Song of the Day: Cheap Time - ‘People Talk’

Cheap Time - ‘People Talk’

Harking back to the power-pop bands of the ’70s and ’80s, Cheap Time are another garage-style band bashing out two-minute sing-alongs with their influences unapologetically tied to their sleeves. Such is the case with all two minutes and eleven seconds of ‘People Talk’, delivered with all the swift ferocity of tour-mate Jay Reatard.

First Impressions: Paavoharju - Laulu Laakson Kukista

Paavoharju - ‘Italialaisella Laivalla’

To perfect honest, I’m not even sure what this album is yet, but it already seems like one of the more interesting albums of the year. My guess is that this Finnish group have tried to created a carefully sculpted transmission of obscured sounds recycled into fresh composition in the same style as Quiet Village’s Silent Movie.

A Touch of Soul: Duke Ellington - ‘Isfahan’

Duke Ellington - ‘Isfahan’

We don’t see nearly enough jazz on here, but when we do I like it to be resonant enough to underline the idea of ’soul’ as an umbrella term that covers a multitude of genres, representing a shared quality among certain songs, be they gently soothing or downright funky, that strike a chord with us.

Video: White Denim - ‘All You Have to Do’

Song of the Day: Golden Boots - ‘Days Are Night’

Golden Boots - ‘Days Are Night’

Specialising in “Crumbly western Alt-alt-country,” Golden Boots’ twangy, downtempo style is just my cup of tea today. With a hint of Dr. Dog to their sound, it came as no surprise to see that they’re signed to Park the Van records, where their latest release Burning Brain is available now.

MySpace

Official site

Photo by raf_sarfati

A Touch of Soul: Group Inerane - ‘Kuni Majagani’

Group Inerane - ‘Kuni Majagani’

I think this song and the above picture are a good match for each other. It makes me picture someone dancing underwater to the gritty sounds of Niger in a sticky heat far, far away.

Group Inerane is the now sound of the Tuareg Guitar Revolution sweeping across the Sahara Desert and inspired by the rebel musicians that started this music as a political weapon used to communicate from the Libyan Refugee camps in the 1980s and 1990s.

Volebeats - ‘Desert Song’

Volebeats - ‘Desert Song’

Dark, dirty and soaked in reverb, this song reminds me of seemingly every night scene in Twin Peaks: James Hurley is coasting through empty, moonlit roads lined with ‘Douglas-fir’ trees, making his way to some shady meeting at the oddly-alluring roadhouse. It’s an eerie world all its own…and I seem to gravitate to any song that makes me back there.

Song of the Day: The Hi-Life Companions - ‘The Girl In The Gorilla Suit’

The Hi-Life Companions - ‘The Girl In The Gorilla Suit’

The Hi-Life Companion describe themselves as an ‘indie-pop collective’ based in Bristol with as many styles as they have members. So far their recorded output has been limited to singles and compilation tracks (in fact their first live show was as recent as March) but they’re currently putting the finishing touches on their debut album which, based on what we can hear at their MySpace site, sounds like it will be a hodgepodge of catchy melodies and riffing euphoria.

Video: Atlas Sound - ‘My Car’

Fan made video for ‘My Car’ by Bradford Cox aka Atlas Sound. From the Things I’ll Miss EP, available for free download.

Download a Mixtape from Vetiver

Vetiver’s Andy Cabic originally brought together a collection of some of his all-time favourite tunes - one of which he recorded for his forthcoming A Thing of the Past album - for Disc Collective last year, but I have sought each of them out and compiled the mix into a .rar file for your downloadable pleasure here at See What You Hear.

Song of the Day: Vetiver - ‘Houses’

Vetiver - ‘Houses’

With A Thing of the Past, Andy Cabic found the perfect way to bring his band together: a cover album of mostly obscure folk-rock tunes filtered through Vetiver’s characteristic sound. It’s a breezy amble from Townes Van Zandt to Hawkwind, culminating in a hushed and wonderfully warm take on Bobby Charles’ “I Must Be In A Good Place Now.”

