So its Sunday once more and the perfect soundtrack to what should always be a calm and chilled out day is London folk songstress Alessi's Ark. The incredibly talented 20 year old from Hammersmith had a new single out this week on the unstoppably brilliant Bella Union label, also home to likes of Beach House & The Low Anthem.
Her single 'Wire' is nothing short of a sweet, nostalgic folk tune which sounds like its from a different era. Alessi has perfect vocals and the addition of trumpets in any song always makes me smile.
If this is the early sound of spring in the city then I am excited. Alessi also has really cool blog which began in the form of a fanzine - check out Brain Bulletin here.
Her debut album 'Notes From The Treehouse' came out in 2009 and introduced the world to a quirky, talented songwriter who has universal appeal. Check out her single from that album 'Over The Hill'.
Chico Mann makes me happy, and here’s why. He’s down with the Afrobeat sound, he’s sings mostly in Spanish, and there is something retro about the entire ordeal. Self-described electro beats and synth-heavy, his sounds take you to a lighthearted time a few decades back...pairhaps the early 80s?
I was recently introduced to his first album Analog Drift and have fallen in love. It’s hard to describe...there is something sort of pastiche and reminiscent about it, but then also there is something sort of new and fresh to it as well.
Have a look-listen:
Born of Cuban parents and raised in New York, Some of Chico’s influences are listed as Willie Colon, Fela Kuti, Lisa Lisa, and Afrika Bambaataa.
A little sampling of Fela Kuti:
And gotta give it up to the hip hop man, Afrika Bambaataa:
Well I had been waiting a long time to catch Caribou after their stunning album 'Swim' came out, which dominated my listening habits for the 2nd half of 2010. I saw Caribou play at Field Day in Victoria Park last summer on a very hot day in August and quite frankly was left itching to see them in a dark, intimate venue - fast forward to a damp and cold February Tuesday evening in West London's Shepherd's Bush Empire and pretty much all the ingredients are in place.
I am not going to lie when I say I was up for this gig, so early doors and down the front was the order of the day.
Main support for Caribou came in the form of London 3 piece Factory Floor - who, from the outset made no apologies for their utterly relentless, punishingly loud, loop driven noise techno. Their sound is not a million miles away from what would be produced if Joy Division, Crystal Castles and LCD Soundsystem met in a dark alley and had fist fight. Each track is filled with pounding drum loops, fuzz filled guitar distortion and oscillating, twisted synth loops.
There is nothing warm about this band and they know it.
Each track felt like it was 15 minutes long and in a club at 2am would have sounded amazing, here though at 8pm on a slowly filling Empire it wasn't right. I have to say I enjoyed them and they were a good warm up, I just wish their tracks went somewhere -instead their persistent minimal beats were the main driving force.
Judge for yourself - but it is clear that this band loves noise and aggressive, cold noise at that.
So the main event at 9.30 sharp and Daniel Victor Snaith and the rest of the Caribou band walk on stage dressed in unassuming white jeans and T-Shirts. Snaith removes his shoes, he clearly means business and within seconds they launch into 'Leave House'.
Caribou are now on their last leg of touring 'Swim' and its clear the result of all that touring has meant they are incredibly tight, rehearsed and totally immersed in playing live. 'Swim' was voted the number 1 album of 2010 by Rough Trade and its exciting to hear these tracks being played live. The crowd- mostly made up of East London hipsters who had made the trip over London from Shoreditch were in awe. The band all play to each other and their set up means they can all see each other, all of the time.
Caribou
Other highlights from the set included 'Bowls', 'Kaili' and 'Odessa'. Its fair to say that the tripped out 'Yeti' & 'Melody Day' were a slight psychedelic departure from the sounds of 'Swim' which the majority of this crowd seem to know very well.
The set was just fantastic and full of all the tracks the crowd wanted... Live, this band are in their element and the album 'Swim' deserved every bit of praise that was thrown its way. Caribou returned to the stage to play a extended version of the frankly awesome 'Sun' - yes I just used the 'A' word but in the right context here!
If you haven't discovered 'Swim' - spend some time lapping it up here.
One of the bands I’ve recently come across and really enjoy are The Hundred in Hands. Based in Brooklyn, the band’s debut album The Hundred in Hands, was released in September of 2010. Their influences are many, and the New York duo are said to have come together over a road trip across the U.S. that involved “Moroder/Molton style disco, French House and minimal techno; post punk favorites like Young Marble Giants, Wire, The Cure & New Order; Black Star, Dilla, De La Soul vintage hip-hop; 60s mod, garage & girl groups and loads of Stuido 1/Trojan era ska & dub.”
