This song, from one-woman outfit Melody's Echo Chamber, is burning up the indie music blogs right about now. This taste makes me reallish that the CD was out right now! Give a listen to the Soundcloud stream from Fat Possum Records and let me know what you think of the song.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/44958720" iframe="true" /]
From the RCRD LBL site: "A melody? Not really. Echo chamber? That's about right. A new tune from this one-woman, mysterious project was mixed by Tame Impala's Kevin Parker and sports all the psychedelic charm you'd except to emanate from under his thumb. Two-thirds of the way through, "Crystallized" really starts to drive as the Parisian songstress' coasting vocals get put on the back-burner."
"Crystallized" will be released on 7" via Fat Possum later this year. She will also be touring the US this Fall.
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Animal Kingdom Drops 2nd Album
Animal Kingdom released their second album yesterday - The Looking Away. This is the follow up to 2009's Signs and Wonders, and although they've kept their basic sound - emotive indie ballads sprinkled with some catchy pop touches - The Looking Away is a bit more upbeat than Signs and Wonders.
"Straw Man" reminds me a lot of a song you'd hear on Death Cab for Cutie's Transatlanticism, slow and soulful with an overlying vocal seemingly crooned in moments of pure emotion. Conversely, the first single, "Strange Attractor" (which is becoming ubiquitous here in the States on TV shows that like to showcase new artists), resonates the catchy Brit-pop inspired sounds we're hearing from bands like fun. and Neon Trees. The other eight tracks are all somewhere in the continuum of these styles.
Although I've enjoyed the album on my first listens, and Strange Attractor has been an earbug since I first started hearing it on AltNation, the album overall lacks a definite progression and flow. The songs are all good in their own ways, but you could play this on shuffle and not lose the experience of the album itself. This is after all only a sophomore effort, but approach it with an attitude of enjoying the songs as a collection of singles.
Check out the official video for Strange Attractor here:
"Straw Man" reminds me a lot of a song you'd hear on Death Cab for Cutie's Transatlanticism, slow and soulful with an overlying vocal seemingly crooned in moments of pure emotion. Conversely, the first single, "Strange Attractor" (which is becoming ubiquitous here in the States on TV shows that like to showcase new artists), resonates the catchy Brit-pop inspired sounds we're hearing from bands like fun. and Neon Trees. The other eight tracks are all somewhere in the continuum of these styles.
Although I've enjoyed the album on my first listens, and Strange Attractor has been an earbug since I first started hearing it on AltNation, the album overall lacks a definite progression and flow. The songs are all good in their own ways, but you could play this on shuffle and not lose the experience of the album itself. This is after all only a sophomore effort, but approach it with an attitude of enjoying the songs as a collection of singles.
Check out the official video for Strange Attractor here:
Sunday, 6 May 2012
Broken Needles - Abattoir Song
So...I don't really know much about this band and can't find a useful clip. Their album is fabulous. A hard decision for which song to feature here but this is my current favourite. You can sample all of the album from this link anyway.
[bandcamp track=3976210203 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]
[bandcamp track=3976210203 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]
Saturday, 5 May 2012
Maybeshewill
Maybeshewill live in Switzerland, playing the song "Not For Want Of Trying".
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/39803238 w=600&h=450]
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/39803238 w=600&h=450]
Friday, 4 May 2012
The new Alt Nation top-18
... is remarkably similar to the previous week's Alt Nation top 18 list, with a few songs changing positions, and Gotye and Kimbra entering the list.
