Song for Zula, new from Phosphorescent
“Some songs just feel like home.”
Commenters on YouTube (and the internet in general) can be a wicked, often ignorable bunch – but in this case, Youtube user RMBRKFLD is spot on. Phosphorescent’s brand new single, “Song For Zula” latches on instantly with its entrancing, dreamy rhythm and Matthew Houck’s fragile vocals.
The song’s first verse lets you know immediately where Matthew’s going, and it isn’t that bright, sunny nirvana called Love Land. Instead, he takes us into the deep, dark depths, where love will, well, tear you apart. Houck references “Ring of Fire” in the very first line, and goes on to detail his despair:
Some say love is a burning thing
That it makes a fiery ring
Oh but I know love as a fading beam
Just as fickle as a feather in a stream
See, honey, I saw love. You see, it came to me
It put its face up to my face so I could see
Yeah then I saw love disfigure me
Into something I am not recognizingThe song is shattering and beautiful, and exactly what I wanted to hear from Matthew/Phosphorescent after falling hard for their 2010 album, Here’s to Taking It Easy
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The new album is called ‘Muchacho‘, and is due out March 19th. The title is no doubt inspired by his stay in Tulum, Mexico (on the Yucatan Peninsula), where he kicked up his feet in a hut on the beach and penned the album’s songs (apparently in one week’s time). The jury’s out on the source of the album cover photo, but it very well could have Mexican origins, and appears, quite frankly, like a recipe for a damn good time!
You can pre-order Muchacho
on Amazon.
Muchacho Track Listing:
1. Sun, Arise! (An Invocation, An Introduction)
2. Song for Zula
3. Ride On/Right On
4. Terror in the Canyons (The Wounded Master)
5. A Charm/ A Blade
6. Muchacho’s Tune
7. A New Anhedonia
8. The Quotidian Beasts
9. Down to Go
10. Sun’s Arising (A Koan, An Exit)Nap Time with Nils
I’m lucky enough to work from home. Usually when my “lunch hour” rolls around, I’ll throw on the running shoes and jog a few miles around the ‘hood. This arrangement has been surprisingly good for my health. Breaking up the day with a run clears my mind, puts everything into perspective, gets my blood pumping, and allows me the opportunity to be alone with Music. Love the arrangement.
Well, on Monday, it was overcast, scattered showers, and downright gloomy. I chose to utilize my free hour in the form of a n-a-p. How sweet it was. 50 minutes of midday relaxation. I dialed up E Street Radio on my iPhone SiriusXM app, and stumbled across Nils Lofgren‘s hour as guest DJ.
Listening to the show, I was in that euphoric, meditative state where you’re not fully conscious but you’re not fully asleep either. I was sort of floating through the ether – able to relax my mind, and at the same time soak in the music that Nils was playing.
He played his live version of the Star Spangled Banner, which was amazing. He played his Bruce favorites, like “Nothing Man”, “Man’s Job”, and “My City of Ruin”; he played an in-studio acoustic intro to “Countin’ on a Miracle”…
But what really hit me from Nils was when he played his version of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”. Yeah, the song made popular by Robert Flack almost 40 years ago (the tune was actually written by folk singer Ewan MacColl in 1957).
And man, it hit me in just the right spot. Hair stood up on my arms, the tear ducts activated a bit (only a bit, dammit I’m a macho man. No I’m not).
Lofgren’s high, tender voice soars in this version. Just beautiful. I think I’ll take more naps.
Nils Lofgren Band – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (mp3)
[audio:nils.mp3]
Ick’s Pick: Josh Rouse’s El Turista
I knew next to nada about Josh Rouse before hearing of his new album El Turista a couple weeks ago. The review I read spoke of laid back Latin-inspired rhythms, the kind of vibe Stan Getz and João Gilberto exuded. That’s my kind of vibe.
After streaming the album on Lala (sounding like a broken record with Lala lately), I was hooked. One listen is all it took. And I know there are those of you out there who will lock in the same way I did.
Take some time right now – listen to this record on the nifty little widget down there.
Then, here you go: El Turista (Bonus Version)
. You’ll thank me later.
New Tunes: Scott Warren’s Quick Fix Bandage
Scott Warren is a L.A. based musician and front man for the Indie band Signal Hill Transmission. A few weeks ago (July 28th if you’re keeping track), Scott released his solo debut Quick Fix Bandage. The lead song, “Before You Say Goodbye”, has made several appearances on my iTunes – and in my head – over the last several weeks – most notably on a hike in Telluride in late July. “The reality sets and the reality…”. You’ll see what I mean.
It’s a solid album – mellow, leaning toward the rootsy side – and bookended by the grand finale of America’s “Sister Golden Hair”, one of my mellow 70’s rock favorites.
Scott Warren – Before You Say Goodbye” (mp3)
Buy:
Visit: Scott Warren’s Official Site | MySpace
All the Dark Horses
This tune came out of nowhere one day, swooped me right up and carried me along with it. Beautiful song, beautiful lyrics, and judging by the strong 2004 album that this song is a part of (‘Weightlifting’), a grossly underrated band.
They’re Trashcan Sinatras, the boys are from Scotland, and this is “All the Dark Horses”…
Trashcan Sinatras – All the Dark Horses (mp3)
Trashcan Sinatras – All the Dark Horses [Live on KCRW, Dec. 9, 2004] (mp3)
Buy:
Links: Download the chords (pdf) to “All the Dark Horses” | Official Site | MySpace
The Mellowness of the Shug
Like Michael mentioned in his 100 Words post today, when your music library gets too big, the challenge is to figure out what to even listen to. A lot of great artists and songs seem to go underground for a while, and pop up in a shuffle a few months down the road. One that plopped back on to my radar today was Shuggie Otis and his psychedelifunky 1974 album Inspiration Information.
