I’m writing a paper on electronic music and the influential popular artists and composers who brought attention and acclaim to the genre. One premiere artist of the genre is Brian Eno whose contributions to the musical world include collaborations with David Byrne of the Talking Heads, David Bowie, John Cale, U2, the B-52′s, not to mention his many solo albums. I’d listened to Eno’s album Another Day On Earth before (A couple years ago), but I wasn’t in such a place to appreciate it as I am now. He isn’t called the father of ambient music for nothing. When I say ‘ambient’ I don’t mean recording the sounds of the woods and playing them back, I mean absolutely beautiful melodies and spacious unobtrusive production. If ever I reach my goal of completely ‘zen’-ing out my living space, Brian Eno’s work will be played a great deal. MP3 – Just Another Day – Brian Eno MP3 – This – Brian Eno
Billy Harvey’s new album “Bearsick”, is an intriguing unconventional acoustic romp through unsettling and strange yet compelling soundscapes. The sound is lo-fi, while at times recalling the intimacy and bass thump of various eras of Beck and the off kilter piano of Ashes to Ashes era David Bowie. Above all though, there is real heart behind every track.
Calvin Harris is a fly spectacled up and coming electro dance/funk musician that recently was a featured artist on Myspace, and rightly so, since his infectious dance anthems echo the late Rick James while seeming to inhabit the space between power pop slams and twinkling electro funk jams. I don’t know what it is about music in 2007, but there’s so much of it that’s so good, especially the new artists like Calvin Harris. The resurgence in electro-dance music this year is as much quality as it is quality.
Anyway, back to Mr. Harris, his music glides on 80′s inspired nostalgia and a variety of electronic instrumentation like computer voices and a virtual bunker full of synthesizers. The bass in particular rises and falls to induce maximum dancefloor accessibility. What stands out the most though is the intense personality that he conveys through his alternating classy British singing voice and flirtatious falsetto. The track “The Girls” features some of that flirtatiousness as he describes all of the different types of women he likes, needless to say the list is quite complete. Another song that explodes with woozy dancefloor drive is the nostalgic “Acceptable in 80′s” which utilizes the awkward hits and backwards synths that might remind you of Thomas Dolby. Calvin Harris isn’t just a nonstop party monster, he takes the time to slow it down and play some jams for the ladies like smooth, smooth “Love Souvenir” that could easily be mistaken for Beck when he’s seducing Jenny and her sister. The sweeping rhythmic ballad “Electro Man” shows how much range an electro artist can have while still inhabiting that precious space we like to call “Electro”. That and it sounds like a David Bowie techno remix, so how can you go wrong? You can say what you want about Calvin Harris, but the man knows how to harness the power of the 808 cowbell, and that power is mighty.
The Girls Video (Best Video since the Rakes’ “22 Grand Job”):
In the past, the Polyphonic Spree has been content to let people wander free into and out of their soft psychedelic world with songs that are largely ambient noise until they ignite with the poppiest power pop imaginable. I remember when I first listened to the Polyphonic Spree I found a couple great songs that I skipped all the other tracks to savor over and over again because of a stunning guitar riff or an amazing piano arpeggio.
This time around it seems that the Spree are on a mission and their new black uniforms describe their conditioning as much as their tight new songs do. Each song possesses a potent personality that makes the album as a whole a pleasure to listen to. All the familiar flourishes of their sound are present, from flamboyant brass sections, to huge happy choral hooks everything is amped up to the effect that there is never a dull moment. There are even some new tricks to be found, from subtle electro beats to an all out smashing Bowie-esque ballad. One thing that hasn’t changed however and that is the presence of Tim Delaughter who as always is leading the charge for victory through joy. With a commander this confident and a band of 20 plus people that sounds this good, I don’t think sadness stands a chance. Polyphonic Spree Myspace
Bryan Scary is an artist that hails from the town of Scaryville, where he and his band the Shredding Tears work to create timeless piano driven retro pop with a slight macabre edge. These guys sound like what The Fever would have sounded like if they had been obsessed with timeless pop instead of jittery post-punk. The glam stomps featured on their Shredding Tears EP, are reminiscent of David Bowie and T-Rex’s early work with Beatles and Queen size hooks. The sound is expansive and airy but at the same time there’s a sinister feeling that prevents it from being a sunny day pop number. Like the tune, “Misery Loves Company”, that bounces along with a catchy piano riff but the vocoder and Air-like breakdown adds an ethereal extra element that will have you looking over your shoulder while you skip down the road.
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
I’m writing a paper on electronic music and the influential popular artists and composers who brought attention and acclaim to the genre. One premiere artist of the genre is Brian Eno whose contributions to the musical world include collaborations with David Byrne of the Talking Heads, David Bowie, John Cale, U2, the B-52′s, not to mention his many solo albums. I’d listened to Eno’s album Another Day On Earth before (A couple years ago), but I wasn’t in such a place to appreciate it as I am now. He isn’t called the father of ambient music for nothing. When I say ‘ambient’ I don’t mean recording the sounds of the woods and playing them back, I mean absolutely beautiful melodies and spacious unobtrusive production. If ever I reach my goal of completely ‘zen’-ing out my living space, Brian Eno’s work will be played a great deal.
