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Science And You. Linnea's Garden
"Hey,
baby, I wanna make you some guacamole". Did a song ever start with a
nicer introduction? With this line Linnea's Garden returns to this blog.
("I don't believe in God, only in) Science And You" is one of those,
short and effective alternative rocksongs. At the same time it doubles
as an alternative love song. One that doesn't need much more than bass,
drums and a rhythm guitar, barring the nice, aggressive guitar solo.
Linnea Herzog sings the song in her lower register, giving the
impression that she may not really mean what she's singing. Looking at
the video though, I have the impression that she's totally sincere here.
With an EP coming up my interest in Linnea's Garden's music certainly is rising.
Patrick Watson is from Montréal in Canada, so most likely was educated in English and French. Usually singing in English, I was surprised to find a French single. It is a slow song, like they used to make in the 1950s for musical is my impression. Sonically it was impossible to record a song like this at the time. The atmosphere certainly is there in the strings behind his voice. Every once and again that typical Patrick Watson mood breaks through. Of course that is in part caused by his voice but not all. That mystical wave that is typically added to his music, in which the atmospherics woven into the song seem to slow the music and with it reality down considerably. It is here alright.
Googling a little I find numerous versions of
the song, indicating that the song was written and recorded years before
I was born, let alone Patrick Watson. It is a Charles Trenet song, a
French chansonnier, who is only a name to me. That explains the jazzy
atmosphere in Patrick Watson's recording. All said, quite a nice one.
Avawaves
is a new name to me. I had expected another girl punkrock duo based on
the name. So consider the level of surprise when I heard a keyboard
violin duo playing around an minimal themed, neo-classical piece with
some trancelike synthesizer sounds behind it. That puts Avawaves in the
category of the many artists focusing on neo-classical music with either
only a piano or little extra's thrown in. In Chrysalis the extra's
certainly are present. A whole string section (unless it's digital). The
song is serious, moody and fairly uniform. Musically a few themes are
repeated over and over, with little surprises. My music? No, not really, but I certainly want to share my surprise with you.
Why
not a little bossa nova on the blog? Alright, for today then. Recently I
was sent the link to an album called 'Hella Love' (May 21). It did not
take too long for me to grow tired of the music. But let's face it, it
is also fun for a while, as it sparks memories of warm beaches, nice
weather and cold caipirinhas served at a party in a mansion once was owned
by a Colombian drugsbaron. Work can go together with a tropical
destination sometimes. I do not know a lot of bossa nova, besides that
one song by Astrud Gilberto and and album by Bebel Gilberto, making a
more modern version of the genre, incorporating more modern beats.
Marinero, an American called Jess Sylvester, operates somewhere in the
middle. The mood of the song is certainly nostalgic and where modern
instruments are used they are there to underscore that nostalgia. The
downbeat singing of Sylvester brings the mood down a little, making the
song sound a little melancholy as well, as if things used to be much
better once. Somewhere through the fog that makes the past invisible.
Stockholm syndrome as a metaphor in a break up song. "When I said that I loved you, that was Stockholm syndrome". Another single sees the light on Justine Couvault's Red on Red album. The song is a study in restrain, as nothing is overdone. The Daylillies play its perfect alternative pop song totally balanced. The lead vocals are echoed by the male backing vocals. The guitar is matched by the piano playing a few lead notes here and there. The drums and bass only have to goad the rest forward, no pushing or shoving required. Those with some pop knowledge in their bags, will find more than enough references from decades past in the song, but who cares. Stockholm Syndrome is a beautifully crafted song, very much worthwhile to get acquainted with. Originally from 2019's eponymously called mini album, Red on Red must be happy to release the song in 2021. The video is a reflection of what happens to bands in times of covid.
A
single that is full of mystery. Like I wrote on Patrick Watson in the
above, One More Hour is a song that creates the impression of delaying
time somehow. It's caused by the slurring effect in the singing and
playing. It turns a song that could have been a straightforward ballad,
into something totally different. Not as easy to digest, but certainly
one that caught my attention. Flock of Dimes is Jenn Wassner from North
Carolina. She started writing the songs for her second album, 'Head Of
Roses' in the early lockdown of the pandemic, accompanied by a fresh heartbreak.
After writing she started working with producer Nick Sanborn and a few
musical collaborators. The result is in this case a mysterious single.
The topic is, if the singer could make one wish, it would be one more
hour with someone. Musically there are some faint traces to Annie Lennox
and The Eurythmics, in the moments that duo really held back, as Flock
of Dimes never takes the breaks off on One More Hour.
Harder it does not often become on WoNoBlog. Most likely because System of a Down hasn't released a new record for over a decade now. Atreyu is a System of a Down, there's no denying there. Including a fantastic melodic chorus. Those remembering my recent review of Suffocate for Fuck Sake's 'Fyra', may wonder why I like Underrated. All the screaming and grunting going on! That is so easy to explain. It is a melodic, albeit intense part of this music, just like the melody itself is and the supertight metal riffing has a great melody. The result is a hybrid song that is extremely loud, but it's also full of force ans above all a song. Listening to this song the only question I'm left with is whoever is underrating it?
With the sixth song being released of seven, the monthly project of The Puzzle Is Cast from Athens, Greece, is slowly coming to an end. (For those counting, yes, we missed the first release.) Where some of the songs were very experimental, Finger/Painted Landscape is less so. The basis is a beautiful melody played rather subdued on an electric guitar. The style is jazzy. Around it there's emptiness, despite there being other sounds. It's easy to identify a bass guitar and all sorts of atmospherics and sounds can be heard as well. Still, I have the impression the guitar is alone. It is not supported. The effect the rest has on me is estrangement and a level of eeriness. It is as if everything is alright but had this been music in a movie, all viewers would know the situation to be different. Interesting to notice what a piece of instrumental music can do to the mind. This composition is Kairos material.
Following the trilogy of albums, it became quiet for some time around Blaudzun. This month the band returned with a first single from an album that may not be released before 2022. Real Hero was inspired by the illness of a young child, at the moment that a full recovery was still imaginable. Unfortunately that was not to be, a tremendous tragedy for the family.
With
Real Hero it is becoming clear that Johannes Sigmund and Blaudzun have
settled into their music. The song sounds like I have come to expect a
Blaudzun song to sound. Of course I do not want the band to change to
opera or dance, but fulfilled expectation also makes me as listener a
bit complacent. Real Hero does not challenge me in any way, like many
songs on the previous five albums all did. At first listening I was even a
little disappointed. That has dissipated but I'm not overly
enthusiastic. Real Hero is no 'Promises Of No Man's Land' to give just
one example. It is a decent Blaudzun song nothing less but also nothing
more.
Does The Offspring still exist? Coincidentally I asked myself that question very recently. The last album was reviewed in the very first months of this blog. That is spring 2012. Nine years later the band returns with a phd graduate in the band. Singer and songwriter Dexter Holland decided to finish his studies and did. Now several of The Offspring's biggest hits had a novelty element in them and so does We Never Have Sex Anymore in a way. Punkrock songs with horns? It's not your everyday plate service, right? I faintly remember a band from Brooklyn mixing punk with mariachi (The Bronx under another name?). It gives this single a load of extra energy and shows that The Offspring can still write a song that makes a difference in the band's oeuvre. I can't imagine this becoming a hit in 2021. Times have changed over the past 27 years. For those who liked the band in the past decades should welcome this new song. I know I did. It is upbeat, despite the topic of when relationships die, where love goes to die and only little irritations and spite remains. A love song upside down and still come up with a great punkrock song, horns and all! Well done, gentlemen.
Wout de Natris
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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