I am fortunate enough to be friends with a gentleman who transcends the word talent. Hi name is Alex Berger. It is because of him that not only do I get to hear HIS wonderful music BUT I get introduced to his friends who make gorgeous, wonderful, beautiful and generally brilliant music. Some of whom you will hear of in the near future and others who you should go out of your way to listen to.
Alex was kind enough to write a personal snapshot of the growing and trailblazing New York acoustic scene. This is very unique for us seeing as he has a broad and experienced musical ear while being one of it's stalwarts.
Alex:
"
From my experience, having played in a number of major cities, I can say with conviction that the scene in New York right now is the strongest. The heart of the scene right now seems to orbit around Rockwood Music Hall on Allen Street. The place is packed every night, and recently opened a second, larger stage next door due to the demand. The format is simple. It's free to get in (there's an optional tip-jar that gets passed round for each artist) and the artists are all good. The word 'Hall' in the title is ironic as the original room is tiny. Packed in like sardines, you can get about 150ish people in there - with another 50 in a small room next door which they broadcast a live feed to. Some of my favourite venues in NYC - which always seem to be buzzing and full of life - are The Living Room, The Poisson Rouge, Cafe Vivaldi, Joe's Pub, Mercury Lounge (although this tends to be more rock-leaning than acoustic), The Highline Ballroom, City Winery and Pete's Candy Store (in Brooklyn).
Obviously it is the people and artists that make the scene what it is and there is a highly collaborative, friendly and welcoming feeling to the singer-songwriter crowd in particular - a genre/area of music where artists can end up feeling quite isolated in other scenes/ cities.
Everyone knows everyone else and it's almost like walking into 'Cheers' in some of these venues. There's a large number of fans who love and support pretty much all the artists in the scene and you can see them at most of the gigs.
There's also a good number of orchestral musicians who play in local orchestras and ensembles who have found work touring and gigging with a lot of these artists.
Deena Goodman (who created Rebel Spirit - a monthly charity night of acoustic music, usually introducing a newish act as well as having bigger names collaborate).
This is why I like remixes again. They have taken some epic, tremendous, BEAUTIFUL musics and then added to them. They haven't done the KISS FM (all you UK dwellers will know what I mean and why) - speed it up and chipmunkicise it they have genuinely embellished, enhanced and done other superlatives beginning with 'E' to it.
These few take a few basic concepts that DEEPLY appeal to me. Collectivity/community; Creativity; Talent/Ability to garnish; Modernity and play on them to create new versions of existing products. I can take this a VERY long way. I personally think that this is a world changing template. If you were to take a handful of these elements and apply them to your local community or your group of friends or even family then you have a model to increased unification. I am dressing this up in a very fancypants way. It boils down to Work with someone to a common goal and you will make something to be proud of. Work on your own and you can create BUT there is a HUGE amount of untapped thinking outside your own head. USE IT.
You may think I am going over the top here but you are wrong. Building communities does not have to rely on geography - the internet is proving this - but they do rely on some form of coming together. I haven't said it in a little while but this is the crux of FIND SOMETHING. GET INVOLVED. RAC take this idea and play with it and have/are creating beautiful things. They are an example to modern society.
I was first turned onto them by their mix of Juno (Tokyo Police Club) - a strange band because I only seem to like mixes of their songs, more on than another time.
They manage to add an electro edge to even the most electronic-adverse intruments/tunes - see Home - without it being intrusive. They manage to add a minimal edge but the minimalism is errrr... not that minimal. The noises are not WOOOMMMMPP but subtle without being limp wristed. I love the detail that is added and how you could (sometimes) quite easily miss the additions
They have managed to inject my life with Zero (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Use Somebody (Kings of Leon) and most notably Home (Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros). The last of these is possibly the most stunning song then mixed to simplified euphoria but it has sadly been tarnished for me. Some people are so selfish eh? Love this song. Dedicate it to a loved one. IF they deserve it.
Standouts include in order of appearance (I've always wanted to say that!):
Peguin Prison - Worse it Gets
Hockey - Too Fake
The Shins - Sleeping Sessions
Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
John Legend - Everybody Knows
Juno - Tokyo Police Club
Teagan & Sara - Alligator
Robyn - Cobrastyle
Nude - Radiohead (Both mixes because I love this song)
The Pippettes - Pull Shapes
The Whip - Frustrations
The Fashion - Solo Impala
I did a TINY (I like putting words that mean small into big letters) and found out that the collective consists predominantly of:
ANDRÉ ALLEN ANJOS – remix tag: (RAC Mix)
Andre Allen Anjos is a young music artist with multiple years experience of remixing, producing and song-writing. Originally from Porto, Portugal now residing in Portland, OR. He is the founder and coordinator of Remix Artist Collective.