After the road trip, the two returned home and quickly wrote their first track Dressed in Dresden, and in the next year continued writing and recording. The duo prefer to mix in analog instruments and machines with electronic methodologies, keeping the sound stepping back and forth between precise electronica and looser instrumentation one might find in straight up pop and rock.
Some of the stand-out tracks on the release for me are Dressed in Dresden:
This remix album of Gil Scott Heron's I'm New Here is out today in the UK 21/02 & based on what I am hearing I genuinely cannot wait to get hold of it. Nothing short of genius.
Here's another slice of English post punk from the nostalgic Pete & The Pirates. This quintessentially English band are based in Reading and have been knocking around the indie undergrowth since 2008 supporting the likes of Vampire Weekend and Maximo Park. There sound is built upon aggressive repetitive guitar riffs and energetic vocals. They have been compared to the likes of The Futureheads and Arctic Monkeys but this 5-piece are distinctly more mature and have a certain wistful indie charm to them. They have a new album due out in May and 2 tracks that have been doing the rounds show off what we can expect from Pete & The Pirates this year try Winter 1:
Ladies and Gentlemen, keep your eyes out for Pete & The Pirates! If you didn't catch them live a couple of years ago on the back of their debut album - check them out them out now! This year they will be landing at SXSW and playing a few warm ups including Heaven (quickly becoming my favourite venue) in London on 26th May .... Buy a ticket or 2....
Manu Chao isn't anything new in the music scene. In fact he's been around solo, with band, etc. since 1987, and as a solo act since 1995. His music has been described as political music, however if you ask the singer if he is a political artist, he would defer and say he simply sings about what he sees.
One of the more amazing facts about Manu is that he sings, and can speak in most of seven languages, including French, Spanish, English, Galician, Arabic, Wolof and Portuguese. Often compared to Bob Marley by the press, the world famous troubadour also likes to slough off that description as well. Saying he simply likes to travel and sing about what he sees in the world. Since politics are a part of every place he goes, that's what the music tends to express. Political or not, I think Manu has a certain set of rhythms and a unique vocal style that is truly his alone. Despite the fact that the singer is of Spanish decent and born in France, his songs tend to have a very distinct South American feel to them. I think that flavor has been heavily influenced by his travels in that part of the world.
Although Manu Chao has experienced wide-spread notoriety in Europe, Latin America and South America, his break out in the American market has been less explosive...not sure I really understand why. One of my favorite tracks:
He's also got quite the website if you'd like to peruse I'd highly sugguest.
And lastly, a track from the more recent album called Politik Kills from La Radiolina:
This year's Field Day line up was announced this morning:
Saturday 6th August
Victoria Park, East London
Well, already the line up looks utterly amazing:
ACTRESS / ARIEL PINK'S HANUTED GRAFFITI / COCKNBULLKID / DUCKTAILS / ELECRELANE / FACTORY FLOOR / GRUFF RHYS / HYPE WILLIAMS / JAMIE WOON / JOHN CALE / KONONO NO.1 / MARK KOZELEK / MATTHEW DEAR / MOUNT KIMBIE / OMAR SOULEYMAN / ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER / PEARSON SOUND / ROSKA / SUN RA ARKESTRA / THE CORAL / THE HORRORS / TORTOISE / TROPHY WIFE / TWIN SHADOW / WILDBEASTS / WILLY MASON PLUS MANY MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
The most forward thinking, eclectic one day music festival returns to London this summer and already confirmed are the magical Wild Beasts. Check this perfect remix from John Hopkins:
And there are several reasons for this. Firstly, they are good. Vacillating somewhere between cushy dream pop and more powerful guitar ballads. I wouldn't try to steer you wrong (that's actually reason 1A if you want to get technical) Secondly, Sarah Ellquist's lush vocals will entrance you, and third they do kick-ass covers. I think this should be enticing enough to get you up Silverlake way next Monday. Also, you might want to catch them before they go to SXSW and blow up. If you are somewhere else there are plenty of treats online to enjoy. This being one of them:
The Robotanists new album Plans in Progress is being released today, and worth checking out if you can't get to the Silverlake Lounge to see them live every Monday until March.
