It’s amazing how your world can cave in so suddenly, so totally – like an irrevocable landslide. But maybe my structure wasn’t very good in the first place and I need to make it stronger, rebuild it better, have firmer foundations. Here’s this week’s Monday Music:
Funeral Suits – Colour Fade
On the TMS cricket commentary today, Geoffrey Boycott was improbably waxing about Katy Perry; his favourite things were that she voice was so pure and clear, and that it sounded, somehow, different to all the rest. That’s exactly the same as I feel about Funeral Suits’ vocalist Brian James. His maudlin, deep tones really make this sad rock song.
Washed Out – Echoes
Chillwave pioneer Ernest Greene, aka Washed Out, returned to great fanfare with Eyes Be Closed, but I prefer this, the follow-up release: it’s denser and deeper, a much bigger cupboard to pour your hopes and dreams into.
Vieux Farka Toure – All The Same (Feat. Dave Matthews)
This comes in at the more obvious end of the world music genre, but, heck, the soulful Afrobeat groove is dang irresistible.
tUnE-yArDs – The Bizness (mp3)
I think tUnE-yArDs are just about the most love/hate band I’ve ever come across. Initially, their weird, aggressive sound, thrust in your face by androgynous singer Merrill Garbus, is atypical and hard to like; for some that never changes, but others, unexpectedly curious, slowly fall in head-over-heels love with the thrilling hooks and uncompromising style. SOIWT has a one-way ticket bound for the second camp. I’m addicted, yeahhhh.
SV Hutor – Equivalent Of A Hedgehog (mp3)
How’s your Russian chillwave collection going? No? Mine neither. But don’t worry – help is at hand via Be My Friend Again, an entire compilation of the stuff. It includes this opalesque, slow-guitar stumble.
03 – SV Hutor – Equivalent of a hedgehog by be my friend again
Low Duo – The Poppy Seeds
Part of me thinks that Low Duo aren’t that great at all – they sing, or rather mutter, abstract lyrics, then erupt in soaring, glorious emo-ish falsetto peaks, and isn’t that a fairly regular, Radiohead-ish recipe? But then my personality’s other side contends that the Sheffield act, and their new EP, are actually brilliant – evocative, minimalist, thrilling and entirely different enough.