Beirut - Live at the Music Hall of Williamsburg

I don't think it's possible for this man to dissapoint me, and until that day i shall remain enchanted by his incredible music. This live take transports the listener around the world. During 'La Javanaise' im sipping latte on the French Riviera, in the middle of 'Gulag Orkestar' i feel im leading a thousand romans into battle and half way through 'East Harlem' im drinking red wine with the love of my life. Beirut conjures images a plenty with his eclectic style melding together everythign that is delightful about his music - the ukelele, french horns, trumpets, harpischords, unique percussion and a myriad of ethnic nuances that you would like to add into that list. You really have to taste his brilliance for yourself to understand what this young man is all about.

PW in the comments.

The Mars Volta - Octahedron

I bought this album today, after a ten hour shift and it made me happy. The album lulls in with a minute and a hald worth of subtle waves of synth before a dualistic acousitc/electric guitar lead writhes its way into focus. And really, this sets the tone for the rest of the album, an album nourished with mysterious harmonies of Cedric's sublime vocals and delicate intricate musings composed by Omar.

Althought built around a number of slow burning, often haunting ballads - see the wonderfully eerie With Twilight As My Guide or the glitch laden (yes glitch laden) Copernicus, the album does carry that trademark Mars Volta sound, albeit a little subdued. Teflon is immediately catchy and contains some of the darkest lyrics Cedric has ever written, while closer Luciforms builds magnificently to dizzying heights only to crash down, leaving you wanting more...

All aroudn this is a great album, ive been walking around my house all night humming the tunes, its very addictive and catchy - which is not a bad thing. U'll need a password for this one - find it in the comments :)

Ani Difranco - To The Teeth

To The Teeth has been slaughtered in critics reviews and fans alike for it's huge departure from Difranco's trademark acoustic singer-songwriter mould that she'd dug herself into early in her career - and to be honest i don't really understand why. Ani hinted at thsi newfound direction in her previous album Little Plastic Castle which incorporated the use of jazzy horns and playful cancions that only enhanced her back catalogue - this album, i believe, took her sound to a whole other level of maturity.

Title track opener is classic Difranco, a plucked guitar and her unique voice acocmpany each other beautifully as she sings about America's gun ownership laws, with some very witty lyricism if i may add,

"And if i have to hear one more time, about a fools rigths, to his tools of rage...i'm gonna take all my friends and move to Canada...and die of old age"

Her obvious prowress for lyrical ability holds it's own throughout the album, which from this point on drastically shifts from a folk wonderland to something akin to a smokey jazz and swing bar, old men playing poker in the corner smoking cigars while Ani jams out her tunes to precision. From the get go you can tell that Ani is full of angst, pain and suffering - the album is considerably dark and this is evident in both her songwriting and lyrics,

"I dont know if im strong enough, to do this much longer...god i wish...god i wish i was stronger"

Going Once makes use of a saxaphone to perfection anchoring the song all the way through till it fades into Hello Birmingham, an extremely evocative piece surrounding the bombings of abortion clinics in the US. Difranco trades off the sombre for the catchy in the next 'fun' section of the record. Back Back Back contains an infectious sing along chorus while Swing employs the talents of a rap artist, done considerably well with complete with hip hop beats blended conspicuously with folk undertones.

All in all this is a very strong record from one of th emost reveered and prolific female song writers of the last 20 years, and only highlights the depth and broad focus of such a talented artist.

These Armes Are Snakes - Tail Swallower and Dove

For some reason These Arms Are Snakes (TAAS) have not 'grabbed' me like many bands out there, but they are certainly unique for the genre they are often pinned down into. The brand of post-hardcore / metal they create comes from a well developed, unoriginal pool of lackluster bands, but TAAS have a certain flare in their stylings - it could be in the abrasive vocals, the thick synth like basslines or the overwhelmingly heavy guitars but there is just something that when im in the mood for, ill blast it.

Ambitiously titled Tail Swallower and Dove is their third (i think)...or is it fourth full length from this American act, their first EP was nothing short of brutal and their first long play effort 'Oxeneer' for short was an amalgamation of the vocals and instruments described above and since then TAAS have evolved their sound, not dramatically, but enough to keep a casual listener interested.