The band produce a huge sound considering there is only 2 of them - Andy Stack (drums, keyboards, backup vocals) and Jenn Wasner (vocals, guitars). I dont know a great deal about them but I have listened to this song on repeat on my way to get a coffee this morning.
There is something stark and beautiful about their music in the same way that Beach Houses' Teen Dream album from last year really sat with me, so does Wye Oaks sound. On a grey and dark tuesday in London this song has lifted me.
Wye Oak are on tour supporting the excellent Cold War Kids across Germany and the UK and play their first headline London date on the 22nd at The Water Rats before embarking on an extensive tour of the US and playing The Echo in LA on 24th March. Find out more here
There is something very cool about Swedish indie queen Lykke Li. She has been around since 2008 and has worked with Sweden's finest including Peter, Bjorn & John, Royksopp and Robyn. She has also worked with Kings Of Leon and Kanye West - basically she hasn't stopped ascending her musical career since she began and next Monday 28th feb in the UK and 1st March in the US sees the release of her new album Wounded Rhymes.
There must be something in the northern air of Stockholm that produces music of this caliber. The swedish band The Knife made melodramatic electronic music with broken English vocals and Lykke Li comes from the same musical class in my opinion. Her voice is powerful and her songwriting is twisted and explosive. Her first single from the new album was 'Get Some' with its progressive percussion and slide guitar, its infectiously brilliant almost like a Swedish M.I.A? She has also had considerable international success with the likes of Beck, Mike D and Friendly Fires remixing her tunes.
'Wounded Rhymes' is likely to go onto to become one of the biggest albums this year and new single I Follow Rivers is getting a lot of attention - although it is superb I prefer this remix by 'The Magician'
Gruff Rhys has a new album: 'Hotel Shampoo' out tomorrow and if the first 2 singles are anything to go by this is going be a great record. I have loved Super Furry Animals for years and pretty much anything Gruff does is, in my opinion - genius! Check out this very cool player for a taster:
This new album sees him team up Andy Votel to create an album full of almost nostalgic 70's cinema soundtrack style gems. Its pure brilliance and the first single from it, Shark Ridden Waters released in November last year demonstrates this style and intention straight away.
The Super Furry Animals have been one of most consistently exciting bands in UK since the mid 90's having released 9 studio albums since 1996. As live act too, they never fail to impress and now Gruff Rhys working without his bandmates has continued to deliver exciting, feel good alternative music. He says the album name was inspired by the free shampoo's he has collected while on tour. I have to say the first few listens of these tracks bring a smile to my face....
Also be sure to watch the utterly superb video for the latest single 'Sensations In The Dark'
Perfect feel good Sunday vibes....
I cant wait to grab this album tomorrow and give it a proper listen... His creative, twisted ideology might have peaked! I love it!
Catch Gruff live at Cadogan Hall London on 22/02 and if you want to find out more check out the rather bonkers Gruffington Post.
Further Listening:
See the Welsh wizards SFA perform my favourite track from their 'Phantom Power' album - Slow Life:
This band & Gruff Rhys - in my opinion can do no wrong...
Hey there kids, not too much to report today. Just wanted to share some stuff I was digging on this sunny Saturday afternoon in LaLa.
First I want to talk about the Dum Dum Girls. They're an LA Band of four chicks that produce music that is self-described as "blissed out buzz saw." Somewhere between early 80s punk and 60s girl group du-wop live the Dum Dum Girls. And I'm enjoying the visit. Check out this track produced by Richard Gottehrer, famous for penning tunes like "My Boyfriend's Back," and "I want Candy."
I've also been enjoying the band Foster the People's song "Pumped Up Kicks." Been around for a while, but I just learned that the band is going to start touring soon, so I've been listening and getting excited for a possible live show. They be playing at Soho in Santa Barbara on March 8th. Might be a good excuse to get up to SB and go wine tasting and catch some heady good tunage.
One last little musing on a Saturday takes it back to my Texas roots a bit. Lucinda Williams is never a bad idea. Well, I take that back, I guess there could be some situations, (like a 4 year old's birthday party) where a Lucinda might not be a good idea. In most cases, however, Ms. Williams is apropos.
There is something about Noah & The Whales' songs that send a shiver down my spine, the London folk outfit have a new album 'Last Night On Earth' on the way on March 8th on Mercury Records. First single from it is L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. and just like their 2009 single Blue Skies is somewhat resonates with me. Download the single here.
and tear jerker Blue Skies....
