This post is a translation of the sixth part in a series of music reviews by my best friend Vũ Lâm Đại (Ki) and his friend Syka Lê Vy (Ka) on their Facebook accounts.
Original review is in Vietnamese, English translation by Mai.
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BALAM ACAB – Oh, Why (Wonder / Wander, 2011): BALAM ACAB is clearly a mysterious stage name for the young Alec Koone, 20 years old from a small town in Pennsylvania. Last year, the first debut EP See Birds went unnoticed, but Alec did not deter, and this year he comes back with a deeper, more impressive kind of music. Oh, Why is a wonderful advertisement for the album Wonder / Wander coming next August. Soft, mesmerizing like the waves at night, BALAM ACAB’s music exemplifies the attraction of chillwave.
J Mascis – Is it done (Several Shades of Why, 2011): Amidst tons of electrified music, J Mascis is what we need. Twenty-six years ago, in the debut album, J Mascis sang “I never try that much ’cause I’m scared of feeling”. Now the album Several Shades of Why still has that feel, but we can sense behind the warm voice and simple tune the solidified emotions akin to confessions of a 45-year-old man toward life. This new album is a collaboration with Ben Bridwell from Band of Horses, Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene, and Kurt Vile, whom we included in our March playlist.
The Wind – Hathor (Harum Scarum, 2011): The Wind will take us back in time to the 60s and 70s, as their musical characteristics are similar to Beach Boys and The Beatles. It’s a real escape when both Channel V and Yan TV are neck-deep in Korean music and auto-tune. Gentle, bright like old American rock, perhaps The Wind’s music makes no big breakthrough but it is worth listening to for old time’s sake, to remind us of days when Saigon was not so crowded, when Yoko hadn’t broken up The Beatles, or of our parents 30 years ago.
Pictureplane – Post Physical (Thee Physical, 2011): After a few rejections, Ka determines to bring Pictureland into this month’s playlist. Personally, I don’t like the look of this 26-year-old Travis Egedy at all (too colorful!) but I can’t deny his talent in synthpop. Not sure why, but every time I listen to Pictureplane, Ka thinks of the hangover mornings, remnants of the drunken nights before. A little intoxicated, a little dreamy, a little unreal. Is that why Pictureplane’s music is classified as trance?
Charli XCX – Stay away (EP, 2011) Ka definitely doesn’t want anyone to “stay away” after they hear this song. The music of this talent teenage girl has a bit of gothic and an influence from the 80s pop, although the lyrics all say “stay away”, the listeners just want to run toward so closely to prove an irresistible sweetness of the self. Salem also made an impressive remix of this song, check it out on Youtube.
Imamiwhoami – T (To Whom It May Concern, 2010): Imamiwhoami must be the most mysterious music phenomenon of 2010. Several dark art videos were posted on Youtube. Ka remembers that every time a new video was posted, everybody kept searching to see who was the impressive, wonderful Imamiwhoami. Many singers were speculated: Goldfrapp, Lady Gaga, even Christina Aguilera… Finally, the main face was revealed as Jonna Lee. Totally changed from her usual earthy, slow style, Imamiwhoami is Jonna Lee’s 180 degree turn. Anyways, we just gotta take off our hats in front her talents.
Röyksopp – What else is there? (The Understanding, 2005): If you hadn’t known Röyksopp before, this song will make you search for everything about the band and a link to download the entire album. It did to Ka. It’s too hard to review this song because it’s too great. What else is there? is a perfect collaboration of the Norwegian duo with singer Karin Dreijer Andersson from The Knife. Andersson’s special vocal and the impressive tune have created a deadly attraction. Don’t forget to watch the music video of this single.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – How Can U Luv Me [Unknown Mortal Orchestra (2011)]: UMO is a happy version of last year’s well known psychedelic rock group from Australia, Tame Impala. While Tame Impala’s psychedelic breath brings the hypnotic air of Perth on a sunny day, UMO is full of accidental summer breeze. How Can U Luv Me makes a perfect party opener, an easy reminder of the fresh atmosphere of outdoor gatherings in the 60s, where young boys and girls in neat vintage clothes sway to the music, sweet wines in hand.
