Tei Shi : Saudade EP

Valerie, AKA Tei Shi, swept across the internet with her release M&Ms, a mysterious dark and minimal single just elusive enough to create the hype necessary to release a successful debut EP.  And whether it’s success is commercial or not is still unknown- but as far as meritorious and musical it’s  a soaring debut.  

Review: Luke Temple, ‘Good Mood Fool’

Rating 7.8/10

Standout Tracks:  Hard Working Man, Katie, Florida, Love Won’t Receive

Luke Temple’s newest solo attempt, ‘Good Mood Fool’ (out on Secretly Canadian today), begins with Hard Working Hand.  It feels like 40s blues meets 80s pop, with a funk undercurrent.  Lyrically it’s a-typical of what exploded out of a booming economy built around hardworking men (It’s all very mid 20^th century).

Review: Lorde, Pure Heroine

Rating: 8/10

Standout Tracks: 400 Lux, Ribs, Buzzcut Season

Lorde‘s (Ella Yelich-O’Connor) first single, Royals, rattles on about not being one of the elite, the posh, the wealthy and successful (in the pop world).  While most attitudes about the lyrics have been receptive, it is still controversial in that some bloggers out there have deemed the lyrics racists (ie; this post on feministing.com), and have spurred debate about a young feminist artist as well as the proliferation of Black culture.  My take?  I saw a 13 year old girl singing it on the street the other day and genuinely appreciated the widespread love of the song.  I’d rather hear that than ‘work bitch!’.  

Review – Pillars & Tongues: End-Dances

Pillars & Tongues: End-Dances

Essential Tracks: Knifelife, Medora, Travel

Rating: 7/10

An art-prog project from a trio that captures Americana, classical and drone in a swirl of violin, acoustic percussion, and synth – Pillars & Tongues have given us a journey through varying poetic themes and torrential compositions.

Review – Chvrches: The Bones of What You Believe

REVIEW

CHVRCHES: The Bones of What You Believe

Essential Tracks: We Sink, Gun, Tether, Under the Tide, Lungs.

Rating: 9/10

Forget the entire ‘Roar’ vs. ‘Applause’ ordeal; this is the Pop act to be raving over.  Chvrches debut is overflowing with catchy melodies, intuitive songwriting, and chilling synths.

With The Bones of What You Believe’ Chvrches has given us a solid crossover record, full of hit making melodies above 80s synth driven loops, drawing directly on a lineage pioneered by the likes of New Order and Depeche Mode.  The songs seem simple but reveal layers in both intention and instrumentation, and while the melodies may seem tame, they support lyrics that are surprisingly dark, even emotionally grotesque in their vulnerability.  Matching that attitude Lauren Mayberry is the perfect front-woman: adorable yet vicious, outspoken yet frivolous.  She understands what drives synth pop and how to deliver something catchy yet meaningful, and DAMN these songs are catchy. 

Review – Postiljonen, Skyer

An Album for Your Pop Canon Collection

Rating: 9/10

Essential tracks: We Raise Our Hearts, On The Run, Rivers, Skying High.

Some records need to settle, especially one as full of trending characteristics as Skyer.  For a slew of reasons, none of which deserve to be confessed, I hadn’t ventured much further into Postiljonen than the M83-esque saxophone driven single Atlantis, off of the Scandinavian trio’s debut.  The album, released on July 22^nd, has been sitting in my ‘to do’ playlist, until finally making it’s way to my ears one breezy smoky night, the first night of the year that the onset of fall air caused slight shivers.  Since then I haven’t been able to listen to anything else.  Skyer is an eloquently and lushly orchestrated statement on melody and sonic indulgence.  There are some amazing vocals from front-woman Mia Bøe, but mostly they are a part of the instrumentation- a support to the surrounding melodies.  The result is catastrophically beautiful, transformative melodies with the perfect instruments highlighted throughout.

Review – Jackson and his Computerband

Glitchy and synthesized, grinding low zippers, unbelievably sexy bass drops, and distinct vocal harmonies all characterize the new album Glow from Jackson and his Computerband. The stylistic range on the album is astounding. Where fusing genres is the forefront of music, it’s often overdone and messy, yet Jackson has created a new sound out of many influences, establishing something groundbreaking and understandable – much like his Parisian forbearers.

Review – Forest Fire ‘Screens’

Forest Fire’s third album, Screens (out in the US on Sept. 10th), sounds ready made for an open-air concert in front of a mind-altered audience. It’s the feeling of relaxation and indulgence that evokes a festival vibe; not once does the record feel rushed, and Mark Thresher’s nuanced and affected vocals add to the ‘stop what you’re doing and listen’ attitude their new music conveys.

The 27 curse, a blessing?

At the age of 27 Pure Bathing Culture have created their first full-length project, Moon Tides, and solidified their entry into adulthood as fully realized artists with a debut that could be from a decade past. Daniel Hindman and Sarah Versprille are occupying the space of something quite beautiful with their delicate and nuanced creation.

Debut Track: Swiiim ‘I Am God’

Danny Fujikawa, formerly of Chiefs, has released his first single from the upcoming debut Cellophane Castle, out on Lightwave October 8th, under the moniker Swiiim.  The song, I Am God, is a tale spun in metaphorical prose recounting Fujikawa’s personal struggles and need for the balance between good and bad, God and Satan.