The debut CD, The Bird of Music, by the new all-girl group, Au Revoir Simone,
is a welcome breath of fresh air. The music is a combination of my favorite girl groups
from the 80’s, mainly The Go-Go’s and The Raincoats.
The Pop wildness with all those synthesizers sends me back (not in a retro way)
to the 80’s and sunny California, while the more serious lyrics gets me to gray London
and that independent stance strongly advocated by The Raincoats.
The other girl group that I was into in the early 80’s, The Slits, (who were making
very gutteral and experimental noise music) are not here, but their alternative
spirit is.
Take your time with this CD, for it reveals itself slowly and in layers. The great
songs are ‘Sad Song’, ‘Night Majestic’, ‘The Lucky One’, ‘Dark Halls’, and the awesome
‘The Way To There’.
This CD is as sweet as The Be-Good Tanyas’ first CD, Chinatown.
cover and back photos by Flora Hanitijo.
Au Revoir Simone is Heather D’Angelo, Erika Forster, and Annie Hart.
Words and Music by Au Revoir Simone.
Copyright & Publication 2006 Triple Keyboard Action
Our Secret Record Company
www.myspace.com/aurevoirsimone
~Au Revoir Simone |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | July 12th, 2007, 11:07am
After one spin of the second Peter Bjorn And John CD, Writer’s Block, I
became an enthusiastic advocate for Globalism. Here’s a Sewdish group that have
made a great new CD – with all the lyrics in English.
Even though the musical references from the Beatles; 80’s new wave; Guided
by Voices; and all those great Sarah Record bands (e.g. The Field Mice) are there,
the music is totally fresh and new.
The monster song is ‘Up Against The Wall’ – JOY DIVISION comes to mind.
‘Objects Of My Affection’, ‘The Chills’, ‘Young Folks’, and ‘Roll The Credits’ are
also massive.
The emotional tone is young and exuberant, hopeful but wary. The lyrics are simple
but very sharp and right on. Take a ride on this CD to another world and enjoy.
Artwork & Handwriting by Graham Samuels
Original Band Photo by Johan Bergmark
Peter Bjorn And John, Writer’s Block EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING SCANDINAVIA AB
copyright 2006 V2 MUSIC SCANDINAVIA AB
www.peterbjornandjohn.com
~Peter Bjorn And John |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | June 12th, 2007, 10:16am
On viewing some Neutral Milk Hotel sites on the web recently, I came across a
statement by a N.M.H. fan stating that Pitchfork, the ‘new music’ website, in favorably
reviewing Arcade Fire’s 2004 debut CD Funeral – made Arcade Fire famous.
This is not true. Arcade Fire became famous because they are an awesome group,
who (just like the groups of the Elephant 6 community) play only ‘independent
and authentic’ music, and get great joy in doing that.
I will even go so far as to say that Arcade Fire is at its core a very Elephant 6-like group,
except that its from the north as opposed to the south. Those of us who heard Funeral
when it first came out in the fall of 2004, did not need Pitchfork’s review to confirm
the notion that Funeral was a great monster of a CD.
I remember trying to turn the N.Y. artist Dan Asher onto it, and when he didn’t like it,
screaming at him to listen to it more carefully. Within a week he was following
the group all over the East coast.
I had turned him onto Joanna Newsom’s amazing debut CD Milk Eyed Mender
in the spring of 2004, and by that summer he was photographically stalking her live
shows, here, and in Europe, so I was happy that he got it.
Like the Elephant 6 band, Olivia Tremor Control, Arcade Fire became famous
through word of mouth from their supercharged live shows. I vividly remember the
great reviews their live shows generated.
Arcade Fire’s new CD Neon Bible has 4 or 5 songs that are real masterpieces.
“Intervention”, “Ocean of Noise”, “Keep The Car Running”, and
“(Antichrist Television Blues)” are all totally incredible musical recordings, which are probably even
more epic and spectacular when heard and seen live.
In my opinion, the church organ on “Intervention” is worth the price of the CD alone.
Buy the CD, don’t miss them live, and be amazed.
first 3 images: Arcade Fire, FUNERAL, The Arcade Fire 2004, MERGE RECORDS
COVER ART: Tracy Maurice
PHOTO and INSERT: Hilary Treadwell
last 2 images: Arcade Fire, NEON BIBLE, ‘Recorded & mixed during 2006
at “the church” in Quebec. Additional recording was done at Win and Regine’s house,
the St. James Anglican Church in Bedford, Quebec, the Eglise St. Jean Baptiste in Montreal,
as well as in New York, and Budapest. Additional mixing was done at Olympic Studios
in London.’
