Fans of JEFF The Brotherhood rejoice! The Nashville twosome are set to release new album ‘Heavy Days’ in mid October. First single ‘Bone Jam’ is another 3 minute garage wonder. The lyrical refrain “how much money can we spend” is in clear contrast with the video, which (purposely) looks like footage from one of a junior school play.
JEFF The Brotherhood will play almost anywhere and with almost anyone so keep an eye out for upcoming tours with with Ted Leo, Shonen Knife and Ty Segall.
First thing tomorrow morning I’m heading to paris courtesy of the nice people at Eurostarto spend 3 days at the Rock En Seine festival. I can’t wait to check out the likes of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Passion Pit, Metric and MGMT live as well as catching Faith No More again over 10 years on.
Hopefully I will be able to update the blog on the go with photos and reviews of the festival so keep checking back.
This blog’s full name is pinched almost word for word from the excellent Tom Wolfe book ‘The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test‘. In it (if I recall correctly) Ken Kesey urges his gang of Merry Pranksters to descend on towns and infiltrate their mentality like ‘Cougar microbes marching in like army ants...’
It feels like for the past few weeks I have joined my own cult group devoted to producing heartfelt psychedelic pop music. It all started when I was sent Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros‘ debut album ‘Up From Below‘…
Initially I was suspicious of how close the band came to capturing Kesey and co.’s aura. Everything from the bohemian clothes, the commune mentality and the dated album cover could be dismissed as part of some new ‘hippie-ster’ fad. The band even travel on a converted silver bus! Ultimately I kept retuning to the sheer magnetism of the songs and that is all that mattered.
The album is an epic journey emphasising love, peace and a sense of community whilst introducing an array of instruments including trumpets, xylophones, harmonicas, accordions, pianos and tons of percussions and whistles. Elements of The Mamas & The Papas, Buffalo Springfield, some Johny Cash and June Carter as well as recent releases by the likes of Elvis Perkins,The Arcade Fire and successive Conor Oberst projects spring to mind . In the hands of a lesser band this 60s and 70s influenced music could be perceived as insincere but with TheMagnetic Zeros it remains genuine and fresh.
From the opening claps and stomps of first single ‘40 Day Dream‘ I know I had stumbled over something quite special. Indeed, the first half of the album is crammed with single material ranging from the fairytail-esque ‘Janglin‘ to the euphoric title track ‘Up From Below’ right through to the uplifting gospel tinged ‘Carries On‘.
The name Jade is referenced throughout the album as she represents a muse of sorts for the ensemble. Her vocals and subtle melodic emphasis provide many of the best moments so it is a pity that the track bearing her name is the weakest on the album. This is rectified very quickly as Jade herself goes on to lead the standout track, ‘Home‘, . Its tongue-in-cheek delivery and deliberately syrupy lyrics can’t camouflage the breathtaking melody and genuine sense of the protagonists’ love.
After the emotional and musical peak of ‘Home‘ the band reveal a reflective side in the second half of the album. There is still room for ‘I Come In Please’ with its rolling daydream melody and trippy qualities but the likes of ‘Desert Song’, ‘Black Water’, ‘Simplest Love’, ‘Brother‘ and ‘Kisses Over Babylon’ (sung in Spanish) aim to be both brooding and epic. The sparse arrangements of these tracks and their cinematic delivery further highlight how talented this ensemble really are.
Album closer ‘Om Nashi Me’ is the perfect footnote for this adventure. The track reiterates many of the underlying themes that appear throughout the album and its amazing trumpet lead and mass chants will remain with you hours after its last note has rung.
Top notch musicianship, stellar songwriting and heartfelt singing make this a truly amazing aural experience and in my books ‘Up From Below‘ is already a nominee for album of the year.
I stumbled across this David Ford video again earlier in the week, I have seen the whole one man band thing done before but never with such perfect simplicity. The video makes for great viewing and the track itself isn’t half bad
Featuring Adam & Darcie yesterday reminded me El Perro del Mar. Her latest mini album ‘Love Is Not Pop‘ had an official release in her native Sweden way back in April. With a release date for the rest of the world (or better anyone without an internet connection) finally set for September/ October we can all rejoice in her latest piece of glorious pop melancholia.
Husband and wife duo Adam & Darcie‘s new album ‘California Trail‘ is a deceivingly uncomplex slice of sunshine pop. Like Charlotte & Magon, who I featured on Cougar Microbes a few months ago, there is an unashamedly romanticism in this Utah duo’s music which is akin to eavesdropping on their relationship.
Scratch below the surface and you will find great songs that come close to some of Jimmy Eat World‘s more introspective moments from the ‘Clarity‘ album, particularly with the inclusion of xylophones at the right time. This great attention to detail means that gently strummed guitars, inventive instrumentations and sweet girl-boy melodies are cautiously sprinkled for maximum effect. However, in contrast with JEW‘s music ‘California Trail‘ remains gloriously lo-fi throughout.
Imagine a drive from Adam & Darcie‘s home state of Utah towards the Californian coast whilst a glorious Californian sun beckons. ‘California Trail‘ would be the prefect soundtrack.
This is where I alienate half my readers by writing about my second biggest love, football. The new season is about to begin in all the major European leagues (if it hasn’t already begun) and its looking like exciting times; unless you are an AC Milan supporter that is.
Back in January I wrote a thinly veiled attack on Manchester City‘s hostile transfer policy. Sadly in that post I correctly prophesied the inevitability that Kaka would move to Real Madrid.
Turns out all the money in the world CAN buy you prestige.
TRACKS:
Beethoven’s Fifth Gold Digger (Kanye West vs. Beethoven vs. Walter Murphy)
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