School of Language
Label: Thrill JockeyGenre: Pop
After their sophomore album, Tones of Town, the band Field Music called it quits, in a sense, momentarily, but not really. They didn't break up, but instead kept working, individually, trying to be as productive and creative as they always wanted to be. I assume they have plans to make music as Field Music again. In the meantime, School of Language is the first product to surface from the hiatus. The first single, "Rockist Part 1" (there are four parts of the song on the album) finds David Brewis taking his School of Language moniker seriously as a barrage of looped and layered vowel sounds stream through the song, but thankfully not the album, in its entirety. By part 3 of "Rockist" the looped vocals take a backseat and sound like a more traditional instrument. Working by himself, the similarities between Brewis and Andy Partridge seem more prominent. If "Rockist" tickles your proverbial fancy, take a gander at the album stream. Brewis tours the States beginning in March, fleshing out his one man band with Doug McCombs (Tortoise) and Ryan Rapsys (Euphone).
Rockist Part 1 [MP3, 5.3MB, 320kbps]
www.thrilljockey.com
www.memphis-industries.com
www.schooloflanguage.co.uk
Link this artist: save to del.icio.us | Digg this
Angela Desveaux
Label: Thrill JockeyGenre: Country, Folk
So, the photo here might not do Angela Desveaux justice. Then again, if you see country girl instead of modern Lizzie Borden, maybe this does work. Montreal-based Desveaux's layered country-pop calls to mind fellow countrywoman Kathleen Edwards, or fellow North American Lucinda Williams. (Yeah! Go continent!) (If you can't tell, I need a holiday break right about NOW.) Angela's debut album Wandering Eyes is likewise avaliable NOW. Peace for the season.
Heartbeat [MP3, 5.4MB, 170kbps]
http://www.angeladesveaux.com/
Link this artist: save to del.icio.us | Digg this
Brokeback
Label: Thrill JockeyGenre: Electronic, Experimental
Brokeback — a.k.a. Douglas McCombs from Tortoise and Eleventh Day Dream, and a few friends — offers dreamy release in this lovely track. Let's see, how many soft and cushy adjectives can be piled up on "Name's Winston..."? Ethereal, soothing, idyllic, pensive. There's four, at least.
Name's Winston, Friends Call Me James [MP3, 3.5MB, 160kbps]
Link this artist: save to del.icio.us | Digg this
Trans Am
Label: Thrill JockeyGenre: Electronic, Rock
Many artists have offered up the requisite anti-Bush song this summer; Trans Am opted for an entire album's worth with Liberation. Not every track holds its own: "Uninvited Guest" is unoriginal B-side material, based on the well-circulated "Bushwhacked" MP3s. But the other two cuts featured here prove that Trans Am can make their point quite effectively by speaking softly and carrying a big bassline.
Remote Control [MP3, 4.0MB, 192kbps]
Outmoder [MP3, 3.4MB, 128kbps]
Uninvited Guest [MP3, 3.3MB, 192kbps]
www.thrilljockey.com
www.transband.com
Link this artist: save to del.icio.us | Digg this
Mouse on Mars
Label: Thrill JockeyGenre: Electronic
Mouse on Mars have mastered many genres by showing allegiance to none; rather, they rely on sound songwriting to make even their most adventurous work feel just right. This cut off their eighth LP, Radical Connector, is a case in point: a breathy vocal pop track sliced 'n' diced in a vocoder-stutter-funk stylee without once losing sight its memorable tune.
Mine Is in Yours [MP3, 6.8MB, 192kbps]
www.thrilljockey.com
www.mouseonmars.com
Link this artist: save to del.icio.us | Digg this
Tortoise
Label: Thrill JockeyGenre: Jazz
Tortoise's latest track cuts to the chase with a tight, driving dose of spacial jazz. While you still won't hear them on commercial alternative radio anytime soon, it's as close to a "single" as you'll ever get from these cats.
It's All Around You [MP3, 5.8MB, 192kbps]
www.trts.com
www.thrilljockey.com
Link this artist: save to del.icio.us | Digg this
