Leila
Label: WarpGenre: Electronic, Experimental
On her myspace page Leila lists her influences as "life...noise...stuff." I'd just add "beats" to that list for a quick summation of her sound. These tracks her label has generously offered for your downloading pleasure demonstrate Leila's controlled cacophony as she gathers audio odds and ends, samples of this horn and that vocal clip, and masterfully stitches the sounds together into something you can dance to and something you can chill to, respectively. It's pastiche-core in the vein of Solex. Leila brings in a hodge-podge of guest musicians to add their own noises and stuff like Martina Topley Bird, Terry Hall, Andy Cox (The English Beat/Fine Young Cannibals), and her own sister Roya Arab. Blood, Looms, and Blooms is just the latest in her decade long recording career. Leila has worked with Björk and Aphex Twin and recorded as Grammatix and Little Miss Specta. Admittedly, I've got some homework to do as I've missed out thus far on her earlier efforts. Shame on me.
Little Acorn feat. Khemahl and Thaon Richardson [MP3, 3.2MB, 128kbps]
Time to Blow feat. Terry Hall [MP3, 2.9MB, 128kbps]
www.warprecords.com
www.myspace.com/leilaarab
Link this artist: save to del.icio.us | Digg this
Maximo Park
Label: WarpGenre: Pop
I've always been a sucker for things British (colonial exploits excluded). Recently I had a mad craving for a British-made Lion Bar, which has the perfect combination of caramel, chocolate, wafers and what I swear tastes like nougat (although I am told I am wrong on this). It's the perfect candy bar and I just can't seem to find anything else as good stateside. While I was visiting the British establishment in New York that actually sells this confectionary achievement, I couldn't help but enjoy the salesman's accent. Which brings me to my point, Maximo Park. While Maximo Park is perhaps more straight up radio poppy than the music that I general enjoy (but always want so much to like), it's British radio poppy! So I love it! And while I commend all of the accentless Swedish acts that astound me so, there is just something about someone singing in a Newcastle accent over a ragey guitar. Go figure. So as the sun gets hotter and the days get lazier, I recommend giving in to your sillier side, snapping up a Lion Bar (if you can find one) and slapping some "Our Earthly Pleasures" on the Pod. Earthly pleasures, indeed.
Girls Who Play Guitars [MP3, 3.08MB, 128kbps]
www.warprecords.com/
www.maximopark.com
Link this artist: save to del.icio.us | Digg this