Song of the Day: Culture Reject - ‘Fireflies are Fading’

Culture Reject - ‘Fireflies are Fading’

Sometimes love fades like fireflies on an intoxicatingly warm Saturday evening.

Video: Jape - ‘Floating’

I’d never even seen the video for this before and already it has over one million views. Good work.

Song of the Day: Slaraffenland - ‘I’m a Machine’

Slaraffenland - ‘I’m a Machine’

There’s still a little bit of sunshine left…isn’t there? Before a weekend of rain arrives upon us, this may be the cheeriest song about being a robot you’ll hear today. Slaraffenland are a Danish are an experimental indie band who take after the style of Dirty Projectors in terms of free flowing ideas and grand arrangements. Currently on tour in the US, Slaraffenland’s new album Private Cinema is out now on Hometapes and Rumraket.

Video: Phosphorescent - ‘Wolves’ Black Cab Session

Song of the Day: Apse - ‘The Gloom’

Apse - ‘The Gloom’

Post-rock is normally a genre that normally does very little for me, particularly when it’s the case of a sound and dynamic that seems completely interchangable. But Apse are a band that won me over almost instantaneously. Having been around for nearly 10 years, they seem to be quite a well-kept secret, but those eerie melodies and cryptic undertones are something that sets them far apart from their contemporaries.

Video: Pepi Ginsberg - ‘The Waterline’

Song of the Day: David Karsten Daniels - ‘Martha Ann’

David Karsten Daniels - ‘Martha Ann’

I’ve been fortunate this week. Plenty of musical gems have come my way and this album is most certainly one of them. Evocative of Will Oldham but with enough colour and variety to retain its own identity, Fear of Flying sticks out like a beacon amongst an overcrowded genre of American songwriters.

Just for good measure, have another taste:

A Touch of Soul: Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band - ‘Express Yourself’

Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band - ‘Express Yourself’

Put it down to the continued sunshine if you will, but this is a feelgood tune for any occasion.

Photo by amaliachimera

Bring Me the Head of Joseph Childress

Joseph Childress - ‘Virginia’

There’s very little music (or even info) floating around out there regarding Joseph Childress. There are no releases, no official site, no label, no tour dates…Just a MySpace account and a handful of YouTube footage.

I’ve already spoken about my love for the track Animal on more than one occassion, but it is otherwise unobtainable. And I want it. I want it all.

So Joseph, if you’re out there - throw me a bone - a 7″ vinyl, a CD-R of tunes, anything - I want to give you my money!

Song of the Day: epic45 - ‘Lost in Falling Light’

epic 45 - ‘Lost in Falling Light’

I listened to this song while sitting on top of a mountain, staring out at a sea of gentle waves…and it couldn’t have been more perfect. May Your Heart Be The Map is a soothing, softly flowing album ideal to get wrapped up in on a shimmering sunmmer’s day. I only wish it had eluded me until now.

Download Mix by Fujiya and Miyagi

Download this short but colourful mix by London electro trio Fujiya and Miyagi. With the likes of Brian Eno, MF Doom, Donovan and Viv Stanshall all on there, it’s safe to say it has a bit of everything! Via Tokion magazine.

Some Sunshine Music…

The Avalanches - ‘Extra Kings’

Just because…a day or two of perfect weather can make all the difference.

A Touch of Soul: Monomono - ‘Tire Loma Da Nigbehin’

Monomono - ‘Tire Loma Da Nigbehin’

A burst of Afro-beat funk from Nigeria…just try not to bop to its rhythm.

Song of the Day: Sharon Van Etten - ‘You Didn’t Really Do That’

Sharon Van Etten - ‘You Didn’t Really Do That’

I’ve just discovered this song and have made an instant connection with it. I want to plaster myself in the words and own it forever…so I’ve gone ahead and bought the EP via her website: $6 (€3.99) for a handmade CD of beautifully stark folk songs recorded in a bedroom in Brooklyn. I encourage you to do the same…

Download Mix CD by Espers

Download a 90-minute mix CD of classic, often overlooked tunes from the past as compiled by psych-folk ensemble Espers. Courtesy of Tokion magazine.

