Category: Indie Music Pick

für hildegard von bingen by devendra banhart

freak folk singer/songwriter devendra banhart will release his nonesuch records debut, mala, on march 12, 2013. spring tour dates to be announced. track list below.

Devendra Banhart: Mala

Golden Girls
Daniel
Für Hildegard von Bingen
Never Seen Such Good Things
Mi Negrita
Your Fine Petting Duck
The Ballad of Keenan Milton
A Gain
Won’t You Come Over
Cristobal Risquez
Hatchet Wound
Mala
Won’t You Come Home
Taurobolium

the haunted man by bat for lashes

Natasha Khan, aka Bat For Lashes, delighted us with her 2006 debut, Fur & Gold for the marvelous combination of electronic arrangements and antique unknown instruments, such as the marxophone. In her follow-up, Two Suns, she continued using these techniques, but adding a peculiarity: Pearl, her alter-ego which gave double feelings of strangeness and an edgy sound to her music. Three years later, she is releasing The Haunted Man. Which is the difference between this album and her previous ones? A huge dose of hypnotizing charm.

Her first advance track, Laura, which can only be found in the special edition, immerse us into a simpler and fragile side of Khan. Though it is quite different to the rest of the record, led by a lonely piano, it showed us that on her new material we were going to discover a deeper side of her. And that is exactly what you get when you listen for the first time the breathtaking Lilies. The violins, which appear several times in this album, give a bright spirit to the melody which then evolves astonishingly into its maximum climate when she heartbreakingly sings in her already known high pitched tone: “Thank God I am alive!” All Your Gold was the second song we could listen to and the more I do, the more I think it is perfect to be a single, since the rhythm helps to make your feet move along and soon you’ll be failing at trying to sing: “There was someone that I knew before, a heart from the past that I cannot forget.”

There hasn’t been a big change musically. However, this is the first time that it seems that the real Natasha Kahn is being completely exposed, which is surprising since this probably contains her more upbeat and danceable tunes. Throughout her career she has maintained the vibe of a mystic ritual at midnight – or at least that is the metaphorical atmosphere it transmits to me– which is formed thanks to her howling voice and the constant contrast of synthpop used in an unusual way. This is spotted clearly in the percussion, which includes drums machines, maracas, timpanis and even bells.

One of the things that called my attention was the male vocals, which she previously tried exploring with Scott Walker in The Big Sleep, from Two Suns. But this time they are featured in a different and much more interesting way. In the title track, the male vocals grow intensively, intermingling and supplementing each other, until she finally blooms into, “Still I’m holding in my hand, standing by my haunted man”; with the orchestral instruments and a marching drum that reinforce her to sound passively passionate.

With The Haunted Man, Bat For Lashes confirmed her place in the music scene: to be a mysteriously enchanting goddess. Fading slowly away in Deep Sea Diver, she leaves us satisfied with a gently glowing mood hoping she is back soon with more of her magic.

–Juana Giaimo

cement shoes by sleepyface

‘We could have been lovers.” Could they? Could you? This song in itself is a story; a relatable tragic one. Boy meets girl, boy likes girl then life happens. All the dreams he has of holding her hand, kissing her and being one with her are shattered leaving absence and pain which leads to anger. I’m sure everyone has been there at some point; when you grow to really like someone or even love them and end up playing the fool. It was only you all along.

Listening to ‘Cement Shoes’ is a unique thing, a soothing feeling that tugs at something deep down. Like a nostalgic memory there is a glimmer of sadness within, surfaced by this tranquilizing ballad. It’s just a glimmer yet enough, enough to take you away. You get lost in the waves of vocals, the faint whisper of a tambourine drags you under and you find yourself at the hands of the singer’s emotions. Floating, weightless.

With this beautifully poetic and heartfelt song it’s as if you can sleep forever. Peacefully dream and leave reality behind. Its inspiring, haunting, ceases to leave you and tears away your defenses; becoming a vulnerable fragile being reduced to a quivering exclaim. Look them up, listen and let go, be embraced by the muffled words of a victim of reality.

Sleepyface, Cement Shoes, take me away…

-Emily Priest

heavy mood by tilly & the wall

With their cheerful and fun tunes and a beautiful lady dancing tap throughout their concerts, Tilly And The Wall has brought to the Indie scene colorful and cheerful music. However, their albums, though they had good tracks, always seemed to lack something and it was easy to realize that they could give a lot more. Four years after O was released, Heavy Mood differentiates from what they have done before for its strength and energy.

