de-minimis: August 2016

31 August 2016

wax tailor feat. ghostface killah - 'worldwide'

Let's mix 2 of my favourite things: French hip-hop/breaks producer Wax Tailor and Wu-Tang's finest and create somethinjg special. Here you go.

the radio dept. - 'swedish guns'

There's a new album out soon and this is, I think, the first release from it. It's a bass and synth heavy affair that has echoes of Depeche Mode too. It's all good, baby.

molly nilsson - 'ugly girl'

She's not ugly. Quite the opposite in fact.

29 August 2016

They've been friends for some time and chess buddies too but Paul Banks from Interpol and RZA from Wu-Tang Clan have finally added album partners to that list of things that they share. On first listen, it does sound like RZA collaborating on an Interpol album rather than vice versa. This is an excellent albeit very noisy track.

bon iver - '33 god'

Here's the latest release from a man very keen to reinvent himself with his much-anticipated new album.

the upsetters - 'vampire'

How about some old school reggae seeing as it's the Notting Hill Carnival weekend?

28 August 2016

jenny hval - 'conceptual romance'

I do like the musical avenues that Jenny Hval explores. Hers is definitely the path less trod but she's extremely good value for that. This is from her new album 'Blood Bitch'.

the rifles - 'groundhog day'

This is a cracking first track from the new Rifles album 'Big Life'.

blond:ish - 'endless games (patrice bäumel mix)'

Taken from the latest Kompakt Total 16 compilation album, this is a beautiful piece of electronica.

a certain ratio - 'flight'

We all need more A Certain Ratio in our lives.

badbadnot good - 'in your eyes (feat. charlotte day wilson)'

The soulful music continues.

juniore - 'je fait la mort'

This is my big discovery of the weekend - a female-fronted French psychedelic surf band with a lovely 60s retro feel and some brilliant tunes. If you want to know more then check out their Bandcamp page here.

https://heyjuniore.bandcamp.com/album/marabout-ep

the afterglows - 'angels in the sunshine'

This is a very lovely, hazy track for a Sunday morning.

23 August 2016

the primitives 'carry me home'

I must have played their 'Lovely' album to death on my cassette player. This was a particular favourite.

pivot - 'o soundtrack my heart'

I haven't heard this in years and it's ridiculously good.

22 August 2016

plantman - 'frost fayre'

So great to see British indie-pop/folk music in such rude health. Here's a new artist to me - Plantman - from Southend with his new album 'To The Lighthouse'. I'm not sure if the album title is a nod to the Virginia Woolf novel but it's pretty damn good nonetheless.

frank ocean - 'nikes'

I have just one complaint with this tune and that is the use of autotune. If only it had not been used then I'd consider this song perfect.

21 August 2016

kiki hitomi - 'yume no hana'

I don't pretend to know too much about Ms Hitomi but she does have a new album 'Karma No Kusari' out and I want it. Just check out how good this is.

jah wobble's invaders of the heart - 'soledad'

What a tune.

nu:tone - 'the boy who lost his smile'

Who's up for some soulful drum and bass?

pional - 'casualty'

This is taken from the upcoming EP 'When Love Hurts' from Spanish producer Pional. It's quite uplifting despite the minor chords and is very catchy too. Fair play for a cracking tune.

adna - 'smoke (full live ep)'

Now this is very special indeed. Berlin-based Swedish singer-songwriter Adna has recorded her full Smoke EP (Beautiful Hell / The Prettiest / Run Lucifer) live and the result is now up on Youtube in all its glory.

serpentwithfeet - 'blisters'

I randomly spotted this on Maryanne Hobbs' Twitter feed this morning and I've got to agree with her, it is a quite remarkable tune. Very chilled too, perfect for a Sunday morning.

