Isabelle Antena is a Parisian songbird whose bossa- and samba-inflected electro-Francopop is as glamorous as it is playful. And she’s been making hip jingles for almost three decades. Antena released Camino del Sol 25 years ago on Benelux, the continental stepchild of Factory Records. So while New Order et. al. were taking over clubs worldwide, Antena were mostly, and criminally, overlooked. Yet, you listen to the coy cover of “The Boy From Ipanema” and, beyond sounding like it could have been recorded this year in a Williamsburg loft, you realize where bands like Stereolab got their groove. Antena is back with Tujours de Soleil, ostensibly a follow-up to Camino. “Spinner” is perfect for urban adventures, but unfortunately the only version I can find for download is only two-thirds the length of the original. Fortunately, Isabelle has a career-spanning catalog of MP3s on her site, so make a sampler and plan that trip to Paris sooner than you thought.
When Life Gives You MP3s, Make a Podcast
S.S. Cardiacs
No. 1 candidate for my new favorite song (at least for the month of June): “Noo Noo” by S.S. Cardiacs. Jessie Stein sounds like she’s about 12 years old until you hit that chorus, “Word play is the foreplay of the gods,” and then it’s like we’re all back in high school again. Off-kilter rock, bizarre brainy lyrics, lots of t’s and i’s left uncrossed or undotted; great fun. The suggestion for S.S. Cardiacs comes from 3hive alumni Shotgun and Jaybird, representing full-on for Canadian indie rock. (We’ve posted so much from up north this year that we’ll be named Knights of the Canadian Empire soon, just you watch.)
Play It As It Lays #239
Beatnik Filmstars
They’re back! After a seven year break, the Beatnik Filmstars, Sam’s and my favorite lo-fi noise pop band of the ’90s, have released a 23-song album, In Great Shape, that’s full of hooks, fuzz, crashing cymbals, strange noises, muffled voices, and buckets of pop. It’s like they never left!
Win Tix to Psapp, Jose Gonzalez & Juana Molina
Balún
The emerging theme from the last two days is unintentional: more electronic treats from Latin America. Today it’s Balún—Puerto Rico’s answer to Múm. You had no idea Puerto Rico had an answer to Múm, did you? I certainly didn’t. Consider ourselves clued in. Balún’s songs tend toward the cinematic: gentle textures unfolding into soft rhythms and child-like vocals. These downloads are from the past couple years, but they do have a new album coming out in June on Brilliante Records out of Chicago. The video below is their first from that release, Something Comes Our Way. Oh, and Sam, let’s hear you work this phrase into conversation, “hay una piscina en la nube (there’s a swimming pool in the cloud).”
Entre Rios
A three-day weekend’s nothing compared to the joy of Darla Records finally getting with the times and converting their fabulous label CD sampler series, Little Darla Has a Treat for You, into a download-only affair (albeit 64kbps…). You may have already read Sean’s Junk Drawer post about Little Darla Has a Download for You but I’m guessing both Clay and I will take the opportunity this week to finally herald some of our fave Darla acts. I’ll start with Entre Rios. Think of them as Argentina’s Everything But the Girl, because Isol just sings and Sebastian just writes. Or don’t think of them as anything, and just get lost in the angelic loveliness of “Claro Que Si” (one of my favorite Spanish phrases to drop into everyday conversation) from Entre Rios’ 2005 album Onda.
Gordo Gringo
We’ve been enjoying Beat Radio for a while here at the Hive, so it’s always nice to hear what else the guys have going on. Guitarist/vocalist Phil Jimenez and drummer Jim Mansfield, along with two more friends from Huntington, Long Island, New York, have been busy with Gordo Gringo, whose simple melodies and pensive chords mix just right with Jimenez’s gravelly, cathartic vocals. “Old Suitcase†is a particularly bittersweet anthem, and the other two tracks here aren’t far behind.
Psapp
We like to keep this main column on 3hive filled exclusively with brand, spanking new posts. But in this case we’ll make an exception. You see, Psapp (pronounced “sap,” fyi) was one of the very first posts to this site and we’ve carefully followed their progress. Galia Durant and Carim Clasmann, aka Psapp, are consistently one of 3hive’s most popular artists due, in large part, to Grey’s Anatomy fans searching for their song “Cosy in the Rocket.” The good folks at Domino have released THREE new MP3s, two from the new album The Only Thing I Ever Wanted, and one, “Wet Box,” which is a vinyl only b-side on their UK release. “Wet Box” is a more playful song, along the lines of their first Melodic tracks, filled with “anything that’s silly and uses stupid noises” (the band’s words). The album tracks work in Galia’s sultry vocals, for a feel that snuggles right up to “Cosy in the Rocket.” So get downloading, because you never know how long these links will last, and hit their e-card for details on their upcoming North American tour dates with Juana Molina and José González.
Hi [MP3, 3.6MB, 128kbps]
Tricycle [MP3, 2.6MB, 128kbps]
Wet Box [MP3, 2.8MB, 128kbps]
Original post: 02/23/04
Sounding like the best eclectic electronic comp since 2002’s Six Records Breaks Your Heart Again. The first track, “Difficult,” is from that comp, Tracks for Horses. The second track, “Dad’s Breakdown,” isn’t as strong, but fun nonetheless. They’re super lo-fi MP3s, Melodic’s definitely not showing much of their hand, but damn, can they pick ’em! Check out labelmate Pedro as well…