ANDREW MAURY – remix tag: (RAC Maury Mix)
Andrew Maury is a 24 year old multi-versed musician, producer, and remix artist. Andrew is based out of New York City with a budding career as a producer/engineer/mixer. After two years touring the US as a front-of-house sound engineer for Ra Ra Riot, he most recently co-produced and engineered the band’s second album, The Orchard.
CROOKRAM – remix tag: (RAC Crookram Mix)
Chris Angelovski aka Crookram is a musical producer who has been making tracks since 1992. His musical background is founded on hiphop, but his love for sample-based music and seventies vibes is evident in the tracks he makes. Musical interests range from 60s folk music to classic jazz to modern electronica.
AKUTOU
AKUTOU is a graphic designer currently based in Paris. He has been working with bands and shops worldwide, making logos, promotional artworks, EP covers and tee-shirt designs. He is the artistic director behind RAC.
LEVI FIGUEIRA
Levi Figueira is a freelance developer+designer hybrid, passionate about user experience, he blogs at LEVIFIG and rambles incessantly at @LEVIFIG.
I'm nostaglic.I'm sentimental.I'm probably a little bit old fashioned
Watching this video filled me beautifulness. I have to admit that there I have developed some kind of deeper connection for no particular reason with these wonderful moving images. Not normally a big fan of the videos that often accompany the noises they are set to. BUT (theres the standard but) I like this.
I worked out a little bit of what tickle my pink about this. It is my favourite TV show of all time... "Because that day, we all learned something about life that we'd never forget" until the next episode where some even more epiphonal would happen. I sense sarcasm but this is genuinely my favourite TV show ever.
I am in no way going to compare this video to the next or the one after. SADLY it does not even come close. On the other hand, it did evoke a similar kind of sedentary excitement so, for that I need to add it to this section of archive in my brain. It is not fancy pants, it does not rely on sparkles. It does things the Rick Stein way. SIMPLE. Lets the content do the talking. LOVE the pictures. They make me happy (even though HURT is a very sad video and will make most grown men whimper)
While we are on the topic of awesome videos i had to add a couple in at the bottom and true to the moment we got the Ginger-bashing M.I.A. I love this. There are far FAR more layers to this than the obvious aforementioned. (I'm just going for lunch, more on this shortly)
Johnny Flynn is one of those artist who get a special place in my audio anthology in my brain. I will pre-order ANYTHING he does and even buy the CD forever (as long as he doesn't get shit). So Been Listening IS COMING (you like how I did that?) on June 8th and so we are lucky enough to have a 5 track sampler to enjoy until then. HURRAH!
Kentucky Pill has a beautiful Phil Collins feel to it but DON'T let that put you off... Slightly more upbeat in feel that I was expecting, still ample use of strings (not fiddle. Strings). Continued usage of RICH (so easy to use this word in association with this man and the fruits of his loiny brain) harmonies makes me happy. Like the sunshine but more consistent and less likely to disappear everytime there is a public holiday.
The Water is JUST MAGICAL. The plink-plinking on the the plucked violins over slow, rolling and ebbing bowed arrangements basically refuses to let you ignore them. You got Johnny giving you sound of the woodland while Laura Marling offers a pixie-ish (give me another word for magic) ethereal balance that allows you to drift off to River Cottage and image the faery folk who live next to the brook living off Hugh's wild garlic. Lucky lucky fantasy people. I get the feeling that this is going to be highlight track. I'm EVEN more excited for the album now.
Churlish May - CHURLISH! TRUMPETS! *breaths deeply with a smile on face* ANY song that charts live and love directly against the Gregorian calendar is alright by me. This classic Johnny. Absolutely classic. Wonderfully dotted rhythm. Makes to want to upgrade from sawy to bob a little bit. AAAAAAAHAHAHAH love it. Summer's a-comin' people.
On the whole. Johnny is the UK's answer to many an American folk rock hero. Like everything done over here, there is less shouting and a'hollering, fewer people jumping on his bandwagon and probably will not have enough following from his target demographic to propel him to super-stardom as he might as the across-the-pond equivalent. He might not have a beard. He might not wear dungarees or marry Pamela Anderson but he is AWESOME. He can govern a mood. He will CAPTURE your curiosity. He WON'T fail you.
