Friday, December 18, 2009

Balloon Bass


Balloon Bass - Air, Rubber and Soul


The balloon bass is a musical instrument made of one round balloon and two skinny (twisting) balloons... The balloon bass is a three-and-one-half octave instrument, costs about $.15 to make, and can last for months at a time.

Sean Rooney devised the principle of the balloon resonator in 1992 and invented an instrument he called the balloon guitar. He showed Addi Somekh how to make the resonator one afternoon in 2000 in Montreal. Since then, Addi has made various modifications on Sean's original design, developing more of a bass-type instrument.

People encountering the balloon bass for the first time are often struck by how such a strange and simple contraption can produce such a variety of sounds (including very low bass notes) and by the fact that one can really play tunes on it...

Yeah, this guy Addi Somekh really plays a balloon, and it's really good.
The album is sort of like a free form sound piece, with guest musicians and vocalists on each track.
There's no real set genre in this album, if I had to generalize I'd say jazz, but there are also blues and ambient pieces. Even one that features a theremin about 90% of the time.
Overall this is a solid album, if only for the novelty of listening to an album that's based on a balloon.
Definitely check this one out.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Low Vs. Diamond

“Getting asked a lot of questions, but my answers are all wrong”


Low Vs. Diamond - S/T


The biggest disappointment in this album filled with sweeping, atmospheric rock, is the fact that the opening song, “Don’t Forget Sister” is so strong and so good, that the other 10 tracks, while good in their own ways, just can't measure up to the beginning. However any shortcomings found in the previous tracks can be entirely dismissed about halfway through as the rest of the album picks up speed.
Lucas Field's voice has been aptly described as sounding "like Jarrod Gorbel and Brandon Flowers are making out" and I'd be remiss to describe it better.

Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit


Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit - A Larum


American and English folk traditions combine for something that's rooted in old history, but is also undeniably pop.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Dragonette


Dragonette - Fixin To Thrill


One of the better electropop albums I've heard in recent history. Not a groundbreaking album or a bastion of awesomeness. But it's rather fun, and would be a good addition to a party playlist.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Mumford & Sons


Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More


Julia, over at The Music Geek introduced me to these guys' other single, "Winter Winds", I dug it, so I checked out more, liked the first single "Little Lion Man", and decided to get the album. It's very good. And Little Lion Man is without a doubt one of the best songs of the year.

I've really been falling in love with London's new wave of folk bands so don't be surprised to see even more coming from me.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Pomplamoose

Saw these folk's rendition of Beat It on Facebook(courtesy of a link from my new friend Jenny, who's blog is hnyah), did some Googling and found the album! I really dig their sound, and Nataly Dawn's voice is superb.
http://www.youtube.com/user/PomplamooseMusic
http://www.myspace.com/pomplamoosemusic


Pomplamoose - VideoSongs

Saturday, December 5, 2009



Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse Present: Dark Night of the Soul


Two amazing producers collaborating with a ton of amazing musicians, including Wayne Coyne(Flaming Lips), Iggy Pop, and David Lynch(the director).
This album is probably never going to be released thanks to a label dispute between EMI and Lex Records.
It was to be packaged with a 100 page book of photos taken by David Lynch as a visual narrative for the album, when I find it, I'll post it here as well.



Bosques de mi Mente -LO-FI


Real great sound from Spain, mellow soundscapes and piano. Great homework music, haha.



Eugene Mirman - God Is a Twelve-Year-Old Boy with Asperger's


Eugene Mirman is a comic genius, melding jokes with performance art and absurdism, his albums always deliver and this one is no different.


Karen O and the Kids - Where the Wild Things Are: Motion Picture Soundtrack

One of my favorite soundtracks of all time. Very good, and Karen O's voice captures the essence of childishness very well.