Low 'Drums and Guns'; Voxtrot 'Self-Titled'

Firstly, I'm sorry that I haven't posted anything in a little while! I thought I'd better add another post to keep everyone switched onto my blog, especially since I will be in beautiful Regensburg for a few days as of tomorrow.

Regensburg, Februar 2004

I am currently hotly anticipating getting my grubby fingers and thumbs on Low's new album 'Drums and Guns'. The Duluth, Minnesota three-piece have consistently produced albums that have defined the 'slowcore' genre. Their minimalist sounscapes combined with their appreciation for melody have offered some of the most stark yet moving moments in music over the last decade or so.

Their new album, 'Drums and Guns' seems to offer a slight departure from their previous releases as they embrace a few more beats and glitches and some heavy organs to pan out their textured soundscapes. Check out 'Breaker' anyway, I understand that there will also be a new version of 'Murderer', but here is the old version anyway:

Low 'Breaker' (Sub Pop Records, 2007):
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=78E0AB1742B0C98F

Low 'Murderer':
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=392D17734CC141C1

More information on Low can be found here:
Low (Sub Pop Records): http://www.subpop.com/artists/low

Meanwhile, I am positively going to burst if I don't get to listen to Voxtrot's self-titled debut album soon! Following the release of three EPs, their debut album has been a long time coming.




When I recently spoke to Ramesh, lead singer of Voxtrot, I could sense he was feeling pretty nervous about the album, I think the weight of all the great albums of his heroes was bearing down upon his shoulders somewhat - but this is understandable in any musician committed to their craft and eager to please. On the evidence of these two numbers then I would suggest that Ramesh has nothing to worry about - they sound great!

Voxtrot 'Kid Gloves':
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=5695EDB64073F957

Voxtrot 'Firecracker':
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=BF59D6883E289EEF

Download of the Day: Shipwreck 'Black Moon'

Recently I asked my friend Courtney, chief Floridian devotee of the Curious Orange music project, to send me a list of her current favourite tracks - sure enough, she introduced me to some belting new bands, one of which was Shipwreck.

'Black Moon' is a truly atmospherical 4 minutes and 6 seconds of music that recalls the sound of a brooding British post-punk bands of the early 1980s. If you enjoy 'Black Moon' then take a listen to the songs 'Walk in the Woods' or 'Orphan'.

Shipwreck 'Black Moon': http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=EDE71E32449321E1 (YouSendIt)

p.s. Thank you, Courtney!

Download of the Day: The Carrots 'Ladies of Givens'

Over the last months a whole host of my friends have been urging me to listen to the Pipettes. They would ask me tentatively, "By the way, have you heard that Pipettes album?". Sure enough, I simply found there was something unsatisfying about this group. Granted, 'Pull Shapes' is an excellent dancefloor number, but otherwise I failed to see the attraction to this girl group, they seemed cliched, something just did not add up for me, above all, they seemed superficial. Then I heard The Carrots from Austin, Texas and suddenly I feel justified in my coldness towards the Pipettes.

The Carrots: Rock n' roll vegetables!

Presenting The Carrots in a lesson in how 1960s-style girl pop harmonies should be done...

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=7BD57F7C3613B6B2

(YouSendIt)

(Thank you to Ramesh of Voxtrot for introducing me to these guys!)

Download of the Day: Sparrow House 'Foxes (Sighing Like a Furnace)'

The sun sets over South Ealing Underground Station

As I rode the tube home this evening I was entirely lost in this beautiful song by Sparrow House, the side-project of Voxtrot's Jared van Fleet. It provided the perfect addition to the warm glow of the sunset stretching out across the carriage windows.

Sparrow House contrasts the modern flavours of Adem with Simon and Garfunkel to beautiful effect on 'Foxes (Sighing Like a Furnace)'. Check it out:

Sparrow House 'Foxes (Sighing Like a Furnace)':

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=7CEE8CF23D0BC6C5 (YouSendIt)

Saturday Bliss! Liverpool 0 - 1 Manchester United

Gary Neville and Edwin Van der Sar celebrate - these fellas are unlikely to be handed the freedom of the City of Liverpool anytime soon.

What a result! Manchester United somehow managed to snatch victory over arch-rivals Liverpool in front of the 'Kop' and in the final seconds of the game. YAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John O'Shea's injury-time winner in front of the Kop - GET IN!

Artist Spotlight: Diplo

Over the last months the work of 'Diplo' (a.k.a. Wesley Pentz), a Philadelphia-based producer and DJ has had me mesmerised!

Diplo is the current master of the 'mashup' (a musical genre that is bound to take on an increasingly greater resonance!). Diplo has the ability to meld two separate pieces of music together to create a piece that gives you enjoyment for a seemingly entirely different reason to the original piece, or he can urbanise a piece that was made by and probably intended for bedroom indie geeks like myself. Above all I admire the way that Mr. Pentz draws upon an excellent breadth of knowledge of both alternative and hip hop music and uses this to such refreshing effect.

Fact! Pentz's alias is short for Diplodocus and derives from his childhood fascination with dinosaurs!

Check out the downloads before YouSendIt gobbles them up again!

MP3: Shake It Over & Over (Hot Chip Remix): http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=EC5851AD5C120535

MP3: Staring at the Sun (TV on the Radio Remix): http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=4153DA17717762EE

BONUS:

'Shake It Up' - Diplo has fun with the Beatles: http://beatkids.org/music/beatlesvsdiplo-shakeitup.mp3 (Simply right click your mouse on the link and select 'save target as' for this one!)