Listen up: TuneSmith’s musical recommendations for October
Posted by Anthony on October 1st, 2009Looking for the perfect music to take on your trips? Well, there’s Mr & Mrs Smith’s new In bed with… CD , of course, but you may need some additional inspiration. Here, our very own TuneSmith, DJ Rob Wood, the brains and ears behind our albums, makes his essential monthly recommendations…
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH
People & Things by Zeep
When? You’re hankering for sunshine
Why? It’s the soundtrack your summer should have had
You may not know it but you’re probably quite familiar with Zeep’s music – albeit in the form of an earlier incarnation. London-based musicians Chris Franck and Nina Miranda first wafted past your ears as Smoke City, who founded their reputation for inspired Brazilian-influenced pop in the mid-nineties with the contagious Underwater Love. Their more recent guise – Zeep – sees the duo develop their trademark sound to produce 2007’s most summery record. Now they’re back with another beautifully played collection of songs where Miranda’s swooning voice catches the crests of People & Things’ spaced-out pop, chilled rock, and bewitching bossa. It’s an imaginatively cosmopolitan, grown-up and surprising album full of character and ideas. Their Brazilian folk version of the Specials’ ‘Ghost Town’ is the highlight, managing to capture the essence of the song while creating something very different. Another mini triumph for Zeep and bossa-bods everywhere.
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THE SMITH CLASSIC
Into The Oh by Geggy Tah
When? You need some alone time
Why? It’s a musical discovery you’ll want to keep to yourself
Smith members may have noticed Greg Kurstin appear on the TuneSmith page before as the man behind Californian popsters the Bird & the Bee. It was with great delight we discovered he’d also been making other equally intriguing albums on David Byrne’s wonderfully exotic record label Luaka Bop since 1994. Together with singer Tommy Jordan, Kurstin formed the kooky Geggy Tah. Into The Oh was the brilliantly titled last burst of this relationship before the Bird & the Bee began and working with Lily Allen followed. It’s surprising that their off-kilter, on-the-money pop songs didn’t grab more attention. Probably a case of being ahead of the time, as this heart-spinning long player laid the way for much of today’s purveyors of leftfield treats from Cat Power to Phoenix to Chairlift and back.
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