These boys certainly know how pull the heart strings. They describe the new album on their website:
Our third album is adventurous like its journey from Bethnal Green synagogue via the Thames riverbank across the Atlantic, the United States and all manner of Los Angeles neon-lighted highways. But it is unmistakably Noah and the Whale. - Pretty much perfect for this blog then?
Their sound is not a million miles away from Belle & Sebastien and its not hard to fall in love with these songs.
I love London and one of the reasons I love this city is because bands like The Vaccines show just what an amazing alternative music scene can produce... I completely admire what this band are doing and they are attracting hype from everywhere. They will be an important band this year and I am genuinely excited to see them live in Camden & supporting Arcade Fire in June.
I think Melbourne's Cut Copy have fortunately been in the right place at the right time. The 80's synth wave sound is back in a big way in clubs and with the recent release of Rough Trade's Synth Wave 10 compilation acts like Zola Jesus are making a big impact. Cut Copy's synth pop sound is nothing bun fun and their sound has matured on their new album Zonoscope which was released on Monday. I am writing this on a grey and wet day in London and listening to their single Take Me Over has filled my head with thoughts of Summer. This is an upbeat single and is not a million miles away from my favorite track 'Lights & Music' which was doing the rounds in 2008.
Did you here a little Fleetwood Mac riff in there? I did.
The reason I say I think they have been in the right place at the right time is because their popularity took off on the back of the 'Nu Rave' scene in 2007 lead by the likes of CSS & The Klaxons. After DJing at Fabric in London and releasing 2008's 'In Ghost Colours', the likes of DFA and The Juan Mcclean started to notice the Australian 3 piece and now here we are 2011 with 80's synth wave making a return in a big way & look who has released their new album - only those pesky electro-synth lovers Cut Copy.
On Zonoscope its not all bouncy rythms though and that is why I say their sound has developed, I reckon they they have been listening to Primal Screams' - Screamadelica - take their track 'Where I'm Going' and let us know if you agree?
It is a good album but I don't think it will change the world. These tracks are uplifting and they are a great live band. I got to see them at last year's Lovebox festival in London and they are the perfect live band for a scorching day in July.
My favorite track on the album is 'Need You Now' which builds brilliantly into a great uplifting tune....
Go and explore Cut Copy and if you get a chance to see them at a festival with the sun on your face ...do it!
They are on tour all over Europe and play the Forum in London on March 6th with support from the disco making boffins Holy Ghost - I may have to grab a ticket!
The Post Rock sound of Mogwai has made a triumphant return with their 7th studio album 'Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will'. The Scottish band have been producing epic, mainly instrumental tracks since 1995 and on this new album their influences haven't wained and its clear they are continuing to push their distorted guitar filled tunes forward.
The album opens with the uplifting and stirring 'White Noise', I have to say this is one of the best opening tracks to any album I have heard of late. If you have never heard Mogwai before, then this opener is a great introduction to the remaining album. Again the influences of Post Rock pioneers Slint, Sonic Youth & My Bloody Valentine are clearly evident but also interestingly I am hearing Sigur Ros style delicate piano over distorted drawn out guitar chords. It's certainly a superb start to this album and then out of nowhere the recently released 'Mexican Grand Prix' begins and this album truly comes to life.... a beautiful track with a driving beat and vocoded vocals. I don t say this to often, but on my 3rd listen I am loving this.
I saw Mogwai headline East London's cutting edge alternative music festival 'Field Day' in 2009 and I dont think I appreciated them as much as I should have done. Their career is a long one and they have been one of the most hardworking bands around, this album deserves critical acclaim and I wouldn't be surprised to see them headline further festivals this year. Mogwai play Brixton Academy on 25th of this month before setting off on a globe trotting tour and hit LA's Mayan on May 10th. Full Tour details here.
The Album artwork is a photograph by Anthony Crook and in my opinion is the best album cover so far this year....
San Pedro is the track from the album that is doing the rounds and I think is the best example of Mogwai's sound on this album, just brilliant:
This is nothing short of a superb record and I totally urge you to explore Mogwai and dive into this new album, out on 15th February on Sub Pop in the US & on the 14th February on Rock Action in Europe.
I first came to know F & M, back in 2008 with the release of their album Lightbulbs. A fun, lighthearted, yet somehow still Krautrock-inspired adventure. Lightbulbs offered toe-tapper tracks like Knickerbocker, Uh, Dishwasher and Rook to Queens Pawn. I must say I was excited to see how the band's sound had progressed with their recently released 4th album, Ventriloquizzing.
