Artist- Arc in Round
Album- Diagonal Fields
Label- Uniform
Formerly named Relay, this newly renamed Philadelphia 4-piece makes shoegazey yet noisy indie-rock. Dream-pop, but still experimental and heavy on the references to rhythms of classic Krautrock sound. The rich textures on this CD are its true charm – Jeff Zeigler’s vocals are heartfelt without bullshit melancholy, riffs are soaring without being too cloying. Kurt Vile randomly shows up to play trumpet on the final track (“Slow Ceiling”) – by far the most experimental tracks but it’s also very pretty. “Spirit” is the most straightforwardly dreamy & poppy song of this 5-track EP, but I prefer the more interesting layers of “3 A.M.” or “Follow” personally. Excellent semi-debut.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Yelle
Artist- Yelle
Album- Safari Disco Club
Label- Co-op
The French synth-pop threepiece is back with another album of fun chirpy tunes, following up on their 2007 debut Pop-Up. Singer Julie Budet’s calmed down a bit since her previous release: gone are the bratty sexual rhymes of “Je Veux Te Voir” (a song making fun of a particularly chauvinist male rapper’s genitals). Instead, the dance-pop on this album is darker and more emotive.
Album- Safari Disco Club
Label- Co-op
The French synth-pop threepiece is back with another album of fun chirpy tunes, following up on their 2007 debut Pop-Up. Singer Julie Budet’s calmed down a bit since her previous release: gone are the bratty sexual rhymes of “Je Veux Te Voir” (a song making fun of a particularly chauvinist male rapper’s genitals). Instead, the dance-pop on this album is darker and more emotive.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Curious Mystery
Artist- The Curious Mystery
Album- We Creeling
Label- K
The sophomore release from this Olympia-based band (practically a requirement for K Records) is a rich exploration into 60’s psychedelic and smoky atmospheric garage guitars, produced by Karl Blau. Vocals are evenly split between of (desolate)Nicolas Gonzalez and (lovely, breathy and yearning) Shana Cleveland, though it’s best when the two combine. The music has a desert vibe, almost shimmering at time, the guitars sometimes joined by sitars and mellotrons. It’s neo-psychedelic and drifting at times, but the instrumental bits of songs feel nicely-paced.
For fans of: the 60’s, Wye Oak, Desolation Wilderness, Fungi Girls, K Records.
Album- We Creeling
Label- K
The sophomore release from this Olympia-based band (practically a requirement for K Records) is a rich exploration into 60’s psychedelic and smoky atmospheric garage guitars, produced by Karl Blau. Vocals are evenly split between of (desolate)Nicolas Gonzalez and (lovely, breathy and yearning) Shana Cleveland, though it’s best when the two combine. The music has a desert vibe, almost shimmering at time, the guitars sometimes joined by sitars and mellotrons. It’s neo-psychedelic and drifting at times, but the instrumental bits of songs feel nicely-paced.
For fans of: the 60’s, Wye Oak, Desolation Wilderness, Fungi Girls, K Records.
Boats
Artist- Boats
Album- Cannonballs, Cannonballs
Label- Kill Rock Stars
Cute Winnipeg band released second album of indie-pop on Kill Rock Stars. A reviewer describes them as “the Arcade Fire without the drama”; I’d agree except that singer Mat Klachefsky’s vocal delivery recalls both Daniel Smith (aka Danielson) and Mac McCaughan (Superchunk). It’s nasally, in short. These songs are spastic and twee, featuring cheap keyboards and xylophones.
Album- Cannonballs, Cannonballs
Label- Kill Rock Stars
Cute Winnipeg band released second album of indie-pop on Kill Rock Stars. A reviewer describes them as “the Arcade Fire without the drama”; I’d agree except that singer Mat Klachefsky’s vocal delivery recalls both Daniel Smith (aka Danielson) and Mac McCaughan (Superchunk). It’s nasally, in short. These songs are spastic and twee, featuring cheap keyboards and xylophones.
