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| MARCH 2010 NEWS |
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010 IN MEMORY: MARK LINKOUS OF SPARKLEHORSE TAKES OWN LIFE
In sad news, Sparklehorse architect Mark Linkous took his own life via a self inflicted gunshot wound in Knoxville, Tennessee last Saturday. He was 47. It is well known that the reclusive Linkous had a troubled history with depression and had a near death experience in 1996 in London after an overdose on a number of substances. Linkous was responsible for four albums in his stellar career, the last of which appeared in 2006, Dreamt Of Light Years In The Belly Of A Mountain. He has played with a number of luminaries Tom Waits, Vic Chesnutt, PJ Harvey and Danger Mouse among others who have lent their support to his albums. He had recently collaborated with the latter and David Lynch on the audio/visual collaboration Dark Night Of The Soul and was thought to be working on a new album when he died. The music world has lost an vitally important figure. His family have released the following statement; “It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and family member, Mark Linkous, took his own life today. We are thankful for his time with us and will hold him forever in our hearts. May his journey be peaceful, happy and free. There’s a heaven and there’s a star for you.”
Comfort MeSparklehorse (USA)From the album 'It's A Wonderful Life', Capitol (2001)
Monday, March 8, 2010 GET YOUR REMIX FIX WITH REGULAR NEW INDIE30 FEATURE
Love a good remix? Who doesn't?! Well now you can check out the latest and best remixes from the indie music scene right here, in a regular new feature on Indie30. Here are five to get the ball rolling. Hot Chip - I Feel Better (Kid Cola Remix)
Hailing from Cambridge, England, KiD COLA is starting to make big waves on the DJ scene after only being in the game for a short while. He recently played a gig in Copenhagen, his first international booking and by all accounts he tore the place up. Working from a laptop (and proud of it) he says it gives him freedom to create real time remixes in his sets. With the 'I Feel Better' remix he brings the female vocals in at the 1:30 mark after a nice energetic build up, loses the violins and the male vocals from the original and delivers a remix that retains the essence of the original. KiD COLA is one to look out for. Download here
Goldfrapp - Rocket (Richard X One Zero remix)
The first single off Goldfrapp's forthcoming album Head First (released March 22 in the UK, a day later in the US) has had the Richard X treatment and it's a beauty. Sounding somewhat less 80s than the original version, the 'Rocket One Zero remix' begins with slow droney build up rather than the Van Halen inspired keyboards (they do feature to a lesser degree throughout the track however). Richard X has made a name for himself after beginning his career by producing underground bootleg mashups. Getting the attention of Island Records after they heard 'We Don't Give A Damn About Our Friends', the track ended up being re-recorded in his flat by the Sugarbabes and made it to number one on the UK singles chart. Download here
Massive Attack (feat. Hope Sandoval) - Paradise Circus (Gui Boratto remix)
With two albums, fourteen EPs/ singles and a swag of remixes under his belt, Gui Boratto is a busy man. The Brazilian has remixed the likes of the Pet Shop Boys, Goldfrapp, Bomb The Bass, Moby and more recently Massive Attack. 'Paradise Circus' from Heligoland features Hope Sandoval as MA's guest, with her whispery and silky vocals over a beautiful bass and a beat that kicks the track along nicely without taking away the charm of the original. Download here
The Antlers - Two (Buffetlibre remix)
The Barcelona based DJ collective Buffetlibre have turned the Antler's track 'Two' into a whole new experience, a total reinvention. After hearing the original, it isn't one that you would instantly think 'remix!' but Buffetlibre have pulled it off nicely. The DJs have forgone the plucky acoustic guitars and added synths and piano to create one of the most catchy remixes that I've heard in ages. Download here
MillionYoung - Cynthia (Letting Up Despite Great Faults remix)
Florida based MillionYoung (Mike Diaz) has the feeling of summer firmly embedded into his tracks and 'Cynthia' has it in spades. Letting Up Despite Great Faults, from the opposite coast in LA, take this track and add another layer to it, not creating anything strikingly different, just putting their own stamp on it. A slightly different opening, bringing in the beat after the main vocals but retaining the general feeling of the track. The far away sounding vocals mixed in amongst the synths and loops makes for a nice chilled tune for a lazy Sunday. The atmosphere of an endless summer in MillionYoung's and LUDGF's respective hometowns has helped create a seamless collaboration and a standout remix. Download here
