New video shot in India from the new album I Speak Because I Can from the now-brunette Marling. The album is released in mid-March. Judging by this, her music has gone in a more pronounced English folk direction.
A band that a lot of people are looking forward to hearing more of are The Middle East from Australia. Back in September I featured the brittle and beautiful sound of ‘Blood’. Now, also from last year’s The Recordings Of The Middle East albums comes this opening track.
‘The Darkest Side’ is five minutes of Sufjan-esque heart-rendering folk made all the more special by the flighty female vocalist. They are going to blow up in a big way at SXSW for sure.
MP3: The Middle East – The Darkest Side
And a reminder of how good ‘Blood’ is: More..»
Drag City are streaming ‘81′, just one of the many, many Joanna songs heading our way in the next month. The triple album Have One On Me is released here on February 19th (UK/Europe – 22nd / US – 23rd). More details.
‘81′ on the right sidebar on the page. The site is taking a hammering at the moment so it may not load straight away. It reminds me of Ys material but reports and videos suggest it’ll be a mix of the sounds of both her albums.
Occasionally Barry Healy pops up to recommend three albums that may be under your radar. Here are his latest selections.
zZz – Running with the Beast
Don’t let the listless and somnambulist name put you off, in fact Dutch duo zZz are a rather surprising bundle of intrigue and inventiveness. Their music consists solely of an organ, drums and vocals which fuse together creating a feet tapping, dirty and enthralling tunes which often spiral into shear madness. The album itself basically divides itself in two with a rather uncanny mixture of tunes lead by pumped and energetic drumming accompanied by equally frantic organs or tunes centred on meandering swirling organ synths. There is something broadly familiar to this sound which is perhaps down to the dark and doom-laden almost Joy Division-esque vocals. It’s a rather underrated and impressive album none the less, fully deserving of some of your attention.
Stop what you’re doing. The award for the most joyous album of the month goes to this 11-piece barefooted hippie-folk outfit from LA.
Up from Below is a classic analogue-sounding album which sounds like it was recorded somewhere in the 60s by a cohort of close-knit kindred spirits intent on bringing some love to the world. It’s got that mystic, feel-good singalong vibe and an undeniable link to the counter-culture of the past. The band even tour in a big yellow school bus for jaysus sake. More..»
If I did a track of the week feature, The Middle East’s ‘Blood’ might well be it (this or The Sound of Arrows). Brittle, beautiful and tinged with melancholic lyrics offset by a literally joyous chorus, ‘Blood’ is a revelation.
The Middle East are from Queensland, Australia and I’m kicking myself I didn’t catch them when we were in Melbourne during the summer as they were playing while we were there. About three different people told me to go see them but the gig was a bit far out and we already had plans on the night.
Better late than never. Nice to meet your acquaintance.
Video and buy links after the you-know-what.
More..»
I met Jennifer Evans at a demo dip day thing I did earlier this year. She had just released an EP which had some promising moments but I felt like she was yet to find her own place yet. She sent me this video this morning. It’s DEFINITELY a step in the right direction. Keep an eye out for Jennifer in the coming months. She’s playing the Raw Chocolate tent in Body & Soul Area at Electric Picnic as it happens.
First Aid Kit, those two cute Swedish girls who covered Fleet Foxes last year are at it again. They are asking people via their Twitter profile for suggestions for songs to cover. This is the first one, a cover of Buffy-Sainte Marie and it’s pretty stunning.
Their Drunken Trees EP is out now and is quite good. Here’s the opening track from it:
Remember those archaic days when you picked up a magazine or newspaper and saw a playlist of what people were into that week. There is power in those subjective charts. No great fanfare or descriptions just ten of the best song around right now you should know or you might already know.
- Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed (Jakwob remix)
- Little Girls – Tambourine – Tambourine EP (Paper Bag Records)
- Major Lazer – Pon De Floor – Gun’s Don’t Kill People Lazers Do (Downtown)
- Skream & Benga – Trapped in a Dark Bubble – 12″ (Techtonic)
- Daniel Rossen (of Grizzly Bear) – Waterfall – Crayon Angel – A Tribute to Judee Sill (American Dust)
The sun is blazing today, there are blue skies galore and the Dublin boyos are out in the park incubating their pale raw skin with a mild form of skin cancer. Aah, summer in Dublin. ‘F Kenya Rip’ is a perfect soundtrack to a walk in the park or along the canal after work. From Highlife, the brainchild of Sleepy Doug Shaw of the band White Magic comes this Spencer Krug-fronting Dirty Projectors covering an afrobeat band vibe of a tune.
Shaw told Pinglewood and their NME blog that the song is inspired by an African highlife band called F. Kenya’s Guitar Band so at least Shaw is upfront about the influence. Indeed, the repeating phrase of ‘F Kenya Rip’ is taken from one of the band’s songs ‘Madame Zehae Ala (Just As I Am)’ and the guitar lines are similar too. (Listen to a short stream of that song on this page). Great tune all the same. Perfect for a day like today.
You should have your copy of Season of the Sparks by now, but if not, here’s a reminder as to why you should. Live from the Dublin Mountains with a small hip-amp and all, Adrian sings ‘The Beekeeper’s Wife’. Directed by Souljacker.
