Altar Eagle* – Breakdown (NAT)
Tulsa, Oklahoma band Altar Eagle are new to me this week, having stumbled across them while meandering about the expanses of the internet, specifically in this case on Soundcloud.
They pull off the neat trick of sounding both modern and retro at the same time (I have spoken about this before). They are a little like Beach House meets Cocteau Twins.
/RjK
*Artist 546
Ombre* – Weight those words (NAT)
Ombre are another band that my buddy Matt highlighted when I saw him last weekend. My trip to Coventry proved very fruitful musically! They are signed to Asthmatic Kitty Records, which I found to be a mildly amusing name, and this is taken off their recently released album Believe you me.
Is it just me or does the singer here sound a little like Kurt Wagner (of band Lambchop) singing in Spanish?
/RjK
*Artist #543
Sorie Kondi* – Without Money, No Family (NAT)
I had the pleasure of hearing blind Sierra Leone singer Sorie Kondi being interviewed by Lamin Fofana on WFMU last week. Creole must be one of the most lyrical languages I’ve ever heard spoken.
He played this track during the interview and I enjoyed just about as much as anything I have heard thus far in 2012. It is so pure that it filled me with joy when I heard it. Additionally, the video contains some amazing scenes.
I seem to have been going through a real World Music phase in recent weeks. There is just something so refreshing about it.
/RjK
*Artist #536
Tame Impala* – Feels like we only go backwards (NAT)
Tame Impala are band hailing from Western Australia. They make Lo-fi, washed out pop that reminds me a little of blog favourites Best Coast. The somewhat trippy video here is rather fitting too I thought.
I also found out that an impala is a medium size antelope. You learn something new every day…
/RjK
*Artist #531
And now for something completely different! This is taken from The Sound of Siam: Leftfield Luk Thung, Jazz and Molam from Thailand 1964 -1975, which was released on Soundway Records a couple of years ago and I discovered recently.
I can’t quite pinpoint exactly what I like about it but it has a manic otherworldliness that somehow just speaks to me. I promise to turn down the esoteric a notch in the coming days!
/RjK
*Artist #529
Tinariwen – Tenere Taqqim Tossam (Four Tet Remix) (NAT)
Tinariwen are a group of Berber musicians from Northern Mali (which I have been reading is a pretty fractious place at present). This is a remix by London DJ Four Tet, who I posted earlier in the year. It is taken from the 2011 release Tassili.
I don’t think I could have conceived a scenario where I would be listening to music like this before starting off my blogging journey. One of the great things about it is that it has taken me to so many places I could never have imagined going to.
/RjK
*Artist #525
LV* – Work featuring Spoek Mathambo (NAT)
DL Incognito* – Universal love featuring D-Shade (NAT)
Hip hop banger that I have been meaning to post for a while from Canadian rapper DL Incognito.
/RjK
*Artist #516
New Navy* – Zimbabwe (NAT)
This is perhaps a little light but fun nonetheless. Sometimes a jangly guitar riff is enough, particularly on one of the rare days where the sun shines in Dublin and it actually feels summery.
I am not sure though that I would be picking Zimbabwe as my holiday destination of choice just at the moment though…
I don’t know too much about New Navy other than they are Australian. Their radio friendly sound makes me think it won’t be too long before I hear a bit more from them though.
/RjK
*Artist #514
Janka Nabay & the Bubu Gang* – Feba (NAT)
After a week of classic tracks and artists New Artist Thursday (as always) brings something a little bit different!
Janka Nabay is a native of Sierra Leone and proponent of Bubu music, a frenetic type of dance music from his home country. The Bubu gang are a band of US collaborators (mostly hip NYC residents) and I think the cultural melting pot produces something pretty great, a little like the Owiny Sigoma Band who are a London/Kenya fusion.
RjK
*Artist #510