Where the food sounds good, and the music is pretty tasty too.
Without a doubt one of my favorite rock duos the Japandroids are back just in the nick of time to ensure that Summer 2012 will have it’s share of all out rockin’ musical fare. Check out what else Japandroids’ Brian King and David Prowse are up to at Polyvinyl Records. Peace. Continue reading “Japandroids / / The House That Heaven Built”
Los Angeles-based band KO KO is just brimming with a vibe that pulls double-duty; it makes you smile and dance at the same time. The bands founders, Ryan Lawhorn and brother Taylor Lawhorn proclaim their music is a product of the perpetual sunny weather found in southern California. The band’s shiny brand new bubble-wrapped melody “Float” just makes you want to skip across the sky and taste the rainbow. I’ve also included a few more tracks taken from the bands three-track single release Float. Peace. Continue reading “KO KO / / Float”
John Jagos is most definitely Brothertiger. And the music, well it speaks for itself. With the release of his latest LP Golden Years out now, Brothertiger is setting himself up nicely for a stellar 2012. Check out the track, “Lovers” and you’ll hear the reason for my heart-on-the sleeve enthusiasm for this Toledo, Ohio native. And if you need further inducement to fall head over heels, listen to BT‘s cover of The Smiths old school classic “Ask” it’ll kiss you right on your sweet spot, Hush! You know where it is. And if you’re thinking Brothertiger is new to the music scene, think again. There is a trove of music just waiting for you undivided attention over at his bandcamp, check it out. Peace. Continue reading “Brothertiger / / Lovers”
I have this to say about the Leeds, UK band Alt-J. Don’t let their debut album An Awesome Wave slip beneath your musical radar for lack of familiarity. You may have heard Alt-J’s totally (but still amazing) out of the box track, “Breezeblocks,” yet this track is only a fragment of a much larger, and conceptually complex puzzle.
Stream the entire album here at www.altjband.com. Available at Amazon and iTunes
Alt – J has so many wonderful things going on it may be difficult to put their sound into words, I’ll do my best. First, there is the unique vocals of lead singer Joe Newman, think one part hip-hop with swirls of some Romanesque bard thrown in for good measure. The music can range from the ardently, and deceptively folkish, to the bubbly sonic shock of punk fornicating with wild abandon with electro. It’s rife with so many genre flourishes and stops, starts and in-betweens. But it is exactly this which makes the band so much fun. Alt-J is simply a wondrous amalgamation of sounds; synths, guitars, and highly imaginative syncopation galore, enough to propel your backbone slipping beyond the furthest reaches of outer space. Yet, the songwriting is tight, imaginative But there is also tender songs of introspection perfect for moments of solemnness. Listen to “Tesselate,” “Matilda,” “Ms.,” and the haunting sweetness of the track, “Bloodflood”. The latter song is like being kissed by countless scalpels and held tight by a million sutures afterwards. And then there is the hidden track, “Hand Made,” I’ll let you discover it on your own.
With the song “Breezelocks” you get a sense of the mysterious and slightly menacing, like a runaway freight train caroming off the tracks. But without a doubt it is so goddamn groovy! And although the song is filled with rolling fog and brilliant day-glo colors, it has just a bit of Nitrous oxide to keep it light, woozy and likeable. In short, it makes for fun and interesting listening. Peace.
