If TLA was trying to be the coolest kids on the block we’d be more embarrassed that we missed out on Diplo’s “Express Yourself” from several months ago even though its been sitting on our ipod for months courtesy of a Stereogum.com mixtape. So we’ll take our lumps and carry on. And by carrying on we mean featuring this track from Le1f.
Pitchfork put the BNM stamp on the single recently and we couldn’t agree more. The beat is sick and the rapping skips by in a blur. The video? The kid is putting it out there and has us thinking about getting some purple shorts…. or maybe not. We’ll leave it to Le1f to rock those while he rocks our speakers.
The sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg released their second album, The Lion’s Roar, earlier in 2012. It hit number one in the Swedish album chart the week of release as well as #35 in the UK. Following up on single “Emmylou” the duo put out “Blue” as the third single from the newest album.
The track has an uncanny ability to sound both like it was originally a country song from the 1950’s yet sounds modern at the same time. The harmonies and cheery twinkling notes don’t give away the fact that the lyrics are so downcast:
“And the only man you ever loved
You thought was gonna marry you
Died in a car accident when he was only 22
Then you just decided, love wasn’t for you
And every year since then
Has proved it to be true”
On Fred Williard being arrested for lewd conduct at a porn theatre in Los Angeles (taken from http://www.thestar.com):
This is, of course, all kinds of embarrassing for Willard, but there are a few things I don’t understand. Having never visited that kind of establishment, I’m not privy to the etiquette, but are customers expected to sit and watch without taking their pants off? And if so, why would they go there in the first place? And why are the police wasting time walking through theatres on the off-chance that a senior citizen gets a little rowdy? And, also, perhaps someone could show Willard how to access the internet. I understand there’s a bit of porn there if someone is so inclined.
Several months ago when publications were creating short lists of hotly anticipated albums for 2012, Beach House were one of the heavily mentioned bands. Their third album, 2010’s Teen Dream, was a massive critical success and gained the Baltimore duo of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally many new fans in the process. Set to do an Animal Collective and become the “it” cool band, Beach House released Bloom back in May and have been on the road ever since.
The chiming guitars of first single, “Myth”, gently welcome listeners into Beach House’s orbit, while the rolling drums pull you in deeper. Similar to many tracks on Bloom, the lyrics are like reading a book that’s missing every third page. “Wild”, tells of drunken parental concern before it loses you in a swirl of ambiguity. Both “Other People” and “The Hours” swing a bit harder in the choruses while “Lazuli”s hushed background vocals and twinkling keys recall the 80s more ethereal moments. The duo’s ability to make even the most simple moments sound majestic is one of Bloom’s most charming traits.
All the songs mentioned appear on the first half of the album and while the second half merely feels like excellent b-sides to the first half’s extraordinary singles, final track “Irene” is another Bloom highlight. Once the final chords disappear, the only thing left to do is go back to the beginning and lose yourself all over again.
Found on the excellent blog, Breaking More Waves, we discovered this lovely single from Golden Fable. Having met in Manchester and now settled in North Wales, Golden Fable’s debut self released ablum will be out in September. Until then we have a few singles to check out including “Sugarloaf”. The track is like a cross between the music of The Sundays and the vocals of Cocteau Twins. Is it as good as that sounds? Listen below. Also do follow the link to their website for info on the album release.
The Light Appears 