The Alt-18 Countdown - Week of April 28
18. Gotye – "Eyes Wide Open"
17. Kimbra with Mark Foster & A-Trak – "Warrior"
16. Santigold - "Disparate Youth"
15. Chappo - "Come Home"
14. Grouplove - "Tongue Tied"
13. A Silent Film - "Danny, Dakota & The Wishing Well"
12. The Temper Trap - "Need Your Love"
11. Atlas Genius - "Trojans"
10. Electric Guest - "This Head I Hold"
9. Imagine Dragons - "It's Time"
8. Of Monsters & Men - "Little Talks"
7. The Shins - "Simple Song"
6. Jack White - "Sixteen Saltines"
5. Silversun Pickups - "Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)"
4. Bombay Bicycle Club - "Shuffle"
3. Walk The Moon - "Anna Sun"
2. The Wombats - "Jump Into The Fog"
1. The Black Keys - "Gold On The Ceiling"
The Alt-18 Countdown - Week of April 28
18. Gotye – "Eyes Wide Open"
17. Kimbra with Mark Foster & A-Trak – "Warrior"
16. Santigold - "Disparate Youth"
15. Chappo - "Come Home"
14. Grouplove - "Tongue Tied"
13. A Silent Film - "Danny, Dakota & The Wishing Well"
12. The Temper Trap - "Need Your Love"
11. Atlas Genius - "Trojans"
10. Electric Guest - "This Head I Hold"
9. Imagine Dragons - "It's Time"
8. Of Monsters & Men - "Little Talks"
7. The Shins - "Simple Song"
6. Jack White - "Sixteen Saltines"
5. Silversun Pickups - "Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)"
4. Bombay Bicycle Club - "Shuffle"
3. Walk The Moon - "Anna Sun"
2. The Wombats - "Jump Into The Fog"
1. The Black Keys - "Gold On The Ceiling"
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
The Band I Saw Last Night: Electric Guest
A few months back, a little-known LA band called Electric Guest released an advance single called "American Daydream" from a then-upcoming album called "Mondo" and I instantly became a huge fan of that particular track and have played it repeatedly at my Second Life shows. It's a great summery tune--light, quietly upbeat, featuring a trip-hop beat and a high-voiced singer whom I assumed--mistakenly--was a woman.
Now I know that the singer in question is one Asa Niccone, a mere slip of a young man who possesses a great voice that frequently slides into the falsetto range and who accompanies it with a sprite-like stage manner that's infectious. I feel qualified to offer these assessments because I saw this band perform last night in my city before a highly enthusiastic crowd.
The reason I went is because it was only yesterday morning when I first heard the album, which made a big impression on me. I then immediately sent an e-mail to a fellow music lover, saying, "You gotta hear these guys," and about an hour later he responded by asking me if I was aware that Electric Guest was playing here in Boston THAT VERY NIGHT!
So I jumped into action, saw that tickets were still available here but that the Wednesday-night show in New York had already sold out! In other words: move quickly! So I did and ended up seeing an excellent show.
Electric Guest definitely rides a retro groove--in their case, soul, funk, and R&B--and it kinda reminds me a bit of Gnarls Barkley. They sounded great, but I couldn't help but wonder how genuinely "soulful" this music really is to them and whether it's really more of a derivative thing. But that quibble aside, I highly recommend this album and I also strongly recommend these guys as an excellent live show. But if they're coming to your town, act fast. Their reputation is growing, and their shows are selling out.
--MobyTen
Now I know that the singer in question is one Asa Niccone, a mere slip of a young man who possesses a great voice that frequently slides into the falsetto range and who accompanies it with a sprite-like stage manner that's infectious. I feel qualified to offer these assessments because I saw this band perform last night in my city before a highly enthusiastic crowd.
The reason I went is because it was only yesterday morning when I first heard the album, which made a big impression on me. I then immediately sent an e-mail to a fellow music lover, saying, "You gotta hear these guys," and about an hour later he responded by asking me if I was aware that Electric Guest was playing here in Boston THAT VERY NIGHT!
So I jumped into action, saw that tickets were still available here but that the Wednesday-night show in New York had already sold out! In other words: move quickly! So I did and ended up seeing an excellent show.
Electric Guest definitely rides a retro groove--in their case, soul, funk, and R&B--and it kinda reminds me a bit of Gnarls Barkley. They sounded great, but I couldn't help but wonder how genuinely "soulful" this music really is to them and whether it's really more of a derivative thing. But that quibble aside, I highly recommend this album and I also strongly recommend these guys as an excellent live show. But if they're coming to your town, act fast. Their reputation is growing, and their shows are selling out.
--MobyTen
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