2007, part 7
More mp3s from the wild world of 2007. An exceptional batch this week.
hxxp://www.sendspace.com/file/8vvkq4
hxxp = http. Copy, paste, change.
Castanets "Rain Will Come"
I can't stand Sufjan Stevens, and it sort of surprises me that Castanets is on his label. They play spacy country songs with immense guitar freakouts. Unique and wonderful. "In the Vines" is their third and most cohesive record.
Jesu "Lifeline"
Justin Broadrick's sound degenerates further on this nearly unlistenable four-song ep. You may notice that this, the title track, is good. The rest of the ep is not. In my humble opinion. I'm sorry, Justin. I loved you once. At least you still put on a great live show.
Panda Bear "Take Pills"
Panda Bear's second solo album is a huge swing from the morose collection of tunes he dedicated to his father some years ago. Echoey and fun pop - The Beach Boys through frosted glass and broken tape decks. The longer (10+ minute) songs on "Person Pitch" build and build into these crescendos of loops and harmonies that are downright ecstatic. I love this record.
Jason Webley "Little Sister"
Jason decided to get a real band for "The Cost of Living" and play the rock star. It works live but it does not work so well on the record, and the best songs are his quieter folky moments and strange sentimental songs. In fact, if you only play the odd numbered songs, it's a very moving CD. Not that the evens are bad, but they they can be a bit silly if you ask me. "Little Sister" is somewhere in between, a discordant gypsy-tinged dance tune.
Mountain Home "Comes, the Winter"
Greg Weeks of Espers started a record label this year, and Mountain Home is a great start. It's an easy comparison to Espers, and if you like their artful blend of traditional and new psychedelic folk, then methinks you are guaranteed to enjoy this. Distinctive, uncredited vocals from Marissa Nadler on over half the album make it an unintentionally perfect companion to "Bird on the Water."
TenHornedBeast "Oppression Sacrament"
First proper CD from Christopher Walton after two limited edition CDRs. His former membership in Endura shows through, although this is guitar-based, apocalyptic ambient a la Sunn O))) rather than synthy ritual stuff. It's a good listen for when the mood is right and the stars are in place. Cavernous and doomy.
Sigur Rós "Von"
Iceland's darlings recently released "Hvarf/Heim", a double ep in a unique little fold-out package. "Hvarf" is a collection of older and rare tunes, including one that was previously only on vinyl. "Heim" is six selections a series of free acoustic performances in natural and historic settings throughout their homeland. The tour is documented in the new DVD "Heima" which is probably amazing. "Von" appears on both discs, so I figured I'd post the live version here.
Kiln "Fyrepond"
Kiln play a mellow and masterful blend of loungy IDM and live instrumentation. Although not my favorite of thiers, "Dusker" is a decent record and good followup to "Sunbox."
Meg Baird "Maiden in the Moor Lay"
Another Espers-related project! Meg Baird is the lead vocalist for Espers, and Drag City released her solo record "Der Companion" this year. It's a nice collection of traditional and contemporary folk songs, with two or three originals. Despite it's trad-sounding title, "Maiden in the Moor Lay" is one of the originals.
Damon & Naomi "Lilac Land"
If it wasn't for the damn saxophone, I would really like this record. There it is, creeping into more than its fair share of songs on "Within These Walls." This is sickly sweet (even more so than usual) dreamy pop-folk from indie music's most punchably cute couple. If you look at the album cover from a distance and squint, it looks like the glass is full of dead baby mice.
hxxp://www.sendspace.com/file/8vvkq4
hxxp = http. Copy, paste, change.
Castanets "Rain Will Come"
I can't stand Sufjan Stevens, and it sort of surprises me that Castanets is on his label. They play spacy country songs with immense guitar freakouts. Unique and wonderful. "In the Vines" is their third and most cohesive record.
Jesu "Lifeline"
Justin Broadrick's sound degenerates further on this nearly unlistenable four-song ep. You may notice that this, the title track, is good. The rest of the ep is not. In my humble opinion. I'm sorry, Justin. I loved you once. At least you still put on a great live show.
Panda Bear "Take Pills"
Panda Bear's second solo album is a huge swing from the morose collection of tunes he dedicated to his father some years ago. Echoey and fun pop - The Beach Boys through frosted glass and broken tape decks. The longer (10+ minute) songs on "Person Pitch" build and build into these crescendos of loops and harmonies that are downright ecstatic. I love this record.
Jason Webley "Little Sister"
Jason decided to get a real band for "The Cost of Living" and play the rock star. It works live but it does not work so well on the record, and the best songs are his quieter folky moments and strange sentimental songs. In fact, if you only play the odd numbered songs, it's a very moving CD. Not that the evens are bad, but they they can be a bit silly if you ask me. "Little Sister" is somewhere in between, a discordant gypsy-tinged dance tune.
Mountain Home "Comes, the Winter"
Greg Weeks of Espers started a record label this year, and Mountain Home is a great start. It's an easy comparison to Espers, and if you like their artful blend of traditional and new psychedelic folk, then methinks you are guaranteed to enjoy this. Distinctive, uncredited vocals from Marissa Nadler on over half the album make it an unintentionally perfect companion to "Bird on the Water."
TenHornedBeast "Oppression Sacrament"
First proper CD from Christopher Walton after two limited edition CDRs. His former membership in Endura shows through, although this is guitar-based, apocalyptic ambient a la Sunn O))) rather than synthy ritual stuff. It's a good listen for when the mood is right and the stars are in place. Cavernous and doomy.
Sigur Rós "Von"
Iceland's darlings recently released "Hvarf/Heim", a double ep in a unique little fold-out package. "Hvarf" is a collection of older and rare tunes, including one that was previously only on vinyl. "Heim" is six selections a series of free acoustic performances in natural and historic settings throughout their homeland. The tour is documented in the new DVD "Heima" which is probably amazing. "Von" appears on both discs, so I figured I'd post the live version here.
Kiln "Fyrepond"
Kiln play a mellow and masterful blend of loungy IDM and live instrumentation. Although not my favorite of thiers, "Dusker" is a decent record and good followup to "Sunbox."
Meg Baird "Maiden in the Moor Lay"
Another Espers-related project! Meg Baird is the lead vocalist for Espers, and Drag City released her solo record "Der Companion" this year. It's a nice collection of traditional and contemporary folk songs, with two or three originals. Despite it's trad-sounding title, "Maiden in the Moor Lay" is one of the originals.
Damon & Naomi "Lilac Land"
If it wasn't for the damn saxophone, I would really like this record. There it is, creeping into more than its fair share of songs on "Within These Walls." This is sickly sweet (even more so than usual) dreamy pop-folk from indie music's most punchably cute couple. If you look at the album cover from a distance and squint, it looks like the glass is full of dead baby mice.