You put on the record, hear some yelling and weird noises and suddenly, a strumming guitar starts. It almost feels like you are in the middle of a wild party surrounded by the ritual voices and thrilling percussions. When the song finishes you are exhausted and eager to listen to what’s next. Summed up, a perfect opening song for this album which never abandons this constant state of ecstasy and excitement. In this track there are explosions of joy and positive emotions that are accompanied by the lyrics as when singer Kianna Alarid starts screaming: “Love riot, let’s do it right, we won’t be quiet!”

Although Jamie’s tap dancing isn’t as evident as on their previous albums, they were successful at combining it with other types of percussion which aren’t necessarily always drums. There are still some moments in which she stands out, as in the song Static Expression, in which the band goes back to its routes and sing in chorus those gentle songs, at which they are experts at.

There are other songs, however, such as I Believe in You, that though they give a break to this constant craziness, they also distance you from the atmosphere of the record for their exceeding sweetness. But as soon as they return to this mightily enthusiastic atmosphere you are involved again into their carnival to finally finish the record with the passionately crazy Defenders. Joined by a chorus of kids, Tilly & The Wall gives lessons to protect yourself and to be brave in life identifying with the listener by saying: “we’ve got nothing to fear ‘cause we aren’t afraid to die, we are not afraid of anything, we are not afraid to be alive”.
Heavy Mood is indeed another step up the ladder for Tilly & The Wall and depending to what they do in their future, it can act as a transition album. This is a change that was worth it: by squeezing all their potential they were able to give songs that act like injections of energy. For this reason is that they were able to make a persuasive and solid album, being able to maintain their positive spirit.

-Juana Giaimo

negotiations by the helio sequence

The Helio Sequence are back after four years with their fifth LP called Negotiations. Before making this album, the duo’s practice space/studio flooded while they were on tour. The flood wiped out some of their gear and it left them in need of a new place to record.

“Instead of a shared practice space, the duo found an enormous disused industrial space in an otherwise unoccupied building and set about sculpting the songs that make up Negotiations. Their ability to stretch out in a much larger space (one without anyone else around to come into the band’s mental landscape) is reflected in the patient tones and insular approach to almost every song here.” (http://www.allmusic.com)

So, basically the flood was a blessing in disguise. Their new studio paved a way for them to create something that they would not have been able to achieve in their old studio. With this album they have completely captured a “dreamy pop” affect with their music. The album opens up with “One More Time” and it is a very calm and chill tune, which sets that “dreamy pop” tone for the rest of the album.

The Helio Sequence have really outdone themselves with this album. It is kind of difficult to explain this album in means of “reviewing” because it is a really special album to me. In my opinion, Negotiations is just one of those album that you just HAVE to listen to. Once you hear it the first time you’ll want to listen to it over and over again!

-Gabrielle Glover

hold on by alabama shakes

A friend of mine told me about his new favorite band, Alabama Shakes. This band isn’t new; they’ve been performing together since 2009. They dropped their debut album, Boys & Girls, this past April. Alabama Shakes is a southern rock band, though their lead singer, Brittany Howard, lends a unique dimension to the sound with her raspy vocals. My personal favorite is Hold On. I just love that guitar and bass riff under the chorus. I also love how low-key their music video is; Brittany is rocking a t-shirt, and the whole atmosphere is very chill. They aren’t going for a specific image or theme, they are just themselves.

This rockabilly music is not my typical jam, but I thoroughly enjoy it! It’s a nice refresher from the music that’s currently dominating the airwaves. I highly recommend checking out their album Boys & Girls and I send many thanks to my friend Jake for telling me about it.

Alabama Shakes performs next at Terminal 5 in NYC on October 4, 2012.

-Avery Ash

self titled by cut corners

“Smells like golden Virginia!” Screams out Cut Corner’s singer, the ever growing Indie rock band. Singer Alex Walker along with the other members join together to make a unique flurry of addictive songs to not only envelop the audience but also reflect their own lives.

From ‘Euphoria’; a haunting song about the hard feat of being happy and to ‘Real’, a much more upbeat song about just having a good time, these boys have it all. Parties, sex, drugs and love; this band is far more than meets the eye and not just skin deep. The audience is grasped by both the beautifully tragic and fun lyrics to the sounds that radiate from their bodies like the irresistible talons of a joint at a festival.

You might have seen them around, especially people living in the South of England from their previous venues of Blissfields, The Brook and the Railway in Winchester, home of these four budding musicians. However, don’t worry as if you live near Bristol you’ll be pleased to know these boys now study at Bristol University to most certainly get laid, drunk and send shivers of adrenaline down the spine of future fans.

If you want them in your bedroom however I suggest throwing on a nice dress or simply looking them up on Facebook or clicking onto their Bandcamp; http://cutcorners.bandcamp.com/. There you will find a selection of their hits from their recent album and get that same indescribable feeling of excitement and lust without smooth talking your way into their underwear.

