Two songs made me really cry so far this year : ‘A Thought‘ from So it Goes last Colby Stead’s release and ‘Line of Ascent‘ from Annabelle Chvostek’s brand new Resilience collection. Want to try and test your own resilience ?
Resilience ? Funny how things are sometimes emerging around you… Or may be, should I say : funny how sometimes, we are able to give our mind the faculty to merge some multiple non-sense details surrounding your daily life into a single fact. From puzzling to evidence, maybe it’s just a matter of perception…anyway.
Dealing with resilience, I’m testing mine in both psychological and physical way, quitting smoking… oh my !
I’m quite fascinating by the fact that 98% of our 400 daily visitors are reading this blog without leaving a single comment… Aren’t you ? what ? dubitative ? Mysterious ways of modern communication… No i’m not awaiting for support… just trying to experiment this changing audience constituted by a majority of North-American people ; definitly coping with humour today ! Still someone around ?
Hum… I was supposed to introduce you last Miss Chvostek album…. yes, music is just a deluder…
Resilience ? Without a doubt, my favorite album this year in the female songwriter genre. My fellow Canadian blogger Smansmith should have been more prolix about this charismatic member of The Wailin’ Jennys, who received contributions in this new project from an impressive collection of talented friends amongst them, Cockburn, Marie Gauthier, Ani DiFranco to name few..
As usual when an album is so good, let me tease you with the intro track…
On Tour Together ! Yes. Have you really, really, really read the title of this post ? So what else to expect from me ?
First, some excuses : I’m really late posting about two of the most talented songwriters (yes I really measure these words) who are touring for some months now ! Then, few more buckets of apologies - last time - for being so short writing about this performance : only couple dates left in december. Check the schedule below, and jump to the artists sites for further details.
12/7 Sun Philadelphia, PA House Concert
12/11 Thur Charlottesville, VA Gravity Lounge
12/12 Fri Harrisonburg, VA Little Grill
12/19 Fri Winston-Salem, NC Fiddle & Bow
Well, admitting you don’t know Carrie Elkin… Joker ? Here’s your chance…
I won’t blame you because it was my case couple weeks ago. I don’t clearly remember the circumstance but good chance I was looking to satisfy my appetite for the Austin based songwriter… a click pointed me on Danny Schmidt’s Live Music Archive page. I’ve downloaded one of his show performed this last december at the Cactus Cafe … After couple intro solo songs, Danny invited Carrie Elkin to sing with him the superb ‘Drawing Board’ song. A good addition, Carrie’s light voice is bringing a new ‘relief’ to the solo performer… 2 songs later, the duet played ‘Serpentine Cycle Of Money’ : a terrific (unreleased ?) song… and what a revelation for me ! From the sweet backing vocals of the firsts songs, Mrs Elkin delivered on this one an amazing power ! I still can’t believe my ears seduced by both the song’s quality - even if it’s not really a surprise when it came out of Danny Schmidt - and by the deep raucous voice reached by such a slender looking of this Texan vocalist ( do never trust appearance). A single loop on her myspace’s playlist easily convinced me to add to my cdbaby cart (give me coupons) her last two albums : ‘The Waltz’ and ‘The Circumstance of Jeopardy’. An absolutely gorgeous package : musically, lyrically, vocally and… beautifully.
And if - I can’t imagine - if you don’t know Danny Schmidt… then consider buying his complete discography right now : Few can equals his songwriting density.
For both artists, find below the intro songs of their last albums, ‘Little Grey Sheep’ for Danny and ‘The Circumstance of Jeopardy’ for Carrie.
Two by Two the posts arrived !
Browsing my list of indie music for the previous post, Ravens & Chimes first full length ‘Reichenbach Falls’ is encore a fresh memory, regularly looping in my four and five stars playlist. And I have to confess (it’s been a long time…), that i’ve subscribed to their blog as they’re publishing beautiful phographs.
