Bandcloud #8 - October 2014

So this week I've listened to music from Brooklyn (Oh Honey and Paperwhite), Lima, Peru (The Spiracles), New Brunswick (Gates), and Ann Arbor (Dads).

1. Oh Honey - Don't You Worry, Love (Sincerely Yours)

2. Dads - The Romantic Ocean (I'll Be the Tornado)

3. Gates - Not My Blood (Bloom & Breathe)

4. The Spiracles - Hot Day (Last Night I Dreamt of You)

5. Paperwhite - Pieces

Julianna Barwick - Nepenthe [Review]

Julianna Barwick appeared in my ears while I listened to The Magic Place (2011). Comparing her to another emerging Avant-garde/Experimental artist Julia Holter makes me think of them as musical sisters. Julianna Barwick is the silent sister, the one who whispers her words while the music warp her tender voice with the exact harmonies needed. Nepenthe is a perfect night soundtrack, which make you imagine that angels voices are singing to you, a moment before you close your eyes. Its production is minimalist, yet impressive and Julianna's voice... Well... Try to listen, here are five samples of her albums, three of them from the later.

Album Rating: 8/10

The Harbinger (Nepenthe, 2013)


Envelop (The Magic Place, 2011)

Forever (Nepenthe, 2013)

Pacing (Pacing EP, 2013)

One Half (Nepenthe, 2013)

Grace (Pick Word #29)

Grace is a well known term which appears on the Theological writings, speaking of the divine gift which is given to sinners in order to help them to find the right way. It is also a feminine given name, taken from the Latin name Gratia. While digging in my music folders, I've found five great songs about Grace by Grant Lee Buffalo, Elbow, Jeff Buckley, Magnolia Electric Co. and The Mountain Goats, hoping you'd like them too...

Grant Lee Buffalo - Grace (Taken From Fuzzy, 1993)

Elbow - Grace Under Pressure (Taken From Cast Of Thousands, 2003)

Jeff Buckley - Grace (Taken From Grace, 1994)

Magnolia Electric Co. - O Grace! (Taken From Josephine, 2009)

The Mountain Goats - Ezekiel 7 And The Permanent Efficacy Of Grace (Taken From The Life Of The World To Come, 2009)

Dum Dum Girls

After gaining positive reviews on their debut album I Will Be (2010) and its' follower Only In Dreams (2011), the Los Angeles based Indie/Dream Pop quartet, Dum Dum Girls, are planing to release their third one, which will be named Too True. Consists of Dee Dee (Founding member), Sandy, Jules and Malia, it might be pretty interesting to hear one of the albums that was listed as one you should hear on 2014. Meanwhile, here are five songs, including one great cover version to The Smiths.

1. Coming Down taken from Only In Dreams, 2011
2. Rimbaud Eyes taken from Too True, 2014
3. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (The Smiths cover version), 2011
4. Lost Boys And Girls Club taken from Too True, 2014
5. Bedroom Eyes taken from Only In Dreams, 2011

Marissa Nadler

Marissa Nadler, born in 1981, is an American Folk / Dream Pop singer who's going to release her sixth studio album called July on next February. Pitchfork mentioned her as "A voice you would Follow straight to Hades" and I couldn't agree more than this sharp definition of her haunting Mezzo-Soprano voice. Accompanied with an acoustic guitar, July might be as good as other songs she released so far. Take a listen to few of them, maybe you'd fall in love.

1. Fifty Five Falls taken from Ballads Of Living And Dying, 2004
2. Nothing In My Heart taken from July, 2014
3. Baby, I will Leave You In The Morning taken from Marissa Nadler, 2011
4. Apostle taken from The Sister EP, 2012
5. You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Bob Dylan cover version), 2011

Damien Jurado

Damien Jurado, an Indie-Folk singer from Seattle, will release tomorrow his eleventh album called Brothers And Sisters Of The Eternal Son. His earlier releases, especially Maraqopa (2012) and Where Shall You Take Me (2003), are my favourites and it seems that the new release is taking one step forward in his career. I can listen to him for few hours, here are five of his giant repertoire

