Posts from 2006

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Brisa Roché

Sunday, April 23rd, 2006 by Julija

intimate songwriting // feminine rock and roll

American born Brisa Roché (real name La Brisa Day Roché) has traveled all over the world from her hometown in the north of California and currently residing in Paris, where she’s released her debut album The Chase (2005). After spending time in such countries as Russia and Romania (where she toured as a young teen), New Mexico (where she continued pursuing her private vision of jazz) and plenty of other places, she finally gets back to Paris where she dives into jazz as a way of life.
Intimate, jazzy, widely influenced yet so very individual.

Brisa Roché – Mystery Man
Brisa Roché – Coco
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Booka Shade

Wednesday, April 12th, 2006 by Paul Irish

chilled electro // synth-dance

Observing a healthy balance between pop appeal and experimentation, the German duo Booka Shade concoct unusual blends of modern 4/4 sketches and timeless listening titles. They emerged as an electro-house outfit, but their latest CD, Movements, takes a more measured, deliberate approach to electronic music, reminiscient of Sasha’s excellent work on Airdrawndagger. My fave from their new LP, “Body Language”, has this round bass from the keyboard dials intermingling with a surgical precision with a guitar sounding like its strings are wet bamboo. A remixed cut of the track won the last “Ibiza Track of the Season” award. “Mandarine Girl” features heavier synth chordal progressions posed against a four-to-the-floor bass beat.
Considered musical taste with mass-appeal sensibility.

Booka Shade – Body Language (interpretation)
Booka Shade – Mandarine Girl (album version)
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Camille

Tuesday, March 28th, 2006 by Paul Irish

french vocal // avant-pop

A month before my Italian tipster, my gal in Lithuania led me to the talented and innovative French vocalist Camille. You probably know her from her vocals on the Nouvelle Vague album, but her solo talent is impressive. She recently released Le Fil (trans: the wire, the yarn, the string) an album done mostly a capella. This effort learned from Björk’s botched attempt and delivers songs that let you enjoy the levels of voices only if you desire to. Taking on the wire metaphor, throughout the album is a sustained vocal note, like line noise, but on top are created catchy rhythms with adorable melodies.
Filling the spectrum with sounds and voices.

Camille – 1,2,3 from Les Sac Des Filles (2004)
Camille – Ta douleur from Le Fil (2005)
Camille – Au Port (music video) from Le Fil (2005)
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Reflex Reaction: Urban? What’s urban?

Tuesday, March 14th, 2006 by Paul Irish
I want your reaction, here. Leave a comment and for any/all of the songs, write your reaction to the song – keep it brief! (Extra points if you use exactly 10 words) After a few days, I’m going to publish the most evocative/impressive/amusing comments here. Be sure to leave your name.

Prize Alert! The best comment(s) this week will win a brand-new Jarhead DVD with dogtags! (Hover your mouse over the image below to see!)

Nomisong is this week’s winner! He will be getting a brand spanking new copy DVD of Jarhead with promotional dogtags! (Psst, email me, man!)
The best reactions follow:

chill hip hop // california groove
One Self – Bluebird from Children of Possibility (2005)

  • Gangsta femme Frante-style neo-soulster formula throwback from 93.~Nomisong
  • Dj Vadim follows the trend and learns to make money. ~Moka
  • digable planets on a magical pimped-out carpet ride in space. ~Jilly

    • grime // montreal bounce
    Lady Fury – Too Much Drugs in Ur System (Ghislain Poirier Remix) from Ghislain Poirier – Bounce Le Remix (2006)

  • UK-Dizzee-MIA-grime sound gets diluted across the Atlantic.~Nomisong
  • Staight up bumpy ride of aural heart palpitations.~Runman
  • A mile-wide track compressed to two feet; EQ please, producer.~Pope Easier Rhino I

    • baltimore/philly club // dancehall remixed // electro-baile
    Sizzla – I’m With The Girls (DJ ABCDEFG Remix) from Hollertronix – #3 EP (2005)

  • Urban sports car commercial soundtrack mashed with cheese pop toasting.~Nomisong
  • Clever blend of a cool old toon, a metromome, and a ribbon typewriter.~Runman
  • The boy has balls. He samples a famous song about a gay man forced to leave an non-understanding home life in a small town (Small Town Boy) and used it as the base for macho self-confident swaggering. Self-denial perhaps?~Will
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    Psapp

    Saturday, March 11th, 2006 by Paul Irish

    glitchy folk // experimental indie

    “It’s surely the most poignant songwriting ever to be underscored by toy animals and kitchen utensils“. The pleasure of listening to Psapp (pronounced sap) is how the two, Carim Clasmann and Galia Durant, develop songs with beautiful melodies accompanied by a tasteful touch of found sounds. After their 2004 release on the amazing Leaf label, Psapp took off with appearances all over the net and landing the Grey’s Anatomy theme song. In May, they’ll be releasing their second LP, entitled Only Thing I Ever Wanted, a strong collection of tracks that sneak fun into great songwriting. While you wait for that record to drop, pick up Tiger, My Friend if you don’t already have it. You need it.
    Songs with little noises poking out.

