Slow and Euphonious #3

Hi! Hey! How are ya? Sorry its been a little bit since the last post my brain space has been pre-occupied with all kinds of less fun things. This does not mean however that the world of music has slowed down in the slightest!

So, lets get into it!

#1. Julia Jacklin. “Crushing”

I first came across this brilliant musician while doing my bi-yearly trawl through the Triple J musical archives. I was shocked that I’d never managed to find her cover performance of the Strokes’ “Someday” before now, because it’s such a fantastic rendition of an already fantastic song. I’m not entirely sure how to genre-fy her music, it’s two parts 50’s pop soul and one part 90’s depressive angst, with a sprinkling of unique yet beautiful vocal work.

Needless to say the bucolic spring months here in Vancouver have added to an increase in my ambient infatuation with her music, and just in time for her new record to come out.

As the sun has continued to emerge I have been very appreciative of Ms. Jacklin’s latest offerings and strongly recommend if you have some time to check out some of her live performances such as NPR.

 

Personal highlights: 

“Pressure to Party“, “Leadlight“, & “Motherland”

 

#2 The National. “You Had Your Soul with You”

It would be fair to say that I am a National fan. I own multiple copies of their records, digitally, on cd and vinyl, I have a few band shirts, and a tour poster. I first fell in love with this band while watching an obscure music segment that used to air on MTV Fridays at midnight called “The Wedge”.   Instantly as the sounds of “Mistaken for Strangers” hit my earholes I was enraptured.

So when the the boys from Cincinnati decided to air drop a brand new song and news of a new album I was a happy camper. The rhythmic feel of the song is very much a return to complex form of older National records but still maintains a similarly mature melodic approach as with their more recent releases.

Needless to say I am more than a little excited to see what the whole album entails when it releases. My musical tastes still haven’t fully recovered from the pioneering heights of “High Violet” So here’s hoping “I Am Easy to Find” can give us a little taste. 

Give the song a listen and let me know what you think.

 

“You Had Your Soul With You.”

 

#3. Flume. “Hi This is Flume (Mixtape)”

This offering is a little bit different then I normally recommend but what else is this place for than for exploring the edges of music you may not normally discover.
Flume is a Electronica producer from Australia who gained acclaim with his release self titled album and follow up collaboration with Chet Faker.

This mixtape is a 42 minute sonic and visual journey. At its core it feels more of a complete musical idea than a lot of current mainstream pop offerings. Though most of the songs are just about 1 and a half minutes long execution of a concept done well makes up for the slapdash potential nature of a mixtape.

 

The music on this cut is experimental, jagged and sometimes off-putting but it is something very fresh. I highly highly recommend if you have any interest in EDM to give the full 42 minute album video a watch, it’s stunning.  Would that other producers take such outlandish approaches to making tapes and albums.  Give it a shot, the glitch hop may pleasantly surprise you.

Personal highlights: 

“Jewel“, “Dreamtime“, & “Is it Cold in the Water?”

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Hopefully you find some good listening in these recommendations, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed what April has offered so far!

Thanks for stopping by
J.