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An unknown act reached out to me if I fancied to write on its new single. The answer is always maybe, depending on the music. It only took one listen for me to find out the answer was yes.
Chalk Horse Music can be found in the folk segment of music. It has elements of classic English folk, not unlike its contemporary Modern Studies. Also not unlike Modern Studies Chalk Horse Music is not afraid of using developments of the 50 years since the hey day of Fairport Convention and Sandy Denny. So some electronics can be found in the songs and a rhythm that is more modern. This mix comes forward best in the b-side 'The Devil & The Farmer'. Acoustic guitars and voice is the basis of the song but don't be surprise when something electronic flies through the sound spectrum.
'The Devil And The Farmer' certainly is the more interesting song of the two but the nicest one is the A-side 'Hegemony'. Also here some electronic sounds come by that remind me of the electronics used on 'Who's Next' by The Who. 'Hegemony' is clearly a folk song, but so much more is going on on the side of the folk part. This is extremely elementary and bare music. My ears are stimulated to pay real attention for the whole of the ride because of that rest. To make all the great little extra's come out.
Singer Liz Pearson and her four band members manage to take music that can be called classic by now and present it as something fresh and new without losing the tradition. I am certainly interested to hear more in the future.
If I remember correctly Yori Swart featured on this blog some years back. Luka only recently together with a previous bunch of other singles. Again she is on a very edge of modern music as far as this blog is concerned. Not unlike Belgian singer Lizzy who has featured in this single series as well.
The rhythm is modern, the music mostly electronic. Why it does appeal to me, is that Luka never overdoes anything. Her singing is closer to whispering than singing. Snowstar Records other female fronted band Donna Blue certainly comes to mind in this context, also because of the little lead organ solo. From there differences only. To come back to Luka, Tiptoe is an example of restraint. Everything seems to be down to bare necessities, except that some synth sounds just cannot be detained. They slip in and out of the song with these little melodies or sounds. (Read back above, speaking about similarities while the music is totally different, again.) Tiptoe simply is a pleasant song to listen to and Luka has a pleasing voice. And Lizzy has just dropped a new song last night, so will she be on here as well?
What to make of this title and band name? I had no idea what to expect from the music before listening for the first time. I expected a lot but not the alternative rock with indie as well as avant garde elements with it. Everything from Fatal Flowers to Clinic and back via a detour or two is incorporated into 80's Carry This Tune! So expect a soft beginning, a storm in the middle and a soft, delicate coda bringing the song to its end. The singing is always soft, almost hesitant, but also not unlike many bands from Belgium have within it. Zita Swoon, The LVE, I Drove A Tank, dEUS, there are elements from all in here. Beauty and madness combined in 4"46. Nervous tension and tranquillity. Harmony and dissonance. All these contrast come together here. Almost as if two ideas were glued together. It makes Kloothommel an interesting band to listen.
I See You. Phoebe BridgersThere's a lot ado about Phoebe Bridgers in the recent years. On this blog e.g. through observations of Erwin Zijleman. Now recently a new single was released, I decided to tap my big toe into the water and see if I can hear what the fuzz is all about.
'I See You' is a title bringing good memories as it one of my favourite songs on Yes' debut album. The songs are totally incompatible. Phoebe Bridgers may feel something when seeing the person she sings about. The mood of the song makes it kind of hang in the balance what those feelings are. Not one of butterflies in the belly for sure. But that is feeling a lot and not something. Moodwise the song is darkish and musically it is not the obvious choices that are made. Despite of this, I See You certainly has something that makes me want to listen, but like that something in the song, it is somewhat complex. I See You is a three song single. The Second song 'Kyoto' is certainly more straightforward and immediately likeable in an alternative way. The trumpet solo is elementary but nice. Summing up, the songs make me interested to hear more in the future.
This single has two very distinct sides. The A-side is totally in line with what I heard on The Academy Of Sun's album, 'The Parts That Need Replacing', I will not be reviewing. Like Rose Devoid Of Form it is a strange hybrid between rock singing, albeit fully holding back, and electronic, atmospheric music. Not my cup of tea for a whole album. No, it is the b-side that caught my attention and that I will focus on here. 'Everything At Once Forever'.
In this song the band kicks in a great alternative and punky rocker. Fully in an post-punk early 80s rock kind of way or like Clinic can do when totally letting go. Electronics are a part of this song as well but in a serving way and not dominating. What strikes me is the fierce tempo of 'Everything at Once Forever'. The band set off in time to catch the last bus and managed to catch the one before that. The guitars rock, the drums and bass pound, and the keyboards provide the little melodies. All said, I'm reminded of 'The End Of The World As We Know It (But I Feel Fine)'. A darker version where the I feel fine part is skipped. Less variation in the melody as well, except for the little oh, oh part, making it haunting, a hellhound on my trail kind of experience and a little exciting as well.
A single a month. Surely something to look out for in these times of crisis. Especially by a band like Garlands, a band that I yet have to hear a song of that I do not like. Listening to Play Games I wonder whether Rum Bar Records would be interested in this Scottish act? Listening to the new song, short, sweet, I can't help but wonder how aptly the song is titled. The song is so playful, despite being extremely tight. A perfect blend of power rock of the late 70s, Green Day and Britpop. In other words solid rock music with a fun melody to sing along to. Within three minutes it's all over and all has been said and done. From the fun, extremely recognisable intro, to the one line chorus with the obvious two words. Garlands captures a whole lot of energy in those 2"54. If Green Day has millions of fans around the globe Play Games ought to be attractive to 100s of thousands of those fans. Open your ears folks because this song is so much nicer than any of tracks released in the last decade by that, by now dinosaur of 90s punk band (no matter how nice). Garlands is the new thing. Let's play this game for a while.
Listening to Nothing But Time I can't escape the idea that Lise Reyners and Joes Brands are working together in an extremely experimental way and learning their new ropes together. The song is playful, slightly jazzy and moving into modern pop during the song. At the same time an 80s feeling comes back to me and to be more specific, Sade. The way the song develops makes it a modern Sade song, a little faster, without the distinct accents in the rhythm. The result is that, despite there is some effect on her voice(s), Lizzy sings more freely it seems to me.
Listening more closely there is even more to Nothing But Time. There is the song that presents itself at first listen. By taking more time, what's in a word here, all sorts of little details come forward, electronic sounds in the background, the stop start effect in the rhythm, the double tracked vocals of Lizzy.
In the lyrics it seems the Covid-19 crisis is reflected. "We should live like we could die", and "No tomorrow, do what we like". If there is a time to live like that, it's now alright. Carpe Diem. The fact that the song was made and written by Reyners and Brands in isolation may have inspired the lyrics.
Another nice single for Lizzy. It is putting her personal score on my side at 2 - 2. Already I'm looking forward to her next single, as no matter what, I always like to hear her voice.
Wo.
Listen to our Spotify Playlist to find out what we are writing about:
https://open.spotify.com/user/glazu53/playlist/6R9FgPd2btrMuMaIrYeCh6?si=KI6LzLaAS5K-wsez5oSO2g
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