COVER ART: Tracy Maurice
~Arcade Fire |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | May 2nd, 2007, 12:12pm
I just bought my 4th copy (in ten years) of Neutral Milk Hotel’s 2nd CD
In The Aeroplane Over The Sea and it sounds as fresh and new as when
I first bought it ten years ago.
In my history of Indie music it ranks as one of the top 10 CDs of the last 15 years,
up there with Cat Power’s and the Palace Brother’s first CDs.
Since Jeremy Barnes, who plays drums and organ on this compelling CD,
resurfaced on that great Beirut debut CD last year, and Kevin Barnes, aka
Of Montreal, has just released his 7th CD (a review on that CD will be coming soon),
and Apples in Stereo, (Elephant 6 founder and Apples in Stereo guitarist Robert Schneider plays several instruments, and produced this 2nd Neutral Milk Hotel CD), released their first CD in five years, I felt I should express my thanks to the whole Elephant 6 community for (as a friend of mine
named Cricket said a few years ago) …”saving the music”.
The sound and lyrics on In The Aeroplane Over the Sea at first sound strange and familiar
at the same time, it takes a few listens to get the awesome poetics and place the musicial references.
The whole CD is great and should be listened to, all the way through.
Lead singer Jeff Mangum’s lyrics revolve around Anne Frank’s diaries,
while the music can be described as American hillbilly folk punk. The spirit
that dominated Neutral Milk Hotel and other Elephant 6 groups, was one
of exuberant co-operation, musicians would play in each other’s bands,
and live shows like Olivia Tremor Control’s were famous for their joyous
jam sessions.
PRODUCED BY ROBERT SCHNEIDER
Recorded in the Elephant 6 Recording Company July – Sept 1997
Art Direction: Chris Bilheimer & Jeff Mangum – “Flying Victoria” by Brian Dewan
www.elephant6.com
~Neutral Milk Hotel |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | March 27th, 2007, 3:31pm
I first heard the AKRON/FAMILY song ‘Meek Warrior’ on the REVOLVER USA SAMPLER AUTUMN ’06,
and instantly fell in love. The next day when I went to OTHER MUSIC to buy their current CD –
MEEK WARRIOR – one of the store’s owners suggested I try AKRON/FAMILY’S
debut CD – the self-titled AKRON/FAMILY first, since he felt it was a more focused CD.
After following his advice, but still getting MEEK WARRIOR, and listening to
both CDs, I agreed with his assessment – though I liked MEEK WARRIOR alot.
MEEK WARRIOR is a good CD, highlighting this new group’s experimental adventures,
and jams.
Their self-titled debut CD, AKRON/FAMILY , is more structured, slower, and
delivers a greater emotional punch, on top of some really new sounds. The debut CD is so
awesome – as to rank, in my mind, as high as, Who Will Cut Our Hair, the first
UNICORN CD. But whereas Who Will Cut Our Hair was playful in tone,
the AKRON/FAMILY debut CD is serious and sad.
image 1: AKRON/FAMILY CD cover
Artwork by ALBERTUS SEBA from the ‘The Cabinet of Natural Curiosities’ courtesy of Taschen Books
image 2: AKRON/FAMILY CD
image 3: Akron/Family Photo – MEEK WARRIOR CD insert
PHOTO BY DEBORAH SAMANTHA
image 4: REVOLVER USA SAMPLER AUTUMN ’06 – CD cover
AKRON/FAMILY, AKRON/FAMILY – copyright akron/family – ’05 Young God Records
AKRON/FAMILY, MEEK WARRIOR – copyright 2006 Akron/Family – Young God Records 2006
REVOLVER USA SAMPLER AUTUMN 2006 – MIDHEAVEN.11
~Akron/Family |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | January 16th, 2007, 8:08am
The Annuals debut CD – BE HE ME, is a joyous musical celebration
that also uses, in unpretentious ways, ‘found sounds’, i.e. the sound of crickets.
This band has been compared to that seminal 90’s goup, OLIVIA TREMOR CONTROL,
for their use of quirky twists in the music. For all their technical bravado, they do not lose
sight of the emotional states at the core of the music. When it all comes together, as in
‘Brother’, ‘Fair’, and ‘Sway’, the results are awe-inspiring.
The sound is full, confident and straight ahead exuberant. Not to be missed, if you
like a ‘white man’s’ reggae !