Go pick up his album at Rough Trade East and get a wristband for a mini gig in their store... But not before I get mine
There is growing scene in NYC at the moment spearheaded by the likes of ambeR Rubarth, Alex Wong, The Paper Raincoat, Alex Berger (look out for him in the London and the rest of the UK as he starts to promote his new studio album SnowGlobe - it is stunning... Did someone say Christmas Top 10), Vienna Teng and Ari Hest. If you even remotely like Johnny Flynn GO LISTEN TO THESE GUYS. Now. I'll give you my recommendations in a little bit fear not... just go have a look around yourself. These individuals and groups are what I would want any cross-Altantic pact to focus on. Blair and Bush got it wrong.
Went to see Marina and the Diamonds last night. Supported by Sparks.
Sparks was standard - pretty, edgy HoxDitchy kinda girl. Powder white makeup with China Red lipstick and thick dark eyeliner. Can’t find anything of her online. She was alright. Very quickly, everything she did sounded samey and knowing what was to come, I knew Marina and her Diamonds would do it better. That’s all on her. (Personally I think she was lucky to get a sentence no?)
Marina came out. She was, as usual, petite, stunning, Welsh… Legs - two of them. I swooned a little when she said she was loosing her voice because of too many ‘secret ciggies’. Very adorable.
For those of you who don’t know her, here are my three favourites.
A friend (same one who told me to look out for Arctic Monkeys all those years ago) introduced me to her a few years ago by playing me I am not a Robot tell me she is ‘fit AND AWESOME’ and I have stuck with her ever since.
In my opinion, she is keyboardy based synthy-poppy stuff(y). No guitar but a base. I found, that, having not done all my revision and so not knowing all the songs intimately, many of them sounded the same. She came across as very polished and had a fair amount of stage production backing her including a fan or something blowing her hair gently maybe to imitate the album cover? She did some micro-choreography which looked good but felt a little bit fakeish. All the way through, I imagined her doing exactly the same 10/15 years ago infront of her family/mirror with her friends.
I’m fairly sure ever heterosexual male left there in love but, y’know what, as usual, I was happy to have gone, especially considering there will be a direct correlation between the exponential growth in her popularity and the size of venues she will be playing. But I think I will leave it for now unless she appears at my door and stuff (did i mention she is VERY pretty?). THAT was a fancypants sentence if ever there was one…
Thanks.
I have to give a SPECIAL honourable mention to the venue though.BLOOMSBURY BALLROOM. IT. WAS. BEAUTIRRIFIC. Amazing Art Deco features, cool bar/chillouty area and some pretty micro-booths. MASSIVE INSTA-FAN.
I wrote my first blog entry a few years back. It consisted of my favourite songs, albums, bands and thoughts of that year. (It's like a blog fossil). Have a read. I was going to see what I think of what I said back then, but through the 'rose' tinted spectacles of NOW...
It was originally sent at 10pm on 11th November 2008. I have copied this verbatim from the initial email I sent out.
Here it is: *cringes*
"
Here are some of my favourite bands that i have listened to am listning to alot. Mainly in the last two months. Except Postal Service.
Try some or all.
I would love to listen to musics with you sometime.
Johnny Flynn First person to open my eyes to folk. Love his voice.
Brendan Campbell. Dont know much about him but he's kinda like folk meets acoustic reggae - only got a few of his songs but i lve them and i am too scared to buy more incase they arent as good
Fleet Foxes Harkness almost to PET SOUNDS - Beachboys. Really pretty laid bak musics ) i even bought the CD cos te album rtwork is great
Listen to SWAY, he a rapper dude but SAY it TWICE is one of my favourite moern hip hop tracks.
LAURA MARLING has SUCH pretty voice. So easy to melt into your thoughts while listening to her. my favourite is New Romantic
NOWon a slightly different note
I ADORE KINGS OF LEON and their last two albyus especially - Bause of the times is one of my favouriets.
And Cajun Dance Party
Crystal Castles Super funky electro - Lots of lovely Blip Blop noises
POSTAL SERVICE one of my favourite bands of last year (GIVE UP is thieir only alub i thitknk but some of the remixes of their songs are great
NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL introduced to m by BERGE. really good (semi-old apparentl clt following) indie band
LUDIVICO ENAUDI is BEEEUATIFUL modern classical musics. buy ANYTHING look at myspace of his.