1. Museum Of Flight taken from Maraqopa, 2012
2. Silver Timothy taken from Brothers And Sisters Of The Eternal Son, 2014
3. Paper Kite taken from Caught In The Trees, 2008
4. Metallic Cloud taken from Brothers And Sisters Of The Eternal Son, 2014
5. Omaha taken from Where Shall You Take Me?, 2003

Trembling Blue Stars

This morning, on my way to the University, I suddenly heard something that I haven't heard for a long time. That was Trembling Blue Stars, a London based band, which was built around the core of Robert Wratten and Beth Arzy. Their beautiful songs still sounds great, even though they split in 2010 after 7 Albums and 14 years of working together. Here are five wonderful songs of those Trembling Blue Stars

All Eternal Things (The Seven Autumns Flowers, 2005)

From A Pale Blue Rosery (The Last Holy Writer, 2007)

ABBA On The Jukebox (Her Handwriting, 1996)

 

Before We Knew It (A Certain Evening Light, 2003) 

In Arrivals (Fast Trains And Telegraph Wires, 2010)

Rattle And Hum: 25 Years To U2 Album

Rattle And Hum was released about 25 years ago on 10th of October, 1988. Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton tried to follow the roots of Gospel and Blues Rock after making their wonderful The Joshua Tree. Some of the critics said that U2 were trying to get into the giant shoes of the artists they covered, such as Bob Dylan, The Beatles, John Lennon and B.B King. Still, It was a great effort to travel through America's earlier sounds. 25 years after, some of the songs might sound pretty old, but it deserves the recognition, so here are five original songs from that album

God II

Heartland

Desire

When Love Comes To Town (With B.B. King)

All I Want Is You

Is This Desire? 15 Years To PJ Harvey Album

On the 28th of September, 1998, PJ Harvey, the English Alternative Rock singer released her fourth studio album, Is This Desire?. That album came out about three years after her highly acclaimed To Bring You My love and the fans expected her to follow the musical route of its successful previous. Because of those expectations, some of them were pretty disappointed with the fact that PJ Harvey made a record which is more Electronic and atmospheric in comparison to her earlier releases. The reviews were mixed but PJ Harvey was proud in her work, which helped her step towards unknown musical experiments with the help of Flood, Mick Harvey, John Parish and others. 15 years after, this album still sounds fantastic, take a few minutes to listen to five of them

The Garden

Catherine

Angelene

A Perfect Day Elise

Is This Desire

 

Deserter's Songs: 15 Years To Mercury Rev Album

I haven't heard Mercury Rev music before Deserter's Songs, but couldn't stop listening to them after hearing this outstanding album. That's an album which was written after the commercial disappointment from See You On The Other Side. They thought it would be their last album together and they we'll probably split up soon after its release. So they decided to take a bold decision: To make a record entirely for themselves without the pressure of commercial forces. That album became their most successful album to date, receiving positive reviews all over the world. This album was an unexpected triumph of the soul of the artists on commercial strains. Tomorrow it would celebrate 15 years since it was released, here are five songs from this Neo-Psychedelia/Dream Pop masterpiece.

Opus 40

Endlessly

Goddess On A Highway

 

Holes

Tonite It Shows

Bill Callahan

If you've told me that I'm gonna listen to an Americana/Folk singer-songwriter, such as Bill Callahan, five years ago, I probably thought that you're crazy. But times has changed and I'm glad that I had the chance to discover this great artist. After some years in Smog, he went on for a solo career, releasing four albums so far. The new release, Dream River, is another fabulous Americana album, which is based on his acoustic guitar and wonderful voice. Only 8 songs in this release, but that's enough to make one of the best Americana albums this year. Here are five songs by this great artist, who released 15 albums since 1990 (In different forms), two of them from the new one

America! (Apocalypse, 2011)

 

Javelin Unlanding (Dream River, 2013)

 

Honeymoon Child (Woke On A Whaleheart, 2007)

Spring (Dream River, 2013)

The Wind And The Dove (Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle, 2009)

Bandcamp Hunting #8 - 5 Things You Should Hear

The Second Hand Marching Band - We Will Convince You

This EP contains 4 songs by 16-22 (!!) members of a musical group from Glasgow. They play with traditional and nontraditional instruments. They've released 2 CD's so far and this is the third. I love the melodies there, so warm and peaceful...

