Thanks to BrooklynVegan's tip, I entered in a photo contest and won a camera and a pair of tickets to a private Girl Talk show at Hiro Ballroom. The 2nd prize winning photo can be found here, and you can see that it's a pretty amateur fan shot. Nonetheless, it won something and I happily danced to Girl Talk for the fourth time in two years. A significantly smaller and older crowd (21+ only) made the experience much more enjoyable, although I was a little disappointed to see so many people not dancing as if they didn't know what to do at a Girl Talk concert. Girl Talk shows are always a good time to let loose and jump around to songs that you may remember from Jock Jams (Volume 1).
May 29, 2009
Girl Talk, Violens - Hiro Ballroom 05.28.09
May 26, 2009
"Ambivalence Avenue" - Bibio
via Warp Records
Back in December and January, Here We Go Magic's "Tunnelvision" was my in-transit anthem. The song's upbeat, repetitious melodies kept me moving very quickly from door to door, a motivation that I desperately needed back then. Even listening to it now brings back memories of the snow, cold wind, and busy Manhattan streets. Now that the weather has warmed up and leisurely strolls have become a new habit of mine, I find myself playing "Ambivalence Avenue" to accompany me on explorations in my new neighborhood.
May 20, 2009
"Power Osci" - Shuta Hasunuma
via Western Vinyl
Yesterday, I received a wonderful surprise in my inbox from Brian over at Western Vinyl, home to past obsession Here We Go Magic and J. Tillman, the Fleet Foxes drummer. Shuta Hasunuma is a glitch pop artist from Tokyo who is fearlessly making some of the most engaging electronic music that I've heard in a long time. Combining traditional instruments with electronic layers, Hasunuma gives a modern context to his beautifully organic soundscapes.
"Power Osci" from the forthcoming Pop Ooga is definitely the pop song of the album, and it has been playing on my headphones and speakers all day. The song begins with a complex plucked guitar loop, joined by a simple synth keyboard melody. When Hasunama's voice enters the web of sounds, an immediate warmth soothes the listener. His wispy, R&B-tinged voice reminds me of the male J-pop artists I listened to nearly a decade ago. Perfectly complementing the intricate instrumentation, the vocal melodies are straightforward and delightfully catchy. I have no idea what Shuta could be singing, but I must admit that I have attempted to "sing" along. Needless to say, I should stick to just humming for now.
Pop Ooga will be released on vinyl on June 9, but it seems like it's available on iTunes now. Fingers crossed for some future U.S. dates.
Power Osci - Shuta Hasunuma
The Play - Shuta Hasunuma
May 19, 2009
"Early Warnings" - Foreign Born
via Dim Mak
Introduced to me by Ed Droste of the much-loved Grizzly Bear, Foreign Born is a folk rock band hailing from L.A., a music city that I tend to overlook. Foreign Born has been around since 2003, but I only recently started listening to them, starting with their forthcoming album Person to Person. There's something strangely familiar about Foreign Born's sound, probably because I associate certain techniques with specific artists. Listen to the intro to "It Grew on You," and tell me if you hear Radiohead as I do. Whatever their influences may be, Foreign Born uses the elements to mold a new incarnation, one unlike anything else I'm listening to at the moment.
The latest free song off Person to Person is "Early Warnings," a tune that plops down in your head and refuses to move. Starting with a cascading, African-inspired riff played on a hollow body guitar, the song has an instrumental melody that one might expect from a certain Upper West Side Soweto-influenced band. Lead singer Matt Popieluch's vocals are finished with a touch of reverb, which gives it an M. Ward-like quality. There's nothing groundbreaking about "Early Warnings," but it's so delightful that I can't help but leave it on repeat.
Person to Person will be released on June 23rd. Pre-order the album here. Foreign Born will also be supporting Grizzly Bear at a couple of shows before embarking on a nationwide tour with The Veils.
Early Warnings - Foreign Born
Vacationing People - Foreign Born
May 12, 2009
Akron/Family - Bowery Ballroom 05.06.09
How does one even begin to describe Akron/Family? Aaron Kayce at Jambase hints at a close description by saying that Akron/Family is "fifty bands in one." Indeed, their music seems to be influenced by so many genres that it's impossible to put them in any category. In the simplest words, I would say that Akron/Family's music is by and for true music geeks, the ones who get a kick out of testing their music knowledge. Yea, you know who you are.
After hearing so many people personally recommend seeing Akron/Family live, I was too curious to pass up another opportunity to see them. The band's latest album, Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free, had been released on the previous day, so they organized an all-ages record release show with special guests that included the eccentric Charlyne Yi and William Parker's Southern Satellite, a modern free jazz ensemble. To be honest, I had heard very little of Akron/Family's music prior to the show. Since I'd been told by my friend Lyanne that the live performance quality generally surpasses that of the recorded songs, I decided to go into the show with a blank slate and no real expectations. Turns out this was the best way to go.
May 11, 2009
St. Vincent - Virgin Megastore Union Square 05.05.09
Didn't think I was going anywhere, did you? Once again, it's been a bit quiet on the Look at me, I made a blog front. But, after an unfortunate hard drive crash, an apartment move out of Manhattan, and a quiet passing of another birthday, I'm glad to be back with a series of very belated posts that will be up this week.
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