Hello everybody
I've been so busy it's been impossible to write new stuff on the blog..there's so much new music out there this year already! Anyway later on I will surely find the time to do it..
For now, before I depart for a physical mental and spiritual voyage to India where i will be learning how to be a yoga teacher for a full month, i leave you with the music selection that I will be taking with me on my mp3 player.
Just last night i was talking about this with some girlfriends: 'what should I bring, something calm and zen to match the mood of the course, or something completely urban and noisy?'
I settled for in between, but more calm than crazy..
Some of this stuff is new, check it out!
- the dodos 'visiter' (nice folk with interesting drums - check out 'fools')
-beach house 'devotion' (beautiful lady folky voice - 'heart of chambers' or 'gila')
-nitin sawhney 'prophesy' and 'beyond skin' (some indian fusion is perfect for this trip, isnt it? If you dont know him, check 'nadia')
-woody allen movie soundtracks (its great!!check out the original of the doors' 'moon of alabama', its wicked!)
-working for a nuclear free city 'businessmen and ghosts' (i've been loving this..to get and idea of their sound, just imagine if chemical bros were a band and were calmer...the sweeter side of CB is all here)
- juana molina 'segundo' and 'un dia' (this argentinian girl is great..layers over layers of repetitive voices and sounds, calm relaxing and very beautiful..almost like a mantra, perfect!)
-school of seven bells 'alpinisms' (i've been adoring this as well...very modern in terms of production, and very curious vocals - a sort of trancy indian song structure, very hippy and modern at the same time...one of last year's revelations!)
-the epochs (really nice poppy band, with funky lite electronic arrangements..the best track is without a doubt 'giving tree')
-The ruby suns 'sea lions' (another of last year's best - hippie guys from new zealand that create beautiful atmospheres where you really feel the 'jam' thing of them sitting together and sort of improvising with instruments etc..really nice)
-scarlett johansson 'anywhere i lay my head' (contrary to what people think, scarlett is not only gorgeous and woody allen's new beloved muse - she sings well, knows how to choose great Tom Waits songs, and best of all - she knows how to pick great producers! This album is precisely that, a masterpiece of studio production..and a relief for all the people like me that sort of like and respect TW, but cant stand his voice..hehehe...)
-department of eagles 'in ear park' (one of last year's top top top albums..the solo album from grizzly bear's main man..can't really explain..folk meets cabaret? its just beautiful . If u like this u will love GB, one of my favourite new bands..)
-nusrat fateh ali khan 'mustt mustt' (if im going to explore mantras and singing to God in my yoga trip, i have to have a master with me to show me how to do it (and remind me that I already know how to do it..). Nusrat is a pakistani sufi singer, one of my all time favourites, in his voice you really feel the divine, the higher purer side of singing...for me (and many people) this is sacred music, and music at its higher purpose)
There's more, but i have to go now..time for my last meat eating meal!
In the meantime hope you all spend a wonderful February...i'll be expanding extending stretching pushing upgrading expanding and enlightening myself, but still with the thought of all you beautiful people in my heart.. and yes, music as always will be there: i'll start the day with a big Ohmm at 6 am, followed by lots of mantras and devotional songs..cool!!
A huge hug to all, see you soon!
Namaste!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Jens Lekman: when a lesbian needs a fake boyfriend
Hellooo..
I'm listening to a record at the office by this sweet Swedish guy called Jens Lekman (http://www.myspace.com/jenslekmanmusic) that put out one of most original albums in 2007 ("Night falls over Kortedala").
Just simple pop songs with a vintage edge, apparently, but when you listen to the lyrics and pay attention to some of the details ( for example in one track the tempo goes faster when he gets to the chorus..genius!) you really start to appreciate his stuff...really nice.
Anyway I was listening to a track from his album and after yesterday's lesbian post I thought this one made sense - Jens' song "Postcard to Nina" shows the whole lesbian thing from a totally different perspective : it talks about the guy that has to pretend he is the boyfriend of a lesbian chick, so that her dad doesn't get disapointed...heeheheh
Anyway just watch the video, Jens will tell you the whole story (he says its real by the way).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLKJj-pEZ2c&feature=related
I'm listening to a record at the office by this sweet Swedish guy called Jens Lekman (http://www.myspace.com/jenslekmanmusic) that put out one of most original albums in 2007 ("Night falls over Kortedala").
Just simple pop songs with a vintage edge, apparently, but when you listen to the lyrics and pay attention to some of the details ( for example in one track the tempo goes faster when he gets to the chorus..genius!) you really start to appreciate his stuff...really nice.
Anyway I was listening to a track from his album and after yesterday's lesbian post I thought this one made sense - Jens' song "Postcard to Nina" shows the whole lesbian thing from a totally different perspective : it talks about the guy that has to pretend he is the boyfriend of a lesbian chick, so that her dad doesn't get disapointed...heeheheh
Anyway just watch the video, Jens will tell you the whole story (he says its real by the way).
The 1st verse is a gem:
"Nina I can't be your boyfriend so you can stay with your girlfriend
Your father is a sweet old man but it's hard for him to understand that you want to love a woman" HAHA!
