Svelt St. is a married dynamic duo who consist of vocalist Feelmore and Emcee Bang! Cheeto. together they craft inventive dance/rap/pop. The track “Po’ Boy” kicks off like a track by an indie songstress like Lykke Li or Maybe Robyn with a bouncy electro beat and soft female vocals before Bang! Cheeto starts rapping about “99 bottles”. Bang! Cheeto has some interesting credentials, having worked with several groups and releasing critically acclaimed EPs and having worked with Del the Funky Homosapien, but his fuzzed out telephone raps seem out of place. Svelt St. have a sound that’s akin to cough syrup, thick, sweet, but because of those raps it leaves a weird taste in your mouth.
January 16, 2009
Svelt St. Provides some Indie Flavored Rap
January 12, 2009
Review: Division Kent’s Gravity is a Heavy Trip
Division Kent is a two piece from Zurich, Switzerland that plays swirling, dark new wave rock composed of two members; vocalist Andrea B. and instrumentalist Sky Antinori. Their music is at times dark and heavy, calling to mind the work of psychedelic indie band Midnight Movies due to the ominous melodies and sultry voice of Andrea B. While this is the primary musical mode the band is set in there are some fun surprises along the way.
Right off the bat the band set a mood with the atmospheric “No Kryptonite” that calls to mind Blonde Redhead. “Pat the PanAm Pilot”, starts off with some quirky keyboards and a skeptical narrative of the life of a successful pilot. From there the energetic “She’s Going Places” takes flight with guitar work and a beat that sounds like a fusing of Lali Puna and the Cure. “The Big Hush” is another experiment in combining a heavy atmosphere with haunting vocals. The track “In The Headlights” separates itself from the rest of the album using ultra bendy bass and a Casio beat that gives way to the most memorable chorus on the album. I could see this track being used in a dramatic scene of a movie. For all I know it might be already.
Once the album gets through most of it’s down tempo song, the arrangements, clicks, beats and synths really shine. “L’huere Blue” erupts with a dark 80′s pop sensibility and cascades of melodies and bells. Perfect for your retro goth prom. If “L’huere Blue” is an entrance song to said retro goth prom, then “Rooftop Rallye” is the party starter. Waves of aggressive bass pulse as Andrea B. purrs her way through the song. The next track is the most fun off of the album, entitled “Offshore”, featuring the most upbeat vocals and guitars that call to mind VHS or Beta in their heyday. The album winds down with the slinky duet “Salty” and comes to a close with the hauntingly programmed number “The Year of Magical Thinking”.
All the attention to detail makes Division Kent worth listening to. There are a couple spots on here where their formula, no matter how well done, feels worn out, dark electronica rock with deep sensual female vocals, we get it. It’s when Division Kent change up their style a little bit that they really shine, on tracks like “L’Heure Blue” and “Offshore” where their sound moves past brooding girl territory and into kicking electro rock pathos. Whether you’re looking for music to sulk dramatically to or music to get the party started, Division Kent has what you need.
November 15, 2008
(New Music) The Kindness Kind!
The Kindness Kind are a band out of Seattle, that has been praised as one of the best bands to emerge from that scene this year by the Toronto Star. The band has also recieved spotlight status from CMJ. The band have recently released their self titled album on which they worked with producer Lucas Carlyle who has worked with The Gossip, The Octopus Project, and the Album Leaf among others.
It’s a bit off target to call The Kindness Kind “Electro” (as on their myspace) while there are synthesizers present, their music is extremely organic. Think; space rock infused jazz with a glamorous lounge vixen vocalist. To create the lovely dream state they call their music, The Kindness Kind use guitars to create some nice edginess and angularity for the songs, but it’s the pianos and keyboards that help create the hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that sets the stage for Alessandra Rose who adds startlingly accessible vocal hooks to The Kindness Kind’s somewhat experimental indie pop. Add in a pounding and dynamic rhythm section and you’ve got one of the most compelling sounds of 2008. The Kindness Kind have created some of the most articulate and cinematic music intended to incite rocking out. Let the rocking out begin!
The Kindness Kind – Beautiful Souls
September 5, 2008
Dada Life Remix Lykke Li
Are you ready for more modest cutesy female vocals over thumping beats and stuttering synth arpeggios? Of course you are. Dada Life transforms the slowly sashaying original into an old school dancefloor storm. It might take a full minute before you recognize those gentle vocals, but the synth riff that drops and the use of the reverb on the vocals that creates a kind of”Pull Away” effect adds some serious velocity.
Lykke Li – Dance, Dance, Dance (Dada Life Guerilla Fart #4)
September 1, 2008
Emilie Simon Covers David Bowie
After enduring mostly uncomfortable and campy covers on Canadian Idol earlier this summer, particularly one painful female fronted cover of ‘Space Oddity’ I was weary of another female fronted cover of the same song. Emilie Simon of Paris, France really impressed me, especially in the wake of hearing some excellent covers off of the “Life Beyond Mars” Bowie Tribute album. This is probably my favorite cover of the Bowie classic to date. When the glitchy African rhythms and hand claps kick in, I have a feeling you might agree.
Emile Simon – Space Oddity (David Bowie Cover)
Emile Simon Myspace
P.S. Check out her amazing promotional photos! For serious.
Monsters are Waiting
The Echo Park, California indie group Monsters are Waiting first came to my attention with their excellent cover of the Stone Roses’ “I Wanna Be Adored” which had excellent breathy female vocals provided by Annalee Ferry. I checked out their Myspace page and was pleasantly surprised to find that their original work was at least as good as their excellent cover. They’ve got an album coming out in the next few months, it should be good, I’ll keep you posted.
Monsters Are Waiting – I Wanna Be Adored (Stone Roses Cover)
August 26, 2008
Jon & Roy
Jon Middleton and Roy Vizer are in a folk pop band. Their band is called Jon & Roy and they are from British Columbia, Canada. Jon sings and plays guitar while Roy plays drums and percussion. Their song “Another Noon” was used in a Volkswagen commercial for their Eos vehicle. It’s an interesting selection for a car commercial as their music is relatively mellow whereas most car commercials have some kind of upbeat electronic/rock songs. I think the method works though, as Jon & Roy provide a calming atmosphere amidst a sea of volume turned up way too loud.
Their music accompanies the end of summer particlularly well. I can imagine campers living out thier last day fishing off of a small row boat and reclining around the campfire until the remaining embers burn out. Thier music isn’t anything revolutionary but it does fill the niche for contented late night drives home.
May 21, 2008
Tin Can Telephone
Tin Can Telephone is a band/project out of London, UK they create catchy little guitar tunes with plenty of hand percussion. You can download more songs at their Myspace.
March 27, 2008
Stroik
Stroik is an artist from Morrisville, North Carolina, who plays a variety of keyboards, guitars, percussion, and the result is reminiscent of The Cure or Feist if it was fronted by Dan Bejar. If you fancy the likes of other one man band/sometimes dance parties like White Williams, chances are you’ll enjoy Stroik.
March 23, 2008
Alaska in Winter
I realize that now it is spring and the last thing many of us want to do is revisit winter, but take heart, there are good things about winter, well, the word “winter” at least. Like Brandon Bethancourt’s musical project Alaska in Winter. Mr Bethancourt and company have graciously sent me a mix of their new CD Dance Party in the Balkans, featuring the vocals of Beirut. It’s an eclectic trip.
