Listen up: TuneSmith’s music reviews for August
Posted by Anthony on July 28th, 2011Our resident TuneSmith Rob Wood has his head in the clouds this month, and come over all ‘chillwave’ and’ nu-folk’. Whatever you call them, though, they’re still great tunes…
ALBUM OF THE MONTH
Within and Without by Washed Out
When? On the runway
Why? It’s perfect soundtrack for jetting off for adventure
Forget any debate about the merits of the genre known as, ahem, ‘chillwave’. Hazy, sun-bleached euphoric electronic pop is a fine companion to headphone-in travels. As Washed Out, Ernest Greene can be found twiddling away at the heart of this recent, often American-led musical style. He’s gone from the laptop-in-bedroom production of his breakthrough ‘Belong’, to a full band produced by Animal Collective collaborator Ben Allen. The result is like listening to the Balearic pop of the Beloved through papier maché speakers. Its blurred joy spirals ever upwards while big atmospherics rumble in the background. Although convincing on ‘Amor Fati’ and ‘Before’, it veers towards one-dimensional in places. However, ‘Eyes Be Closed’ has to be one of the most soaring, ethereal electronic tracks ever made, and comes complete with its own Phil Collins ‘In The Air Tonight’ drum roll – which is clearly a good thing.
Download Within and Without now
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THE SMITH (SOON-TO-BE) CLASSIC
Cosmic Ocean Ship
by Mia Doi Todd
When The clouds have cleared
Why? It’s summer in a CD case
Despite collaborations with Jose Gonzalez, nu-folk singer Mia Doi Todd is something of an undiscovered jewel. Her new record Cosmic Ocean Ship could become a cultish classic of the genre in much the way the songs of Nick Drake or Vashti Bunyan have. Her fragile, winsome voice skips through lyrical and musical sunlight as if nothing matters but the warm sensuality that radiates from within this stunning album. You can imagine her barefoot with sand between her toes singing about her ‘Summer Lover’ or the ‘Skipping Stones’, as her soprano vocals float with dizzying effect through the spacious acoustic arrangements. With echoes of Van Morrison in his more mystical moments or a Solid Air-era John Martyn, as well as gentle Portuguese inflections, Todd’s dreamy, unhurried sound, and her grounded spirituality, should not be smirked at for this is nothing short of a nu-folk masterpiece in the making.
Download Cosmic Ocean Ship now
Resident TuneSmith Rob Wood is the creative director and founder of Music Concierge, an award-winning music consultancy service for boutique and luxury hotels.
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