This is one of my favourite albums this year. I don't listen to a lot of new music. But, this is very nice. Independently released on an obscure label called Look. I'm not sure exactly how this label works... it's just a Swedish thing I guess. They like to keep it secret, or some kind of mystery. But it seems like Erik de Vahl, The Embassy and Most Valuable Players are all on this label now.
Back to the album, the label describes "Erik de Vahl's music is a true time document of the 21st century. Classy songwriting mixed with funky/moody electronics. A latter-day Durutti Column, always snoopy and very proud." For me, it's very meditative and enjoyable to listen to. When I leave Sweden, if I listen to this album again, I will miss the days listening to his music and immersing myself in the Swedish landscape.
Mercy Street by Fever Ray
'Mercy Street' was originally written about poet Anne Sexton and features on Peter Gabriel's largely ambient and atmostpheric ('Sledgehammer' aside) seventh album 'So'. On reflection it's an obvious choice for a band like Fever Ray and they do it massive justice. It'll get a proper release on Rabid Records later this year. Karin says of the track:
"We made it more intense and faster to fit our eccentric pecussionists and energetic live musicians. It is a monotone track but we worked with the dynamics trying to make it sparkle. I listened to it a lot when I was around 15, and it still moves me. It made me start reading Anne Sexton too".
Lissie
Thanks to Heather! She introduced me this wonderful new voice. When I heard this song, I was astounded when she cry out "Angels will fall on me and take me to my home". The highly emotional energy in her voice really got me shivering.
Little Scout
I got to know them from the Camera Obscura gig. I was very very pleased to see such a beautiful opening band. They look great, and play great music. I bought their Ep after the show, fantastic! Indie pop band from Brisbane. If you ask me what do they lack, I'd say a smashing debut album.
Guided by Voices
I only heard two of their songs on youtube which my friend sent me. I know I will love this band. Definitely will check out more of their albums.
The Fauns
Not a very special band. They play the music that other bands play too. But, the album is a great soundtrack choice if you're ready for floating or a dreamy state. This is "Road Meets Sky":
Salem
The first song I listened was a remix of Round One by Gucci Mane. I downloaded it from sincerely yours website, and I'm still lovin' it. I don't know how to describe their music, the only phrase I could come up with is in Chinese: 鬼打牆. Not sure how I could translate that. As We Make It Good describes it, "Pink socks, a dirty mattress, wallpaper peeling off the walls, empty cough syrup bottles, and soiled wall to wall carpeting all come to mind after repeated listens to this new Salem mix." Hope that makes some kind of introduction of Salem.
Can liven a funeral, I tried and It worked. Makes you move on.
Museum of Bellas Artes: ‘Who Do You Love‘ They will run this show in a few months. They released their first single some days back.
Lemonade: ‘Big Weekend (Delorean remix)‘ Sets us tumbling down heights every saturday. Makes you feel good looking and drink faster.
Walker Brothers: ‘Make It Easy On Yourself‘ Breaking up is hard to do. A friend of a friend’s ex-gilfriend always send a tape with this song instead.
Ilona Staller – ‘Pane, marmellata e me‘ Sophisticated Italian 70s dub and giggles.
Yppah – ‘Gumball Machine Weekend‘ No fucking clue who this is, but it sounds like a Japanese Lo-Fi version of Saint Etienne’s “Nothing can stop us now”, innit?
Altered Images: ‘I Could Be Happy‘ Maybe this years best evening so far must have been when we put this on at Old Blue Last and David from Sic and his wife Melissa danced like two teenagers in love and the last sunrays slipped in through the windows and covered them in the warmest light you have ever seen.
A.R. Kane: ‘A Love From Outer Space‘ I think Tahiti 80 did a great version of this too some years ago. It’s the feeling you get when you land a girl that plays in a completely different, and better, league.
CFCF: ‘You Hear Colours‘ I have had this in my head for a while now. Really suits days when the flowers on my balcony dies after too much rain and nothing seems to happen.
Sylvie Vartan: ‘La plus belle pour aller danser‘ Some days you just want to die and wake up in Paris in the 60s.
I thought I should post some fantastic songs I have been listening to over the last two weeks. They are mainly electro pop. These sunny music really get me into the mood of summer. Enjoy!
Air France | gbg belong to us - new song dedicated to their city Gothenburg. Free download from their website. Part I is a tour guide to Gothenburg. Part II is where you can download the song.
Miami Horror| Sometimes - This is truly one of the best single of the year! When I listen to the song, I cannot help singing the chorus, also linking the music with this beautiful music video. God, I wanna go to the beach again... These guys are from Melbourne, Australia. New album will be out next year.
The Millioners | My Great Regret - I actually don't know much about these guys. But their album Most Sexist Music sounds good.
The Embassy| It Pays To Belong - Awesome Swedish electro pop band. Already released two albums, Futile Crimes and Tacking. Both are magical. They also released some other singles/EPs through their label Service. I haven't got my hands on those... but I will!
Lake Heartbeat | Mystery - I've posted them before. Anyway, their album is definitely one of my top albums of the year.
The Ecstasy Of Saint Theresa | What's - I don't know much about them either. Shoegaze, dream/noise pop. This is the openning song from a four-track EP called Pigment. Please do yourself (or me) a favor and check out this phenomenal piece of music.