Check them out, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Within no time you to will be begging for escape from the smooth caramel vocals and entrapment from the smooth waves of synth and guitar riffs.
Cut Corners, just a good band having a bloody good time.

-Emily Priest

leaving tomorrow by a place to bury strangers [music video]

The first thing that strikes me when watching A Place To Burn Stranger’s music video for “Leaving Tomorrow” – apart from the heavy bass of the lead singer’s vocals and the repetitive droning riffs that kick off the track, is the renegade, grassroots quality of the film. The costumes, camerawork and acting is basic, and a little bit amateur, but I think that’s why I like it so much. Filmed on an iPhone, it rocks the “dare you to do better at home” look, and hopefully many fans are going to respond with “challenge accepted.”

It harkens back to the simplicity of the music, reminiscent of the folk rock genre which is gathering momentum thanks to the bigger names of Mumford and Sons and Noah and the Whale, and I for one really like it. As the video and song plays, my foot taps along almost of it’s own accord and I enjoy following the camera wobbles as it changes from scene to scene. The song is based on the Japanese short horror story Katshu Gee- though if I’m honest I’m not entirely sure what the plot entails. Nor can I see the link between the song and the video, but that might be because the low voice makes it difficult to distinguish the lyrics themselves. Despite this, it’s still likeable and intriguing.

– Joanne Ball

end of gaze ep by dum dum girls

It’s been a year since the all-female band Dum Dum Girls released their acclaimed second album, Only in Dreams, the follow up to their debut, I Will Be. It is obvious that these girls know how to do catchy fun noise pop tunes. However, on End of Daze they showed that their sound could develop into something more broad and genuine.

After listening to these five songs several times, I started becoming interested in the order of the tracks. “Mine Tonight” couldn’t be anything else but an opening, due to the slow and kind of dark beginning that turns into a more glowing, yet not cheerful, second half of the song. The languid style of Dee Dee’s vocals not only is in harmony with the music, but is also capable of transmitting the gloominess of the lyrics as when she sings: “There is nothing left, there is no light; need you here to be my guide”.  This track, along with the friendly and danceable I Got Nothing, was recorded just after Only in Dreams was finished. The third song is a cover of Strawberry Switchblade’s “Trees and Flowers”. Again, Dee Dee’s voice stands out as it is a side of her we had never heard before that detaches from the playful melodies she is used to sing. This shows that her vocal abilities can extend into a bigger range and you can truly believe her when she says “I get so frightened, no one else seems frightened, only me.” The two left tracks are new songs and very different to each other. While “Lord Knows” elongates the melancholic mood, Season in Hell finishes the record with a pleasant and even joyful end, though it contrasts with the theme of the lyrics.

All the songs have a spectral and dreamy sound, probably influenced by the production of The Raveonettes’ Sune Rose Wagner, who also produced Only in Dreams. This EP is highly satisfying for consisting of only five songs, and is as solid as an album, as it delivers a variety of different textures and moods. Hopefully, this change will continue in Dum Dum Girls’ third album.

– Juana Giaimo

coexist by the xx

It’s the truth that a lot of us human beings don’t know who we are or where we’re going. But it’s fact that every second we spend obsessing over the unknown is time wasted. Time evaporates into thin air during the Indian summers of this generation. To some, it’s terrifying. To others, it’s freeing. Whether we deny the fact time is slipping away from us or not, we must always make some for ourselves. But it wasn’t until a late night by myself, when I heard the lyrics ” And the end is unknown, But I think I’m ready, As long as you’re with me Being As in love with you as I am” that time stopped completely(Angels/Coexist).

I didn’t know this indie-pop band, The Xx, could literally stop all thoughts and time with one simple line of lyrics. From the song “Angels”, time ceased and I knew I had to learn more about this band and the album it came from. I didn’t know it was 3 a.m. and I didn’t realize until an hour later that I had repeated the song about twenty times. Time evaporated once again, but I clearly didn’t care. This song reminded me of the love I once had for him. Him. The first man I ever fell in love with. “There’s no one that knows me like you do.” (Our Song/Coexist). The first man I ever let break my heart. “I ask you would you have stayed? Did I hold you too tight? Did I not let enough light in?” (Chained/Coexist).

The album hit me hard. It made me questions why things ended why they did, and why I wasn’t good enough. But it was beautiful, and the songs told a personal story for me. It reminded me of the summer I rebuilt myself back up again. It reminded me of how terrifying time can be. How I didn’t know who I was without him, and how I had to build myself back up as a new person. It showed me how strong and important music is and how healing it can be in the process of building strength. It also showed me that looking back on memories is a healthy thing. That obsessing over the unknown is time wasted and we must always make time for ourselves with The Xx and Coexist.

-Courtney