hm. critics seem to love it (so far) too. the only "negative" review is from the uk observer, e.g., "Hawley's grasp of psychedelia is probably closer to the (latterday) Verve's than it is to, say, Animal Collective's." to be honest, i'm not sure if that's a criticism or compliment.
Brand new EP from Camomille Netlabel, the Netlabel that gave us Rinbo by our friends Makunouchi Bento:
FJRicharts - Anders Als Alle
- "While listening to debute album "Anders als alle" by Germany's FJRicharts, one could rightfully assume it being a study of the relationship between movement and stillness. I'd like to advance the idea that Florian's music is never either of the two : in its most desolate, cold state emerges immense thrust and motion and, in other more active moments, you feel time coming to a stop. He plays within these parameters with grace and sobriety, resulting in a brooding epic that will justly accompany your spring cloudwatching."
That Hawley ain't bad. Can't give it a honest listen right now, drowning in jazz albums to review, but the latter-day Verve seems like an accurate representation. I don't know if it that would be considered a compliment or indictment, either. Early Verve, IMO, was much better than later Verve, had more soul, more depth and texture and sincerity, and definitely closer to the psychedelia, but later Verve was still pretty good, too, and I don't think it can be considered a bad thing.
Latter-day Verve moved away from the psychedelia and more into the electro-pop-shoegaze territory, whereas, (from what I can remember of) Animal Collective was still very much into the modern whimsical trippy vibe a la Grandaddy.
But I'm making statements about music that I'm nearly a decade removed from last giving serious listens to, so that's something to keep in mind.
okay, so i have a moment. if a new artist released standing at the sky's edge, i suppose i'd see an argument that it was too backward-looking, just solid songcraft and not innovative, and so on. but taken in the context of richard hawley's recent output -- at least the last three discs -- it's a stunning stylistic progression. gone is the soulful crooner with the rich voice that's thick with sadness and the ear for melodies that bring to mind 50s romantic, noir-ish pop-stars. these songs are heavy with guitar squals and distortion pedals, and hawley's voice feels like it's in the corner of the room (or maybe below the floor of the room). it's aggressive and loud, and yet he's hasn't lost the ear for memorable melody.
so, i'm a fan of his career work, which admittedly distorts my view. but there's a long road from this (which is what i think jonah may like even more) to this.
Soundcloud streaming from the fantastic Miasmah label:
Gultskra Artikler - Abtu Anet
- "Gultskra Artikler is the throat-tangling moniker of one Alexey Devyanin and while we might not have heard a great deal from him recently, Abtu/Anet has been excavated from the dusty Miasmah archives for a long overdue reissue. Not that it ever had a proper release; the astute followers among you might have managed to track down the very rare Abtu, which appeared back in 2007 on limited 3 cdr, but its companion EP Anet never reached the shelves and seemed destined to permanent unavailability.
Devyanins complex, surreal world was explored to wide acclaim on the 07 album Kasha Iz Topora, and thematically Abtu/Anet feels like a continuation of that record. Devyanins deeply original fusion of Radiophonic-era electronics, musique concrete, early European folk music and 1920s film scores is highlighted far further here, and somehow the record sounds more relevant now than it did five years ago. In an era where nostalgia is musical currency, Devyanins Vaseline-smudged visions are refreshingly free of kitsch and Youtube-era restlessness. He retains a deeply Eastern European, near-theatrical focus in his work that is as intricate as it is unnerving, and he manages to keep the nostalgia to a specific (and unfamiliar) area of the world. For most of us, the album feels like a lonely journey in the light of a half-moon, with crumbling, curled branches glancing off our ragged clothes. Frightening and unrepentant yet deeply compelling Abtu/Anet should remind you that stories can be told without a single word of dialogue."
