posted by Patrick on December 4, 2011
“Austra is an island on the border between Nord-Trøndelag and Nordland counties in Norway. The 88-square-kilometre (34 sq mi) island is shared between the municipalities of Bindal, Leka and Nærøy. The highest point is the 588-metre (1,929 ft) tall Romsskåla.” (Wikipedia)
Austra is also a band. Hailing from the equally cold, if somewhat more cosmopolitan, Toronto, Canada, Austra has perfected a sound defined by contradictions: remote but intimate, clinical but warm. That’s due in large part to the offsetting influences of lead singer Katie Stelmanis, a classically trained opera singer, and the band’s chilly, dance-inspired electronic backing. Stelmanis’ voice soars and lingers, while the music pushes forward with a driving beat. It’s an unlikely combination, but when it works, as on ‘Lose It,’ the results are stunning. And when Stelmanis performs ‘Lose It’ with only a piano and her voice, as in the video below, the song is completely transformed, and even more compelling. As a beat addict, I prefer the electronic version, but I can’t deny the video’s power. Perhaps Paper Bag Records can release them both?
In some ways, Austra reminds me of Phantogram. Austra’s lead singer has a wider vocal range, and is less reliant on effects and reverb, but both combine heavy beats with dramatic vocals to create a cinematic sound and feel. If you like one, try the other and let us know how they compare.
Austra – Lose It (Downloaded 283 times)
Austra – The Choke (Downloaded 283 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Amazing Voice • Driven • Electro • Female vocal • Orchestral • Synth • With Bleeps & Blips
(15 votes)
Loading ...posted by Patrick on September 26, 2011
Philadelphia’s The War on Drugs is nothing like what you’d expect. I, at least, would expect something edgy and indie, twee psychadelia or Austin hip-hop. Instead, the band channels Bruce Springsteen at his poppy, rockabilly best. Or maybe it’s U2 they’re occupying, or Tom Petty, or any of a half-dozen other of the best acts of the 70′s and 80′s. Of course, mimicry doesn’t make for greatness, and the obvious question is what The War on Drugs adds to the equation. One answer is simple fusion: they aren’t just one band, but all of them. The War on Drugs is a Whitman’s Sampler blow torched into a liquid mess, then reformed and steel-reinforced with heavy beats and jangling vocals. But “Slave Ambient,” the band’s newest album, also brings some new elements to the mix, including a voice that can range from pop-sweet to a Tom Waits growl, and, appropriately some more ethereal, ambient moments than you find in most straight-ahead rock. Ultimately, though, The War On Drugs isn’t pushing many envelopes. But they know their craft and can spin a tune with the best of them. There isn’t a bad track on “Slave Ambient,” and many will be on repeat for weeks to come. Only the best of their influences can say the same.
The War on Drugs – Baby Missiles (Downloaded 259 times)
The War on Drugs – Taking the Farm (Downloaded 237 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Anthemic • Catchy • Fuzzy • Poppy • Rollicking
(8 votes) Loading ...posted by Patrick on September 18, 2011
Mathieu Santos of Ra Ra Riot has just released his first solo album, the oddly named Massachusetts 2010, and it’s honestly a mixed bag. There are some excellent nuggets of melodic electro pop, along with a song or two that might have been best left in the studio. But when Santos hits his mark, he really nails it, and both of the tracks below are simply addictive (and addictively simple). “I Can Hear the Trains Coming” features Santos’ falsetto voice against a sing-song harmony that evokes hazy summer days and sweetly addled memories. “Northern Melody” sounds completely different and is less catchy but more interesting. If Massachusetts 2010 is an experiment in musical styles and textures, these tracks represent opposite ends of Santos’ spectrum, and perfection lies somewhere in between. Santos should get there, eventually; he’s too talented not to.
Mathieu Santos – I Can Hear The Trains Coming (Downloaded 271 times)
Mathieu Santos – Northern Mentality (Downloaded 251 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Ambient • Bedroom Band • Catchy • Experimental • Male vocal • With Bleeps & Blips
(6 votes) Loading ...This is certainly Amazing! Many thanks.
posted by Patrick on July 31, 2011
We wrote about The Drums way back in the 0h-9, when their smash single ‘Let’s Go Surfing’ was nearly unavoidable. The band has a new album out in September and the first single ‘Money’ is perfect pop fuel for a not-long-enough weekend.
The Drums – Money (Downloaded 746 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Brit-Pop • Catchy • Danceable • Male vocal • Poppy • Upbeat
(13 votes) Loading ...That’s the best anwesr of all time! JMHO
December 11th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
We had a fun interview with Austra and would like to share it with you guys:
http://nightdrivemiami.com/2011/11/01/austra-interview-ticket-giveaway/