20 August 2016

silver mt. zion - 'sisters! brothers! small boats of fire are falling from the sky'

gonjasufi - 'the kill/prints of sin'

The new album is as intense as you'd expect with some very heavy bass and all sorts of sampling, beeps. bleeps and whistles and it all adds to create quite a sonic backdrop.

and the golden choir - 'the transformation'

I don't know an awful lot about this act but from what I can gather they are a German act, have been around for some time as this video will attest - it's 4 years old and previously called 'My Transformation' but the debut album was released only this year - but the music is top notch for sure and the album a real grower. Love it.

crystal castles - 'fleece'

The new album is out and it's a very bold statement after all the acrimony over the last year or so. I love this track.

ezra furman - 'teddy i'm ready'

I'm such a big fan of Ezra Furman and his new EP 'Big Fugitive Life' is a great return for the Chicago singer/songwriter.

16 August 2016

kirsty maccoll - 'don't come the cowboy with me sonny jim'

My all-time favourite Kirsty MacColl song.

15 August 2016

primal scream - 'sometimes i feel so lonely'

Haven't heard this in what must be years.

black marble - 'it's immaterial'

You know you're going to love a track that has a bass guitar that sounds like it's straight from the Peter Hook school of guitar playing. The new album is available to pre-order and you can stream this track from it now.

14 August 2016

cubic nomad & emma susanne - 'no angel (uk mix)'

I'll leave the marathon Sunday music session I've had on this blog with this track by Dutch trip-hop outfit Cubic Nomad. This particular mix gives it a huge drum and bass flavour and although it changes the original beyond recognition, it's still got all the soul and funkiness.

sarah jarosz - 'house of mercy'

A little bit of brand new Americana before I go to bed.

faun fables - 'ydun'

Dawn McCarthy is one half of Faun Fables, an Oakland folk band that channels the late 60s sounds of Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin but also nods to classic British folk music. Her voice is so powerful that it's easy to just to get lost in that but if you can resist those charms then there's some great musicianship too and killer tunes. The new album 'Born of the Sun' is quite something.

maya isacowitz - 'wild sea'

I hope I've got this right - she's an Israeli singer born to South African parents and she now lives in New York! I think we can safely say Ms Isacowitz is well-travelled and her music reflects this. It's a mix of folk, blues, pop and a hint of rock too. She is equally adept playing upbeat major chords and the downtempo minor notes. There's an energy to the album that really makes me want to see her perform live, so here's hoping she comes to the UK soon.

the winstons - 'play with the rebels'

Not to be confused with the 60s soul outfit, these Winstons are from Milan and are sort of prog-rock, sort of heavy rock, sort of experimental and the whole is most definitely greater than the sum of its parts. Their eponymously-titled new album is mind-blowingly good. Get yourself over to their Bandcamp site and check it out.

beaty heart - 'raw gold'

Yet another British band that deserve a huge audience. Their brand of languid funky pop hits all the right notes and their new album 'Till the Tomb' is the business.

angel olsen - 'shut up kiss me'

Her new album is quite simply brilliant. Enough said.

mangoseed - 'jah jah'

Oh, this is very nice. A lovely blend of dub reggae, indie and all sorts. Great stuff.

rooney - 'all the beautiful people'

They've recently released a new album 'Washed Away' and I'm still getting into it, there's so much to enjoy. To give you a clue as to its awesomeness this track here is just the first track from it.

dm stith - 'cormorant'

He's a NY singer/songwriter who has been quiet for a few years but is back with quite a bang. The new album 'Pigeonheart' is certainly compelling with its minimalist approach and uncompromising lyrics.

teenage fanclub - 'i'm in love'

And who isn't with Teenage Fanclub? The new album comes out next month. Excited?

bonnie prince billy - 'you're doomed'

There's always time for a Will Oldham song on a Sunday.

globelamp - 'invisible prisms'

Do yourself a big favour and buy 'The Orange Glow' album as soon as you can. You owe it to yourself.

cereus bright - 'river run'

Knoxville folk band Cereus Bright have a great uplifting sound, reminiscent of Stornoway at times. I bet they're great to see live. Love this track.