Adebisi Shank
Artist- Adebisi Shank
Album- This is the Second Album by a band named Adebisi Shank
Label- Sargent House
Adebisi Shank is a cool, instrumental math/post-punk threepiece band out of Ireland. It has a lot of finger-tapping, angular postpunk rhythms, and funky bass. It basically sounds like Holy Fuck meets Hella or Battles, filtered through some 8-bit noise – experimental with a math rock base. I think my main qualm is that one of the songs is literally titled ‘(-_-)’. Conor O’Brian of Villagers guests on “Europa” but his vocals are mixed way down.
Album- This is the Second Album by a band named Adebisi Shank
Label- Sargent House
Adebisi Shank is a cool, instrumental math/post-punk threepiece band out of Ireland. It has a lot of finger-tapping, angular postpunk rhythms, and funky bass. It basically sounds like Holy Fuck meets Hella or Battles, filtered through some 8-bit noise – experimental with a math rock base. I think my main qualm is that one of the songs is literally titled ‘(-_-)’. Conor O’Brian of Villagers guests on “Europa” but his vocals are mixed way down.
R.E.M.
Artist- R.E.M.
Album- Collapse into Now
R.E.M. is still trying to appeal to college kids? The 80’s are over, dudes. The best parts of this album simply sounds like retreads of songs from decades past. This album is most successful when going the ballad route – “Walk It Back” is a nice mature song all around. Unfortunately, it’s not clear where R.E.M. is going with this album – it clings to their old sound while a few songs are too aggressive and not very R.E.M. in nature.
Album- Collapse into Now
R.E.M. is still trying to appeal to college kids? The 80’s are over, dudes. The best parts of this album simply sounds like retreads of songs from decades past. This album is most successful when going the ballad route – “Walk It Back” is a nice mature song all around. Unfortunately, it’s not clear where R.E.M. is going with this album – it clings to their old sound while a few songs are too aggressive and not very R.E.M. in nature.
Little Scream
Artist- Little Scream
Album- The Golden Record
Label- Secretly Canadian
Featuring members of Silver Mt. Zion, The National, and Arcade Fire at times, it’s clear that Little Scream aka Laurel Sprengelmeyer has friends in high places. For most of her debut album, she plays most of the instruments, switching deftly between guitar, synths, vocals, and loops. The first two singles, “Cannons” and “The Heron and the Fox”, show the range of Little Scream. The former was neat layered echo-y effects and guitars (vaguely recalling Land of Talk), while the later is soft and acoustic like a Sharon Van Etten or a Cat Power track. “Guyegaros” has a Patti Smith-talking vibe and lo-fi chords.
Album- The Golden Record
Label- Secretly Canadian
Featuring members of Silver Mt. Zion, The National, and Arcade Fire at times, it’s clear that Little Scream aka Laurel Sprengelmeyer has friends in high places. For most of her debut album, she plays most of the instruments, switching deftly between guitar, synths, vocals, and loops. The first two singles, “Cannons” and “The Heron and the Fox”, show the range of Little Scream. The former was neat layered echo-y effects and guitars (vaguely recalling Land of Talk), while the later is soft and acoustic like a Sharon Van Etten or a Cat Power track. “Guyegaros” has a Patti Smith-talking vibe and lo-fi chords.
Friday, March 18, 2011
The Deer Tracks
Artist- The Deer Tracks
Album- The Archer Trilogy Pt. 1
Label- The Control Group
The Deer Tracks is David Lehnberg & Elin Lindfors, two dudes from a small town in Sweden, who may soft and pretty music that sounds like Múm. Their best tracks on this EP have Elin’s nice, but clearly Scandinavian, voice high in the mix and programmed (yet weirdly organic) beats that prevent the songs from sounding too slow and atmospheric.
Album- The Archer Trilogy Pt. 1
Label- The Control Group
The Deer Tracks is David Lehnberg & Elin Lindfors, two dudes from a small town in Sweden, who may soft and pretty music that sounds like Múm. Their best tracks on this EP have Elin’s nice, but clearly Scandinavian, voice high in the mix and programmed (yet weirdly organic) beats that prevent the songs from sounding too slow and atmospheric.
