RAMONA CORDOVA - "The Boy Who Floated Freely"

First of all, Ramona Cordova is a man (real name Ramon Vicente Alarcon) born in Arizona in 1984 from spanish father and haitian mother, the name taken from his grandmother and the voice is a magnificent mystery....
You will definitely think that a woman is singing these fragile folkish/pop songs because Ramon/a vocal chords are very much feminine, similar in range and pitch to the more popular (for now) Antony and the Johnson, with maybe less drama and more child like simplicity.
The album is a concept, a little over 30 minutes of acoustic guitars, a bit of flamenco, a couple bits that sound like Devendra Banhart and a few non commercial pop moments (like "Giver's Reply") to tell us the story of a boy throughout a series of adventures that could easily end up on a children book (watch out Madonna!)
This is the typical record you can't listen to anytime of the day, you have to be in the mood for it, this is not pop music as we know it, is more like acoustic songwriting with a voice you can either love or hate but nonetheless you have to admire for its originality.
Give him a chance.

7/10

3 X 7

ARCADE FIRE - "Neon Bible"
OF MONTREAL - "Hissing Fauna Are You The Destroyer"
THE AQUARIUM - "The Aquarium"

ARCADE FIRE - "Neon Bible"

The only thing Arcade Fire have to be afraid of is themselves because everybody loves them. This could have been an inferior record and still they would have been praised as Gods. I have to admit that i do believe that there are a lot of people out there saying how cool AF are just because it's the hype right now but that's another story that might end up on my friend Josh blog (www.bergwithfries.com)
The music however is terrific - heavenly vocals, strings arrangements that lift you up and take you to imaginary worlds only to land you on earth with a smile on your face - and the most amazing detail is that it doesn't sound like "Funeral 2", they could have easily repeat the winning formula and get away with it but their talent have no limits so we find ourselvelves in "Keep the car running" with its (ehm...) driving beat and we sing and clap our hands like followers of a new gospel. The title track's two minutes are magical and they fade into the first released single "Intervention" with its organ and church vocals crescendo while "Antichrist Television Blues" with its "I'm a God fearing man" lines and beautiful splashes of piano is another highlight as is my favorite "No Cars Go", a magnificent song, a waterfall of emotions that will leave you breathless.
The Fire is still burning...

8,5/10

DOWN MEMORY LANE

16 TAMBOURINES - "How Green Is Your Valley"


It was the beginning of 1990 and i took a train to Milan from Lake Como (where i'm from) just to go to this "import" music store hoping to find this new english band debut album that i read about on a (back then) popular magazine.
I still remember everything - the beautiful spring day, the coffee at the bar next to the record store, a quick cigarette (i don't smoke anymore now) and the adrenaline growing faster as i was approaching my destination.
As soon as i had the cd in my hands i felt what only big music nerds like me use to feel all the time a new "find" was getting in their possession, a strange sense of complete joy, a satisfaction that i don't feel anymore in this era of digital downloads...
I vividly remember the trip back home sitting on a train reading the booklet lyrics, the names of the players and their instruments trying to imagine what the songs would have sound like. When i got home i wasn't disappointed, as soon as "Bathed In The Afterglow" started i had a smile on my face, one of those smirks that usually means that the level of musical pleasure is very, very high; and so on, with the following tracks making my next 40 minutes feel like i never been happier in my life.
"April" has to be one of my favorite all time song with its poignant chorus "I know but you'll never know, april is the cruellest month" (the line was taken by singer Steve Roberts from a T.S. Elliot poem), other gems are "If I Should Stay", "Baby There's Nothing Going On" and "This Is Not Love", timeless melodies that the simple words "pop music" can't give them the credit they deserve.
Roberts voice was one that sounded like he meant every single word and the music was the magical encounter of guitars, bass, drums and wonderful piano playing with bits of saxophone and the mesmeric backing vocals of Susan Elleni.
Some records have the power to stop time, it happened today, for about an hour it was springtime again, 16 Tambourines had the magic, i'm a lucky guy.

Steve Roberts still make music, if you want to check his work go to www.steveroberts.eu

BAT FOR LASHES - "Fur And Gold"

I almost missed the beauty of this record...
It was released in september last year (in England) and from a lot of music mags reviews i thought this was something possibly quite boring with sparks of genius here and there but i gave it a chance and now i'm fully rewarded!
Natasha Khan has a smooth beautiful voice that dominates in every song with a minimal background of music (guitar, piano, strings, drum machine, assorted percussion) resulting in extremely gentle melodies that soar without never being boring.
My favorite songs so far are "Trophy", "Sad Eyes", "The Wizard" and "Sarah", all tunes that display a vocal range that recalls at times Kate Bush, Tori Amos and even Sinead O'Connor.
It's never too late to discover this...

7,5/10

ABOUT TRACEY THORN...

