Music
Originally published on Monday, 16th February 2009
New Look. Brooklyn, NY.
Whether you’re an aural afficianado or just need some tunes to kick start the weekend, UJ’s sonorous sleuth scratches out the latest and greatest from the music scene for your listening pleasure.
New Look
Hailing from Brooklyn via Toronto, the couplet consisting of molasses-larynxed 23 year old singer Sarah Ruba and husband beatsmith Adam Pavao are tearing it up. Somehow they’ve managed to twin pop, skittish ‘80s synths, soul and Eliot Lipp beats to amazing effect. That, combined with the fact that they’re best bessies with Detroit polymath, Jimmy Edgar, isn’t too bad either. Grab a free download of ‘Function Of Your Love’, featuring Mr Edgar himself here. They’re also on a mini London tour next week, including a set at Beyond The Valley’s Fashion Week party next week.
New Look are playing Beyond The Valley’s LFW Party as part of Grok on Monday February 23rd. Or, if you ain’t got an invite, check them at The Patchwork Pirates’ legendary Thugs&Hugs shindig at The Legion in Shoreditch on Sat Feb 21st.
The Strange Boys
I have to admit I’m loving the left-of-centre, Pixies-esque twang of this Austin-based quartet. Their perfectly formed ramshackle gee-tar roll makes one pine for sawdust covered dive bars, Bud, trucker hats and a girlfriend called Jolene. In a good way. Like listening to The Sonics through the speakers of a broken down Chevy, you’ve got to love the lo-fi. Catch their album ‘And Girls Club’, dropping later this month, but in the meantime grab the excellent ‘Heard You Want To Beat Me Up’ here.
MySpace page
Passion Pit
Even if you’re done with Valentino’s day, I thought I should throw this in. Passion Pit’s subtly flamboyant melodic pop (written and recorded by Michael Angelakos as a Valentine’s present for his girlfriend) went from love in Boston to a European tour within months. Sounding like a melancholic Hot Chip fronted by Hayden Thorpe of Wild Beasts, there’s no doubt this chaps tunes will find its place with all those lovers – both new and jilted. Michael, along with a band of misfits, will be playing Cargo Feb 23rd. A must.
Passion Pit are playing Cargo with Hockey and Bear Hands on Monday also. A busy night all round.
Top 5: What UJ’s loving right now…
‘80s-inspired synthpop: Jeremy Jay ‘Love Everlasting’ (Unsigned) – Tear jerking synthpop that makes you think of soft focus montages. Nice. FREE DOWNLOAD HERE.
Piano-touched dancefloor burner: Glimpse ‘Drifting’ {Carl Craig Mix} (Planet E) – Emotive music for the floor by rising star Glimpse. Stunning.
Krautrocky re-rubs: History Clock ‘Macho Wizard’ (History Clock)– Re-rub tomfoolery that sounds more like A Mountain Of One than A Mountain Of One.
Genre bustin’ mix: Devlin ‘Bicicleta Mix’ (Unsigned) – Spank Rock’s Devlin throws more sounds up in the mix than Optimo. Kinda. FREE DOWNLOAD HERE.
Neck jerkin’ beats n’ pieces: Offshore ‘Girly’ (Stuff Records) – Sounds like Thavius Beck, Jimmy Edgar and Cylob collabo. Damn.