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Summer 2012
This list is a random collection of music (in no particular order) I’ve been listening to for the past few months.
Daniel Land – My Sad Captains
I received this disk of ambient piano pieces in the post yesterday, and quickly immersed myself in its watery elegance. Put together over the past decade, some of Land’s song sketches date back to his school days. They are minimalist snapshots of particular points in time that had great significance to him. For fans of his riverrun work and anyone who appreciates Harold Budd.
Sugar – Copper Blue and File Under Easy Listening reissues.
These albums are 90’s classics, and as good as they sounded then, the remastered versions are awesome, not to mention all the extra live tracks. Copper Blue also includes the Beaster EP. This is possibly Bob Mould at his best, though that is my completely biased opinion. These are must have releases for all Husker Du and Sugar fans, or anyone who likes hard rock laced with a snarlingly sweet punk edge.
Blur – Park Life, Modern Life is Rubbish, and Great Escape reissues.
I will admit to not being a huge Blur fan, but I’ve always appreciated Albarn’s sharp social commentaries on daily life. The variety of styles employed is somewhat dizzying, but that’s what make these 90s mods so distinct in contrast to their contemporaries.
Shoes – Ignition
The first Shoes album in 18 years is a welcome return to the power pop they do so well. It reminds me of contemporaries such as Teenage Fanclub and Fountains of Wayne, but the boys (all three original members plus drummer John Richardson) wind their own unique skein of honey-drenched pop. With singalong melodies and stellar harmonies, this is a perfect piece of summery goodness that I’ve had in constant rotation. Check it out on Black Vinyl Records.
Liars – WIXIW
The cryptic title (pronounced Wish You) aside, this is a widescreen slab of lush synth pop. I’m reminded of Apparat and even Horrors in places, but they sometimes twist their music into less accessible pretzel pieces, which always keeps things interesting. Definitely one of the better releases I’ve heard this summer.
Wild Nothing – Nocturne
This album should be out here in November, but I’ve been kindly provided with an advance copy. This is a beautiful release, a sort of chamber pop infused with swooning melodies. It’s music for lazing away on a warm summer’s day, fingers trailing into the water as you ride along in a canoe. Simply wonderful.
Lights Out Asia – Hy-Brasil
This is one of the more compelling bands on the n5md label. Born from a fusion of electronica and post rock, Lights Out Asia has evolved into an enigmatic group. One can hear elements of shoegaze, Eno, and chilly IDM shading their compositions. If you like bands like Hammock, Bitcrush, or Port-Royal, this might be right up your alley.
Melody Gardot – The Absence
Where has Melody been my whole life? A friend turned me on to this, and I am solidly hooked by her brand of Brazilian inflected jazz. It’s cheerful, skillfully executed, and soulfully sung music that stays with you long after Gardot’s sultry voice has faded away. It never fails to raise my spirits on a crappy morning commute, and it’s the perfect ending to a hot summer’s day. Gardot easily outpaces contemporaries such as Norah Jones and is more akin to Nina Simone or Sarah Vaughn. And along with Danilo Perez’s album “Across the Crystal Sea”, this is my favorite album of the past few years. Sublime.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Aufheben
This came out while I was on holiday in California wine country, and it accompanied me on walks up steep inclines. BJM’s music is reliable, and some might say a tad predictable, but it’s never boring. Anton Newcombe’s constantly revolving door of band members never detracts from his vision, which is acid-drenched psychedelia from the old school. He has influenced so many musicians I follow that his pull on me is inevitable. Listen and learn from a master of modern psychedelia.
Crocodiles – Endless Flowers
These guys play the sort of spaced out rock that I dig. Sounding sort of like Darker My Love used to sound, they also have that huge sounding reverb vibe going for them. My description doesn’t do this justice, but if you like their other releases, you’re sure to like this one too.
