Bruno DuPlant, Paulo Chagas and David Saint – Late Winter, Early Spring [2011]

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Genre: Jazz, Experimental

Location: France, Portugal and Canada

By Sjef

French bassist Bruno Duplant (here also on small percussion) and Portuguese clarinetist Paulo Chagas have found a soulmate in Canadian gu-zheng player David Sait, for a further exploration of minimalist yet expressive sound sculptures. The music on the two long tracks is inspired by the catastrophic events in Japan during winter and spring of this year, and the sound of the music is very much influenced by traditional Japanese music.

I quote from a website that knows more on the subject to give a feeling of the approach :

“The job of the artist is to suggest the essence, the eternal qualities of the object, which is in itself a work of natural art before the artist arrives on the scene. In order to achieve this, the artist must fully understand the inner nature of the aesthetic object, its Buddha nature. This is the hard part. Technique, though important, is useless without it; and the actual execution of the art work may be startlingly spontaneous, once the artist has comprehended the essence of his subject.” and also “the essence of the sounds of nature suggested by the least possible means. Or, in further abstracted form: the essence of sound itself suggested by the least possible means” (From Zen Buddhism & The Arts)

Graig D’Andrea – B L T ‘s [2010]

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Genre: Akoestisch / Folk

Locatie RIVERSIDE, Connecticut, US

Craig D’Andrea’s third solo release with Candyrat Records is a progression of his style and writing continuing to grow and develop. In this release, you can sense Craig has shown us even more about himself than in his past two releases. Craig’s music is highly melodic and optimistic while never losing the upbeat groove.

… And the B.L.T’s is a collection of tracks that required a few listens to take it in. My first thought was this CD was probably not better than his last, but after 4/5 times I can clearly see now it is a big step forward.

This is a CD that I will be playing often and for a very long time. Thanks for the great music Craig.

Haley Bonar – Golder [2011]

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Titled after the dreams she had about the record cover being shiny gold, “Golder” represents Haley striving to become a better artist, growing with each song she writes. Recorded at Pachyderm studio (Nirvana, PJ Harvey) in Cannon Falls, MN, Haley and band went in knowing most of the songs in advance, but reconstructed them while in the studio. The songs themselves are largely a reflection of a wonderful and lonely year spent in Portland, Oregon. Haley recently returned to the Twin Cities in July 2010, became active once again in the amazing music scene (including the formation of a punk/new-wave side project Gramma’s Boyfriend) and is set to get out on the road and play songs from “Golder.”

Golder,” is an evolution into something brighter, heavier, and stronger.

Toby Burke – Mexico City [2011]

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Genre: Folk / Indie / Rock

Location: Los Angeles, USA

This new record has roots far from Mexico City where it was recorded.

The first time I ever recorded my music must have been in 1998. The year before I moved from Melbourne, Australia to Los Angeles. My old friend (and former guitar teacher), the great Melbourne songwriter Dan Warner talked me into it the session. He knew Mick Thomas (of the wonderful Weddings, Parties, Anything), who had a studio in a shed at the back of his house and we arranged to spend a day recording there. Mick was one of my heroes, still is. I was intimidated, honored, excited, embarrassed – you name it. But everyone got behind the songs and it felt great.  Shortly after that, my friend Will and I worked into the night burning CDs, printing, cutting, folding and stamping artwork into some sort of salable package.

MaMuse – Strange And Wonderful [2011]

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Genre: Akoestisch / Lyrisch / Roots

Locatie CHICO, California, USA

The birth of MaMuse as told by Sarah Nutting and Karisha Longaker

The Muse fell from the sky one night and landed in the spaces between our heart beats. She instantly took a liking to the rhythm in our chests, and her sweet melody joined the pulse.
One of us picked up father bass, and thumped it’s belly in response. The other picked up father mandolin, and plucked it’s ribs. Mother guitar and sister flute could not resist being a part of such sweet merriment and soon joined in. The Earth, hearing the whole incident, called out words of inspiration and encouragement.

“Yes!… keep going!”

When the Earth calls, one must listen….. So we opened our hearts and let sweet harmony roll off of our tongues. In unison our voices shot out into the deep of night and a star fell from the heavens; the magic spark!

MaMuse is born.

