THE GIRLS ARE POST (Album Review): Lady Lazarus - Mantic

Lady Lazarus is the new project of musician, writer and artist Melissa Ann Sweat. She recently released her debut album Mantic with the accompanying single ‘The Eye in the Eye of the Storm’, both of which have already received impressive accolades. Lady Lazarus creates music with an ambient yet rhythmic quality, which could essentially be described as a sparse form of experimental dream-pop. 

Acts such as Perfume Genius and Mount Eerie have been cited amongst her influences, but it is the experimental minimalist act Grouper that her work most closely resembles. However, whilst Grouper’s music seems to stem from the Brian Eno school of minimalism, with drone and dark ambience predominating, Lady Lazarus seems to look much more to John Cage, with her tonal simplicity and rotating piano patterns.

Piano is the most consistently used instrument throughout Mantic, and is persistent, sedate and repetitive. The beauty is in the simplicity of the instrument – the spaces between the notes are considered as much as the notes themselves, which lend all tracks on the album a hauntingly beautiful quality that is gently rousing and never boring.

Other instruments are occasionally involved, including harmonica, thumb harp, xylophone, and accordion, which take the lead on some tracks. The most prolific element on Mantic, however, is the voice. Utterances are sporadic but presented highly in the mix where they calmly and nonchalantly capture your attention. Sweat has a very measured voice, with a thick American twang. Well-tuned and delicate, it is particularly reminiscent of Anni Rossi – natural, effortless, soft and feminine.
There is a subtle allure to Mantic, which is perhaps unique, and undeniably measured, poetic and possessing a mechanical beauty.

See  this at TGA at http://thegirlsare.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/review-lady-lazarus/#more-9375

HERE COMES EVERYONE POST: Playlist of the Week – A Royal Wedding Special

Now we at HCE are not ardent royalists or anything, but we do know when there is a perfect opportunity to cash in on the royal wedding hysteria and try and boost our hit-rate in the process. Who knows, maybe it will give old Will and Kate some tips for the reception. So make of this list what you will – whether you are a thorough republican, or find yourself gushing over a spot of blue-blooded romanticism. This playlist could be an honest devotion of some lovely music for a lovely couple, or a mildly sarcastic and ironic spin on the entire royal wedding hysteria. It is yours for the taking, unlike the English crown, which is apparently only given out by God. Ooo, I went there.

1.    “Queen of the World” – Ida Maria
Because at the moment, at least in America’s eyes, Kate really does seem to be queen of the world.
2.    “Common People” – Pulp
The Kate and Wills story seems fairly close to that of “Common People”, except the genders are swapped. Even though Kate is not really that common at all – she went to Marlborough College for Christ’s sake.
3.    “Paparazzi” – Lady Gaga
Needless to say, there will be a SHED load of paparazzi at the wedding.
4.    “Shampain” – Marina and the Diamonds
Obviously there will be lots of Champaign, but with lines like ‘a toast to the bride, a fairy tale ending’, who could resist the comparison.
5.    “White Wedding” – Billy Idol
I think it is actually impossible to have a wedding without this song present somewhere.
6.    “Love’s Not a Competition (But I’m Winning)” – The Kaiser Chiefs
There is an outpour of rhetoric surrounding the royal wedding based around the fact that they are in love etc. This irritates me. People are really interested in the royal wedding because we are all inherently nosy and the royals are an acceptable public exhibition. There are plenty of couple in love, possibly more in love than Will and Kate are. But with their money and God given status etc., if love is a competition, they are certainly winning.
7.    “Big Balls” – AC/DC
Because there will presumably be a very big ball.
8.    “Banquet” – Bloc Party
See above, but with slightly less innuendo.
9.     “Crackpot History” – Adam and the Ants
Because the royal family has a history that reads like a very rich, inbred American soap opera.
10.    “Hearts on Parade” – American Hi-Fi
Because the royal couple will not only have their wedding in front of the world media, but their whole relationship will now essentially be perceived as public property. That must be incredibly difficult, and I for one would not want to swap my situation for theirs.
11.    “Crashed the Wedding” – Busted
With the amount of police and attempted protests planned for the wedding day, there will surely be a certain amount of wedding crashers.
12.    “Modern Man” – Arcade Fire
Because although the royal family, and especially the men in the royal family are often rather backward, and uphold archaic and sexist traditions. William however does seem, at the moment at least, to be a much more forward thinking, equality driven individual.
13.     “Under Pressure” – Queen
An excellent double whammy – because one day Kate will be queen and on Friday she will be under pressure. Honestly how do I come up with this gold?
14.    “Throw Away Your Television” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Because if you are a solid republican, you will really need to thrown your television out for the next few days. And you radio. And your computer.

