EPISODE 13 - AM Gold
Song: Rope and SummitArtist: Junip
Album: Rope and Summit ep
Label: Mute (2010)
Yes, this IS Jose Gonzalez + Kraut Rock. The band’s called Junip, and this new ep (they had one in 2005 around the time he put out his debut as well) is free… well, ‘sign up to the mailing list’ free, anyway. I think it’s a great sound for Jos-Gonz, and he obviously knows it. Great ep. Looking forward to more in the future. Oh, and if you haven’t heard his solo LPs ‘In Our Nature’ and ‘Veneers’ – oh man. Get those too. They’ll change your life.
Song: Ballade de Melody Nelson
Artist: Serge Gainsbourg
Album: Histoire de Melody Nelson
Label: Phillips (1971)
Been meaning to play Serge Gainsbourg since like episode 4, and then I’m watching the new (quite great) Michael Cera movie ‘Youth in Revolt’, and the love interest beats us to the punch! Much better a little late than never. The sound of this album (contributed to highly by producer Jean Claude Vannier) has inspired sooo many excellent bands to… well – sort of rip it off. Air, Pulp, Portishead, and especially Beck. I mean, Sea Change plays like a giant Vannier tribute. Essential musical history. This from his most acclaimed concept album.
Here are the lyrics in English:
This is the story Of Melody Nelson, whom apart from myself no one ever took in their arms
That surprises you but that's how it is
She had love, Poor Melody Nelson, Yeah, she had tons of it, But her days were numbered
Fourteen autumns, and fifteen summers
A little animal that Melody Nelson, An adorable little girl, And such a delicious child
Whom I only knew for an instant. Oh! My Melody, My Melody Nelson
Lovable little idiot, You were the condition ‘sine qua non’ of my reason.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99OzdwLoBcc
(We usually embed videos nowadays, but unfortunately the lone webbed copy of this vid's been disabled, so please check it out via this link!)
Song: Round and Round
Artist: Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
Album: Before Today
Label: 4AD (2010)
Here we go again. Another sudden break through in the weirdest sort of accessibility from a long-experimental, long-promising underground outsider. Add ‘em to the list. This is an absolute must have. Every song on this album is an evolutionary leap in the already fast-paced exploration of all the goodness overlooked in cassette era AM Gold. Only this time, electronics are only involved in ways suiting the late 70s early 80s studio sound era that Pink’s going after. Instead, he and his group mine out the sort of strangely familiar melodies and textures that will leave you spinning, just trying to place what it is you’re listening to. It will be several weeks before I have anything to say that begins to help explain this record besides repeating – Must Have. AM Gold.
Song: Fangela
Artist: Here We Go Magic
Album: Here We Go Magic
Label: Western Vinyl (2009)
Another Must Have that we’ve been wanting to play all year. This from last year’s self titled LP. Luke Temple tried out a different musical voice departing from his previous solo folk work for something far more interesting. Often built upon layers of loop pedals, the psychedelic pulses drone on without ever seeming unnecessarily repetitive. And the ideas… so beautifully strange, and fresh – keeping perfect pace with the rest of last year’s huge breakthroughs. One review I read went something like: “For people just getting over Grizzly Bear”. Apples and oranges really, but we love them apples. And this video.
Song: It’s Not Meant to Be
Artist: Tame Impala
Album: Innerspeaker
Label: Modular (2010)
Whoa. What a sound. Thanks to Tame Impala for making big fat fuzzy Brit Psych-Pop seem timely and much needed. Maybe this is what people who liked Oasis felt like or something… Never really got Oasis… maybe if they worked a lot more like this. A beautifully realized bigger than ever period sound frames surprising melodic and rhythmic turns when you least expect them, but need them most. From the mind behind, Kevin Parker: “a steady flowing psychedelic groove rock band that emphasizes dream-like melody”. Perth, Aussieland.
