Alasdair Maclean’s voice has always intrigued me. It’s not that there’s anything so particularly wonderful about the pitch or the quality. It’s all in the delivery. I get this feeling that The Clientele’s songs are crafted around his soothing British rasp, its gentle vulnerability and its unwavering perseverance. Maclean’s voice is what makes The Clientele’s folksy brand of eerie, delicate pop so fascinating.
But enough about voices…what about the music on UK collective The Clientele’s Bonfires on the Heath? I’m glad you asked. Take the self-deprecating God Save the Clientele, turn up the volume, and raise the urgency–and you’ve got Bonfires on the Heath. Don’t get me wrong–you’ll still get the achy ballads like “Tonight”, but you’re also getting the short-lived bits of rock on “Sketch”. The jangly “Harvest Time” is replete with the billowing plumes of harmonies and with the ebb and flow of the dancing guitar (think Pink Floyd here). “I Wonder Who We Are” is an absolute throwback to the happy-go-lucky rock of golden AM radio, ripe with ‘Bah bah bahs’ and the heavily syncopated verses. “Jennifer and Julia” is a swirling delight of horns and quivering strings, and the way Maclean says “Julia” is as amazing as it gets. All I can say is that Mel Draisey (she plays violin, keyboard, and percussion) has been an excellent addition to the band since she joined back in ‘06, and you can really hear it on Bonfires on the Heath.
Well, either way, they’re out with a collaboration on a song called “Canada”, and that it’s getting some serious attention (for good reason!). And I know that remix artist iamxl has done a pretty phat and fat remix of “Canada”. So enjoy.
I’d be lying if I told you that I love Candy Claws’ In the Dream of the Sea Life. But I’d be remiss to not tell you how cool of a concept their album is. As it goes, In the Dream of the Sea Life is a musical companion to the book “The Sea Around Us” by Rachel L Carson back from 1951. The album is covered with delicious ocean sounds recorded in June and October of last year: in San Esteban, Phillippines, and Monterosso, Italy. And if that doesn’t tickle your funny bone, then throw in the fact that the album is produced by the super cool Indiecater Records. They’re so cool, in fact, that they are streaming the entire album on their website! So go and check it out!
Hey all–I wanted to share a couple of tracks that I’ve received here and there from people that perhaps you might enjoy (not to be presumptuous).
Caroline Reese may be a youngin’ (18), but she’s got the voice of someone wiser and polished. Her musicianship is pretty darn good as well, and I think you’ll enjoy “Gone” and “From Where I Stand”. Check out more tracks at Reese’s soundcloud.
In the Club - “Turn You On (laZEBRA Remix)“–laZEBRA is a DJ/Producer out of the OC and he concocts here a frenetic mix of booty shakin’ beats for your enjoyment. Check out laZEBRA’s myspace.
Empire of the Sun - “Walking on a Dream (Wake Up! Remix)“–Wake Up! puts forth urgency and energy into this remix, completely reinventing Empire of the Sun’s original concept for the song. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s worth your time. Check out Wake Up!’s myspace.
Liverpool collective Wave Machines have released their debut proper LP Wave if You’re Really There, and boy am I excited about it! Aside from the fact that I’m near certain they will explode onto the blog scene, there’s a lot to like about Wave if You’re Really There.
Wave Machines is where The Postal Service meets Animal Collective, in both style and substance. The dreamier “You Say the Stupidest Things” is an excellent practice in creating emotive faux-minimalism, while “Carry Me Back to My Home” just wants ‘the world to know that you helped carry me back to my home’ over glazed guitars and triangles. “I Go I Go I Go” is an 80s homage ripe with fuzzy synths and enough pinball sounds and reverb to satisfy you for several days. The lead single “Keep the Lights On” will remind you of MGMT’s “Electric Feel” as the funky bass kicks along with the falsetto chorus. “The Greatest Escape We Ever Made” effervesces with 20th century wit and moxie, while the Loney, Dear-esque “I Joined the Union” rings with the delicacy of a celebratory hymn. The descending boppiness of “The Line” is as buoyant and cheery as you’ll find, only to lead in to the contrasting “Dead Horses” that sounds like its straight out of the mind and mouth of Jose Gonzalez.
CSV favorite David Gray has ended his hiatus and has returned with his much-anticipated 8th proper LP Draw the Line, due out September 22nd. Having not released any new recordings since 2005, Gray decided to turn over a new leaf with Draw the Line: he actually self-produced this album, and put together a new band to back him up. Listeners will be thrilled to hear that the likes of Annie Lennox and Jolie Holland will be featured on this album as well! For a track listing of the album, go here.
