Matt and Lee's Music Set Me Free

04/17/2014

Throw in some folk, country western, oldies, and a large horror movie collection and that's what you'll find and more on Timber Timbre's latest output "Hot Dreams". This is some seriously odd listening and it is most likely not for the casual listener. It will leave you with some weird feelings as you listen to frontman and songwriter Taylor Kirk's low pitched drawl, along with uneasy orchestration and textures and off chords. It will all make you feel like you're in the middle of a Western horror movie- which is most likely exactly where they want to place you when you listen to it. -M

From the press release:
"Hot Dreams is Timber Timbre at its most vivid cinematic vantage. The elements – frontman Taylor Kirk’s singular intonation, quavered in slow, low register, over co-composer/co-producer Simon Trottier's stark orchestration – connect arid western to plodding horror with the pomp of Hollywood phantasm."

This sounds like a David Lynch movie come to life on CD or maybe cowboys gone insane! It's creepy, funny in a tongue in cheek kind of way, and haunting in its weirdness. Mixes western with horror and some goth and psychedelic influences are also thrown in the mix.
Against the stark melodies is Taylor Kirk's baritone, which is slightly reminiscent of Johnny Cash with his intonation. But much creepier!
Stand out tracks, "Beat The Drum Slowly" which has a slow, haunting melody with horror movie orchestration, "This Low Commotion" which has a retro 50s vibe with some eerie western. And the creepy "Run From Me", which starts out like a 1920's era piano ballad that builds up into a giant orchestrated climax, complete with airy ethereal female vocals. This could be from a serial killers perspective.
Weird, uneasy listening, but unique and Kirk's voice is oddly addicting. Give a listen! -L

"This Low Commotion" from the CBC Studio 211 live session. Check them all out if you can, they are great!

http://youtu.be/PdWnbg8FSzo

Listen to "Hot Dreams" here http://open.spotify.com/album/3RcnXTluKv9rAgzOy6bXnm

Check out CBC Music: http://www.cbcmusic.ca Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBCMusic Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cbcmusic Timber ...

04/17/2014

Meet SOHN (formerly spelled S O H N) the London born musician, songwriter, and producer who is now located in Vienna. He put out his wonderful debut album "Tremors" on April 7th through 4AD. I was very impressed with it right off the bat and was surprised that Lee also took an immediate liking to it as well, as she doesn't usually listen to this type of music. In fact, she liked it so much that she took my copy of Tremors hostage and still has yet to give me it back. I think it's her way of coping with her stressful job, as she drives to work every day listening to it. For that reason I gave her the honor of doing a solo review of the album. -M

I started out just reviewing the single "Blood Flows" from this artist but I fell in love with the whole CD -Tremors. And yes I stole it from my son. But I gave it back...kind of. Anyways, It's electronic R&B with some experimental beats. His voice is amazing! Plaintive, stark, and sexy, with a blue eyed soul style. The lyrics are atypical of electronic music- a bit dark and full of heartbreak, longing but full of hope. The electronic drum backbeats, synths and voice manipulations all work well with the starkness of his voice. Standout tracks for me are the single "Blood Flows", with the chorus refrain, "my love, my love, my love, Don't love me" sung with a sad, longing voice. The synths reach a haunting crescendo that works so well. God, give him a hug! I also love the shortest track, which is a piano ballad if you will, called Paralyzed" and it has the same kind of theme, him singing about how someone left him, "and I'm paralyzed, nobody can slit my throat, nobody can leave me lying by the side of the road like you can",
The refrain from "the Wheel" which is a song about how he "died a week ago" becomes oddly comforting, "all this fuss over nothing, reinventing the wheel", ie don't sweat it, we will all die someday! In the beautiful "Veto", his voice is absolutely perfect! the last part where he harmonizes with himself will give you goosebumps. Some may feel his voice should be more raw and emotional but the starkness of his pitch perfect haunting voice with this imagery is so much more effective than a voice dripping with emotion. The theme of remaining hopeful in spite of the darkness shines throughout. Mesmerizing, haunting and unique CD. Can't wait to see him in concert next month at the Sinclair in Boston on May 12th! -L

Spotify link to listen to the album> http://open.spotify.com/album/6xGF4UA9pQweZI5yUBFlRq

Bloodflows 4AD session

http://youtu.be/ZWpvoylTLO8

SOHN · album · 2014 · 11 songs

04/11/2014

Check out Arc Iris's brand spankin new music video for "Canadian Cowboy". Very visual and definitely worth a look

Anne Beal uses a mix live action and a variety of animation styles to bring the track to life.

