A long while back I saw My Gold Mask in Brooklyn and the Chicago duo totally blew me away with the power of their live performance. Lead singer Gretta Rochelle’s voice has an unfiltered rawness that leans towards the iconic lady howlers of the past. It’s the voice of a woman who has some stories to tell and she channels some deeper places during her performances. Her partner in crime Jack Armando knows know to complement her croon with his charging guitar riffs making them a pair to be reckoned with. They have a new 4 song 12″ due out in October that you should most certainly pick up.
[MP3] Tu Farai (Mina Cover)
[MP3] All Up In The Air
Sébastien Tellier – Look from Record Makers on Vimeo.
This video for Tellier’s song “Look” is being relieased as part of Record Maker’s 10 Anniversary celebrations and it embodies the chill euro coolness both the label and the artist are known for. The simple animation tells a cheeky -heh I love a good pun- story with clean imagery. The song, of course, is smooth as all get out which makes this one awesome video.
[MP3] Look
Take some plether pants add a healthy dose of weird animal/pop imagery and a whole lotta primary colors and what do you get? Why the most recent Scissor Sister video of course. I never tire of their effusive glam pop pep and it is even more amazing that they only seem to be getting better musically.
[MP3] Invisible Light
Kids of 88 – Downtown (Official Video) from Dryden Street on Vimeo.
Fantastic New Zealand pop duo Kids Of 88 slow it down a bit to get their sexy trance vibe on for this track and made this crazy video to accentuate the positive. For some reason I’m really digging on the primary colorscapes lately I guess and this is another way to get a great fix. If you like this you should definitely check out the super cool video they made for “Just A Little Bit.”
[MP3] My House (RAC remix)
I. Love. This. Album. Menomena is back and on their third album they have found their most comfortable sound yet. While having previously explored some darker, wider ranging territory in their albums Mines is more focused and as a result plays well both as a whole and as individual tracks. Their vocals – shared in turn by each of the bands three members- are strong and pure; pulling them to the front of the mix gives them more distinction and imparts a poppier vibe to the entire album. While the vocals are consistently given more presence the incredibly complex instrumentations Menomena is known for still shine from behind. Danny Seim’s percussions are more on point than ever and the refinement only pushes the entire groups sound a little further; they don’t abandon their complicated and varied instrumentations they have just found a much better balance making the songs far more accessible.
“Dirty Cartoons” is a brilliant example of these holistic productions. Without pulling in too many elements, instead allowing the vocals and percussion to build up a natural interplay the weight of the song is found in the negative space, the places where quiet is given a role. Again on “Tithe” – without a doubt my favorite track on Mines – you find a sumptuous relationship between the nuanced instruments involved. Delicate clinking bleeds into a charging piano/guitar force that advances and retreats versus the simple lyrical delivery for the rest of the song. It is so well executed you can’t help but become entranced by the dynamic.
I could go on and on and on about the brilliance of each of the tracks; how the beachboy like harmonies on “TAOS” melt over the chaotic percussion and soak up luscious baritone sax or how the bluesy grit of “BOTE” has a swagger you definitely wouldn’t expect from these Portland fellas, but I’ll let you find out for yourself. Go buy it. Now. Just do it. Okay? They’re on tour now and will be stopping in Philly on October 5th.
[MP3] Wet & Rusting
Ever the crowd pleasers Chromeo has produced an appropriately cheeky video for their track “Don’t Turn The Lights On.” They have a bit of fun with some simple techniques -and a totally creepy reoccurring eye ball theme – that keeps the smooth groove from getting too serious. These two give nerds everywhere hope for claiming their own slice of cool and I’ll forever dig them for that. Neb your preorder of Business Casual here.
[MP3] I Can’t Tell You Why (Eagles Cover)
This video is such a beautiful approach to the subtlety of the emotion behind this track. She’s proven her ability to entertain and now she proves she can tap into a deep emotion with her music. Yes, I admit I’m in the midst of a full on Monae obsession but she’s oh so worthy of it.