Carnivores
Artist- Carnivores
Album- Chandelier EP
Label- Double Phantom
A new EP from my favorite Atlanta indie band (after 2 full-lengths in 2010)! I am always thoroughly surprised that this band is not more well-known. This EP finds Carnivores getting away from their spunky-spastic style and moving towards psychadelic-pop. It’s not as rocky, but the songs are still rich in texture. Catchy as always, this is another great release by Carnivores.
Album- Chandelier EP
Label- Double Phantom
A new EP from my favorite Atlanta indie band (after 2 full-lengths in 2010)! I am always thoroughly surprised that this band is not more well-known. This EP finds Carnivores getting away from their spunky-spastic style and moving towards psychadelic-pop. It’s not as rocky, but the songs are still rich in texture. Catchy as always, this is another great release by Carnivores.
Monday, March 14, 2011
The Dodos
Artist- The Dodos
Album- No Color
Label- frenchkiss*
The Dodos are back with album 3!!!! Meric Long and Logan Kroeber realized that having a third member and too-glossy production dragged down 2009’s LP Time to Die. Back to a guitar/drum duo, No Color is a return to the rawness that marked their debut Visiter. Neko Case provides guest backing vocals on about 5 tracks here as well, but she never crowds the band. The Dodos’ strength has always been their reliance on terrific drumming that provides a solid backbone to their indie-folk sound.
The LP opens with “Black Night”, a song with wondrous momentum and a perfect introduction for new fans. “Sleep” has a trance-like quality that perfectly reflects the song’s name. “Going Under” is raucous (Dodos go electric!) and is great, though it’s 6 minutes long. The Dodos’ new album is a true delight – not perfect by any means, but rhythmic, poppy, and energetic all in one fell swoop. Play this.
Album- No Color
Label- frenchkiss*
The Dodos are back with album 3!!!! Meric Long and Logan Kroeber realized that having a third member and too-glossy production dragged down 2009’s LP Time to Die. Back to a guitar/drum duo, No Color is a return to the rawness that marked their debut Visiter. Neko Case provides guest backing vocals on about 5 tracks here as well, but she never crowds the band. The Dodos’ strength has always been their reliance on terrific drumming that provides a solid backbone to their indie-folk sound.
The LP opens with “Black Night”, a song with wondrous momentum and a perfect introduction for new fans. “Sleep” has a trance-like quality that perfectly reflects the song’s name. “Going Under” is raucous (Dodos go electric!) and is great, though it’s 6 minutes long. The Dodos’ new album is a true delight – not perfect by any means, but rhythmic, poppy, and energetic all in one fell swoop. Play this.
Tony Castles
Artist- Tony Castles
Album- No Service EP
Label- Famous Class
This debut EP sounds like Wavves meets chillwave with a Caribbean influence – they’ve toured with Fool’s Gold for a comparison band. Energetic male vocals (a bit like Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend) and heavy bass riffs meets dancehall influences. “New Brain” recalls the fun Afro-pop of the Dirty Projectors, while “Adequate Sheen” has some nice hazy synthesizers. I dig this type of African-influenced jangly guitar stuff, and I’m glad that Tony Castles goes beyond the typical Vamp Weekend-ripoff and creates their own sound – one informed by chillwave as much as it is Public Image Ltd.
Album- No Service EP
Label- Famous Class
This debut EP sounds like Wavves meets chillwave with a Caribbean influence – they’ve toured with Fool’s Gold for a comparison band. Energetic male vocals (a bit like Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend) and heavy bass riffs meets dancehall influences. “New Brain” recalls the fun Afro-pop of the Dirty Projectors, while “Adequate Sheen” has some nice hazy synthesizers. I dig this type of African-influenced jangly guitar stuff, and I’m glad that Tony Castles goes beyond the typical Vamp Weekend-ripoff and creates their own sound – one informed by chillwave as much as it is Public Image Ltd.
Stateless
Artist- Stateless
Album- Matilda
Label- Ninja Tune
Stateless is a British band that combines electronic beats with echoey indie-rock accompaniments and the sampling elements of trip-hop. Mostly, the singer’s RnB voice dominates each track. “Ariel” has kind of a trip/hiphop mood to it with a cool Saharan guitar vibe. I think that this album needs to be listened to all at once, and it simply doesn’t make for great radio singles.