Daniel And The Sparrows - Of Towers And Higher Grounds

Recorded in a few countries in Asia such as Singapore, Cambodia and Japan and Chicago on the other side of the world. Daniel And The Sparrows made a beautiful album, which make you feel like you're flying lightly all over the world. 
The Galleons - Cloud Physics

They might be the next thing from Brighton. A five piece band, who play Folk and Alternative music, based mainly on Acoustic instruments. Their debut album sounds like pro and their voices reminded me somehow The Delgados, try to find them in the next gig near your home


Marine Dreams - Corner Of The Eye

Marine Dreams is the moniker of Ian Kehoe, a young musician from Welland, Ontario. His new album named Corner Of The Eye is a beautiful piece of Pop mixture with Folk.
Kennedy Cult - Direct Influence

Another act from Ontario, come from Peterborough. This trio makes something they call Heartbreak Pop. It reminded me some tunes from the 80's with the Saxophone sound there.

Goldfrapp

Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, are active since 1999. They began their career together when they were over 30 and released a magnificent debut album named Felt Mountain, which was Trip Hop and Soft Electronic. Their second, Black Cherry, was more Electronic than Trip Hop and than they tried other directions such as EDM (Supernature, 2005) and Ambient/Downtempo (Seventh Tree, 2008). So when I started listening to what they are preparing, I could just guess that it would be different from the other releases so far. Seems I was right. Their new release is an Acoustic, Soft Electronic and Trip Hop album. I can categorise it between their debut album and Seventh Tree. And it's good as it sounds. I know it might disappoint some of the EDM fans but, there are a lot of beautiful songs, mainly named after persons. I think that Tales Of Us is going to be one of my favourites this winter. Here are five songs by this wonderful duo from London.

Pilots (Felt Mountain, 2000)

 

Annabel (Tales Of Us, 2013)

Number 1 (Supernature, 2005)

Laurel (Tales Of Us, 2013)

Forever (Black Cherry, 2003)

Manic Street Preachers

Manic Street Preachers were formed in Blackwood, Wales in the middle 80's. Consisting of James Dean Bradfield, Nickey Wire and Sean Moore they create Alternative Rock songs based on social critique lyrics. Although they lost their brilliant guitarist, Richey Edwards, who suddenly disappeared in 1995, they continue to be one of the most important English Rock bands in the last two and a half decades. Their new album, Rewind The Film, is pretty quiet comparing to earlier releases, but you can still find there some great songs and wonderful collaboration with Cate Le Bon, Richard Hawley and Lucy Rose. If you rewind the film 15 years and about a week back, we can meet the date they released This Is My Truth, Tell Me yours, their most successful album to date. 15 years after it seems that Manic Street Preachers have changed the way they play but not the issues they sing about. So I've chosen 2 songs from the new album and three that good to remember....

Motorcycle Emptiness (Generation Terrorists, 1992)

Rewind The Film (Rewind The Film, 2013)

Be Natural (This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours, 1998)

4 Lonely Roads (Rewind The Film, 2013)

So Why So Sad (Know Your Enemy, 2001)

Au Revoir Simone

Au Revior Simone are an Electronic Dream Pop trio from Brooklyn, who work together since 2003. Erika Forster, Annie Hart and Heather D'Angelo have great voices, which leading to beautiful harmonies warped with sweet melodies. That's why I fell in love with their second album, The Bird Of Music (Their best so far) and the third, Still Night, Still Light. Their fourth album, Moving In Spectrums, is darker than the earlier releases and it takes time to get use to it. I think it's pretty disappointing right now, but maybe I'll change my mind later after few other listening. Meanwhile, here are five songs which reminds me why I love their music

A Violent Yet Flammable World (The Bird Of Music, 2007)

Somebody Who (Move In Spectrums, 2013)

Take Me As I Am (Still Night, Still Light, 2009) 

More Than (Move In Spectrums, 2013)

Fallen Snow (The Bird Of Music, 2007)

Mum

Mum could be the best Icelandic act in the world. They are experimental, using old and traditional music instruments to make wonderful-hazy music. This Experimental musical group has released seven albums so far but they are still less famous than Sigur Ros, the Icelandic phenomenon. Their seventh album, named Smilewound, was released last week. It exhibit the multi-instrumentalist collaboration of Electronic beats and traditional unconventional music instruments. It's not their best album so far, but it's worth listening to. For those of you who need deeper introduction, here are five songs from their albums.

