Azeda Booth - In Flesh Tones

Azeda Booth - In Flesh Tones
[Absolutely Kosher 2008]
92%

Azeda Booth - Ran

First, let me say that this album is a must. An absolute must. It is so fresh, so entertaining, but so minimal I don't entirely understand it. This is currently my favourite album period. Also, there are no females in this band (you'll get it if you listen to the song).

In Flesh Tones contains both frantic, relaxed, and chanting rhythms intermixed with crooning falsetto vocals that sound nothing if not otherworldly. Jungle drums collide with electric piano, bells with subtle guitars. The warm introspective space these sounds create encompasses the listener completely in an almost womb-like way.

Azeda Booth seem to address the inhuman and immoral elements beneath the surface of everyday light, but do it in such a manner that it isn't depressing. There is something about the way Jordan sings "When you talk to me about time" in First Little Britches cuts to the core every time and makes you feel what he wants you to feel. The whole album has this sort of effect, but it really comes to a point in First Little Britches.

On the whole, though, this album is indescribable in its stark beauty. It's kind of like taking the grand canyon and turning it into flesh. and then turning that into music.

Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane

Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane
[Flemish Eye/Sub Pop 2008]
82%

Chad VanGaalen - TMNT Mask

This album is all about pictures. The words VanGaalen chooses, his phrasing, and the soundscapes he draws together draw more vivid pictures than any album I can recall. There are a lot of instruments on Soft Airplane, but it never gets confused or too layered. For the most part, the guitar is the dominant instrument, surrounded by thumb piano, synths, banjo, ect, all draped over thin drum tracks. Stylistically, Soft Airplane runs the gamut from post rock to minimalist to new folk to electonica, taking full advantage of the instrumentation along the way.

Grouper - Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill

Grouper - Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill
[Type 2008]
75%

Grouper - Heavy Water/I'd Rather Be Sleeping

This album caught me by surprise. On first listen it is pleasant and unassuming, but somehow keeps your attention. The album starts with a rising roar of dull noise reminiscent of an Angelo Badalamenti score for a David Lynch film, only to be replaced by a soft chanting melody echoed by the guitar. This is fairly typical of Dragging a Dead Deer. There isn't much but soft melodies and droning noise, but oh what glorious melodies and noise!

Ladyhawk - Shots

Ladyhawk - Shots
[Jagjaguwar - 2008]
82%

Ladyhawk- S.T.H.D.

As I'm writing this, I'm giving shots another listen through, and I'm wondering how it ended up at the bottom of the year-end list. Oh well, I'm not re-ordering them again... I spent enough time on that already.

For those of you who caught Ladyhawk[1] the first time around (that would not be me, but I did listen to them both for comparison's sake) their sophomore release strikes a much darker note. It's a little dirtier, a little more atmospheric, and just as raw, but in a different way.

As the album progresses along, it strays further and further from the mainstream semi-polished feel of S.T.H.D. and heads toward early Modest Mouse or Pixies territory. The instrumentation and production gets sparse, downright barren in some places, and the vocals take on a wild bent. Somehow, Shots retains a cohesive feel. never once does a song feel out of place, despite the variety it contains.

The combination of scattershot lead vocals with do-do-do backup singers reminiscent of Walk on the Wild Side on Night You're Beautiful is probably the best moment on the latter half of the album. That track also features some of the album's tastiest guitar licks.

Shots ends on a long, slow bluesy number. It definitely gives me an early Bush vibe, mainly Duffy Driediger's voice and the verse melody, I think. Overall, a pretty well rounded album and for sure worth checking out.

[1]Not to be confused with Ladyhawke, who like ladyhawk, hasn't received anywhere near the praise she deserves. Thanks goes out to You Ain't No Picasso for that find!