04/01/2014

Lots of new album releases out today! Pick one up at your local record store like I'm going to. In the meantime listen to one or a few on Spotify to see if you like it. Lee and I will be sure to reviewing some of this in the upcoming weeks!

Manchester Orchestra- Cope (Atlanta, Georgia indie rock veterans with their 4th (LOUD!) full-length - http://open.spotify.com/album/04GabS9SHT9GSirfHl7YJJ

Arc Iris- Arc Iris (local girl from Providence who I'm seeing tonight for her cd release show! A mix of folk, alt-country, classical, chamber pop and so much more.) http://open.spotify.com/album/4zTSJSGPoghHXt8MVNW1KP

White Hinterland- Baby (experimental, electronic, R&B, soul) http://open.spotify.com/album/2JPc4jd0kaE4vKv6mlt5XW

S. Carey- Range of Light (former percussionist/singer of Bon Iver. Indie folk) - http://open.spotify.com/album/3bBG6gG1Y5ngeVTl8GmhCK

Cloud Nothings- Here and Nowhere Else (emotional indie rock/post-hardcore) - http://open.spotify.com/album/3NNSJt3gWSmPmnjCwZyLA5

Also out- Timber Timbre "Hot Dreams", Pure X "Angel", Architecture in Helsinki "Now + 4eva", Band of Skulls "Himalayan", Small Black "Real People" EP, and I don't know how much I will listen to it but I gotta give a shoutout to Chiodos with their new album "Devil". -M

White Hinterland · Album · 2014 · 10 songs.

03/30/2014

White Hinterland is Casey Dienel, an amazing talent from Scituate, Mass. Lee and I got the chance to see her perform alongside Lady Lamb the Beekeeper at the Columbus Theatre a couple weeks ago. She is super nice and talked to me for a while about music gear she uses and several other things. She's dropping a new album on Tuesday called "Baby" through Dead Oceans, and there is a full album stream that has been up for several weeks. The first single and music video is called "Ring the Bell" and it's infectiously catchy. White Hinterland has dropped her more ambient/dream pop side from the last album and developed a much more in your face approach to singing on her latest. It still has a otherworldly approach to it, especially in the vocal sample of Dienel that plays throughout the track but it's quite obvious that Dienel has a serious penchant for classic soul and 90's R&B and she shows that perfectly on this track alongside shimmering synths, fast snappy drum beats, triumphant horns, and just an overall great feel to it. -M

I love this artist and she is more soulful and taking more chances with her voice on this song. She twists it around and makes it her own. Love the somewhat eerie backing voice sample throughout-with the repetitive refrain that holds the song together. Love the catchy hook-"ring the bell", the electro beats and all the nuances of her incredible voice.
Her voice is the centerpiece here and shines throughout! A song you can dance to but with so much more to it. The lyrics have a positive quality to them that lifts you up and makes you feel good! The more obvious horns at the end lend an anthemic feel that goes along with this. Had the pleasure to see her in concert and she is a one woman band doing all the electronics on the keyboard! Will review this later. -L

Album stream is here http://soundcheck.wnyc.org/story/check-ahead-white-hinterland-baby/

Check out the lyric video and music video below!

http://youtu.be/xKPpfSWyBfU

White Hinterland, 'Baby' out April 1st, 2014 on Dead Oceans. iTunes: http://smarturl.it/whitehinterland2 // Amazon: http://smarturl.it/whitehinterland3 SCD: ...

03/29/2014

Providence's own Arc Iris (Jocie Adams's debut solo record, formerly of the Low Anthem) upcoming self-titled album comes out this Tuesday and it is streaming in its entirety on several websites. Spotify has 3 of those tracks up and I'll highlight the 1st one "Whiskey Man" and the 3rd on the album. Beautiful harmonies with folk-plucked acoustic guitars with cello and violins. It has a very warm, organic feel to it but the lyrics seem to be a bit darker than the music suggests. It's simple but orchestrated and makes you think of the country. I'm definitely looking forward to buying this album when it comes out Tuesday. -M

Link to those 3 songs- http://open.spotify.com/album/4zTSJSGPoghHXt8MVNW1KP

The album stream- http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/arts/music/pressplay.html?_r=2&

Not usually my style, but really pretty harmonies and alt country vocals mixed with a cool violin throughout, makes for a different effect. A little banjo creates the more country flavor of this song. The lyrics make this song a cut above the rest in their style and ambiguity, "whiskey man, he's creeping in my open doors again", is it a stalker, is it a metaphor for alcohol? Whatever it is , I like it and want to hear more from this artist! -L

"Whiskey Man" Music video- http://youtu.be/-uji7lZHRWg

Arc Iris · Album · 2014 · 11 songs.

