Formed of ex-Secret Machines guitarist Benjamin Curtis and twin sisters Alejandra and Claudia Deheza, School Of Seven Bells have been building anticipation for their debut album since first emerging in early 2007. Named after a mythological Andean pickpocket academy , the Brooklyn trio create out-there songs, led beautifully by the Deheza sisters blood-harmony, crossing ethereal folk with prog-pop and electronics. Their sound is hard to pin down and crosses many periods of time, resulting in something akin to medieval folk ballads remixed by Kevin Shields (I said it was hard to pin down). 'Alpinisms' grows in briliance [...]
Formed of ex-Secret Machines guitarist Benjamin Curtis and twin sisters Alejandra and Claudia Deheza, School Of Seven Bells have been building anticipation for their debut album since first emerging in early 2007. Named after a mythological Andean pickpocket academy , the Brooklyn trio create out-there songs, led beautifully by the Deheza sisters blood-harmony, crossing ethereal folk with prog-pop and electronics. Their sound is hard to pin down and crosses many periods of time, resulting in something akin to medieval folk ballads remixed by Kevin Shields (I said it was hard to pin down). 'Alpinisms' grows in briliance [...]
Lip hair and awesome music have always been perfect partners: Lemmy, Freddy Mercury, David Crosby, John Oates...err...The Edge (just joking, he's crap) and DJ duo Moustache Mamas know this better than anyone. They've been making a name for themselves around London town playing disco, yacht rock and cracking pop classics while sporting moustaches (albeit fake ones). They've recently upped a 'Disco Ashes' mix containing some of their furry favourites that you can grab here .
Lip hair and awesome music have always been perfect partners: Lemmy, Freddy Mercury, David Crosby, John Oates...err...The Edge (just joking, he's crap) and DJ duo Moustache Mamas know this better than anyone. They've been making a name for themselves around London town playing disco, yacht rock and cracking pop classics while sporting moustaches (albeit fake ones). They've recently upped a 'Disco Ashes' mix containing some of their furry favourites that you can grab here .
Having previously self released 650 copies in handmade lace and paper sleeves, Alela Diane's first album 'Pirates Gospel' was quietly released in 2006, though soon found widespread critical acclaim following its international release in 2007. Most tracks feature little more than Alela's distinct voice accompanied by guitar, resulting in simple yet powerful songs. Her second album 'To Be Still' is set for release on 17th February. Fargo Records has made 'White As Diamonds' available for free download on their website . 'The Rifle' from 'Pirates Gospel' is also up for grabs from Holocene Music's [...]
Having previously self released 650 copies in handmade lace and paper sleeves, Alela Diane's first album 'Pirates Gospel' was quietly released in 2006, though soon found widespread critical acclaim following its international release in 2007. Most tracks feature little more than Alela's distinct voice accompanied by guitar, resulting in simple yet powerful songs. Her second album 'To Be Still' is set for release on 17th February. Fargo Records has made 'White As Diamonds' available for free download on their website . 'The Rifle' from 'Pirates Gospel' is also up for grabs from Holocene Music's [...]
New York duo High Places are vocalist Mary Pearson and multi-instrumentalist/producer Rob Barber. This summer's self titled debut album has been followed by a collection of early singles and compilation tracks released between March and September 2007, ingeniously titled '03.07 - 09.07'. What they lack in exciting album titles, they more than make up for musically. Layering Mary's distant vocals with treated percussion and heavily effected instrumentation, High Places create an otherworldly sound. It exists in a similar place to Panda Bear's 2007 'Person Pitch' album and shares many of the same nursery-rhyme like qualities. Adopting world music [...]
New York duo High Places are vocalist Mary Pearson and multi-instrumentalist/producer Rob Barber. This summer's self titled debut album has been followed by a collection of early singles and compilation tracks released between March and September 2007, ingeniously titled '03.07 - 09.07'. What they lack in exciting album titles, they more than make up for musically. Layering Mary's distant vocals with treated percussion and heavily effected instrumentation, High Places create an otherworldly sound. It exists in a similar place to Panda Bear's 2007 'Person Pitch' album and shares many of the same nursery-rhyme like qualities. Adopting world music [...]
'Verbs' is the recently released second album by Portland based experimental pop collective AU , fronted by Luke Wyland. Opening with a blissfully free twenty plus choir on 'All My Friends' it segues into 'Are Animals', something along the lines of a delirious prog-folk/free-jazz/deep-house hybrid, if you can stomach that amalgamation of sub-genres. As an opening salvo its quite a show of force and sets the tone for the album. The delicate balance that exists between 'Summerheat' and the all-out pop joy of 'RR vs D' is carried on into the following tracks, in turns bold and delicate, reducing [...]
