It's been a while since I last mentioned ex-Pipette Rosay. After leaving the group with Riotbecki, she started a solo career under her own real name, Rose Elinor Dougall . To be honest, I had heard a couple of songs, but wasn't entirely hooked. That was until today, when I finally saw her again, in what is her first music video since the departure, a dark, beautifully-shot black-and-white affair for the new single 'Start/Stop/Synchro' . I know those polka-dot days are far behind now, but it is still a bit strange to see Rose in a modern, non-novelty [...]
As you might have noticed, lately I've developed a thinly-veiled preference for covers. Should I face it and just transform this blog into a covers-only one? I admit there are lots of pros to posting covers. They take less time to prepare draft, the source is perpetual, and I love seeing songs I heard before in new coats. Plus any song covered should, by default, be at least half-decent. I do have a thing for rarities, be it covers, remixes, acoustic versions, demos or unreleased tracks. But on the other hand, I still want to talk about new artists and [...]
As you might have noticed, lately I've developed a thinly-veiled preference for covers. Should I face it and just transform this blog into a covers-only one? I admit there are lots of pros to posting covers. They take less time to prepare draft, the source is perpetual, and I love seeing songs I heard before in new coats. Plus any song covered should, by default, be at least half-decent. I do have a thing for rarities, be it covers, remixes, acoustic versions, demos or unreleased tracks. But on the other hand, I still want to talk about new artists and [...]
Kat Edmonson is a fresh, young voice to emerge in the jazz scene with her debut album 'Take To The Sky' recently released... No wait come back! Beside the obligatory standards like 'Summertime' & 'Night And Day', she also offers a unique spin on more contemporary hits, two of which is 'Just Like Heaven' and 'Lovefool'. To be honest, I was too suspicious of how she would reimagine these songs into her smooth, classic jazz style, but she seems to pull it off with ease. In short, I dig her versions. My favorite is probably 'Lovefool', though. [...]
The perennially moody Fiona Apple recently recorded a cover of Cy Coleman's 'Why Try To Change Me Now' for a tribute EP, "Then Was Then & Now Is Now". It was great to hear something new from her. It's Fiona doing what she has mastered at. An introspective jazzy ditty for those rainy days. I hope she is in a studio somewhere working on some new music. It's been 4 years since 'Extraordinary Machine'. Fiona Apple - Why Try To Change Me Now [...]
Kat Edmonson is a fresh, young voice to emerge in the jazz scene with her debut album 'Take To The Sky' recently released... No wait come back! Beside the obligatory standards like 'Summertime' & 'Night And Day', she also offers a unique spin on more contemporary hits, two of which is 'Just Like Heaven' and 'Lovefool'. To be honest, I was too suspicious of how she would reimagine these songs into her smooth, classic jazz style, but she seems to pull it off with ease. In short, I dig her versions. My favorite is probably 'Lovefool', though. [...]
I've been a quiet follower of Nina Nastasia for a couple years now, and last week, to my surpise, I realized she was never mentioned here. How could it slip my mind? Nina's music is quite stark, stripped down but poetic. Her short story-songs conveys raw emotions. My entry point was actually her 4th album, 'On Leaving'. One highlight was definitely track 8, 'Treehouse Song' . Growing up, I was fascinated with the idea of a treehouse, though we never had one. There was just something neat about having your own little space, to escape to and [...]
Kate Bush is one of those trail-blazing artists that are so often cited as influence, and yet never properly investigated by me. And then on this fateful night, I was bored enough to make a routine check of Youtube, and decided to view her video for Wuthering Heights . Oh my, it was a revelation. I had heard that she has a reputation for being kooky before, but after viewing that, I know she's a total cuckoo! (in a good way, of course). That video was so amazingly shot and choreographed that it's still refreshing [...]
I've been saving these for a day like today, for it's the perfect time to spin them. I'll let the tunes speak for themselves. Enjoy your weekend! Fionn Regan - Be Good Or Be Gone ( The End Of History , 2007) Lay Low - Last Time Around ( Farewell Good Night's Sleep , 2009) Alexi Murdoch - All My Days ( Away We Go Soundtrack [...]
Simone White possesses a lilting, mellifluous voice. She crafts songs that sound much better on rainy days. Her bittersweet mellow ditties are unobtrusively pleasant, but alluring enough to draw me in and keep me coming back. Because sometimes, that is all I need, beautiful, acoustic music to make the day seem a little less longer. Simone White - The Beep Beep Song (featured in an Audi commercial ) Simone White - Why Is Your Raincoat Always Crying? Simone White - [...]
