January 2013

You need to know…

Lysandre is the first solo effort from much lauded ex-frontman of San Francisico indie rockers Girls. A sweet collection of melodic numbers (inspired, of course, by a girl) poetic lyrics, his honeyed vocal, harmonica, tinkling percussion and sax make it abundantly romantic. Overall Owens comes in to his own as a solo artist, the honestly penned music moving mellifluously between tracks. Listen in order, it isn’t scripted for shuffle.

Top Tracks

Early on ‘New York City’ is a song with all the catchiness on a movie montage, coming to a beautiful close with a saxophone solo. There’s an exoticism to Riveria Rock and the fleeting ‘Closing Theme’ will stick in your mind. In contrast ‘Love is in the Ear of the Listener’ is a lyrically self-indulgent affair, although the rhythm makes it forgivable addition.

Listen when…

You’re in love, on a walk somewhere pretty or need to feel hopeful and like sunshine. You can stream the full album here, or purchase in all the usual places.

Stars

✪✪✪✪

The Loomis Fargo Gang hail from Virginia and I know little about them other than their strapline is strapline is ‘music for a lovely lonely day’. They’ve suggested a track from Australian instrumental experimentalists Hungry Ghosts, ‘Remember What It Was Like to Float’….

The story: One night I got really drunk, and tried to jump in my neighbor’s pool from my roof. I ended up landing in the shallow end and hitting my head. I passed out and my friends had to drag me out of the pool and resuscitate me. This is the song that was playing when it happened.

The album: ‘Alone Alone’ released in 2000.

Check it out for… Swooping, fragile instrumentals which will tug at your heartstrings. A watch out – there’s a UK band of the same name, make sure you are in the right place!

Listen to ‘Tootsie in the Breeze’, a track from The Loomis Fargo Gang’s forthcoming album, The Prettiest Shade of Blue, which will be released on 20th March.