30.8.12

I Belong in Your Arms

This is pretty sweet. A Japanese version of I Belong in Your Arms by Chairlift. There is a limited edition 7" of this version available here, in case you're interested. You can find the original version on their excellent album, Something, which was released earlier this year.

Chairlift - I Belong in Your Arms (Japanese Version)

24.8.12

Play

I recently discovered iamamiwhoami's Kin. It's pretty great; kind of like what you'd pour out if Bjork, Fever Ray and Portishead were all dropped into a blender. But whatever, the comparison is just to give you an idea; this album stands on its own.

I ran into Play about two weeks ago and I can't stop listening to it. This song is like a joyous celebration of life, love; whatever. It's like magic.

She's done up videos for each of the 9 songs on the album, you can check them out if you click here.

iamamiwhoami - Play

6.8.12

Faustian Echoes

I'm finally going to see Agalloch this coming weekend (at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco). I got into them a couple of years ago when they gave us Marrow of the Spirit. I remember looking up more info after first hearing the album and being disappointed that I missed their show which was barely a couple weeks prior to my discovery of them. But, you know, that's just the way it goes.

2012 brings us a new Agalloch EP, Faustian Echoes, the title track of which is a 21 minute epic that I'm looking forward to hearing in a live setting. I'm also looking forward to hearing my favorite song, Black Lake Nidstång, another epic (17 minutes!) which you can find on the aforementioned Marrow of the Spirit Album. I can't wait! In the meantime, check out Faustian Echoes.

Agalloch - Faustian Echoes

4.8.12

Robot Hero in Print

I've been meaning to scan this for ages and have only now just gotten around to it. This is the only time anything I've ever written has been printed in an actual, physical magazine. It was 2005 and I reviewed Kate Bush's Aerial for Slow Graffiti, which was a zine that was published by people from the now defunct Bowlie message board. Upon re-reading the review, I still feel the same way about the album although I would worded some of my thoughts a bit differently at this point in my life.

Also, I feel compelled to say that I've been learning to love The Red Shoes. Well, maybe not love it, but at least enjoy it on some level. It's not as bad as I make it out to be, it's just a departure from what she had been doing up to that point. In any case, the aforementioned review is pictured below. If you feel like reading it, you can click on the image to enlarge it.


Spring of Life

I've been so busy being unemployed, I missed a Perfume single that dropped a few months ago. So this new song, Spring of Life, is pretty much more of the same with Perfume, which is not a problem for me because I like the formula. Electro/dance music with sparkling production and the auto-tuned voices of gorgeous Japanese girls; what's not to love? It's simply a good time.

What really puts this song over the top for me is the video. I love the robot theme. It sorta makes me think of Blade Runner and all the little "friends" that are created by J.F. Sebastian. And the girls' electric light dresses are pretty spectacular. Check it out.

Perfume - Spring of Life