Archive | February, 2012

NZCA/Lines – NZCA/Lines

29 Feb

NZCA/Lines - NZCA/Lines

NZCA/Lines stands out in the glut of 80′s influenced blue-eyed soul with sharp attention to detail, and a heightened sense of sonic experimentation that goes a step farther than merely mimicking its predecessors.

Release Date: February 28, 2012
Record Label: Loaf
Rating: 82

Formerly a bassist for the band Your Twenties, Michael Lovett changed gears drastically, now creating a hypnotically soulful self-titled debut. If there’s something to be impressed by right off the bat, it’s the superbly tight production that provides a unique voice for Lovett. Yes, you have a strong sense of familiarity when you listen to the music and songwriting on the album, but there’s a definitively modern twist to it all, a welcome change from the continued reliance on simply recreating 80′s and early 90′s R&B and Soul and forgetting about the organic element that made those songs so relevant upon release.

The lyrics don’t always hold up to the excellent production and sound of the album, but one could argue that it’s the feel that matters the most when it comes to music of this genre, and with some serious synth-laden grooves, that type of philosophy would certainly be forgiven. As it stands in this modern setting, however, NZCA/Lines makes an intriguing splash for his debut effort, that starts particularly strong with “Compass Points” and “Okinawa Channels.” Hopefully Lovett doesn’t change course again before completely exploring this new-found funkier side.

“Okinawa Channels”

Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny – Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose

29 Feb

Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny - Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose

After riding a fair amount of hype, the results of Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny are as varied and creative as you’d expect. Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose, is a wonderful debut.

Release Date: February 28, 2012
Record Label: Mute
Rating: 86

Beth Jeans Houghton has been on the radar of many for quite a while, releasing numerous singles and EPs before finally unveiling her and her band’s debut effort, Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose. Her highly theatrical and varied approach dazzles and is aided by the production by Ben Hillier (Blur, Depeche Mode, Elbow). Despite its short length, each track is packed with a slew of ever-evolving musical ideas and centered with strong, anthemic lyrics. Because of this, the casual listener may immediately want to paint Beth Jeans Houghton as similar to an Adele or Florence & the Machine– but Houghton never attempts to blow you away with her voice, her band carries that burden, she merely lures you in with her passionate storytelling and clever songwriting.

It’s been a long time coming, but Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose has been well worth the wait. From the triumphant opening of “Sweet Tooth Bird” to the dynamic “Liliput” and the gorgeous “Dodecahedron,” Beth Jeans Houghton remains head and shoulders above many other artists you’ll hear this year– she and her band are artists well worth watching.

“Dodecahedron”

New Song from Moonface – “Teary Eyes and Bloody Lips”

12 Feb

Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown fame is back again with his Moonface solo project this time, pairing up with the Finland-based Siinai. The album will be titled Heartbreaking Bravery and will be released on April 17 via Jagjaguwar.

Django Django – Django Django

10 Feb
Django Django's Self-Titled Album

Django Django - Django Django

This four-piece band makes a huge splash with their debut, creating an album that will certainly be one of the best albums you’ll hear all year.

Release Date: February 4, 2012
Record Label: Because
Rating: 95

Django Django may sound like an innocuous name for a band, but it’s a name you’ll likely hear often throughout this year. Their energetic and inspiring eponymous album is uncanny in their willingness to take calculated risks that don’t jeopardize the overall concept of the album. Their understanding of that delicate balance so early in their careers is something that will certainly help them in the long run. Within the framework of this album, this knack makes their debut all the more fun as a listener. Their opening track, appropriately titled “Introduction,” gives great insight into what one should expect from the band– a larger than life, two-minute summation of their influences and skills, that somehow branches Enrico Morricone and  their psychedelic pop charm before blending effortlessly into one of their catchier songs, “Hail Bop.” “Default,” the highlight of the album, despite being the clear single of choice, doesn’t feel forced, instead taking the best bits of their sound and consolidating it into a tight three-minute package. For some of their left-field offerings, look instead to songs like the Beta Band-esque “Zumm Zumm” and the distinctive “Skies Over Cairo”

One thing is clear after listening to their debut, Django Django is a very innovative band with a lot of clever ideas. Not only is their debut an incredibly fine effort, but they appear poised to be one of the most talked about bands by the end of the year.

“Default”

M.I.A. Releases New Single with Sweet Video to Match

4 Feb

In case you thought that M.I.A. had lost a step, she’s back in full force with a reworked version of “Bad Girls” that was on her ViCKi LEEKX mixtape. While it is admittedly somewhat redundant, it’s a wonderfully defiant single and has an equally poignant music video. Check them both out below:

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