Album Name: Worship
Artist: Ane Brun (Ft Jose Gonzales)
Year/Label: 2012 / Ais

In the meantime, if you want to spend some dough*, you can:
[Buy at Amazon]
(*Or get someone to give it to you as a gift, as I did!–aal)

Review by David Adair

Slow stirring acoustic waves trickle into the sombre and stern vocals of Jose Gonzales, before the sauntering Scandinavian, Ane Brun supplies some brooding clarity, ‘Worship’. Chilling, chiming percussion punctuates this delving folk, gospel and low-key indie stirring sojourn. A poetic, lyrical edge makes the song mean something to those with a tender disposition:

“My heartbeats can be your silver lining; just listen to them.”

The ‘Henrik Schwarz Remix’, adds a fuzzy digital toe to contrast with the searching vocals. It gives a bit of a laboured lag to the number. Brun’s austere song-crafting is overshadowed a little by Gonzales’s presence. It is still apparent that she has depth and heart in abundance, though.

Rating: 3/5

[Ane Brun Official Site]

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The post SingleReview: Worship (Ft Jose Gonzales) by Ane Brun first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Single Name: Cold
Artist: Blood Red Shoes
Year/Label: 2012 / Operative Music

[Buy here]

Review by David Adair

A Katie-Jane Garside vocal crawl creeps up behind biting guitars, thrusting percussion and the growling backing touch of Steven Ansell, ‘Cold’. It represents a step into a heavier direction for this maturing Brighton pair. The angelic Laura-Mary Carter, sings like she has been possessed by the demonically hypnotic percussion combos. Her “what did I do?” sweeter than sweet vocal touch, returns a cappella style to contrast with the gritty churn of the rest of this fresh number.

Desperation and determination walk hand in hand, as this adventurous pairing adds some bite to their growing armour. This prelude to new album ‘In Time To Voices’ (V2 26/03/12), will have their growing fan-base practising feisty dance movements in eager preparation for it.

Rating: 4/5

[Blood Red Shoes Official Site]

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The post Single Review: Cold by Blood Red Shoes first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Review by Dave Adair

Haunting, echoing sonic rock with a The Sonic Youth/The Cardigans kick and, the coup de grace of a Blondie in chill out mode edge to the vocals is the chosen approach, ‘Faded Glory’. Jill Sullivan’s vocal display is one of variety and her build up to the lofty delivery of the poetic part of the lyrics, lends the song some vocal mystique to go with the murky accompaniment.

This expansive, driving atmospheric rock foray is one of the more compelling, meaningful and well built numbers from the hit and miss ‘Spitting Daggers’ album. It’s a song that takes on even more potency in a live setting.

Rating: 3.5/5

[Sparrow and the Workshop Official Site]

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The post Single Review: Faded Glory by Sparrow and the Workshop first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Review by David Adair

The overall impact of the mysterious Little Fish, who seek to build upon the momentum gained through the release of their debut album last year. Is that of Alanis Morrissette and PJ Harvey, combining together to try and cram an eight minute song into four, ‘Wonderful’. Some colourful production skills provided by courtesy of the Supergrass Gaz Goombes, gives the song a sparkle and a radio friendly edge. Juju’s vocals flit from theatrical to delving, as openness towards significant others is well and truly extolled.

A combination of lost mystique and spirited drive given off by Juju, shows an artist who loses herself in the music and takes the term performer, very seriously. Little Fish, with this mini-epic shows how you can lose yourself in your music and invite everyone to do the same.

Rating: 4/5

[Little Fish Official Site]

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The post Single Review: Wonderful by Little Fish first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Review by David Adair

Winding electro tainted pop from Los Angeles’ Kaplan (Piper and Skylar) siblings delivers a sound that pounded Top of The Pops in the 80s, ‘Slivers Of You’. The message is not important, it’s all in the moment from the range of aching instrumentals, to the slightly lurid, echoing yet, occasionally downbeat vocal push led by Piper.

‘I’ve Got Some Happiness (Leland)’, starts off in a fatter, fuzzed up digital manner that allows the vocals to slow down and give off a forlorn feel. Mogwai strolling out of an Amsterdam cafe with A Hawk and a Hacksaw sums up the backdrop. It allows for the sisters to add their own vocal echo and inner searching. The number gets close to reaching epic blues proportions, falling just shy of the four minute mark. These two tracks speak of a depth of influences and a desire to explore other parts of pop music than pure melody. It’s refreshing just for that fact.

Rating: 3.5/5

[Puro Instinct Official Site]

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The post Single Review: Slivers Of You by Puro Instinct first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Review by David Adair

Expect a hearty, hollow percussion nudged mingling together of jungle, pop and soul for Ane Brun’s fourth studio album. If this meditative, atmospheric lead single, Do You Remember is anything to go by? This reflective songstress slots her hovering vocals into line with the gospel, slightly tribal and distanced backing cries, as well as the ambient percussive touch.

One Last Try, represents an instrumental shift towards seeping keys, allowing this sincere songstress to instil a more chatty edge to her vocals, as she talks of an emotional dilemma. Poetic longing dominates the lyrics and its impact is helped by the clear, yet calming vocal profile. Brun’s reputation as a soothingly serious performer looks set to be enhanced.

Rating: 3.5/5

[Ane Brun Official Site]

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The post Single Review: Do You Remember by Ane Brun first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: Poor Animal/I Can’t Stand
Artist: Zola Jesus
Year/Label: 2010 / Soulterrain Transmissions
[Download Poor Animal at Amazon]
[Download I Can’t Stand at Amazon]

Review by David Adair

Hovering, mildly brooding, synth pushed and occasionally soaring lounge/pop cries out feelings of bemusement and delusion at life and love through a new non-album track, Animal. Former opera student, Nika Roza puts in a controlled, well projected vocal performance, bouncing off the gliding synths and rat-tat-tat percussion to give her Zola Jesus project some sincerity, soul and ambience.

The lounge impetus continues in I Can’t Stand, as this offering from the lauded Stridulum II album, acts like a pat on the back for someone who has just lost out in the game of love. This Wisconsin born starlet provides an outlet for those who like reflection, meditation facilitation, soul and an atmospheric slant to their pop music.

Rating: 4/5

[Zola Jesus Official Site]

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The post Single Review: Poor Animal/I Can’t Stand by Zola Jesus first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Song Name: Twilight Hour
Artist: Tina Lie
Year/Label: 2010 / SIWI Music
[Get whole album at Amazon]
[Download at Amazon]

Review by David Adair

Pitching her sound between Sheryl Crow and a pumped up Natalie Merchant, sees the Americana and rock rooted, Tina Lie conjure up a gritty and adventurous single, Twilight Hour. Fatalistic lyrics are delivered with sternness, a little echo and some provocative pounce.

This nimble rocking, yet edgy number is taken from latest album, Free Enough to Fall and, whilst the wandering instrumental nature does distractive you a little from Lie’s commanding vocals. This stern songstress does enough to keep you interested. Whether or not she can do this on a full length album is still up for discussion.

Rating; 3.5/5

[Tina Lie Official Site]

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The post Single Review: Twilight Hour by Tina Lie first appeared on Collected Sounds.