A couple weeks ago we got our first taste of The Dodos' fourth studio album Carrier with "Confidence", which marked a sort of revitalized return for the band as well as an exploration of different guitar tones. "Substance" is in an odd way, a callback to Time to Die in so far as it adds another layer to the band's technical pop clatter.
Despite it being the more emotive of the two tracks we've been expose to, it's far more bustling. "Confidence" slowly plodded before erupting into an incendiary climax. "Substance" maintains the rather high energy all throughout; adding brass stabs for emphasis at its climax instead.
Considering the strength of both tracks, there's really no doubt that Carrier will be great. Until it's release in two months, we have two very great tracks to keep us company.
The Dodos' Carrier is out August 27th on Polyvinyl.
A music blog dedicated to my ever-expanding tastes. A musical journey with endless pitstops along the way. Bringing you the best of what I see and hear.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Watch: Daughter - "Youth"
When I learned that Daughter had released a music video for "Youth", my mind was instantly imagining the possible scenarios they would've gone with for a video. It didn't at all occur to me that the route Daughter would go would be one as simple, minimalistic, and beautiful as the song itself.
Directed by The Mitcham Submarine, the video for "Youth" is really just a performance of the song by the band. That might sound boring in theory but it's artfully done. Filmed on a large black stage with spotlights illuminating the band members, it's gorgeous. The positions of the band members will change, subtly, as the focus moves to a rather important part they play but mostly, it's just varying shots of the band playing "Youth" in its entirety.
Directed by The Mitcham Submarine, the video for "Youth" is really just a performance of the song by the band. That might sound boring in theory but it's artfully done. Filmed on a large black stage with spotlights illuminating the band members, it's gorgeous. The positions of the band members will change, subtly, as the focus moves to a rather important part they play but mostly, it's just varying shots of the band playing "Youth" in its entirety.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Watch: Another Hell featuring Daughn Gibson
A couple months back, a half year ago in fact, a photo went up on Daughn Gibson's Facebook. "On the set of All Hell video, Frazier, CA" it said. Since then I've been anticipating a music video particularly because if we've learned anything from Daughn Gibson's incredible debut, he's not the sort of man who does what you expect.
True to form, the video for All Hell isn't just your standard music video. No, instead it's a 6 minute short film inspired by All Hell and conceptualized by director Sam Farahmand. A fan of Daughn Gibson's music, Farahmand created a rather homage to the feelings All Hell invokes - it's full of mystery, a snapshot of rural family life explored on the album without being a simple retelling of the album's stories. No, instead Another Hell is a different story entirely. Featuring Daughn Gibson himself, Another Hell functions as a sort of psychological think piece - it's reveals very little about itself, subtle when it does, and nothing aside from Daughn Gibson's presence is all that resolute. Characters come and go, odd considering Daughn Gibson's clearly the drifter here. Instead of featuring just one song it features snippets from several - notably "A Young Girl's World" and "In the Beginning".
Another Hell is tense, foreboding, and oddly a bit hopeful with a shot of a rather content Daughn Gibson serving as the parting shot.
True to form, the video for All Hell isn't just your standard music video. No, instead it's a 6 minute short film inspired by All Hell and conceptualized by director Sam Farahmand. A fan of Daughn Gibson's music, Farahmand created a rather homage to the feelings All Hell invokes - it's full of mystery, a snapshot of rural family life explored on the album without being a simple retelling of the album's stories. No, instead Another Hell is a different story entirely. Featuring Daughn Gibson himself, Another Hell functions as a sort of psychological think piece - it's reveals very little about itself, subtle when it does, and nothing aside from Daughn Gibson's presence is all that resolute. Characters come and go, odd considering Daughn Gibson's clearly the drifter here. Instead of featuring just one song it features snippets from several - notably "A Young Girl's World" and "In the Beginning".
Another Hell is tense, foreboding, and oddly a bit hopeful with a shot of a rather content Daughn Gibson serving as the parting shot.
Listen: Bowerbirds - "June"
Another month draws to a close which signals another offering from the Bowerbirds' ongoing Small Songs from a Tiny House series - their short form songwriting experiment.
Until now, it wasn't exactly clear who was involved in the project. Some sounded like just Phil Moore and his guitar, some slightly expanded but still lacking that Bowerbirds full band flavor. Any involvement from anyone besides Moore has more or less just been hinted at (female harmonies that dart in and out with rabbit quickness on "April"). "June" is our first real evidence of the contrary. Recalling "Northern Lights" somewhat melodically, "June" jumps right into the action - drums, vocal harmonies, it's Bowerbirds as we've come to know them. Just in a shorter, more succinctly way. Despite the fact that the track is all of 2 minutes long, there's still that characteristic development that leads to memorable enjoyable musical moments; tough considering the small window they have to work with but definitely well executed.