This mix was conceived on a cold winter night not so long ago, with the goal of making one all wistful while driving down desolate, glistening streets at night. Norwegian songstress Stina Nordenstam opens with a warm trumpet-filled trip-hop-lite track, but it only goes darker from here. If you're not in the mood for melancholy, now would be the right time to stop. Next is an atmospheric mix of Fever Ray's eerie 'If I Had A Heart'. Now I can almost see the trees roll back beside me. Blonde Redhead dampens the mood even further with one of the best [...]
Jens Lekman and Tracey Thorn recently teamed up for the 20th-anniversary Merge Records covers compilation "Score!" . As I'm a big fan of both, I was psyched when Tracey first announced this on her blog. It literally just came out of nowhere. And I can confirm that it's indeed excellent. Their voices just entwined so well together, and it's deceptively sweet for the wry, deadpan lyrics. Definitely one of the best covers I've heard in 2009. Tracey Thorn and Jens Lekman - [...]
Timo Räisänen's cover album '...And Then There Was Timo' must be one of the oddest of its kind in recent memory. The selections are literally all over the place. Rarely can you find covers of AC/DC, Dolly Parton, Sonny & Cher, Josh Groban, Whitney, Mariah, and the obligatory Radiohead all in one tracklist. His approach is tongue-in-cheek, and a bit 'Let's throw all at the walls and see what sticks', but there are some gems here. His surprising cover of Sugababes' "About You Now" is certainly a highlight. I didn't know that song did well in Sweden, or did it? [...]
collage by Julien Pacaud Another batch of covers. I'm not really in the mood to write some new artists-centric posts, so this should suffice for now. I was having a dreary day that seemed to drag forever, so here's hoping yours is going more smoothly. Besides, if those stats were to be trusted, you guys do love covers. Scoop 'em up, folks! Rio En Medio - Let's Groove (Earth Wind & Fire) ( Let's Groove/Staying Alive 7" , 2008) A [...]
collage by Julien Pacaud An assortment of covers for the weekend! 5 excellent ones, as per usual. They're not exactly new, but still on high rotation for me. Enjoy. Lily Allen - Womanizer (Britney Spears) Recorded live for KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic. I really like her acerbic take on this. 'It's Not Me, It's You' is a stunning follow-up, by the way. Jonna Lee - Human (The Killers) A lovely acoustic take from Swedish singer/songwriter/Razzia-signe e Jonna Lee. She's [...]
How do you like the spanking new layout? I finally caved in yesterday and decided to upgrade from the classic Blogger template. Closed the blog for about 2 hours, meddled with codes, refurbished this and that. And I'm very pleased with the result. It looks so much nicer, isn't it? I particularly like the rounded corners and the fixed background. That dusty, dull, unsightly old one can retire now, phew. On to the music... Beast is a new [...]
Hollywood, Mon Armour is the latest project of Marc Collin, the man behind Nouvelle Vague. This time around, he relies on several chanteuses like Skye Edwards (former Morcheeba singer), Cibelle, Yael Naim, Juliette Lewis... to reinterpret '80s movie theme songs. The idea sounds promising on paper, but the actual practice turned out to be not as thrilling. My main problem with the album is that the novelty has lost its sheen. It sounds exactly like what I'd expect it to be. The production is too repetitive to listen to all in one sitting. The tone is just so...monotonous. Now [...]
Everybody wants a piece of Girls Aloud nowadays. First, Scottish musician Malcolm Middleton recently put up his cover for 'Call The Shots' for free on his website. Also included is his take on The Saturdays' hit 'Issues'. Malcolm's tactic is nothing new, which is to strip it down, dissect the melodies, strum the guitar and put on a strong accent. Still, it's interesting to hear such meticulously-produced pop songs in such context. The Saturdays cover might even be better than the original - the lamest single of the pop group so far (their pedestrian [...]
How do you like the spanking new layout? I finally caved in yesterday and decided to upgrade from the classic Blogger template. Closed the blog for about 2 hours, meddled with codes, refurbished this and that. And I'm very pleased with the result. It looks so much nicer, isn't it? I particularly like the rounded corners and the fixed background. That dusty, dull, unsightly old one can retire now, phew. On to the music... Beast is a new [...]
Loney, Dear and I got off on the wrong foot back then, as I made the mistake of viewing the rather disturbing video for 'I Am John' first. I was put off and decided to pass. 2 years and minus a comma later, Loney Dear's back with a new one. Luckily this time, the second first impression hits all the right chords. 'Airport Surroundings' is his new excellent single, in that it's properly catchy indie pop and also managed to, in risk of sounding cheesy, "pull my heart strings". The first [...]
Zeon's Music Blog
Bleached - "Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World"
Azealia Banks - '1991' [Listen]
Lana Del Rey’s “Blue Jeans” Used In A Nespresso Commercial
