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Random Albums

To Hear This Week

 

Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar) - The debut full-length from Wisconsin’s Justin Vernon as Bon Iver (pronounced: bohn eevair; French for "good winter", spelled incorrectly) builds layered acoustic guitar and falsetto reflections into intimate, soulful folk.  [Pitchfork 8.1]  Recommended.

Dead Meadow: Old Growth (Matador) - The now DC based trio Dead Meadow finds themselves overwhelmed in Old Growth.  The towering trees restrain the sprawling experimentation, yet the shadowed ground enables the heavy guitar riffs to rise-up into the dense, neo-psychedelic canopy. Good. 

Various: Droppin' Science: Greatest Samples from the Blue Note Lab (Blue Note) - It’s no secret Blue Note is fertile ground for sample sources.  This nice comp. of late 60s to mid-70s jazz-funk tracks are prime examples.  Liners include known drops.  [note: will also be released on vinyl with 3 more tracks] 

Vashti Bunyan: Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind (Dicrstina) –

A collection of early material from British Folk cult figure Vashti Bunyan.  The tape and record imperfections add to the intimate and fragile feel of her occasionally adorned whispered vocals and acoustic guitar.  [buy it for nice gatefold record style packaging.]  Recommended. 

Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin: Holon (ECM) - Swiss composer-pianist Nik Bärtsch and his band Ronin unfurl modular constructions, where evolving polymetrics entwine in complex interlocking patterns and repetitive motifs.  A “biosystem” of modern creative music rooted in jazz, but incorporating much more.  Highly Recommended. 

Various: Bippp: French Synth Wave 1979-1985 (Everloving) - A collection of little known French post-punk artists add their homegrown perspective to the electronic cold-wave movement of the early eighties.  Synths, mechanized beats and robotic vocals in mostly spare arrangements that get under your skin.  Recommended. 

Cadence Weapon: Afterparty Babies (Upper Class/Anti-) - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada underground MC/Producer Cadence Weapon’s 2nd LP is a deft dichotic hip-hop/electro-dance fusion.  The dense, layered productions have ample bump for the rump, and substance for the mind.  [mostly clean edit] Highly Recommended. 

Gary Louris: Vagabonds (Rykodisc) - The solo debut from Gary Louris (Jayhawks, Golden Smog) is about searching.  It’s a well produced (by Black Crows’ Chris Robinson) country-rocker, with down home support from the aptly titled Laurel Canyon Family Choir featuring Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley) and more.  Recommended. 

Jessica Fichot: Le Chemin (S/R) - Le Chemin ("The Path") is a fitting title for the debut from multi-ethnic (French / Chinese / American) artist Jessica Fichot.  A coffeehouse blend based in French chanson and gypsy jazz.  RIYL Paris Combo, Chocolat Soundtrack  Recommended. 

School of Language: Sea From Shore (Thrill Jockey) - A gem of a solo disc from singer/guitarist David Brewis of Sunderland trio Field Music. From the laptop-looped vowel sounds, an eccentric, melodic pop record grows with shifting arrangements of precisely placed churning guitar, rumbling bass, keys, clattering percussion and thunderous drums; all stitched together by his warm, elastic vocals.  Recommended

 

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