Soap & Skin " Fall Foliage"

Anja Plaschg is a young Austrian pianist performing under the name of Soap & Skin. Earlier this year she released a wonderful album: Lovetunes For Vaccum full of piano driven ballads and tales of anguish and pain. How can someone so young know so much about such depressing matters and sing them so beautifully?
A dark pearl of talent, Soap & Skin will play at the Ancienne Belgique in Bxl on Sunday. I'll be there, will you?

This my favourite track on the album, a very apt title : Fall Foliage



for more info, check her website www.soapandskin.com

and to know more about her live appearances, there's myspace:www.myspace.com/soapandskin

Devastations: "The Saddest Sound"

oh my...what a song...Devastations are an indie trio from Melbourne. They have released 3 albums so far

• The Devastations - Munster (2004)
• Coal - (2006)
• Yes, U - (2007)

Conrad Standish's voice is similar to a crooning Nick Cave and the music veers towards ballads or more atmospheric guitar-led tracks.

On Yes, U we find the exquisite song "The Saddest Sound"



For more info, check out their Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/devastations
or official site: www.devastations.net/

The XX "Basic Space"

Everybody in the UK is falling in love with London quatuor The XX. Their debut album XX is reaping wild reviews and it's thoroughly deserved.

Brought to you by Young Turks [ they're behind the excellent Jack Penate and the lovely Kid Harpoon too] The XX play a sort of modern dreamy pop, with hints of shoegazing, very mature for a bunch of 19 yr old

Here's the video of their first single Basic Space



Their Myspace is here: http://www.myspace.com/thexx
and you can see them live in BXL on oct 11 [ Now SOLDOUT] and in Brugge on Oct 31st

Plastikman "Consumed"

When Ritchie Hawtin released CONSUMED under his Plastikman moniker in 1998, I was under its spell : hypnotic ambiant, repetitive rythms and dark atmospheres that take the listener on a journey. Triple WAOW!
It seems Hawtin may record another Plastikman album soon which would be very exciting.

Here's what it sounds like:




The Canadian has recorded 5 albums as Plastikman, Closer being the last one released in 2003.

Have a great weekend
Sx

Jose James ' The Dreamer'

Yesterday, The AB hosted a special show to celebrate John Coltrane's anniversary. He was born on Sept 23rd, 1926.
Belgian Pianist Jef Neve teamed up with Irish/Panamanian jazz singer Jose James for a show that covered many of Coltrane's tracks.Absolutely lovely!

Jose James has a silky smooth voice that mixes jazz tones with drops of hip-hop. He released The Dreamer in January 2008. Here's the title track:



You can hear more songs on his myspace: http://www.myspace.com/josejamesquartet

Micah P. Hinson " All Dressed Up And Smeling Of Strangers"

Micah P. Hinson is a singer-songwriter hailing from Texas. His gravelly voice and sometimes out of tune way of singing make him quite peculiar. There is no denying the man has got talent though.

Hi new double album All Dressed Up And Smelling Of Strangers compiles 16 covers given the Hinson treatment.
Classics by John Denver, Leonard Cohen, Roy Orbison, Leadbelly and others are revisited here. Some with better results than others [ I'm not sure how to rate his My Way cover just yet]

There is no official single or video yet but here's his version of Centro-Matic "Not Forver Now"



Micah P. Hinson's discography for those of you who want to investigate him further

2004	Micah P. Hinson and the Gospel of Progress
2005	The Baby and the Satellite
2006	Micah P. Hinson and the Opera Circuit
2008	Micah P. Hinson and the Red Empire Orchestra
2009	All Dressed Up and Smelling of Strangers

His myspace: www.myspace.com/micahphinson

He'll be playing live at The Botanique in Brussels on November 19th [@ La Rotonde]

Richard Hawley "Truelove's Gutter"

Sheffield's Richard Hawley has just released his 6th album on Mute Records.
For those familiar with Hawley's croooning, TRUELOVE'S GUTTER is a must-have.
If you don't know him yet, please take 6 minutes of your time and check out the video for the album's first single.

Lyrically beautiful if a little clumsy at times, the melodies are ravishing and the sound reminiscent of early Tom Waits.

Ladies and Gentlemen: FOR YOUR LOVER, GIVE SOME TIMES



If you want to find out more about Mr Hawley here's his discography

• Richard Hawley (Setanta) (2001) (album re-released including all the single b-sides)
• Late Night Final (Setanta) (2001)
• Lowedges (Setanta) (2003)
• Coles Corner (Mute) (2005)
• Lady's Bridge (Mute) (2007)
• Truelove's Gutter (Mute)

his webiste: http://www.richardhawley.co.uk/
his Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/richardhawley

No gig planned in Belgium...yet

Welcome

Hello!

Welcome to this blog, every week I will upload a play-list: mostly soft sounds, singer-songwriters, some instrumentals etc...

I'll also update the blog with new or old music that's exciting...

I hope you enjoy it

Sophie xx