[Music] Albums Thread - 2017

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

The BBC have been pushing him strongly. One of their 'Ones to watch in 2017'. There was a feature about him in on South East Today late last year, I think.

Saw him play whilst waiting for someone else at Great Escape a few years back. Not for me but I can see he has an excellent voice.

 

[Buzzer]

Ha! I am well behind the times!

I wonder if I should mention my tip for this summer's big hit - Daft Punk 'Get Lucky'.

 

[Prince Monolulu]

Lowly - Heba

Got this today, lovely stuff.

 

[Buzzer]

Ooh. Please do let me know what you think of it. It's on my list of albums to buy when I next get paid. I've heard the single 'Prepare The Lake' from it and am mightily impressed.

 

[wadhurstseagull]

The new Mark Eitzel album is (imho) fantastic. Features Bernard Butler.

 

[Prince Monolulu]

Ooh. Please do let me know what you think of it. It's on my list of albums to buy when I next get paid. I've heard the single 'Prepare The Lake' from it and am mightily impressed.

Have 'zoomed' through it and pleased so far. Give it a further go on the train to the football tomorrow.....

 

[wadhurstseagull]

Lowly - Heba

Got this today, lovely stuff.

View attachment 82066

Been looking forward to this.

 

[The Modfather]

It's all about Weller this year. 3 new albums due in 3 months between March & May, which is pretty impressive for an artist who is in his 40th year of putting out music

 

[Theatre of Trees]

Trance Farmers

Basically an American guy called Davey Samek who's travelled around his home country a bit and picked up all kinds of influences. Stumbled across a compilation towards the end of last year 'To Whom the Scarecrows' which is on spotify and contains this



Has a new album out some time this year called 'Sugar Lemon Hogwhistle' which contains this



Odd but likeable.

 

[nigeyb]

Duke Garwood – ‘Garden of Ashes’
I raved about this Londoner who oozes Deep South Blues with his last album and I reckon he’s just got better and better. This album conjures up all sorts of voodoo sounds, his blues is still very, very blue and I reckon you’d be hard pushed to find a more authentic sound this of the Mississippi Delta.

Agreed - really enjoying this low key but compelling offering from the Duke.

 

[nigeyb]

The new Mark Eitzel album is (imho) fantastic. Features Bernard Butler.

Seconded. The always reliable Mark Eitzel is on top form on his new LP.

He's also coming to town on Sat 4th March when (selfishly) a friend is having her 50th birthday party so I won't be enjoying Mr E's doubtless brilliant set.....

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/383972

The Guardian has called him “America’s greatest living lyricist,” and we at Brighthelmstone think 'Mark Eitzel is one of the finest vocalists we have ever put on.

The album opens with “The Last Ten Years” which includes the lyric “Spent the last ten years / Trying to waste half an hour” which, like the best verses, will leave you pensive and wanting more. The album continues with a sensuous love song (“An Answer”), an ode to the plight of the working musician (“The Road”), the growing political divide in America (“In My Role as Professional Singer and Ham”), the frustration of ripped trousers (“Let Me Go”), and “Sleep From My Eyes,” which Mark describes as “an experiment to write a love song from the point of view of someone in a coma. As you do.”

“As I wrote these songs, I moved from San Francisco to Los Angeles; painted two houses; spent all my money; threw away everything I owned; traveled to and from London, New York; performed various shows; gained and lost and gained 20 pounds; went to the doctor a lot; moved to the mountains; moved to New York; and ran my car into the ground,” continues Eitzel.

Mark Eitzel has released over 15 albums of original material with American Music Club and as a solo artist. The Guardian has called him “America’s greatest living lyricist,” and Rolling Stone once gave him their Songwriter of the Year award. Originally formed in 1983, AMC released seven albums before breaking up in 1995. The band reunited in 2004 for two full-lengths, Love Songs for Patriots and The Golden Age. In April of 2012 while working on a solo record, Eitzel suffered a heart attack which forced him to slow down and delayed the album’s release. That fall, Décor Records put out Don’t Be a Stranger to much critical acclaim, and in 2013, a newly healthy Eitzel embarked on what proved to be the most successful tour of his career to date. In 2015, he wrote music for Simon Stephens’ Song from Far Away, his second collaboration with the English playwright, and began work on the forthcoming Hey Mr Ferryman.