[MP3] Tightrope (feat. Big Boi) (Organized Noize Remix) – Janelle Monae
I’m planning on writing a full review of Calder’s newest album Are You My Mother in the next few days because it is simply astounding. So, I’ll keep this simple. Calder worked with director/friend/fellow curious mind to bring her sketches to life to tell her story of a bunny on a quest. It’s kinda of unusual but none the less a fun video to take in.
[MP3] Arrow
Usually Don Diablo is the one doing the remixing but this time it is his track that is getting chopped up. This is gritty and pushes hard. Redial’s amped up attack makes it the perfect track for a high speed chase scene, if Daft Punk hadn’t earned the honor of creating the Tron soundtrack I’d say this should would be in the running.
[MP3]Who’s Your Daddy (Redial Refix) – Don Diablo
I’m not entirely sure whether I like this remix because it gives Katy Perry’s ridicupop song an alluring new spin or because it makes the stupidity of her lyrics that much more apparent. Either way I definitely think it is worth a listen. I couldn’t find much about Majestyy but I’d love to hear them take on some of the other crap tracks eating the airwaves.
Today is my mother’s 60th birthday and it absolutely breaks my heart that I can’t be with her to celebrate. She’s a woman that never ceases to completely amaze me. It is she who is responsible for my musical passion and curiosity. Over the years she has shared with me her endless knowledge of classic rock, the importance of the back up singer, the righteousness of good soul music, the historical significance of protest music, what makes a good guitar riff, the comfort of associating music to place and too many road trip mixes to count. She has also inspired me to advocate and fight for what I believe in, seek new adventures, enjoy a good baseball game, appreciate our crazy little family, build a good community and never consider myself too old to be a silly kid.
I could go on and on about what makes her incredible but there is no more appropriate way to convey my love for her than with a mix. So, mama….
[MP3] We Built This City (Starship cover) – D-Sailors
[MP3] Streets Of Philadelphia (Springstein Cover) – Casiotone For The Painfully Alone
[MP3] These Days (Jackson Browne Cover) – Gregg Allman
ps for those of you who wonder what my relationship with my dad is like (since I give Sue so much love on TWIAPC) I assure you it is just as wonderful. Only he and speak the language of food. So, if I had time to write a food blog too it would basically be an homage to the greatness that is Gar.
Boy, the first release from Young Man (aka Colin Caulfield), is a testament of the complexities of a youth’s perspective of adulthood. Constantly striving to achieve “grown up” status while lacking the full vernacular to completely express his desires and curiosities this is an album that succinctly captures the nieve certainty of that age. The seven tracks on Boy give voice to the fickle sense of self & direction one experiences at the edge of adulthood then places those perspective carefully in intricately devised arrangements. Caulfield admits the album is largely autobiographical and with such a clear connection to his emotions so early in the game I’m willing to bet the music he creates in the future will evolve beyond any expectations I could make now. Big predictions, I know, but his kid has it in him to get the job done.
Just the other day I bemoaning the lack of new banjo picking bands in my life. Not that I don’t still love me my Yarn, Avett Brothers, Freelance Whales etc I just fear reaching my limit of their plucky goodness. Then a lovely email from the folks of UK band Lanterns On The Lake drops in my box and I finally have new banjo! Their song “You Need Better” is a delicate track with a gentle but proud banjo tickle. The group’s arrangements are far more than the simple drips of the banjo lines; they know their way around the lush landscape of layered strings and cavernous organs too. All of this creates an entrancing musical effect. Their patiently assembled songs build slowly and beautifully giving your mind plenty of time to saveur all it’s intricacies. No plans to be stateside any time soon but I’ll happily indulge in their wonder.
[MP3] You Need Better
As a member of the Strangers In Stereo blog collective I’m delighted to be able to share such efforts as the monthly Stange Sounds mixtape. Here’s the every month a different blog curates Strange Sounds; they’re responsible for selecting a artist they support/dig to make a mixtape that, in turn, is shared with the rest of SiS and our readers. This month The Culture Of Me was at the helm and he elected to work with elusive producer Spectacle. Read on to find out how the TCoM made his pick and what the man himself has to say about his mix.
