1. ALGODON EGIPCIO
I don’t speak much Spanish. In fact I speak none. With that in mind I can’t tell you a great deal about this solo artist. I do know that his debut record is about to drop in March through the Lefse Label.
La Luche Constante is a pretty interesting affair. Filled with heavy bass lines but with vocals that soar above the melodies. A little bit of Latin flavor is definitely a fashion at the moment.
Think El Guincho without as much samba.
Check him here.
2. TIM HECKER
Sound artist Tim Hecker is not new to this world. Having been around since 1996, he has created some of the most timeless and foreboding music I have heard.
A pleasure to go back through his catalogue. His sixth and newest record, Rave Death, 1972 was recorded in a Reykjavik church using the in-house pipe organ as his main instrument. The overall size that a pipe organ produces is evident in this record.
The word soundscapes are often used because most people can’t describe noise musicians, but Hecker is the definition of a soundscape.
Check a wonderfully titled Hatred of Music here.
3. PETE AND THE PIRATES
Okay, from deeply introspective music to just a little bit of fun. The fun of Pete and The Pirates does not finish with the title. The history of this band is nothing to be to excited about. Their 2008 record was given 8 out of 10 by NME and they supported Maximo Park, but let’s not hold that against them.
They have a new record out soon and released a bit of a Christmas track, “Winter 1″.
Quite a catchy pop song with a pretty aggressive guitar bass. We can only hope NME think their new record is worse and then maybe everyone else can like them.
Hear them here.
4. RAINBOW ARABIA
I came across this band well before I was writing this blog and I’m really happy that they’ve released something new so I can write about it.
Their new record is a little different to their previous releases, they have gone down the psyche disco tilt but they’re tilting the right way.
They just played a few shows with our own Tame Impala in LA. They have that free spirit sound that seems to transport people elsewhere, which is the point I think.
Check them here.
5. SIDI TOURE
Hailing from Mali, Sidi Toure is one hell of a guitar player but very nearly never became one. His lineage can be link to the Askia Kings, leaders of the once powerful Songhai Empire, he faced the decision of going towards his love of music or heading towards the area of life his family demanded of him.
He made his own guitar at seventeen which was then broken by his brother. He has had a distinguished career in his homeland of Mali and now we get to hear him everywhere else. Thanks to Thrill Jockey records his second album Sahel Folk is a journey of classic folk, country music with a real depth of story telling.
It is a pleasure to listen to music that is just music. It’s not trying to make a million dollars and being on Letterman, it’s just telling a story.
Hear him here.
