7 posts tagged “electronica”
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07/13/08 Eboli (Salerno/Naples), Italy
Discography
07/18/08 Arezzo Wave - Livorno, Italy 08/09/08 Carpi/Modena, Italy 08/29/08 Burning Man - Black Rock City, Nevada
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Costanza Francavilla, or simply known as Costanza is an Italian singer, has a full length album out on July 8th called Sonic Diary. After putting the album in to listen, I instantly think of electronica and trip hop, but with a dreampop quality, as her singing style is often breathy, sexy, and deamlike.
Looking at the very impressive/see-through press material, it looks like her music's been licensed out to a variety of television shows (CSI, L Word) and movies (.45, starring everyone's favorite Milla Jovovich). It doesn't surprise me, as this type of electronica music (think Moby) works well as background music.
However, I think the one thing people might know her from is her collaboration with British electronic artist, Tricky (and, sure, you might know him from another Jovovich film, The Fifth Element).
Apparently, Costanza who was a fan at one of his show gave Tricky's drummer a three-track demo CD and that was passed onto Tricky, who absolutely loved it. So all the songs on his Vulnerable album in 2003 featured Costanza's vocals with two songs co-written by her ("Stay" and "What is Wrong").
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One of the most bizarre and interesting song from their collaboration is their cover of XTC's "Dear God". I wouldn't go so far as to pronounce their version equal or better than the original grand epic song in three and a half minutes, but I will have to admit that it's "different". I think if I didn't know about XTC, I would really love Tricky and Costanza's version. (Side note: their cover of The Cure's "Love Cats" is better).
Now, if you thought "Dear God" was weird, the very original electronica take on Fugazi's "Promises" and Johnny Cash's "God's Gonna Cut You Down" must be heard to be believed. The way she sings "promises are shit", with her Italian accent, it doesn't sound bad or naughty at all.
Other songs I thought were interesting is the opening song, "Just Another Alien". Not so much a song, but a series of questions that she was probably asked when she was applying to live and work in the USA. The Italian song, "I Tuoi Occhi Sono Pieni Di Sale" (featuring Riccardo Sinigallia) was also interesting, it made me want to learn Italian. I did use babelfish and it tells me that the title translate to something like "Your Eyes Are Full Of [knowledge?]", so I'm assuming it's a personal/love song?
The one song that I think everyone will really enjoy is "Silence". This is such a dreamtronica song, full of child-like and innocent singing on a very lush music background. I feel like the song belongs to a soundtrack to a movie.
Fans of electronica lounge music, made famous by such compilations such as OM: Chilled and Lounge Experience series, should really enjoy this. These songs are perfect for either laying around the house or at a small party, really good for any occasion.
It looks like she'll be playing a few dates in Italy with Marco Messina. If you aren't lucky enough to live in Italy, her album Sonic Diary is out this Tuesday. For convience, you can actually get high quality MP3 from Amazon right now.
PS, Usually we just have one or two releases on Tuesday that I need to do coverage on. So I normally check on Sunday and work on the review that very day or, at the latest, on that Tuesday. I thought I was sitting pretty as I've already taken care of two releases already that was meant for July 7th (Connected) and 8th (Matt Keating), but we still have these that's being release this week: Wire's Object 47, The Coke Dares' Feelin' Up, Son Ambulance's Someone Else's Deja Vu, Patti Smith/Kevin Shield's The Coral Sea, and Costanza's Sonic Diary. If I have missed anything, please accept my apologies and contact me right away.
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The two Jasons (Jason Miles and Jason Kibler, aka DJ Logic) have teamed up for a cultural exploration in Global Noize, released April 29th on Shanachie Records.
If the name Jason Miles sounds familiar, that's because he was the mastermind behind Soul Summit, an album that captured the live energy of the Berks Jazz Festival.