Artwork by Jaime Jones
ANNUALS, BE HE ME copyright Ace Fu 2006
~Annuals |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | November 28th, 2006, 3:32pm
Let me begin by saying that JOANNA NEWSOM’S 2003 debut CD, Milk-eyed Mender,
was probably one of the best CDs of that year, so the expectations for her second release,
were very high. I’ve been anxiously waiting for this CD for a year and a half.
In fact, 2 years ago, I heard an early bottlegged version of “Cosima” – what became,
in a more refined version, the 5th and last song on her new CD, titled Ys.
And just like the GRIZZLY BEAR CD, YELLOW HOUSE , this is a serious
musical document that reveals its gems, only through serious listening. The songs
run long, averaging between 10 and 15 minutes each, therefore I would recommend
that the listener play one song at a time, and really get a feel for it, before moving
forward.
The involvement of Van Dyke Parks, Steve Albini, and Jim O’Rourke, makes
for a state-of-the-art Indie production.
This is a great CD, even though, or maybe because, it makes demands on the listener.
Painting by: Benjamin A. Vierling
Design by: Richard Good
JOANNA NEWSOM, Ys, 2006 Drag City, Chicago
~Joanna Newsom |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | November 16th, 2006, 2:04pm
The new GRIZZLY BEAR CD, YELLOW HOUSE, is a fine example of the
experimental direction some Indie groups are taking. This Brooklyn based group,
which has been compared to ANIMAL COLLECTIVE, because of their use of the human
voice as an instrument, has made a serious musical document. Having said that, the
listeners’ approach to the music must be serious. Casual entertainment seekers
might not be fulfilled by this music. The tracks should be approached one at a time,
it takes a few listens to get into the nuances of each song.
One of the best songs is “Knife” – a roller coaster ride of musical highs and lows,
with great lyrics to boot.
If you are willing to put in the time – the rewards will be huge.
Photography by: Patryce Bak
Design by: Ben Tousley
GRIZZLY BEAR, YELLOW HOUSE, 2006 WARP RECORDS, LONDON
~Grizzly Bear |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | November 16th, 2006, 1:53pm
The CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH self-titled debut CD from summer 2005
is one of the stongest and most uplifting independent disks of last year.
It’s funny how the lead vocalist sounds like the lead singer from James –
that great English group from the early 90’s. How refreshing to come across
an Indie group that can really rock on, as in “Upon This Tidal wave of Young Blood”,
one of the best songs on the CD, and possibly one of the best rock+roll anthem
songs ever, period.
Another great song in the same vein is “Let The Cool Goddess Rust Away”.
While “Details Of The War”, “Over and Over Again (Lost and Found)”, and
“In This Home On Ice” are not as hard driving, they are totally amazing in
their own right.
I also love the two sweet instrumental cuts, “Sunshine and Clouds (And
Everything Proud)”, and “Blue Turning Gray” – that are placed at the right
spots. “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth” is another awesome song
that shows the early Talking Heads influence to great effect.
All you rockers out there: listen and weep; hopefully in celebration !
Art: Dasha Shishkin
Design: Robbie Guertin
ALL SONGS: 2005 CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH
clapyourhandssayyeah.com
~Clap Your Hands Say Yeah |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | August 29th, 2006, 9:48am
BENJAMIN BRIDWELL (above left, both photos) and MAT BROOKE (right) of Band of Horses.
(Photos: Robin Laamanen – courtesy Sub Pop Records)
The debut CD of Band of Horse, EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME,
on first listen was so musically seductive and “sweet”, that I was suspicious as to its
substance. After several spins, that concern disappeared in the face of the dark gravity
of the lyrics.
Benjamin Bridwell and Mat Brooke, the core of this lyric and guitar rich band, have crafted
a CD filled with little, intimate, haunting pop-folk jewels, alongside big soaring epic guitar ballads.
The breadth and depth of the guitars owe a debt to that west coast guitar-god,
Doug Martsch aka BUILT TO SPILL, while the underlying, driving beat and tempo
(on the fast songs) remind me in a funny way of the early RAMONES.
All 10 songs are great and are placed in an order on the CD that is seamless.
The more elaborate songs: “The Funeral”, “The Great Salt Lake”, and “Monsters”
are good examples of the powerful beauty contained in this CD.
Play all the way through, and loud for best results.
Band of Horses, EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME, Sub Pop Records, 2006
~Band of Horses |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | July 3rd, 2006, 2:13pm
