24-12-2013: Track Campfires - Time For A Ride
Another song from an album that has been playing a lot here since it's release in Februari, but never made it into an item. With the year closing and Christmas only a few hours away, I'm trying to make up for items lost. I hope Campfires forgives for being this slow and that you're not too busy cooking and shopping to be missing out on this great song. And be sure to check out the entire recording of Tomorrow, Tomorrow if you like what you hear!
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19-12-2013: Album Kill County - Dust In Wire
The best "country"-album of 2013. Although I don't think this is pure country and the band prefers to call it acoustic alt-folk. Which actually is a much better name for it. But fuck the tags, let's just call it what it is: a haunting and addictive album.
The album was released in April and it's been sitting among the top of my favs list for months now, but I never got around to writing a little something on it. Mostly because I don't understand country music and it is so fucking difficult to select a few songs from this record, because they are all equally epic.
With the year coming to an end, I scroll through all the records that have been stored on my laptop for months and have never claimed their little moment of fame. I actually delete a lot and finally fall in love with a few. This is one of the records that I've fallen in love with in little bits over the last 6 months. Just tonight I've finally decided I need this on vinyl. And by that I immediately force this on you, in a good way. Although I spend shitloads of money on music every year, I still consider every bought record a must-hear (you won't believe the amounts of music I hear, enjoy and don't buy..).
So fuck yearlists and everything else that comes with it. This is another record that I think is worth hearing. Whether it's December of June, this is best enjoyed with a cold can of beer and a smoke. But even without any of those, this is a beauty. And I'm gonna enjoy the shit out of this on my record player once this arrives (might be awesome on Christmas eve, hope it'll get here on time..).
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14-12-2013: Track Drvg Cvltvre - Cloaked
Now this is how I should celebrate every weekend! Oblivion is a 6-track mixtape from Dutch producer Drvg Cvltvre you can download for free or order on tape (!!) for a small price. Got my copy last week, hasn't been out my walkman ever since.
Epic oldschool tunes, best enjoyed in style on tape.
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10-12-2013: Album Beccy Owen - IMAGO
This year is slowly coming to an end. Bloggers are looking back, the people that claim to know what they're talking about are already looking ahead into 2014. And I'm just sitting here enjoying another 2013-masterpiece.
If you are wondering who Beccy Owen is, you can could use Google. You could look into the 4 items I've written about her in the last 7 months. You might even have a look at her Facebook, read her Twitter or visit her website (if she has one..). But the best way to really get to know her is by listening to this album.
Beccy Owen doesn't hold back and tells us all about herself. The good, the bad and the ugly. She wraps her little personal stories in breathtaking music. Making this a musical experience beyond the mind or ear. It's much more than just a collection of music, it's a 31-minute trip that takes you through all the emotions Beccy has gone through in the past. And that's a lot to take, but it's completely worth it.
I remember listening to her 2002-debut this Summer over and over again and being very curious and a little scared about her upcoming work for IMAGO. Could she really write an even better collection of songs? I have been disappointed by so many artists in the past when they'd release new music. Beccy Owen is the exception to the rule, this is even better than anything I've ever heard from her. I've instantly forgotten what that debut album sounds like. When I think Beccy Owen, I think IMAGO. I think talent. I think beauty. I think I'm a little bit in love.
I'm not this fanatic about an album that I've barely heard as it was released 24 hours ago. Beccy shared a review version with me a few weeks ago and I'll admit it took me a few days before the love started to bloom. It needed a few spins, but I'm sure I've heard the album more than a 100 times in just a few weeks. Yes, that does mean about 4-5 times a day for 3 weeks straight. It is thát good (I'm getting a little Jeremy Clarkson-vibe here).
I remember tweeting about "You Can't Afford To Feel It" and saying it's not as beautiful as the live version that was used as a pre-release teaser some time ago. But I'll have to take that back. Now that I've heard it a few dozen times I love the album version at least as much as the live version. Her voice is warmer live, but the extra layers of an album version work very well here. Just like any other note on this album, it's perfect as it is.
I apologize for being this euphoric about an album. But as it doesn't happen very often that I'm this passionate about a record I guess that makes it even more clear that I'm absolutely in love with this album. I know I've used the phrase Best Album of the Year before (just a few weeks ago for Jeroen Kant, but this is the last time and this is just a little bit more real than any other time: Best Album of 2013. No doubt about it.
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06-12-2013: mixtape Well-Played 002: Slow Down
There's nothing like taking a little quiet time after a long and rough week. Just let the world be for what it is, ignore the universe and take a step back. Play some easy tunes. Cook yourself a fine meal. Open up a bottle of wine and maybe read a little in a book that doesn't take a whole lot of your attention to still be interesting. Most of those things are up to you, but I can provide some fine relaxing tunes. While I'm cooking an easy, but delicious dinner, with a great cigar & beautiful bottle of wine impatiently waiting for me. Have a relaxin' Friday night, my friends.
Taken from SUMIE's self-titled debut album released last Monday.
Keaton Henson - 10am, Gare du Nord: What's not to love about this?!
First single off Katie Bulley's debut solo album 'Lone Wolf'. Set for release Spring of 2014.
Tessera Skies - Soliloquy of an Astronaut: Amazing title, beautiful song.
Sam Morrow has such a fine voice and this is such a great song.
"My name is Jeffrey Wright and I wrote an album for my son, Owen. He was born on August 8th, 2013." How cool is that? And this instrumental album is very much worth hearing.
Love the song. Love the video. You might be reading something, but it would be a shame if you'd miss out on the vid, although it might just be drawing your attention away from the song.
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7 tracks for the weekend. Or Monday morning. Or Thursday afternoon. Whenever you feel like taking it down a notch, relax with some fine music. It never fails me and I hope it'll work just as good for you. Now to set fire to that cigar & have myself another glass of wine. Cheers!
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03-12-2013: Track Richard J. Birkin - Accretions / A Lullaby Hymn (Parts I & II)
More instrumental beauty: Richard J. Birkin's "Accretions" and "A Lullaby Hymn (Parts I & II)" are 2 beautiful pieces of music. I tried to explain all the things you're hearing, but he's done it so much better himself in the press release:
“Accretion discs are the beautiful tails of a black hole, formed by stars being dragged into that invisible thing that spells the end of matter, the observable universe, and known physics. They’re nightmarish, really. But from this distance they’re beautiful stationary things. By the time we look at them they’ll’ve already spiralled, changed, moved, chewed up who knows how many worlds.
I have this endearing image in my head of an astronaut paused infinitely on the edge of a black hole, as the explanation of what happens when you get there. I think this comes from a junior school book on space, where everything is simplified, where wonder is prized over fact.”
A Lullaby Hymn (Parts I & II) has a less overwhelming description, but in the end it's the sounds that matters the most. And both tracks are equally beautiful, so all is good in the sound department. I love these tracks and there's a lot more great music on his soundcloud-page, so be sure to check that out if you're loving it as much as I do.
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