Surprise, surprise on their myspace playlist, a brand new song titled : So Long Marianne… Some of you know my addiction for the complete oeuvre of Leonard Cohen. I had a doubt… I do conf..s !
The ‘Come over to the window, my little darling’ first verse left me no doubt on the covering act… and what a talented cover : a surprising rhythme, richly orchestrate ; so fresh !!!
“…It’s supposed to snow tonight,
I hope the forecast is right,
cos in the morning i sleep in till i like,
and if it snowed outside it would feel so nice in here.”
Yes, onceagain on youcrazydreamers, Chris Garneau ! I’ve received couple days ago, one of his rare newsletters announcing some European dates (Uk, Belgium Denmark, Spain and… France). I’m still awaiting for the Nantes SOY festival to confirm his venue on the 1st of November ! I should be around at that time for a full week of a delicate mix of holidays/business in my old South Britany : I won’t miss this opportunity !
Chris Garneau “In the Afternoon” @ Théâtre Bastille (Paris)
Outside temperature are painfully reaching the 10° (celsius) in the afternoon, starting from a low 4° in the morning : an overlook on a yearly calendar.. here we are : winter knocking at the door ! So it’s been a busy time… many stuff to deal with, preparing everybody before the first snow falls…
Excuses. These are only excuses for posting a so short article about an artist who had released about 7 albums ! But excuses as a transition : before hibernation, I need WARM music to enjoy along a peaceful sitting by the wood-stoven light ! And Forest Sun is the one that match my quest.
Teased by Sean Hayes appearance on the song ‘Queen Anne’s Lace’, I’ve bought ‘Harlequin Goodnight’ on cdbaby.com earlier this summer and the full album is still shining. And I bet the Californian songwriter will be a long-term company during these coming months as his previous releases are on my never-ending-wish-list…
This one is going to be a keeper folks, the fourth installment of If You Haven’t Heard - “Donovan Woods”. Oh, did I mention we also have an unreleased new song as well?? Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
I have been listening to Donovan Woods for a little while, and in that short while I have found out that I tend to listen to him more than most artists (thank you Last.fm stats). There is a reason for this, plain and simple, his music is something that you can listen to, be amazed by, and not get tired of. Since picking up his 2007 release “The Hold Up”, it has ended up being one of my most listened to albums. His music reminds you of something that could be recorded by Sufjan Stevens (but without the theatrics). There is great guitar work, harmonies that compliment his strong knowledge of what works and sounds good. His music can be classic songwriter sparse and build up in tempo to an almost upbeat folk feel. At first I was a bit surprised that at times, such a delicate delivery of lyrics came from a guy that just might kick my ass for saying “delicate”. I guess I can just be thankful that Donovan likes bloggers. In fact he assures me that us “denizens of internet musical delivery” have been integral in his growing popularity. Well I think that this blogger enjoys delivering this music, classic folk/singer-songwriter stuff - songs that you can almost sing along to and not feel stupid doing it…ya know? Remember I said “almost sing along to” - I don’t think I have the chops of Mr. Woods.
Woods is a local in the Toronto scene (of which the photo above is from the a live gig at the Central) and is currently signed to the Sunny Lane Records Label. You can also pick up a copy of “The Hold Up” from iTunes (highly recommended) and after that you can wait alongside me for the upcoming 8 track EP “The Widowmaker”. I think that the EP should surface soon, but an exact release date hasn’t been released (well, to me at least). AAAAND….although you will still have to wait to purchase the rest of the EP, we have a taste of new material in the form of the unreleased track “Phone”. The song stays true to Donovan’s acoustic and piano driven ballads with that heartbreaking delivery of the lyrics and that classic build to the chorus.
I hope you enjoy this one as much as I do and after listening I assure you that Donovan Woods will start to climb your list of favourites if he isn’t already there. Don’t forget to visit Slowcoustic for more great Donovan Wood music on the mirrored post over there.
~Smansmith
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Autumn has come to soon ? I’ve got a solution… a one album-trip to Australia. It’s been a while, since ‘To The Dogs or Whoever‘ blog has stopped bringing me its regular dose of Australian music, that I didn’t receive any input from the land down-under.
