Vivek Shraya is an up and coming independent artist from Toronto, he employs electronic blips and beeps and the occasional guitar stab to create inventive ultra-clean, radio friendly (under three minute) pop songs. Shraya’s vocal capabilities could easily garner him radio attention if only the moons would align; at times his almost ethnic pop vocals call to mind what David Byrne would have sounded like if he had natural singing talent, and while we’re talking ‘Heads’ the whole album has that light poppy feeling that wouldn’t be out of place on the last few Talking Heads albums. Could a cover of “And She Was” be in the pipeline? Anyway, Shraya compiles several seemingly disparate styles into a unique cohesive whole. it’s interesting that he’s backed up his catchy polished pop with Gary Numan-lite style synthesizers. I don’t know what else he would use to flesh out his songs but the electronics certainly bring in a unique crossover element. Pure pop but with an electronic edge; a good example would be “Chemistry” (4), which sounds like the Donna Summer classic “I Feel Love” crossed with Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer”. There is also the woozy Bowie-esque “Fevered”(3) that sounds like Suffragette City with keyboards. Other highlights of the album include the punchy “Your Name”(2) which features guest vocals from Sarah Quin of Tegan and Sarah Fame, Her rhythmic chiming adds an interesting flavor and texture to the groove. The catchiest cut on the album in my opinion would have to be the album’s namesake track “If We’re Not Talking” (8), which has a similar psuedo-musak feel that made Royksopp’s “Remind Me” with Erlend Oye so memorable. Overall, the brief format of Mr. Shraya’s songs and their cleanliness leaves you wanting more. Like a light but enjoyable breakfast.
June 8, 2007
Vivek Won’t Envy
June 7, 2007
An Easy Sell
Back at the end of High School and the beginning of college I became fascinated with the sounds of the Postal Service and I was looking all over for acts similar to them. I found out about all kinds of indie/electronica bands like Lali Puna, Ms. John Soda, Styrofoam, Stereolab, and the Go Find, but out of all of them the Burnside Project forged a special place in my heart. I think it’s because when I heard them they were relatively unknown and their raw juxtaposition of indie style guitars and electronics evoked a very New Order kind of feel. Their minimalist guitars and poppy electro alongside almost spoken word vocals was very endearing. I liked to think of them as my secret band for a while, but it seems now that the secret is out.
The Burnside Project released a follow up to their 2003 debut “The Networks, The Streams, The Harmonies” in 2005 with the only slightly shorter titled, “The Finest Example is You”. The sound on the new album was more natural, with the songs being based around vocal melodies more, the guitar fleshed out, and even at times live drums. In short, the songs sounded more like pop songs with electronic influences, rather than electronic songs with pop influences. Richard Jankovich’s voice sounds like a more breathy Ben Gibbard and it took me some time to get used to it, and sometimes his lyrics come off a bit awkward over the lush soundscapes, but he contributes some wonderful harmonies on the addictive breezy “Get Better Soon” (3) and the building “Another Way” (6). The guitars and keyboards have progressed as well, working together almost seamlessly to create a smooth upbeat atmosphere. The guitars in particular have been beefed up, no longer the occasional melodic plunk here and there, there are full on riffs at times and even something of a guitar solo on “Just Drop Off” (5). All this progression doesn’t mean that they’ve ditched the kinetic dance music that got them noticed, there are dance tracks aplenty from the opening salvo of “Signs of Perfection” (1) and “And So It Goes” (2) to the four on the floor stomp of “One to One” to the arguable high point of the album “Start Again” (10). I’m surprised that the smooth energy of the album didn’t garner attention for car commercials, but then again, we can look at that as a good thing because we can keep them secret for a little while longer.
At least until their new album later this year.
Burnside Project Myspace (New Song “Synchronized Spinning”)
MP3 – Burnside Project – Signs of Perfection
MP3 – Burnside Project – Get Better Soon
Video for “And So It Goes”:
June 5, 2007
Relationship Self Destruction
I first heard about the Servant through their single “Cells” being used in commercials for Sin City back in 2005. Their hair brained inventiveness crafted some of the most memorable pop songs in recent memory. Although, aside from the Sin City tie in they didn’t really catch on all that well. Even though I thought that their string accented electro guitar stomps were great.
Either way, they released a new album last year that featured a much more guitar oriented sound. At times calling to mind the work of Franz Ferdinand on “I wish I could stop Wishing for Things” (9) and David Bowie on “Moonbeams” (6). While I missed the strings and effects, I have to say that there are some excellent rock songs here. It took me a while to get into lead single “How to Destroy a Relationship” (1), but it’s descending vocal melody has been working it’s way into my cranium for months now. I would have to say that the most addictive cut on the album is “Sleep Deprivation” (2), it’s hook is so catchy I am actually shocked that it didn’t get any radio play, or at least some love in the form of a music video. Some tracks get repetitive, and the wordplay of “Girlfriend” (8) gets kind of awkward even though I can appreciate what they’re doing because just thinking of it now gets it stuck back in my head. Overall, a tighter sound emerges this time around, sans electronics, the unmistakable vocals of Dan Black are as good as ever, and the guitar work of Chris Burrows has really stepped up. With this being a more guitar oriented album if he had let up any you would have known, but throughout the album there is no slack to be found. The Servant move forward with another surprising and enjoyable album, I hope more people pay attention the next time they put something out.