The Studio| West Coast - Maybe this video really got me hooked with The Studio. I mean their music is like a perfect pop soundtrack, but nothing like the pop music you have heard. Blending the good pop elements with experimental approaches. Very cool stuff!
Saint Etienne| Only Love Can Break Your Heart - from St. Etienne's classic album Foxbase Alpha. All the songs on the album will be remixed by Richard X, and will be released soon in an album called Foxbase Beta. I'm not sure why they wanna do that. Foxbase Alpha is already flawless...
Last thing... about the photograph above. It's a cover of a single called Loved-Up by Korallreven. This song is all that Korallreven has ever released under Service label. "The sounds of Korallreven's tropical shoegaze can be found at the battle front between civilization and nature." I can't wait for their debut album, which will be released in spring 2010. By the way, I still think buying mp3 is such a weird thing. You paid, and you get something in ones and zeros...
其實聽那麼多歌，真的很少有一首歌的歌詞是我全部都喜歡的。不過最近找到了這麼一首。This Must Be The Place(Naive Melody)。這首歌收錄在Talking Heads的第五張專輯 Speaking in Tongues，詞曲則是David Byrne一人包辦。不過，在先聽過Miles Fisher翻唱的版本，我真的覺得講話頭的版本真得有點舊掉了。或許，應該說Miles Fisher不但沒有浪費寫的這麼好的一首歌，而且還把歌曲變得更有流行感。是個非常成功的cover！
對我來說，我想我在聽這首歌我自己對這首歌的解釋應該跟普通人不太一樣。不過，再看完Miles Fisher拍的音樂錄影帶之後，我更確定我個人的解釋應該跟他的還蠻像的。至於跟David Byrne原本寫這首歌的意思一不一樣我就不知道了。去找線上別人的解釋大部分是說這首歌是講＂真愛＂。歌詞像是：Never for money, always for love；you'll love me 'til my heart stops等都暗示著真愛。可是我的解釋卻是完全相反的。
我覺得這首歌裡的＂家＂其實就指女生的私處。而整首歌，聽起來對我而言，就像是一個男子述說著自己的愛情觀－簡單說就是性愛。I come home, she lifted up her wings，I guess that this must be the place不知道為什麼這句話在我腦袋裡浮現的畫面就是女人躺在床上兩條腿張開高舉的畫面。然後在下一段，唱到I'm just an animal looking for a home，Share the same space for a minute or two，要解釋成做愛應該也不難。另外我也很喜歡這一句歌詞，I feel numb, born with a weak heart，I guess I must be having fun。或許這麻木不仁的一切也是一種樂趣？而歌詞像是Never for money, always for love；you'll love me 'til my heart stops，是完完全全的反諷。或許，這個男子知道這女人只是為了錢而不是為愛而在一起。或許，這個男子知道這一切只是暫時空虛的滿足。不過如果他能一直活在這空虛的滿足裡，對他來說就夠了。只要能回到"家"就好了。基本上這跟真愛差的甚遠。真愛需要彼此了解，而The less we say about it the better正好不是相反嗎？
Home is where I want to be Pick me up and turn me round I feel numb, born with a weak heart I guess I must be having fun The less we say about it the better Make it up as we go along Feet on the ground, head in the sky It's okay, I know nothing's wrong, nothing
Hey, I got plenty of time Hey, you got light in your eyes And you're standing here beside me I love the passing of time Never for money, always for love Cover up and say goodnight, say goodnight
Home is where I want to be But I guess I'm already there I come home, she lifted up her wings I guess that this must be the place I can't tell one from another Did I find you, or you find me? There was a time before we were born If someone asks, this where I'll be, where I'll be
Hey, we drift in and out Hey, sing into my mouth Out of all those kinds of people You got a face with a view I'm just an animal looking for a home Share the same space for a minute or two And you'll love me 'til my heart stops Love me 'til I'm dead Eyes that light up, eyes look through you Cover up the blank spots Hit me on the head Ah ooh
I have life Ordinary wife I have car A favourite bar I have job A moderate wage I get the pains That come with age
I am so ordinary
I have child She goes wild I have home A mortgage of my own I have hobby But it's nothing very special I do the garden I watch girls
I am so ordinary
I have life I have cage I'm going bald I want to tell the world I've done nothing I've achieved nothing I work for a firm But I want to burn it down, down
I am so ordinary I am so ordinary
I was born One day I'll die There was something in between I, I don't know what Or why I'm a man I want to break a rule I am a no, no, no, no, no, no, nobody Everybody's fool I am so ordinary
Frustration (x4) I'm so tired of endless art Love stories I'm beginning to not give a damn I wish I could reach right out for the untouchable Film starring Bruce, John Wayne, Elvis Presley Experiment with cocaine, LSD and set a bad bad example Live a little, run a harem, be a tiger Meet Bo Derek and be her Tarzan Reach, reach out out Live, live, live Die, die, die I, I, I, I wanna die...
Frustration, oh Frustration (x3) I wanna die I wanna die, die, die, die die, die, d..d..d..die, die, die Frustration I wanna die
I thought I should post some fantastic songs I have been listening to over the last two weeks. They are mainly electro pop. These sunny music really get me into the mood of summer. Enjoy!
