Recommended by Bex:
Body Music is a collection of singles and possible singles, not a classically constructed album. About half the songs are old, some borderline paleolithic in internet-time. I had high expectations for BM, but the inclusion of such tracks, and in no particular order, took the lustre off.
Aluna Francis's chilly accented playground-taunt delivery has little of Aaliyah's pillowy grandeur, but she uses what she's got in some similar ways. The important thing about her conversational voice is the way it slides through the beats, finding understated emotional notes and projecting sidelong breezy charm.
It's probably easier to sound cool when you've got someone like George Reid, the duo's production half, putting the tracks together. Reid utilises different sounds, criss-crossing genres, to impeccable effect.
Be sure to watch the videos for:
You Know You Like It
Your Drums, Your Love
Attracting Flies
Sunday, 28 July 2013
Saturday, 20 July 2013
Ciara - Ciara
Recommended by Bex:
Ciara's latest release, following 2010s Basic Instinct, including 'I'm Out' with Nicki Minaj and 'Body Party' (both of which I happen to love).
I was disappointed that some of the singles were not on the official tracklist, but added 'Sorry', 'Got Me Good' and 'Sweat' to my album.
Ciara's latest release, following 2010s Basic Instinct, including 'I'm Out' with Nicki Minaj and 'Body Party' (both of which I happen to love).
I was disappointed that some of the singles were not on the official tracklist, but added 'Sorry', 'Got Me Good' and 'Sweat' to my album.
Friday, 12 July 2013
John Frusciante - The Will to Death
Friend Recommendation:
Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist develops a new idea for each album. For The Will to Death, the idea was to have very little backing vocals. In every way, the album is the opposite of Shadows.
He also released an accompanying essay titled The Creative Act:
'The Will to Death refers to the underlying, predominantly unintentional, organization in works by artists who love and are devoted to the creative force, but hate what they see of the life force and its ways.'
'In artistic symbolism, one comes close to death, and not only does he not die, but he lives more fully for having had the experience ... so the artists will is always aiming at something it never reaches.'
Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist develops a new idea for each album. For The Will to Death, the idea was to have very little backing vocals. In every way, the album is the opposite of Shadows.
He also released an accompanying essay titled The Creative Act:
'The Will to Death refers to the underlying, predominantly unintentional, organization in works by artists who love and are devoted to the creative force, but hate what they see of the life force and its ways.'
'In artistic symbolism, one comes close to death, and not only does he not die, but he lives more fully for having had the experience ... so the artists will is always aiming at something it never reaches.'
Saturday, 6 July 2013
Cassie - RockaByeBaby
Recommended by Bex:
'I make music to Numb your brain'.
I am going through a big Cassie phase at present, having recently basked in the unofficial Cassie Trilogy. Other than the excellent fan-compiled mixtapes, this is her first material since the 2006 self-titled LP.
'I make music to Numb your brain'.
I am going through a big Cassie phase at present, having recently basked in the unofficial Cassie Trilogy. Other than the excellent fan-compiled mixtapes, this is her first material since the 2006 self-titled LP.
Monday, 24 June 2013
Alicia Keys - Songs in A Minor
Recommended by Bex:
I always come back to this album. I picked up the Collector's Edition on my way to a Goldfrapp concert. This edition has extensive liner notes, documentary and video footage, and previously unreleased tracks.
Disc two of this edition features:
01 A Woman's Worth (Remix)
02 Juiciest
03 If I Was Your Woman (Original Funky Demo)
04 Ghettoman
05 Fallin' (Soundtrack Version)
06 Typewriter
07 Butterflyz (The Drumline Mix)
08 I Won't (Crazy World)
09 Girlfriend (KrucialKeys Sista Girl Mix)
I always come back to this album. I picked up the Collector's Edition on my way to a Goldfrapp concert. This edition has extensive liner notes, documentary and video footage, and previously unreleased tracks.
Disc two of this edition features:
01 A Woman's Worth (Remix)
02 Juiciest
03 If I Was Your Woman (Original Funky Demo)
04 Ghettoman
05 Fallin' (Soundtrack Version)
06 Typewriter
07 Butterflyz (The Drumline Mix)
08 I Won't (Crazy World)
09 Girlfriend (KrucialKeys Sista Girl Mix)
Saturday, 15 June 2013
Laura Marling - Once I Was an Eagle
Recommended by Bex:
Once I Was an Eagle was made over 10 days with just a cellist and producer Ethan Johns, on carefully-placed drums, piano, organ. Marling recorded her vocal and guitar parts in a single take each, and in one day, though it somehow sounds even more immediate.
As a lyricist, Laura favours a veiled sort of storytelling, her songs never not deeply felt but always more in the vein of short stories than memoir, and executed so supremely that sussing out the 'real' from the 'unreal' has always seemed beside the point.
At 23, the amount of time Marling had spent on this earth was once relevant because nobody in her peer group was making albums like this. With Eagle, it's because nobody of any age is making albums like this.
I look forward to seeing her - for the fifth time - this month as part of Secret Cinema. Based on a review by Pitchfork.
Marling is the one artist I can, personally, say surpasses herself with each release; considering her superb debut I find this astonishing.
Once I Was an Eagle was made over 10 days with just a cellist and producer Ethan Johns, on carefully-placed drums, piano, organ. Marling recorded her vocal and guitar parts in a single take each, and in one day, though it somehow sounds even more immediate.
As a lyricist, Laura favours a veiled sort of storytelling, her songs never not deeply felt but always more in the vein of short stories than memoir, and executed so supremely that sussing out the 'real' from the 'unreal' has always seemed beside the point.
At 23, the amount of time Marling had spent on this earth was once relevant because nobody in her peer group was making albums like this. With Eagle, it's because nobody of any age is making albums like this.
I look forward to seeing her - for the fifth time - this month as part of Secret Cinema. Based on a review by Pitchfork.
Marling is the one artist I can, personally, say surpasses herself with each release; considering her superb debut I find this astonishing.
Sunday, 9 June 2013
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Friend Recommendation:
Q Magazine: Elbow have hardly stepped out of their comfort zone here, but then their comfort zone has always been oddly unsettling. They're still burning: slowly, maybe, but stronger than ever.
The Guardian: Elbow sound beautifully understated rather than underwhelming, less underachieving than desperately undervalued.
Spin: Nicer than Pulp, less sappy than Coldplay, Elbow excel at meticulous orchestral pop that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Q Magazine: Elbow have hardly stepped out of their comfort zone here, but then their comfort zone has always been oddly unsettling. They're still burning: slowly, maybe, but stronger than ever.
The Guardian: Elbow sound beautifully understated rather than underwhelming, less underachieving than desperately undervalued.
Spin: Nicer than Pulp, less sappy than Coldplay, Elbow excel at meticulous orchestral pop that doesn't take itself too seriously.
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