I was standing on the surface of a perforated sphere when the water filled every hole. and thousands upon thousands made an ocean, making islands where no island should go. those people were overjoyed; they took to their boats. I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat. the rhythm of my footsteps crossing flood lands to your door have been silenced forever more. the distance is quite simply much too far for me to row it seems farther than ever before [...]
Have you seen Snow Cake ? It's a 2006 film starring Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver. Weaver plays an autistic woman who loses her daughter in a car accident after she accepts a ride with Alan Rickman's character, Alex. Alex goes to apologise to her for his part in the accident and ends up staying a lot longer than he planned. I really liked this movie. Not only does Weaver do a truly magnificent (and often quite amusing) job of portraying Linda, but Rickman is equally as powerful, playing the sad and lonely Alex, a man on [...]
Can't get enough of this one from Portland's Blind Pilot . Tempo changes, building drums and a jolly infectious beat. Don't like it? You've got issues, my friend. One Red Thread - Blind Pilot Blind Pilot's latest release is called 3 Rounds And A Sound and I was going to tell you about their current tour dates but they don't appear to have any right now, so you'll have to make do with the studio experience instead. [...]
Cobbling together a few posts today I am, in preparation for a few days AWOL from the blog. Not to worry though, I've set some up to pop up periodically during my absence so those of you who simply can't live without It All Started won't be left totally bereft. Hi Mum. (Actually, my mum doesn't read the blog - I don't talk about Elvis and Dolly Parton enough. Love you Mum!) Here are some tracks that have been languishing in my uploads folder, waiting patiently to be aired. My pick - the Old Believers tune. Top stuff. [...]
(British Sea Power's Yan - image courtesy of my sister, the lovely Elspeth) I am so so late with this gig review that I'm afraid it might have to be done in dot points, with the aid of scattered notes that I wrote to myself on my phone throughout the show. It's a bit grim really, isn't it? I love British Sea Power . I loved this gig. Why I have not written about it til now? Who would know. Here's what I remember: 'True Adventures' had a solo viola start [...]
(image via thecannon.ca ) Remember a couple of weeks ago when I posted the gorgeous 'Sailor', by Canada's The Gertrudes teaming up with PS I Love You? Go ahead and download it now , I'll wait. It's great, right? Well I've tracked down a few more tracks by The Gertrudes (they're a 12-piece, would you believe) and I'm particularly taken by 'Turn Out The Lights (The River Song)'. Lovely haunting harmonies, plenty of banjo – subtle banjo, not over-the-top Deliverance banjo – and some well placed trumpet action. After a few listens [...]
Heard everyone raving about this video weeks ago but only caught it for the first time last night on Rage when I should've been in bed. It's pretty bloody marvellous really, isn't it? This Too Shall Pass - OK Go OK Go are no strangers to the clever music video either - remember the treadmill one? Even my mum knows this one. [...]
Two covers have been doing the blog rounds this week. One of them I was fortunate enough to hear live on Monday morning. Triple J have been doing Like A Version for years now, inviting touring bands into the studio to perform both their own songs, as well as a cover version that's often far removed from the music that the band usually plays (like The Wiggles covering AC/DC's 'It's A Long Way To The Top' ). Every year they release a CD featuring the best ones (which is where that Regina/John Lennon cover came [...]
I'd not heard of Nina Conti until I saw her on the Comedy Festival Gala earlier this week. Jolly clever, she is. Akmal Selah is always good for a laugh. As is Adam Hills - this bit about language is hilarious. And I can never go past the twisted Kransky Sisters, from [...]
Eagleowl describing themselves: We are a lo-fi post folk ensemble from Edinburgh, Scotland. We try and make the best music we can. Nothing more, nothing less. I like it. Eagleowl recently recorded a live session (music and video) with Matthew over at Song By Toad and it's simply lovely. I'm particularly taken by 'Blanket'. It's a bit of a slow burner, but the way the strings build, fade and then break in again is beautiful. Blanket (Toad Session) - Eagleowl [...]