wild beasts - 'big cat'

Here's a band that are at the top of their game. The new album is something else, I've been listening to it on and off for the last few weeks and it just gets better.

yama warashi - 'no face'

She's from Japan, lives in Bristol and her music is cool as fuck. Have a listen to this.

olafur arnalds - 'particles ft. nanna bryndís hilmarsdóttir'

I've been a huge fan of Olafur Arnalds for about 8 years now and I'm so pleased to see him go from strength to strength - his reputation is global yet he still manages to make each album feel so warm and intimate and close to him. This is from his new album 'Island Songs'.

low - 'words'

Too many words, too many words and I can hear them.

obesøn - 'drugs'

Things just got very moody all of a sudden. What a superb track.

goldfrapp - 'annabel (acoustic)'

Let's ease everyone into Sunday morning.

nouvelle vague - 'in a manner of speaking'

Give me the words that tell me nothing. Give me the words that tell me everything.

13 August 2016

bon iver - '10 d E A T h b R E a s T ⚄ ⚄'

I'm breaking a habit of a lifetime (lifetime of this blog anyway) to post the full name of this track including capital letters. Well...Bon Iver's worth it even if the track name is a bit of a mouthful. This is from his brand new album and from what I've heard it could also be his best yet. I love where he pushes the boundaries and the directions that he goes musically. It's great to see new music still pushing new limits.

marconi union - 'abandoned/in silence'

The new Marconi Union is as as elusive as the band. Fragile, distant and sombre - it's an evocative and emotional collection of 4 tunes all around the 12 minute mark that hark back to Talk Talk at their bleakest. I love it.

blind pilot - 'packed powder'

Portland folkies, Blind Pilot have been around for some time but their new album 'And Then Like Lions' was the first I'd heard of them so I have quite a bit of catching up to do and it's going to be fun for sure. Their brand of indie folk/pop is right up my street, Just check this track out.

morgan delt - 'the age of the birdman'

Yet more psychedelic-tinged new music, this time from LA-based musician Morgan Delt. The new album is a great diversion and one of those albums that needs listening from start to finish in order to appreciate fully its magnificence.

pfarmers - 'the ol' river'

Sadly, there's no streams online for any of the tracks from the new Pfarmers album and it's a real shame as there's some great stuff on there so let's make do with one of their older tracks.

thee oh sees - 'plastic plant'

The brand new Thee Oh Sees album is quite a heavy affair and not the easiest of listens but it is definitely worth it if you give it a bit of attention. There's lots going on in there.

dreamers - 'beat ride'

Very reminiscent of Wax Tailor. Trip-hop, when it's done properly as with this track, is just aural perfection.

wighnomy brothers - 'something for your mind'

Robag Wruhme is a techno genius. There's no doubts about that.

michael mayer - '17 & 4'

In the beginning there was 'Kompakt Volume 1' an album that introduced me to some great artists and music on the Kompakt label.

brendan canning - 'hey marika, get born'

I'm not sure what the title refers to but Broken Social Scene founder, Brendan Canning knows how to write a great tune. This is from his brand new album 'How Wrecking Years'.

molnet - 'in the sea'

A new track from Swedish band Molnet. It's got a Vampire Weekend feel to it but without the African drums, I like it a lot.

santigold - 'anne (switch mix)'

It's too short, too short by at least 2 minutes. And that's about the only thing wrong with this tune. It's even got a sample of Kraftwerk's 'The Model', that's how good it is.

new order - 'crystal'

15 years ago today, New Order released this track. I still am not sure whether I like it or not, you know.

horseback - 'modern pull'

This is an extraordinarily well-crafted album. It combines the density and heavy guitar playing of Strands of Oak together with Joy Division-esque lyrical delivery.

kandi - 'don't think i'm not'

Regular readers of my blog will know that I'm no fan of R&B but occasionally a tune comes along that just hits the spot and here's one that I've always loved. It's not particularly cool and it's a bit of an oldie but I don't care - I love it.