03/29/2014

While this isn't my favorite track off of Lyla Foy's debut album "Mirrors the Sky" it's the single she chose and just released a music video for it. It's definitely a good choice as it has this cute, repetitive beat (kind of reminds me of something a 90's boy band might use but I can dig it) over simple yet engaging instrumentation. Lyla has some great elegant whispery vocals that are melodic and catchy. The album as a whole is definitely a good start for this young British singer-singer. -M

A little electronic pop sound with a nice sweet echoey voice effect, but that's it, nothing different, nothing daring. A little too spare sounding for me. Kind of boring all in all. Maybe she mixes it up on the other songs but this one I could take a nap to. Sorry, take more chances with your voice and maybe I'll stay awake. -L

Song link- http://open.spotify.com/track/5RoKkTiMvzRtZWaLcskDE5

Album link- http://open.spotify.com/album/4SzIpAMMprn1lzbEKogwCI

Music video below

"Feather Tongue" from the 3/18/2014 album, Mirrors the Sky Order Mirrors the Sky Sub Pop https://megamart.subpop.com/releases/lyla_foy/mirrors_the_sky iTunes...

03/29/2014

Liars dropped a new album this past Tuesday titled "Mess". The New Yorkers are known for changing their music style drastically throughout their discography. The first single and 6th on the album is called "Mess on a Mission" and it dabbles in electronic, futuristic sounds that are both dark and dirty, yet at the same time extremely danceable. It just pulses right through you and I don't think it would sound too out of place in a dingy British nightclub. Slurred vocals that soon turn into a rallying cry of anthemic yelly vocals "a mess on a mission! The "FACTS ARE FACTS AND FICTIONS FICTION" 4 bar accapella part that goes back into the beat gets me everytime. Bloody brilliant. Not for the casual listener -M

Cool electronic retro sounding pop song with some dark overtones. Love that British sounding voice by way of NY and the way it makes me feel I'm in a time warp! Great hook to the chorus, makes me want to daaaance. The vocal effects make the song new and different but love the retro overtones! Really like this song. -L

http://youtu.be/tf1fbu7zLII

Spotify track- http://open.spotify.com/track/5wdI6wzC66Ea5DYgn5b9fm

"Mess" album- http://open.spotify.com/album/5Yyt7GBe2YwY3ddjsbv1Em

Some Mess on a Mission remixes- http://open.spotify.com/album/0GDydqhU7jzFPlyou14h01

Liars · Album · 2014 · 11 songs

03/29/2014

Welcome to the first post of the new page, alongside my fellow reviewer Lee. Read our bio for more information. You may have seen or heard about Future Islands performance weeks back on the David Letterman Show. Frontman Samuel T. Herring put on a display of some serious dance moves much to the amusement of Letterman and the studio audience. That song "Seasons (Waiting on You)" opens the Baltimore bands 4th full length "Singles" and first for their new label 4AD. It has an immediate feeling to it with good vibes all around with Herring's trademark unique vocals that are both soulful yet rough at the same time. This single sets the mood for the rest of the 10 tracks on the album, which is great. Check out the music video below! -M

http://youtu.be/-5Ae-LhMIG0

Ok, this single makes me feel sooo happy! Everything comes together; the new wave electro beat, the husky voice of the lead singer with a touch of Motown, that is quite arresting; and I can almost see the swaying palm trees! Makes me want to get up and sway with them! Check out the music video on Letterman and y'all see what I mean . Whoops, getting carried away. Great catchy song hooks, great hard to forget voice, and great beat . Would definitely want to hear more from them! -L

Spotify links to this song and the album as well as the Letterman performance. Enjoy!

http://open.spotify.com/track/41X9To0bQ4fpoSRri4NHiI

http://open.spotify.com/album/1dKh4z5Aayt8FFDWjO5FDh

Making their network TV debut, Future Islands performed "Seasons (Waiting On You)" from their album, "Singles."

08/28/2013

Absolutely heart breaking. Caspian is an extremely hard-working band and this is just brutal. I'm sure they will make it through this terrible loss but R.I.P. Chris. You will be greatly missed.

08/28/2013

Was wondering about a Justin Vernon project after hearing he would be taking a break from Bon Iver. Well it turns out he's been in this band since 2005 and they put out their first album in 2009. This is the first single off the new album "Repave". Grab the album on September 3rd through Jagjaguwar.

Volcano Choir 'Repave' out September 3, 2013 on Jagjaguwar iTunes http://smarturl.it/volcanochoir_itunes Amazon http://smarturl.it/volcanochoir SCD http://sm...