Elvis Perkins 'Shampoo'

Ladies and Gentlemen I give you mister Elvis Perkins

He is the son of actor Anthony Perkins and was named after The King.
Hi first album Ash Wednesday [ 2007] was written with the events of 9/11 in mind. His mother was in the plane that hit the twin towers. Quite devastating for Elvis who took his time to write and then record the album.

The next step 'Elvis Perkins In Dearland' was released earlier this year, the first single was SHAMPOO, recorded live here:




This months he's back with a new 6-track EP "Doomsday"
elvisperkinsindearland.com for more info

Mechanical Bride 'Chapel'

2 posts today because I was at the radio station all day yesterday and had no time to update the blog, many apologies!

I saw Mechanical Bride a few years ago in London and kinda liked them, it seems they've been working hard and kept on improving. The main culprit here is Lauren Doss, a young musician based in Surrey.
Their music is eerie, quirky, poppy in a subdued way.

MB got noticed for their cover of Rhianna's Umbrella as a stripped down, piano led version. It opened the door for them and they released a couple of EP and a full album "More Than A Girl"

Fionn Regan "Put A Penny In The Slot"

My friend Marsha has been raving about this Irish singer songwriter for years and for good reasons, he's great in the tradition of Bob Dylan or Neil Young.

Fionn Regan has released a handful of singles and EPs before unleashing a first album,The End Of History, to the world in 2006. In February 2010 he will offer us a follow-up.

So in order to get acquainted with him and be ready for the new songs, lets' go back to Put A Penny In The Slot:



more info can be found on his myspace

She Keeps Bees "CageMatch"

I don;t know much about She Keeps Bees, apart from the fact that it's Jessica Larrabee's project. She's from New York and she inhabits a world of indie soul-blues folk...She now has a drummer, Andy La Plant. They both live in Brooklyn.

Jessica's voice will remind many people of Chan Marshall's, the rawness of the music can also evoke old PJ Harvey. 2 good singers to be compared to, right?
SKB's first album "Minisink Hotel" was recorded in her bedroom, with minimum fuss which gives the compositions an extra meaning.
The 2nd album 'Nest' is out now, althought I'm yet to find it

Here's the only good quality video I found of her


her myspace is here

Soulsavers " Unbalanced Pieces"

Soulsavers are Rich Machin and Ian Glover, this producing duo has been making music together since 2000 and have so far given birth to 3 albums. Since 2007's 'It's Not How Far You Fall, It's the Way You Land" they have been collaborating with THE VOICE, Mr Marc Lanegan.

On their latest ouput, 'Broken' Lanegan is still at the helm but with a little help from many friends, like Richard Hawley, Mike Patton, Jason Pierce, Gibby Haynes and quite a few others.

The music is described as downtempo electronica and borrows heavily from gospel, rock, soul and even country. The atmosphere is often charged with dark emotions, definitely more autumn/winter music.

On Unbalanced Pieces, Lanegan is joined by Mike Patton and it sounds deliciously like this:


their discography:

• Tough Guys Don't Dance (October 13, 2003)
• It's Not How Far You Fall, It's the Way You Land (April 2, 2007)
• Broken (August 17, 2009)

and myspace

I'm REALLY gutted to discover that they're playing in Ghent on Nov 4th when I'm in London. GUTTED so please go!

Dark Night Of The Soul "Every Time I'm With You"

Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse and David Lynch have formed Dark Night Of The Soul, a project that mixes music and images. Sadly DM had problems with the label, EMI, and the book was released with a blank CDR. They gave the abum away with free online streaming. It's a great shame because it's a sublime piece of work!

They have invited quite a few guest singers like Jason Lytle [ ex Grandaddy] on this track: Everytime I'm With You



Their official site is up and running here

Low "Laser Beam"

Low is an American band led by Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker [ they are married with 2 kids in 'real life']. They started in 1993 and have so far released 8 albums and 9 EP's.
Their musical style is called "slowcore": slow tempo, harmonies and minimal arrangements. It's beautiful, quiet and slightly depressing.

