Track of the Day…"Boys Don't Cry" from Norman Palm
"Boys Don't Cry"
From Songs
Ratio Records / Morr Music, 2009
Listen to "Boys Don't Cry” MP3
Along the way between Berlin, Paris and Mexico City, Norman Palm assembled a mesmerizing collection of often winsome songs, pairing each with his own artwork to create the unique release / book entitled Songs. The original run published by Ratio Records having quickly been picked up by fans, Songs as a book / CD package is now enjoying a wide re-release via Morr Music. On the album, Norman provides most of the instrumentation himself and worked with Finnish producer Jonas Verwijnen (Annie, The Whitest Boy Alive), looking to the basic structure of the songs as his musical plumb line.
One of Norman's oldest tracks which appears on Songs is the sympathetic cover of The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry". Norman approaches the song with a sense of melancholy and deliberate stillness. The track was first released on a limited edition vinyl together with a cover of Cindy Lauper's "Girls Just Want To Have Fun". Norman told us that he gravitated to these songs "because they are both icons of the 80's, saying so much about the roles of women and men at the time. In 'Boys Don't Cry' it's about the guys who can't really show their feelings because they are not supposed to as guys. The song is really sad, but in the original version its up-beat and people dance to it…. So I wanted to give the song its meaning back by singing it in the saddest way possible, even adding this moody almost whining trombone (which was played by Sebastian Maschat from The Whitest Boy Alive)."
Norman celebrates the release of Songs in France with a show at the Pop In in Paris on 30 September.
Norman Palm (Official) | MySpace
Track of the Day..."6174" from Don't Wait Animate
"6174"
Album to be released in 2010
Listen to "6174” MP3
Fusing indie and dubstep, Londoners Don't Wait Animate create a terrifically warped and frenetic vibe, which as the story goes, was first christened "strumstep" by an excited (and rather lit) fan after a show. Each of the members of this five-piece brings to the group varied musical influences and affinities, and together they meticulously distill these into a heady and genre / era crossing concoction. Keep these guys on your radar!
The band's debut single "6174" won't be released until early 2010, but they have been kind enough to let us give you an advance listen!
Watch the video for "6174".
Don't Wait Animate (Official) | MySpace
What's On The Hi-Fi...Wild Beasts Album Review
Two Dancers
Domino Recordings (2009)
Download: "The Fun Powder Plot "
From the opening track, the very fine "The Fun Powder Plot", there is a real sense of confidence in their style. It does make me think of a thousand different references from the 80's UK canon but like much of the better music out there they make it their own and move on.
Two Dancers exhibits atmospheric early-Edge guitar echoed riffs from Ben Little, Chris Talbot's booming drums and Hayden Thorpe's more than revelatory falsetto and thoughful lyrics rolled up into 10 solid and mesmerizing tracks that should force these Wild Beasts to raise their able heads above the fray.
Wild Beasts (Official) | MySpace
Track of the Day..."Halleluja!" from [ingenting]
"Halleluja!"
from Tomhet; idel tomhet
Labrador 2009
Listen to "Halleluja!” MP3
Thanks go out to Kristian Dahl of Lacrosse for turning us on to this steller pop track from Sweden's [ingenting]! "Halleluja!", sung in Swedish, confidently swaggers along on Brit-pop riffs and a joyous melodic chorus. Its no wonder why this indie-pop track has been a top play on Swedish radio over the past few months. While the subtleties of the Swedish language may escape us, this delightfully addictive tune remains firmy stuck in our heads.
"Halleluja!" is the first single from the album Tomhet, idel tomhet (which, in a rather stark contrast to the track, we understand means "emptiness, nothing but emptiness") and is out now on Labrador. Watch
[ingenting] (Official) | MySpace
What's On The Hi-Fi...Podcast Three
Listen to "What's On The Hi-Fi Ep. 3” MP3
Christopher Owens formed GIRLS in San Francisco with ladykiller Chet “JR” White when his former band Curls dissolved in 2006. After a buzz filled showcase at SXSW and a quirky video making the rounds for "Lust For Life" the band is mounted to take a huge leap in 2010.