Comments
An awesome $2.59 at eMu (I also took their version of Lonely Woman)
guys, guys.
i love this.
full album stream
hm. critics seem to love it (so far) too. the only "negative" review is from the uk observer, e.g., "Hawley's grasp of psychedelia is probably closer to the (latterday) Verve's than it is to, say, Animal Collective's." to be honest, i'm not sure if that's a criticism or compliment.
FJRicharts - Anders Als Alle
- "While listening to debute album "Anders als alle" by Germany's FJRicharts, one could rightfully assume it being a study of the relationship between movement and stillness. I'd like to advance the idea that Florian's music is never either of the two : in its most desolate, cold state emerges immense thrust and motion and, in other more active moments, you feel time coming to a stop. He plays within these parameters with grace and sobriety, resulting in a brooding epic that will justly accompany your spring cloudwatching."
That Hawley ain't bad. Can't give it a honest listen right now, drowning in jazz albums to review, but the latter-day Verve seems like an accurate representation. I don't know if it that would be considered a compliment or indictment, either. Early Verve, IMO, was much better than later Verve, had more soul, more depth and texture and sincerity, and definitely closer to the psychedelia, but later Verve was still pretty good, too, and I don't think it can be considered a bad thing.
Latter-day Verve moved away from the psychedelia and more into the electro-pop-shoegaze territory, whereas, (from what I can remember of) Animal Collective was still very much into the modern whimsical trippy vibe a la Grandaddy.
But I'm making statements about music that I'm nearly a decade removed from last giving serious listens to, so that's something to keep in mind.
Thanks for the pointer to Hawley, though.
Cheers.
I'm out of the office now, but I'll elaborate later.
Thanks Brighternow.
About halfway through, Fire on the Mountain. Sublime soloing. Gearing up for Dave's Pick #2 which came in the mail today.
- Thanks to Bad Thoughts, - sounds fantastic so far. . .
ETA: - and thanks to Jonah.
Ben Woods:
- Thanks to . . . . (?)
ETA: OMG ! (track 7)
so, i'm a fan of his career work, which admittedly distorts my view. but there's a long road from this (which is what i think jonah may like even more) to this.
PS I Love You - Death Dreams
Craig
Gultskra Artikler - Abtu Anet
- "Gultskra Artikler is the throat-tangling moniker of one Alexey Devyanin and while we might not have heard a great deal from him recently, Abtu/Anet has been excavated from the dusty Miasmah archives for a long overdue reissue. Not that it ever had a proper release; the astute followers among you might have managed to track down the very rare Abtu, which appeared back in 2007 on limited 3 cdr, but its companion EP Anet never reached the shelves and seemed destined to permanent unavailability.
Devyanins complex, surreal world was explored to wide acclaim on the 07 album Kasha Iz Topora, and thematically Abtu/Anet feels like a continuation of that record. Devyanins deeply original fusion of Radiophonic-era electronics, musique concrete, early European folk music and 1920s film scores is highlighted far further here, and somehow the record sounds more relevant now than it did five years ago. In an era where nostalgia is musical currency, Devyanins Vaseline-smudged visions are refreshingly free of kitsch and Youtube-era restlessness. He retains a deeply Eastern European, near-theatrical focus in his work that is as intricate as it is unnerving, and he manages to keep the nostalgia to a specific (and unfamiliar) area of the world. For most of us, the album feels like a lonely journey in the light of a half-moon, with crumbling, curled branches glancing off our ragged clothes. Frightening and unrepentant yet deeply compelling Abtu/Anet should remind you that stories can be told without a single word of dialogue."
Then:
Thanks Craig!
Excellent. (Thanks originally to BN I think.)
Plenty to follow-up from all the music played whilst I was asleep!
Really good stuff, thanks for the heads up
NYOP Bandcamp
Chromatics - Drumless
A version of their March album Kill For Love with the drums dropped out. Atmospheric synth pop. It's excellent and it's free: here.
Craig
This Ron Carter guy is a bassist who seems to have a promising career. Cheaper on CD than mp3 at Amazon.