The Legendary Lightness – Ancient Greek Breakfast Club [2011]

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Genre: Indie / Pop

Locatie UK

Actually, they’re drummers: Daniel Hobi for Gabardine and Dominik Huber for Schnitzer, two well acclaimed indie bands from Zurich. They met while travelling through Europe – both were tour-musicians for Disco Doom who opened for Built To Spill. Back from touring, they decided to do their own thing. In February 2010 the two of them retreated to a French castle at the foot of the Pyrenees. In the middle of nowhere they not only cut up firewood to keep themselves warm in an unusually cold winter, but created the basic tracks for an album in nonstop recording sessions. „Ancient Greek Breakfast Club” will be released in spring 2011. And yes, the drummers still drum, but only in the background. The spotlight is on guitars, organs and vocals. Odds and ends that show their true color in the song. And the secret love of drummers for melody.

Ed Sheeran – One Take [ep] [2011]

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20-year-old multi-talented musician Ed Sheeran has announced a free EP download – ‘One Take’ – which is available now at www.edsheeran.com. The EP features three songs: the previously unheard track ‘U.N.I’, which will appear on his upcoming debut LP, fan favourite ‘You Need Me’ and his cover of ‘Wayfaring Stranger’, all of which were recorded in one take at the Rocket Studios in London last week.

Ed announced the EP via his twitter account (@EdSheeran@EdSheeran) this morning and within minutes it was the no.2 Worldwide Trending Twitter topic.

This follows an incredible 3 year journey for Ed, during which the London based singer has played over 600 shows and self released five EPs – the most recent of which, ‘Collaborations’, featured artists including Devlin, JME and Wiley and ended up at Number 2 in the iTunes chart after just 24 hours. A few weeks later he signed with Atlantic Records and is now in the studio working on his debut album, ‘+’, due out in the summer.

Al Lewis – In The Wake [2010]

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Genre: Akoestisch / SingerSongwriter

Locatie Cardiff / London, Wales, UK

Al Lewis is a singer-songwriter from North Wales who now shares his time between Cardiff and London.
A relative latecomer to music, it all began in earnest, back in 2007 when Al released his first two singles ‘Waiting for You’ and ‘I’ll be the Moon’ and a Welsh language EP entitled ‘Byw mewn Breuddwyd’ all on his own label. In March that year Al co-wrote and performed the song ‘Llosgi’ (Burning) on the televised ‘Song For Wales’ competition, winning the songwriters category and coming second overall. Al would go on to perform slots at the ‘Wakestock Festival’ alongside Mark Ronson and at the inaugural ‘Swn Festival’ in Cardiff organised by Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens.
Now a regular face on the Welsh Language music scene, 2008 saw two further releases, ‘Dilyn Pob Cam’ & ‘One Way Love Affair (EP)’, gaining Al further exposure via plays on BBC 6 Music.
In 2009 Al released his first Welsh Language album, spending several weeks at number one in the Welsh Language album charts. In the same year a new EP (Skin & Bones) in collaboration with fellow Welsh compatriot, Paper Aeroplanes’ Sarah Howells, was released.
With a sound reminiscent of the classic singer-songwriters of the 70’s (Tim Buckley, James Taylor), but delivered with a modern twist akin to Bright Eyes & Sufjan Stephens, the big city is already holding much promise for the boy from Wales.”

Nostalgia 77 – The Sleepwalking Society [2011]

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Genre: Hyphy / Jazz

Locatie LONDON, UK

Nostalgia 77 is the working name of Benedic Lamdin, a prolific producer who’s produced 11 albums in a variety of guises since 2004. His music encompasses everything from sample-based compositions to collaborations with real, live musicians of the calibre of Keith and Julie Tippett, amongst others. The Sleepwalking Society, the fourth Nostalgia 77 album, very much falls into the latter category, this time placing the German singer Josa Peit centre-stage.

Album opener Sleepwalker states its case with emphatic rhythm, bluesy vocals, winds and roaring organ while Golden Morning delights with its softly played snare drums, wood-toned double bass and Peit’s hushed yet heartfelt vocals. Mockingbird features lyrical sax that falls like dappled sunlight on a melancholic ode to loneliness which slowly disappears into silence.

Chris Riffle – I Am Not From Here [ep] [2011]

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Genre: Akoestisch / Folk / Indie

Locatie New York, New York, US

Born in a one room cabin in the woods of Bothell, Washington, Chris Riffle has lived in and around the Northwest most of his life. Chris spent a good portion of his childhood learning to live simply, with no electricity or running water in the mountains of Washington State. He even spent some summers in a teepee. This gave his dad ample time to write and sing his own folk songs around the fire at night, and planted the musician seed early in Chris.

Throughout high school and into college, he was a founding member of Chrysler-Stewart and the Stewartesses– a lounge pop ensemble influenced by Sergio Mendez and the Brasil 66, the B-52s, Jan & Dean, and Combustible Edison. Chris played guitar, bass, keyboards and sang for the group.