In 2001, the released Things We Lost In The Fire, an album that gathered great reviews, on which we find "Laser Beam"



their discography in full:

• I Could Live in Hope - (1994)
• Long Division - (1995)
• The Curtain Hits the Cast - (1996)
• Secret Name - (1999)
• Things We Lost in the Fire - (2001)
• Trust - (2002)
• The Great Destroyer - (2005)
• Drums and Guns - (2007)

and their official website: www.chairkickers.com

Marie-Flore " Trapdoor"

Honesty card: I don't know much about Marie-Flore. David from Bellevue sent me a link to her myspace and I liked it. She's un-mistakenly French with her "je ne sais quoi"

Marie-Flore "Trapdoor"
by Gautierfilms

All I know is what is on her myspace www.myspace.com/mariefloresmusic.com

Jay Jay Pistolet "Holly"

Today's singer songwriter is Jay Jay Pistolet. Justin Hayward-Young is his real name and he's part of the new folk scene in London.

He's taking things slowly and not rushing to get his work out. Wise guy!

The first song I ever heard from him was Holly, sang live here



As always you can get more music and info on his myspace page: www.mypsace.com/jayjaypistolet

Ben Christophers & Francoise Hardy " My Beautiful Demon"

I was looking for Ben Christopher's track and stumbled upon this duo. Never heard it before but it does have a little 'something'...

In 1999, Ben released his first album 'My Beautiful Demon' and has put out 3 other LP afterwards. Since then he has worked with Francoise Hardy and is currently playing with Bat For Lashes.



His solo work:

• My Beautiful Demon (1999)
• Spoonface (2001)
• The Spaces In Between (2004)
• Viewfinder (2005)

Nick Cave & Warren Ellis " Martha's Dream"

White Lunar is a 2 CD collection of pieces written by Cave & Ellis for various movies and documentaries over the past few years. It's beautiful from start to finish.
The first CD has to more orchestrated tracks whilst the second is more haunted and a tad closer to what Ellis does with his band The Dirty Three.
Great album for cold winter nights indoors.

In Martha's Dream [ from motion picture The Proposition] there is even a fragment of Dirty Three's 'Some Summers They Drop Like Flies'.



Have a great weekend
x

Laura Marling

I couldn't wait any longer so here's two, yes two old live recording of Laura Marling.

She's just fantastic, a sort of modern day Joni Mitchell. She wrote and recorded her first album Alas Cannot Swim when she was 17. The writing, lyrics and emotions are just amazingly mature for such a young artist.

She used to play in Noah & The Whale and has toured a lot with Mumford & Sons.
She's currently writing a new album and she'll be playing in Belgium at the Crossing Border festival in A'pen on Nov. 22nd

This is my favourite song of hers: "My Manic And I"



And now her first single "New Romantics"



After a year of touring she's a lot less shy on stage, even though it's kinda cute

The Twilight Sad " I Became a Prostitute"

Let's up the tempo today with Scottish band The Twilight Sad. Great band name for starters. Musically, their singer James Graham describes what they do as "folk with layers of noise" Yep, this is for you shoegazing fans!

Last month, they released their second album Forget The Night Ahead [on Fat Cat]
And here's the single issued from it: " I Became a Prostitute"



aaah that lovely Scottish accent...

They're playing in Belgium at The Botanique on Nov 21st, if you want to catch them live
and loose your hearing.

More info on their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thetwilightsad

Maps ' I Dream Of Crystal"

James Chapman is a musician from Northampton and he has recorded 2 albums as MAPS on Mute Records. He says his influences go from Spiritualized to Mogwai, via My Bloody Valentine or Low.

The result sounds like this:



His first album We Can Create dates from 2007 and in September this year he released his follow up album: Turning The Mind, of which I Dream Of Crystal is the lead single.

James is very involved in his myspace, using it to really connect with fans. If you like what he does, then check out myspace.com/mapsmusic

Tiny Vipers 'Dreamer"

Oh Boy...Jesy Fortino, aka Tiny Vipers is a singer songwriter from Seattle and signed to Sub Pop.
This summer she has released a new album: Life On Earth.
'Dreamer" is achingly beautiful and full of emotions.Fantastic Lyrics and great guitar playing. WATCH!



www.myspace.com/tinyvipersss

Gravenhurst " I Trun My Face To The Forest Floor"

Another old-time favourite of mine. Gravenhurst aka Nick Talbot has released 4 albums so far on Warp Records. Talbot is from Bristol and his music is rather dark and atmospheric in style but can cover many genres: shoegazing, folk, harmony pop...