See this at HCE at http://t.co/rufYf7f

MORE THAN THE MUSIC POST: New Music - With Love From Humans

Bath based With Love From Humans formed in 2007 and have recently experienced a successful signing to American label Expat Records. They have just released their eponymous debut EP, full of their own action-packed, energetic version of indie pop. The group has supported Laura Marling in the past, and are set to play Glastonbury, Green Man, and a whole host of other great UK festivals this summer, and are also preparing for their first album release, which is scheduled for 2012.

With Love From Humans’ music has been linked to the sound of The Kinks, The Beach Boys and The Stokes, but in reality their music is much more similar to their indie-pop contemporaries such as The Wombats and The Kooks, featuring guitar lead tracks, lots of major keys, upbeat riffs, and solid, expressive vocals with lashings of range and expression. They also have a recognisably British aura, which, whilst positive and forward looking also contains hints of self-consciousness, disconcertion and apprehension within their lyrics.

Their music has a few instrumental twists, including various brass parts, but with influences such as Blur, Biffy Clyro and The Libertines, their music is fairly typical, accessible indie fare. With Love From Humans might not necessarily be hugely innovative, but their music is just so spritely, fun and upbeat, and executed with genuine competency and flair, that you cannot help but enjoy their music. To my mind, there is always space for youthful positivity and pop happiness in music, especially when it is executed with such genuine intrigue and instrumental ability.

Great things are expected from With Love From Humans, and with what looks to be a great summer (hopefully!) and with lots of festival appearances arranged, this might just be their year.

See this piece at MTTM at http://www.morethanthemusic.co.uk/the-next-best-thing/new-music-with-love-from-humans/

THE GIRLS ARE POST: Introducing Friends

Samantha Urbani, Lesley Hann, Oliver Duncan, Nikki Shapiro and Matthew Molnar are Friends – yet another fantastic band to emerge from the Brooklyn scene, they could quite easily be filed next to contemporaries Beach Fossils and The Hundred in the Hands. Recently signed to Lucky Number here in the UK, Friends only formed six months ago, but have worked hard and fast to quickly establish themselves. They have already played numerous key venues on the NYC DIY circuit including Silent Barn and Death By Audio, as well as starting a 29 date tour with label mate Darwin Deez.

Friends create a multi genre sound that is typical in alt-indie circles, drawing on aspects of noise pop, new wave, no wave and dream pop, as well as poly-rhythms from the African Diaspora and American folk. Having said that, the band still have a sound that has definite roots in New York music culture, with effects, timbres and techniques that resemble earlier NYC artists such as Tom Tom Club and ESG.

Friends’ music has a rather ramshackle, lo-fi quality to it, and has the urgent vibe of demo tape recordings. At times sparse, the music comprises a simple mix of multi-layered vocals and dynamic, percussion. On track ‘Sorry’, a soft but rich aural wave, full of beautiful, delicate timbres merges to create a sonic mural. Other tracks include a variety of interesting samples, such as white noise, a subway trainand Logic Pro audio clicks, and diverse percussion including marimbas, tambourines, cabassas, shakers and hand drums.

What is most appealing about Friends’ sound, however, is the gorgeous female vocals – the grain and character of the vocal, which has a beguiling timbre, is physically palpable. With heavy reverb usage, and a general air of melancholy, the vocals are particularly reminiscent of The Shangri-Las – aching soft, contemplative and fragile.