“‘There are so many fragile things, after all. People break so easily, and so do dreams and hearts.” — Neil Gaiman
Twin Cabins is San Diego-based artist Nacho Cano, and he is all about finding expression couched in the unfamiliar, and his is a music absolutely night-time beautiful. And by that I mean, his music can subsist in the light of day, yet in my humble opinion (unsolicited) it is better enjoyed, or perhaps better suited for after sundown pursuits. And even though others have boxed his style of music as Chillwave, it is vastly more than that tag suggests. The tracks “Cool Kids”and “I’m Sure” are representative of an artist who’s viewing the world outside his window with self assured, albeit rose-colored lenses. But, also his music is wistful, all the more mature, and introspective from heartbreak. Yet,he’s willing and able to jump right back into the fray. Nacho Cano is a talented artist whose optimism is not only infectious, but melodically endearing. It’s crisp and crunchy on the outside, but with a soft, all too fragile heart beating just beneath. Be on the look out for his forthcoming debut release I’m Sure coming soon. Peace. Continue reading “Twin Cabins / / Cool Kids”
From Nottingham, UK there’s a trio of guys playing a brand of alt-rock clinging to the underbelly of distant rumbling thunder and far off smouldering fires. The guys are
Neil Wells (bass/keys/vocals), Pete Fletcher (guitar), Nick Davis (guitar/keys) and they are known collectively as the Escapologists. Their first single “Conscience Or Regret” from the bands January 2012 release Fireworks is presented in fine video form. And although this particular song is a bit of a departure from earlier material, with more synths and a tad more upbeat, it’s nonetheless a good start. I am looking forward to listening to more of what this subtlety atmospheric band has to offer. I’ve got more tragically hip examples of why I love this band after the jump, and please do enjoy. Peace. Continue reading “Escapologists // Conscience Or Regret *Video”
It is said joy comes in the morning, perhaps even on gossamer wings whilst blowing a golden trumpet. But there are also other, perhaps more mundane and pertinent ways to experience joy in the morning, afternoon or late into the night. And just as with the fictive heavenly trumpets heralding the coming of something phenomenal, the pure-honey voice of Anneka proclaims the coming of wondrous musical magic. Anneka claims my speakers as the medium which to deliver her sound slivers of heavenly delight. I’ve been filling up my ears with the sumptuously fulfilling sounds of Anneka and her various (intentional?) takes of torturing me leave me wanting to listen to her all the more. It’s a strange thing to fall hard for a voice, but not just any voice. This voice is effortless, and how it floats lightly (mayhap the air beneath an angel’s wing), but plummets straight into your heart like Cupid’s proverbial arrows, and alas you’re helpless. I’ve got a couple of gems from her Brighton Electric Studios rehearsal sessions, with Anneka singing the songs “Promise” and “Indigo Run”. As you watch this young Englishwoman perform, it is easy to see and hear how gorgeously talented she is. Hope you enjoy. Peace.
Jade Elizabeth Pybus bka as Py has been my “go to” chanteuse of choice as of late. And really it’s impossibly difficult not to like her, not that I’m trying “to not like her” either. You may have noticed that I keep posting songs on which Py appears. And you can expect more of the same in the future, hopefully to no one’s chagrin. Basically, my ears do somersaults at the mere mention of her name, and I’m utterly and completely enthralled with the way she delivers her musical voice; her vocal range is caught somewhere in-between the whispery voice of an angel and the last drop of a very good red vine on the devil’s tongue. Badilicious. Listen to the song “Whispers” (Ft. iO) or get totally seduced by her contribution to the song “Moments” taken from When You’re Gone EP by Lapalux. Rock them both with the lights down low, it’ll be total afterglow. Peace. Continue reading “Py & iO // Whispers”
Regardless of their iron-clad secret identities the Aussie duo Flight Facilities offer up radiantly plush chilled-out grooves with the innate ability of putting your oft-times frenzied frontal lobe on ice. I’ve dug into the crates (ala 2010) to find this one for Our Sunday’s Best series. Why? Because the first day of the week should be immersed in doing little of nothing and vibing out to good music maximally. Flight Facilities’ song “Crave You,” featuring the vocals of fellow Aussie Giselle Rosselli is the perfect sound cloud in which to lay your precious ears upon. I recommend the longer version, which you can get on iTunes or Amazon. After the jump you’ll see I also grabbed the official video too, plus a few more highly communicable tracks. I’m so thoughtful. Peace. Continue reading “Flight Facilities // Crave You (Ft. Giselle) Our Sunday Best”
A thing rare is a thing cherished, and the music of Willis Earl Beal is rare indeed. The Chicago native has endured many situations and when he opens his mouth to sing, what comes forth is a music tempered in fire and cooled in to deep rivers of the blues. Listen to “Away My Silent Lover” taken from the forthcoming LP Acousmatic Sorcery and you’ll be bowled over and wanting so much more. You can pre-order the album on iTunes. Peace. Continue reading “Willis Earl Beal / / Away My Silent Lover”