Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

Last year’s 2nd best album (according to the extremely accurate CSV Top 20) was the product of Angered, Sweden native Jens Lekman.  But Lekman has remained under the radar for the past year, prompting critics and listeners to joke, “You’re so silent, Jens”.  Well, if you’ve been paying careful attention, you may have noticed a new Lekman track out on a recently released EP Four Songs by Arthur Russell. Lekman lends his musical stylings to reinterpret the song “A Little Lost”.

Listen to “A Little Lost” by Jens Lekman.

Before there was indie rock (or whatever it is that is covered in that blog–genres are so last millennium) there was electronica.  At least for me.  Early on, I fell in love with emerging electronic artists like Zero 7, Stereolab, Massive Attack, Neon Heights…the conglomeration of sounds were so unique-sounding to me.  Foreign melodies, intoxicating vocals, drizzling rhythms–I was enthralled.  But it all started for me with Thievery Corporation.  The D.C. duo has alwasy held a special place at the top shelf.  And so, I’d rather not inundate you with the improbable rise of Hilton and Garza’s rise to ‘lounge’ music fame, but I’d like to let you know about their new album Radio Retaliation.

Seemingly continuing on their socially-conscious themes (prominent on The Richest Man in Babylon and The Cosmic Game as well), the ‘thieves’ have again managed to meld exquisite instrumentation with equally intriguing vocals.  Familiar voices like Notch and Sleepy Wonder reappear on Radio Retaliation, but a whole new slew of vocalists (Seu Jorge, Femi Kuti, to name a few) lend their talents as well.  “Vampires” walks a brilliant line between jazz and bossa nova, with Kuti’s voice a clarion call to action.  The soulful Jorge infuses every part of his being into the horned symphonic delight “Hare Krisna”.  Like a dense forest, the album is full of sprouting rhythms, each one as sonically pleasing as the next until broad-leafed evergreen goodness envelopes the listener.  The slow rolling, off-the-tongue “33 Degree” is silky smooth, Zee’s whispering rasp lulling the listener into submission.

The second half of the album is notably slower than the first, with the psychadelia of “La Femme Parallel” mixing with the aptly titled and loungy “Retaliation Suite”. But surprises lurk here as well, with the funked out “The Numbers Game” that will have you saying ‘bock-a-chik-a-wow-wow’ in no time.  “Blasting Through the City” leans toward the reggae style that Notch does best (see “Richest Man in Babylon”), while “Sweet Tides” is a wonderful farewell to the listener as the ‘thieves’ bid adieu until next time.

But don’t worry.  You can always go back and listen all over again.  All you gotta do is get yourself a copy of Radio Retaliation.

Listen to “Hare Krisna”

Listen to “Vampires”

**Happy Birthday Patrick!**