Friends are an exciting new band, and definitely ones to watch throughout 2011.

Read this at TGA at http://bit.ly/h1pW43

HERE COMES EVERYONE POST: Playlist of the Week: Holidays!

Herecomeseveryone.org are going on holiday next week, so in celebration of this I have compiled a short playlist of great holiday songs and songs that relate to our chosen destination of Paris. So please do have a peruse through the list, whilst we enjoy our holiday!

1.    ‘Holiday’ – Madonna
The most ultimate (and over-used) holiday song. This song is cute, infectious, and perfectly constructed dance-pop - perfect to get you in the holiday mood.
2.    ‘Holiday’ – Weezer
A less well-known holiday song, but with an excellent, upbeat holiday vibe and sweet, naive lyrics about travelling to far off, distant lands.
3.    ‘Paris’ – Friendly Fires
One of the best Friendly Fires tracks, with the perfect sentiment of moving away, living the dream, and being somewhere beautiful. One day, at least.
4.    ‘Foux du Fafa’ – The Flight of the Conchords
From the excellent FOTC, a very funny chanson style track with the kind of French that most of us can speak, i.e. not very good French from textbooks.
5.    ‘Une Annee Sans Lumiere’ – Arcade Fire
Yet another beautiful song by Arcade Fire – as calm and tender as you would expect. Translated as ‘a year without light’, this track is typical Arcade Fire melancholy, and includes a fair amount of French. Cause we are going to France, geddit?
6.    ‘Another White Dash’ – Butterfly Boucher
Another travelling song, this time focusing on the elevation of leaving everything behind for a while, of just having a bag and your boyfriend/girlfriend and having everything you’ll need just there. Just a really lovely, lifting sentiment.
7.    ‘Parisian Skies’ – Maximo Park
A great track from the much underrated Maximo Park, with a beautiful evocation of the cream and grey Parisian skies. Both song and concept are subtle and graceful.
8.    ‘Boats and Trains’ – Stornoway
A typical Stornoway track here, subtle and sombre, with an ultimately positive attitude. The song well depicts the excitement, tedium and weariness that is travelling.
9.    ‘Non, Je ne Regrette Rien’ – Edith Piaf
The wonderful Edith Piaf with her perfect ‘Non, Je ne Regrette Rien’. So French, so elegant, and now (for me at least) it has the added benefit of featuring prolifically and intelligently throughout the film Inception.

See this at HCE at http://t.co/5NTmceq

MORE THAN THE MUSIC POST: The Great Escape (Festival Expo)

Billed as “Europe’s leading festival for new music”, Brighton’s Great Escape is now in its sixth year, and with 300 artists performing over three days, this festival really is a fantastic showcase for exciting, fresh and cutting-edge artists. The Great Escape is not your traditional festival; instead of a main festival ground performances are held at 30 key venues across Brighton, including Komedia, The Haunt, The Brighton Dome, The Loft and The Pavilion Theatre. The festival essentially takes over the already creative and mellow city that is Brighton, with impromptu street gigs, club nights, label parties and industry showcases popping up throughout the town, as well as The Great Escape convention, which will be held throughout the weekend.

Music wise, The Great Escape offers festival goers a plethora of exciting new artists to choose from, as well as a fair few established acts. Key artist throughout the weekend include DJ Shadow, Friendly Fires, Katy B, Example and The Joy Formidable, as well as new, hyped acts such as Dinosaur Pile-Up, Handsome Furs, Trophy Wife, Visions of Trees and The Naked and Famous. I personally will be particularly looking forward to Yuck, Hauschka, Buck 65, Paper Crows and Nedry. Needless to say, there is a huge amount of electrifying talent being played out over the Great Escape weekend, and if hip new music is your thing, this festival simply should not be missed.

This year’s Great Escape is being held throughout Brighton from 12th – 14th May. Three-day early-bird tickets can still be snapped up for £45 until 12th April 2011, and day tickets and weekend hostel/festival tickets can also be purchased. Due to most of the festival performances being held in specific venues, the majority of shows are for over 18s only; however there are some limited shows available for 14+ audiences.