MIA Sri Lanka rude gal elctro hip hop-sih in parts
SNTOGOLD similar genre to MIA
KANYE's new album isnt bad from the songs i heard... dont hate me for saying that
ADELE's album - 19 is BRILLIANT one of the nicest surpriswes of this year for me.Saw her live she was goooo
MGMT - first got turned onto the becuase radiohead were talkingabout them. They are nothing like radiohead. One of the best bands of this year again. Very happy-hippy-electro. NICE.
"
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO:
From what I can glean, I wrote this in the dark, maybe drunk, maybe other, I know my computer at the time had a slightly temperamental keyboard as well. QUite a random selection as well.
Slow club - they have/had one of the prettiest songs i know. It was a one-listen-love-it song: Lets fall back in love (love this live version... makes me happy(er). Enjoy them. Let them make YOU happy. So basically I still love this song but they are not part of my daily life.
Johnny Flynn on the other hand is still part of my daily life whilst still being the brother of Jerome Flynn (apparently) but you can't hold that against him. I love his voice. I adore the richness of the noises he makes. First Ablum A Larum is so easy to listen to and even easier to play whilst having a superb conversation (that is not meant in a bad way). There will be moment where everyone just stops and listens. BEAUTIFUL.
The Wrote and the Writ is a massive fave and archetypal Flynn track. Lilting. Jaunty. Smooth. Intelligent. New album - Kentucky Pill I think is due out in a few weeks and he is performing at Rough Trade East not too long after! I'll be there. Johnny Flynn - The Wrote And The Writ by The Green Bird Heard
Brendan Campbell - a bit of a phase. Don't get me wrong, worth a listen but I haven't gone back to him much. Always a pleasure when he pops up. Yard of Blond Girls is a treat
Fleet Foxes - WHERE TO START? Pretty much my favourite find of the last few years. I know few people who feel differently. A dear tattoo-ed, mathcore loving, devil worshipping friend of mine melts at their mention.
SWAY - Say it Twice - Don't get me wrong. Love UK Grime (and ting) BUT i was never enamoured by Sway. Like his britishness. He's no Bizzle (if you ask me). This is a genius track. Live. Might not be polished, but I am a SUCKER for live music and he got style.
Laura Marling - I just want to reiterate what i said above but add a few little bits like (i am going to see her in Hyde Park WOOOOOO and I Speak Because I Can is IN-CREDIBLE. Go sort yourself out. Go see her. NOW. Seriously. Now please
Kings of Leon - We've all heard of them and probably heard them as well. I still say that Because of the Times is the GREATEST album I have ever heard off the first listen and easily the best coupled with that caveat. It is also central to one of my favourite memories of my life, my times in Bristol and a dear dear friend. So. Thanks for that. Thought I'd add my favourite opening track of an album into that mixer at my first ever Glastonbury. Bliss. Sheer, unadulterated BLISS. [SPLURGE]
Cajun Dance Party - somehow, ended up being my album of that year, I still listen to them every now and then. I think the The Hill, The View, The Lights is awesome. A product of the UCS band factory that just exsponged Bombay Bicycle Club. I saw them live not too long after and their lead singer was a P-R-I-C-K. I fell out of love with them quickly despite the plethora of blip-blop and beautiful male vs female vocal intertwineyness. Well worth a listen. Big in Japan. EXACTLY!
Crystal Castles - Like Cajun Dance Party, but for adults. Sweaty, jumpy-aroundy, sparkly adults. Alice is a liability in the best possible way. A friends speaks of a time that she so desperately wanted to crowd surf against the wishes of the security peoples that she used a fire extinguisher to get her way. I doth my cap to her. And she's hot. And their music is on the freaking darker side of flourescent. Imagine eating what you thought was popping candy and it turn out to be loads of little mines. In you braaaaaaaiiiiiiinnnnn. There you go.
