Music Archive: August 2011
Here is a very small selection of the new music we've been playlisting this month
Little Dragon- Ritual Union (Peacefrog)
Having recently been shunted into the semi-mainstream courtesy of a pair of guest appearances on the Gorillaz 'Plastic Beach' LP, this timely third album from the Swedish three-piece Little Dragon is likely to secure them some deserved placings in the end-of-year polls. This is electro R&B, with tracks veering between dancefloor and headphone listening, oozing with Scandinavian sophistication
Omar- Sing (If You Want It) (Tru Thoughts)
We're delighted to see Brit-Soul legend Omar's 2005 comeback album re-issued on the mighty Tru Thoughts label. Bad luck, dodgy labels and more bad luck meant not many people heard this exceptional record on its release, so thankfully now it's going to get the exposure it deserves. Featuring guest appearances from no less than Angie Stone and Stevie Wonder, we're delighted to be able to play our part in giving this album the airplay it so truly deserves.
FM Belfast- Don't Want To Sleep (Morr)
Despite its current economic crisis, Iceland has still managed to produce one of the cheeriest party-focussed albums we've heard in ages, via 'musical collective' FM Belfast. Even more fun than Go! Team, even more indie-disco than Hot Chip, FM Belfast are unashamedly all about the party, and on hearing these rousing choruses paired with bubblegum synths, you will be too- economy in meltdown or not.
Diagrams- Diagrams (Full Time Hobby)
Finally we hear the debut release from former Tuung mainman Sam Genders, and we're delighted to say that it's been worth the wait (Tuung have managed to re-group and release an album themselves in the time it's taken Genders to finish this album). While he hasn't ditched the 'folktronica' sound, this is an album with roots reaching into fresher ground. Going by this release, in time we should expect to see this album- and Genders' songwriting- share the praise bestowed upon the likes of Elbow, Badly Drawn Boy and Snow Patrol.
North Sea Radio Orchestra- I A Moon (Domino)
Darkly intimate balladering here, on the third album from NSRO, the orchestral ensemble led by a married couple. Classical music is merged with ancient folk sounds, dark is merged with light and sadness is merged with joy. This is a contradictory record indeed, yet so many opposite elements conspire to make a beautiful, genuine chamber-folk album for the 21st century.
African Head Charge- Voodoo of the Godsent (Domino)
More Domino delights, this time courtesy of none other than the mighty On-U Sound label founder Adrian Sherwood. Released amidst a flurry of On-U re-issues, this is the collective's first new material since 2005, and features the usual roll-call of excellent collaborators- this time Sherwood is joined by digital-dancehall stalwarts Skip McDonald, Crocodile, George Oban- and even electronic wizard Adamski!
The Black Ghosts- When Animals Stare (Southern Fried)
Indie-dance? Electro-folk? Funk-punk? We'll just call this 'pop', I think. Black Ghosts are Theo Keating (Wiseguys/Fake Blood) and Simon Lord (Simian), so they've got a respectable grounding in genre-straddling music production, and this selection more than lives up to expectations. Forward-thinking eletronica laden with the kind of charm you wouldn't expect from men who've been in the game so long.
Boom Clap Bachelors- Mellem Dine Laeber (Plug Research)
More dreamy Scandinavian pop, this time out of Copenhagen. A group formed through a mutual love of hip-hop, soul and funk; Boom Clap Bachelors reference J Dilla and D'Angelo as much as they reference the whimsical 1970s sound of their native Denmark. Righteously ethereal!
Wilson Tan- The History Of... (El Rancho)
Psychedelic country music of the kind that could only come out of Glasgow. Barnstorming blues and cowboy swing from these local heroes. Next time you're at your neighbourhood hoedown, you better be damn sure it's Wilson Tan providing the entertainment.