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Music, Videos

Bon Iver at AIR Studios (4AD/Jagjaguwar Session)

by JustinLeave a Comment on Bon Iver at AIR Studios (4AD/Jagjaguwar Session)

This set, recorded at Air Studios by the band’s label, is Bon Iver stripped to the bare essentials:  two voices (Justin Vernon and his collaborator Sean Carey) and two grand pianos.  The result is 25-minutes of beautiful, fragile and gentle renditions of songs that have previously featured on Bon Iver’s albums and EPs. I found it absolutely captivating. I hope you do too.

For those with an eye on the detail, here’s the set list:
1. Hinnom, TX
2. Wash.
3. I Can’t Make You Love Me
4. Babys
5. Beth/Rest

Music

Rachel Sermanni – Black Currents EP

by JustinLeave a Comment on Rachel Sermanni – Black Currents EP

This must be one of the most beautiful EP’s I’ve heard since Valentina’s gorgeous Weights EP was released last May.

Sermanni hails from the Highlands of Scotland, which immediately gives you an indication of what style her music will be. We’re talking folk of the most haunting kind here. Anticipation around her debut release (although this isn’t strictly speaking her debut as she put out a very limited cd last year on a small imprint) has been building for a while – albeit under the mainstream radar.

Black Currents holds just four songs but each one is perfectly balanced and her voice is almost heartbreakingly lovely. It’s one of those records you put on, lie back, completely lose yourself in and don’t want to end.

Here is one of the tracks and a link to buy the EP is below…

Buy it from Rough Trade: here 

Music

Bonobo – Black Sands Remixed

by JustinLeave a Comment on Bonobo – Black Sands Remixed

Simon Green (aka Bonobo) released an album in 2010 called Black Sands; it was a magnificent piece of work and widely acclaimed. Trip hop at its finest. It was inevitable then that a remix album would follow. And here it is. And it is a truly superb album. Anyone with even the remotest interest in multi-layered, hugely atmospheric soundscapes has got to get their hands on this.  It’s trip hop and dubstep all mixed and mashed with some wonderfully jazz/electro moments – the whole kit and caboodle of electronic music.

There are several standout tracks by some seriously talented producers here. Google the album and you’ll find some good, solid reviews. For me, the tracks that immediately lift this album far and above the parapets of its peers are these:

The album is out on Monday. And you can grab a copy here

Music

Leo Zero – Acid Life

by JustinLeave a Comment on Leo Zero – Acid Life

Well, the Leo Zero tracks are coming thick and fast this week. But then his debut album came out this week and it’s a belter. So here it is, well a couple of  the standout tracks from it. It’s a Friday night after all. Ready? Let’s go…

 

Grab it and the exclusive promo disc from Rough Trade here

Music, Videos

Lana Del Rey – Born To Die

by JustinLeave a Comment on Lana Del Rey – Born To Die

So this week saw the release of Lana Del Rey’s debut album.  The haters continue to hate but frankly it’s a brilliant album. And here’s the bonkers video for the title song Born to Die. It’s ludicrously brilliant and very kitsch. But I think that might be the point. Buy the album – she’s definitely earned the moniker of a “Gangster Nancy Sinatra”. It’s a decadent slice of pop.

Buy it from amazon here