Album- Matilda
Label- Ninja Tune
Stateless is a British band that combines electronic beats with echoey indie-rock accompaniments and the sampling elements of trip-hop. Mostly, the singer’s RnB voice dominates each track. “Ariel” has kind of a trip/hiphop mood to it with a cool Saharan guitar vibe. I think that this album needs to be listened to all at once, and it simply doesn’t make for great radio singles.
The Megaphonic Thrift
Artist- The Megaphonic Thrift
Album- Decay Decoy
Label- Sonic Unyon
The Megaphonic Thrift (ft. members of Casiokids and Stereo) loves 90’s groups like Dinosaur Jr. and Sonic Youth (poppy, Geffen-era Sonic Youth, that is). That said, The Megaphonic Thrift does a pretty great Sonic Youth impression if you can look past its derivativeness. This album by the Norwegian band is full of feedback, yet the sound is clean and clear. The album combines blistering noise (the band is known for their wall-of-sound live shows) with a sharp knack for melody.
Album- Decay Decoy
Label- Sonic Unyon
The Megaphonic Thrift (ft. members of Casiokids and Stereo) loves 90’s groups like Dinosaur Jr. and Sonic Youth (poppy, Geffen-era Sonic Youth, that is). That said, The Megaphonic Thrift does a pretty great Sonic Youth impression if you can look past its derivativeness. This album by the Norwegian band is full of feedback, yet the sound is clean and clear. The album combines blistering noise (the band is known for their wall-of-sound live shows) with a sharp knack for melody.
BOAT
Artist- BOAT
Album- Dress Like Your Idols
Label- Magic Marker
Boat (not to be confused with Kill Rock Stars band Boats) is a band from Seattle on their fourth LP. It’s kind of slacker 90’s indie rock in the style of early Modest Mouse or Pavement. Crunchy guitars, singalong choruses, catchy hooks. This album is nicely produced but still has an indie sound – so 90’s.
Album- Dress Like Your Idols
Label- Magic Marker
Boat (not to be confused with Kill Rock Stars band Boats) is a band from Seattle on their fourth LP. It’s kind of slacker 90’s indie rock in the style of early Modest Mouse or Pavement. Crunchy guitars, singalong choruses, catchy hooks. This album is nicely produced but still has an indie sound – so 90’s.
Six Organs of Admittance
Artist- Six Organs of Admittance
Album- Asleep on the Floodplain
Label- Drag City
Six Organs of Admittance is primarily the project of guitarist Ben Chasny, a major player in the freak-folk scene of the early 2000’s (notably memorialized in the 2004 compilation Golden Apples of the Sun curated by Devendra Barnhardt). On his fifth album for Drag City, Chasny strays away from the oft-cutesy BS side of freakfolk and instead turns melancholy and images of the drifting American west. Chasny’s gentle voice and fragmented lyrics never overpowers the simple and sometimes psychedelic guitar pickings. SOOA’s new album is a spacious work, and anyone who digs Devendra Barnhart, Jack Rose or Sir Richard Bishop should check this out.
Album- Asleep on the Floodplain
Label- Drag City
Six Organs of Admittance is primarily the project of guitarist Ben Chasny, a major player in the freak-folk scene of the early 2000’s (notably memorialized in the 2004 compilation Golden Apples of the Sun curated by Devendra Barnhardt). On his fifth album for Drag City, Chasny strays away from the oft-cutesy BS side of freakfolk and instead turns melancholy and images of the drifting American west. Chasny’s gentle voice and fragmented lyrics never overpowers the simple and sometimes psychedelic guitar pickings. SOOA’s new album is a spacious work, and anyone who digs Devendra Barnhart, Jack Rose or Sir Richard Bishop should check this out.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Anna Calvi
Artist- Anna Calvi
Album- Anna Calvi
Label- Domino
Anna Calvi: perhaps the new PJ Harvey? Brian Eno is her personal mentor and calls her the “biggest thing since Patti Smith”; Nick Cave personally asked her to open for Grinderman’s tour. The collection of 10 songs on her self-titled debuted are sultry and sumptuous in a way that recalls Harvey (and PJ’s drummer Rob Ellis produced this album) – and all of Harvey’s lyrical mainstays are present: devils, femininity & masculinity, desire, the usual tricks. Calvi sure loves her twangy guitar licks, at time recalling the best moments of Television’s “Marquee Moon”, and her sultry vocal stylings are cigarette-tinged – all the best chanteuses smoked. “Blackout” is certainly the most commercial track here, and I recommend avoiding it for the more raw cuts.