MySpace
"Long White Ride" - Maplewood
Maplewood model their music on the Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers of the American Southwest in the 70’s. The group has a stellar lineup with co-vocalists and guitarists Mark Rozzo (of Champale), Steve Koester (of Two Dark Birds), guitarist Craig Schoen, bassist Jude Webre, and Nada Surf drummer Ira Elliot. Their album Yeti Boombox was released on Hamburg, Germany's Tapete Records in 2009.
MySpace | Tapete Records
"Dixie Cups in the Dead Grass" - The Skygreen Leopards
The Skygreen Leopards are Glenn Donaldson and Donovan Quinn, a unique psych-pop band from San Francisco that explore exceptional and clever wording atop loose but well crafted music.
MySpace | Jagjaguwar
"Mirrored And Reverse" - White Denim
Austin-Texas rockers White Denim have put together a brilliant and uncompromising sophomore release with Fits. The trio continues to move the goalposts from their 2008 debut Workout Holiday; playing with an amalgam of disparate sounds and rhythms, agilely shifting (often mid-track and without warning) from garage rock, to blues, country, punk to psychadelica. Recorded in their trailer, tracks reel with howls, gigantic riffs, impressively tight and explosive rhythms and reverberating inventive energy. It should be a complete pileup, but instead, it makes for a wonderfully chaotic and heady mix...read more from our interview
White Denim (Official) | MySpace
"Birds That Move" - Panther
Panther is Charles Byron Salas Humara and Joe Faustin Kelly (Philip Glass Ensemble, Steve Reich ensemble) and occasionally Sara Welker on violin. With the release of their new record Entropy (Kill Rock Stars), they have sculpted a more melodic and cohesive sound...read our interview with the band
Panther (Official) | MySpace
"Charlie Darwin" - The Low Anthem
Formed in Providence, Rhode Island in 2003 and consisting of multi-instrumentalists Ben Miller, Jeff Prystowsky and Jocie Adams The Low Anthem offers meticulously crafted songs. Oh My God, Charlie Darwin and the single "Charles Darwin" are full of lyrics about longing and are often impressively beautiful
The Low Anthem (Official) | MySpace
"Walking the Dog" - fun.
Like the name of the band “Walking The Dog” is an up beat pop gem that harkens back to the early 80’s British pop like Joe Jackson and Elvis Costello.
fun.(Official) | MySpace
"I See A Brightness" - Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a wonderfully sunny six-piece pop combo from Stockholm who are purveyors of a singularly clever brand of (intense) euphoria. The tracks on the band's excellent Bandages For The Heart are far from saccharine, wide eyed ditties along the lines of Love Is. but are rather musical Polaroids which delve into the intricacies and inherent messiness of all that is romantic love. On this sophomore release, multiple male / female vocals thread back and forth atop indie-pop I'm From Barcelona-like anthems. Bandages For The Heart is out now...read What's On Lacrosse's Hi-Fi...read What's On Lacrosse's Hi-Fi
Lacrosse (Official) | MySpace | Tapete Records
"Comin To Getcha" - Kool Dj Dust
Laptop and sample wizard Daniel Savio provides a cool and catchy dance vibe on “Comin’ To Getcha”. Get the track here.
MySpace
Berliner Masha Qrella continues her solo efforts with her third release Speak Low - Loewe and Weil In Exile and creates a laid-back, lo-fi pop gem with the standout track "I Talk To The Trees". On the album, Masha shares her surprising and blessedly un-theatrical take on songs by Kurt Weil and Frederick Loewe. The album was born out of a 2007 project with Berlin's Haus der Kulturen der Welt as part of its "New York - Berlin" celebrations. The challenge of the project was to find new and fresh approaches to Weil and Loewe songs, and Masha unquestionably succeeds in avoiding the obvious pitfalls and gives the tracks a welcome twist. Speak Low... is out now on Morr Music.
