Archive for the ‘Acoustic’ Category

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Ella Montclare


11 Jul

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Posted in Acoustic, Dance | 1 Comment »

Ella has probably been one of my longest “friends” on MySpace. The reason I remember this unusual fact being as no-one really has any idea who’s friends with who on MySpace is because for one, she’s beautiful and two, Ella has had the same profile picture for about two years.

However, it’s all about the music and how decadent and sublime these lazy, sexy tunes are. Fortunately for us Ella has the sweet, subtle voice that helps captivate you as Skye did when Morcheeba burst through in 1999 with Big Calm and Beth Gibbons’ Portishead did with their hook, line and sinker (and sink even further) album Dummy in ’94.

The beats are of a soft drum and bass style with some random, floaty synthetics and guitars that suit an alfresco evening in the garden after the party barbeque leaving the dishes until the morning and continue drinking the vino until the sunsets.

Ella Trip, the debut album is out on July 12th 2010. You can preview it here.

Ella

Have One On Me by Joanna Newsom


14 Apr

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IF there was ever a voice that managed to captivate you. Place you into a dumb trance because of the sweet delights released from the vocal chords as well as the delectable vibrations emanating from a glorious harp. This is a voice that will certainly do that. What a trance I am now in.

The Lady is Joanna Newsom. An angelic voice with a subtle yet twisted feel. She will break you down. Disintegrate all negativity putting you into a warm blanket that are her sweet, sweet vocals.

Almost piercing your ear drums, strong even though the sound is so delicate. Like Minnie Riperton, other-worldy the same as Tori Amos and no-one can deny the resemblance to the fabulous Kate Bush. Amazing.

With pianos, harps and a singing style like hers there is no wonder the Folk world have kept her a secret to me. I am slightly taken a back with the storm sensation that is, Joanna Newsom. With several releases under her bohemian style belt I am annoyed to have not heard any material before Have One On Me – the work I am currently listening to – a 3 disc delight.

This is summer nights when the afternoon garden party has seized and the curtains are about to be drawn, lounging on the decking with the dregs of the red wine bottle as the sun is about to set whilst swinging in the hammock softly to the music.

Roll on summer!

Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me

Grizzly Bear


20 Mar

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Searching through my wee collection of humble noise, I thought I would opt for something I have not yet heard that falls into the “having-a-bath-with-a-glass-of-wine” genre. When it comes to folk, you would normally find it suitable for such an occasion. Grizzly Bear however, were positively not this time.

Resemblances of Beck, Damon Albarn and the late, great Jeff Buckleyto me were quite apparent. The gracious guitar work, choir-like background harmonies with the modern day touches of production work lifted the sounds from their album, Veckatimest, to a higher level. Experimenting in the studio with digital dabbling of the acoustics has levitated this enchanting material to cloud nine heights.

Grizzly Bear have created a complex studio album which has taken great thought, delicate hands and careful skill in turn, accomplishing the final work that appears refined and simple. This is true finesse.

The songs on this ingenious, dozen-track LP have been finely spun unto me to the point where it feels like I have been wily spiked. Elated and refreshed after listening to Ready, Able with the beating, palm-muted top E string with the harps tinkered I find exquisitely boggling. This very track shows the amount of detail that has gone into this highly acclaimed release. All the more popular is Two Weeks. Having had airplay on many a station, many listens on a car advertisement and such a quirky yet simple video on the ‘Tube, it has created great success for these boys from Brooklyn, NY.

Veckatimest, must be one of the most savvy folk albums to date.

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest (Bonus Track Version)

Courtney Marie Andrews


18 Feb

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I don’t about you but in the right hands the sound and vibe that comes from a well strummed banjo is truly quite delectable.

Courtney Marie Andrews not only has the ability to sing rather beautifully with great strength and subtlety but as well as being able to tinkle the ivories I believe that this Phoenix born heavenly voiced darling can really play the banjo suitably well to the wonderful, sunshine-daydream style of music that is performed.

This is a lovely folk musician who appears to come across as quite a performer and I’d prefer to watch her perform rather than just to listen. Courtney is enchanting and I feel myself melting to her words, her music and it wouldn’t surprise me but if I was in the crowd close enough and we happen to cross paths with her eyes then I would no doubt be a slither of a man on the grassy verge where I was once perched.

The songs she has created are well structured and flow marvellously carrying you through a short journey of usually 5 minutes or so which is nice to hear rather than a quick buck storyteller like what we are now currently listening to. It’s refreshing to see and hear.

To shortly describe I’d say Courtney Marie Andrews is sweeter than fresh peaches. Really nice indeed. However, this is a girl whom I feel could really raise a roof similar to Alanis Morrisette or Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries there was only a microphone to perform with.

This girl may sound sweet like chocolate but if it was perhaps “one of those days” then I swear there is the power here to destroy hearts and souls.

This is special.

Courtney Marie Andrews

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunipingu


04 Dec

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World Music is not as mainstream as some would like it to be. Fortunately, Jools Holland introduces us to artists and groups that have travelled miles to be able to deliver some true, cultural quality.

I recall Gracelands by Paul Simon being full of native Africans uplifting his work to where he had no chance of doing it himself, full of joy and happiness as well as tragedy and sorrow. And, an experienced musician by this time too.

