Emanuel and the Fear is the product of Brooklyn based indie-popster Emanuel Ayvas and 11 of his orchestral minded buddies. Together they make some tunes with the propulsion of Ra Ra Riot and diversity of the Polyphonic Spree. Either way they’re sure to help you keep your head up the rest of today, if not the rest of the week!
February 11, 2009
Orchestral Indie Pop! Emanuel and the Fear
September 30, 2008
Everything That Happens Will Happens Today
This is really a momentous album. David Byrne and Brian Eno working together again for the first time in over 20 years. They of course worked on the famous “My Life in the Bush of Ghosts” album, and a handful of Talking Heads albums, most notably the classic “Remain in Light”. This album was a great surprise to me as I enjoy the work of both men immensely. Brian Eno really revolutionized production and continues to do so in his solo work and with popular bands and musicians. Artists that Brian Eno has worked with over the years include Roxy Music, David Bowie, U2 and most recently Coldplay. David Byrne is of course an intellectual punk/funk visionary, whose later solo works, while satisfying, lacked a certain immediacy and relevance. It was nice to see him mellow out and his vocals are still as good as ever, but he needed to be pushed out of his comfort zone a bit.
That is exactly what has happened on “Everything that Will Happen will Happen Today”, Brian Eno once again carves a careful soundscape of melodies, beats, and whimsical genius, with the songwriting genius of David Byrne, present at a level we haven’t seen in over ten years. Important themes like violence in society, terrorism and domestic issues skirt around an album that beamingly is two musicians reveling in their craft. There are mostly mid or downtempo songs here, but these guys are seasoned enough to make every song an aural journey worth taking, whether it feels like a sweeping retrospective, a nice sit on the back porch in a rocking chair, or a casual visit to a night club, you can’t help but say “They’ve still got it!”
David Byrne & Brian Eno Official Site
September 5, 2008
Eugene Francis Jnr
Eugene Francis Jnr has the most confusing profile information I’ve read on an artist in quite a while. He is Welsh, but his parents were Apache and Inuit. People think he is American. He describes his blue eyes as “pulchritudinous”.
Backed by his bionic band the Juniors, Eugene Francis Jnr professes to discard effects and “21st century bunk” and play with a weak voice with a strong passion, the latter I don’t doubt, but the man’s sonics are akin to The Flaming Lips, with a distinct electronic psychedelic edge. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. In fact, his modest vocals, optomistic lyrics, and penchant for clear crisp melodies sound pretty good.
His latest album is “The Golden Beatle” is available at Amazon.
Eugene Francis Jnr – Poor Me (Radio Edit)
June 26, 2008
Cut Copy’s ‘In Ghost Colours’
Melbournes’ finest, Cut Copy, return with a new album, “In Ghost Colours”, that plays like a DJ set. The elements of their songwriting have definitely been beefed up. The acoustic guitar is more than a few times front and center and their lyrics have never been so distinguishable. Remember when the Rapture released “Pieces of the People we Love” and how it sounded so much more polished and more coherent than their previous work? “In Ghost Colours” is like that, but Cut Copy were always pretty polished from the beginning, now it sounds like they wrote a song, played it, recorded it, and then remixed it.
Those expecting the raw ferocity of “Twilight” from “Bright like Neon Love” aren’t going to find it here. They will find, however, many jams ready to roll out for an outdoor festival. Even though the guitar doesn’t show up and dominate the music, it does often show up and provide nice melody and rhythm for the most fully formed song structures so far in Cut Copy’s career. Often times Cut Copy uses cheeky sonic references and tricks reminiscent of more traditional club music. It’s like they’re winking at the audience when they pull out a quick house chord progression loop. Using elements like that they manage to turn something that is so easily tacky and cheesy into something that elevates the fun of the music as it is channeled through their sound. Another interesting approach to the production of this album are the ambient sound breaks, where the official songs chill while drones and pleasing hums spiral about until the next song kicks off. This is a little tiresome when listening to the songs on shuffle, but in the order of the album, it makes the anticipation for the next song even greater. I imagine they’ll definitely do the interludes like that live.
With their new release, Cut Copy will gain a wider following, more recognition, and if all was right with the world at least one car commercial licensing deal.
May 18, 2008
The Secret Life of Sofia and Seven Summits
I was fortunate enough to have received a message from Kyle the leader of the Secret Life of Sopfia, who found my page through playing with A Faulty Chromosome and looking up what blogs had written about them. He was also kind enough to compliment my cartoons, which you should also check out.
The Secret Life of Sofia is an indie band from Brooklyn, NY. The lead singer sounds like the best possible medium between Casiotone for the Painfully Alone and Coldplay in that it both soars ala Coldplay and hits with a palpable gravity ala Casiotone. The vocal harmonies fade in and out like celestial choirs and the guitars pluck and chime in a way that is melodically sublime. They’re not just easy listening alternative folk though, they’ve got some great beats and almost shoegaze like guitar effects on some tracks. Get motivated to enjoy a beautiful spring day by sampling their song “Outside”, it’s definitely worth checking out.
March 24, 2008
The Iry offer Dinner for Two on the Moon
I received an e-mail about this close knit indie rock group from Columbus, Ohio a while ago, but being busy, I just listened to the sample tracks, realized this band was highly enjoyable and went on with my days. It wasn’t until I started doing these ultra music blog updates that I realized I had committed an atrocious crime in not writing about them yet, considering I’ve enjoyed them for weeks.
They employ the timeless rock/pop band structure using pianos upfront and guitars for texture. Talking about texture, they sound similar to the Cold War Kids, and at their most dramatic a little like Muse.