See this at MTTM at http://www.morethanthemusic.co.uk/features/focus-on-festivals/the-great-escape/

THE GIRLS ARE POST: Introducing You Love Her Coz She's Dead

You Love Her Coz She’s Dead are Brighton based duo Elle Meurte and Jay “Rocky” Dead. Signed to French music and fashion label Kitsune, You Love Her Coz She’s Dead make 8-bit synthcore electronica, fused with splashes of screamo.

The group have been producing recordings for a few years now; first appearing on a number of compilations for the Kitsune label alongside the likes of Hot Chip, Little Boots and La Roux as far back as 2008. They released their debut EP, Inner City Angst in the November of that year, and the group have also self-released a number of items, including a limited edition White Label 7” of the single ‘Me Verses You’, and a Red Label release of their track ‘Young Tender Hearts Beat Fast’.

You Love Her Coz She’s Dead have been steadily developing a niche indie following through their live appearances on Skins (series three, episode seven) and the Topman Secret House Party. They recently supported Sleigh Bells and the unceasingly cool entity that is Gary Numan, and numerous artists including Tying Tiffany and Dead CAT Bounce have also remixed their work. Their debut, eponymous album is set for release in August 2011 after being pushed back from its original release date of Valentine’s Day; a move that has left their growing fan-base salivating in resolute anticipation.

You Love Her Coz She’s Dead’s sound is typically a frenzied and multi-layered mess of post hardcore guitars and a myriad of synth timbres, ranging in origin from 70′s, 80′s, 90′s, and 00′s dance culture and electronica. The duo has a similar sound to Crystal Castles, who the group have been compared to on numerous occasions. There are however stylistic differences that separate You Love Her Coz She’s Dead from their contemporaries, most notably Meurte’s vocal delivery, which is aggressive, urgent.

The music too is more sample heavy than that of Crystal Castles, and You Love Her Coz She’s Dead also include far more 8-bit synth timbres, which are highly reminiscent of 1980′s NES games. These synth sounds/samples are particularly present on earlier tracksuch as ‘Superheroes’ and ‘Wizards’, and are a thoroughly enjoyable and perky part of the group’s repertoire. The new single 'Blinded' are set for release shortly.

See this at TGA at http://bit.ly/h3l5DA

MORE THAN THE MUSIC POST: Introducing Paper Crows

Paper Crows are an alternative electronic duo composed of Emma Panas and Duncan McDougall. Originating from London, the pair initially bonded over a mutual love of Bjork and Kate Bush, who have collectively been the most prominent influence on the band’s sound. The group released their debut single, Stand Alright in October 2010 on Future Cut records, and recently released a new double a side Fingertips/Follow the Leader in March.

Paper Crows have a haunting, ethereal quality to their music, which is mostly made up of thick prominent bass sounds – acoustic, electronic and synth style bass timbres are all involved – and diverse synth textures. Synth sounds originate diversely, from 1970s style sci-fi soundtracks to dubstep, and everything in-between. The group’s usage of synth is similar in style to trip-hop artists such as Nedry and Errors, but there is also more dynamic instrumentation at play throughout their music, including strings, acoustic guitars, pianos and tuned percussion. Their instrumentation in general is much more diverse than many of their alternative-electro contemporaries (who seem to typically stick to minimalist experimentation at present), and is probably most reminiscent stylistically of the wonderful Bat For Lashes.

Vocally this duo are also strong, with soft, captivating, feminine vocals. Panas has a clear, strong vocal talent, which alternates between deep and stirring or delicate and subtle depending on mood. There are numerous effects and overdubbs laid over the vocals, which adds depth to the vocal texture and lends it a truly instrumental quality.

Paper Crows have a very interesting, curious and challenging sound, with a comprehensible amount of thought, talent and consideration put into every track. With a new album set for release this year, these guys are definitely set for success in 2011 – I guarantee it.

See this at MTTM at http://www.morethanthemusic.co.uk/the-next-best-thing/introducing-paper-crows/