Track list:

Funkadelic - Maggot Brain
Ougenweide - Tyllurius Spiegelius
Garry Rafferty - Right Down the Line
Pharoh Sanders - Colors
Link Wray - Fallin’ Rain

About Last Night…

Ibrahim Electric - ‘Fela’

I caught these guys letting loose on the ‘World Stage’ at the Bray Jazz Festival last night. They’re a Danish trio who combine elements of afro, funk and rock (with a little bit of surf guitar) into a rousing instrumental ensemble with enough energy, fun and stage presence to keep all consistently entertained. Make sure to check out their MySpace.

Video: Tom Waits - Glitter and Doom ‘Press Conference’

Song of the Day: Pepi Ginsberg - ‘In My Bones’

Pepi Ginsberg - ‘In My Bones’

‘So come on, come on, come on…it’s not over’

Pepi Ginsberg had a good childhood: a bit wild and slightly irregular.

Download Mix by Daedelus

Ninja Tune artist Daedelus has compiled a mix of his favourite tunes, spanning “everything from barbershop quartet to psychedelic Tropicalia to deep jazz” and it’s free to download. Via Tokion magazine.

I’m Back!

Archies - ‘Jingle Jangle’

Apologies for my recent absence, but I have returned to action…and with a ton of new music to get through. So keep checking back for standout tracks, videos, news, Polaroids and a few new mix CDs!

Video: Atlas Sound - ‘Recent Bedroom’

from deerhuntertheband.bl posted with vodpod

Our Sleepless Forest - ‘Our Sleepless Forest’

Our Sleepless Forest - ‘Nomads’

This album is a beautiful collection of sounds. If you get as little shut-eye as I do, you’ll appreciate ambience as finely crafted as this. I cherish records seemingly created just for sleep (Lucky Pierre, Stars of the Lid, Echospace); whether it be soundtracking a 10 hour bus ride, a 32 hour train trip, or just the drawn-out, restless journey towards morning, it takes something special to gently lull the overactive imagination towards stillness.

Song of the Day: Rio en Medio - ‘Let’s Groove’

Rio en Medio - ‘Let’s Groove’

Danielle Stech-Homsy’s new 7″ features covers of two disco classics. Apart from the above track originally by Earth, Wind & Fire, the release also features a studio recording of Rio en Medio live staple, ‘Staying Alive’ by the Beegees. The 7″ can be bought here.

A Touch of Soul: Velvet Underground - ‘I Found a Reason’

Velvet Underground - ‘I Found a Reason’

Yes, it does count as soul. Because it’s been nurturing mine all week.

???

His voice is young and unweathered here…so much so that perhaps it will not be immediately recognisable to some…and therefore deserves the cloak of having no title. Because if you don’t like this artist already, it will not be from a lack of familiarity, so this is your way in. It can’t possibly rub you up the wrong way.

Fleet Foxes - Daytrotter Session

Fleet Foxes - ‘White Winter Hymnal’ (Daytrotter Session)

In case you’ve been wondering what Fleet Foxes sound like without the reverb and multi-layered vocals, the Seattle group’s very own Daytrotter Session is now available. Keep an eye out for their Take Away Show (recorded at the Noise Pop festival in San Fransisco) to surface at La Blogotheque sometime in the near future.

Video: She & Him (and Yo La Tengo) Live on Conan

Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward with Yo La Tengo as their backing band.Has anyone else been noticing how many good bands are appearing on Conan and Letterman recently? I never hear about any noteworthy performances on Leno.

from stereogum.com posted with vodpod

Dr. Dog Announce New Album, ‘Fate’

Dr. Dog - ‘Oh No’ (old song)

Well the cat’s out of the bag. All this time in the studio seems to have paid off and it looks as though there is a record finished.