Morr Music | MySpace
"Linger With Pleasure" - Ane Brun
"Linger With Pleasure" is an all too brief and mesmerizing track inspired by an island off the Norwegian coast where her father is from -- a longing for that rare and fleeting feeling of tranquility and clarity. The beautiful album Changing of the Seasons highlights some of the best of Ane's songwriting and her ability to craft the rawest of bittersweet love songs.
Ane Brun (Official) | MySpace
"Bitch Of The Bitches" - LCMdF
Emma and Mia Kemppianen and Malin Nyqvist hail from Helsinki and make up the frenetic electro-pop trio that is Le Corps Mince de Françoise ("The Slim Body of Françoise"). These young ladies whip up furious musical dust devils and scatter in self-knowing and biting lyrics. The first single "Bitch of Bitches" off their debut album of the same name is produced by Berliners New Judas who also had a hand in Annie's release Don't Stop. An ode to the second sex, the ladies declare on "Bitch of the Bitches": "I'm gonna marry Agent Cooper, he'd be good as a wife! I don't want to marry you, stay out of my life!"
Bitch of Bitches is out now on Stimulus.
MySpace
Track of the Day…"Bitch of the Bitches" from Le Corps Mince de Françoise
"Bitch of the Bitches"
from Bitch of Bitches
Stimulus 2009
Listen to "Bitch of the Bitches” MP3
Emma and Mia Kemppianen and Malin Nyqvist hail from Helsinki and make up the frenetic electro-pop trio that is Le Corps Mince de Françoise ("The Slim Body of Françoise"). These young ladies whip up furious musical dust devils and scatter in self-knowing and biting lyrics. The first single "Bitch of Bitches" off their debut album of the same name is produced by Berliners New Judas who also had a hand in Annie's release Don't Stop. An ode to the second sex, the ladies declare on "Bitch of the Bitches": "I'm gonna marry Agent Cooper, he'd be good as a wife! I don't want to marry you, stay out of my life!"
Bitch of Bitches is out now on Stimulus.
LCMdF (Official) | MySpace
What's On The Hi-Fi...Calvin Harris Album Review
Ready For The Weekend
Ultra Records (2009)
Download: "Ready For The Weekend "
Harris definitely provides his usual healthy dose of positive house anthemic, mirrorball twirlers and thumpers like "Ready For The Weekend" and "I'm Not Alone" on the album, but like LCD Soundsystem (a favourite on the Hi-Fi) there is a crafted and thoughtful development to the songs. Many of the album's finest tracks such as "Blue" harken back to some of the great French dance albums by Cassius, Alex Gopher or early Daft Punk from the late 90's. Other standouts such as "You Used To Hold Me" ably reuse (you can almost hear Thelma Houston) past dance themes without losing their own integrity.
Ready For The Weekend is just the type of album that will make pop, alternative and dance lovers jump on the floor with equal gusto. It's filled with infectious hooks that will be warming up the winter months ahead and pumping out of pods and stacks everywhere.
Calvin Harris (Official) | Ultra Records | MySpace
What's On Their Hi-Fi...Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a wonderfully sunny six-piece pop combo from Stockholm who are purveyors of a singularly clever brand of (intense) euphoria. The tracks on the band's excellent Bandages For The Heart are far from saccharine, wide eyed ditties along the lines of Love Is..., but are rather musical Polaroids which delve into the intricacies and inherent messiness of all that is romantic love. On this sophmore release, multiple male / female vocals thread back and forth atop indie-pop I'm From Barcelona-like anthems. Bandages For The Heart is out now on Hamburg label Tapete Records.
Listen to "I See A Brightness” MP3
Tobias, Henrik and Kristian of Lacrosse share with us what's now on their hi-fi!