For people that can't read through the lines...
The review of "Out of the woods" was a good review, i like the album and i know that it's absolutely normal that it can't be the same as when she was in EBTG; i tried to be as realistic as i could be, and (more important than all) its just an opinion, my blog is not the Bible, comments are welcome but they have to be accurate, i'm talking about "Grand Canyon" sounding a bit as "Missing", not "It's All true"...
Suggestion to readers, post comments when you're sober!!!!

MALCOLM MIDDLETON - "A Brighter Beat"

Arab Strap were masters of miserabilism, no one had the charisma and the lyrics to match their songs throughout an impeccable career; Middleton is the guitarist/composer of that band and this is his third solo effort and probably his best.
The songs are strong, upbeat and lyrically original, with tight drums and bass guitar with Malcolm's electric guitar dominating the scene with splashes of piano and keyboards coloring the canvas of a record that speaks to the heart with strong words. "We're All Going To Die", "Fuck It, I Love You", "Death Love Depression Love Death" are only a few titles that deal with love and life matters without a trace of romanticism or routine; these are songs that you can really "listen" to, nothing is out of place, every note hits the target and every word has a meaning.
A special mention for "Up Late At Night Again", so intense that you'll play it on repeat on and on and on...
More of this please.

8/10

TRACEY THORN - "Out Of The Woods"

She's the voice of Everything But The Girl and that alone should give you enough confidence to listen to this...
This is her second solo album after 1983 "A Distant Shore", in between she's been busy with Ben Watt releasing astonishing music till things fell apart with "Temperamental" (1999) where their transformation from soul/jazz influenced pop completely gave up to "clubland" tunes that began with the Todd Terry remix of "Missing".
In these eleven tracks you won't find heavenly melodies like "Angel" from "Love & Money" or the classy arrangements of "The Language of Love" but you'll still enjoy most of this thanks to Tracey amazing voice. Only her vocal talent can save the paper thin melody of single "It's All True" or (wanna be "Missing") "Grand Canyon", while "Hands Up To The Ceiling" is so close to the sound of vintage EBTG that made me go through my record collection wanting to play those old albums...
"Out Of The Woods" is a good album, nothing that will be remembered for days to come but its a precious document of the present. Be grateful this wonderful voice is back! Call it nostalgia if you want...

7/10

3 X 7

MALCOLM MIDDLETON - "A Brighter Beat"
NOISETTES - "What's The Time Mr Wolf"
APPLES IN STEREO - "New Magnetic Wonder"

PATRICK WOLF - "The Magic Position"

Uplifting. That's how i would like to describe this record, a strange, contagious, full of melody little jewel of an album, dancing on the edge of orchestral pop and electronica with a dash of "cheesy" 80s...
Wolf voice sounds like a curious encounter between Lloyd Cole and Abc's Martin Fry...
The title track it is indeed, magic, the following single "Accident & Emergency" is already one of my favorite song of this year as much as "Augustine" and the final "The Stars" where the meeting of violins and synthesizers create something so (i'm repeating myself!) uplifting you'll hardly hold back the tears...
The only disappointment is "Bluebells" where the machines/strings mixture doesn't quite live up to expectations with what sounds like fireworks coming in and out of the chorus. Beside this small glitch though the rest of the album is a great achievement for Wolf that is only 23 years old and judging by this, already closer to the stars.

7,5/10

JUST JACK - "Overtones"

Before even listening to this i have to admit i was skeptical, and the reason for that is simple, i'm not a big fan of The Streets (except a couple of songs)which is the name that is popping up very often when people is talking about Jack, sorry, Just Jack.
When "Writer's Block" began i felt like "see? i was right! this is just like The Streets...", i thought here's another guy that can't sing so he's hiding behind a lot of words and the usual hip hop beats but "no, wait!" second song "Glory Days" started to make me feel a bit cheerful with its sunny melody with horns and a chorus where he actually sings! he's no Jeff Buckley but he can sing and from there on, with
"Disco Friends" and irresistible first single "Starz In Their Eyes" i enjoyed the record a lot.
Songs bloom with ideas, catchy melodies and funny lyrics with the occasional "serious" moments like the acoustic "Lost" and "Mourning Morning" till the wonderful closing track "Spectacular Failures" which on the contrary is a majestic achievement.
Don't let this highly enjoyable album pass you by!

7,5/10

3 X 7

This is a little section of the blog with what's playing in my stereo every week, 3 albums for 7 days...

