Atlas+Sound+2wqwox2

Spotted Dick- 4th November 2009

We’ll keep the rambling pleasantries to a minimum today. You know the drill. And if you don’t, it’s not hard to figure out: here’s a playlist made on the one thing that, personally, goes any way into suggesting that there is in fact a God. i.e Spotify.

http://open.spotify.com/user/g-town/playlist/2ojln2blq6ZCvSiH4bmNf0

Atlas Sound (w/ Noah Lennox) -’Walkabout’

This song- a collaboration with the Animal Collective man- is one of the more poppier moments on the recent Atlas Sound album, ‘Logos’. Obviously it sounds fucking terrific but, more interestingly, it is somehow both retrospective and slightly futuristic. Perhaps like seeing footage of mop-topped, finely suited and booted likely lads in the sixties strolling down the streets but juxtaposed by the ipods and blackberries in their hands..

St. Vincent- ‘Marrow’

I hate lazy comparisons as much as the next man, but you have to admit that when (roughly 0.53 seconds in) ‘Marrow’ goes all big and disorientating and scary, St. Vincent does sound kind of like Bjork. Compared to the Icelandic singer though, St. Vincent has a much smoother and crisper delivery which makes her pleads for “H..E..L..P”- spat out through gritted teeth coolness- all the more effecting.

The Hidden Cameras- ‘Awoo’

This song by Toronto’s Hidden Cameras is quite the theatrical affair. Equal parts dizzying and pleasant, just as soft and bouncy as it is devilish- it helps prove, once again, that musicians from Canada are just better.

LCD Soundsytem- ‘On Repeat’ (XFM Session)

LCD Soundsystem aka James Murphy aka The Murph aka The DanceFather…is set to release a new album next year. This is- and I hesitate and hate to use expletives- fucking exciting. If this extra frenetic version of an old classic doesn’t put the fire of enthusiasm and anticipation in your belly for said forthcoming album, then I don’t know what will.

Major Lazer- ‘Can’t Stop Now’

Listening to this should, with any luck, transport you from the horrible, grey wasteland of winter we are now- and will be for the foreseeable future- firmly in, to the heady days of summer when being cheerful was our neutral setting rather than something we battle against the weather to reach. The vocals of Mr. Vegas may sound a little like the ever so slightly racist voice used on South Park when an Asian person appears on the show but this dubby, full body skanking masterpiece is inch perfect.

El Guincho- ‘Antillas’ (Bass Clef Remix)

This scatty, bassy reworking of last years single by the world/electronic music magpie El Guincho hits the spot nicely and gets the balance between the uplifting repetition of the original and the murky, underground dub of the fresh input just right.

Gold Panda- ‘Back Home’

With a very nice Pitchfork endorsement, many an indie blog swooning and string of successful remixes under his belt- I don’t think I’m alone in having a hunch that Gold Panda- who so finely merges the line between the ambient and the hard hitting sides of dance music- is going places.

Banjo or Freakout- ‘Dust On The Ground’ (remix of Bombay Bicycle Club)

Like a lot of emerging artists, Banjo or Freakout is making a (probably…maybe only slightly..) lucrative and exposing business out of remix other people’s songs. Unlike most others though, Banjo or Freakout has contorted many an indie anthem out of all recognisable shape and into woozy, bugged out soundscapes. This particular remix is beautifully ambient and atmospheric example which benefits hugely by not actually dropping into the mad, scatty and beat heavy climax it hints at for half of the song.

Cymbals Eat Guitars- ‘Share’

Mixing the ever popular stylings of Kevin Shields type whirring guitars with brass instruments sounds like a real shot in the foot to the old career. But somehow, inexplicably, Cymbals Eat Guitars have managed to make Shoegaze mixed with trumpets sound really, really good.

HEALTH- ‘We Are Water’

With the faux-peaceful vocals washing over the claustrophobic, intoxicating sounds of HEALTH absolutely killing it, this song is scary as fuck. That’s all I have to say on this.

Tom Waits- ‘Ice Cream Man’

Because Tom Waits is, always has been and always will be eternally cool.

Tubelord- ‘Night of the Pencils’

After listening to demos/singles of relatively old Tubelord songs for some time now, when I listen to the rerecorded versions which feature on the (incidentally very good) debut album ‘Our First American Friends’- I can’t help acting like some sort of camp TV presenter on an interior decorating show. “Oooh I like what you’ve done with the transition between the verse and chorus here….I have to say, I never pictured such production suiting your style but it’s really worked here…well done guys!”

Let’s Wrestle- ‘Tanks’

Perhaps not world changing, but this is a fairly surprisingly pleasant slice of pop pie from a relatively scruffy, raucous band.

British Sea Power- ‘Waving Flags’

Still poignant, still epic in the best sense of the word and still fantastic.

http://open.spotify.com/user/g-town/playlist/2ojln2blq6ZCvSiH4bmNf0