Nov 2006
"Psyche folk" for ya in Joanna Newsom's Ys
16/11/06 22:50
By SAM LADACH-BARK
It has been two-and-a-half years since Joanna Newsom released The Milk-Eyed Mender. It was featured among Spin magazine's top 50 releases of 2004, which for a debut album is quite impressive.
Newsom was only 22 when it hit the shelves. Her approach was instantly unique, with her playful squeaks moving in and out of harp melodies. It took some getting used to, but with every listen her magical voice became further gripping, drenched with serene calm.
She since has seen Europe, Australia, North America and Japan while on tour with Devendra Banhart and Todd Oldham among others. It seems she has finally settled down and released the album that we have been waiting for.
Fresh, distinctive and altogether deliciously bizarre, her latest effort, titled Ys, is a wonderful escalation of her art. Where Mender was short and sweet, Ys is languid and poetic. The shortest of five tracks runs just over seven minutes and the longest is just under 17.
Besides her staple whimsical harp chords, Newsom has enlisted the help of horn, violin, flute and string for this endeavor. Although her voice and harp still take center stage and direct the flow, the elegant violin-induced atmosphere of "Emily" is especially enchanting. The child-like lyrics of "Sawdust and Diamonds" duplicate the emotion of a children's picture book, with fastidious to leisurely harp strummings replacing illustrations.
While her screaming squeak is toned down a bit for the whole of this album, it is featured in hair-raising spurts on "Cosmia" for her nostalgic fans. And the ever-changing tones of "Only Skin" show how much musical talent she has gained since releasing Mender.
Overall, Ys is a pleasant progression of her already established style. Some fans may be disappointed that after two years all we get is an EP instead of a full-length album. But collectively the six tracks account for a heavenly hour of fanciful folk that only Newsom is capable of delivering. To hear her, go here.
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Emerging Artist: The Presets
12/11/06 14:06
By SAM LADACH-BARK
Grooving with electronic bliss, there is something extra special about The Presets and their new album that previously went underappreciated. Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes bring their brand of electronica from Sydney, Australia. It's drenched with emotion and dripping with cool.
Their first full-lenth album, Beams, brings their act to culmination from the outside in. Previous EP releases Blow Up and Girl and the Sea floated just under the radar, but left listeners stunned when their 2005 releases hit the states early this summer.
Ranging from the somber mechanics of the self-titled track to the raging indie hit "Kitty in the Middle," this australian duo has enough to please any electronic pallet.
Recently in Austin they opened for The Faint, who have been riding an indie boy gravy train since Wet From Birth was released in late 2005. The Presets' performance gave them quite a bit to live up to, and I'm glad I came early to catch their act.
It's amazing how easily this band was lost among other dance rock groups that just don't measure up. Recently a group of mixed songs was added to new copies of their 2005 release The Resets, which featured a number of their tracks from Beams retro-fied in with new twists, turns and beats. Especially hair-raising is the Ascii disko remix of "I Go Hard I Go Home," featuring their screamingly unique vocals on top of new hard-hitting bass beats.
Bringing electronic fans what they have craved since Fischer Spooner made it big, The Presets are making the scene in a big way. You can hear their music here.