, I thought it would be the perfect time to highlight some of my favourite releases of the past 6 months.

I know what you must be thinking – that 2012 has been a totally crap year for music and attempting to write a “Best of” list is madness indeed. To this I reply, “SHUT YOUR TRAP! READ MY LIST!”

This list is presented for your perusal in no specific order of preference. Not because I love all these titles just the same (how lame would that be?) but because I have recently set up a premium rate chat line which you can call me on to seek musical enlightenment day or night… or just to find out if I’m wearing any pants.

I would urge anyone seeking to know the correct order to contact me on 0845 GIVE-ME-ALL-UR-MONEY.

1. Lana Del Ray – Born to Die With a soft sultry voice that just oozes femme fatale, Born to Die is right up there as one of the most romantic albums of the year. In fact, it’s made such an impact since its launch, I was really quite shocked to discover that it was only released in January as it felt like it has been around for donkey’s years.

2. Grimes – Visions
This kooky chick has been busy producing some of the most vibrant and exciting music around featuring disassociated beats as a backdrop for her angelic voice. A few of us have been stalking her since  Geidi Primes  a few years ago, but the accessible beauty of Visions has seen her deservedly reach The Big Time, so we now look forward to boosting our numbers substantially.

3. The Maccabees – Given to the Wild
This widescreen epic will be right up your alley if, like me, you’re an emotionally stunted guy yet can’t listen to Glasvegas without bursting into tears. Heartfelt lyrics, huge sing-along choruses, and a healthy dose of experimentation which will stop you feeling totally ashamed.

4. Fort Romeau – Kingdoms
Some people think that house music is dead. Some people don’t know shit! Don’t believe me? Listen to this fantastically freaky beast and then we’ll talk. 40-odd minutes of underground house brilliance from a fantastic record label, 100% Silk.

5. Soko – I Thought I was an Alien
Make this your go-to album for when you’re feeling down and out… Soko’s been there, done that and feels your pain. If songs like Happy Hippie Birthday and I’ve Been Alone Too Long don’t bring a tear to your eye then I envy and pity you.

6. Stabil Elite – Douze Pouze
Like Kraftwerk jamming with Depeche Mode while New Order look on, this album kicks ass in all the best possible ways. Never has the German language sounded so funky or so sexy (excluding David Bowie singing Heroes in Deutsche of course) as when you’re being seduced by these songs.

7. Session Victim – The Haunted House of House
Not just a great title, but a fantastic album too. Featuring a type of music either known as slow-jam, house or Balearic, depending on how sophisticated and cool/much of a dickhead you are, this is perfect listening material for a warm summer’s day (should one ever actually occur).

8. Scuba – Personality
To claim that Scuba is a fucking genius is in no way over-stating the case. Just give this great dubstep/techno/big-beat set a listen for the proof. Featuring the fantastic dance floor slayer The Hope this is a record created with the movement of feet in mind.

9. The Crocodiles – Endless Flowers
Any band that sounds like The Jesus and Mary Chain is going to rate highly in my book. The hooks and choruses on this, their 3^rd album, show Crocodiles are reaching for a wider fan base than dirty greasers like me though. As such, it should sound like shit! The fact that what it actually sounds like is great, fuzzy, stoner rock of the highest order should tell you all you need to know about this group. [It also features a naked man with a perplexingly spherical knob on the front cover! - Ed]

10. Gang Colours – The Keychain Collection
Last year we entered the tricky terrain of post-dubstep as exemplified by acts such as Mount Kimbie and James Blake. This year we have artists like Gang Colours who are taking this sound even further. 30 minutes of chilled comedown blues, this is an album to take a long hot soak in.

Well? You like? Call direct, 0845 GIVE-ME-ALL-UR-MONEY now!

Southampton ambient producer Gang Colours is releasing his debut LP ‘The Keychain Collection’ on February the 27th. Another track from that is online. ‘Botley In Bloom’ is a subtle little number, but it has everything a fan of chilled out electronica likes. Listen below:

By Conor Kelly

First single from the debut album by Gang Colours ‘The Keychain Collection’. Fancy Restaurant will be released via 12″ and digital formats on the 20th February, featuring three killer remixes  from MachineDrum, Ifan Dafydd and Deft.

Album Cover:

Artist: Gang Colours
Title Of Album: The Keychain Collection
Release Date: February 27, 2012
Label: Brownswood Recordings

Follow ‘Gang Colours’ on:
Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/gangcolours
Soundcloud at:  http://soundcloud.com/gangcolours
Myspace at: http://www.myspace.com/gangcolours

//

More of ‘Gang Colours’ on Music Pickings:
07 Dec –  Gang Colours – On Compton Bay

Gang Colours first grabbed, pinned and beat down the attention of the wider-music world with the release of visceral nomenclature gem In Your Gut Like a Knife EP in the summer, released on Brownswood Recordings.

The EP featured an array of unnerving, contradictory and highly inventive slices of warm electronic cuts – read our review here – with ‘Fireworks in the Pocket’ a standout track of this year. Now Will Ozzane (the non-nom de plume) of Southampton is to release a full-length debut album titled The Keychain Collection on February 27th 2012 – also out on Giles Peterson’s Brownswood.

A track taken from the LP, ‘On Compton Bay’, is available to download now, and a tantalising taster it is too.

Gang Colours – On Compton Bay

It’s lovely, wibbly electronica – for fans of Daedalus, Boards of Canada and Black Moth Super Rainbow.