So obviously we are all pretty obsessed with the Altair and Julianna Barwick records we put out via eMusic Selects today. Yancey posted his great Q and A with Julianna earlier today, and here’s a look at the record itself.
Julianna Barwick – Florine – Really, this is the sort of record you fall backwards into endlessly. I wrote the review, and listening to it over and over again this weekend as I struggled to put concrete wording to music so ethereal made me feel as if I were lounging in the abbey of the monastery of an alien civilization, listening to their morning plainsong. There is something ancient and timeless about the things she does with her voice, and the opening of “Cloudbank” raises goosebumps every time. One of the greatest things about coming to work at eMusic was learning that I would have a hand in releasing records like this one.
Altair Nouveau – Dark Energy – This is electronic dance music, meaning I am about as qualified to comment meaningfully on it as I am to comment on 13th-century haberdashery. HOWEVER. I fucking LOVE this record, which I can only take to mean everyone else in the world will too, as I tend to only “get” the dance records that have the widest appeal. It is a comforting seal of approval that the one and only Todd L. Burns also loves this record, as you can read in his review. The opening whooosh that revs up “Death On Four Wheels” puts me in mind of a guy popping and locking while wearing a Power Rangers suit. Which, if you can understand this, is probably highest possible compliment I could give it.
More stuff!
Tosca – No Hassle – I haven’t heard this one, but Yancey compels to me believe I might have to:
No Hassle is a gorgeous record. Opener “My First,” with vocals leaning heavily on the Knife/Fever Ray motif, is a supple beginning, its sparse construction tender, enveloping. And “Rosa,” with its subtle Western motif and luscious bass line, is another standout. You can probably already sense exactly how this record will sound, the moments when it will perfectly soundtrack your life, the added weight, the pensive urgency it will facilitate. It’s pretty hard to beat.
Crocodiles – Summer of Hate – Lo-fi psych pop. I am not crazy about, like 80 percent of this stuff, but “I Wanna Kill” sounds “dece,” as Alex might put it.
New Ruins – We Make Our Own Bad Luck – Joe advised me to put this one in. I am listening to it now for the first time ever…I have never even heard of these dudes before. Predictably, this sounds incredible. Joe — thoughts?
A Camp – Colonia – Hey now, this sounds pretty good. Maybe it’s mean of me to be surprised — this is Nina Persson, formerly of The Cardigans, the group responsible for the immortal “Lovefool.” This sounds less Day-Glo chirpy, allowing the darker stuff Nina was always singing about to seep to the fore.
Spyro Gyra – Down the Wire – I can see the weather report scrolling by in my mind as this plays.
Jayson, if you are into the new A Camp you should really check out Super Extra Gravity by the Cardigans, which is also on eMusic. I think you’ll find that in the years sense “Lovefool” they have consistently put out really great albums that have little in common with their mid 90s hit.
Working on a review of the New Ruins – I loved the last one. This one is less immediate, but it’s slowly growing on me, especially the first song. I’ll have more to say soon!
Super Extra Gravity is one of my favorite albums ever. Appeals to my torch song-loving, musical theater geek side. A Camp’s song “Love Has Left the Room”, in particular, feels like a total continuation of that stuff.
I loved that last New Ruins…looking forward to hearing this one. It was a big download day for me: Julianna Barwick, The Hard Lessons, Cains and Abels, The Most Serene Republic (an ep of 16 bit tunes created while they were composing what would soon become 2007′s Population).
Congrats on the new selects artists – outstanding releases once again! Quickly becoming one of the most dependable and interesting labels around.
Also – no one mentioned the echospace label arriving on EMU, this in addition to Miasmah last week makes emu a one stop destination now for outstanding dark electronic sounds.
http://www.emusic.com/label/Echospace-Detroit-EPM-Online-MP3-Download/256205.html
THANK YOU!!
Tosca sounds good as expected, think I will skip on the live disc for now though.
I loved The Cardigans album Gran Turismo, the production was crisp and it was pretty moody and even dark at times. Lovefool is their most well known track, but very little of their music actually sound like that.
porieux – I did the same thing with the new Tosca, the live stuff seemed kinda unnecessary.
“I Wanna Kill” is, like, dece . But by far the best on that record, I think.
Long time lurker, first time poster, and not sure this is in the right place. I know the new Conor Oberst is coming next week… any news about the Gentleman’s Pact EP? I could get it elsewhere, but I’d rather you guys have my $. Thanks!
it’s the first i’ve heard of it sean. lemme check
By the way, I’m really digging that Julianna Barwick release. I’ll have to check out the other eMusic Selects artist. The Tosca samples weren’t grabbing me – I’ll try them again.
eMu: Thanks for getting Hydra Head back!!! Yes! Yes! Yes! \m/
Thanks, Yancey – I didn’t know about it til I saw it with the iTunes preorder… apparently it was a tour-only EP. Knowing Conor/Bright Eyes’ record for releasing EPs, I was hoping it would come out for wider public consumption as well (i.e., Emusic).