The Ghosts You Draw On My Back (Summer Make Good, 2004)

Time To Scream And Shout (Smilewound, 2013)

Dancing Behind My Eyelids (Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy, 2007)

 

The Colorful Stabwound (Smilewound, 2013)

We Have A Map Of The Piano (Finally We Are No One, 2002)

Mazzy Star

2013 is a year of comebacks, that's for sure. The first to reappear was My Bloody Valentine after over two decades without new releases and then came David Bowie, Suede, The Pastels, Pixies, Nine Inch Nails, Queens Of The Stone Age. After listening to Mazzy Star's new release, Seasons Of Your Day, after 17 years hiatus, it might be one of the best comebacks this year for a simple reason: They continued the sound that they created in the early 90's. Sometimes, innovation in music can put forward some acts, but sometimes it's better to stay on the safe side. Hope Sandoval and David Roback are returning with the familiar sound, minimal production and the soft voice of Sandoval, creating a beautiful winter time album. For those of you who don't remember how good they are, here are five reminders

Fade Into You (So Tonight That I Might See, 1993)

 

California (Seasons Of Your Day, 2013)

Flowers In December (Among My Swan, 1996)

Common Burn (Seasons Of Your Day, 2013)

Look On Down From The Bridge (Among My Swan, 1996)

Emiliana Torrini

I fell in love with Emiliana Torrini's music, an Icelandic singer-songwriter, when I listened to her debut English album Love In The Times Of Science (1999). Her voice was perfectly fitting to the Trip-Hop rhythm of that album. Since then she became more close to Indie-Folk but still leaving her soft, partly-broken voice marks on some wonderful songs and covers. I was pretty excited to discover that she released a new album, her Sixth so far, which continues in some way the musical direction of her earlier 2008's release, Me And Armini. Those of you who love beautiful ballads and Acoustic Folk songs would love this new release. And for those of you who missed her so far, here are five reasons to go back and listen to her discography.

Gollum's Song (The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers OST, 2002)

Speed Of Dark (Tookah, 2013)

Birds (Me And Armini, 2008)

Animal Games (Tookah, 2013)

To Be Free (Love In The Times Of Science, 1999)

Pixies

When Pixies published on June 2013, that vocalist and bassist Kim Deal has officially left the band, it seems that it's the end of one of the most influental bands since their debut Surfer Rosa in 1988. Nothing prepares me to the surprise called Bagboy, the first new single in ten years that was released shortly after Deal's departure and the wonderful 5 songs EP named simply EP-1. Black Francis, Joey Santiago, David Lovering and Kim Shattuck sound as refreshing as they sounded in the 90's. I picked two songs from the new EP: Bagboy and beautiful Indie Cindy and three songs that I love from their earlier releases.

Where is My Mind (Surfer Rosa, 1988)

 

Indie Cindy (EP1, 2013)

Wave Of Mutilation (Doolittle, 1989)

Bagboy (EP1, 2013)

Ana (Bossanova, 1990)

Julia Holter

Julia Holter is a talented 28 years old Experimental artist from Los Angeles. Last month she released her third LP called Loud City Song, which is based on Colette's novella, Gigi. Unlike her previous releases, Tragedy and Ekstasis, which were recorded mainly in her bedroom, this one was recorded with an ensemble of musicians. For my opinion (and many other music blogs), it might be one of the best albums of 2013. Those of you who llike Julianna Barwick and Laurie Anderson may love it too, here are five reasons to fall in love...

Gold Dust Woman (Fleetwood Mac Cover, Rumours Revisited, 2012)

 Our Sorrows (Ekstasis, 2012)

He's Running Through My Eyes (Loud City Song, 2013)

Boy In The Moon (Ekstasis, 2012)

Horns Surrounding Me (Loud City Song, 2013)