6 Years Dreaming

Just in case you are not familiar with the electronic stylings of Ratatat, here is a track off their self-titled “El Pico”. Ratatat has been around for a good long while, you may have even heard them played in your local Urban Outfitters or Organic Coffee shop; or where ever else hipsters congregate in your town.

They have three albums out to date, Ratatat, Classics, and LP3. Each album feels completely different from the next. While “Ratatat” clearly defined their electronica style of synth effects and wailing guitar and bass, “Classics” and “LP3” seem to  expound in different direction on that base arrangement, to very different outcomes.

Definitely a band worth giving a listen through, you’re guaranteed to find at least something you like.

There are a few bands I have found that have that uncanny ability to stick around well after they are worn out. They have seasonal relevance, or maybe they somehow embodied a theme in your life that is reoccurring; and if your like me and treat head phones like a vital piece of clothing and consider your MP3 player about as valuable as your keys or wallet on the way out the door (my daily ritual, before going to any second location: *patting myself down* “keys, wallet, phone, ipod. Amen”) the music tends to become the sound track of your day, adding to effect.

For whatever reason, for me, Portishead is one of those lucky bands. Often dark in message and composition, the moody quavering vocals of Beth Gibbons drift and rise over the haunting mix of atmospheric distortion effects and and trip hop like production. There is some really fun jazz-like precussion, heavy use of violin and classical instrumentation (so much so that one of their albums “Live at Roseland” was actually recorded live with an accompanying orchestra) as well as experimental use of crashing electric guitar that often completes the dark and haunting impact of the music.

Their first album “Dummy” (1994) has a much more synthetic feel, but is still that moody dark feeling, almost like being in the information age version of the smoky speak easy lounge of yester-year. After producing a few more albums incuding, “Portishead” (1998) and the afore mentioned “Live at Roseland” (1999) the band took a near decade long break without releasing another album. Then, in 2008, ta-dah! “Thirds”, my new personal favorite, was released. “Thirds” shows a new level of maturity and experimentation, and while seeming like a departure from they’re original more solidly electronic trip hop that many originally fell in love with, it maintains its sweeping dark feeling that makes Portishead what they are.

Another Album is rumored to be in production currently. It’s nice to return again to old favorites… But it’s even better when old favorites return to you with something new.

The Sample today is off of “Live at Roseland”, But I really suggested you check out “Thirds”; Namely the tracks “Small”, “Silence”, and “Threads”.

Today’s diamond in the rough is anything but rough. I found Falcorps more through a series of coincidences rather than any research.

I wish I could say I was immersed in the local music scene; going to dive bars and little holes in the many walls of the Capital in search of fresh expression. I’m a big fan of the idea. However, I’m generally too busy, lazy, or out of the loop and end up missing out on such opportunities… Something I think I might like to change this year.

BUT! on one of the rare occasions that I did find myself watching some local bands perform, I found these guys. If the music scene in Michigan is anything compared to Falcorps, I’ve been missing out big time.

Now there is a funny story behind how I came across them, but that might have to wait for another day, I’ll sum it up this way: I was standing, shirt tattered and covered in red, sticky, sickly sweet blood, in a crowd of zombies; all moaning and singing along with the chorus “Brains, I like you for your brains”.

For a local band composed of college students (many not specifically music majors) they quality of the writing and instrumentation is excellent. Multiple violins, woodwind instruments, acoustic guitar and a pair of gentlemen (with a distinctly indie folk, almost nasally sound) harmonizing in turns with a pair of lovely female vocalists. Definitely an indie/folk band, but what I think stands it apart from the relentless stream of similar sounds in the genre is the witty, fun writing and the skillful combination of sweeping, often sorrowful instrumentation without losing that cheerful poppy indie sound.

The track “thorn bugs” is one of my favorites. The breakdown in the middle is exactly what I want from, and love about my college experience. I wish I could explain this better, but give it a listen and think about that one night you met that smart young girl/guy and spent the whole time just listening to music, talking about current events and mutual acquaintances. Subtle, appreciative smiles; brief, strong eye contact; sitting or standing close, but never so close that you couldn’t misinterpret it for something else. The hours roll by, and the subtle crescendo seems to be coming closer: that cinematic moment at his or her door, standing in the pool of light from the porch lamp, and then… “goodnight”

and that’s all she wrote.

But! If you like the sample, check them out here: http://www.myspace.com/falcorps

It’s a shame that they are broken up now, their last show being this past July. However, the last time I talked to a friend in the band, he told me they were working on a full length album. *Fingers crossed*

Despite being in sunny Florida for the moment, I’m currently working on a winter playlist to carry me through the cold walks across campus.

Now this tune is tried and true, and sure to make that trek through the swirling tundra at least a little bit more enjoyable. The musical composition causes me to imagine I’m making my way through some frozen wild west, a lone ranger, bundled up and prepared to weather my march towards some frozen version of a gunslinger’s fate. The haunting, howled lyrics, almost western picking and strumming and the deep drums all echo about, whispering of some tragic injustice yet to be corrected.

It might take some imagination, of course, to get the full effect; But throw on a thick coat, some warm gloves and a deep hat to hide in, and set off with a destination in mind—you’ll see what I mean.

If you liked the sample, check out Fleet Foxes’ album Ragged Wood. “Blue Ridge Mountain” and “He Doesn’t Know Why” are personal favorites (after Protector, of course). You’ll notice alot of sweeping vocal harmonization, acoustic composition, hollow echo effects, deep tribal drums and tambourines and sometimes an Asian stylization. The lyrics are truly beautiful (despite having a weird “brother” theme…haven’t quite puzzled that one out yet) and worth paying attention to. However, the arrangement often forces you to let each track wash over you as a whole.

A great choice if your looking for something to feel to.

So in my travels across the barren, infinite, digital wastelands I’ve come across a few audio gems. Here is one: The Dodos.

Rhythmic, fast, almost tribal percussion from some old samurai film, accompanied by acoustic and electric guitar with a healthy dose of song specific instruments including french horn and slide guitar. The vocals and lyrics share a common element; a feeling of transition between adolescence and maturity. There is youth and hope and energy mixed with equal parts of harsh reality and cynicism (something I think many people between 18 and 28 can appreciate today.) Often it is the feeling of unwilling yielding to a late coming of age, side by side with soft rebellion of everlasting youthful thinking. Often the layered vocals put together with the tribal percussion and folk guitar produce an effect that sends shivers through me, and makes my hair stand on end. Well worth a listen to.

If you like the sample check out there album “Visiter”. It’s a good primer (and as far as I am aware at the time of this post there are only two lol) The tracks “Ashley”, “Season” and “Paint the Rust” are also good examples of some of their diversity.