posted by Lewi on July 14, 2011
Gypsy & The Cat are a duo from Melbourne, Australia, who took my interest on the first listen I got of them – from the “single of the week” promotion on iTunes of all places. Their sound is upbeat and old, but fresh and new at the same time, and I just had to listen to them more. And more. And more, which led to me to purchasing their debut album Gilgamesh. With influences such as Fleetwood Mac and Daft Punk driving their music, it’s easy to see (well, hear) how it sounds so diverse – again, going back to the mixture of old and new that could not have blended in better.
As both items in the band’s name are fond of travel and moving around, their music has done more than just that too. Xavier Bacash and Lionel Tower, who make up the band, have had successful airplay on Australian radio, fans including Mark Ronson and Neon Gold, and have even featured on one of uber-cool Kitsune Maison’s compilations.
“The Piper’s Song” seems an appropriate song to bring forth to you all, fitting too perhaps, for the very liberal status that Melbourne is renowned for. For me, this kooky, catchy vibe conjures thoughts of dancing on fine Australian beaches at sunset; the upbeat lyrics and simple tune never get boring or repetitive – a little gem to listen to whilst enjoy these summer months in presence of good company.
Gypsy & The Cat are playing festivals in Japan and the UK this Summer, so if you find yourself in any of those countries this season, you know whom to track down.
Gypsy & The Cat – The Piper\’s Song (Downloaded 529 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Catchy • Fresh • Male vocal • Upbeat • Vintage
(9 votes)
Loading ...posted by Lewi on May 30, 2011
Like love (apparently) comes to you when you’re not looking, Adam Barnes’ music smacked me in the face like a bus (albeit not literally). I was dragged along to a gig of his with some friends, and from the moment I heard Barnes and his band of indie supermodels play, my life has never been the same (what was the headlining band even called?). His songs are literal works of art, and each track from last year’s debut EP Blisters follows the other in perfect company. Take a listen to “Come Undone,” my offering to you from the aforementioned EP. A simple and honest track with Bon Iver, Iron and Wine and Damien Rice influences, the lyrics really caught me when I first listened to them; his words border on sorrowful but don’t dwell there, and the song flows fluidly, his vocal range telling a story with each strum of the guitar.
Still but a teenager in Oxford, Barnes clearly puts a lot of thought into his music, as can be seen especially in his videos available on Youtube. Two are included below: in the first, he plays “Come Undone” halfway up a mountain(!) and in the second, he plays a song off of the upcoming album in two UK supermarkets (both of which he and his band were subsequently thrown out of).
All six songs from Blisters are into the triple digits in plays on my iTunes; I cannot recommend it enough. My other favourites include “If I Was A Lonely Man” and “Lighthouse,” but I can guarantee all of them will be firmly rooted into your brain space. So go on, give your eyes a rest from reading, and open up your ears to some charming musical scores.
Adam Barnes – Come Undone (Downloaded 498 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Acoustic • Amazing Voice • Beautiful Lyrics • Folksy • Male vocal • Singer-Songwriter
(18 votes) Loading ...posted by Lewi on February 28, 2011
Sometimes, a band has the power to give off that captivating feeling, to stop you in your tracks. Instruments that work in harmony with various chords and ethereal vocals send your mind off to distant places. Jeniferever definitely has the means of accomplishing this. Hailing from Uppsala, Sweden, their music radiates majesty, fantasy and magic – much like their native Scandinavia. Their newest album, Silesia, which will be released this Spring, is sure to be a feast for the ears and emotions if the taster track “Waifs & Strays” is anything to go by. Jeniferever has that charm that commands you to relax, but pay attention at the same time.
Their name is derived from a 1989 Smashing Pumpkins song of the same name. Arguably, traces of the band can be found in Jeniferever’s music, but with their indie rock sounds, blended in so beautifully with ambient Explosions in the Sky-esque moments, it is definitely fair to say that Jeniferever can hold their own.
“Waifs & Strays” could easily accompany a Final Fantasy game, or feature in the soundtrack to an RPG, invoking images of fantasy landscapes – wild terrain, sprawling cities, dense forests and so forth. Jeniferever gives everything they have in this song, especially with the tingling guitar solo; envision a band of heroes upon a hilltop, surveying the rugged fields and plains below them.
“Dover” is another track that invokes strong feelings and emotions. Jeniferever sombrely hints at a friendship or relationship that has now broken. The fantasy notions of the song run with the emotion-soaked lyrics, with an emphasis on repetition that keeps the musical fire burning. Silesia is going to be a masterpiece, and these two songs reflect well on an eagerly anticipated album that has been clearly and cleverly thought-out and put together.
Jeniferever are doing a rare tour in the UK and Europe this Spring. If you are in the UK in April, I cannot stress enough how much you should purchase a ticket. I’ll see you at the bar.
Jeniferever – Waifs and Strays (Downloaded 454 times)
Jeniferever – Dover (Downloaded 413 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Dark • Downbeat • Fuzzy • Male vocal • Rollicking
(13 votes) Loading ...Youre a real deep tinehkr. Thanks for sharing.
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posted by Lewi on November 19, 2010
Marseille holds precious memories for me, a city that I treasured for a week with a close friend back in 2008. I enjoyed the city in the South of France, and I am now enjoying the indie-folk sounds of seven-piece band Hey Marseilles (which added an “s” to the city name). With a style that could maybe be compared to Mumford & Sons or The Decemberists, the first impression I had of the group was the variety of instruments that the seven boys can play between them, and exceptionally well too it would seem. It is certainly true that there is strength in numbers, in terms of band members and instruments, but Hey Marseilles bark is just as strong as their bite, and can play, and most importantly, seamlessly link, all of them into their songs as if they’d just been picked up for the first time. More and more indie-folk bands are emerging onto the scene, and I would say that Hey Marseilles have a style that definitely leans towards the mainstream, but also catapults back into the underground and maybe safer territories of real music lovers.
The song chosen for your listening pleasure is ‘Rio’, shot in an abandoned airplane hangar in Seattle in just one take. Frontman Matt Bishop explained that the song underlies themes of travelling and friendship, and how new and different things can be found through those two points. I for one, could not agree more with him. The lyrics speak volumes without a hint of pretentiousness, and the video (below) put a smile on my face, and reminded me of simpler versions of Coldplay and James Blunt videos. I thought the contrast between moving and still was fantastic, and how the themes of the song bled into the video – showing just how versatile and creative Hey Marseilles can be. And that whether you’re chilling, partying or sharing new moments with your friends, or even reliving old ones, that music is nearly always the perfect accompaniment.
Hey Marseilles – Rio (Downloaded 1527 times)
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(16 votes) Loading ...Hey, I’m french and I love your blog but there is a mistake : Marseille doesn’t take an “s” at the end. In the band name, it takes an “s” but they’re wrong !
Thanks for sharing great music,
Lucas
Thanks Lucas – we’ll fix this. And thanks for following along.
Could not agree more with you Lewi on any of this. You’re a fantastic writer.
July 1st, 2011 at 11:56 am
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