And am I the only one who thinks the beginning intro sounds like Christopher Cross's 'Caught Between The Moon and New York City'?

11 August 2016

pineapple thief - 'no man's land'

Last one of the evening from me. Goodnight!

father john misty - 'real love baby'

His public persona seems to be that of being a bit of a twat at times but there's no denying that he makes great music. This is his latest track.

sufjan stevens - 'eugene'

'Carrie and Lowell' is a hell of an album and I'm glad I accidentally re-discovered it this evening. If you haven't heard it yet then give yourself a treat and listen and soon and often.

the modern lovers - 'hospital'

I've never really given The Modern Lovers the attention they deserve. They were clearly a big influence on Blur as this song proves.

nina simone - 'the ballad of hollis brown'

A live version of an under-rated classic from Nina Simone. It always seems to me that Dylan's songs are invariably better when sung by someone else.

get well soon -'too much love'

One for Kraftwerk and New Order fans, this tune is quite sublimely beautiful.

frazey ford - 'september fields'

I'm a big, big fan of Ms Ford and her 2014 album 'Indian Ocean' is in my opinion a stone-cold classic. If you hear a better mix of soul and country anywhere then I'd like to hear it.

07 August 2016

field mouse - 'the order of things'

Gotta love a jangly indie-guitar sound. This is from their new album 'Episodic'.

corbu - 'battles'

Another new band for me, Corbu are a New York electronic pop outfit that sound decidedly un-American to my ears. They have a dream pop quality that makes me think of Scandinavian bands rather than the USA. No worries as this type of sound is certainly my cup of tea and I'm really enjoying their new album 'Crayon Soul'. This track could be a latecomer for my sound of the Summer.

amp fiddler - 'soul fly pt.1'

Oh boy, if you're after some authentic 60s-sounding funk and soul then you have to check this track out from Amp Fiddler's new album. It's fantastic.

hockey dad - 'jump the gun'

I think Boronia is the second album by Aussie band Hockey Dad but they're completely new to me and when it's released next week I'm going to treat myself to a digital copy. They've got a great energy to their music and very fresh-sounding too. I hope the rest of the album is as good as this.

blossoms - 'at most a kiss'

Manchester's proud tradition of producing great guitar-driven indie rock is well-founded and Blossoms are carrying that on with some aplomb. I've been listening this morning to the 'At Most A Kiss' and it's bloody good. Check this out.

blind pilot - 'umpqua rushing'

Great to see that Oregon band Blind Pilot have a new album out and first listening suggests it's a very strong collection of tunes indeed. This is the first track from the album 'And Then Like Lions', I think you'll like it.

daniel steinberg - 'corn dog (original mix)'

Post-Brighton Pride is always an interesting time and a good hangover tune is essential. I was therefore delighted to see that my favourite DJ producer Daniel Steinberg has a new track out and it's a lovely slice of techno with a hypnotic beat and a lovely vibe.

06 August 2016

crybaby - 'i cherish the heartbreak more than the love i lost'

Voice like Roy Orbison, lyrics like Morrissey. It's a winning combination.

massive attack and ghostpoet - 'come near me'

The collaboration has an inevitability to it, it's a marriage made in heaven.

bobby gentry - 'ode to billy joe'

It was the 3rd June another dusty Delta day.

jj - 'my life'

I'm grinding til I'm tired...

the clash - 'guns of brixton'

When they kick in your door, how you gonna come - with your hands on your head or on the trigger of your gun?

05 August 2016

scott fagan - 'crystal ball'

How come no-one ever mentioned Scott Fagan to me before? He's brilliant. Sort of David Bowie meets Scott Walker.

haley bonar - 'kismet kill'

The new Haley Bonar album is awesome. I've spent this evening thoroughly entertained by it. If you're a fan of Jenny Lewis or later Debbie Harry then you'll love this.