So “Song o’ The Day” is kinda my thing around here the last few weeks. Sorry folks for the sporadic posting, life simply getting in the way for all of us!!
Well being the Canadian around these parts I always seem to be pushing my brethren, but that is because I keep being impressed by the talent from the “Great White North”. Today’s selection is Matt Epp who I also might be attached to as he is from one of my hometowns of Winnipeg, Manitoba (he’s a “pegger”). While I tended to overlook what was in my own backyard while living there, I seem to see more talent now that it is no longer underneath my own nose. Matt Epp has a new album coming out called “Safe or Free” this November and the track “This Old House” is the lead off single. It is a bit of singer-songwriter with shavings of Alt-Country adorning his duet with Eliza Gilkyson. It is also a Ryan Adams’ style ballad including a harmonica feature at midway (love that damn harmonica). Hope you like as much as I do!
I think sometimes you have to challenge yourself as a listener to explore other genres or sounds and give them enough time to grow, not be put off by first listens or bad reviews. Not that has happened to Nurses as far as I can gather but it is certainly an album that requires more than one listen, in fact takes quite a few if only to ‘hear’ it properly as there’s so much going on. What strikes you first is the swirling vocal harmonies which are prominent throughout the album but after more listens you start concentrating more on the electronics or the piano which I read somewhere give the impression that the band are evolving as you listen and this is true, it’s ever changing but not too much so you lose interest, in fact the more listens you give it the more brilliance you find in it, I think they’ve created a masterpiece. It’s impossible to put this kind of music under any genre as it covers many, folk, Psychedelia, alt-country and pop, in fact it’s the pop side of it that I find works brilliantly, take a listen and see what you think. Signed to the brilliant dead oceans label they are often compared to the likes of animal collective, yeasayer and Sunset Rubdown but I hear a little bit of The Low Anthem in there too. They’re currently on a huge U.S tour, go see them. Available as a download, cd and vinyl either from Dead Oceans or your local independant record store. The mp3 available here you can also grab along with another one on the dead oceans website. Enjoy.
You may remember back in May I wrote about Sam here and that I would update you’s with any further news? Well consider this an update. Sam has now officially released his album, close to home on Yadig records and is available here now via Leeds’ Jumbo records who also ship to anywhere in the world for ridiculously cheap prices. Released on vinyl format WITH the cd too, you’d be a fool to miss it. He has had successful launch nights already in London and his hometown of Leeds (Even got a mention in the Guardian don’t you know?) and even Jumbo records say it’s one of the most eagerly awaited albums they’ve had in yonks. I won’t give a huge write up now as you can read what I think by reading what I wrote back in May but I will say that this album is a majestic piece of work and everyone should own a copy. Forget your fake folksters jumping on the folk ‘scene’ who are just in it for the money and the fame. I’d bet anyone any amount of money they like that come forty years time, regardless of any fame or fortune that may come Sam’s way, you will still find him playing and singing his heart out to anyone who will listen and it’s for this reason you should go buy his record, he’s as genuine as they come. Sam has also very kindly offered an mp3 for download you won’t find anywhere else but here (except on his album of course). Enjoy it and for god’s sake go and buy his record will you?
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Introduced to me from fellow blogger Olivier and then reminded by Trini, Colby Stead has a new recording project that is in its preliminary stages, but promises to grow beautifully. If the below description on the website says anything, it is the overall essence of what they are creating:
Brown & Blue, earth and sky. Different, but a duo nonetheless.
One, floating above, colliding with clouds, trying not to fall. The other holding still, deeply rooted, reaching high.
A combination of color, a mixture of moods, meet harmoniously in the middle. A sunset, a storm. Fleeting:
The music of Brown & Blue.
Visit them at Brown and Blue (.org) for a more music and video performances, bio and soon to be tour info.
“Song o’ Day” is from the duo Wentworth Kersey’s “(O)” album and is the opening track “Adore”. It is a track that fits its title very well, it is a pining lament in true troubadour style.
The duo of Joe Kersey Sampson and Jeffrey Wentworth Stevens make up WK and bring an overall Americana tinged psych-folk to the table. The music is something that would make a great soundtrack for a Quentin Tarantino movie (when he decided to make a serious movie). While I would say the sound is basically “folk” it is soo much more – it has so many textures, auras of rolling Appalachian valleys and a modern day Mexi-Cali conquistadors – all with a slight bit of ambient flowing through it all (yes, you will get the odd floating DJ scratch in the distance).
Wentworth Kersey also have a bit of an interesting project in the release of their EPs. The track included is from thier 2nd EP “(O)” which was preceded by “O” and we will (hopefully) soon see the third installment “((O))”.
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