Clammy echos

Two musical items for which you should take note; both of which are featured in post's mixture.



Firstly: Echo Gardens-

These are some foreigners that have soft melodies that are easily digested by the ears. Nothing complicated. Just nice easy listening. Ironic enough the couple songs I put in this mix are basically their most poppy songs. But hey, they're fun and harmless and they still maintain some of that dreamy texture that characterizes the rest of their music. In short, I'd say they are Zero7 meets Múm meets OK Computer.



Secondly: Clams Casino-

This guy is just your friendly neighborhood beat maker. Originally I rode him off because his choice of rappers was so poor. (I'm sorry but ASAP Rocky? Who likes that crap?) But I later heard the music he makes without the MC's, and me likes. Me gusta muy mucho. I love the lo-fi samples he chooses, the wordless vocals he utilizes, and the overall nostalgic feel of his songs. They are really simple, but so deep at the same time. Perfect for cloudy days. And partly cloudy days. And partly sunny days. And sunny side up eggs. This particular track I have listened too about 100 times (seriously, I have a high tolerance for tracks I like) and have concluded that should I have any say, I'd like to be listening to this song when I die.



Now for specifics, here's the track listing:

Echo Gardens - Step 0:01
Clams Casino - I'm God (instrumental)1:50
An Alien - Monologue 6:17
Echo Gardens - Intro 6:47 /Purple 8:51
Steve Hauschildt - Batteries May Drain 12:17
Radiohead - Staircase 14:20
Professor Penguin - Pilot (Wrigglesworth PSB Edit) 18:10
Stumbleine - Ember (Sorrow Remix) 22:52

Hymn

I asked the Lord that I might grow 

In faith and love and every grace, 

Might more of his salvation know, 

And seek more earnestly his face.

‘Twas he who taught me thus to pray; 

And he, I trust, has answered prayer; 

But it has been in such a way 

As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that, in some favored hour, 

At once he’d answer my request, 

And by his love’s constraining power 

Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, he made me feel 

The hidden evils of my heart, 

And let the angry powers of hell 

Assault my soul in every part.

Yea, more, with his own hand he seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe, 

Crossed all the fair designs I schemed, 

Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this? I trembling cried; 

Wilt thou pursue this worm to death? 

This is the way, the Lord replied
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I now employ 

From self and pride to set thee free,
And break thy schemes of earthly joy, 

That thou may’st seek thy all in me.

Top 5 of 2011

Fresh out the box.
Stop!
Look, and watch.
Ready yet?
Get set.
It's moooore music!
 
(High fives if you know what that is.  Double dream hands if you don't...)
 
These little ditties are a good time for all.   Nujabes is one artist who made music that is pretty well universally appreciated.  With a plethora of instruments this boy was no synth-only composer,  he did well to sample many'a'flavors over some of the dopiest beats.  Piano, woodwinds, strings, exotic fruits, and the like, he makes about anything flow in these rich, smooth, and supple compositions.
 
And if you're not sure how 'supple' can describe music, you are not alone.  And if you wonder how beats can be dopey, you are not alone.  But if you don't like Nujabes on some level, there is something seriously amiss in your person. 

Spiritual State came out this year and will be his last LP.  (Unless his record label wants to release a lame remix album to make a buck, which is likely.)

Dude was undeniably talented and will surely maintain his underground fanbase long after his death.  There are certainly undertones of nostalgia in these trademark upbeat major-keyed tunes.  (Maybe I'm reading into them though the lens of my experience with Nujabes music...)  This album as a whole is good front to back, I've included just a few my fav's.
 
Enjoy.
 
Please. 
 
And thank you.





And (a couple weeks late) I have the best (in fact, not opinion) albums of 2011 in this particular order:

#5. Spiritual State by Nujabes

#4. Bless the Self by Geotic

#3. King of Limbs by Radiohead

#2. Drive by Tycho

#1. Tamer Animals by Other Lives


These may not have won any of MTV's "Idiot Music for Pop Society" awards, but they're the type of albums you can put on repeat, listen to them for hours on end, and still want to listen more the next day.  At least that's my experience with them.  They are probably in Bethany's list of "most overplayed" of 2011, which may hold some weight, but not really. 
 
Get these, people.  Get them all.  Play them back to back to back, over and over and over.  You don't have to be a rocket surgeon to appreciate them, but it may help.