Album- Anna Calvi
Label- Domino
Anna Calvi: perhaps the new PJ Harvey? Brian Eno is her personal mentor and calls her the “biggest thing since Patti Smith”; Nick Cave personally asked her to open for Grinderman’s tour. The collection of 10 songs on her self-titled debuted are sultry and sumptuous in a way that recalls Harvey (and PJ’s drummer Rob Ellis produced this album) – and all of Harvey’s lyrical mainstays are present: devils, femininity & masculinity, desire, the usual tricks. Calvi sure loves her twangy guitar licks, at time recalling the best moments of Television’s “Marquee Moon”, and her sultry vocal stylings are cigarette-tinged – all the best chanteuses smoked. “Blackout” is certainly the most commercial track here, and I recommend avoiding it for the more raw cuts.
Lumerians
Artist- Lumerians
Album- Transmalinnia
Label- Knitting Factory
This is the debut full-length from the psych-rock San Francisco band (the music scene that undoubtedly rules the current psych-rock genre). It kind of sounds like a more prog Sun Araw, or basically like the Black Angels. There’s loopy, fuzzed out bass, distorted guitars, and some spacey keyboards. On tracks like “Black Tusk” the band gets kind of 60’s in their Nuggets-influenced melodies. “ Atlanta Brook” totally sounds like a Spaceman 3. Lumerians manages to do drony, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club-rock without overstaying their welcome.
Album- Transmalinnia
Label- Knitting Factory
This is the debut full-length from the psych-rock San Francisco band (the music scene that undoubtedly rules the current psych-rock genre). It kind of sounds like a more prog Sun Araw, or basically like the Black Angels. There’s loopy, fuzzed out bass, distorted guitars, and some spacey keyboards. On tracks like “Black Tusk” the band gets kind of 60’s in their Nuggets-influenced melodies. “ Atlanta Brook” totally sounds like a Spaceman 3. Lumerians manages to do drony, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club-rock without overstaying their welcome.
Duchess Leo
Artist- Duchess Leo
Album- Golden Grey
Label- Whale Heart
Duchess Leo is an electronic music producer and a songwriter, and the duo is pretty great. This album is like the string section of an orchestra meets electronic beats meets Sun Airway. “Your Sweet Love” is a Lee Hazlewood-appropriating, crazy string sample hit. “Bloom” is more chilled out with reverb-laden echoed guitar rhythms and almost violent drum beatings– kind of Phantogram-ish almost. This LP is a little lopsided unfortunately, with nothing really matching the greatness of “Your Sweet Love”. Still, fans of this type of chill, guitar-electronics combination should give this a listen.
Album- Golden Grey
Label- Whale Heart
Duchess Leo is an electronic music producer and a songwriter, and the duo is pretty great. This album is like the string section of an orchestra meets electronic beats meets Sun Airway. “Your Sweet Love” is a Lee Hazlewood-appropriating, crazy string sample hit. “Bloom” is more chilled out with reverb-laden echoed guitar rhythms and almost violent drum beatings– kind of Phantogram-ish almost. This LP is a little lopsided unfortunately, with nothing really matching the greatness of “Your Sweet Love”. Still, fans of this type of chill, guitar-electronics combination should give this a listen.
