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.

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

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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.


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

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

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Si, Para Usted - The Funky Beats of Revolutionary Cuba Vol. 1

You might have guessed if you read this blog regularly that I really like a bit of world music. I feel a bit guilty that I have not written about any for a while so here is a funky collection of rare tracks from Cuba. Mmmm Communist Funk. This album really breaks away from the normal plain bossa nova sound which is connected to the country and gives a spice of Soul, Jazz, Psychedelia and even a dose of electronic experimentation.

The album was compiled by Waxing Deep Radio DJ Dan Zacks who decided to share some of the music played on his show following huge listener demand.

The album is a real treat to behold as most music from Cuba, obviously except the huge Buena Vista Social Club, is impossible to get hold of. The tracks on this album have been remastered from dusty originals found in a Havana warehouse. This is a great album, although it is not up to the standard of the recent Tropocalia collections there is certainly enough great music on this album to spice up any Christmas party.



Irakere
"Bacalao Con Pan" (mp3)
from "Si, Para Usted - The Funky Beats of Revolutionary Cuba Vol. 1"
(Waxing Deep / Light in the Attic)

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Pre - Epic Fits

London based Punks Pre are loud... really loud. If you like your music fast, angry and noisy then this is a welcome addition to your record collection. Singer Akiko "Keex" Matsuura is also the singer of Comanechi who I saw at the woeful Tales Of The Jackelope festival. Comanechi were not that great, I think Pre are definitely the stronger of the two bands.

The album blasts through 15 tracks in just over 20 minutes, if you like your songs long this is not really for you, but if you like crunching riff heavy punk then this is pretty great. The album is pretty low on melody but high on passion and bass heavy dronage, I think after listening to the albums opener Drool you have a good idea whether you are going to love or hate this album. It takes a Erase Errata/ Liars sound and pushing the sound to its absolute limits.

Im really into punk/metal at the moment, I find it a really inventive genre and if you like something even heavier I would definitely seek out the new Dillinger Escape Plan album, Ire Works which is awesome, I will hopefully be going to see them very soon.

Epic Fits carries on with some of the tribal moods which featured heavily on the recent Health album I wrote about a few weeks ago, altough this album is much shorter it has some amazing funk/punk/metal moments, it can be a hard listen to get into but when you hear it enough it clicks into place how exciting this band is.

If anyone has seen Pre live or have any recommendations for me drop me a comment!


PRE
"Drool" (mp3)
from "Epic Fits"
(Skin Graft Records)

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PRE
"Popping Showers" (mp3)
from "Epic Fits"
(Skin Graft Records)

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