Last month, newest Arts & Crafts signee Cold Specks cannon balled into the blog buzz pool and the splash created some 50-year storm, Point Break sized swells ("no way Cold Specks is bigger than Waimea, bro"). Her dark gospel gem, "Holland", hinted at a voice that could stop you in your tracks and the off-kilter arrangement were as unique and unconventional as it was enjoyable. The more I listened to "Holland", the more I thought I had heard the song before. After some research and [...]
Cold Specks is the curious moniker for one Al Spx, a 23-year-old Canadian from Etobicoke now living in London. Details about her and her intriguing and atmospheric acoustic soul are rarer than hen's teeth but we do know that she's gone by a couple of other aliases up north -- including Basket of Figs -- and that a Cold Specks debut album is currently being worked on with producer Rob Ellis (PJ Harvey). Lead track "Holland" picks up where her earlier Basket of Figs EP's left off: mournful, glistening art/folk with a blurry, jazzy vocal and [...]
Here we are at Day 12 (the last day) of the annual "Best of Blogger Crew" series and what a great year it was - 12 blogs in total including Slowcoustic participated and all came with game. I can't thank everyone enough who participated, so everyone please click on the sidebar widget to visit these fine folks at their fine music blogs. Now that I am choosing my official version of "best of", I have thought that this year seemed like it had a good share of EPs that were great. Hell, some were frickin' great. Hence I [...]
More and more Canadian EPs. We are stoked that so many of the bands we love offered up their time for this project, whether it was recording a track in a room full of friends or delivering an absolutely crushing cover of one of the best Canadian songs of the year... well, you get the idea that this list is full of goodness. Band:: Wilderness of Manitoba Album:: Hymns of Love & Spirits Web:: http://www.myspace.com/thewild ernessofmanitoba Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/0 9/reviews-wilderness-of-manito ba-hymns-of.htm [...]
I have heard a bit of chatter in the music blogging circles that this year is pretty good for EPs. You know the "almost album", the "we didn't have enough material/had too much material" release. Also the "just too short for an full album", but a decent collection of 4-6 songs or so that need to be released. Honestly a lot of EPs are much better than full albums, they just don't get the weight or attention of the industry due to their size (side note: how did Tom Cruise make it as an actor??). Despite mentioning that [...]
Back again with the new EP from Basket of Figs. This Toronto phenom is known for her EP releasing (maybe an album upcoming....maybe...) and they all are self released and incredibly dark, stunning lo-fi experiences. I have said it before and I will say it again, you feel drawn into her voice, it is like it is from another time, it is Janis Joplin meets Billie Halliday, stunning. BoF is basically unknown for the most part ( see here ) and that works for me, it makes the music that much more special, unique [...]
buy online When I stumbled on Basket of Figs I really had no idea who she/they were, where they were from or any other information other than the songs on the 666 EP were fantastic. Even now, the myspace they once had is gone and tracking down more info requires some Burn After Reading type shit. Basically, I gushed some pleasantries – " The collection of demos ache and creak, but still expose strength and beauty. Fighting against the static and rough edges, her voice is clear and piercing " [...]
Well, kids, it's been a strange old sleepless week & a bit. Of course, what with the Presidential pageant all a hoo-ing & a hah-ing at every turn, I managed to mince about pretty much unnoticed for the most part. The weather has been atrocious to say the very least. Did I pack for ground frost? Torrential rain? Near hurricane-strength winds? Like fuck I did. Added to that, I've been averaging 2am to bed (a foldout in the livingroom of the rented space - sharing with 4 others) & 5.30am wake up calls. Ed, my (un)usual USof travel [...]
It's been a strange few days over here at DCHQ . On Monday a certain NY radio station sent what can only be described as a compliment-strewn e-beg asking us to join their airwaves, affording us carte blanche on show content & tomfoolery. Yesterday we received word that this month our TWR podcasts are #1 on the Podbean site for the Radio category (with almost 14,000 listeners tuning in since New Year's day). Then we discover we have the 4th most listened to Radio podcast on the entire Podbean site, ever . This morning I received an email from a promoter asking [...]
Basket of Figs is a seriously entrancing singer songwriter from Toronto, Canada. There...you have as much information about her as I do. Well, almost. Did you ever listen to music that simply amazes you? Everyone needs to, and I recently experienced it with the EP entitled "6663 from Basket of Figs obtained through the Yer Bird Aviary . Of course she even admits to the title of the EP being "ridiculous", but it only lends to the enigma that is this artist. So far, I have never seen a photo of this young Torontonian (yes, that is [...]
myspace It's no secret that any music blog worth its salt (which probably isn't much) gets inundated with generic emails and myspace requests. Normally, I do the ole scan and check for two things. First – is the bands from Canada? Second – do I recognize any of their "friends." Luckily for me, Basket of Figs satisfied both of my stringent qualifications. The Toronto based folk artist's page displays Yerbird records AND Timber Timbre front and center. Why is this good you might ask? Essentially, I sit and [...]
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Warm Brew – Creep (TLC Remix)
THROWBACK: Sam Cooke - Cupid
