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June 10, 2005
I Have Been Listening To Some Good Albums Though
I don’t have much time to take for description / review, but here is a list of things on the recent playlist:
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1. Psapp / Tiger My Friend
This one has really hit me hard. It’s an easy listen, mellow, warm, cute, great female vocals and lyrics. Before you know it the whole album will pass by as if it’s one song, and you’ll just want to listen through again. They have a great video for the song About Fun (which happens to be the song that really sold me on the album when I heard it on the listening station). You can actually become a friend of this band on Myspace.
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2. Judee Sill / Dreams Come True
Amazing 60’s singer/songwriter who was onto some other level. Somewhat obsessed with folk, probably psychedelic drugs, and christian mysticism from the sound of it... anyway a mix making for some great songs. Mixed/Mastered by Jim O’Rourke (yes, you can tell, in a good way) from the original recording sessions.
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3. Pia Fraus / In Solarium
More early 90’s shoegaze revival for the 00’s. This is a couple years old. So good.
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4. The Books / Lost And Safe
Ok, so I’ve been listening to the MP3s for a while, but this album (contrary to the usual case) came out over a month late in Japan, and I finally bought the actual disc (because I’m a Tomlab supporter like that). It’s a wonderful album, pushing the unique style they’ve developed in the last two, particularly through the use of more upfront and composed lyrics which are actually sung (or rather spoken) on the songs. This adds yet another semantic layer to the already rich abstract multi-narrative of found sounds and carefully arranged spoken word samples, leading your mind into strange places as you can’t help but piece together a fragmented story from all the wonderous wordplay.
Moreover, amoungst all the above mentioned, Lost And Safe functions as a subtle but poignant protest / commentary concept album (think current situation in the US).
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5. Hausmeister / Look At Me Now
Solo German singer/songwriter I know nothing about, other than I like it. This is a nice acoustic / electronic pop album with lyrics in German and English. It’s on Karaoke Kalk.
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6. Animal Collective (Featuring Vashti Bunyan) / Prospect Hummer
Again, you can do the research yourself. I have no idea who Vashti Bunyan is, but apparently Animal Collective has quite an affinity for her, and in this 4 track EP they make some absolutlely gorgeous songs together, the style of which I cannot describe. It doesn’t sound much like anything I’ve ever heard.
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7. Toog / Lou Etendue
This has been out for a while too, but anyways Toog is back, and moved labels to Karaoke Kalk. At thirty minutes, this is one of those short albums, but thats not a bad thing. I quite enjoy a smattering of high quality, 3 minute-ish pop songs. Actually I must say my favorite songs are those with the female vocalist (Ugly Ducklings, and Side Love Project). Perhaps it is because I understand her english lyrics, perhaps it’s because those songs remind me of my absolute favorite Piano Magic songs in the style of I Am The Sub-Librarian. Anyhow give it a preview (in the releases section).
Posted by shane at June 10, 2005 06:46 AM