A moon on an album cover ; nothing more, nothing else, I was a click away to discover the most brilliant EP this year hold so far. Phillip Bracken is a young - at least in music, so few information is available about him on the net - a young singer from New South Wales.
Beyond the first calm acoustic tags emerging on a primary listening, this short (i’m just eagerly awaiting for a full length) but intense 5 tracks collection revealed a powerful and hypnotic songwriting. For sure, Phillip’s brilliant and unique vocal is a major instrument in this beauiful delivering. I’m also totally seduced by the beauty of his compositions : simple - pure - and perfectly arranged.
With songs format which are mostly exceeding the standard, this album is an invitation for a peaceful break… and so residing one of its prowess : peaceful and contemplative but you’ll be surprised murmuring on ‘The Boy and the Sickle’ and ‘Ishmael’ is simply irresistible for your hands to be clapped, foot-taping later - even dancing for sure ! Mesmerizing.
If you need comparisons, the likes of Ben Harper, Nick Drake, Doug Burr or Josh Garrels (for both evocative guitars and warm voice) could be cited. But be sure, you will find none of those afore mentioned listening to Phillip Bracken ; none of those, but a highly dose of unique emotions. Soon to be yours !
For a debut, it’s a monument ! Such a major act won’t be unpunished ; my curisoty, once again, pushed me to contact Phillip for an interview : an opportunity to discover this promising talent. Enjoy his music while reading his anwsers.
YCD : Hello Phillip, how’s it going down-under ? Phillip Bracken : Really well. I’ve been living in a small coastal town for the last few months and I really like the energy here.
YCD : Before asking any further question, One is teasing my curisity : Tranquil Dwarf, what does it mean ? Phillip Bracken : It was going to be a moniker until I decided that my own name was good enough. To abbreviate the story the name came from a t.v show. I adjusted it to give it more irony and I guess for something for me to hide behind as well.
YCD : Would you mind telling us your story about music ? Phillip Bracken : I think we all have something we’re passionate about and that we feel a connection with. Music has always been the companion that accepts and understands all my moods. I’ve always enjoyed singing and writing as separate elements but I didn’t start taking guitar more seriously until a few years ago.
YCD : ‘Everything Looks Better in Candlelight’ is your first release. How did you finally decide to merge your songs into this dense collection and bring it to an audience ? Phillip Bracken : I wanted something to help myself be heard, remembered after gigs but something more complete than a demo. I was introduced to an amazing musician named Peter Northcote who gave me a nudge. Initially I wanted to record more songs but Pete and a couple of others told me to be patient and just put out five. We recorded the ep in his studio.
YCD : I have played ‘The Boy and Sickle’ at least a hundred times in these last 15 days… what’s your recipe for creating such a flowing song ? Phillip Bracken : That’s so great to hear. I’m not sure that I have a recipe or set method in the way I write. Sometimes the lyrics come first and at others it’s the music which was the scenario for this song. Finger-picking is also something that feels natural to me.
YCD : Suppose, that you have been condemned to spend a full year on an isolated island. Allowing to bring with you a single object which would you choose : a book or you guitar ? Phillip Bracken : Tough one. Probably a book and I would create an instrument out of coconuts and banana leaves.
YCD : Is there a song you wish you had written ? Phillip Bracken : I like the idea of going largely unnoticed and developing an underground following so something like Sugarman by Rodriguez.
YCD : If you could share a stage with any band or artist who would you choose and why ? Phillip Bracken : Sigur Ros. I saw them play recently and they were completely absorbing as much to the eye as ear. They looked totally lost in their instruments and came across as quite humble and unassuming.
YCD : Any other projects for the coming months, a first full length ? Phillip Bracken : I’m launching my ep in November in Sydney. Other than that I want to play more gigs and improve myself musically. I’d like to do a full-length at some point but it might still be a little way a way.
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YCD : Would you mind telling us your story about music ?
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