Video: Grizzly Bear - ‘While You Wait For The Others’ Live on Conan

from stereogum.com posted with vodpod

Jens Carelius - The First Songs

Jens Carelius - ‘Come Back to Me’

I think it’s safe to say that most people will have the same first impressions of this record: Nick Drake. Nick Drake. Nick Drake.

But if you can get past that - and perhaps it’s a big if - this really is a set of similarly beautiful and stark folk songs.

Jens Carelius - ‘Summer Skin’

Quiet Village - Silent Movie

Quiet Village - ‘Rolling On’

It’s difficult to sum up Silent Movie in one fell swoop. To say that it’s sample-heavy or electronic-based would be quite misleading. It’s a hybrid album that ‘interpolates’ extended pieces from obscure records (e.g. Writing on the Wall’s ‘Buffalo’, which I posted earlier) and adds new elements to form a slow-burning collage of soul, jazz and ambient styles. The end-product is an enjoyable and immensely relaxing ride that easily adds up to something greater than the sum of its parts. Expect this to feature in plenty of end-of-year lists.

Quiet Village - ‘Circus of Horror’

You can download the above song as a free mp3 from here or check out the video for ‘Silent Movie‘ which I previously posted for more. If that has you hooked, full bio below:

First Issue of Beat Happening Out Now

The first issue of Beat Happening is out now both online and across London. Apart from interviews with the names on the above cover, you can also find the following contributions from yours truly: an interview with the Black Lips, live reviews (Menomena, Tapes ‘n’ Tapes) and album reviews (The Breeders, MGMT, El Perro Del Mar, The Felice Brothers, and Plants and Animals).

For a list of stockists or to read Beat Happening in a downloadable PDF file, click here.

Video: Animal Collective - ‘Brother Sport’

Song of the Day: Au - ‘RR vs. D’

Au - ‘RR vs. D’

My man Chryde has come up trumps once again, unearthing a gem I may have otherwise overlooked.

Portland multi-instrumentalist Luke Wyland and his ensemble will see the their second album, Verbs, released on June 24th on Aagoo/Oedipus records - and if the above track is anything to go by, it should shape up to be quite the burst of colour.

The Ruby Suns - ‘Tane Mahuta’

The Ruby Suns - ‘Tane Mahuta’

This is a gorgeously sunny song from a record chock-full of them - perfect for that Friday feeling.

I had been hearing nothing but good things about Sea Lion for some time yet some niggling and seemingly unexplainable waver of cynicism made held me back. I’ve been giving it a few spins this week and can finally add to the streams of gushing praise. In fact, there’s not a bad song on there.

Joseph Arthur - ‘I Wanna Get You Alone’

Joseph Arthur - ‘I Wanna Get You Alone’

Helping to put a sultry step in your stride for whatever tonight may hold…

Joseph Arhur is a prolific painter and musician from Brooklyn who has just released his second of five schedules releases in 2008. Crazy Rain is just one of four EPs to surface along with a full-length album as Joseph Arthur & The Lonely Astronauts, all via 14th Floor records.

David Thomas Broughton added to Primavera

While I was hoping for a late flurry of impressive acts to be added to Primavera’s line-up (not that there aren’t enough already, but apparently the organisers are still waiting to announce a reasonably big name or two), this is one I am really delighted to see. Broughton can be immense live and I’m eager to see how his show will translate to a festival atmosphere.

Previous posts: David Thomas Broughton Interview

Song of the Day: The Oh Sees - ‘The Coconut’

The Oh Sees - ‘The Coconut’

I am really loving this album at the moment. I could go on all day about the lasting legacy of garage rock from the late ’60s, but it’s difficult to listen to The Oh Sees’ brand of gritty simplicity without other ‘offspring’ acts coming to mind…namely The White Stripes. Still, it’s the energy, enthusiasm and downright catchiness that makes this album hard not to like.

A Touch of Soul: Writing on the Wall - ‘Buffalo’