Song: When Your Love is Safe
Artist: Active Child
Album: Curtis Lane
Label: Filter/Merok UK(2010)
This ep should be getting way more hype than it is. Which is to say, I’m in one sense glad it’s not being ruined that way, but in another way a little frustrating that so much [ahem] crap gets thrown atcha by the deepening pockets of the indie-webside press machine, and then breathtaking gold like Active Child get the old overlook. So whatever – we’re throwing this atcha. Huge aching, blissy songs that are going after similar ideas to our much beloved M83. Love it. New favorite surprise-out-of-nowhere band…. And maybe for the moment favorite band period. Hard not to feel something for it. Another must-hear. Oh, and he’s also a harpist. So, yeah.
Song: Grape Aerosmith (feat. Beck)
Artist: Tobacco
Album: Maniac Meat
Label: Anticon (2010)
So, the thing with Tobacco and his other project Black Moth Super Rainbow Is that even though his speaker-blown drum machines, misty synths and vocoder sound is truly awesome – there’s just SO MUCH of it. This guy has put out a lot of records under these and more aliases, and doesn’t mind filling those records with slight variations on the same themes. So why do we stay so interested? I don’t really know, but he’s done it again, and this time, Beck’s on board for a couple of tracks. First time listeners – this will be a definite must-hear. Old bewildered fans like us – this is still a must hear. Undeniably great jams out of that same ol’ meat grinder. Plus Beck.
Song: F.F.A.P
Artist: Here We Go Magic
Album: Pigeons
Label: Secretly Canadian (2010)
This double play represents the two extremes marked by Luke’s two albums in as many years. The new album touches on the same hypnotic formula, and the same acquaintance with strange turns and twists, but buries them beneath slightly more immediately recognizable pop motifs. This track had the curious effect of defying my slow-gaze expectations with said arrangemental turns and twists that kept me an attentive listener right through the noisy climax. Something a little dangerous here, too, which also helps to keep the attention. Another must hear.
Song: Taps
Artist: Mount Kimbie
Album: Maybes
Label: Hotflush (2009)
Lotta talk about Half Step (think slo-mo two-step/dubstep). Lotta talk about James Blake. (Looking at you P4K). Not enough talk about Mount Kimbie. Maybes is the slightly better of two 4 song eps available from South London based Dom and Kai. There’s a noticeable connection here to the approach of other ambient janglers Four Tet and Caribou, who’ve crossed paths with Kimbie more than once. Must have dusty murk.
Song: Suicide Dream 2
Artist: How To Dress Well
Album: Can’t See My Own Face
Label: Self Released (2010)
Yes. It’s supposed to be distorted. HTDW’s AM GOLD melodies pressed to cassette hot enough to remind you it’s not the 80s anymore have been called ‘below fi’. Kids and their wacky ideas? We’re actually talking about a guy who whose day job is translating post-Kantian philosophy in Cologne. That smoke screen of uncomfortable distortion is meant for balance to the super heartachingly sweet vocal licks, and for us it works. Available free on his site, along with 30+ other fascinating sonic sketches.
Song: Down By the Water
Artist: The Drums
Album: The Drums
Label: Moshi Moshi / Island (2010)
This album! So great. LOVED the ‘Summertime!’ ep from last Fall, and love this self titled debut out on Island records, no less. This track is actually on both of those releases. The new one contains some new songs, plus higher fi versions of old favorites like ‘I’ll Never Drop My Sword’. One of the best of the year for sure, and absolutely essential summer listening. Try to find anything better for the drive to the beach. Nah don’t. No point. For those who’ve not heard much of the Drums – this is definitely the most relaxed of the bunch. The rest of the record is energetic and sunkissed, but in a ‘these kids should really be using an SPF 80’ sort of way. Robert Smith channels blonde bimbo bullies. Or something. Must have.
Song: At the Grove
Artist: No Kids
Album: Judy At the Grove
Label: Tomlab (2010)
Now that we think about it – we could have saved this one for the next cast - what should probably be the Canada Day episode - but this track is just such…. AM GOLD!!! From Van City, BC, No Kids have been a favorite since their sweetly simple chamber–hop full length debut in 2008 – ‘Come Into My House’. Such excellent marksmanship on the early 80s easy listening vibe, and a perfect sunset home-driving tune for what has been a sunburned psycho-liscious beach trip. This track and ep are apparently named after an oooollld Judy Garland live album. What? I don’t know how I know that… I just do. Play them chicky guitars!
