de-minimis

05 February 2018

dirtmusic - 'bi de sen söyle'

If you listen to just one track today then make it this. It's from Turkish psychedelic funksters 'Dirtmusic' and it's simply brilliant.

His most ambitious album to date was released recently and it's certainly an attention-grabber. There's a whole mix of styles from techno to jazz to classical and lots in between. Here's a track that features the oboe.

25 January 2018

belle and sebastian - 'how to solve our human problems (part 2) ep' review

I've listened a few times now to the second part of the Belle and Sebastian "How to Solve Our Human Problems" EPs, a three-part issue. It's an interesting way to publish what would normally be a standard LP and I notice that you can pre-order all 3 EPs as a set if you prefer to look at this as a sort of triple album.

This is the Belle and Sebastian I know and love. Their last album "Girls In Peacetime" was very disappointing, a complete damp squib and I was a little worried that they had run out of steam but the full 2 year gap between that release and these EPs sees them re-energised and sounding great. It's a 5-track affair with them opening very brightly with 'Show Me The Sun'; as rocky and upbeat a B&S song as they've ever done. Next up 'The Same Star' is classic B&S: radio-friendly, charming, slightly melancholy in a smiley way and a very catchy chorus. But then we get to "I'll Be Your Pilot", without doubt the stand-out track on the EP. It's glorious, timeless, quintessentially B&S and a sure cert for any 'Best Of' album. I challenge anyone to listen to this just once and not to get it stuck in your head as an ear-worm. Cornflakes sees them in jangly guitar territory and sounding suspiciously like an old Orange Juice tune. The last track 'A Plague on Other Boys' is by far the weakest and deserves to sit at the end but even that works well as a counter-point and warm down after the previous 4 tracks.

One thing you can never level at B&S is cynicism in their music. There is always something quite uplifting and hopeful about their outlook and this EP will restore your faith in mankind, even just a little. There are good people in this world. Belle and Sebastian are proof of this.

19 January 2018

get cape wear cape fly - 'adult'

After promising to hang up the GCWCF moniker for good Sam Duckworth has dusted it off for this latest album. This is the first and (almost) title-track from it.

18 January 2018

strand of oaks - 'passing out'

Taken from the upcoming 'Harder Love' a companion album to last year's 'Hard Love'. The bloke doesn't know how to make a duff record, this is superb.

they might be giants - 'i left my body'

This must be the first TMBG album I've listened to in years. Last time I checked up on them they had released an album of children's songs based around the alphabet or somesuch and so I'd written them off. They're back and making grown-up music but as the album title suggests, they still have their tongues metaphorically in their cheeks. This has everything you want from them including their trademark nasally sound. NPR are also streaming their album at the moment and I'd bring to your attention Lake Monsters, which is my favourite on first listen. I can't find a stream for that so instead here is a track from the album that is on Youtube. The link to NPR is below that.

https://www.npr.org/2018/01/11/576871943/first-listen-they-might-be-giants-i-like-fun

gwenno - 'tir ha mor'

This is the first track from Gwenno's second album, due out in March. Apparently it's a Cornish language album so definitely one for the music geeks.

amanda delara - 'we don't run from anyone'

This is a cracking tune from Norway's Amanda Delara. Short but sweet.

this mortal coil - 'not me'

Here's a blast from the past.

17 January 2018

fifi rong - 'the same road'

Final one from me tonight. This is a wonderfully understated tune.

the green child - 'traveler'

A wonderful trippy synth affair. Their new album from which this is taken is out now.

hussey - 'runner up'

This is a beautiful tune from Nathan Hussey and fits this time of night.

the go! team - 'semicircle song'

I've managed to blag an advance copy of their new album and it is quite superb. It's a return to form as good as their debut album.

shopping - 'the hype'

And this is just the first track on their new album 'The Official Body'. Bloody brilliant.

porches - 'anymore'

This is a top tune from a great new album from Porches.

14 January 2018

the sufis - 'after hours' album review

They've been away for a few years working as producers for other bands but they're back and not lost the knack for infectious 60s-tinged 3-minute pop. In fact, only 2 of the 11 tracks on this album come in at over 3 minutes; the rest are around the 2min 30sec mark. They've toned it down a bit from previous albums; they've lost that carefree Monkees kind of vibe and it's now got more of a Beck feel to things or even Elliott Smith in his happier moments. They've also toned the guitars down and brought a synth/organ sound to the fore which makes things sound heavier. I like this album but that's as far as it goes because there's no real killer track although the title track is solid enough.

The album can be streamed from those good people at allmusic here:

https://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/album-premiere-sufis-after-hours

12 January 2018

menke - 'moln'

I have friends with excellent taste in music. Very many thanks to @maxcooter for bringing this track from Swedish singer Menke to my attention. It ticks all my musical boxes.