I've been listening to this Basia Bulat track over and over for about a week now. I just love it. In The Night - Basia Bulat Basia Bulat is a Canadian singer-songwriter and I've been exploring her music this week, after hearing and reading a lot about her in the past couple of years without actually getting around to checking her out properly. I find all her songs to be quite lovely - her vocals are beautiful [...]
Oh, thank goodness. For a moment, I thought that Kate Nash had gone completely troppo. I mean really, listen to this: I Just Love You More - Kate Nash Shudder. Now this is more like it: Do Wah Do - Kate Nash This cover ain't too shabby either: Fluorescent Adolescent (Arctic Monkeys [...]
A very slap dash post for you this morning. Things might be a little quiet round here as I'm flat out for the next few days, so here's some coverage to tide you over in the meantime. Use Somebody (Kings Of Leon Cover) - Bat For Lashes Oh My Darling Clementine (Traditional) - Taxi! Taxi! Tainted Love (Soft Cell Cover) [...]
There can't be too many people out there who haven't heard about The National's new album High Violet , due for release May 11 (hurry up dammit!). Since they're one of my favourite bands , it would be remiss of me not to mention it, don't you think? Can't say the cover art's doing much for me though. Here's the track listing: 1. Terrible Love 2. Sorrow 3. Anyone's Ghost 4. Little Faith 5. Afraid of Everyone 6. Bloodbuzz Ohio [...]
A bumper crop of inbox fodder for you this week. My pick: 'Sailor' by The Gertrudes & PS I Love You. I can't get enough of this song today. It's all yearning vocals and building rhythms, the horn section partway through is magnificent and the end crescendo is wonderful. I just love it. Say a prayer for the lovers lost at sea, sailing to her shore... Sailor - The Gertrudes & PS I Love You (Canada) | The Gertrudes myspace | PS I Love [...]
I don't get excited about free EPs just because they're free - this one's actually bloody good as well! Scotland's Cancel The Astronaut s have been on my radar for a while now, and they recently made their EP I Am The President Of Your Fanclub available for free download on their bandcamp page. I've uploaded a ton of tunes to my iPod these last couple of days, but these are the ones I keep coming back to. 'I Am The President Of Your Fanclub (And Last Night I Followed [...]
Cover Lay Down: A Little Light Music - Coverfolk For Our Longer Days Thanks Captain Obvious: Covers Mixtape XXIV Obscure Sound: Best of February 2010 Slowcoustic: After & Before Discussion - Withered Hand Tsururadio: A bit of introspection & Down The Way by Angus & Julia Stone (And if you're in the Columbus area April 3rd, you can support a good cause and join Tsuru's Bike Ride For Breast Cancer [...]
I have Chris over at Local Vertical to thank for the discovery of this little gem. April Smith & The Great Picture Show hail from Brooklyn USA and are producing some seriously catchy tunes, with the strong vocals of April Smith the main focal point of the band's sound. Chris mentioned the words 'Vaudeville' and 'carnivals' when describing their music and I totally get that old-time torch song vibe when listening to their stuff - it's fun, plain and simple. Colors - April Smith & The Great Picture Show [...]
Something of an eclectic collection for you today, which I guess is inevitable when you press that little shuffle button! I've included the location of each artist, as well as myspace linkage for further listening. Make sure you check out Hello Saferide ('Anna' is a gorgeous song), Malcolm Middleton and Sam Baker in particular. I find that Matt Pond PA track is best played nice and loud as well. Hail Mary - Young Lords | myspace (USA) [...]
I've been all kinds of excited since I heard this news via the wonders of twitter earlier today. Carissa's Wierd (whose members are now involved with various other projects including Band Of Horses and Grand Archives) are set to reunite for at least one show over in Seattle I believe, which doesn't excite me at all since I'm about as far away from Seattle as you can get, but what DOES excite me is this: July 13th will see the release of They'll Only Miss You When You Leave: Songs 1996-2003 [...]
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