26-09-2013: Track Running Red Lights - Mulberry Love
Cool new single by Running Red Lights, from their forthcoming debut LP, set for release next January. Sweet song with a great guitar solo, loved hearing this over and over again this morning and will continue to do so when I get home from work tonight.
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24-09-2013: , Track Beccy Owen - You Can't Afford To Feel It (live)
Was planning on saving this for the last day of September, as we started the month with some beautiful music by Beccy Owen. But she announced a new album for December, has reached her sponsume-goal within a day and is being crazy active on facebook thanking every 'sponsor' in person (I took a screenshot of the sweet message she gave me).
Back to the song; "You Can't Afford To Feel It" is an intense beautiful and sweet song and besides the (expected) beauty of the song, Beccy turns out to be a really funny and charming person on stage. I can't wait for the new album IMAGO to be released, but I am also really looking forward to seeing her play live. For me, another reason to visit the UK soon (as if Bridie Jackson & The Arbour or Paper Aeroplanes aren't reason enough.. maybe I should move there..). Anyway: Without a doubt the finest song I've heard all month!
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24-09-2013: Track The Almighty Rhombus - She Didn't Want Me
Could've used this fine track yesterday morning as a Monday Morning Kick-Off, but I was late & had things to do real early. Today sets out to be a shitty day, so great tunes will help me get through it. The Almighty Rhombus released this back in March and have a new song planned for next month, but after all this time the song is still addictive as fuck. It comes from a 5 track EP, so if you're in the mood for more (you should be after this), check the full EP out here.
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23-09-2013: Track Qualia - Slæpwerigne
Qualia's music has given me a lot a peace since I've first discovered his music somewhere in the Summer of 2012. His previous records are high on my 'bedroom'-playlists, because they are so perfect for relaxation. The soundscapes are slow and melodic, and they are never boring. Sometimes it builts up slowly and erupts into a massive wall of sound, but it always comes down and eventually makes you feel all warm and easy.
Be sure to hear Qualia's latest album Everything Is Going To Be Fine, from which "Slæpwerigne" is taken, the entire album is one big trip into happiness. It will probably be last thing I'll be hearing every night for the next month. Going to bed at night has just become a little more pleasant.
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22-09-2013: Track Scott Orr - A Long Life
The first song from Scott Orr's upcoming new album A Long Life is a fine Sunday morning tune. The album comes out this Tuesday on Other Songs Music, a great record label that has had a very silent year untill this release. You can pre-order it already or just wait a few more days. Based on this one song & Scott's previous work, either one won't disappoint you and I'm pretty sure I'll get back to you on this record later this year..
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19-09-2013: Album Bart van der Lee - Ballads for the Heathens or Dying
Bart van der Lee's new album Ballads for the Heathens or Dying was released just 2 weeks ago, but it went on heavy rotation for me from day one. Have a listen!
Bart van der Lee was one of the few artists performing in the singer-songwriter contest on tv that sounded really good (as you can hear for yourself) and he has now released his new album with Snowstar Records (the finest Dutch records label of the moment). He performed "She Was Like The Sunlight" and it's also on this album, together with 7 other beautiful songs (the album-version is better). His raw voice and slow guitar handling make the easier songs irresistible, but also the more noisy songs like album opener "A Mother's Song" sucks you into the album and won't let you leave untill the final note of the last song has faded out.
The last song on the album is also my personal favorite. "Waste Of Life" has a certain tragedy to it right from the start, with that beautiful trumpet. The song has a slow pace and Bart's voice is more smooth, but a little rough around the edges, giving this emotional song a perfect sad feel. I imagine this to be the perfect song to be listening to feeling really sad walking around in the rain late at night. Although it would definately not cheer you up, it would suit the moment like nothing else.
Beautiful record from a talented singer-songwriter!
