as mentioned recently, i have had my love for what many would call "proper songs" reinvigorated.
so as of today i am going to make an asserted effort to wean myself off the constant urge to just be lazy and let some long drawn out mix of minimal machine beats and bleeps dominate my listening pattern. i have realised that i need to connect more with songs that lift the spirits and from time to time, raise the blood pressure, as opposed to letting the laid back arpeggio heavy loops status quo persist.
i think a lot of this all happened when i fell under the spell of the soon to be released, bitchstealer track by absentee (yes it is still going strong that track !).
the not so subtle nudge by the good people at memphis industries invoked a need to relisten to the labels output of late, a lot of which has been unreservedly brilliant, and shamefully ignored by yours truly as the music is often made on acoustic instruments and recorded in a garden shed somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the outer regions of america, new zealand, or sweden, as opposed to a laptop sitting in the depths of a techno playground.
first up was the second ruby suns album, sea lion, which despite its pretty dreadful coverart, is a joyous head spinning amalgamation of harmony and unexpected instrumentation.
having ditched their well publicised love of all things brian wilson, the new album consists of all manner of song structures that dip their head towards musics from areas of the world that i will never be given the opportunity to visit, but instead of going all paul simon on us, the bands mainstay, ryan mcphun, has blended the need to introduce a wider spectrum of influences into his songs yet has managed to maintain a heady set of listenable hook filled songs that get better with each listen.
psychedelic overtones, glockenspiels (can never have too many in my book), and weird off kilter treatments (it’s mwangi in front of me being such an example when things go all over the place), make this album very special. i have heard that there is to be a new ep on its way, so expect more on that nearer the time.
then there was the superb, straight up college rock mannerisms of the shaky hands and their self titled debut that came out quietly earlier in the year, which i can’t deny due to the weak wobbly vocals by nick delffs, took a few listens for the penny to drop.
however, when it did drop, boy did it go clunk.
very much in line with clap your hands this is upbeat sometimes raw indie rock with ties to classics such as rem, and recent tour mates, the shins. with a traditional guitar/bass/drum set up there is little in the way of sonic adventures, but when the songs are as strong as the sleepless, and the genuinely wonderful horn enriched, we will rise, then it’s only a matter of time before the band get the recognition due.
a cracking indie rock album basically.
now, if you’ll excuse me, i’m off to listen to the new tokyo police club album, elephant shell, again. i’ve had it for 12 hours, and i’m on my fourth listen already, so i guess thats an indication as to my thoughts.
in this age when most record labels are predictable and scared to take a risk, it’s wonderful to know that memphis industries are still somehow managing to bring these low-key interesting albums available to the uk based record buying public, and subsequently giving lazy bloggers like me an exit route from all things techno.
more detail : memphis industries