The Baked Beans advert with Ladysmith Black Mambazo was just so warm and soothing it was a pleasure to have heard it. Just a shame how I find myself using that memory association to describe them.

But one man distinguishes himself as a true modern great using music from his roots and heritage on just an acoustic guitar.

This man sounds like he has the ability to stop wars with his vocal chords. He sounds like he can melt the entire continent of Antartica with a 45 minute set just because of the warmth that his vocalisation carries.

His guitaring is a faultless, harmonious, melancholy partner to aid him in his music, he is just inspiring.

Australia have a Son, who has done his country proud to be able to have the recent recognition which this man so richly deserves.

Profoundness comes from the heart and the soul in all men and in Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu’s music has it is everywhere. Not bad at all for a man who has no sight.

He is a Hero.

Gurrumul

Taken by Trees


03 Dec

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Taken By Trees have created a small, trickling, little wave with their rendition of Guns N’ Roses famous Sweet Child O’ Mine track quite popular on a UK TV advert.

Stockholm, Sweden is the origin of the artist who’s latest release East Of Eden will no doubt do well after recieving air play on the national radio stations since it’s feature on the box.

Victoria Bergsman is the lady with the drunken, slur of a sweet voice who sounds as if she is singing in a jazz club karaoke with a glass of malt, smoking a menthol whilst being draped over a piano after one too many.

However, despite the apparent negativity I find it quite a relaxing tone and it carries my troubles away as does a strong tipple also.

The rest of her songs consist of some delightful acoustics which are course and strong but yet very ambient and chilling.

With airplay, constant TV footage bearing her music it would be no wonder that we would find her somewhere in the charts in a few days after receiving the push in the right direction.

Not sure what Zane Lowe would make of it though.

Taken

Jason Charles Miller


22 Sep

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Straight away I am thinking this is a voice the ladies will adore. The Americana Blues stylie with a soulful yet throaty, vocal-embrace is warm, relaxing and reminiscent of the Crash Test Dummies, Axl Rose on Since I Don’t Have You and even a Jon Bon Jovi with a touch more depth similar to the more modern Newton Faulkner.

Jason Charles Miller has one of the best voices I’ve heard from any unsigned act. He’s a got a powerful gospel style voice, he’s a country man whom I can tolertae this time but usually I can not, so massive points awarded. I find his songs well written, well structured and well in sound. The strings attached on The Devil feat. Tina Guo on Cello sound brilliantly supporting.

Top stuff indeed. I expect to hear him sometime in the future but really, I’d expect him with a full band rather than being solo. He can master and orchestrate great songs so why not lead a band?

Venus In The Dust


22 Sep

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As anyone will know, if they peruse these pages regularly they will know of my slight fascination for French Electronica. So of course I jumped up at the sight of seeing Venus In The Dust despite no electronica being labelled.

We have mainly an acoustic style set up. Strings and piano’s peppered everywhere almost untidyly but neatly falling in the right places. These are supporting the darling singer who is seductively caressing the microphone with her lustful, saccharin vocals. Let Yourself Drown touches on that sultry dark side. Some tracks are soft, slow and the occasional ones more upbeat, in French and also, (being metaphorically descriptive) very “Sunday In The Park”. Reminiscent of Josh Weller doing the odd show tune.

This is Jazz club with out the bling and Soul without the tears being arousing, subtly passionate and in a positively, pleasant and complimentary way, also with a touch of filth. Easy listening and delightfully sexy stuff.

Noah and The Whale


14 Sep

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Be prepared to be moved.

We have sublime, delectable offerings this Autumn/Fall with The First days Of Spring from Noah & The Whale.

The first track off their latest release being the single of the album title is nothing short of a 6 minute 39 second symphony. Orchestrated wonderfully, sung divinely and so, so warm it is as sweet and an apricot dipped in gomme syrup.

The entire album is intelectual acoustic folk surrounded by strings, supported by the occassional choir and on a couple of tracks, no lyrics, just fantastic warming piano keys being tinkered for a short while. Nevertheless, they are lovely little numbers. For me, the track Blue Skies is exceptional, it is really, really good.

For a second album release this is quite an accomplishment and this is definately a global record that will certainly hit platinum status. It is easy listening, easy going and so easy to love.

But that is not all though. The group have even developed a short film too with the release of the music material. A glimpse of that is below and there is no doubt I’ll seeing that soon.

Frank Turner


14 Sep

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Having heard many, many student and university bands over the years I can’t help thinking that Frank Turner falls into that demographic. An artist who’s just got himself signed and chucked out his latest studio recordings for the world to hear. I believe that this work has been rushed into the stores and no enough time taken to produce a tight studio album. Unless Frank was going for the live recorded sound, that is definately what he has got. I don’t quite think it should have been done that way. You have live albums for that.

The tracks on his record Poetry Of The Deed are really quite good and you can hear some of them here on his MySpace. Slightly teenage emotional soft rock at times without having the feel of a ballad. Anthems in a smaller way they are but not exactly ground shaking. More lighters in the air and swaying from side to side however, the fans would no doubt be singing along as The Road music video below is a perfect example.

This is a young persons sound as you would hear on the track Isabel but on Faithful Son, it is rather more mature. So I wonder if he is experiencing more as time goes on? I do not know. For me, I think he still has a long way to go and perhaps slow down a little.

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