It’s strangest to us when we come across talent that we hadn’t any idea really existed in its current form. Even if upon revealing their identity, you’d still be as aghast as if you had never known who or what is behind the moniker. Such is the case with the shadowy producer named Spectacal, who keeps his identity as close to his chest as an ace gambler. With this edition of Strange Sounds, we couldn’t think of anyone else to ask to do it, because, to be quite honest, anyone can put together a cohesive mix, but a very, VERY select few can do it with such ease, succinctness and confidence in the obscure and the discovered as this figure can, testament to the musical knowledge and nerdery that Spectacal harnesses and displays. The mix itself is stellar to our ears and super pointed in approach, with selections by Ikonika, Lone and Martyn to throw you into the experimentally-discerned and something like an L-Vis 1990 to keep it funky and approachable. Also, if you only just now are hearing about FaltyDL, consider this a blessing, because we remember when Spectacal introduced us to this artist, and we couldn’t be more thrilled that you guys are getting the same treatment.
This mix is specifically what a summer night out of tunes should be. Bumping from the start with something steady, leading to a unanimous moment of percussive entrapment, and settling down with something anyone can go to smiling and chillin’ to. Tunes are all about conveying emotions from our souls, that’s what music should be; a representative parameter of what one feels or embodies. With this mix, I’m sure anyone can wile out, or just bop their head to constantly. Stay easy, stay fun and keep bumpin’.
The Martin Brothers – Steal Drums (Julio Bashmore Mix)
Zombie Disco Squad – Twang
FaltyDL – St. Marks (Cosmin TRG Remix)
Lone – Pineapple Crush
Uncle Bakongo – Bambaara
Breach – Fatherless
Martyn – Miniluv
Diamond K & Al Ripken – Hands In The Air (Bok Bok Remix)
Kingdom – Fogs
Ikonika – Psoriasis
Brenmar – Heavy Pockets
L-Vis 1990 – Do You Remember?
Todd Edwards – I Might Be (Joy Orbison Remix)
SBTRKT – One Week OverGet it Here
The Do – At Last (kidam version) from THE DO on Vimeo.
The Do’s song “Stay” is perhaps one of my favorite feel good tunes to add at the tale end of a mix or to throw on the bring on a bout of smiles. I’ve been waiting for what seems like forever to get word of new material from the French/Finnish duo and I think “At Last” is the perfect package to deliver the news that their next album A Mouthful is about to be released. They’re also about to being a 12 stop N.A. toure (sadly no stops in Philly) to support the release. Since I won’t be able to see them live, I’ll have to make do with this nice slice of video.
[MP3] At Last
The Postelles – “White Night” Music Video from The Postelles on Vimeo.
There is a certain pleasure to be gained in watching something filmed in winter during the stickiness of a summer heat wave. There is also an undeniable enjoyment wrought by listening to catchy pop rock. These two truths make listening to The Postelles a double joy.
[MP3] White Night
I knew nothing of This Is My Suitcase prior to watching their video but that is all it took to make me entirely smitten. The Ohio four piece has a full album of equally quirky and charming tunes to offer but I think they’re going to be hard pressed to make another video as equally matched to the lyrical charisma as this one. If you like then I suggest you explore the rest of The Keys To Cat Heaven.
[MP3] Fish & Dishes
What starts off kinda slow and sexy pushes it’s way into for more intense territory quickly in Jakwob’s remix of GCWCF’s “Collapsing Cities.” Like a soundtrack to a tense montage in an indie thriller if definitely imparts a mood. You’ll dig it, I promise.
[MP3] Collapsing Cities (Jakwob Remix) – Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly
Originally intended to simply be an dance floor filler for the Scatterblog DJ’s this retake of the hip hop classic “Push It” is the guiltiest of pleasures. I have absolutely no qualms with admitting I’ve already done a damn fine impression of a crazy person dancing around my apartment to this. Your turn!
[MP3] Push It (Scattermish remix) – Salt ‘N Pepper
Aislyn is Passion Pit’s Ian Hultquist’s new side project with his girlfriend Sofia Degli Alessandri. They’ve taken on Miniature Tigers’ Bullfighter Jacket and given it a an awesome sonic shellacking. This remix is super catchy and will definitely find its way into your next party mix. I’d also keep an eye out for further brilliance from Aislyn.