Tobias Dahlström (drums)
"The Tears and Music of Love" - Deerhoof
It's just one hell of a pop song from one of Tobias' favourite bands from this decade. Watch
"Kilometer" from the album Sexuality - Sébastien Tellier
I hated almost everything with an eighties sound, until I heard this fabulous song! I am a changed man. Watch
Henrik Johansson (guitar and vocals)
"Jim Cain" - Bill Callahan
Bill Callahan takes melancholy to an entire new level with some fantastic melodies. From his latest album Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle. Watch
"Grass" - Animal Collective
It's impossible to be angry after listening to that song. Watch
Kristian Dahl (lead vocals and guitar)
"Halelluja!" - Ingenting
The best Swedish pop song this year - so far. ["Hallelujah!" will soon be appearing as a Track of the Day here on What's On The Hi-Fi!] Watch
Lacrosse (Official) | MySpace
Track of the Day…"I Talk to the Trees" from Masha Qrella
"I Talk To The Trees"
from Speak Low - Loewe and Weil In Exile
Listen to "I Talk To The Trees” MP3
Berliner Masha Qrella continues her solo efforts with her third release Speak Low - Loewe and Weil In Exile and creates a laid-back, lo-fi pop gem with the standout track "I Talk To The Trees". On the album, Masha shares her surprising and blessedly un-theatrical take on songs by Kurt Weill and Frederick Loewe. The album was born out of a 2007 project with Berlin's Haus der Kulturen der Welt as part of its "New York - Berlin" celebrations. The challenge of the project was to find new and fresh approaches to Weill and Loewe songs, and Masha unquestionably succeeds in avoiding the obvious pitfalls and gives the tracks a welcome twist. Speak Low... is out now on Morr Music.
Morr Music | MySpace
Track of the Day…"Bloodshed in the Woodshed" from Modernaire
"Bloodshed in the Woodshed"
from the EP Velvet Never Dries
Listen to "Bloodshed in the Woodshed” MP3
With "Bloodshed in the Woodshed', Manchester's Modernaire flirts with theatrics and a sense of intrigue, juxtoposing a dark and grisley tale of a spurned lover's revenge against a wonderfully catchy and addictive electro-pop tune. The track was released awhile back on the group's Velvet Never Dries EP but is getting well deserved recent attention on compilations such as the Sisters album now out on SisterPhunk.
SisterPhunk | MySpace
What's On The Hi-Fi Talks To...White Denim (Part Two)
Our continuation of White Denim's interview.
JAMES
James, did you rebel and become a music playing, beer drinking, smoking teenage nightmare on purpose? Do you keep fit, and is fitness and athleticism a priority?
At the time when I began playing music I was a pretty serious athlete. By the end of that year my interest in organized athletics had waned significantly, and I began to dedicate more and more of my time to the practice of my instrument. When I was an awful musician, my parents perceived my behavior as rebellion, but as I improved over the years, they understood that I was completely dedicated to a new thing. My goals had simply changed. I learned what I know about practice and dedication and focus through playing sports.
Yes, but I wish I were more fit. Getting older and the touring lifestyle can make it slightly more difficult to stay in good shape.
At what age does touring and the physicality of touring become a complete pain in the ass?
Depending on how you behave on the road, any age can probably feel like fifty. The bar is my workplace, and there is a bit more temptation at my job than there would be at a typical office. I just try to remember that there are consequences to every action.
Do you get anxious about the hotel you are staying in before you see it?
Yes. A nice hotel room can make a positive difference in your well being while on the road. Bad hotels and bad food can make you dislike an entire city.
How many really incredible ideas or music riffs and parts have you not been able to put down because you didn’t have a pen or paper or a guitar on you at the time or have forgotten, and have you ever tried to obsessively, like really tried, to remember one and does that ever haunt you?
I believe that 99 percent of my ideas are lost. I also believe that I only have had twenty or so ideas in my life. So I am not missing that much really I guess. Some nights I do have trouble sleeping because it feels like a flood of awareness of missed opportunities occurs in the moments before I drift off. I imagine that is a pretty common behaviour though.
Are you cut throat ambitious as musicians?