- THE SHINS: "Wincing The Night Away"
- THE GOOD THE BAD & THE QUEEN: " The Good The Bad & The Queen"
- APOSTLE OF HUSTLE: "National Anthem of Nowhere"

DOWN MEMORY LANE

THE DREAM ACADEMY - "The Dream Academy" (1985)


This album meant (and still means) a lot to me.
For the majority of the people (especially here in the States) this band is the one behind the "Life In A Northern Town" big hit of the 80's, but for me this is like a precious stone carved in my heart (you can picture me now with a tear coming down my eye...)
When the popular (but always beautiful) "Life In..." is over, a keyboard introduces "The Edge of Forever", singer/guitarist/lyricist/composer Nick Laird-Clowes starts singing "When you were young did you ever loved somebody like i love you know..." over a poignant melody that explodes in the heartbreaking chorus. "New Light" has a gallopping rhythm with 12 strings guitar and angelic vocal harmonies courtesy of sax/oboe player Kate St.John; "In Places On The Run" still amazes me everytime with its twilight atmosphere, like it was recorded somewhere in a distant planet, or star ("I suppose we were somewhere in the sun..."); side one of the original vinyl ended with "This World", one of the most politically themed pieces on the record with a message of hope that radiates from an unforgettable tune.
When "Bound To Be" begins you feel the urgency of the song thanks to the cello/guitar/synthesizer acrobatic interplay; then, sit down, relax because the magnificent "Moving On" comes gently into your life - guitar, creamy bass, the smoothest drums you've ever heard, organ, piano - with Nick that sings "when you realized you've lost that face..." and you can actually hear him breathing with sorrow through the mic before the saxophone takes you home in the last phenomenal instrumental two minutes that crown this as one of the highest moment in 80's pop music.
"The Love Parade", the second single back then, is an instantly catchy song with a coda that reprises "Me & Mrs Jones" in a very creative way; "The Party" features R.E.M. Peter Buck on guitar and is a mesmerizing tune on the joys and pains of love and jealousy scored with string arrangement fading into the last song - "One Dream" - only vocals, acoustic guitar, sax and upright bass for a short masterpiece that ends what for me is "the" perfect album, a treasure that made me love music over everything else.

THE GOOD THE BAD & THE QUEEN - "The Good The Bad & The Queen"

What a fantastic album this is!!!
Forget about Gorillaz, forget about Blur, this is an amazing project that involves Damon Albarn with The Clash bass player Paul Simonon, ex-Verve guitarist Simon Tong and legendary percussionist Tony Allen. Don't expect big rock'n'roll thundering anthems though, Simonon basslines are always discreet, Allen drumming is never to the fore, the magic here is how the instruments melt with each other creating a unique sound like in the gorgeous (and first single) "Herculean" where the crescendo sends shivers down the spine with a distant sound that can be a mellotron or heavenly vocals or the two together.... The alchemy might be the genius production of Danger Mouse, even without a "dance" beat throughout the record you can hear his touch, and the blend of acoustic guitars and keyboards fits Albarn's lyrics in a way that's so evocative you can almost feel the London rain coming down your shoulders.
Praise!

8/10

THE VIEW - "Hats Off To The Buskers"

It seems that The Libertines started a musical fashion in the way that in recent years bands like The Stone Roses, Oasis, Blur and Interpol did.
The View is "another" band that you're going to read thousands of reviews mentioning that standard quote - "they sound like The Libertines!" - and in some cases that can make you cringe and move away from it and i almost did the same after one play.
Good thing than that i played the disc one more time and i realize that these are really good songs, full of hooks and vocal harmonies and a cockiness in the lyrics that fits them well.
Small catchy tunes like "Same Jeans" ('everybody is dressing up, i'm dressing down'), "Skag Trendy" and the lovely "Claudia" are not going to make you scream for the miracle but will put a smile on your face (unlike the endless Pete Doherty's drug drama life...).
Worthy of 40 minutes of your time!

7/10

BLOC PARTY - "A Weekend In The City"

This is a pleasant surprise....
I had a bit of trouble listening to the first Bloc album in its entirity, mostly because of lead singer Okereke singing/yelping that if it worked on some songs ("Banquet" especially), it made others sound like torture!
"A Weekend In The City" is a major improvement for a band that's been working hard on everything - their skills, the arrangements, the vocals - and the good news is that you can enjoy this from start to finish. "Hunting For Witches" is an instant classic with its tight guitar riffs and drumming, "Waiting For The 7:18" is brilliantly played and works as a smooth intro to "The Prayer" with marching drums and winning chorus, while the prize for best slow paced song goes to "Uniform" where
he sings his heart out with genuine passion.
The second half of the album runs out of steam a bit but the quality control is always pretty good. Towards the end of the program "Sunday" is a contender for next single after the first chosen "The Prayer". After this strong set of tunes to see them live is a must.

7,5/10

MANIFESTO

First thing first:

if you don't have in your record collection at least 6 out of these 10 albums you might wanna go to some other blog where you can find "entertainment" products, not the real music as "we" know it...

1- THE SMITHS: "The Queen Is Dead"
2- ARCADE FIRE: "Funeral"
3- THE CURE: "The Head On The Door"
4- RADIOHEAD: "The Bends" (i always thought that OK Computer was good but not
a classic...)
5- JOY DIVISION: "Unknown Pleasures"
6- NEW ORDER: "Low Life"
7- NO-MAN: "Flowermouth"
8- THE REPLACEMENTS: "Don't Tell A Soul"
9- PULP: "Different Class"
10-DAVID SYLVIAN: "Gone To Earth"