Lykke Li
Artist- Lykke Li
Album- Wounded Rhymes
Label-Atlantuc
Lykke Li’s much-anticipated sophomore album does not disappoint. The most common complaint about her first album, Youth Novels, was the sound which seemed cutesy to some listeners. On WR, her voice is still high-pitched and delicate, but much more powerful and sure; her versatility is now evident through the contrasting sounds on this album. Normally woe-is-me songs bore me, but LL delivers such spunk and dazzling soul that I just can’t get enough of this rich, moody (and dare I say dark?) album. She launches listeners into a frenzy when she incites them to “come on, get down” on the first track. From then on it’s a melee of emotion and sound, the textured percussion and small details hinting at Bjorn (of Peter and John)’s superb production. This album ranges from slow, haunting, terrifyingly beautiful tracks, to deliciously saucy danceable pieces. Lykke Li does not deny heartbreak and wistfulness, but embraces them. When she expresses her emotions, she does so with grace and careful execution. Musically and thematically, this album is a knockout.
Album- Wounded Rhymes
Label-Atlantuc
Lykke Li’s much-anticipated sophomore album does not disappoint. The most common complaint about her first album, Youth Novels, was the sound which seemed cutesy to some listeners. On WR, her voice is still high-pitched and delicate, but much more powerful and sure; her versatility is now evident through the contrasting sounds on this album. Normally woe-is-me songs bore me, but LL delivers such spunk and dazzling soul that I just can’t get enough of this rich, moody (and dare I say dark?) album. She launches listeners into a frenzy when she incites them to “come on, get down” on the first track. From then on it’s a melee of emotion and sound, the textured percussion and small details hinting at Bjorn (of Peter and John)’s superb production. This album ranges from slow, haunting, terrifyingly beautiful tracks, to deliciously saucy danceable pieces. Lykke Li does not deny heartbreak and wistfulness, but embraces them. When she expresses her emotions, she does so with grace and careful execution. Musically and thematically, this album is a knockout.
Memphis
Artist- Memphis
Album- Here Comes A City
Label- Arts and Crafts
Memphis is a duo consisting of Torquil Campbell (the singer of Stars and sometimes member of Broken Social Scene) and Christ Dumont. This group definitely has that mellow indie-rock sound popularized by BSS down to a T. The Smiths-y jangle pop of “Apocalyptic Pop Song” sets it apart from other tracks. There’s the swirling atmospheric glaze that seems to appear on every Arts&Crafts band’s cd, but the cheerful guitar riff and steady drumbeat of “I Am The Photographer” saves the song in this instance. Memphis seems to be one of those side-project groups that remains similar enough to the original act in order to keep fans’ attention, but it’s nice to see Campbell stretching his comfort zone.
Album- Here Comes A City
Label- Arts and Crafts
Memphis is a duo consisting of Torquil Campbell (the singer of Stars and sometimes member of Broken Social Scene) and Christ Dumont. This group definitely has that mellow indie-rock sound popularized by BSS down to a T. The Smiths-y jangle pop of “Apocalyptic Pop Song” sets it apart from other tracks. There’s the swirling atmospheric glaze that seems to appear on every Arts&Crafts band’s cd, but the cheerful guitar riff and steady drumbeat of “I Am The Photographer” saves the song in this instance. Memphis seems to be one of those side-project groups that remains similar enough to the original act in order to keep fans’ attention, but it’s nice to see Campbell stretching his comfort zone.
Kurt Vile
Artist- Kurt Vile
Album- Smoke Ring for My Halo
Label- Matador
On his fourth LP and his second for indie heavyweight Matador, Kurt Vile has expertly expanded his sound to create an stunning album of rock ‘n roll bedroom pop.
On tracks like “Puppet to the Man”, Vile does his best Lou Reed impression while his excellently-named backing band The Violators fleshes out his murky musings into a full-fledged rock song. Other tracks find Vile practically solo: “On Tour” is a sprawling yet captivating abstract diary, and “Baby’s Arms” sees Vile trying to convince himself that he’ll never be alone. This LP is expansive, soft, and gritty all at once – gone is the lo-fi sound of early Kurt Vile, but the result is now we’re at the heart of things. It’s difficult to find “picks” because each song is perfectly nestled next to its neighbor in this astoundingly cohesive CD.
