Engineers – Sometimes I Realise
Not to be confused with the band Engineer, what we have with the Engineers is a dream pop band from England with progressive punch. “Sometimes I Realize” is a fair representation, though “Hang Your Head” is truly in the key of energy. Produced by the same gent who backs Sigur Ros, M83 and Maps would lend legs to the perceived quality of the mix — and that would not be a wrong supposition.
Three Fact Fader (2009) is the second full release from these Brits. Their self-titled: Engineers (2005) being the initial LP from this talented foursome. Three Fact Fader is a memorable follow up, hopefully with equal future efforts.
Tags: alternative music, England, shoe-gaze
Bowerbirds – The Ticonderoga
Bowerbirds – Beneath Your Tree
I am a sucker for anyone who jams with an accordion — especially a woman. That is what we have here with Bowerbirds. The first cut is from their Hymn for a Dark Horse introductory CD. The second cut is from their newest album: Upper Air.
Beth Tacular of Raleigh, North Carolina and Phil Moore (with an upstate New York sound and accent) meld into a alt-folk ensemble, formidable and enduring. Their song writing is prolific and rapid, what with Hymn for a Dark Horse released in 2007 and their follow up album, Upper Air out in 2009.
Dark Horse is more a focus upon Phil Moore, with Upper Air the beginning introduction of Beth Tacular’s intense airy vocals. Mixed together they create a magic worth a listen. Enjoy.
Tags: alt-folk, alternative music
The XX – Islands
Slap me if this is too pop for alternative tastes, but this level of predictability is tolerable when wrapped in a minimalist package — sans pomp and ceremony — the likes of “pink” or ilk of that sort. Labeled post-dubstep, if you like labels, the XX have that certain catchy hook, try “Heart skipped a beat” or “Islands” for an infectious sound which finds a spot in the rotation till your head plays the melody all on its own. You know what I mean.
Enjoy it while you can, since the sultry vocalist Barbi Qureshi has left the building. Citing exhaustion (?), the femme fatale of this mix has quit the band. For now, going forward the British quartet are but a trio. Lots of luck with that.
Tags: british pop, post-dubstep
Fanfarlo – Drowning Men
I have a weakness for Roma-esque European alt-folk music employing violin, mandolin — and dare I say — trumpet, my axe of choice – (must be the gypsy in me). With a sound reminiscent of Arcade Fire covering David Byrne (if the shoe fits), oozing a melange of multi-part vocals — Simon Balthazar, a Swedish musician performs as Fanfarlo.
Based out of London, this indie-band (what else) of the 21st century trips lazily along without any hesitation. Emitting evocative waves of upbeat emotion, original in its format. Clean, simple, accessible — no holds bared. Recorded fall of 2009 on the east coast USA, Fanfarlo has a fresh sound worth a listen.
Highly recommended. Nothing to lose. Color me sold. Not a bad cut in the mix. Enjoy.
Midlake – The Courage of Others
With the upcoming 2nd of February 2010 release of “The Courage of Others”, Denton, Texas based alt-rocker band, Midlake forges toward a larger musical market — after critically acclaimed success with their third full-length release, “The Trials of Van Occupanther”. This time their efforts come up short. Where previously, a mild anxiety met worldly realization in a magical pull toward a hopeful conclusion, this LP flounders in melancholy, unable to maintain a pace necessary to overcome the angst of existential life.
Whether intentional or not, the result lacks the novelty and the energy of the previous release — disappointing when more than three years have passed since the last production. An exceptional local band from a music-rich scene, Midlake found their legs among fellow competitors and compatriots. But in an attempt to gain wider acceptance in a diversified national market, the band loses focus and momentum while achieving a more homogenized commercial sound. Sad for their previous fans.
It’s worth waiting and watching, to see if an appeal to a broader less demanding audience yields salable results — at the expense of artistry. For now, a promising young band has produced a boring, less demanding sound, to these ears.
Tags: alternative music, Denton Texas