Song of The Day: Anna Von Hausswolff – Deathbed

Written by . Posted on May 1, 2013
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The longest piece of music to be released so far this year, ‘Deathbed’ is nine minutes of Jefferson Airplane power, trembling guitars and unusual church organ-based composition.

One of City Slang’s newest signings, Anna Von Hausswolff (daughter of controversial artist CM von Hausswolff) has the soaring voice of Kate Bush, but with much less of a “song” driven imagination. She’s currently on tour with Efterklang and apparently the UK gigs are selling out fast. The hints of Nick Cave darkness and PJ Harvey strength leave me eager to hear her debut album Ceremony, to be released May 17th 2013 in Europe.

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Song of The Day: Bob Brozman & Djeli Moussa Diawara – Maloyan Devil

Written by . Posted on April 30, 2013
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The Song of The Day serves as a tribute to one of the great names in world music.

Bob Brozman, the internationally-renowned American slide guitarist and ethnomusicologist died last Tuesday, April 26 2013. As well as working within his style of blues and ragtime, he was known for his open-eared collaboration with musicians from Hawaii, India, Okinawa, La Réunion, Papua New Guinea and Ireland.

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Song of The Day: Valentina – Gabriel

Written by . Posted on April 29, 2013
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Am I breaking the rules by choosing the same artist for SOTD twice in the same month? Probably, but when Valentina is producing so much good music it would be wrong not to, particularly if it’s just so I don’t look lazy, which is of course completely untrue. Kinda.

If the song sounds familiar then it’s because you probably heard the Joe Goddard reworking played a million times back in 2011. Originally conceived as an acapella, the Hot Chip impresario morphed the track into a house banger that quickly became one of the most played tracks in clubs and on the radio (plus 1.5 million YouTube views so far). Now Valentina has revisited the track to finally mark her stamp on it and, in my humble opinion, it is the best incarnation of the song yet. It moves in a more trip-hop, Kate Bush meets Massive Attack direction and features some masterful production work from Kwes.

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Song of The Day: Oscar – I Don’t Care

Written by . Posted on April 28, 2013
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No, it’s not Pistorius’ court plea, but it is the follow up to flaming hot London producer Oscar Scheller‘s debut ‘Never Told You’, called, ‘I Don’t Care’.

He doesn’t really sing, but kinda talks his way through a tune awash in apathy, caked in nonchalance, and wrapped up in a grimy film of insouciance. He sounds like he doesn’t care, but the production (heavy bass and drums reminiscent of Blur’s ‘Song 2′) is surprisingly simple and accomplished.

It’s what we should all do on a Sunday. Not care. Take a load off. Turn it up. Sigh. If only Monday never came …

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Song of The Day: Big Wave – GW Bridge

Written by . Posted on April 27, 2013
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Ain’t nothing wrong with Torquay, the Devonshire town has got it all: Agatha Christie was born there, steam trains are still a-go-go and there is even a replica Golden Hind moored in the habour. Who’da thunk it? And now they can add a really awesome band to its profile thanks to indie-pop five-piece Big Wave.

Big Wave announced this week that their latest single ‘Goldmine’ will be released on golden cassette via Art is Hard on May 20th. It actually took me a second and third glance for me to realise that ‘GW Bridge’ is only the B-side for this release as it has enough punchy pop hooks to warrant being a single in itself. It’s like the cheery, unaffected step daughter of a marriage between Kenickie and Elastica – despite the fact its named after a popular suicide spot in New York. We’ll leave it up to you to google that one.

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Song of The Day: Gétachèw Mèkurya – Shellela Besaxophone

Written by . Posted on April 23, 2013
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Ethiojazz – that is, the form of jazz popular in Ethiopia between 1969 and 1978 – has been having a resurgence in the last few years due to the Éthiopiques series of reissues on Buda Musique and revival bands such as the Either/Orchestra and Debo Band. For today’s Song of the Day, we’re going right back to beginning of the style.

Gétachèw Mèkurya is one of the most famous exponents of Ethiojazz. He’s known as the Negus of Ethiopian Sax and has worked with bands such as the Either/Orchestra and The Ex. This recording, though, was made before he was even exposed to jazz. ‘Shellela Besaxophone’, from 1959, is a take on a traditional shellela, a song sung by soldier bragging of their abilities, but instead of being sung by one man with a masenqo (one-stringed fiddle), Mèkurya has arranged it for his saxophone and the Haile-Selassie Theatre Orchestra.

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Song of The Day: Giselle – Silk (Zebra Safari remix)

Written by . Posted on April 22, 2013
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I have to be honest, I hadn’t heard of either Giselle or Zebra Safari until yesterday. Hopefully my delayed enthusiasm for them both can be redeemed by making the Zebra Safari remix of Giselle’s beautiful track ‘Silk’ Song of the Day.

For those uninitiated, Giselle is an Australian singer-songwriter who reminds me a little of Bat For Lashes or Feist in the way that she creates pop music – just not how you know it. Zebra Safari on the other hand are a Swedish production duo who have been rapidly building a name for themselves recently for some masterful remixes, of which ‘Silk’ is certainly one of their best efforts to date.

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Song of The Day: Bibio – You

Written by . Posted on April 21, 2013
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Warp speed ahead! What a year for one of Britain’s most iconic film and music labels. A retrospective, major albums from their leading artists, and now, the first track from Bibio‘s forthcoming album Silver Wilkinson.

This is not an electronic Gotye, but it does have a similar feel for melancholy, demonstrated on the sublime ‘Lovers’ Carvings’, until the Avalanches style cut and paste electronic quirkiness kicks in with the  gorgeous vocal and treacly beats.

It’s got ‘first nice weekend of the year soundtrack’ written all over it. Enjoy!

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Song of The Day: Snakehips – On & On

Written by . Posted on April 20, 2013
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Sunshine! At last! This must be how those folks in Game of Thrones must have felt after their last winter! Because that’s how we should rationalize our seasonal shifts, right? Through ficticious soft-porn tv shows about the middle ages, only with dragons and better teeth.

I would imagine SOTD’s will suddenly take on a sunnier disposition from now on thanks to this break in the misery. I certainly felt a track suited to a weekend chilling on in the sun would be more appropriate, which lead me to London production duo Snakehips. Hip hop beats reminiscent of De La Soul perfectly match the RnB and Soul guitar licks and hazy synths on this funky little number. Snakehips’s nod to the classic Erykah Badu track in the title and the main refrain just seals the deal, with the vocal provided by up-and-coming London-based Australian George Maple.

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Song of The Day: Owiny Sigoma Band – Margret Aloor

Written by . Posted on April 18, 2013
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When I first heard this track by Owiny Sigoma Band on Lauren Laverne’s BBC 6 Music show, I instantly fell in love with how the traditional Luo melodies are juxtaposed with electronica, drums and bass. The nyatiti (an eight-stringed lyre) and traditional Luo percussions are combined with computerised drum loops, squeaks, blips and echoed reverb vocals, creating happy, hypnotic madness.

Praised by The Independent and The Observer, the band’s second album Power Punch is out now via Bronswood Recordings. You can download ‘Margret Aloor’ via their SoundCloud page here. Take a listen to the track below.

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INTERVIEWS

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    Aziza Brahim in London, April 24-26 2013

    May 19, 2013

    Aziza Brahim in London (SOAS, St Ethelburga’s, World Heart Beat Music Academy) April 24-26 2013 By Marco Canepari “We have to bear in mind our story, …