How are songs made if not by the fire and anvil of the soul? Nothing mollifies or tempers a mood quite like a well crafted song. Listen to Bry Webb and be transported deep in the wood of your utmost self. His release Provider, from which “Rivers Of Gold” is taken, will take you on journeys and you may not come back the same as when you began. And a word of warning, be wary of someone with a voice as somber as his, and please don’t underestimate the guitar work here either. Bry’s crying guitar, it’ll work itself into your veins and brand you a fan. Peace.
Owen – Ghost Town
Some nights there’s too many moons separating your breath from the one you love. And so you forget how ‘no place like home’ isn’t a place after all. It’s moments spent with your lover making small talk within a shared womb of body heat. Listening to Owen makes you want to write poetry (even bad poetry) or beautiful prose. Makes you want to try your hand at love and living again. These songs have been crafted out of the wood of flesh, and leavened with the stuff left fermenting within the cracks and crevices of an honest soul. And even though at times the words tumble forth a bit awkward and off key, they are more real and vulnerable because of their straightforward quality. Owen has constructed these songs, not the preening kind, but the kind of songs that catch you seeing yourself within their sober reflecting pool. Lucky you, the release date for Owen’s forthcoming album Ghost Town is scheduled for November 1st (today). I am looking forward to letting his songs into my life and spending long hours making them my friends. Listen to the entire album below. Peace.
Japandroids – Post Nothing
I’m going to post this because I like it, a lot. When I first heard this band I spent a great deal of time touting them to so many of my friends. And although it’s been over two years since Japandroids ( Brian King and David Prowse) dropped Post Nothing it still remains among the top plays on my iPod. There is one simple reason to take this track home with you… IT FLAT OUT ROCKS BALLS! Peace.
I’ve also included the studio version as well below, check it.
Common – Blue Sky/Sweet
What can be said about hip-hop impresario Common? A lot apparently, but the jist of this artist/actor/author/MC is that he keeps getting better with each release. Common is one the brotha’s out here doing it the way its supposed to be done, with enough style and poise to make anyone proud to say they’re a fan. Check out his latest releases “Blue Sky” and the rawkus “Sweet” and tell me son ain’t nice. Keep a look out for Common’s new album The Dreamer/The Believer to drop in December. Peace.
Sweet
Cookies – Love Will Never Do Without You
You know er’ting is irie when you can take music from a powerhouse like Ms. Jackson and put a completely different spin on it and have it come out with so much fresh picked swag. For this reason alone I am giving Cookies and solid fist bump. The song “Love Will Never Do Without You” retains enough of it’s original bones to be recognizable, but is fleshed out with enough alter ego electro-pop to take on a new life all it’s own. The NYC trio comprised of Ben Sterling of Mobius Band fame joined by Melissa Metrick and Ian Ainley make up the bombastic Cookies. Check out more of the Cookies joyous music at the link here. When you get to their webpage check out their cut “The Dream”, and when you listen to it just remember I said, “I told you so”. Peace.
Ane Brun – Do You Remember (Live) ft. First Aid Kit
It’s always nice to find something random and wonderful. I was perusing some of my usual haunts and came upon this gem. Now, for those familiar with my blog I adore First Aid Kit to pieces, but Ane Brun I’d never heard of before just now. At any rate I will be looking for more of what this woman has to offer, musically that is. I love live music, especially when it done full to bursting with visceral energy enough to power the sun, moon and stars. This posting should come with the label, ‘Steal this song”, because upon listening you immediately want to share it with almost everyone you know. The song “Do You Remember” is something special and I don’t mean ‘short bus’ special either. Check it out. Peace.
Ane Brun – Do You Remember (live at Cirkus Stockholm) from valerie toumayan on Vimeo.
eight and a half // scissors
In a wintry dream. I am slogging through a northern wood. Here, the evergreens are frilled with snow and laden with crystal icicles. I harvest a bundle. Returning home to my spartan cabin I build a fire, settling in for a coming storm. These icicles, I hang them in my windowsill. And as the last rays of the sun alight them with prismatic beauty, soon they begin to melt. As a result of their slackening a sound emits, slowly then builds. Eight and A Half is the sound. This sumptuous din comforts me, as I wait for the coming storm to pass. Justin Peroff of Broken Social Scene fame, along with The Stills’ alums Dave Hamelin and Liam O’Neil combine musical forces as Eight and a Half. Below, I’ve included two versions of their magnificent single “Scissors”. The first is the original and the latter is a splendid remix by TOKIMONSTA. Look for a full LP sometime in 2012. Enjoy. Peace. Continue reading “eight and a half // scissors”
Crystal Fighters – Star Of Love
I’m an ardent believer that good music doesn’t have an expiration date, and new music is only relative to the moment you first listen to it. Bringing you music, that is what we do here at Mitten Mouth Music. Our job is to cull audio gems from the seemingly endless depths of music out here on the web, new or otherwise. Then post those odes, tomes, ballads and jingles that move us, either spiritually or just our butts. Point in case, Crystal Fighters dropped an excellent album back in 2010 titled Star Of Love and we really, really like it. We hope you do too. Peace.
Memory Tapes – Offers
If I could take the tender budding tendrils of a spring flower and the last embers of a dying flame and give these fragile objects a sound them Memory Tapes would be it. Yes, there is fragility here, but most of all there is beauty. And what is chillwave if not beautiful. New Jersey-based Dayve Hawk aka Memory Tapes, has penned “Offers” and it is as delicate a song as they come. It makes me want to crumple into my bed and dream of far off vistas. I hope you enjoy it too. For more, visit Carpark Records. Peace.
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The Rapture – How Deep Is Your Love? (A-Trak Dub aka Dub For Mehdi)
What else can be said for a band whose name says it all. The Rapture are nothing short of amazing. If you need further proof check out their 2003 DFA-produced debut, Echoes, or my personal favorite the 2006 follow-up, Pieces Of The People We Love. You cannot go wrong with this dance-punk ensemble. Now, the “How Deep Is Your Love?” remix by A-Trak is a tribute to the incomparable DJ Medhi who passed due to a fatal accident back in September of this year. I’ve posted the remix (1st) as well as the original track (2nd) by The Rapture. Check ’em both out, and knock one back for DJ Medhi and party like a rock star. Peace.
(Via DFA Records)
Also, check the video for “Pieces Of The People We Love” from back in 2007. It is indeed sweet.
The Rapture- “Pieces of the People We Love” from ben dickinson on Vimeo.