The album itself has some 'heavy as fuck' moments and they still utilize their signature rhythmic danceable basslines to maximum affect however they seem to be combining these with a much more focused and cleanly recorded dynamic. The guitars meld together beautifully, the bass drives the songs and the vocals eshrew sheer intensity.

The album starts off with a start stop heavy number which ahlf way through changes direction to conclude with a powerful heavy guitar crescendo and this sets the tone for what this album is going to entail. The only request that i ask of TAAS is that they stay away from 3 minute songs - the only one on the record 'Prince Squid' tends to annoy me with its drum and vocal only intro and seems daft and uninspired - but this detrimental sphere gives rise to TAAS's heralding stregths - they know how to write an epic. "Ethric Double" and "Seven Curtains" surpass the five minute mark and encompass everythign from gigantic buildups, elongated metal jams and sprawling synths that amalgamate all that is perfect aobut this band into one sitting.

Yes, this album has flaws, but the strengths far outweigh what is a generally solid album.

Testing this stuff…

So it seems I can post blog entries using Microsoft Word… I'll just use this to say hello and I hope your enjoying the music on here so far…

Cheers!

Alex.

Kill and Eat - Green Bushes (alright now records)

Kill and Eat's record Green Bushes is a sparse and challenging listen. Released in 2008 and awarded a re-run and set free on March 31st 2009, the three track jazz trip can be described as a tidy clusterfuck of jamming between a few friends and an amalgamation of simple ideas to form complex arrangements. No, I don;t really understand what i mean, so i'll lay it out for you.

Green Bushes leads off with the 18 minute title track, ushered in by quavering vocals that never quite seem to find their place but still managing to carry the delicate piano in the background. The two elements compliment each other and somehow manage to (after a few listens) click in your head. At the five minute mark the piano sways and rolls in like constant breaks on a winter's beach growing with intensity, informing you that soon these breaks will pull further in with intricate fingers on the keys.

It is at this point that the song opens up and experimentation begins with the piano rising and falling from whence it came. Just before nine minutes we hear slight hints at what is to come, the song begins to form its main centrepiece as light taps of wood on metal permeate through a smoky jazz bar piano solo. Mmmm yes this is why it takes 10 minutes to build, because when it does it is beautiful. Before long what i can only make out to be a muted trumpet is introduced to the mix adding another layer of complexity before the song make its final dash to the finish line with triumphant emotion.

The remaining two tracks offer the listener a sketch of what the former song built itself to, offering an upbeat vocal pattern, which at times repitive, gives way to an upbeat piano solo that keeps your feet tapping as drums hold tight the jazz pop cacophony. Closing the album is "Elipses" which to me is a perfect way to cap off the journey that this 30 minute record offers you, complete with distorted trumpet, a piano melody that brings a smile to your face and work on the kit that flows underneath it all.

This music is definately new ground for myself, the jazz fuck-a-bout style that is the first track afetr repeated listens doesn't come off so much as messing about as it does a genius way to build to a pleasant conclusion - and is only complimented by the two 'sketches' that round off a solid effort from this little-known American duo.

You can download the album and donate HERE

Also, check out he label Alright Now Records

Demon Fuzz - Afreaka!

Continuing on from the last funk filled post, i give you Demon Fuzz, a soulful blend of funk, jazz, heavy rhythm and dance that will keep you moving all night long. Punctuated with heavy brass and slick guitar work and infused with sexy drumming, smooth bass and soulful rich vocals this album from way back in the 70's is sure to not dissapoint.

These guys take you on a journey throughout their songs, often swithcing up the pace mid song and going off in wonderful tangents. Definately check this out.

Lee Field and The Expressions - My World

Sorry for the absence of late - but i've come back with an explosive, emotive and all encompassing soul train of funk. Lee Field transcends what it is to be a 60's and 70's soul master and corroborates it to the 21st century on his album My World. Rolling bass lines and beat heavy drums accompany his impassionate voice that demands to be heard. Soul lathers itself in horn sections, soaring strings and mesmerizing guitars as Field's croons about lost love and social change.

The album contains three insturmental pieces that roll in between such heart aching ballads as 'love comes and goes' and 'my world is empty without you', nothign can deny the straight up soul of 'ladies' and the politcally driven 'money is everything'. Take a trip down a soulful alley and you won't regret it...