TOTW: The Zombies_Time Of The Season

Posted on March 5, 2013 by ArtistConfettiTsunami

I’ve only just recently heard of the album Odessy and Oracle By The Zombies due to the fantastic BBC Radio 4 Show Mastertapes. However it contains tracks easily recognisable to me, picked up through osmosis from pop culture. A mark of music clearly defining it’s time and place.

Time of the Season is one such track and a perfect example of 60s pop psychedelia, The bass line on the verses are reminiscent of Ben E. King’s Stand by me but twisted like a drug endued fear. This darkness drifts away with the introduction of the rhythmic guitars and harmony’s as we get to the chorus. Then for good measure a few Organ solos give us a true feeling of a 60′s jam synonymous with that psychedelic sound.

It’s truly some good stuff:

TOTW: Godspeed You! Black Emperor_Sleep

Posted on February 25, 2013 by ArtistConfettiTsunami

One of the centerpieces of the Post rock movement, Godspeed You! Black Emperor create music that is slowly progressive. Tracks are never short, instead they build structures over time usually repeating melodys to build a sence of tension and dread untill they release it all with fast attacks from their fretboards and rhythm section.

Sleep is a good place to start, tell me what you think:

TOTW:datassette_Power Ballad

Posted on February 17, 2013 by ArtistConfettiTsunami

I received a recommendation about Datassette from Disasterpeace’s bandcamp page and recommended the first track from their album people without mouths on a previous TOTW.

Over time this album has been a grower and out of the 7 tracks Power Ballad really stands out. It has a bouncy synth bass line and plucky guitar that’s always been a favourite of mine but when the FM synth chords come in at the 1:50 mark it really gets going.

This blend of organic instrumentation and electronic lines that slowly drift in and out of tune has always been a fascination of mine and something I aim to recreate in my own music. Datassette manage to do a cracking job of it here:

<a href="http://datassette.bandcamp.com/track/power-ballad">Power Ballad by datassette</a>

TOTW: Mgmt_Congratulations

Posted on February 11, 2013 by ArtistConfettiTsunami

MGMT have just announced a new album with Dave Fridmann back in the producers seat and it’s made me very exited.

They were catapulted into the limelight with the first album “Oracular Spectacular”. Which has the instantly recognisable singles “Time to pretend” and “kids” at the start but then went more psychedelic towards its conclusion. Including the track “of moons birds and monsters” thats simply sublime.

Following this they released Their second album “Congratulations” which saw a departure from the pop hits to something far more guitar driven and psychedelic. It isn’t as easily accessible as there first and suffered airplay because of it, but on multiple listens it’s another great record.

One of the reasons I’m such a fan of MGMT is they seem to stick to their own artistic integrity. Modern pop has a way of becoming diluted to make it more manageable to the masses as bands try to keep their success. MGMT have always felt like they were nurturing their own thing rather than adapting it to the whims of their label and I greatly respect them for it.

Here’s the title track from their second album which somehow manages to blend the line of being both uplifting and depressingly self reflecting:

TOTW: King Crimson_Epitaph

Posted on February 4, 2013 by ArtistConfettiTsunami

This week I have listened to the album “In the Court of the Crimson King” repeatedly. It truly is a masterpiece and the digital reissue of it that came out a few years ago is a fantastic way to experience the whole thing. You get 5 tracks that are complex in their structures, played by incredibly competent musicians who all seem perfectly in sync with each other. It’s a real pleasure to listen to.

Although “21st Century Schizoid Man“ is the most famous track of the album, on repeat listens “Epitaph” is the track that stands out most for me:

TOTW: At the Drive in_ One Armed Scissor (live on Jools Holland)

Posted on January 28, 2013 by ArtistConfettiTsunami

I was reminded of this performance by a friend this week and had to put it on as my track of the week.
It may not be one of the best performances musically but it more than makes up for it with raw energy, so buckle up and prepare for something truly fantastic:

Watch “Son Of Rogues Gallery – “Shenandoah”” on YouTube

Posted on January 18, 2013 by ArtistConfettiTsunami

Woke up this morning and curtsy of song by toad podcast I heard this little shanty by Keith Richards and Tom Waits give it a listen:

TOTW: Datassette_Videohorse

Posted on January 7, 2013 by ArtistConfettiTsunami

This week I have been working my way through bandcamp looking for stuff. The recommendation feature once you buy some music, is a great way to find new stuff and spend more money.

I was recommended Datassette after buying the FEZ album by Disasterpeace and although that music is fantastic and I’m sure will feature in a future Track Of The Week I have been listening to the Datassette album more.

“People without mouths” has some really good pieces of electronica with these fidgety lead synth lines that make me come back for repeat listens, videohorse is a perfect example:

TOTW: USA Out of Vietnam

Posted on January 5, 2013 by ArtistConfettiTsunami

Well TOTW took a short break due to the holidays but also due to me writing my albums of the year which should have come out earlier this week.

To make up for this I thought I would recommend an album I first heard on the great all back no front podcast.

USA out of Vietnam have released this 5 track EP on bandcamp and the whole thing has been on regular play on my commute to work. As you listen through the album it constantly surprised me, going in directions i didn’t expect

The more rustic recoding of the tacks added charm for me, Like a rough diamond you can hear the quality beneath the surface but i think the fact that it is a bit rough around the edges make it something to persevere with and make the reveals so much sweeter

The highlights are definitely the first two tracks especially the middle of we are comets, we are on fire so give those a listen, and if you like it please buy it:

<a href="http://usaoutofvietnam.bandcamp.com/track/you-are-a-comet-you-are-on-fire">You Are A Comet, You are on Fire by USA Out Of Vietnam</a>

Albums of 2012

Posted on January 3, 2013 by ArtistConfettiTsunami

Happy New year one and all, to celebrate I have collected together a handful of albums from last year that are worth listening to and written a few paragraphs about them.

I have tried to listen to as many new albums as I could but haven’t heard everything. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know in the comments section and I will give them a listen.

I hope you give these a go and enjoy them as much as I have.

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ConfettiTsunami

Music and blog from musician and composer ConfettiTsunami.

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