And this week’s selection of five are…
Gorillaz – Some Kind of Nature (Feat. Lou Reed)
“Dear SOIWT: Thanks v.much for your recent letter, asking whether my new Gorillaz album would be a stream of clichéd celeb cameos and rather simple-sounding beats. I’m happy to report that this is not the case: while numerous artists like Snoop Dogg and Barry Gibb do appear doing their ‘thang’, this is a wholly purposeful, imaginative enterprise - check out this duet I did with Lou Reed, and note it’s eclectic combo of zany loops, thigh-slappingly infectious hooks and foreboding strings. Cool huh? Over and out - Damon Albarn.”
Marthas & Arthurs - Who Will Marry Me? (Live at the Lammermuirs)
Do-do-duh-duh. In a nutshell, that’s what make this song fabulous. Marthas & Arthurs‘ formula on this thoughtful small-town tale of love and loneliness is as simple as it’s potent: exchange boy-girl lyrics, then let a tinkly mandolin (and an occasional accordion in support) recite a rat-a-tat beat so catchy that you’ll find yourself humming it hours later. It’s gentle, sprawling, springlike and decidedly idyllic stuff from the folk-inclined, dinner party-playing quartet.
NB: This song has been kindly provided by M&A exclusively for SOIWT, and will be available for three weeks – until 12 April – only.
Tim And Sam’s Tim And The Sam Band With Tim And Sam – Choices
Despite the “check us out” wankiness of their name, the also-Welsh Tim & Sam… turn out to offer a rather nicely subdued shoegaze. The shrill vocals start off slightly distant, like beautiful noises caught on the wind, like the pure sound of a foggy morning. But gradually, in league with guitars and keys, they build and build a giddy pace, to a rousing climax lined with moralistic lyrics. The feeling is reminiscent of that sensation as a kid when you ran as fast as you absolutely could, and just for a few seconds felt like you were flying…
Aloe Blacc – I Need A Dollar
The last song to so aptly sum up being broke was Money’s Too Tight To Mention by Simply Red (all together now: “I’m talking about money, money..” Okay, sorted.) LA-based Aloe Blacc‘s 80s throwback is similar funky to El Hucknall’s effort, with an real 70s soul vibe to boot - think the neatest-and-tidiest backing singers, and a bouncy brass background. Aloe’s classical voice is effortlessly catchy, lending sunshine to the old-fashioned, strife-ridden lyrics.
New Roman Times – Smoke In Your Disguise
My uncle visited this week. He lives in California and we’d only ever met three times before. Nevertheless, we have a strange amount of stuff in common, and one shared passion is for long, cross-city walks. These are especially good on summery days: people and places pass by, smells and sounds intrude, the setting sun shoots orange arrows between buildings and time passes with pleasing sloth. This soaring number by New Roman Times is the perfect soundtrack for these contented strolls: it has an eyes-closed, arms-out euphoria, and the most singalong of vocals.
MP3 links via song titles.
Man, that Alec Blocc song is derivative and awful. Blech
It is derivative, but I guess therein’s the charm (or not!). I stand by it, but I guess I’m bound to!
thank you for commenting, I appreciate it
Richard (editor)