And then it gets funnier: the dad loves the guy, buys his record, then sends him emails but he ignores him...lol... Im mean a song with the words " auto-office replies"? Its great!
Enjoy!*!
"Postcard to Nina"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLKJj-pEZ2c&feature=related
A heavenly haircut... so sweet...
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Lesbian chicks and their toys
Hehey! Dont be scared (or aroused) with the kinky title... Yes they are lesbian, but their toys are midikeyboards, etc... ha!
I don't really give a shit about their personal sexual choices, but it is curious to hear a girl singing about being in love with a girl..once again not totally new, but still, its something quite uncommon.. So to all those people that have been hating that stupid track that is on MTV right now, something like 'I kissed a girl and I liked it' (pffff...), here's something much more interesting and edgy:
Tender Forever is the alias of Melanie Valera, a crazy half french half american girl that makes these really sweet poppy/electronica songs...very cute and romantic, and you can see she really opens her heart (and lungs) out in her music. Her arrangements are really cool, all done probably in her little laptop with a simple sound editing program. Its simple but it works! Plus she makes these really cool paper cutouts and her shows are quite original..try to look for some of her concerts,like the one in a recent Sonar.
(She is the one on the right, with her lady)
Here's her myspace:http://www.myspace.com/tenderforever
The 1st track i heard was the one that won me over, "How Many" (although the dancing is pretty horrible, even if done as a joke..):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNroJ07w1J8&feature=related
A cover of Justin Timberlake's "My Love" (my brother loved it, of course):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZb3QquSYw0&feature=related
All done with a flat, a girlfriend and some silly paper thingis and fridge magnets!
"Magic of the crashing stars":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX7Mg0PuWPU
And to finish, the beautiful balad "To deal with":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNn5ihIeRAw&feature=related
Post-it dress?Yes!
Who tops sexy Beyonce? Those who are Tender Forever!HAHA!
I don't really give a shit about their personal sexual choices, but it is curious to hear a girl singing about being in love with a girl..once again not totally new, but still, its something quite uncommon.. So to all those people that have been hating that stupid track that is on MTV right now, something like 'I kissed a girl and I liked it' (pffff...), here's something much more interesting and edgy:
Tender Forever is the alias of Melanie Valera, a crazy half french half american girl that makes these really sweet poppy/electronica songs...very cute and romantic, and you can see she really opens her heart (and lungs) out in her music. Her arrangements are really cool, all done probably in her little laptop with a simple sound editing program. Its simple but it works! Plus she makes these really cool paper cutouts and her shows are quite original..try to look for some of her concerts,like the one in a recent Sonar.(She is the one on the right, with her lady)
Here's her myspace:http://www.myspace.com/tenderforever
The 1st track i heard was the one that won me over, "How Many" (although the dancing is pretty horrible, even if done as a joke..):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNroJ07w1J8&feature=related
A cover of Justin Timberlake's "My Love" (my brother loved it, of course):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZb3QquSYw0&feature=related
All done with a flat, a girlfriend and some silly paper thingis and fridge magnets!
"Magic of the crashing stars":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX7Mg0PuWPU
And to finish, the beautiful balad "To deal with":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNn5ihIeRAw&feature=related
Post-it dress?Yes!
Who tops sexy Beyonce? Those who are Tender Forever!HAHA!
And I leave you with one of her best lines: "When you talk about sex you dont talk about love, its like saying that pigeons are nicer than doves, its a lie"...she really is tender isnt she?
Nature's Folk: Fleet foxes & Iron & Wine
Happy new year everyone!!!
New year, new music? Wait! There's a lot more to discover from last year's (and 2007's) great great music... Yes, and after returning from Portugal (where a friend told me he didn't find anything recent interesting) I feel an even bigger urge to share the really wonderful projects that have been coming out in the last couple of years. Cani this one is for you!
So to start smoothly but surely, I present to you Fleet Foxes, five shabby-haired hippies from Seattle, US.
Their music is nothing innovative, but its just so so beautiful... 60's fans of folk bands like Crosby Stills and Nash or Jefferson Airplane will absolutely adore these guys. From the minute their selftitled debut album starts, nature embraces you in such a sweet and pure way..These hippies invite you to sit with them by the bonfire, and once again, the vocals are at the front here, and they carry you into the woods, to see the small creeks, to smell the pine trees...mmm...I know it seems I am exagerating, but if you listen, you will understand what I mean.
here's one of my favourite tracks "White Winter Hymnal", their myspace, the pitchfork rating & review (they gave them a 9/10!), and a interview-video pitchfork did with them when they were on summer tour in the US (dont start with this one, its better to hear some tracks first).
If you like this, then check out the texans Iron and Wine, they've been around for a while but their album "Shepherd's Dog" was a favourite in 2007.
I loved it, a bit "country" but in a good way :). The other records are not nearly as good. In fact, don't listen to them, just listen to this track(I found them through it and imediately fell in love):
Boy with a coin
(the video is stupid, so just pay attention to the track..)
Here's a fun one: The Devil Never Sleeps
Here's another one, more mellow: Ressurection Fern
And their sites:
Peace and love to all you beautiful 21st century hippies!
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