I can't wait until the end of the next month to see whether they stay this route or go somewhere different entirely.
Until now, it wasn't exactly clear who was involved in the project. Some sounded like just Phil Moore and his guitar, some slightly expanded but still lacking that Bowerbirds full band flavor. Any involvement from anyone besides Moore has more or less just been hinted at (female harmonies that dart in and out with rabbit quickness on "April"). "June" is our first real evidence of the contrary. Recalling "Northern Lights" somewhat melodically, "June" jumps right into the action - drums, vocal harmonies, it's Bowerbirds as we've come to know them. Just in a shorter, more succinctly way. Despite the fact that the track is all of 2 minutes long, there's still that characteristic development that leads to memorable enjoyable musical moments; tough considering the small window they have to work with but definitely well executed.
I can't wait until the end of the next month to see whether they stay this route or go somewhere different entirely.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Pitstop: Daughter
My discovery of England's Daughter came from Eric over at The Wild Honey Pie. After a friendship forged from me simply being at the right place at the right time in the form of Wild Honey Pie events and showcases, Eric would constantly ask me if I've seen this or that session that they put out that day/week. My answer was usually a guilty no and one time that guilt led to me immediately seek out the latest, recommended session which just so happened to be Daughter.
What a session that was. Daughter are, with the fear of sounding like an over-exaggerator, creating some of the most staggeringly beautiful music I've ever encountered. What makes Daughter so unique in how incredible thought out every aspect of their songs seem to be. Principal songwriter Elena Tonra has an absolute gift for painting utterly devastating pictures of failed love. It's a rarity where absolutely every single phrase in a song is important or invaluable but that's what you get with Tonra's heartbreakingly poetic lyricism.
"If you're still breathing you're the lucky ones because most of us are breathing through corrupted lungs/Setting fire to our insides for fun/Collecting names of the lovers that went wrong" Tonra sings on "Youth" and damn if it doesn't pack all of the punches. It's one of the first moments you experience in "Youth" and the lack of restraint is characteristic of Tonra's songwriting. All the while being set to these incredible arrangements that find the perfect balance between stark and lush. Tonra and the feelings she envokes are at the forefront of Daughter but clearly not its only draw.
Despite their ability to induce sudden empathetic heartbreak, Daughter aren't the type to be relegated to pure mood music - used only on the break up mix or times when you just feel like feeling sad, Daughter's songs have a poppy momentum that makes them capable of repetition without coming across as baseless; losing any of their impact. His Young Heart's "The Woods" proves Daughter's haunting beauty can exist separate from tales of heartbreak. It doesn't matter the tale Tonra decides to tell, it'll be carefully crafted, well plotted artfully arranged, and achingly tender.
Daughter's very good debut album If You Leave is out now on 4AD. I highly recommend it.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Gracie - Bleeder EP (2013)
Rather unsurprisingly, Bleeder is more than just a collection of songs providing a cushion for its standout track. Don't get me wrong "Creature Pleaser" still is and probably will be the greatest song Gracie has released but the rest of the tracks on the EP have their merits. Whether it's album opener "Witnessed" which is the perhaps the closest spiritually to "Creature Pleaser" on the record, sultry "Pillow" with its rather Unknown Mortal Orchestra recalling vocals, or really any of the record's tracks really, Bleeder is a record that tries and succeeds to cover a wide variety of sounds and moods while staying true to a similar cohesiveness.
Tracks like "ItsSppookkyy" and "Habits" provide Bleeder with an emotionally resonant core alongside it's dance-y rabblerousers. Gracie's Andrew Balasia might be gifted at creating toe-tapping, body-moving electro-pop but it's on those two tracks that his musical talents are allowed to shine - able to appropriately pair forward moving beats with pure heartfelt feeling.
So I may have come for "Creature Pleaser" but I stayed for the rest of Bleeder - a thoroughly enjoyable 7 song EP which covers a rather impressive ground in produced music. It's varying beats are interesting but not the only noteworthy thing about the songs. There's a multitude of layers to Bleeder and an astonishing amount of well-roundedness to the whole affair. It makes you wonder that if Gracie consider this to be just an appetizer, what will we get for the main course? It's thrilling to think about and here's hoping it's not too late before we're treated to just that.
Gracie's Bleeder EP is out now on Small Plates Records.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Listen: Camp Counselors - "Swept"
The debut album may have recently come out but apparently that's not going to stop Camp Counselors/Cemeteries' Kyle Reigle from making new tunes. The latest tune for Reigle's synthier project Camp Counselors is a piece of dreamy, atmospheric instrumentalism. There's none of the dance-y beats that propelled Huntress towards it conclusion. No, instead the gently unfurling "Swept" takes its time, minimalistic and beautifully so. It could very well have served as Huntress' epilogue if Reigle had so desired. A silky smooth, soothing way to end an album of pervasive eerie.
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