Welcome back.

I'm delighted to see that there are finally new tracks from both The Shins and Jack Peñate; takes me back to my 2007 babysteps into the world of indie music...

The songs are exciting and reassuring of the quality of the new musical output from both artists (although given the new Shins line-up I'll remain somewhat wary 'til I hear the whole album):





Also, my laptop's being a bit odd so please bear with me through the next few posts...

Perhaps Contraption

Eccentric London-based art pop marching band (yes; really) Perhaps Contraption are about to release their single 'Cousin / Grandma', which is easily one of the most curious things I have discovered in my inbox for quite some time.  A chaotic cacophony of bizarre and brilliant vocals and instruments (wonderful brass, and as ever I'm always impressed by good use of my old instrument, the flute), there is a strange intensity to this dissonant, theatrical madness; although it seems all bright and silly, there's something very poignant when they hit the impressive refrain of "I've got no identity".

From what I can make out, the song is only half of the fun though, as Perhaps Contraption seem very into visual performance too - a hint to this might be garnered from the fact that they're a marching band. The case in point can be viewed in the overwhelming video below which can only have Alice in Wonderland as a competitor in its beautiful strangeness:



Buy the single on 11th February - you can download it here.

The World Unfolds

Gabriel and the Hounds, aka. Brooklyn-dweller Gabriel Levine, will release his debut album, 'Kiss Full of Teeth' in early March, and judging by the sorts of artists he's friends with (many of whom have featured on his debut offering), it's fair to anticipate that this is going to be a pretty exciting album.  Well, you know; that's if The National, Beirut, St. Vincent and Sufjan Stevens are of any interest to you.

...Yeah, exactly.

From the sounds of 'The World Unfolds' - the track Levine is currently offering up for free download (link below) - though, Gabriel and the Hounds is a musical project worth listening to in it's own right; jaded lyrics from deep, gravelly vocals and simple yet melodious instrumentation.  It's not a "first-time-listen-crazy-amazing-impressive" kind of track, but there's certainly potential, and it definitely grows with each listen. And while I can't be sure if this is true of the entire album as yet, this particular song at least reminds me of the pleasant aural experience that was Albert Hammond Jr.'s solo work (and, as a Strokes fan, you know I mean that as a compliment). 

Gabriel & The Hounds - The World Unfolds by communionmusic

Needless to say, given the strength of the names involved and the decent enough first track, I'm intrigued to hear more.

'Kiss Full of Teeth' will be out on March 5th on Communion Records.

Ooh La La

I will be the first person to admit that my posting of late has been worse than usual, but my new year's resolution is to actually start writing this again properly because I do miss it, and I'm sorry that starting at university has kind of depleted from this in both quality and quantity.

Anyway, I was back in India over Christmas, and this song from apparently amazing film 'The Dirty Picture' was really big and I have to say I'm pretty enamoured; it's bright, vital and, frankly, a whole lot of fun.  There's a nice, warm nostalgic glow of flickering old Bollywood tunes swinging through it too, with playful, soaring vocals and boisterous built-up brass sections.  Very much worth a listen:

I'm just trying to find, a mountain I can climb

It's getting to that time of year where bloggers round up their favourite music of the year in a list of sorts, and - as always - I'm standardly too lazy to do the same thing.  However, I will be posting when I can about some of the songs and artists that have impressed me this year, and as such it shouldn't be any surprise that The Strokes are figuring into this - say what you will, 'Angles' was a very exciting album to add to the band's oeuvre, and bright and breezy opening track 'Machu Picchu' was particularly delectable.

Foster the People have also been massively raved about these past twelve months, and whereas I'd usually be inclined to steer clear of the hype, 'Pumped Up Kicks' was easily one of the best songs of the year with it's propulsive beats and ridiculously euphoric chorus.

So, fittingly, here's Foster the People covering 'Machu Picchu':

Mysterious

This is very nice - an upbeat yet somehow creepier take on mellow Fleet Foxes-esque folkish harmonies, which makes for a somewhat mystical vibe.  Also, the video is lovely, in a weird, fantastical, "reminds-me-of-Dark-Crystal-and-the-Labyrinth", crepuscular, kind of way.  


Don Scannell's album 'Three Silver Pieces' is out on December 5th.

Follow Animal Tracks...

Quite an old release by now given that it was out last year, but I've been late to discover that Mountain Man's album, 'Made the Harbor' is utterly sublime.  Ethereal, folky harmonies which weave together gently like a finely spun piece of lace, and seraphic, tremulous vocals from the school of Joanna Newsom; you really have to listen to them:    

You can (and should) buy 'Made the Harbor' from the wonderful Bella Union, here.