Sunday, March 7, 2010 NEW TOP 30 JUST ADDEDCLICK HEREJOANNA NEWSOM TO NO. 1 WHILE THE BESNARD LAKES ROAR INTO THE CHART
Feature album artist (see review immediately below) Joanna Newsom took the number one spot from Four Tet on the week's Top 30 with her track 'Good Intentions Paving Company'. It ends Love Cry's three week run at the top which had to settle for second place. There were moves by Antwerp outfit The Go Find with the hypnotic and spacious title track from their album 'Everybody Knows It's Gonna Happen Only Not Tonight' (up from 12 to 3) and Gothenburg's Radio Dept with their deceptively sunny number 'Heaven's On Fire' (up 10 to 4). The Besnard Lakes, in an appropriate move given the title of their new album roared into the chart with the interestingly titled seven minute music explosion that is 'Like The Ocean, Like The Innocent Part 1: The Innocent. There were three other debuts this week, MillionYoung's track 'Cynthia' at 21, Angus And Julia Stone's 'And The Boys' at 23 and it was case of one in one out for Frightened Rabbit as the rollickingly new single 'Nothing Like You' came in at 25. Click the LATEST TOP 30 link in the centre tab above to access the chart from 30 to 1 with links to download every song. Each track also has either an official clip, live performance of the track in question or audio track to stream via youtube.
Saturday, March 6, 2010 FEATURE ALBUM: WE'LL HAVE ONE ON JOANNA ANY DAY
The new triple album from Joanna Newsom, Have One On Me, all things being fair and equal, should put her high up among the very best solo artists of all time. Sure, she's not going to sell truckloads of albums but critically Newsom has hit the upper stratosphere with this recording. Put quite simply, Have One On Me packs more into a record lyrically, musically and emotionally, than any artist has, male or female, for many years. While the harp is still the central element and there are many references to debut The Milk Eyed Mender and the ambitious follow up, Y's in both a vocal signature and musical sense, structurally and melodically, this third effort stretches beyond both of those releases in its depth and clarity. There is also something organic and natural about all eighteen tracks and nothing seems forced or overdone. Just take a listen to the epic eleven minute title track on which Newsom's harp is accompanied by what only can be described as a mini orchestra with instrumentation as widely diverse as the artists imagination. A Bulgarian Tambura, a Kaval, a Tarhu and a Kemence sit alongside the more tradiitional piano, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, horn and violin. With Ryan Francesconi at the helm arranging and conducting though, the relentless arrangements of Van Dyke Parks have been replaced by time and space, giving the track the room to breath that is necessary to feed Newsom's emotionally driven lyrics and vocal arrangements. What also transpires in thinking as the track travels along is the subtle percussion arrangements by Neal Morgan, a highlight on the album throughout. 'The Good Intentions Paving Company' is a standout among standouts and one of the more accessible and straight ahead tracks on an album that still, as Newsom is want to do, confounds and eludes. Her piano provides the base as Neal Morgan's drums pound along interspersed with with quiet and poignant moments giving creedence to the space aforementioned as Newsom plays on words in lines such as 'It had a nice ring to it, when the opry house rang, so with a solemn auld lang syne, sealed, delivered, I sang'. Vocal dexterity is also on display as she alternates between four or five incarnations of tone. Other highlights include the exquisite ode to her home state 'In California' which carries evocative imagery and delicate vocals that hint at the nodule issues she reportedly had last year. But far from affecting her voice negatively, the recovery has actually added another dimension to it. 'Jackrabbits', a gorgeously sparse song with just harp and vocals is a perfect chaser with a chorus that threatens to open up the tear ducts as Newsom's intonations insist somewhat unconvincingly that she can move on from a past mistake and love again. The strong second side continues with the heartfelt 'Go Long' that speaks of the inpenetrability of relationships. The third side suffers little in comparison the with the first two and if taken on its own merits as an album in itself it would still attract high praise and be more than worthy of it. 'Esme', with its lovingly crafted imagery will stand the test of time and 'Kingfisher' reminds of what attracted us so much to Y's. Have One On Me is a very special recording from a very special recording artist - a triumph of musical and lyrical intelligence and lasting piece of music history that in twenty or thirty years time will be looked upon as having a place high up in the pantheon of the best albums of all time. It's just that good.
