de-minimis

31 October 2013

julia holter - 'running through my eyes (an fd acoustic session)'

A simple yet stunning acoustic set from Ms Holter for the ever-brilliant FD Sessions.

james blake's 'overgrown' wins mercury music prize

If ever proof were needed that the geekier edges of electronica are coming into the mainstream then James Blake's well-deserved win should go a long way to satisfying the doubters. His music has always been a very cerebral and intimate creation, I can't recall too many 'in your face' tracks from him despite how heavy he drops the bass.

Blake's stock is already extremely high with A-list musicians lining up to request his mixing skills. Only this week I heard a very powerful production with Drake (not my thing but I can appreciate he's a great musician). This remix of Rahjconkas is far more up my street.

xx's coexist remixed

I have just seen in Fact Mag that four tracks from the beautiful Coexist album have been given a remix makeover and are scheduled for release next month on an EP named 'HVNXX'. The full tracklisting is as follows:

Tracklist:

01 Fiction (Marc Piñol Remix)

02 Reunion (Mistakes Are Ok Remix)

03 Missing (Round Remix)

04 Swept Away (New Jackson Remix)

The first two have been released for streaming ahead of EP launch so I'm really pleased to be able to link them here:

Fiction (Marc Piñol Remix)

Reunion (Mistakes Are Ok Remix)

thursday's child

I'm trying to eschew the obvious Halloween connection today (I've always enjoyed Guy Fawkes night much more) and instead post an eclectic mix of music. Hope you enjoy at least some of them but for the traditionalists, I've snuck a tune in at the end just for you.

Bailey Brothers - 'Happy Valley Special'

Perhaps it's the weather but I'm feeling quite melancholy this morning and for obvious reasons old school bluegrass really hits the spot.

The Supremes - 'Stoned Love (A Tom Moulton Remix)'

Normally associated with the Philly sound here's disco production legend Tom Moulton's take on a Motown classic.

Lund Quartet - 'Love's Madness'

Bristol jazz/trip-hop. What's not to like?

Kid Montana - 'Spooky (Halloween Mix)'

This is a slow-burner but really quite cool and trippy. In the words of Crimewatch -"Don't have nightmares."

30 October 2013

warpaint - 'love is to die'

I'm very excited about going to see Warpaint tonight at my all-time favourite music venue, Brixton Academy. Their first album was a very impressive affair and coincidentally the release date of the new album (January 2014) as well as new tour dates have been confirmed in the last couple of days. I'm really pleased to see Brighton Dome as a venue too.

Here's the first release from their eponymous new album.

22 October 2013

omar souleyman - 'warni warni'

Last one of the night and bang up to date with Syrian cult pop star, Omar Souleyman and produced by Four Tet's Kieran Hebden. This track is a monster of a tune. Seriously, you've got to play this loud and often. You won't regret it.

jacques brel - 'le plat pays'

Another re-discovery tonight for me, this time Jacques Brel this time with 'Le Plat Pays' (translated as 'The Flat Country'). I can't help but think of Leonard Cohen when I hear this song. Just beautiful.

let's hear it for the drummer

I don't know if the name Craig McClune (aka Clune) is a name you're familiar with or not but he was for a time the drummer with David Gray's band and one of the most engaging, exciting and extravagant drummers I've ever seen live. It's difficult to put into words the visual and aural experience of seeing him drumming live but it's one that you don't forget once seen.

I was reminded of him from that Ray Lamontagne video with David Gray lurking in the background. He's not always been my cup of tea but certain songs hit the spot and with Clune providing a live trip-hop sound this song in particular is one that I do like a lot. Just check out the drumming.

ray lamontagne - 'are we really through'

With a voice and rich and evocative as someone like John Martyn or Daniel Lefkowitz and a songwriting talent to match, a Ray Lamontagne live in session recording is always going to sound special. I've been listening to 'God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise' whilst doing a few chores and it's been like re-visiting an old friend after a long time apart. Here's a wonderful live version for BBC Four.

nick cave and the bad seeds - 'live at krcw'

Just a heads-up that there's a new live album pencilled in for the end of next month. Here's the full listing:

1. Higgs Boson Blues

2. Far From Me

3. Stranger Than Kindness

4. The Mercy Seat

5. And No More Shall We Part

6. Wide Lovely Eyes

7. Mermaids

8. People Ain't No Good

9. Into My Arms (limited vinyl only)

10. God Is In The House (limited vinyl only)

11. Push The Sky Away

12. Jack The Ripper

Looks like I'll have to get the limited edition vinyl as those two vinyl-only tracks are up there with my favourite Nick Cave songs.

tim paris - 'edges of confusion'

I first heard this on the excellent 'Immer 3' album and even when sitting with a superior selection of tunes, this is a real stand-out track from the long-player.

radiohead - 'house of cards'

Some Tuesday lunchtime quality.

mount kimbie - 'blind night errand'

This corker of a tune popped up on my iPod just as I was pulling into East Croydon last night on the way home to Brighton and a fair few Palace fans got on there, all looking very glum at losing 4-1 at home to Fulham. It made the tune all that much sweeter and I'll forever associate the tune with that result. Everyone's a winner! Well, maybe not Crystal Palace.

21 October 2013

atoms for peace - 'before your very eyes'

Monday seems to find me in a melancholy frame of mind and feeling very uninspired. I must have hit about 30-odd tunes on Youtube/Soundcloud/various other music websites and then quickly forwarded to the next one. This is about the only one that I've listened to the whole way through. Great video as well.

elliott smith - 'pretty (ugly before)'

He died at his own hand 10 years ago this day. Yet another musician who wrote such beautiful music yet whose personal life was tormented by personal demons. Taken from his last album and, it appears to me at least, to be his suicide note to the world.

19 October 2013

reuben wilson - 'orange peel'

This has to be one of the most famous riffs in breakbeat. Funky!

eurythmics - 'julia'

My all-time favourite Eurythmics track and from a soundtrack that has been forgotten when thinking of the duo's musical output. They hit exactly the right mood with the entire album and reflects the book's paranoia, sadness and bleakness.