This is probably one of my top 10 songs ever. I hope you enjoy it
"I Trun My Face To The Forest Floor" is on Flashlight Season, rel in 2003:



Gravenhurst Discography [ there are many sountracks and collaborations outside his solo output]

• Internal Travels
  
• Flashlight Seasons (2003)
• Fires in Distant Buildings (2005)
  
• The Western Lands (2007)

more info: www.gravenhurstmusic.com

Lisa Germano "We Suck"

Going back a few years for today's post. I just love Lisa Germano. I was lucky enough to work with her and I was left wanting to be her.

This is a live version of her song "We Suck" that you can find on her 4th album 'Excerpts from a Love Circus' released in 1996.



If you like confessional lyrics and sweet melodies, try dip into Germano's world.

• On the Way Down From the Moon Palace - 1991
• Happiness (CD) - 1994
• Inconsiderate Bitch 1994
• Geek the Girl 1994
• Excerpts From a Love Circus 1996
• Slush (with OP8) 1997
• Slide 1998
• Concentrated 2002
• Rare, Unusual or Just Bad Songs 2002
• Lullaby for Liquid Pig 2003
• In the Maybe World - 2006
• Magic Neighbor - 2009 ^[1]

Wild Beasts "All The King's Men"

Wild Beasts hail from Kendal in England where the 4 boys started making music together in 2004. After a series of Eps and demos they finally signed to cult label Domino in 2007.
A year later they released their first album Limbo, Panto to cool reviews.
In 2009 they are back with one of the best albums of the year TWO DANCERS. The press all over the word are describing the album as a master piece.

Musically adventurous, lyrically poetic and then there's that voice...Hayden Thorpe can sing so high and so low, it's quite something!
It just sounds new and ever so different to anything else. Go and check them out!

Here's their brand new single 'All The King's Men'


their myspace:http://www.myspace.com/wildbeasts
They will also perform Live at Crossing Border festival in A'pen on Nove 22nd

Monsters Of Folk 'Dear God ( Sincerely M.O.F)'

When 4 of the most acclaimed nu-folk singers of today decide to get together it's a project that can only be called Monsters Of Folk. The culprits are Conor Oberst, M.Ward, Jim James [ My Morning Jacket] and Mike Mogis [ Bright Eyes and producer extraordinaire] they formed M.O.F back in 2004 when they toured together and 2009 sees the release of their first album soberly titled Monsters Of Folk.

It's not just another side project for them since they're touring the album and will even stop by A'pen on Nov 22nd as part of the Crossing Border Festival.

Mumford & Sons "Litte Lion Man"

There is quite a folk scene growing in London. The wonderful Laura Marling and Noah & The Whale have one other band in common: Mumford & Sons [If you want to try other bands from that scene: Jay Jay Pistolet or Johnny Flynn are good acts too]
M&S is a London based quartet led by Marcus Mumford, they have a couple of EPs under their belt and the first album will be out later in October on Island Records. It will be called Sigh No More.

As an appetizer they've released a first single from that forthcoming album: Little Lion Man



For more music and to keep an eye on them, check their Myspace: www.myspace.com/mumfordandsons

LIVE DATE they're on the excellent line-up at Crossing Border in A'pen on Nov 22nd [full line-up on http://www.crossingborder.be/programme.php?ID=5&lang=nl ] Personal highlights: Bony king of Nowhere, Steve Earle, Madensuyu, Laura M, Monsters Of Folk, Patrick Watson, Wild Beast...

Mercury Rev ' Love is Pure'

When Mercury Rev released their 7th studio album last year, they offered a second one as free download to their fans. Strange Attractor is an instrumental album that veers towards poetic ambiant. It's a collection of 11 songs that grab you by the hand and take you on a trip to wherever you want to go. And it's obvious the band enjoyed themselves recording it, which makes it all the more special.

You can still get that album for free on their website : www.mercuryrev.com

The opening track "Love Is Pure"



Mercury Rev's Discography:

• Yerself Is Steam (May 14, 1991)
  
• Boces (June 1, 1993)
  
• See You on the Other Side (September 19, 1995)
  
• Deserter's Songs (September 29, 1998)
  
• All Is Dream (September 11, 2001)
  
• The Secret Migration (January 24, 2005)
  
• Snowflake Midnight (September 29, 2008)
  
• Strange Attractor

for more info: www.myspace.com/mercuryrevmusic