Thursday, February 07, 2008

The Voice Of Lightness - Tabu Ley Rochereau























I do like going out on a whim on a album and listening to something completely new, and granted I have got some absolute stinkers but this time I am really glad to say that I have struck fried gold!

On a desperate last minute search on Emusic a couple of months ago trying to use some downloads I found The Voice Of Lightness a best of collection by Tabu Ley Rochereau one of Africa's most respected singers and Jazz performers.

He is a fantastically gifted guitar player and makes his instrument sound incredibly sweet. I love this style of music, its so easy just to drift away too especially when it is performed by someone as gifted as Tabu Ley Rochereau, a true trailblazer of his time and spread over two cds you are really spoilt for choice.

So here is a lesson to learn, next time you are on Emusic or doing a spot of record shopping why not take a chance and go for something new, you might be pleasantly surprised or you might accidentally buy a BBMak record again.

The Voice Of LightnessTabu Ley Rochereau
"Karibou Ya Bintou" (mp3)
from "The Voice Of Lightness"
(Sterns)

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Sunday, January 27, 2008

Dengue Fever - Venus On Earth

























Venus On Earth, the latest album from La based band Dengue Fever is an interesting listen. It combines traditional Cambodian music with psychedelic lounge rock, jazz, surf rock and a hint of South East Asian pop to create a blissed out, groove heavy sound.

I can imagine myself enjoying this a lot more when I don't nearly take flight outside in gale force winds and bask in weather that is a little bit more sunny but listening to it in the warmth of my living room is pretty pleasant.

Chhom Nimol sings mostly in Cambodian, with the odd chorus sung in English which creates a really nice variation to the tone of music, especially when it is normally split between Nimol and Zac Holtzman. This mixture of Asian styles with more a conventional Western backing creates something which is unique and incredibly listenable.

Venus on Earth is a delightfully sexy collection of songs with a fantastic chilled out tone and really shows that world music is something that can be enjoyed by the cool kids.

Woman in the Shoes is a great example of the loose laid back sound the group has with rasping horns mixed with the most laid back guitars this side of Jack Johnson's hammock.


Venus on EarthDengue Fever
"Sober Driver" (mp3)
from "Venus on Earth"
(M80)

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Sunday, January 20, 2008

Howlin Rain















This summer I am lucky enough to go to ATP versus Pitchfork which like Versus the Fans has another killer line up. This is what has been confirmed so far:

CHOSEN BY ATP
WEEN »
SEBADOH »
FUCK BUTTONS »
PISSED JEANS »
APSE »
THE BLACK ANGELS »
SHIT AND SHINE »
MEAT PUPPETS »
DEERHUNTER »
WOODEN SHJIPS »
MARISSA NADLER »
REDD KROSS »
EVEN »
BLACK MOUNTAIN »
HARMONIA
CAR SICK CARS »
HOWLIN' RAIN »
BORN RUFFIANS »

CHOSEN BY PITCHFORK
DIRTY PROJECTORS »
OF MONTREAL »
CARIBOU »
MAN MAN »
GLASS CANDY »
LOS CAMPESINOS! »
NO AGE »
LES SAVY FAV »
HOT CHIP »
BLACK LIPS »
THE HOLD STEADY »
YEASAYER »
A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS »
JENS LEKMAN »
THE CLIENTELE »

Quite a varied and interesting list, although I was a bit disheartened recently when I have been checking the other ATP weekend, curated by Explosions In The Sky and noticing that bands like Liars, Battles, the National had been added to the bill I was hoping for some exciting new bands to be added to the pitchfork bill. When I got home on Friday I had noticed that some new bands had been added, I was a bit concerned that I had only heard of The Clientele and Black Mountain and not really much of the others. After listening to the new Black Mountain album, which is amazing and also Harmonia and Howlin' Rain I am not concerned what so ever.

Howlin Rain by Howlin Rain is a side project from Comets On Fire frontman Ethan Miller, this is old school rock and roll in the style of Creedence or Lynard Skynard but giving it that more modern Comets on Fire style drone. I can't wait to hear this music live,its pure genius. Some real tasty bad boy boogie to get down to this summer now bring on some more additions!

Howlin RainHowlin Rain
"Roll On The Rusted Days" (mp3)
from "Howlin Rain"
(Birdman Records)

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