It seems the band has found themselves in a much more experimental mode and I'm still not entirely sure if I can say if it has been a positive progression. What I do find with this album in stark contrast to the previous release are its repeatative lyrics, almost as if the sheer repetition is meant as a statement itself. I'm also seeing more of the band's twisted sense of humor creep out in the tracks on this album. One of my favorite tracks on the album called Minestrone, describes a detailed meeting with the devil in which a thermos of soup is exchanged...Minestrone of course. The track is embellished by some nice organs and bass lines. There is also some sort of quality in lead singer David Bests' voice that is reminiscent of INXS' late Micheal Hutchence's.
Another stand-out track on the album for me is Sixteen Shades of Black and Blue, albeit a darker tune, yet enjoyable and catchy all the same. I also noticed that in addition to the repetition of lyrics there seems to be a theme with "Taiwanese Leather and Taiwanese Boots," as well as commentary on food. Lyrics like "Not everyone can afford to eat as healthily as you do." "A scooped out avocado, filled up with Bamboo, not everyone can eat like you." "Nibbling couscous and sucking lemons, licking hummus off a plastic spoon, you look ridiculous wearing Taiwanese boots, made of Taiwanese leather." I'm not too sure if this is some sort of commentary on leather-wearing vegetarian hipsters, or if they're just having a fun little poke at people who enjoy health food. Either way it's not taking itself too seriously and it's mildly entertaining to listen to.
All being said, this is an enjoyable album....heavier on the experimental side, with a few stand-outs tracks. I think it requires a background in the band's previous albums and a little bit of patience and it will grow on you. Fujiya and Miyagi are making their way to Los Angeles at and London and places in between soon. Also, their website is pretty cool and worth checking out and playing around on.
Maybe this will get filed under the 'Remember This?' page one day ... but for now take 9 mins to soak up Orbital's astonishingly beautiful Halcyon On & On. This is the track that made me love electronic music and I think it has stood the test of time.
The Hartnoll brothers began in 1989 and their career took them through the highs of early Acid House and onto to become one of the biggest british Electronica names of 1990's. The brothers have played legendary shows at Glastonbury and I was lucky enough to catch them on their storming come back in 2009 at Brixton Academy. Pictured below:
I am not too sure why I have posted back to back early 90's dance tunes over the past few days, maybe I am on a bit of a nostalgic dance trip this week but I hope you enjoy. One more to leave you with - 1995's 'Belfast'
Jesca Hoop is one of those other-worldly, whimsical song goddesses. She draws comparisons to the likes of Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, and Tori Amos. Although there are some similar vocal elements, I think her mystique is uniquely her own. I think it’s sort of a dangerous game to throw every quirky songstress with a lilting voice in the same category so I think it's only fair to let Miss Hoop have her moment.
Tom Waits says “Her music is like swimming in a lake at night.” Mr. Waits’ endorsement has surely only benefitted her career, but the connection to Waits is not soley musical. Before becoming a full-time musician, Jesca was actually a nanny to Tom and his wife Kathleen Brennan’s three children. Waits heard a demo of hers, was impressed, and consequently passed it along and the record deal was hers.
The thing that really intrigues about Jesca (no that isn't a typo), is the vocal range she seems to have and play with in each track. Her songs have a strange phonetic cadence with playful words that otherwise might not make sense together. She stitches them together with her magical musical thread, and it just well, works. Her latest album is entitled Hunting My Dress and was released in the fall of 2010.
The highlights for me are the tracks Four Dreams, Murder of Birds (Hauntingly beautiful duet with the Guy Garvey of Elbow), Hunting my Dress, and The Kingdom.
Jesca hails from Northern California, and has lived in Wyoming, Arizona and Los Angeles. She currently resides in Manchester, UK.
I really want to like James Blake's debut album which was released today.
I have been listening to it all weekend - it's stark, beautifully produced and heart wrenchingly melancholic. James Blake's sounds have been labelled by music journalists as 'Post Dub-Step' due to his production techniques, use of low frequency bass notes and his tie up with the Mount Kimbie. It's not an easy album to get into on first listen, but has the ability to really stick with you.
