The post Album Review: Two Hands by Gunnar Madsen first appeared on Collected Sounds.
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Album Name: Two Hands
Artist: Gunnar Madsen
Year/Label: 2009 / Independent
[Buy at Amazon]
[Download at Amazon]
Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds
Having one of those days? You know the kind I mean. The cat barfed on the floor (and you stepped in it in bare feet). The outfit you wanted to wear is on the floor covered in dog hair. The pump at the gas station was broken and traffic was crazy. You get to work and there is no coffee. Yeah, those.
Well a good antidote for that is this album. It’s filled with light, pretty piano music.
Since I am not a pianist (though I do know Heart & Soul and used to be able to play Lionel Richie’s Endless Love once upon a time), I will not go into the intricacies of Gunnar Madsen’s style or skill. I will just say that I think it’s beautiful, soothing and a perfect mood calming album.
There are some livelier numbers such as Frank Grows Flowers, but even that is peaceful and lovely.
Track Listing
1. Break Into Blossom
2. In These Lonely Regions
3. Kerenyi
4. Half Empty
5. Nino And Me
6. Ordinary Day
7. The Blackbird Whistling
8. Frank Grows Flowers
9. Bandon
10. For Wendy
11. Imagine It Falling
12. Down Moon
13. Ockeghem’s Turn
14. Oak Sky
15. 3 South Trail
16. Red Bird
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The post Album Review: Two Hands by Gunnar Madsen first appeared on Collected Sounds.
]]>The post Album Review: Wreckorder by Fran Healy first appeared on Collected Sounds.
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Album Name: Wreckorder
Artist: Fran Healy
Year/Label: 2010 / Independent
[Buy at Amazon]
[Download at Amazon]
Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds
You may know Fran Healy as the singer from the Scottish band, Travis. I’ve enjoyed the music Travis has released in the past, but this is a bit different. It’s softer, mellower and lovely. Some of it almost has a 60s brit pop vibe.
Anything is beautiful and sweet. “I would do anything, anything for you…” He uses falsetto voice but doesn’t overuse it.
Sing me to Sleep is understandably dreamy, and has some nice harmonies provided by the lovely Neko Case. This is the second duet I’ve heard her do where I didn’t recognize her voice right away! The other being on Sarah Harmer’s latest album. I can’t believe I’m so dense sometimes. Her voice is very distinctive.
As it Comes is another standout. It is a little dirgy, but with great rhythm.
Holiday is a little more swoopy than I like; but Moonshine is a fun, playful way to end a great album.
Fran stopped by Baebelmusic to record a video.
A side note: Plus his blog is pretty funny! ( I just wish it wasn’t white lettering on black background, yikes. My eyes! That’s what readers are for.)
Track Listing
1. In the Morning
2. Anything
3. Sing Me to Sleep
4. Fly in the Ointment
5. As it Comes
6. Buttercups
7. Shadow Boxing
8. Holiday
9. Rocking Chair
10. Moonshine
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]]>The post Album Review: Trenches by Sepiamusic first appeared on Collected Sounds.
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Album Name: Trenches
Artist: Sepiamusic
Year/Label: 2010 / Independent
[Download at Amazon]
Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds
I’m ashamed it’s taken me this long to write about this one. Because I knew from the art that I would like it. And ‘like it’ is putting it mildly. Here’s another thing, I didn’t realize until I was putting the finishing touches on this review that they’re Danish! They also share a record label with Bittersweet.
The name of the album as described by the lead singer, Erin Chapman: “To us, the meaning of ‘trenches’ was the idea of the spaces in between – small cracks and refuges from big emotions, but places that one must eventually leave to face battlefields of reality. ”
This reminds me of the recent Sheila Nichols album, bardo. Sort of the same idea.
It’s really pretty, just like I thought it would be. Ambient, lush. But not really sleepy. It’s like Tresspassers William only with more of a rock edge. The songs are quite complex and there’s a lot of layers and a lot of things going on.
Erin Chapamn’s voice The female lead is also wonderful. Dreamy and comfortable sounding.
Also singing on the record is Michael Adler, who is the producer as well. His voice is also lovely and very soothing.
This is a great chill out record. Do people still say ‘chill out’? Well, you know what I mean. It’s really great and my apologies to the band and to you for not getting this out sooner. I’ve had it since April for sh*t sake.
So get it already.
Track Listing
1. Stone
2. Skin
3. R.I.D.
4. Crazy Burn
5. Sweet Pollution
6. Make This Easier
7. New Horizons
8. The Searchers
9. Prototype
10. Stars
11. In Your Eyes
12. Trenches
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Album Name: Immaculada
Artist: Ion
Year/Label: 2010 / Equilibrium Music
[Buy at Amazon]
[Download at Amazon]
Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell
Duncan Patterson was once in the band Anathema, a hard-hitting metal band. Ion is a far calmer proposition; Patterson and various singers are making ethereal music with many roots. This is their second album after a strong debut.
The title song sees Veronica Neumann and Gina Rios adding siren voices to a dreamy tune. It’s all very suggestive and almost too lovely.
Adoration sees Vic Anselmo and Aoife Cuthbert singing to a folksy tune with a strong melancholy undertone.
Invida has a dreamy tone that Patterson uses well in his playing. It’s one of the many strong moments on this album.
The Silent Stars is another inspiring moment, where the lead vocal is strong yet sweet and the playing superb.
It’s another brilliant album by Ion.
Track Listing
01. Immaculada
02. Temptation
03. Adoration
04. Damhsa Na Gceithre Ghaoth
05. Invidia
06. Cetatea Cisnadioara
07. The Silent Stars
08. Return To Spirit
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Album Name: Eleven. Revert and Return
Artist: Midas Fall
Year/Label: 2010 / Monotreme
[Buy at Amazon]
[Download at Amazon]
Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds
This one’s hard to write about. It’s really very cool, I’m just not sure what to say about it. So I’ll start by just describing it. Kinda echoey dreamy pop, but harder than regular dreamy stuff. Maybe it’s more fuzzy than dreamy. Really nice though, I’ve been digging it for months.
Midas Fall are from Edinburgh, Scotland (one of my favorite places on earth). The female lead, Elizabeth Heaton has a wonderful voice. It’s soft and luscious, but can also wail and reach (and I mean that in a good way). Maybe a little like Bat for Lashes, or someone else I can’t quite place. Help me out!
My favorite tracks are Moviescreens, Nautical Song (I wish I were on a sailboat listening to this), and 17 (some lovely piano).
This is the kind of music one can fall into.
Here’s a video which will give you an idea:
Track Listing
01. MovieScreens
02. Century
03. Bright Lights Will Harm No-one
04. Nautical Song
05. My Radio Star
06. Half Horizon
07. War Pigeon
08. Fog Sky Nun
09. 17
10. Stalking Moon
The post Album Review: Eleven. Revert and Return by Midas Fall first appeared on Collected Sounds.
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