Support comes from one of our album of 2016 contenders 'Leave The Radio On by Fernando.

“Leave The Radio On is as original an album since the concept of records themselves. Blazing a cacaphony of sound and following no blueprint, a bonafide breath of fresh air in a roots music scene that sees way too many impressionist and not enough artist. Viciconte leaves all the blood in the water, enticing the sharks with their constant need to bite on a new edge or sound. By the time the press is done with this record there will be more than a few biters, and rightfully so.”

 

[nigeyb]

Has anyone heard of local lad Rag N Bone Man? Apparently he's an Uckfield bloke who was on the hip-hop scene for some time but has moved on to full on soul singing very much in the same vein as Michael Kiwanuka and Algiers. I've been listening to the album this morning and he has got one hell of a great voice. The album starts really well too with the title track from his album 'Human'. I can see this album going down very, very well with the Radio 6, Jools Holland type listener and maybe a Mercury Prize nomination. My one complaint is that the album is a bit one-paced and with the deluxe edition there's 19 songs that wear you out by the end. There's no denying his talent though and have a listen to this tune. I wonder if [MENTION=13]CHAPPERS[/MENTION] has heard of him.

Yeah. Agree with all of that but would say there's much more to like than not to like. I love about 5-6 tracks with another 4 or so that are very good. It's all listenable. It's a shame he's been getting so much heat because I reckon that might put a few people off but he's clearly very talented and it's a good album.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

So I bought the Bonobo album and gave it a few spins and flip-flopped between meh and okay. Fast forward to today and I'm in my local cafe really liking the music and trying to work out where I have previously heard it....it's Bonobo. I guess I do like it then.

 

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

Priests- Nothing Feels Natural. Great punk pop debut.

 

[Buzzer]

Two excellent new albums by female singer/songwriters:

Nadine Khouri – ‘The Salted Air’
She’s a British/Lebanese poet and singer with a very understated album that brings back memories of the clever wordplay and melancholia of Tanita Tikarem in her less poppy moments. One for fans of Leonard Cohen, Mirel Wagner and Shilpa Ray.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I5oAt7BLM8

Jesca Hoop – ‘Memories Are Now’
This is her 4th album and I think this might be the one to propel her a bit more into the limelight. She’s quite folky in a Marika Hackman kind of way although her voice, to my ears, is a bit more Nordic-sounding, a lot like Soley (the Icelandic singer). The songs are all very well-crafted, starting off very sedately but she starts to let rip (a little) in the middle with a couple of songs (Simon Says, Cut Connection) before bringing it right back with an aptly titled Songs of Old which is pure old English folk and thereafter it’s a mix of styles. Trivia fact – this Mancunian started off as Tom Waits' nanny and it was him and his wife who encouraged Jesca to start recording.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s79pNrycneQ

 

[Exile]

Jesca Hoop – ‘Memories Are Now’
This is her 4th album and I think this might be the one to propel her a bit more into the limelight. She’s quite folky in a Marika Hackman kind of way although her voice, to my ears, is a bit more Nordic-sounding, a lot like Soley (the Icelandic singer). The songs are all very well-crafted, starting off very sedately but she starts to let rip (a little) in the middle with a couple of songs (Simon Says, Cut Connection) before bringing it right back with an aptly titled Songs of Old which is pure old English folk and thereafter it’s a mix of styles. Trivia fact – this Mancunian started off as Tom Waits' nanny and it was him and his wife who encouraged Jesca to start recording.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s79pNrycneQ

6Music are big on Jesca Hoop. Keen to hear the album. Look forward to it.

 

[wallyback]

Seconded. The always reliable Mark Eitzel is on top form on his new LP.

He's also coming to town on Sat 4th March when (selfishly) a friend is having her 50th birthday party so I won't be enjoying Mr E's doubtless brilliant set.....

