Sultry, simple, and sometimes silly girl pop from the city of, you guessed it, Vancouver, BC. Vancougar split the difference between two perennial favorites from the 3hive archives, All Girl Summer Fun Band and Dressy Bessy. Word of warning: these MP3s are a bit rough ‘cuz they’re demos. From what I’ve heard, the album is a wee bit more polished—just enough, not too much.
The Coup
Matt, aka Gigahaw, reminded us of The Coup, the Oaktown rap duo who are best known, unfortunately, for “that album cover.” Boots Riley and DJ Pam the Funktress do wear their politics on their sleeves (even their toned-down cover for Party Music depicts a young player at a bar enjoying a Molotov cocktail). But what they don’t seem to get enough credit for is their ability to move your butt as well as your conscience. So, with their latest, Pick a Bigger Weapon, they have turned up the funk to match the intensity of their message. The intro is even called “Bullets and Love,” which brings me to another first for The Coup… A handful of apocalyptic slow jams that include the best (and possibly longest) song title of this administration: “babylet’shaveababybeforebushdosomethin’crazy” — awwwww yeeeeaaaahh…
Jonah Matranga
Jonah Matranga is a veteran of a diverse set of rock bands (Far, New End Original, Gratitude) going back about 15 years. Jonah has now taken to the punk ethic (if not sound) of roaming the globe with a guitar and an amp and a book of intimate songs—both originals and interpretations of personal favorites. Jonah recently stepped out from behind the Onelinedrawing moniker he’d been using for his singerly/songwriterly work. Which makes sense: with music this approachable, we ought to be able to call him by name. “How Does Life Go?” is a heartbreaking yet catchy tune from a recent Welcome Home Records comp. “A New England” is a slightly Americanized rendition of a classic by one of the great living punks-roaming-the-globe-with-a-guitar-and-an-amp, Billy Bragg. If you’re digging, you should check out Jonah’s split 12-inch of covers with Frank Turner, who covers “You Are My Sunshine” and The Lemonheads “The Outdoor Type” on the flip.
The Bicycles
Got a friendly lil’ email note from Matt of The Bicycles. So friendly in fact that I had to have a listen. Sometimes good things happen just like that… Matt and the rest of this Toronto group serve up bite-size pop nuggets guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a tap in your toe. How can you not love a band that places the following notice on their download page: “Now you may think you already have ‘Paris Be Mine’ but *this* is the mix that’s on the album – spot the differences! clapclap!” That’s right, download it again because it’s got handclaps. And, best of all, they’re right.
Solo Andata
My family is about 1700 miles away right now, which probably makes me even more of a sucker than usual for this meditative, lonely man’s free jazz. Or maybe there’s an even deeper connection I’m feeling… Solo Andata is a long-distance duo as well: Paul Piocco and Kane Ikin, who live in Perth, Australia, and Stockholm, Sweden, respectively. They collaborate by means of modern connectivity, as I do with my wife and kids, which is great but means you kinda have to fill in the gaps in time and distance with your own imagination and memories. The resulting sessions are sparse, yet richly textured and nuanced, giving you the sense—and I know I sound like Abe Simpson when I say this— that you can actually hear the wear and tear that comes from sending their tracks back and forth over such long distances.
Be sure to check out their remix as part of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Stop Rokkasho project, available on their MySpace page.
Spanking New Podcast 021
Jab Mica Och El
From the same label that brought you Secret Mommy come the similarly playful Jab Mica Och El from Denmark. Unlike Secret Mommy, Jacob and Michael seem less interested in making playful songs out of non-musical sounds (with the exception of the bicycle project) and more intent on making playful songs out of familiar instruments such as the banjo, flute, and tuba. After some laptop manipulation and reorganization, the sounds that emerge feel surprising and spontaneous, warm and real — as if some Appalachian robots got drunk and started to jam until they haphazardly came across a tune. Perfect for your next barbecue (Appalachian, robot, or otherwise).
Boris
While I love Aquarius Records for their wonderful staff recommendations, I tend to glaze over whenever they ramble on about some Norwegian death metal band or one of their other bizarre sub-sub-sub-genre obsessions. One such act I’d been sleeping on is Boris — filed under “sludge / psych / doom / dirge / drone metal” by the heads at Aquarius. What a fool was I… Sure, they live up to “Japan’s answer to the Melvins” (another Aquarius line) just fine, but stashed between the rabid, big bully numbers sounds are careful, almost vulnerable, epics that build on the legacy of Flying Saucer Attack or even My Bloody Valentine. These two tracks are perfect examples (if you came looking for the headbanger bits, you’ll have to buy the albums). At times, Boris are not at all what you’d expect from a record label whose website features flames as the mouseover animation for its navigation. Then again, a “pink album” doesn’t really fit the genre either — so?
Holy Shit
I remember as a kid, when I’d get caught cussing, I’d defend myself by saying “but I was just quoting someone…” So I’m just quoting when I say, “HOLY SHIT!” I mean, that’s the group’s name—how can I talk about them without saying it. As in, “HOLY SHIT” this is a match made in heaven for a goofy pop sucker like myself: Matt Fishbeck of the now-defunct LA indie pop group the Push Kings and the one and only Ariel Pink. Matt sings like a dream, while Ariel is able to leave his unmistakable sound through beats, bass, and other various vocal “enhancements.” The result is something the band would call “special” (this time I’m putting it quotes because I am in fact quoting). “HOLY SHIT” they’re right…
The Brand New Heavies
“Michael Ross is the genie, he’s giving our wishes…” At long last, The Brand New Heavies have reunited with N’Dea “The Voice” Davenport and their formal label Delicious Vinyl. The Brand New Heavies have stuck with their funky soul power sound and while they haven’t been in the spotlight as much lately you can hear their influence throughout the R&B world. They’ve supplied the soundtrack to so many fond moments in my life I don’t know where to start. Perhaps I’ll just dedicate their new single, “Right On,” to Matt and Julie’s forthcoming twins. Matt, go on and place those speakers right by the lads in utero and they may just develop a sense of rhythm…