Three years have passed by since Damon Gough aka Badly Drawn Boy released his last album Born in the UK. And with "Is there nothing we could do?" he made his second film score. There's no need to say many words about the film, because "The fattest man in Britain" is a mediocre comedy-drama-whatever, surprisingly about the the fattest man in Britain.
So let's stick to the album. It's no surprise either, but in a good way.
His songs are smooth but thrilling and the lyrics are often painful but swell.
Damon Gough proves one more time that he is an outstanding singer and songwriter with a unique style. Gone are the days, when he was compared to Beck, because of his way to merge apparently contradicting musical genres.
So, ignore the film quote samples in the songs and enjoy a selection of beautiful and timeless pop songs. Yummy!
Cai Marle-Garcia's debut album is like meeting an old friend after many years. He looks a bit different, but you'll definitely recognize him. And after a small talk everything is just like back in the ol' days and you wonder how you could ever forget about him.
Mr. Ears is an amazing piece of jazz fusion, this almost forgotten genre that combines jazz with rock, funk, world and electronic music elements. Although his influences are obvious (Weather Report and Miles Davis) it's contemporary jazz fusion. He creates a deep organic sound and his compositions sometimes hint at Krautrock or even House.
The 22 year old bass player is a pretty talented composer and an awesome musician.
The jazz scene will perk up its ears, no doubt.
Finding a little whip on your boyfriend's or girlfriend's bedside table can be a nasty surprise (unless you like to be beaten up). And reading about a new 4Hero remix album could have been the same. A real nasty surprise. But fortunately it's the opposite. No House-Dancefloor-Club-Disco remixes, but relaxed and chilled Nu Jazz sounds. Dego McFarlane and Marc Mac chose the artists, did some recording, mixing and co-producing and made a record that doesn't deserve the stamp "remix". These are twelve beautiful cover versions, sometimes light-years away from the original. Good to know that two pioneers remain true to themselves. Do something nobody expects, but everyone is waiting for.
The best thing about EBONY BONES!' debut album "Bone of my bones", is the fact, that all music critics will rack their brains to describe her style. At the end it will be something like "electronic punk-funk-rock". I recommend these people should face the truth: she gives a damn about genres. And how she does that, sounds and looks pretty good.
How do you make a traditional blackmail letter? Right, you cut several characters from different magazines, put them together again and create a new meaning. HUDSON MOHAWKES' debut "butter" is like a musical blackmail. And believe me, even if you'll pay the ransom, he won't release you.
Cheers! THE NEW WINE is from the same growing area as "The Whitest Boy Alive", slightly less complexity and character, but a bit more tangy. Without a doubt a good vintage and THE NEW WINE will improve with age.
Be quiet as a mouse, otherwise you might scare RAZ OHARA AND THE ODD ORCHESTRAS' second album (II) off. The finely wrought sound image made of acoustic pop elements, harmonic distortions, strings and loops must be treated gently. But if you do, it will unfold its full dramaturgical beauty.
If ALEXANDER WOLFE wouldn't have sold a Rembrandt Lithograph print, left to him by his grandfather in his will, to record his debut album "Morning brings a flood", we would definitely miss eleven shatteringly soulful folk pieces. Selling art to create art is sometimes necessary.
The fact that WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS is a psychotherapist from Illinois who makes depressing folk music about love and loss, shouldn't keep you from buying his records. Far from it. His music is veritable, profound and beautiful. On top of this, he is one of the funniest and most honest people I've ever seen live.
I dare say BEN HOWARD is the most impressive folk musician these days. This 22 year old guy has got a remarkable voice, a pretty unique way to play his guitar and writes outrageously beautiful songs. I'm almost scared, what he might be capable of doing in a few years. He will hopefully launch his album in 2010, so until then: buy his EP "These Waters" and watch him live, it's both worth it.
The BEACONS are like Noah's Ark for weird instruments. Refreshingly folk-pop with a hawaiian touch in combination with harp sounds, xylophone, something like a triola and a strange voodoo puppet flute. Ship ahoy!
The sun is shining brighter, the people are happier and the grass is greener on the side where JONATHAN JEREMIAH songs are played. He's the misbegotten child of Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers. Pick some flowers, hug someone you don't know and watch out for his debut album "Fool in Love".
I'm still trying to handle the fact that JOSE JAMES debut "The Dreamer" was a like a miracle for contemporary jazz. From the first to the last note an absolute pleasure to listen to. So, knowing that he will launch his second album "Blackmagic" in February 2010 gives me a sleep disorder. And if you listen to the new songs on myspace, you'll know what I mean. Enter at your own risk...
A soundtrack is made as a musical background to a movie. Listening to OLAFUR ARNALDS, I wish someone would make a movie as a visual background to his music. It would be a depressing and sad love story, taking place in a cold snow-covered scenery and someone has to die in the end. But it would be a must-see, a critics' darling and a classic.
Last but not least I have to ask a really essential question: what happened to REMY SHAND?
This guy has been torturing me for seven years. Shortly after he released his debut album "The way I feel" in 2002, he disappeared from the face of the planet. Where? Why? How? Anyway, I hope he's currently preparing new songs and not burgers at McDonald's.
Alright, I know you've had quite enough of all these 80s wannbe bands.
But this is something different. This is unbelievable. And I think I move to Denmark.
Maybe this was kind of a marketing strategy "hey, we're called private, let's keep it that way."
They released their debut album in 2007 and wow! two years later they're No.1 one the UK Music Week Club charts.
But as we all know, haste makes waste. And they are definitely the opposite.
When Prince listened to the song "Let's make love (underneath the apple tree)" he thought of giving himself a new pseudonym, something like TAFKABCOWSS (the artist formerly known as being capable of writing such songs). Just a guess.
This is sophisticated, luxurious pop on it's climax. And I mean it in an absolute carnal sense.
You wanna scream "take me" when the beat hits your body or at least groan a little bit...
You're exhausted and breathless when it's over, but pretty sure you wanna do it again. And again.
And as we all sometimes just need something to snuggle against, I'm happy to announce that Thomas Troelsen aka "head of Private" is planning a classical album. After writing a classical piece for the 2008's fashion show of Danish fashion brand "Noir", looks like he tasted blood.
Writing this review I'm still getting teary-eyed. This was no gig, this was a soul soft porn. There was love in the air, sweat running down the walls and tears on the dancefloor.
Andrew Cohen aka Mayer Hawthorne looks like Buddy Holly and sounds like Smokey Robinson AND The Miracles.
And I have to admit with lyrics like "I may not be a rich attorney, but i'll win back girl's heart in the trial of love" he had not only turned my legs to jelly.
It was like a one hour slingshot to the 60s: the style, the music, the gestures.
But the funniest thing was, he didn't take himself seriously, and that's what made the show authentic.
For instance playing a reggae version of "Just ain't gonna work out":
I guess we will hear a lot more from Andrew Cohen.
And I'm looking forward to his next "character".
Uh!
Still can´t believe, getting to the real Drone-Concert of L.A. Proud ISIS at about 9 pm and just catching the last 3 Songs... How bad was it, please?!?!
O.K. the entry was at 7, but ... I expected wired Rock-Freaks, smoking crack and heroine on stage, rockin´ like hell, starting late untill 3 in the morning.... What I saw was entertainment at its finest. Crystal clear sounds, sylish stageshow and very... intellectual audience...listening, dreamring, eyes closed and body swaying slowly!
Technical perfect music, remebering me of TooL, but...
Thats not what I need...live... not enough...
No Rock´n Roll Bangbang!!!!
Sorry, but I will wait for the next Studio-Album!