It’s a mellow Monday, so a couple of laid back joints here. “Island Letter” sounds like a cousin of Prince’s “Crazy You”, if you ask me. And I know you did. I heard you.
Shuggie Otis – Island Letter (mp3)
“Freedom Flight” is thirteen minutes of dream-inducing lite funky jazz and sweet sax & guitar effects. Close your eyes and drift off. But not if you’re at work. NSFW. Definitely NSFW.
Freedom Flight (mp3)
Check out Inspiration Information
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Little Sea Horse
Non-parents may want to move on to the next post, ’cause this one’s a little ch-ch-cheesy.
I’ll make it short & sweet – my four year old daughter attended her first day of kindergarten today. I’m a proud papa, and I’m sort of blown away that I have a child who is now going to school. Seasoned parents are nodding their heads, while at the same time shaking them in a sort of “you have nooo idea what you have in store for you” way. It just keeps getting more and more interesting, folks, and I’m just underway…
Well, a couple of weeks ago, my girl had a sort of “graduation” ceremony at her YMCA preschool. Her class was referred to as the Sea Horses. As the Sea Horses shuffled through in a controlled-chaos single file to receive their cute little certificates, with their cute little caps on, I had this Bruce Cockburn song going through my head. It comes from a brilliant 1976 album called In the Falling Dark.
I count this and Dancing in the Dragon’s Jaw as two of my all time favorites. They soothe and calm me, and bring me to a good place when things seem a little jagged and confused.
The lyrics merit an appearance here (bolded by me):
Little seahorse
Swimming in a primal sea
Heartbeat like a
Leaf quaking in the breeze
I feel magic as coyote
In the middle of the moon-wild nightIn the forge-fire time
Your mother glowed so bright
You were like a
Voice calling in the night
And I’m watching the curtain
Rising on a whole new set of dreamsThe world is waiting
Like a Lake Superior gale
A locomotive
Racing along the rail.
It’ll sweep you away
But you know that you’re never aloneLittle seahorse
Floating on a primal tide
Quickening like a
Spark in a haystack side
I already love you
And I don’t even know who you areNice eh? It’s enough to make a tough dad get a tad misty eyed. And that’s okay. Congrats kiddo – I have no earthly idea how I ever got along without you.
Bruce Cockburn – Little Sea Horse (mp3)
Buy In the Falling Dark
To illustrate even further how much I love this album, here’s my favorite off the record:
Lord of the Starfields (mp3)
A Heavenly Day
There I was this past weekend, wrapping up a late Sunday afternoon car wash in the driveway (washing the hell out of my wife’s car due to the guilt of trading myself up for a new Honda Ridgeline – naughty, selfish husband!). I had the iTunes streaming down to the garage stereo (because I will perform no household or automotive task without background music – that would be silly).
As dusk set in, and I was pulling her car into the garage, this song came on. I sat silent for a few, taking in the song. I sighed in contentment, closed the garage door, and went on with my night. It was already a good weekend. Patty Griffin made it even better.
Patty Griffin – Heavenly Day (mp3)
Buy Children Running Through:
The Bird and the Bee
Ickmusic contributor the Great Gonzo returns! – Pete
Hello, Ickies. I know I’ve been pretty quiet, sorry about that. Last semester was a doozy, and things have been hectic over the holidays. But I’ve returned!
Today, I give you The Bird and the Bee out of L.A. I first came across this group in late 2006 when I heard their EP again and again and again and again. The EP contained 4 tracks, three of which were slated for their upcoming full length, the fourth a Peaches remix of “Fucking Boyfriend.” I was drawn into the band’s unique sound. Laid back, yet poppy. Indie-ish, yet polished. And a hint of jazz (they are, after all, on Blue Note).
The male component of the duo is Greg Kurstin, formerly of Geggy Tah. Yes, *that* Geggy Tah. But don’t let that turn you off. I promise, The Bird and the Bee are much more sophisticated than their 1996 hit, “Whoever You Are.” The female lead is Inara George, an aspiring actress turned musician.
The group’s 2007 self-titled full length is simply splendid. I’m generally horrible at description, so let’s let the band speak for themselves, eh?
The Bird and the Bee – “Again and Again” from their self-titled full length
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=xDlEXQaMBpk 336 278]
Later in 2007, the band released an EP, Please Clap Your Hands
. The EP carries 5 brand-spankin’ new tracks, all of which are in much the same vein as the self titled album. A particular highlight for me however, is their take on the Bee Gees’ “How Deep is Your Love.” I’ve always liked the song, but this version made me melt.
The Bird and the Bee – “How Deep Is Your Love” from Please Clap Your Hands EP
And it looks like they’re planning another release for 2008. Do these folks sleep?
Buy The Bird and the Bee music at the Amazon mp3 store
The Bird and the Bee (MySpace)
The Bird and the Bee (Official Site)Jumping on the Band (of Horses) Wagon
I’m late to the Band of Horses bandwagon. I guess my inclination is to shy away from the darlings of the indie critics and hipsters. Well, I made a mistake for not checking these guys out earlier. Since the beginning of the year, Cease to Begin has been on regular rotation over here in the House of Ickmusic. Lead singer Ben Bridwell’s voice is the key for me – gentle and soothing.
The album is top notch from start to finish, but it’s this track – the finale – that I could literally put on Repeat for a day straight and never tire of it.
Band of Horses – Windows Blues (mp3)
Buy: Cease to Begin
Links: Official Site | MySpace
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