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/383972

The Guardian has called him “America’s greatest living lyricist,” and we at Brighthelmstone think 'Mark Eitzel is one of the finest vocalists we have ever put on.

The album opens with “The Last Ten Years” which includes the lyric “Spent the last ten years / Trying to waste half an hour” which, like the best verses, will leave you pensive and wanting more. The album continues with a sensuous love song (“An Answer”), an ode to the plight of the working musician (“The Road”), the growing political divide in America (“In My Role as Professional Singer and Ham”), the frustration of ripped trousers (“Let Me Go”), and “Sleep From My Eyes,” which Mark describes as “an experiment to write a love song from the point of view of someone in a coma. As you do.”

“As I wrote these songs, I moved from San Francisco to Los Angeles; painted two houses; spent all my money; threw away everything I owned; traveled to and from London, New York; performed various shows; gained and lost and gained 20 pounds; went to the doctor a lot; moved to the mountains; moved to New York; and ran my car into the ground,” continues Eitzel.

Mark Eitzel has released over 15 albums of original material with American Music Club and as a solo artist. The Guardian has called him “America’s greatest living lyricist,” and Rolling Stone once gave him their Songwriter of the Year award. Originally formed in 1983, AMC released seven albums before breaking up in 1995. The band reunited in 2004 for two full-lengths, Love Songs for Patriots and The Golden Age. In April of 2012 while working on a solo record, Eitzel suffered a heart attack which forced him to slow down and delayed the album’s release. That fall, Décor Records put out Don’t Be a Stranger to much critical acclaim, and in 2013, a newly healthy Eitzel embarked on what proved to be the most successful tour of his career to date. In 2015, he wrote music for Simon Stephens’ Song from Far Away, his second collaboration with the English playwright, and began work on the forthcoming Hey Mr Ferryman.

Support comes from one of our album of 2016 contenders 'Leave The Radio On by Fernando.

“Leave The Radio On is as original an album since the concept of records themselves. Blazing a cacaphony of sound and following no blueprint, a bonafide breath of fresh air in a roots music scene that sees way too many impressionist and not enough artist. Viciconte leaves all the blood in the water, enticing the sharks with their constant need to bite on a new edge or sound. By the time the press is done with this record there will be more than a few biters, and rightfully so.”

I saw this chap play an incredible gig at the Palmeira in Hove about 3 years ago. God knows why he was playing there, but was wonderful!

 

[Buzzer]

I got this recommendation from following Stanton Warriors on Soundcloud. It's a brand new EP from a band called Nixon. I don't know an awful lot about them but if Massive Attack-style trip hop is your thing then I think you'll like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le0LNjR4Jso

https://soundcloud.com/punksmusic/sets/nixon-gods-choir-ep

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I bought this the other day. https://www.residentadvisor.net/reviews/18641

It's a guy called Bullion and the album is called Loop The Loop. I know little about him and can't recall where the recommendation came from. For lovers of electronica tinged with pop and psych.

 

[Buzzer]

A couple of new albums that I've been listening to:

Thievery Corporation - 'Temple of I & I'
I'm a big fan of Thievery Corporation and especially their main man Rob Garza. I've had a few conversations with him and he's unwaveringly polite and patient. This is, I think, their 10th studio album and it's exactly as you'd expect. There's guest singers, some trip-hop, plenty of dub, a little bit of Latin influence and a hint of drum and bass too. The title track is probably the strongest track on the album but there's no bum tunes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhoEcS4mvx4

Rebekka Karijord - 'Mother Tongue'
Norwegian singer/songwriter living in Stockholm, she's better known for film, TV and theatrical compositions. The album is a concept one based around her experiences of being pregnant, giving birth 3 months early and nearly losing her child. It's as odd as it sounds but there is a real warmth to the album that lifts it. It's quite minimal for the most part, flitting between orchestral, almost folky pieces to more of a pop sound and there's a very strange song in the middle that kind of sounds like Native Indian singing. Please don't be put off by my awful attempt at trying to describe it, I think the album works well. Just check this track out for size.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnNWWeWGOLI