Essential Sounds (2010/05/20)

Welcome once again to your fresh supply of all things fantastic. I have, as always, spent the past week looking in every nook and cranny for the best new music the world has to offer just for you. On the menu this week we have a collective mix spanning from the depths of Denmark to the underground dancefloors of New York. So what are you waiting for? Dig in and bon appetite!

1. “Back To The Fuck Yeah” by Pulled Apart By Horses

Hailing from my former stomping ground here in the UK, Pulled Apart By Horses are a fairly fresh faced alt rock group coming straight out of Leeds. Having only been together as a band since 2008 they are still defining their sound but if this number is anything to go by we should be hearing a lot more from them in the near future. There’s a real juxtaposition between sound and feel with “Back To The Fuck Yeah”, it delivers itself with quite a dirty grungy swagger yet it’s formed from very clean cut guitar and bass lines. With a pretty simple drum pattern and a guitar riff seemingly inspired by Queens of The Stone Age’s earlier material, what we have here is a real booty shaking rock n roll groove. It isn’t dolled up and it’s not by any means pretty but it’s simplicity works and that alone proves that sometimes less is more.

2. “Talamak” by Toro Y Moi

You may be forgiven for thinking that my fingers had been possessed and made to strike the most random of blows to my keyboard when reading the title for this week’s second essential sound, but rest assured “Talamak” is the name of a real song and Toro Y Moi is very much a real musician. And just to clarify even further, I am in full control of my hands… honest. Despite being a nemesis to spell checker Toro Y Moi’s track “Talamak” is a wonderful mix of soft soothing vocals layered against a backdrop of air like static, gentle bouncing synths and a waterfall of filtered declining keys. Throw in a number of alternating harmonies and you have blissful transition of sound.

3. “Oh the Divorces!” By Tracey Thorn

Exploring the more treacherous and darker side to love the first single from Tracey Thorn.

Love and It’s Opposite LP is definitely an affair to remember. The former Everything But The Girl vocalist delivers a rather haunting song which shimmers with equal parts fondness and regret for a failed relationship. Her ever distinctive voice is partnered perfectly with a gliding piano medley and staccato string section for the most part. However as her lyrics begin to dig below the surface of the story the strings become stronger. It’s almost as if the music is mirroring the message within her words, it’s this symbiotic existence between voice and instrument which leaves such a deep impression upon the listener.

4. “Beach” by Mew

Beach is an aptly named song from Danish indie band Mew, who have been on the scene since 1997. After 13 years in the industry is “Beach” the song to break this sensational group of shoe gazing indie Danes through to the rest of the world? We can only hope so, the first thing you notice about Beach is that it is without a doubt the perfect song for summer, in particular summer evenings. The wispy, swooning vocals of front man Jonas Bjerre not only set the tone but are also similar to those of Ben Gibbard from Death For Cutie which will no doubt give them more crossover appeal. With a sun kissed blend of crisp drums, mellow bass lines, whispered backing vocals and euphoric keyboard sections this is an absolute must have for those of you compiling playlists for the forthcoming summer season.

5. “Home” by LCD Soundsystem

Rejoice for the king of New York indie disco and co founder of DFA Records James Murphy aka LCD Soundsystem is back! “Home” is the conclusion to This Is Happening the third and, if rumours are to be believed, final project under the LCD Soundsystem moniker. If this is the track to end it all then we couldn’t ask for more. With more percussion and slinky keyboard work than you could possibly shake a stick at “Home” provides us with a truly infectious groove. Once it gets into the swing of things the only regret you have is that eventually it will end. Along with Murphy’s crooning and the swaggering bass lines “Home” is like an audible representation of a truly great night out in particular it’s final moments. When the music stops you don’t, you just keep dancing and smiling, and really you cant ask for much more than that can you?

–Malcolm Foster

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