Icelandic born Disa Jakobs is a singer and songwriter who left Reykjavik, Iceland to live in Copenhagen. Disas music is about exploring and expanding the boundaries of pop music. She’s inspired by the wild, Scandinavian nature but also by the likes of fellow contemporary and alternative artists such as Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Brian Eno and Fever Ray. Disas Music shares the qualities of her native country. It is cold yet compelling and you always sense an underlying risk of eruption. Check out her self-directed video for the single release Sun courtesy of Tigerspring Records. Peace. Continue reading “disa // sun”
goodtime // can’t get away (jape remix)
Goodtime (aka John Cowhie) makes atmospheric electronic music and it pulses through your head gear fully armed and lethally seductive. the track, “Can’t Get Away” gets the Jape Remix and now it’s just deadlier on the eardrums. the original song is taken from The Colours Of Darkness LP (2011). peace. Continue reading “goodtime // can’t get away (jape remix)”
anneka // jaws of day
one sure way to pique my musical interest is to lay down some sensuous femme vocals over a wickedly dangerous track. anneka is an accomplished vocalist/multi-instrumentalist and visual artist based in brighton, u.k. who isn’t afraid to try different approaches to further her craft. and, if you’ve followed this blog for some time then her name is a familiar one. and for good reason, she makes another appearance here with her song, “jaws of day” . the track was originally included as part of the electronic explorations compilation released mid-summer. however, it is available now as a single for immediate download too, how cool is that? after listening to this gem i am eagerly awaiting more music from anneka sooner rather than later. peace. Continue reading “anneka // jaws of day”
freelance whales // diluvia
freelance whales is a fun band to listen to. period. just take into account their previous effort, weathervanes (2009). on that album they collectively managed to craft euphoric and giddy music replete with thought-provoking songs that took it easy on our collective ears and hearts. and while melancholy does exist too in the freelance whales universe, it is isn’t something of which the band dwells on. now, almost 3-years later the band’s 2012 sophomore offering diluvia materializes, and we get to experience the fun all over again. but it is a bit more than “more of the same.” present still is the above excellent song-writing and those sonic compositions which vacillate between the rife and rich swaths of wide open space grandeur to those dazzling earthbound odes with sparse beautiful simplicity. this is am album with the power to, maybe not fix things, but it does offer an atmosphere in which all seems a bit less pressing and a lot more hopeful and possible.
i got my hands (read ears) on an advance copy of the album diluvia and from the first song, “aeolus” it begins with soft synths and choir-like chanting. this is tranquil easement into an album which blossoms into a deluge of pale and spiraling colors. the second, third and fourth songs, “land features,” “follow through” and “spitting image” is familiar ground. in that they closely resemble the “freelance whales sound” we fell in love with in the first place (the synths, glockenspiel, banjo and harmonium are all still there). yet, it is a bit of a misnomer to even attempt to nail down the freelance whales sound, because it is a wide and uncharted land where the mandolin cozies up with the water phone, and synthesizers make strange bedfellows with a bamboo pipe organ.
the song, “red star” judah dadone shuts us into the dreamscape of hist wistful heart and a torn scrim of red falls down around us…, “i don’t wanna jump from this scarlet star tonight
and bend things so much I can’t remember how they were, let her nova alone breathing outwards to burn,” this is a bitter lump of coal in my throat and a sweet doleful segue into our fragile humanity as one can get.
to some it up diluvia is a fine album right down to the last song, “emergency exit“. this lp it is filled with enough good music to keep you warm and listening the whole winter through. i also want to mention how freelance whales make good and magical use of the lithe and feathery vocals of doris cellar‘s angelic voice, adding just the right amount of buoyancy to various tracks throughout. peace. Continue reading “freelance whales // diluvia”
digits // death and desire
Are you in need of a little something chill to listen to after the sun goes down? Toronto transplant, and current Berlin resident, Digits (Alt Altman) creates a smoky and tender blend of Electro/R&B music that’ll melt your heart. Listen to the track, “So Cold” and you’ll soon understand why I am so enamored. This song is only one of twelve on the highly seductive, and acclaimed Death And Desire release. If ever you needed a body of music to set “the mood” this is it. You can get it as a FREE DOWNLOAD, as well as Digits latest release Lost Dream at digitsmusic.com. How’s that for instant gratification? And although you don’t have to, throw him a few dollars, consider it a down payment for the future services of the perfect musical wing man. Peace. Continue reading “digits // death and desire”
anneka // promise // indigo run
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.
Crosses // Pruient (Lopez Remix)
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††† is the side project of Deftones singer Chino Moreno combined with guitarist Shaun Lopez and Scott Chuck. Last month the trio released the semi-dark and electro-rock driven track “Prurien†”. This track is from the new EP and I’m diggin’ it immensely. You can cop a free download right here. Peace. Continue reading “Crosses // Pruient (Lopez Remix)”
Carousel // Know It’s Right (Band To Watch)
Jackson Phillips, Kevin Friedman, and Tyler Cratcha met in Boston at Berklee College of Music and it’s been on and poppin’ every since. We’re in an age, where any talented DIY musician can have access to the tools to create high-quality music from almost anywhere, and that’s a good thing. The trio known as Carousel is the perfect example of talent + creativity + determination = songs to tuck inside your heart of hearts and dance across the Milkyway. Check out their latest release “Know It’s Right” and you’ll be smitten. I also have their totally nitrous oxide-esque song “Thrill” and you’ll pinch yourself at the luck your having today, musically speaking that is. You’re gonna want to visit the bands SoundCloud for more good stuff. Oh, and I can’t leave you without an apt descriptor. The music of Carousel is like the best burger you ever had, but with a thick slice of cotton candy resting atop the tangy pickles. From these guys we’re expecting a meteoric rise! Enjoy and as always. Peace. Continue reading “Carousel // Know It’s Right (Band To Watch)”