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.
Chromatics – Kill For Love
With the youtube video for the bands’s contribution to the Drive soundtrack hitting over a million views, Chromatics have followed that up with a new single and album both entitled “Kill For Love” on the record label Italians Do It Better (though apparently not as well as the Spanish!). Holding true to our ethos of getting to bands several weeks later, this is definitely one to seek out. Haunting female vocals, indie guitar with a slight dancebeat – this is the kind of single that has made us swoon for years.
Billy Joel – Piano Man (1973)
In the late 70s/early 80s Billy Joel’s music was everywhere. Hit singles, huge selling albums, and massive tours all meant that the once struggling artist was a major success. Early in his career, Joel played in various groups around New York City that went nowhere and saw a debut solo album, Cold Spring Harbor, mastered at the wrong speed causing his voice to sound a semitone than it should have. After a failed suicide attempt, Joel moved out to California with his then girlfriend, Elizabeth. While in LA, he got a job playing piano at The Executive Room piano bar. During this time, Joel wrote the songs that would form his second solo album, Piano Man.
It would be easy to look back and say that it is obvious that Joel would be a star based on hearing Piano Man but well, there is some truth to that. The melodies, music, and musicianship are all impeccable. The rumbling bass and banjo picking of “Travelin’ Prayer” (later covered by Dolly Parton) are ridiculously catchy. “You’re My Home” is a pleasant attempt at a Paul Simon like look at America while “The Ballad of Billy the Kid” has the story telling of Marty Robbins. It’s curious that “Stop in Nevada” was not released as a single as it has all the bombast of later Meatloaf productions with a few country touches to hit all the right demographics. This of course leaves the ubiquitous title track. Like many great songs from the past it has been slightly diminished over time having been heard a million times, but listening with fresh ears there is no doubt why the track has been played/covered so much over the last 35+ years.
While Billy Joel lacks the grit of Bruce Springsteen and the expert lyricism of Paul Simon, Piano Man hits a nice stride right into MOR radio. It has all the classic sounds of AM Radio from the 70s and while he would go on to better perfect his sound, there are a few gems here to listen to that would surely be overlooked on most “Best Of” collections.
7/10
Santigold – Master Of My Make Believe (2012)
After a successful career writing songs for others, Santi White, then going as Santogold, burst onto the scene in 2008 with the “L.E.S Artistes” single as well as the S/T debut. Buzzing with highlights such as “Lights Out”, “Unstoppable” and “I’m a Lady”, the debut went a long way in establishing Santi as a prime contender in the sophisticated dance pop ring. Four years later, with one name change under her belt as well as a Chuck Taylor advert and numerous commercial audio pop ups, she appears with her sophomore release Master Of My Make Believe.
Make Believe gets off to a rousing start with one of her strongest tracks in “Go!” Featuring Karen O, the menacing opening leads into Marylyn Manson like military drumming before it suddenly veers to 80s pop punk… and that’s just the first 45 seconds. First single, “Disparate Youth” continues the winning trick and is another standout. The track has moves similar to “L.E.S Artiste” as it seems just a bit too slow for the dance floor but one sure to get heads nodding. After this, the album gets a bit murky as tracks such as “Fame” and “Freak Like Me” are more curiosities and the pace really slows down with several mid tempo numbers (though “The Riot’s Gone” is one of the strongest tracks on the album). “The Keepers” gets things back on track and sounds like an updated version of Kim Wilde’s “Kids in America” with an equally infectious chorus.
There’s a lot of good on Masters Of My Make Believe as it boasts possibly three of the best tracks of the year. However pacing becomes an issue and like the debut, there’s a few songs that are easily skipped over. Still, Santigold continues to produce intelligent dance music and this album is a welcome return by one of the coolest girls around.
7/10
Branko – Going in Hard vs Baauer – Harlem Shake
A double shot from Jeffree’s Records over at Mad Decent. These tracks by Branko and Baauer have been kicking around for several weeks now and never seem to be too far from our speakers. Forming a solid one-two punch, “Going in Hard” features Florida rapper Dominique Young Unique and switches between insistent instrumental beats and the slowed down drawl of Dominque (download below through Soundcloud).
“Harlem Shake” has been showing up on numerous mixes including Rustie’s BBC Essential Mix . This is aimed squarly at the dancefloor with rapid fire beats and a lion roaring throughout. “Do the Harlem Shake!” Indeed we will.
The Light Appears 