The National – Wasp Nest [Cherry Tree EP (2004)]: The voice of Matt Berninger, lead vocal of The National, can shame any brave soul who dares cover his songs. Matt’s one-of-a-kind thick and warm baritone may not be the most expressive; he sings naturally, he compresses many feelings, but he touches each song just enough without performing to many tricks on his voice. It’s hard to imagine About Today, Fake Empire, Start A War, City Middle,… without him. Wasp Nest tells the feelings of a man when he sees a girl in her mother’s dress, on her hand is martini in a paper cup, nonchalant and dangerous like “poison in the pretty glass”. A wasp nest seems nothing like a reasonable comparison to a woman’s beauty, but naked lines like “Get over here, I wanna kiss your skinny throat” through Matt’s peaceful voice make us feel as if we’re savoring a glass of good champagne, basked in the beauty of sunset.
SBTRKT (feat. Sampha) – Something Goes Right [SBTRKT (2011)] Yet another electro talent from London. Unlike his unfamiliar outlook (he always wears a mask when performing), his electric music boasts proximity and rhythm, seldom buried underneath effects, bass and beat. Something Goes Right exemplifies this. Not too much but enough to sway, plus the warm, perfectly measured and fitted voice of Sampha, the track is radio-catchy. Among a jungle of electro producers experimenting with new sounds to add depth to their music, SBTRKT ‘s comfort is rare.
Clams Casino – Drowning [Rainforest EP (2011)]: Rainforest is the best EP that Ki has listened to in 2011. Five tracks are constructed around the “jungle” theme, the sound carries a muggy, cloudy air with lots of texture to mimic a tropical forest. Flagpole amond chopsticks, Drowning perhaps stands out the most. Over 30 silent opening seconds create the feeling of free falling down a waterfall, then you suddenly hit the water at the strong vocal sample and your hearing drowns in the cannot-be-any-better beat. The piano and vocal sample continue in contrast to the beat like a water surface under the rain, and we’re deep under with no escape. The only minus, if any, is the short length, not enough to make the listener high.
The Tallest Man On Earth – Weather of a Killing Kind (2011): Another TTMOE-trademarked track unmistakable with anyone else, and if he continues to sing this way, play the guitar this way, if his songs keep being this simplistic, then anyone who has gotten addicted to him will not be bored. With a vocal smelling sweet like burnt rice, with the creative, wandering yet decades old style, every track released by TTMOE brings surprisingly fresh air. The lyrics of Weather of a Killing Kind carry many metaphors of discomfort and loss in life, relationship, and love that we want to ignore but have to face.
Max Tundra – I Wanna Be Your Lover (2011): A little bit more groove for this playlist. A big hit of Prince in 1979, covered by Max Tundra with much loyalty to the original except for the fastened tempo and a bit new synth. It may not sound like a much, but too much renewal to destroy the original is not always a good thing. Kudos to Max Tundra for digging up a forgotten hit, polishing it and re-introducing it to the audience like a contribution to the old-school-revisiting trend of today’s indie. Personally, Ki is surprised that without too much editing, such an old track of the mushy and easily outdated funk/disco can become so fresh and catchy. Listen to it on Soundcloud (Youtube doesn’t have this one).
Exitmusic – The Sea (2011): a track that follows the impressionistic style, starts gently, the tempo slowly quickens, explodes with the guitar, then softens again like waves crashing their white foam into the cliffs and quietly retreating into the sea. Aleksa’s voice as she sings „It’s a silent sea“ sounds like the gusting wind before the storm, light but filled with unease and threat. A promising opening track from this new post-punk band.
Robag Wruhme – Ende [Thora Vukk (2011)]: Opposite How Can U Luv Me of UMO, Ende – like its name – suits to be a party closer. Blanketing the track is the soft cool air of early morning, when the party is over, beer cans and burnt cigarette everywhere, the dancing kids now tired and sleeping on the sofa, the sun now rising outside the east window. No breakthrough in the rhythm or the production, Ende harmonizes from the beat to the warm vocal, and the piano is like a exhausting but sweet remnant from a long happy night.
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The Vietnamese Original is posted on Sunday Spirit.
Why translate and repost? Because it’s beautiful.
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