Postal Service - *INSTA-CREAM* Ok. I am seriously at a loss as you where to start. So i will start, expand and finish quickly. Find them listen to them. *INSTA-CREAM* I will probably write my autobiography based around explaining how awesome they are. They epitomise the kind of music I wish I could make. Just. Go. Listen. To. Them.*INSTA-CREAM*
Such Great *INSTA-CREAM* Heights Still fills me full of a sickeningly euphoric feeling (listen with both headphones in turned up to JUST above to loud)*INSTA-CREAM*
THEN listen to Ben Fold work his wizardry. Love the gimmicks. Love the product! *INSTA-CREAM*
Neutral Milk Hotel - I shall re-iterate that they apparently have a niché cult-ish following. You can tell by the tone of Jeff Mangum's voice (he's a recluse don't y'know) that they are a 90s band plus their strumming having the tiniest of tiny 'semplences to Smashing Pumpkins. The part that turned me on and got me hooked and yes, I still listen to this part over and over again (GEEK) was the transition between the two parts of King of Carrot Flowers PLUS the break down of Two-Headed Boy into wonderful trumpets of The Fool. I've attached the latter below. Wait and listen to them BOTH.
Sorry I couldn't find a prettier way of doing this
Ludovico Enaudi - I have a difficult situation on my hands. I am not massively well versed in contemporary classical music (apart from Concerto for Beatbox - Shlomo again) so I am not sure where to start here. Rarely have I been so empowered with so much emotion evoked in such a short space of time - roughly 25 minutes of listening initially. This man has a deft touch, and erotically clever ability to form a theme, not deviate to far from it whilst still keeping every minute unique and captivating. No matter where you are, you will be swept away. Pianos. Vocals. (Recently) combining a full orchestra. Melody in abundance. Beautiful. Enchanting. Ambiguous...Worthy.
M.I.A. - Everyone's heard Paper Planes - if you haven't WAKE UP and go listen to it. It is AWESOME. Overplayed but awesome. Also fairly true to what this freaky Sri Lankan chick is all about. Think chucky South Asian beats mixed a touch of danchall with North West london raaaahhuuuuugal twang and you got the sound. Add a shizload of bright colours, high-tops and imagination and you got something that I would challenge you to stay still while listening to.
I was first turned onto Bucky Done Gone - CHECK IT. cool video.
Sorry it had to be done - sorry Ginger (capital intentional) people
Kanye - can go fudge himself. BUT. I cant help but not dislike him. Don't hate me. I think i already said that. Just listen to 808s and Heartbreak. I liked it. That is all.
Adele - Easily one of my favourites to come out of the soulful, good-voiced, throwback female vocalists. Winehouse, yeah she's aright. Adele. KERRRwality. I don't buy CDs often. Who does? I ended up buying 5 copies of this and gave one to each member of my family and then I had to replace a copy I gave to a friend who would not give it back (even after she'd ripped it). I hear a new album is on it's way this year. I CANNOT WAIT. I will be pre-ordering it I think and I look forward to writing about it. You got a Dusty Springfield-esque voice, crystal clear, precise tone. Lyrically there are some really nice twists and turns plus the odd turn of phrase that hits you square in the chest. If you know what heartbreak feels like then this is empathy, sympathy and something else ending in pathy bottle and then smeared on your iPod. I do not think i have ever started listening to this and not ended up listening to the whole thing through.
Have a listen to Melt my hear to Stone - this one cuts me deep - never give your heart to someone if they are going to disgard it...
Hometown Glory is a bit of a two-fingers-up-to-you-motherfucking motherfucker. Its a stand up and be counted, come-and-have-a-go BELTER. Everyone needs one of these in their life for those times when you are infinitely downtrodden and feeling RUHUHUBISH.
I'm going to go off and listen to the album..... NOW
MGMT - I'm getting tired now so I might be less enthusiastic that when I started. Here goes.
SPARKLE SPARKLE. JANGLE JANGLE. DINGLE DONGLE BLIP BLOP BLIP BLOP. WORDS WORDS WORDS WORDS WORDS.
I loved this for a long time. It became my stalwart recommendation to everyone and since joined in annuls by Vampire Weekend, Mumford & sons etc.
Any band that consists of a Ben Goldwasser and an Andrew VanWyngarden will clearly either be sh!t or extraordinary. We luckily got the latter of the two. You'lla probably heard Kids. You know the one... doo-doo-doo-doo da. da. da. da. That one.
My main criticism of these guys (and it is wavering a little bit) is that they are not good live. It's not that they are uninspiring but more that they aren't very good. They turn all glam rocky which I love but this is slightly lacking in the glam bit. I am purposely avoiding describing the music so I will try and be really hirsute and sum them up in a catchy sentence (this may fail)...
You got the more electro-side of glam-rock and you got some fancy pants evocative/scathing lyrics all that wrapped up in a brightly coloured turbo-hippy contemporary psychadelic bundle...