I am not going to deny that fact that I was swept up in the hype surrounding the 22 year old's rise to underground stardom and eventual big label release. A lot of people have had much to say about this 'modern pop prodigy', so I had to find out what this guy was all about. Just before the New Year his cover of Leslie Feist's Limit To Your Love was all over the place and got some serious airplay - the cover is infectious, haunting & without doubt is a perfect introduction to James Blake's style.
My stand out track on the album is 'The Wilheim Scream with its beautiful vocals and very delicate dub bassline. This track deserves a superb pair of headphones. There are not many tunes that make you just want to stop whatever is it your doing and just absorb the sounds, well that is exactly what has happened to me with this track. Hypnotic, beautifully and incredible delicate.
James's vocals are stunning and as already mentioned his production is slick - there is just something bothering me about this album.
Yes it's stark, yes it's minimal and yes it's most definitely is experimental. I think that my problem with some of the tracks is that they are so stripped back. They sit on their own as stunning experimental pieces of work but sometimes feel like they need more depth. Now I don't know whether I am over analyzing James's intentions but I think I was expecting a more dubby sound like the CMYK Ep. His tracks do make for some stunning remixes and already a floury of them are all over the place. For example CMYK which has elements of cut up vocal samples similar to Prefuse 73 & Four Tet's sounds. Try this tech house remix of CMYK, go on get your dance on....
Will this be the new sound of modern pop music, who knows? It's a difficult, challenging album but makes you ponder and I am sure it will, without doubt be sighted as an inspiration to some.
Further Listening The post dub-step sound is alive in London with the likes of Pantha Du Prince:
Not going to write anything big for the moment, just thought I'd share this single that's been released to the plebes off of the band's forthcoming album Blood Pressures. I'm diggin' it. What say you?
Sunday - Now my favourite day of the week. I have enjoyed spending some time looking at amazing photography and stumbled across the above image of the City of London taken by Howard Kingsnorth To the fore lies Liverpool Street and rising behind the skyscrapers of the Square Mile is Britain’s tallest building, the Shard.
Although this has been enhanced - I just think this photo is incredible. I was listening to the Lost In Translation soundtrack while browsing these photos and what more of fitting track is there than Air's Lost in Kyoto ?
I think the below track also deserves your ears on a Sunday. The very wonderful Boards Of Canada & 'Dayvan Cowboy' taken from their 2005 album The Campfire Headphase. Although BOC have somewhat dropped off the radar of late - their music is still infectiously beautiful and worth discovering. Signed to Warp Records, home to the likes of !!!, Broadcast, Flying Lotus and Gonjasufi - BOC are amongst the artists that made Warp records what is today. Warp
Raw garage rockers The Duke Spirirt are probably one of the most underrated bands of recent years. They have been pushing their slinky, noise filled alternative rock since 2003. I came to find them in 2005 after an intermate gig at the then newly opened mecca of live music in the East End - The Old Blue Last.
After their debut album Cuts Across The Land, I could tell that this band wasn't just another Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine influenced noise band. For one they have Leila Moss, a singer who produces incredible husky rock vocals. After touring all over the US and building a strong and dedicated fan base I am genuinely excited and pleased to hear their new material which doesn't let up in its quality.
The London based band have now returned to the UK and are touring through this month check here for a free download and more info http://www.thedukespirit.com/
Before I leave you - check out Everybody's Under Your spell....Infectious female lead garage rock at its best:
Last Thursday I headed down to East London's finest arts center 'Rich Mix near Brick Lane for a night called 'Tongue Fu'. The premise was essentially a bill of poets/word smiths and all round lyrical masterminds performing their handy work accompanied by a band. OK - already this sounds like a pretty cool Thursday evening right? Well it gets better, the Tongue Fu band was band up of UNKLE & Nostalgia 77.
The best spoken word artists from around UK are invited to perform every month and the night has built up something of an underground following. The Tongue Fu band basically provide a continuous improvised soundtrack which is mostly influenced by funk/jazz and swing. Each poet gives the audience an intro to their piece and asks the band to provide a soundtrack in the theme of their work... this can be anything from Hip-Hop to Trance?! It's amazing to see a band adapt there music on the fly to the themes of the poem.
Its all totally improvised and unrehearsed and makes for some incredible entertainment.
Jacob Sam-La Rose in action at Tongue Fu
The highlights for me were lyrical wizard Jacob Sam-La Rose who really pushes poetry to a new level. A genuine believer in his craft, his passion for this is clearly evident. A narrative unfolds at a rhyming pace and you cant help but just stand or sit in awe. Meanwhile the band are playing off each other, weaving baselines and drumbeats together to create a flowing soundtrack which perfectly cements the narrative to produce an atmosphere and almost hypnotic sound.