'Verbs' is the recently released second album by Portland based experimental pop collective AU , fronted by Luke Wyland. Opening with a blissfully free twenty plus choir on 'All My Friends' it segues into 'Are Animals', something along the lines of a delirious prog-folk/free-jazz/deep-house hybrid, if you can stomach that amalgamation of sub-genres. As an opening salvo its quite a show of force and sets the tone for the album. The delicate balance that exists between 'Summerheat' and the all-out pop joy of 'RR vs D' is carried on into the following tracks, in turns bold and delicate, reducing [...]
D. Lissvik is one half of cosmic-Balearic-disco gods Studio, which this album shares obvious comparisons with. It sounds slightly odder than Studio, sans vocals and with added Eastern and Spanish undertones, but there's no mistaking the trademark production. They say "Imagine Durutti Column, Perdurabo, Klaus Schulze and Bo Hansson on an extended occult trip filled with Eastern-infused instrumentals ranging from meditative to upbeat." I say "Like playing Dire Straits dubs through an echo box on the beach!" - this is a good thing! Track [...]
D. Lissvik is one half of cosmic-Balearic-disco gods Studio, which this album shares obvious comparisons with. It sounds slightly odder than Studio, sans vocals and with added Eastern and Spanish undertones, but there's no mistaking the trademark production. They say "Imagine Durutti Column, Perdurabo, Klaus Schulze and Bo Hansson on an extended occult trip filled with Eastern-infused instrumentals ranging from meditative to upbeat." I say "Like playing Dire Straits dubs through an echo box on the beach!" - this is a good thing! Track [...]
Its been a good year for 4AD and to celebrate they've gone and offered up a track from each album for free download. Merry Christmas!
Its been a good year for 4AD and to celebrate they've gone and offered up a track from each album for free download. Merry Christmas!
1. Benge - 1981 Yamaha CS70M (Expanding Records) 2. Smile Down Upon Us - Girl Of A Skin Coloured Blanket No. 2 (Static Caravan) 3. AU - rr vs d (Aagoo) 4. Ralfe Band - Attics (Loose Music) 5. Deerhoof - Chandelier Searchlight (ATP) 6. Je Suis Animal - Beginning Of Time (Angular) 7. Department Of Eagles - No One Does It (4AD) 8. High Places - The Tree With The Lights In It (Thrill Jockey) Direct download: Proper Songs Podcast #002 (right click/save as)
1. Benge - 1981 Yamaha CS70M (Expanding Records) 2. Smile Down Upon Us - Girl Of A Skin Coloured Blanket No. 2 (Static Caravan) 3. AU - rr vs d (Aagoo) 4. Ralfe Band - Attics (Loose Music) 5. Deerhoof - Chandelier Searchlight (ATP) 6. Je Suis Animal - Beginning Of Time (Angular) 7. Department Of Eagles - No One Does It (4AD) 8. High Places - The Tree With The Lights In It (Thrill Jockey) Direct download: Proper Songs Podcast #002 (right click/save as)
This post isn't a rant about the fairer sex but a post about an album called Women by a band called Women . Who are all men. And Canadian! Reveling in lo-fidelity it was recorded on old tape machines in a variety of locations - a basement, a culvert (I had to look it up) and a crawl space. Whether these places added some hidden ambiance to each song is debatable but the variation in style is instantly apparent. 'Black Rice' is glorious, a proper West Coast pop song nicely buried amidst guitars and things. 'Woodbine' [...]
This post isn't a rant about the fairer sex but a post about an album called Women by a band called Women . Who are all men. And Canadian! Reveling in lo-fidelity it was recorded on old tape machines in a variety of locations - a basement, a culvert (I had to look it up) and a crawl space. Whether these places added some hidden ambiance to each song is debatable but the variation in style is instantly apparent. 'Black Rice' is glorious, a proper West Coast pop song nicely buried amidst guitars and things. 'Woodbine' [...]
This is the second helpful CD catchup from the Dirty series of folk-disco-balearic-soul reedit 12"s. That there Pilooski of the massive 'Beggin You' takes the lion's share of the work tweaking Elvis, The The and folk-weirdys People in all manner of funky ways; while Joakim has a good old go on JJ Cale and Krikor gives one-hit-wonder Q Lazzarus the once over. These reedits work for dancing as well as less aerobic listening down to excellent choices of source material and the love and craft shown by the producers. Excellent homoerotic sleeve art too. Not enough of that [...]
This is the second helpful CD catchup from the Dirty series of folk-disco-balearic-soul reedit 12"s. That there Pilooski of the massive 'Beggin You' takes the lion's share of the work tweaking Elvis, The The and folk-weirdys People in all manner of funky ways; while Joakim has a good old go on JJ Cale and Krikor gives one-hit-wonder Q Lazzarus the once over. These reedits work for dancing as well as less aerobic listening down to excellent choices of source material and the love and craft shown by the producers. Excellent homoerotic sleeve art too. Not enough of that [...]
Proper Songs
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Princesse - Tell Me | MP3