Listened to their latest - Flash Delirium. Was all that impressive if you ask me.
You might be at school, you might be a young profession, you might be an old professional BUT everyone has a friend who has a band and they're really good (mainly because they are their friend). So I've got a friend. He's in a band. THEY'RE really good. Honestly. If I hadn't known them and I'd seen them by chance, I would have been really impressed and equally happy to have found them. I know this mainly because by the end of their second song, all the people who had filed out after watching their mates play filed back in and then some.
The Wild Furs' 3/4 gig, second headlining spot (already) and they are absolutely SMASHING it. The started as a duo Sahil 'Hill' Rishi and Adam Sweeney playing beautiful acousticy folk-rock. Played around and started to form the band (maaaan). In came John Fox and Kane Dorey (clearly born to be a rock star with that name) and KABAAAM, first gig on March 11th at the Hope and Anchor, Islington. Clearly slightly nervous, they rocked out.
Almost exactly two months later. I was on my own this time (six months on from the greatest day of my life - you know if you know. I was feeling pretty rubbish so I went out for a hair cut, a run and a long shower) and so I watched the warm up bands. They were good - I'll come onto them -but my legs were aching so I sat down at the back. THEN, a few things happened. Two awesome mates turned up. My second Grolsch appeared in my hand. The Wild Furs started. Immediately obvious that they were more confident, loved their own songs and were having a VERY good time. I got up and along with the 100 or so (I have no idea how many people were there but it was ramajammed) other people went nuts for it.
So what do they ACTUALLY sound like? Personally, they are much better live than in their early recordings embedded above but that'll give you an idea.
Favourites Overrated and the belter Hey You. When Hey you broke down into a touch of a ska-ish beat, I almost creamed myself. I had a chat with them after and much to my delight (and slight smugness) they are in the midst of writing a full on, bow-bow-bowchicka bow-bow ska tune. I am excited.
Adam - I have a habit of watching everyone but the front man. I made an exception in this case.
John - only been playing for a little while. You'da never guessed. Consistent. Loved the noises he created
Hill - he just needs to perfect the knowing 'I'm awesome' nod to the crowd.
Kane - Animal (not from the muppets). I mean, he is an animal.
The Wild Furs - "all that's missing is the arrogant swagger. That'll come. Soon."you can use that if you want boys
I bought the new Nextmen album - Join the Dots - as well as (re-)buying Amongst the Madness for posterities sake. I was going to write about it but, I'm afraid I am not really all that enamoured with it. In an otherwise blandly semi-grimey album there are some highlights but, in the grandest of grand schemes of things. Nothing amazing.
DISCLAIMER - I like to change my mind.
I still stand by my statement of Amongst the Madness being one of my seminal (not sure if that is the right word) albums. I'll get back to you on that though.
INSTEAD. I shall review the Drowned in Sound - Great Escape playlist. Why. Because, I had not heard most of the bands on here 'til this morning. And I like talking about music. AND. My boss is in meetings all day. AAAAND I learned to embed stuff today! WooooWooooo I'm a genius.
Maybes by Mount Kimbie - Ambient. Lo-fi intro (I say intro, but it lasts for most of the song) then it wonders into a captivatingly choppy tin-can blip-blop beat. (see Debruit - Nigeria What?, Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma) Is alright. I've ended up listening to it a few times so far, but it's not worth getting into a long term relationship for.
Quitter's Raga by Gold Panda - COMPLETELY uninspired by them at the Barfly. THIS track however has a bit of a Marmite feel to it. Either you'll love the bunny-hopping, impossible to dance to nature of the CD-skipping sitar/shamisen feel to it, OR you'll hate the fact that it feels like the track is skipping CONTRANTLY (see Jib Kidder - The Return) Strangely Massive Attack meet Fourtet feel to the laid back beat coupled with the intricate (some might call it messy) use of noises but all in all. I like it.
Tryan Song by FOE - Is a fuzzier, slightly drunken comparison to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It was far to easy for me to say that. Not all that impressed. (see 65Days of static... Maybe?)
A/B Machines by Sleigh Bells - So i was all like. This is boring overly stylised vocals. This'll be boring. THEN. KABLAMMY. MEATY. HEAVY. BASS. I was won over. They even add some uplifting synthed-up harmonies on the vocals. Why because they can. It's like female Animal Collective on mescaline and steroids (the angry side of steroids) having just made babies with Kap Bambino. Only thing I have heard remotely like this is Civil Civic. Instantly love this. It'sa walking down the street 'bopping' in your own head. Out on a night out, it's getting late and this appears out of nowhere suddenly it's 7am and life is good. JAWEsOME.