Find out more about Jacob here - he maintains a wealth of websites that are crammed with incredible surprises, worth checking out.
Other stand out performances were from host and out and out words man Chris Redmond - his down to earth original poems have the power to make you laugh, sit up, stare and cry. Amazing talent, but don't just take my word for it - please spend some time checking this out, download or just listen:
“I do believe poetry changes the world: it changes the world by changing the way we think about the world.” -Kathleen Graber
Its nights like this that I imagine artists like Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip probably would have thrived before finding commercial success through their electro/dub step sounds. If you are not familiar with Dan Le Sac check this aptly named track 'Great Britain'. Lyrics can be powerful and potent and this is fine demonstration:
Let's not forget the just who the band are - although the night wasn't about them UNKLE have continued to deliver some of the most incredible stirring music with their collaborations with Ian Brown. James Lavelle continues to graft away with UNKLE and the results always surprise and please me.
I'll leave you with my favorite UNKLE track - somewhat unrelated to the theme of this post - but it doesn't hurt, does it?
But in all seriousness, I just thought it would be a nice little treat to chronicle the life and times, and of course musical stylings of one of LA’s very talented sons, Alexander Ebert. I’ve been a fan of Ima Robot since their 2006 album Monument to the Masses so it’s been interesting to see the rise and commercial success of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and contrast that with the persona and sound of Ima Robot. It’s also been refreshing to hear some of Ebert’s solo endeavors and a standout track for me is his recent release Million Years.
So where does this guy come from and what’s with all of the identities? Well, Alexander Ebert was born in LA to a psychotherapist/musicologist father and actress mother. Ebert claims to be heavily influenced by his father’s tastes and of those influences he says, “I took a lot of long summer road trips with my dad, and the mix of music we listened to on the road skipped around from Classical to Western to New Age to hyper-cinematic. You know, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and 100 others.” As a teenager, Alexander set his sights on becoming a hip hop artist, but lost interest in his mid-teens as he became disenchanted with hip hop’s changing message. He says “The music coming out at that time was redundant and boring to me. It was no longer about the grit of making money, it was about the gloss and floss of having too much money.” In my humble opinion I think you can hear some of Alexander’s rhyming skills in both Ima Robot and Magnetic Zeros’ endeavors.
A few years after dabbling in hip hop, Ebert claims Ima Robot happened accidentally. The group formed in 1997, and after a stint with heroin and subsequently getting clean for a period, Sharpe started writing songs. By 2003 the band had been signed by a major label. The band enjoyed two successful releases with with 2003’s self titled debut Ima Robot and then 2006’s Monument to the Masses. By the time the band was gaining notoriety Ebert was quickly losing steam. “It was a really strange experience. I quickly lost my grip on what the music was supposed to be about and began thinking only with A&R and the radio in mind. By the second album I’d gone from a whiney brat with something to say to a whiney brat with nothing to say.” Despite how the artist may feel about his earlier tracks, One of my Ima Robot favorites:
After becoming frustrated and worn out by the fast drug-addled lifestyle he was leading while with Ima Robot, Alexander went through a renaissance of sorts. He moved out of his house, broke up with his then girlfriend, and moved into a one bedroom apartment and slept on a blow-up mattress for a year. Enter the birth of Edward Sharpe. Of this persona Ebert says "Well the name Edward Sharpe just came to me, and I was really into physics and math, thus the magnetic zeros part, but as far as a persona, there is no persona. It's just me. At this point in my life, I've peeled off enough layers of myself that what you get now is the real light bulb." During this period he met Jade Castrinos, the female vocalist featured on the band's hit "Home," which developed into a love affair. The couple started making simple, pared down music together, and slowly and organically, the duo came to be joined by friends…and then more friends. Although the romance between the two original members did not last, by the summer of 2009 the band had released their first album, Up from Below and have since enjoyed success from widespread coverage and over 30 sold out shows in their cross-country tour.
What really impresses me about Alexander Ebert is his ability to progress from these different styles and personas and to evolve in to strikingly different musical presentations with ease. Alexander also recently reunited with Ima Robot and they visited KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic and performed a stellar version of one of the new tracks off their album Another Man's Treasure, Sail with Me. Check it.