Global Noize combines an array of sound, from electronica, funk, trip hop, world, and jazz - such fusion sounds that M.I.A. and Santogold are making famous. So if you enjoy those artists, you should definitely check out this phenomenon album.
This project started rolling into effect when Kibler, called to ask Miles to join him for a live performance at the Blue Notes in New York. Miles recalls:
On that day I had a horrible root canal and was mourning the loss of a close relative. I thought that this could be just the tonic I needed to pick myself up. We went through life-altering experiences. It was so new to us - mysterious, crazy and another view of the world. We both knew we had to make this project happen. The picture on the CD over of the both of us with the camel in the desert says it all!
The first song on the album, "A Jam 4 Joe" sets up the mood for the album: the vocals of Falu suggests Indian, while the dedication of Joe Zawinul, suggests jazz. This is a perfect song for any mild/chill party.
Falu appears again on "Bollywood", obviously because of her Indian voice, but the bass on this song made it sound like funk.
If you can't get enough of the relaxing vocals, there is another song that features singing, "Quero Dancar" (I Want to Dance With You). As the title suggests, this is a Spanish-based song (but sung in Portuguese?) with a smooth jazz mix, featuring some very sexy vocals by Vanessa Fallabella.
The large majority of this album is instrumental, that should comes as no surprise. Songs as "Dar' Abesque" showcase Miles' staple jazz sound (check out that Herb Alpert trumpets), but as you listen in closer, you can hear Logic's contribution in shifts and beats mixed in.
As far as I'm concern, these two perfectly compliment each other, making for an interesting collaboration on Global Noize. They are going to team up for a brief appearance at the Aspen Jazz Festival in Colorado on August 28th, so check it out if you're in the area.
Links:
myspace.com/globalnoizejazz
www.djlogic.com
www.jasonmilesmusic.com
This may just be an excuse to post as much of my record collection as possible in one post, but at least there's a common theme between them. You may not know him but you're bound to have heard one of the many countless bands he's been involved with; our Rollo has his finger in many musical pies, so to speak. Oh and, you deffinately know his sister. What's with everyone having famous sisters nowadays?
Trip hop festival faves Faithless are probably Rollo's most well known connection as one of three main members of the group, though as the band's permanent producer he's rarely seen onstage with them. Included is Mass Destruction, and no clues needed as to the lyrical content there. Whether it's the anti-Bush message or much more indie-ska-rock feel to the tune I don't know, but it's one of the only Faithless tracks I've been tempted to purchase.
Start of the wildcard stuff is On A Beautiful Day by Skinny. Although having no musical input, Skinny's album Taller from which the track is taken was released on Rollo's record lable Cheeky. The track samples the Wallace Collection's 1968 "Daydream", but you're much more likely to have heard that via an advert featuring I Monster's Dayd ream In Blue, also sampling the same tune and included as it's frankly just better than Skinny's efforts.
And if you don't like any of that lot, there's plenty more Rollo remixes and productions available, ranging from Sarah McLachlan and Simply Red to Robbie Williams and the Spice Girls. But I can't keep posting his stuff forever, so I'll be gone for the day.
The recent spate of hot UK weather (ok, hot here is any time it doesn't rain...) tells me summer's here kids. And while I should probably be posting Grandaddy tracks to celebrate, I just noticed a lack of summery festival gods Basement Jaxx entries here, so I feel I should repair this crime by posting as much as possible... well, some...
I don't have much to say about them really. I'm sure you know who the late 90s UK electronic dance duo are; even the youngsters can't fail to have noticed them harassing the UK festival scene in the past few years.
Anyway, if you don't, here's 2003's Good Luck and 1999's Bingo Bango, incidently one of the first CDs I ever bough. If you need to know more, only wikipedia has the answer. And I'm sure you'll be able to catch them at all manner of festivals later this summer. Now just pray it don't start raining again...