Young Hearts Spark Fire by Japandroids - Not a bit fan of Japandroids. Maybe I'm getting old because I would have loved this 10 years ago. On a SLIGHTLY different note. I really like We were promised Jetpacks. Check them out if you are looking for good guitar-based indie musics. Nothing personal Japandroids (i actually think you have a cool name)
Party Wounds by Rolo Tomassi - Lets face it. You're no Dillinger Escape Plan. But (there is always a but with me I suppose. I am the ultimate devil's advocate) the drums are freekin cool. Nothing unique but they stand out above the shredding riffing and the distinctly average, vaguely uninteresting vocals. All in all. Tight. Good. SLIGHTLY (infantessimally) different. Like the schizophrenic feel but not bowled over. I think I am being moody. Ask me again tomorrow
Forever Dancing by MASKS - instantly interested. It's like Bright eyes but with amps and electricity. (I can't believe I haven't mentioned Postal Service so far). This does get a bit tired after 2minutes of the same but it builds a little then does the ending to Karma Police. Omar Rodrigues need not fear for his crown of long drawn out instrumentals YET. Next song. NEXT... SONG
Devil's Show by Let's buy Happiness - Pretty. She sounds like she has a nose stud/ring. I love the meter of her phrases. It's like how Kate Nash's mum wishes she turned out. Very dreamy. Out of a mould-dreamy. I could list a bajillion soundalikes (six pence none the richer but more English with a female Coldplay-bridgey bit) but I won't. Enjoy this. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Becoming a Jackal by Villagers - WOW. When did Dave Matthews die and come back as part Fleet Foxes part Monsters of Folk hybrid? I like that. I am clutching at straws to be that whitty. I am a sucker for pretty (a word I use to often) folk music. So I like this. Hints of Simon and Garfunkel, hence the Fleet Foxes comparison, so very enjoyable if you like that kind of thing. NOTHING even close to bass. Nope. None. How much bass? None. Ok. so no much bass then. Gottit?
Dansi Dans by For a Minor Reflection - see Vanessa Carlton mainly because it has a piano-based melody. It is instrumental but severely lacking in every way that Sigur Ros isn't. The best part is the last 30seconds. I like major chord progressions couples with a crescendo and rising drums. Worth a listen? Maybe(ish)
You don't have to be wet for Isaac Asimov to enjoy this (but a slight interest in star wars or robots or something COULD help a bit). Genuinely not much like any other album i have ever owned. I once likened it to Nextmen - Amongst the Madness but that was once. This is now. Proper hip-hop but with the best example of geekishness I/we/you could ever dream of.
It is basically focused around the how the universe at the year 3030 after it has been taken over by evil warlord robot when our saviour and rap battler Deltron "Be there for the INTERANTIONAL RAP BATTLES... THEY'RE INSUPITUOUS" and his ship come along and save the day through battle rapping. Checkout Battlesong for an example of interstellar battle-rapping if you are not well versed.
I want to go into infinite detail but I can't. I have been listening to it all morning and every 30seconds I giggle (like a little girl) to myself about how much I love that bit or I can't believe that that makes sense or what a cool little reference to the 21st century that was. The 21st century was soooo last millennium.
You got MY favourite opening track(s) to ANY album anywhere (including Kid A). Clichéd as it may be, the use of Euphoric chorals over a HEFTY beat is niiiiiiice BUT then you get Del wondering in like a rhinoceros. I remember hearing a snippet of this a long time ago, and from then on i was HOOKED. I am fairly sure anyone else would be too.
Del Tha Funkee Homosapien. POSSIBLY the COOLEST monica EVER. I'm a bit jealous. With his I'm-massive-and-intimidating (sounding) words. Rhythimically, there is a slow but definite assuredness to everything he touches (see Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz... "OH IT's THAT DUDE!") while conjuring up some amazing celestial-cerebral spacescapes.
Now Dan the Automator. If you had heard Dr. Octagon - Octagonologist you probably would not be all that surprised but what Deltron 'Zee' has to offer. You also got Handsome Boy Modelling School, Gorillaz and Kasabian. All credit to the fella. I THINK this is where he and Damon Albarn first collaborated. SO, again. Important and awesome. Tasty.
