Week 28. 10 singles

Week 28 and four old favourites return to the blog with new work. How do they fare? But then, there's only one new name between the ten singles of this week. Although some are recent newcomers to the blog, hardly any innovation. Perhaps we can do better soon.

No Proper Life. Cari Cari

When did Cari Cari release its debut album that I played such a lot at the time? When was that great show in Paradiso? It all sort blurred into the Covid mist. Fact is it was tremendously good. The Austrian duo, and globetrotters will have been grounded down to a halt as everybody else. Come summer 2022 and here Cari Cari is back. The sound of No Proper Life may be a little bit more conventional but the energy is there, as is the pulsing rhythm, underscored by the "out of breath" breathing throughout parts of the single. The 60s surf guitar sound drives the melody, supported by the drums and an overdub here and there. The singing is shared between drummer and singer Stephanie Widmer and guitarist/singer Alexander Köck in equal parts. No Proper Life is warming me up in all the right ways for what is to come in two months.

 

Two 6’s Upside Down. The Dropkick Murphies

What? Dropkick Murphies going acoustic? Yes, it is and the ghost riders in the sky are riding once again alright. The two 6's are two 9's and that is the length of the sentence. Somehow the band manages to reference on the first country song I remember from long ago, if it is a country song at that, I had no clue at the time of course and give off the impression of an Irish folksong at the same time. Two 6's Upside Down has that kind of rhythm that resembles sitting on horse back, just chugging along. The acoustic guitars are strummed tightly and the drum plays a march. It is enough to create a sing-a-long song and to give off a warning. Never get yourself a gun when you're angry, as 99 years is a long, long time for any man, angry or not.

El Jardin. The Black Angels

It may well be that The Black Angels' last album is even older than Cari Cari's. Nothing has changed here much as well. El Jardin brings the listener back for decades by infusing psychedelia galore into the mild rock music. The song has some great dynamics built in, including a soft interlude followed by a nice explosion of guitars. El Jardin goes to a nice climax of layer upon layer of guitars. Alex Maas at times sings a little deeper than circa 10 years ago, when I remember being surprised it was a man singing in the band. The band took its name from a The Velvet Underground song and can proudly do so. If El jardin sets the standard for the band's new album, I simply can't wait to hear it.

We're Not In Orbit Yet. Broken Bells

A new album by Broken Bells is welcome but not in the way a new The Shins album would be. Somehow the work of Brian Burton aka Danger Mouse and James Mercer never fully convinced me, although it certainly had its moments. With We're Not In Orbit Yet Broken Bells comes with a single that hovers somewhere in between The Black Angels and French synth poppers Air. The plopping, Serge Gainsbourg, bass is there and a mild psychedelia. Above it all is that great, dramy pop feel James Mercer is a master of. The bittersweet guitar solo is the icing on the cake. The duo may not be in orbit yet, We're Not In Orbit Yet is the kind of single that brings a listener susceptible to it there with ease. This single is the stuff dreams are made of.

Spirit Of Times. Blitzpøp

Alternative/garage rock  and grunge soul? Well, this is what Swedish band Blitzpøp describes itself. I'm hearing a rock song that is an example of catch and release. The band holds back to let go, but still with the break on in Spirit Of Times. In the video singer Pia dances with herself and her split image. The song focuses on her singing as well. Gone is the wild abandon of 'MDMA', the first single of the same titled EP. Here it is the tough voice of Pia, that holds a nice rough edge, searching for a breaking point, without reaching it. The band gives her vocal explorations all the space she needs, to let go in the chorus. And the solo? that one is for drummer Kajetan on Spirit Of Times. Without playing a drum solo! Yes, that's possible. You better go and listen to find out how.

The Punch. The Dark Legacy

Men of a certain age in a rock band from Milan. The Dark Legacy formed in 2018 and is ready to release its second album 'Stones' in August. The Punch drives on a tough riff, played simultaneously on guitar and bass giving it an extra deep end. While in the solo the notes are so high and effect laden that they almost escape the ear, as it were, by contrast. Fans of rockbands from the 70s will have a feast listening to The Punch. Singer Diego 'Die' Cominardi has just the kind of voice for this type of song. Tough, rough and deep enough to match the dark riffing. Add a drummer who pounds away on his kit as if the devil is high on his tail and a classic hardrock fan has a match, I promise.

 

Soms. De Toegift

De Toegift heeft vanaf de eerste single al laten horen dat het geen "gewone" pop band is. Men gaat voor het echte luisterlied in het Nederlands. De band gaat met Soms nog een slag dieper. Ik moet eerder denken aan 'Laat Me' of 'Het Dorp' dan 'Jimmy' zal ik maar zeggen, om wat klassieke Nederlandstalige singles aan te halen. In Soms droomt De Toegift en niet een klein beetje. Een wat droogklinkende piano, licht vervormd als door een deur tot mij komend, met atmosferische geluiden die deels de pianoklanken zijn die heel lang blijven hangen. Dat is de basis van het lied. Ja, soms is een echt lied, vind ik. Daar overheen zingt zanger Maxim half dromend zijn weg door het nummer. Het lijkt alsof hij stap voor stap zingt, niet zeker wetend of het de juiste weg is, maar nimmer versagend. Uiteindelijk wordt er een woud aan strijkers toegevoegd, allemaal opgenomen door een violiste, Julia Voddé. Als waren het bomen die Maxim ook nog eens het zicht op de weg ontnemen. Het eindresultaat is prachtig. Daar heb ik geen ander woord voor.

The Pearl. Hooveriii

Hooverii, Hoover 3 I now know, releases a new single and it is a dreampop kind of a song. I know, it has a too strong backbone for that, but this is a dreamy song. Singer Bert Hoover dares to send his voice into its highest register, as if he were casting for a Bee Gees bio pic. And gets away with it gloriously. If anything Hooveriii moves closely towards The Shins in its new single The Pearl. With that band absent for a while longer, see Broken Bells above, it is welcome. The combination of a rhythm section that plays close and tight and a piano driving the song, the dreamy parts are a contrast and a fit. That in the end the song explodes and derails, by then is only a, albeit unnecassary detail. The pop feel wins out and that's all that counts.

 

Sail To The Silver Sun. Eerie Wanda

Does this single start darkly! Deep and dark piano notes announce the start of Sail Into The Silver Sun. The sparseness of the notes set the journey, as the song remains this empty. Dreams seems to be a(n unforeseen) theme this week, as this single certainly qualifies as dreamy as well. An elementary drum part and that piano with some sounds around it, is what makes up the music. Marina Tadic' voice does the rest. Her timbre here matches the music perfectly. Singing in a darker register, she colours the song close to ink black. At the same time time the song has a little extra, because of the atmosphere it holds within it. When is the surprise coming? and it does. A few times even throughout the song. Be it in the form of a second vocal, a solo of some instrument or more together. The surprises lift Sailing To The Silver Sun up every single time.

Fly Free. The Riven

More female fronted rock from Sweden and also found on this blog before. The Riven plays rock but with an open character. The kind that was played in the Netherlands by The Gathering and Anneke van Giersbergen. Totte Ekebergh has that rock chick voice that is just right for this music. The music is a mix of circa 2000 rock and the 1970 kind. Double and triple fronted guitar bands like The Outlaws do come to mind listening to Fly Free. A combination of tough playing and guitar duelling with all the players up front on the stage going at it together. There are days that rock from long ago is simply enough to please. Not every day can be Black Midi day to name an extreme and modern example.

 

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