- Christopher
Jim Noir and I are friends. Well, MySpace friends anyhow. I was really excited to see that he had new music up on his page, and I was even more excited when Barsuk sent along a copy of his new album. I liked it so much, I almost forgot that I actually had work to do. On with the review!
Those of you who are going "Jim who?" chances are that you've already heard him. Remember that really catchy Adidas commercial with the little boys playing soccer? That was Jim Noir. A version of "My Patch" off his first albumb Tower of Love was used by Target during this past holiday season as well.
Jim (he and I are on a first name basis) plays all instruments on his albums, and does all the finishing work. It's very much a DIY operation. His sound could best be described as electronic pop with a 70's feel, and my two favorite songs are very much in that vein. Jim has been on every summertime playlist I've had the past few years, and he's always enjoyed by everyone.
"All Right" is a groovy little tune, with a nice dancing beat and layered vocals is like summertime in an mp3. If you don't do a little shimmy or two while listening, then your heart is probably two sizes too small. "Ships and Clouds" is also another one of my favorites. Different funky beat, but same layered vocals. I think I enjoyed this album a lot more because Jim's vocals have improved a lot since Tower of Love.
Jim Noir was released April 8th and is available at your fine record retailer or via iTunes. Check out Jim Noir via Barsuk Records or better yet, friend him on MySpace and catch him on tour!
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Tour Dates
02/15/08 Belly Up San Diego, CA 02/16/08 Club Congrss Tucson,AZ 02/18/08 Fillmore SF, CA 02/19/08 Wonder Portland, OR 02/20/08 Richard Vancouver,Can 02/21/08 Showbox Seattle, WA 02/23/08 Avalon Theater SLC, UT 02/24/08 Fox Theatre Boulder, CO 02/26/08 Fine Line Minnes, MN 02/27/08 Turner Milwaukee, WI 02/29/08 Metro Chicago, IL [More tour dates on myspace]
Band Members
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Christopher mentioned Sia before (see link), well, she has a new album out on January 8th, 2008 (on sale in the UK on Jan 14th), called Some People Have Real Problems. It looks like her theme for this album is all pixelated "kid" drawings (I think they're all her art actually...).
The pixel art is also extended to her website, which may sound like a cool concept, but I just think it's hard to navigate. Please webmaster, stop using burning bright colors...
Sia Furler was already in the music scene with Crisp, an acid jazz band before releasing her debut OnlySee album in 1997.
She signed to Sony with Healing is Difficult (2000), but didn't get major recognition until Colour the Small One (2004). I first heard of her through the smash-hit song "Sunday" with that crazy video where she's being abused and trampled upon.
So anyway, in an effort to support her fourth album, Some People Have Real Problems, she is going to be on tour from February through March at fairly indie-friendly venues (I'm speaking from experiences because she's actually going to do Minneapolis).
I thought the best song off the new album is "Academia" because of the clever lyrics:
I am a dash and you are a dot
When will you see that I am all that you've got
I'm a binary code that you cracked long ago
But to you I’m just a novel that you wish you'd never wrote
I’m greater than x and lesser than y, so why is it
That I still can't catch your eye?
You're a cryptic crossword, a song I've never heard
While I sit here drawing circles I’m afraid of being hurt
12/26/2007 22:20:31
vu
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www.siamusic.net
I've never seen Hamam (aka Steam: The Turkish Bath). Based on the box info and suggestive photo, my bff rented it. He had assumed that it was a sleaze film. To his great disappointment, it was not. And, he told me aaaaaaaall about it.
A couple of years later, while on a Middle-Eastern-influenced electronica hunt, I discovered its excellent soundtrack (or, rather, its excellent couple of songs, as most are either short scene pieces or variations of the main theme). It was composed by Genoese duo Trancendental and features a number of guest musicians and vocalists.
This version of the main theme was remixed by Trancendental. The lyrics were written by Ferzan Özpetek, Hamam's director, and sung by Rosie Wiederkehr.
Cristina, cable-free and slowly melting