Friday, March 5, 2010 PHOSPHORESCENT REVEALS DETAILS FOR NEW ALBUM
Alabama born and now New York City based Matthew Houck is set to follow up last years tribute album to Willie Nelson with his first album of original Phosphorescent tracks since the releases of Pride back in 2007. The album will be called Here's To Taking It Easy and will feature more than just Houck himself. His live band joined him in the studio for the recording at Headgear Studios with Alex Lipsen and then Houck took the raw material to Stuart Sikes for the mix. The first mp3 to be shared is the aptly titled country hoedown of 'It's Hard To Be Humble (When Your'e From Alabama)' which you can download at the link below. Here's To Taking It Easy will see the light of day on May 11. Tracklisting
1. It's Hard To Be Humble (When You're From Alabama)
It's Hard To Be Humble (When Your'e From Alabama)Phosphorescent (USA)From the forthcoming album 'Here's To Taking It Easy', Dead Oceans. Out on May 11.Download here
Thursday, March 4, 2010 THIS WEEKS NEW RELEASES: THESE NEW PURITANS, TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB, GOLDEN TRIANGLE, AND JAPANTHER
Although there is little in the way of 'name' bands, whatever that's supposed to mean in indie circles, there were still some gems among this week's new releases. The track 'Attack Music' by London based electronic rock band These New Puritans recently entered the Top 10 on the Indie30 chart and the band released their album, Hidden this week to satisfying reviews. The long awaited debut by Bangor indie electro-popsters Two Door Cinema Club, Tourist History finally hit the stores in Europe and the UK, (not sure about U.S., anyone?) Brooklyn indie noise pop outfit Golden Triangle were joined by fellow Brooklynites Japanther, who we featured in our Songs In The Key Of Blog section last month in releasing Double Jointer and Rock 'n Roll Ice Cream respectively. Sheffield retro 60s pop duo Slow Club, after contributing to some commercials released their first long recording of any substance in the US in the way of Yeah So (out last year in the UK) as did Oakland's Rogue Wave, who dropped their second album for Sub Pop, Permalight. The releases of note are completed by Bryce Dresner's original project Clogs putting out album number five, The Creatures In The Garden Of Lady Walton with the EP Veil Waltz simultaneously, Portland's unusually named A Weather with Everyday Balloons and Auckland trio The Ruby Suns third album Fight Softly.
Fire-Power These New Puritans (ENG)From the album 'Hidden', Domino Download here
I Can't TalkTwo Door Cinema Club (IRE)From the album 'Tourist History', KitsuneDownload here
JinxGolden Triangle (USA)From the album 'Double Jointer, Hardly Art Download here
Spread So ThinJapanther (USA)From the album 'Rock N' Roll Ice Cream', Menlo Park Download here
Giving Up On Love Slow Club (ENG)From the album 'Yeah So', Moshi MoshiDownload here
Solitary Gun Rogue Wave (USA)From the album 'Permalight', Brushfire Download here
On The Edge Clogs (USA)From the album 'The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton', BrasslandDownload here
Giant Stairs A Weather (USA)From the album 'Everyday Balloons', Team Love Download here
Cranberry Ruby Suns (NZL)From the album 'Fight Softly', Lil' Chief/Sub Pop Download here
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 FLORIDA DUO ELECTRIC PRESIDENT RELEASE THIRD LP
Florida duo Ben Cooper and Alex Kane have been making introspective, confounding and bittersweet indie pop for a few years now and seem to have been noticed more in European circles than in their homeland. Their third album, The violent Blue was released last week and is a continuation of the contradiction inherent between the bands chilling and intense lyrics and their warm and inviting music. The tracks 'Safe And Sound' and 'Feathers' available for download at the link below are perfect examples. The Violent Blue is out now through Fake Four. Safe And Sound |
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