    Psapp – The Words from Only Thing I Ever Wanted (2006)
    Psapp – Tiger, My Friend from Tiger, My Friend (2004)
    Psapp – About Fun (video) from Tiger, My Friend (2004)
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    Porcupine Tree

    Wednesday, March 8th, 2006 by Paul Irish

    acoustic art rock // post-rock

    Samples of the videotape from the leader of the famed Heaven’s Gate cult is not something you’d expect to hear in a rock song. But this song (with the extraordinarily long song title) strikes you as something entirely new but yet simultaneously recognizable. The lead melody, introduced by the deliberate guitar work and continued by vocalist Steven Wilson, feels timeless in its familiarity. This track knows time and treats it masterfully–strolling patiently but then hop-scotching around your ears with a dynamic arrangement. Now, I rarely repeat songs immediately, but here it’s a neccesity. [Thx to Jason]
    Taking as long as it needs to transfix your ears.

    Porcupine Tree – Last Chance To Evacuate Planet Earth Before It Is Recycled
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    Sonya Kitchell

    Monday, February 20th, 2006 by Paul Irish

    vocal jazz // americana blues

    The smoky vocal mysticism of Norah Jones and Natalie Merchant. Unique and developed songwriting ability. This young woman, Sonya Kitchell, has created a calm sound of maturity that you wouldn’t expect from a sixteen year-old. Yes, she’s sixteen. Not to let that be the novelty that propels her popularity–her talent alone can do that plenty. (Alas, the selling point of the talented Matisyahu was his novel cultural juxtaposition, not his firebrand musicianship. :-/) “Train”, from her upcoming album, chugs along fueled by a strummy guitar and Sonya’s full voice. Look for this one in your local Starbucks in a few months.
    Young girl with an old soul.

    Sonya Kitchell – Train
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    The Ark

    Wednesday, February 15th, 2006 by Paul Irish

    swedish glam-rock

    During last year’s South By Southwest festival, hipsters heading down 6th Street on their way to the Bloc Party show were stopped when passing by a closet of a club called The Drink. Inside the giant sidewalk window, leadman Ola Salo was jumping from amp to ceiling light to drum set, while his band was pumping out firey glam rock action. Now, typically music with electric guitars and drums doesn’t strike my fancy, but The Ark definitely forces the volume knob up. ‘Rock City Wankers’ perfectly showcases their ability to instantly spawn a party with their vibrant attitude.
    Dynamic rock that makes it impossible to stand still.

    The Ark – Rock City Wankers
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    William Orbit

    Monday, February 13th, 2006 by Paul Irish

    vocal electronica // atmospheric

    He crafted Madonna’s grammy-winning comeback Ray Of Light, been criticized by composer Arvo Pärt, loved by tranceheads (Ferry Corsten’s trance remix of Adagio For Strings, anyone?), and shunned by many others. (Seriously, what’s with the name?) Now, William Orbit is releasing a solo artist album far better than his previous Pieces In A Modern Style. To be honest, I don’t want to enjoy his music, but I can’t maintain disinterest. The album is entirely too cohesive–it sounds like different themes of the same (beautiful) song. But I’m still moved by the angelic melodies on this album despite their methodical (over)production.
    An A+ album I wish were by someone else.

    William Orbit – Surfin
    William Orbit – They Live In The Sky
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    Reflex Reaction: Audio Valentines

    Tuesday, February 7th, 2006 by Paul Irish
    I want your reaction, here. Leave a comment and for any/all of the songs, write your reaction to the song – keep it brief! (5-15 words, extra points if you hit exactly 10) After a few days, I’m going to publish the most evocative/impressive/amusing comments here. Be sure to leave your name.

    UPDATE! The best reactions follow:
    italian folk // café jazz
    Quartetto Cetra – Un Bacio A Mezzanotte

  • cue Dean Martin, complete with cane and straw boater, making eyes at Sophia Loren.~db
  • Red velour, low light, and a martini with your sweetheart.~Skoodog
  • A leggy Italian brunette spinning her parasol on the boardwalk~Brett

    • nu-jazz // hip hop
    Dancing Djedi – Body Surfin’ (feat. Mos Def, Tash, & Q-Tip)

  • poor work on the Ernest Ranglin original, with the lyrics from Body Rock just pasted upon it. Too bad : the pulse of the Ranglin is mad!!!~Garrincha
  • good funk, bounce, reggae flavor, too disjoint to truly savor~Dookie
  • I see an Afro Marcel Marceau doing the jerky moonwalk in a robot suit.~db

    • female folk // americana
    Clare Burson – Love Me in the Morning

  • tender, floating, soft and caressing~kEma
  • Reminds me of a bluegrass/celtic festival. Nostalgic and homesick.~Elise
  • Passionate with a dash of armpit hair. Lilith Fair artist for 2006.~nomisong
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