Kid Koala is some kind of audio-magician. On top of that, his album artwork is usually pure genius. He manages to blend noises, beats, spoken word, sound effect and instructions on shaping clay into captivating (not sure what to call them) tracks. Much fun to had especially trying to drunkenly sing alot the obscure noises on the tube. Try it. (maybe)
If you open the inlay of the CD you will see many more (including Damon Albarn - more props to him I guess. He is annoyingly, actually talented. Sickening really). All of whom are worth a listen on their own. So. Go. Do. It.
CoCoRoSiE (not sure why there are the random caps in there but my fingers did it and I went with it).
The album cover of their latest says it all really
I was highly HIGHLY interested in the vocalist – INSERT NAME HERE and their blend or spirituotribal (i made that word up!!) beats, melodies and instrusments.
Smokey Taboo is an awesome second track. Weirdly haunting with a laidback dubbish (not rubbish though) beat, (slightly nasal and therefore case slight annoying) vocals. I like it.
Now I’m not a track by track kinda guy BUT here is a mini analysis.
First listened toBy Your Side (La maison de mon rêve), Lemonade, and Hopscotch (both on (GreyOceans – their latest LP release)
Lemonade – love the electorism. I love blip bloppy noises. I love the whispering, hoarse, almost deathly vocals here. Either Sierra or Blanaca are definitely on the imported Chinese fags… THEN. THEEEEN, bass section kicks in. up steps the tempo and your listening to a ditty. A DITTY of all things. HILARIOUS. Keyboards in their various forms make beautifully passive-euphoric interludes (check me out, properly feeling inspired right now)… So maybe that says it
all. They are DIFFERENT. I know that’s a bit of a bland statement but, the albums wonders, floats, hops, and wonders (again) all over. It is not a journey but more like… I’m looking for an overblown statement here… looking into the back garden (Yard) of this dueo’s upbringing. They are playing blissfully together, happy, content super comfortable with themselves and what they are doing regardless of who sees. (The discography says it all really)
There are some brilliant moments of mini-thumping, trancy style beats and chords. Lovely use of hi-hat here and there. Up tempo, down tempo lo-fi, ambient, picturesque musics. I see beautiful shades of white on white with hits of pale and bright blues.
If you feel like lying down and disappearing in your own head buy the album. If you fancy a moment of escapism. Lemonade on it’s own is an easy choice.
More of this in the world would probably result in fewer random beatings… which is probably a good thing.
You like my shizzy attempt at a catchy tagline/headline. I am clearly hilarious. Right? If I were you, i would have stopped reading by now.
Firstly. Today's topic in class is. the wordsmith POLARBEAR.
Listen to ANY of it. BUT Jessica is an easy and obvious introduction. Says it all. Literally. (I literally hate using the word literally. Literally) Speaks the life story of a boy/lad/man using beautifully frank and detailed passion. In my opinion, you've got your unchained melodies and your million love songs BUT THIS is the anthem of modern love. I am an old romantic. So. Shoot me. This man could not explain it better. Even if i'm COMPLETELY on my own on this one, this is WHAT. I. BELIEVE IN. listen. carefully. All those woman out there who question their men. Rethink a few things. You can tell POLAR is smiling inside and out while he 'spits' this. Most fellas wish they could put it this way...
Then, along wonders MOVEs.
So words. YES. check.
Noises. YES. Check.
Natural talents... Yes. Check
Fella got skills.
Dont take this the wrong way BUT. There isnt the direct message you get from scroob BUT there is an Artic Monkeys style honesty to the stories, pictures, attitudes and images told.
His use of ProEvo is hilarious if you ask me. Maybe he more for boys than girls BUT, like i already said, he puts into words what most fellas WISH they could.
Spoken word is not a new thing. Urban poetry is not a new thing. Vocal battles are not a new thing. Their increasing prominence IS a NEW THING.
Check out OneTaste or the Albany for an into-into-all-you-need-to-know. I'll be at KoKo. So should you.
Take a look at SaulWilliams and his film SLAM. This is what turned me onto this whole 'genre' (I do not like that word)(I don't like a lot of things which is why I always write about those that I do like).
Why say in ten lines what you can say in just 2.
Why say in 2 when you can shut-the-fuck-up and do.
Admitedlly, if i was able to put this into play then this would all be a bit more concise. BUT the point is there. Stop being part of the apathetic masses.