In order to kick off Draw the Line, Gray has released the single “Fugitive” which can be streamed below. As the story goes, “Fugitive” was written as Gray felt trapped in the studio recording songs for Draw the Line. The result? A delightful, forward-looking song that showcases Gray’s surprisingly great vocal stylings and his unique ability of effectively communicating ideas to his listeners. What with the raindrop piano and the appearance of an electric guitar in “Fugitive”, Draw the Line looks to be very promising.
He will also be making a quite extensive tour of the US (see dates below), so maybe he’ll be coming near you!
Tour Dates:
August 15 - Mountain Music Fest - Redmond, Washington (PRE RELEASE)
October 23rd - Boston, MA - Wang Theatre
October 24th - New York, NY - WAMU Theater
October 26th - Toronto, Canada - Massey Hall
October 27th - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre
October 29th - Chicago, IL - Chicago Auditorium Theatre
October 30th - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre
November 1st - Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
November 2nd - Salt Lake City, UT - Kingsbury Hall
November 4th - Portland, OR - Arlene Schnizer Concert Hall
November 7th - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theatre
November 9th - Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theatre
Though perhaps you’ve never heard of them before, Irish collective Bell X1 are no rookies. Their fourth proper LP Blue Lights on the Runway hit this side of the Atlantic back in March, but they are just starting to pick up steam now (i.e. I hadn’t heard about them until a couple of weeks ago). Blue Lights is really a celebration of rock, a vast foray into the old and the new that culminates in one damn good album.
I’m not sure what to make of the aviation theme going on with Bell X1 but it’s certainly something worth looking into. Perhaps its the immense space created by the album–its lazy basslines wading through the air 30,000 feet up, its tinkly dusting of high-pitched ebony and ivory peeling the corners back. “The Great Defector” sounds like an unintentional homage to Led Zeppelin that begins ominous but explodes into a delightfully cheerful and brilliant chorus of “I love the color of it all”. “Amelia” is an achingly sweet rock ballad that relies heavily of gentle vocals to complement the airy piano and synths. “Amelia” bleeds into the ethereal and genuine “A Better Band”, whose captivating bassline proves true as the vocal harmonies and subtle cowbell drive the track forward. The cheeky “Breastfed” is certainly the loudest track on Blue Lights, showing that they can rock it out with the best of them. Though I’m still not entirely sure what it means for blue lights to be on the runway, I’m certainly not complaining–this album is a must-listen.
You’re born in Toronto to Trinidadian Jehovah’s Witness parents; your life is bound to be interesting by chance. k-os’s life journey is certainly worth your time, but I won’t divulge it all here. From Joyful Rebellion to Atlantis: Hymns for Disco, I’ve been a big fan of Canada’s finest hip-hop artist k-os. He was accessible, erudite, and had knack for great beats. I had good reason to come into his latest LP Yes! with great expectations, but I ultimately ended up coming away from the album with a big ‘no’. Yes! is k-os’s most esoteric work to date, and while that doesn’t always have to be a bad thing, it is in this case. The silky smooth rhymes, the wonderfully infectious rhythms–where did they go?
The one thing I’ll give k-os is that the content of his music hasn’t lost a step. On the pensive wah-wahs of “The Aviator”, he sings “Watchin’ how time can turn enemies into friends / and friends to enemies / why did he envy me? / is it because I emceed breakin’ in social scenes?” That sense of paranoia/perceived hostility continues on the self-explanatory “Burning Bridges”, but the wordplay is still as fresh as ever: “Cause the left hand knows what you’re doin’ with your right / when the right hand glows left is jealous of the light / so you put ‘em both together and you pray for your life-time.” He confesses that he doesn’t care that he’s burning bridges, and I’m entirely sure if he’s talking to his critics or his listeners or neither. The comically titled “I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman” expresses a sentiment that it seems many have lately. And if the beginning of “Zambony” isn’t a perfect insight into the mind of k-os, then nothing is: “Do you have any idea of the chaos you have caused around here? Nobody knows what you’re doing?……That’s exactly the way I like it.”
Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream will serve as a blog for me to share my thoughts and musings, with a special emphasis on music. The music that will appear in this blog is for evaluation/sampling purposes only, and is designed to promote up and coming bands. Remember, if you like the artist(s), buy the CD! If you are the owner of a sound file and would like it removed, please contact us and we will kindly take it down.
Caroline Reese may be a youngin’ (18), but she’s got the voice of someone wiser and polished. Her musicianship is pretty darn good as well, and I think you’ll enjoy “Gone” and “From Where I Stand”. Check out more tracks at 
CSV favorite David Gray has ended his hiatus and has returned with his much-anticipated 8th proper LP Draw the Line, due out September 22nd. Having not released any new recordings since 2005, Gray decided to turn over a new leaf with Draw the Line: he actually self-produced this album, and put together a new band to back him up. Listeners will be thrilled to hear that the likes of Annie Lennox and Jolie Holland will be featured on this album as well! For a track listing of the album, 
Concert News