No. Music is personal, communal and it has a life of its own. Being a musician is not like being a lawyer or a politician. I would however, like to be successful. though success is measured differently when it comes to creative endeavors.
We have never hired a roadie.
Being in a band is a collaborative exercise, do you have to be an amazingly good diplomat?
You have to be sensitive when you live and work with anyone. At any given time you could find yourself playing peacemaker or any number of roles. "Indie rocker" can be an occupation with a varied list of duties.
Do you wish you could sing like Jeff Buckley or like an opera tenor?.
Jeff Buckley has a nice voice but it seems like opera training would open up more musical possibility for the singer. So I would rather be an opera tenor.
If you were an artist and you were to compare your voice to an artist who paints, makes contemporary art, etc., who would that artist be?
I would hope to be compared to someone like Andrew Wyeth. I enjoy his line drawings and water coloring. I think that the line drawing could represent a set of changes, and the water coloring could represent the melodies, arrangements, and instrumentation in a piece of music. An artist who respects tradition but has an identifiable and distinct vision of his own. This is what I hope to become.
What is on your hi-fi at the moment?
Clothilde. Superlipopette.
STEVE
What is it about playing bass that you like? Is it the size of the strings, the fact that there are only four strings, the sound of the low tone on the base?
I guess I like to groove and there's something about the bass that makes me groove harder.
You have a sound that is bit in the vibe of Jean Jacque Bernel. Do you like the crunchy heavy sound?
Crunchy and heavy is where it's at. Round and soft is cool too, but it's harder to feel like a badass when the tone isn't all gnarled up.
You've never heard a bass solo? Get with the program! Youtube it.
Do you get nervous about the girls outside?
I am not nervous about the girls outside because I have a wonderful and beautiful lady at home in my house to look forward too.
Do you care about your graphic representation or do you leave that to other people?
I care and I leave it to the other people. We are talking about fonts right? I like seeing myself represented in typewriter font.
What is on your hi-fi at the moment?
Right now I have a Ralph Records sampler on. It has the Residents, Tuxedomoon, Fred Frith, MX80 Sound, Snakefinger, Yello and other greats on it.
White Denim (Official) | MySpace
Track of the Day..."Royan" by Frànçois and The Atlas Mountains
"Royan"
from the EP Her River Raves Recollections
Listen to "Royan” MP3
"Royan" is the gently unfolding opening track from the warm and intimate EP Her River Raves Recollections from Frànçois and The Atlas Mountains. Frànçois, a Frenchman who has relocated to Bristol, shared with us about his new release which he describes as "a sort of collection of songs recorded at different places and times, but they have in common the feel of water. One side of the vinyl is the River Side, and the other is the Seaside. I need to go in the water very often. If I don't swim in the sea or the river for a long time, I start feeling confused … All the songs on the EP refer to that feeling in one way or another. It's an intimate affair - a lot of it was recorded on a 4 track that fits in the palm of my hand. So when I recorded it, it was like talking quietly to someone. I recorded a lot of it outdoors, picking up the surrounding sounds."
Her River Raves Recollections is available now on Stich Stich Records. Watch for the release of his new long player entitled Plaines Inondables later this month, as well as our upcoming interview with Frànçois!
Frànçois (Official) | MySpace
Track Of The Day..."Linger with Pleasure" by Ane Brun
"Linger With Pleasure"
from Changing of the Seasons
Listen to "Linger With Pleasure ” MP3
"Linger With Pleasure" is an all too brief and mesmerizing track inspired by an island off the Norwegian coast where her father is from -- a longing for that rare and fleeting feeling of tranquility and clarity. The beautfiul album Changing of the Seasons highlights some of the best of Ane's songwriting and her ability to craft the rawest of bittersweet love songs.
Ane begins her Sketches Tour 2009 next month with shows throughout Norway, Sweden and Denmark with a final show in Paris on 17 November at Café de la Danse (Changing of the Seasons is scheduled for a September release in France). Check her official site for updated tour dates.
Ane Brun (Official) | MySpace