38 - Local Natives (La Blogotheque)

La Blogotheque is an inspirational project. A collection of musical performances shot in a distinct manner - regularly featuring artists playing and walking - in unconventional spaces all around the world, but predominantly in Paris: Grizzly Bear in a bathroom, Arcade Fire an elevator; Yeasayer on the Metro, Phoenix the Trocadero - the list goes on. What I find so alluring, however, is the humanness contained within. Although highly professional, these films do not gleam like items in shop windows: they are intentionally left rough around the edges. We see the artists' uncertainty leading up to the performance; the relief, joy or melancholy directly thereafter. Such moments privilege the viewer a rare insight into not just the quirks, habits and mannerisms of their revered musicians; but the life of the performer, as well. A real sense of what these films are - musical moments in history, captured - is successfully conveyed through original camera-work and choice of setting. Ultimately, though, the project would be nothing were it not for a sustained engagement with the vanguard of guitar-based music. This installation - one of over a hundred - features Local Natives making their way through one of Paris' more ornamental arcades: a feast for the eyes and ears.

032 - The Unicorns (Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?)

The Unicorns are markedly lighter than most - they evidently don't take themselves too seriously. Jangly riffs, comical lyrics and a recorder combine to create some happy, energetic and original indie. 

The Unicorns - I Was Born (A Unicorn)

The Unicorns - Sea Ghost

026 - Sufjan Stephens (The Age of Adz)

Sufjan Stevens's oeuvre is extraordinarily diverse. Enjoy Your Rabbit is predominantly bizarre electronica, Michigan and Illinois are close to traditional folk-based singer-songwriter albums, and The BQE is straight-up modern classical music - not to mention the style of the five other albums I haven't included. His latest seems to conflate elements from all of the aforementioned sounds. There's certainly a lot going on: trilling flutes and an array of classical instruments; mechanic and spacey electronic sounds, all alongside Sufjan's vocals. Combined, they create what can only be described as an experiment. That it is complicated makes for uneasy first listenings, yet it gradually makes sense thereafter : )

Sufjan Stephens - All for Myself

Sufjan Stephens - Age of Adz

025 - Bon Iver & Bowerbirds

This is a cover of a song originally by Sarah Siskind, brimming with harmony.

019 - The Tallest Man on Earth (The Wild Hunt)

Certain vocalists' style causes a negative reaction in their audience: The Decemberists, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!, Phoenix and Bob Dylan are but some examples - Kristian Matsson is another. Although not cause for celebration in itself, unconventional voices often bear the stamp of originality and can add a uniqueness to the total sound. As well as having an interesting voice, Matsson is also a highly talented guitar and banjo player.

The Tallest Man on Earth - Love is All

The Tallest Man on Earth - King of Spain

018 - Johnny Flynn (A Larum)

Johnny Flynn is a blessed man, a singer and musician, thespian and a model.  His greatest talent, however,  lies with words. The lyrics to the first song are just so beautiful: a song about actions speaking louder than words. The final verses read:

"I'll soon forget what was never there,

Your words are ash and dust,

All that's left is the song I've sung,

The breath I've taken and the one I must.

If you're born with a love for the wrote and the writ,

People of letters your warning stands clear,

Pay heed to your heart and not to your wit.

Don't say in a letter what you can't in my ear."

Johnny Flynn - The Wrote & the Writ

Johnny Flynn - Brown Trout Blues

015 - Bowerbirds (Hymns for a Dark Horse)

I don't know any other artists that make music that sounds like this. If Folk were a house, Bowerbirds would be the garden: connected, albeit distinctly. Both male and female vocalists have lovely voices that augment one another when in harmony. Overall, the album feels un-rushed and melancholic, but that doesn't preclude it from having lighter moments, as heard on In Our Talons. I like the use of the accordion, the melodica and the violin. The first two tracks are ordered as they come on the album.

Bowerbirds - Hooves

Bowerbirds - In Our Talons

Bowerbirds - Slow Down

013 - Gold Panda (Lucky Shiner)

Perhaps what makes this album worthy of note is its choice of sounds. Gold Panda incorporates what I can only reductively term Eastern sounds into Western electronic form. As such, the album feels fresh, even if structurally it remains fairly conventional.

N.B. There are two pairs of tracks on the album You/You Pt. II & Before/After We Talked, both of which work well when considered independently and collectively.

Gold Panda - Same Dream China

Gold Panda - Marriage

007 - The Magnetic Fields (69 Love Songs)

This album actually has 69 love songs on it. Some are incredible, others not so - but regardless, the feat itself remains admirable. The first track is my favourite by far, I think the lyrics are superb - listen carefully to them.

The Magnetic Fields - Absolutely Cuckoo

006 - Stellastar* (Stellastar*)

I've recently started revisiting albums I used to listen to when I was younger. The main purpose of this is to see comparatively how I receive them now, underpinned by the belief that art strives for timelessness - to resonate in ages different from that within which it was created. If art is unable to stay relevant it is forgotten.

Although perhaps not as good as I remembered, re-listening to Stellastar*'s eponymous first album of 2003 managed to bring many a smile to my face after years in the cold. If I had to, I'd classify this as post-punk revival. The whole album exudes energy, the kind of which only thrashy guitars can bring about. In the first song there's something attractively haunting about the line "Jenny's coming after you" - the climax is so very raw also.  The second track is fairly raw and post-punk-y throughout.

Stellastar* - Jenny

Stellastar* - No Weather