Album- Smoke Ring for My Halo
Label- Matador
On his fourth LP and his second for indie heavyweight Matador, Kurt Vile has expertly expanded his sound to create an stunning album of rock ‘n roll bedroom pop.
On tracks like “Puppet to the Man”, Vile does his best Lou Reed impression while his excellently-named backing band The Violators fleshes out his murky musings into a full-fledged rock song. Other tracks find Vile practically solo: “On Tour” is a sprawling yet captivating abstract diary, and “Baby’s Arms” sees Vile trying to convince himself that he’ll never be alone. This LP is expansive, soft, and gritty all at once – gone is the lo-fi sound of early Kurt Vile, but the result is now we’re at the heart of things. It’s difficult to find “picks” because each song is perfectly nestled next to its neighbor in this astoundingly cohesive CD.
Sacred Animals
Artist- Sacred Animals
Album- Welcome Home EP
Label- Delphi
This EP culls the best elements of Radiohead, Air, and Sigur Ros and somehow makes it all work together. The singer sounds like a more normal Thom Yorke (a reference that is played out in today’s music scene but it’s true). “Chosen Seed” has neat arpeggiated guitar loop (hints of Air circa Talkie Walkie or the Virgin Suicides OST). The lyrics are all oblique and strangely cautious in their wording. This “secretive” Dublin group (actually the solo project of one man) has wonderfully come upon the weird intersection between psych-folk and electronic music and turned it into a delightful 4-song EP. They’re not the most immediately gratifying tunes but these 4 songs are compelling growers.
Album- Welcome Home EP
Label- Delphi
This EP culls the best elements of Radiohead, Air, and Sigur Ros and somehow makes it all work together. The singer sounds like a more normal Thom Yorke (a reference that is played out in today’s music scene but it’s true). “Chosen Seed” has neat arpeggiated guitar loop (hints of Air circa Talkie Walkie or the Virgin Suicides OST). The lyrics are all oblique and strangely cautious in their wording. This “secretive” Dublin group (actually the solo project of one man) has wonderfully come upon the weird intersection between psych-folk and electronic music and turned it into a delightful 4-song EP. They’re not the most immediately gratifying tunes but these 4 songs are compelling growers.
The Caribbean
Artist- The Caribbean
Album- Discontinued Perfume
Label- Hometapes
Discontinued Perfume, the fifth album by D.C. art-pop trio The Caribbean, is a weirdly calming yet disjointed record. This album is all about singer Michael Kentoff’s pleasant storytelling lyrical style. The music itself is “chill” I suppose, yet at the same time it’s quirky and a little disquieting. Soft guitars arpeggios, weird handclaps and time signatures- yet none of it is jarring or experimental. I think the fact that it’s so normal and weird is what helps this band’s aesthetic.
Album- Discontinued Perfume
Label- Hometapes
Discontinued Perfume, the fifth album by D.C. art-pop trio The Caribbean, is a weirdly calming yet disjointed record. This album is all about singer Michael Kentoff’s pleasant storytelling lyrical style. The music itself is “chill” I suppose, yet at the same time it’s quirky and a little disquieting. Soft guitars arpeggios, weird handclaps and time signatures- yet none of it is jarring or experimental. I think the fact that it’s so normal and weird is what helps this band’s aesthetic.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Luke Rathborne
Artist- Luke Rathborne
Album-Dog Years / I Can Be One EP
Label- Dilettante
On this split EP, Luke Rathborne shows that he really wants to be Bob Dylan. What folk-guitarist doesn’t? Rathborne changes up the traditional man-and-guitar formula with well-done production, drum backing, and a general knack for a good tune. Personally invited by Devandra Barnhart to tour, Rathborne rises above the other singer-songwriter dreck.
Album-Dog Years / I Can Be One EP
Label- Dilettante
On this split EP, Luke Rathborne shows that he really wants to be Bob Dylan. What folk-guitarist doesn’t? Rathborne changes up the traditional man-and-guitar formula with well-done production, drum backing, and a general knack for a good tune. Personally invited by Devandra Barnhart to tour, Rathborne rises above the other singer-songwriter dreck.
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