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14-09-2013: Track Lime Cordiale - Sleeping At Your Door
Saturdays are made for fun music, and "Sleeping At Your Door" by Lime Cordiale is such a fun song. They have more great tunes, but this new song is the finest they've recorded so far. It's just a week old, but I'm completely hooked. Playing this track 10 times a day and it gets a little better everytime I hear it. Perfect Saturday track, if this doesn't kick off your weekend with a bang, nothing will!
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13-09-2013: Track Derek Webb - I Was Wrong, I'm Sorry & I Love You
Last month I introduced you to Derek Webb through an acoustic version of Eye Of The Hurricane. Which was intense & beautiful. Derek has a great voice & it comes out really well with just an acoustic guitar. Again he talks a little bit about his church, but it makes a little more sense this time and once the song starts magic starts happening again.
I Was Wrong, I'm Sorry & I Love You is also the title of his latest album, which just came out in between the last post about his music and this one. Although I really love these songs and the other acoustic songs on his website I'm a little scared the actual album might disappoint me after this. If you are more brave then I am, let me know how it works out.
For now: "I Was Wrong, I'm Sorry & I Love You". You know who you are.
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13-09-2013: Track Lost In The Trees - Lady In White
Beautiful new song by Lost In The Trees. Perfect for midnight, like most of their music. This is slow and dreamy, light and heavy, very much Lost In The Trees and a little different. It's more fresh, less dark. Still best enjoyed in a dark house, lit by just a few candles. Stereo set for loud, surrounding you in music, enjoying this fantastic song by one of the finest bands around!
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12-09-2013: Track Lola Bell - Animalistic
This debut single by Lola Bell is a killer! Lola Bell has done some backing vocals here and there, but "Animalistic" (release Oct. 25th) is her first solo track and I can't get enough of it. It has a little bit of that old school 90s dance, which immediately explains at least partially why I'm so crazy about it. It also helps that she has a great voice and the beats are simply perfect.
Basically, a debut single that sets high standards. Looking forward to more new tunes!
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11-09-2013: Must-Have of the Month Mars Water - Subconscious
Exactly five months ago I wrote about Mars Water’s 2012 release Tempus Fugit. I had been madly in love with it for several months and called it a true Summer-record. I still listen to it & have spent a few Summer nights with it playing on the beach stereo. and then I read something about a new album in August. I expected more up-tempo beach songs like 'Dreams' or 'Stay', both songs with Summer packed in every note and word.. I couldn’t have been more wrong; Subconscious is something completely different. Recognizable as a Mars Water album, due to Ponny Kosmas’ voice, but it ends there. Subconscious is rough, loud and in-your-face.
Subconscious is a concept album about advertising and our brains. All songs flow into each other and are meant to be listened to in one sitting, similar to watching a TV episode or movie. Sit back, turn it up, close your eyes, relax, and listen to the voices in your head.
This concept is easily found in the song titles and the lyrics, but it goes a little deeper than that. The overall feel of the album is haunting, smothering. It is an attack on your sanity with the constant grudges and loud guitars. Even the ‘easier’ songs are trying to commit murder on your brains and I can only assume the last line of Ponny’s little explanation (Sit back, turn it up, close your eyes, relax, and listen to the voices in your head) is a cynical one. There’s no relaxing, no sitting back, no voices in your head. Subconscious takes over your mind and everything in it.
Does all of that make this a bad album. Hell no! I did award it my Must-Have of the Month for September for a reason; I’m completely hooked on it. Subconscious is a haunting album in the best possible way an album can be. It is one huge trip from start to finish. I recommend strongly to listen to this album in one cut (although I’m aware I picked 4 songs here). I can relate to the “sit back, turn it up”, because it is the best way to experience this record to the fullest. Because that's with it is: an Experience. You should let this album win you over by storm. Let it suck you into the story underneath & spit you out after the last seconds. And when you lie there on the floor completely wrecked, you’ll probably want to hear it all again.
I hope you will. I know I wanted to. And still do. If you spend your money on one record this month, make it this psychedelic machine of lo-fi surf noise.
Great! Fucking! Record!
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