The Servant Myspace
MP3 – The Servant – Sleep Deprivation
Bonus MP3 – The Servant – Biro
Video for “Hey Lou Reed”
June 4, 2007
Illin like Villains
Brooklyn Rappers, Tone Tank and Krayo from Iller Than Theirs do something that is very rare in the world of hip hop. They say expressly in “To Be Ill” that “We ain’t better than nobody,” While others would go about proclaiming their supremacy, they tells stories about little things in their lives that they find true. There’s a few statements made in the songs that are sure to make you laugh or say “so true”. Their beats are a fun retro smorgasbord of flutes and keyboards that accentuates their casual life actualizing lyrics. Each song is like an invitation to hang out for an afternoon. It’s refreshing to hear a rap artist that isn’t about stepping on everyone to get to the top but rather making room for you on the couch and handing you a drink.
Iller Than Their’s Album debuts later this year.
Iller Than Theirs Myspace
MP3 – Iller Than Theirs – It is What It Is (Feat. Cool Calm Pete)
June 3, 2007
23 Blonde Redheads Play Tennis
My first knowledge of Blonde Redhead came from searching for indie music back in 2004, I remember listening to Misery is a Butterfly but I wasn’t all that impressed by it for some reason, perhaps it wasn’t dance-y enough for me, because at the time that’s the kind of indie I was looking for. Either that or I became distracted by something shiny while it was playing it. Either way, It is my understanding that they are avante guarde art rock, and that sometimes in the past it has been difficult to get into their particular brand of indie rock.
Though being a relative neophyte to the works of Blonde Redhead, I find that their new album “23″ is instantly accessible and catchy. The sound employed on this record is a light and airy atmospheric jaunt jostled about with consistent and toe tapping beats. Each element is given space to breathe and reverb making for a psychedelic listening experience. The guitars chime and resonate, the synthesizers take all the edges away and the female vocals flutter through some heavenly melodies. At times, male vocals take over, and the sound gets a little rockier, but the sound always remains celestial and dreamy.
MP3 – Blonde Redhead – Spring and Summer by Fall
MP3 – Blonde Redhead – Silently
Video for “23″
Elkland caught in a Goat Explosion
Elkland, was an up and coming synth pop band from upstate New York (where I reside) led by vocalist Jonathan Pierce. They also performed at Alfred University, opening for VHS or Beta. They released a highly enjoyable, fully formed, synth pop album named “Golden” in 2005. After that I didn’t hear much from them, apparently Pierce (From a statement on their website) thought that shooting this promising band in the face was the best thing to do. While I disagree with that, Pierce has teamed up with former bandmate Jacob Graham of Orlando’s Flashlight Party to reform their old band Goat Explosion. While not as polished and fully formed as the Elkland debut, Goat Explosion features just as much electronics and huge hooks, and the more electro sound has allowed them to open up and feature some different structures and vocal melodies that at times lean towards a Morrissey vocal style rather than the old Depeche Mode Cure Hybrid Vocals. It’s been a while since they released their “Hope is Alive” EP, and I hope they don’t have any firearms aimed at this project’s head as well, because I would really like to hear what they have coming up next.
MP3 – Goat Explosion – Come on Make Me Feel
MP3 – Goat Explosion – You’re Right There
MP3 – Elkland – Everybody’s Leaving
Elkland – Apart Video:
June 2, 2007
Noisy People and Motocades
The other day i was looking into what was going on with VHS or Beta’s new album, and while I was on their official site, I found out that guitarist Zeke Buck had left the band after ten years to collaborate with Mathew Johnson of Boom Bip on a new rock project. Having seen VHS or Beta perform live at Alfred University a while back and seeing Mr. Buck play live leaves me with some high expectations of both this new project and VHS or Beta’s new project. People Noise does not disappoint. Rather than the experimental funk based guitars of VHS, there are some huge riffs and feedback thrust alongside some fist pounding mid-tempo drums. Zeke Buck also offers up some surprising vocal chops. It all works together in a spacey compelling way, and the guitar work has immense personality to it. Their debut “Ordinary Ghosts” comes out later this month.
MP3 – People Noise – The Killing Fields
Secondly, I received a request to review a band from Auckland, New Zealand band called Motocade. At first listen I can hear some clear strokes influence in the form of their linear guitars, but they take their work in a more manic bouncy direction. It adds to the nervous confessional theme on the excellent single “My Friends”, which calls to mind going out with friends for no other reason than routine and the desire to break that routine. The delirious beat and spoken word breaks carry the song home. The band have respectable range in both their guitar riffs and in the vocals of Eden Mullholland, and their new EP “Into the Fall” is solid.
Video for “My Friends”:
