Chromatics – Kill For Love [Italians Do It Better, 2012] Chromatics have recently released “Into The Black”, a Neil Young cover, a masterpiece (in both versions). If the song had been on the album 17 times instead of different tracks, … Continue reading
Belle and Sebastian – LateNightTales Vol.2 [Late Night Tales, 2012] The Glasgow band Belle and Sebastian for the second time showed that not only they write marvelous music, but can also put together a perfect spring mix. Their second compilation … Continue reading
Amadou & Mariam – Folila [Nonesuch, 2012] Exotic couple Amadou & Mariam made a great African crossover to Western pop. Their music is not New Age type with ethnic borrowings here and there. It’s the opposite – African music adapted … Continue reading
Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself [Bella Union/Mom & Pop, 2012] The new Andrew Bird album is opening like it’s Animal Collective on tranquilizers. Desperation Breeds moves into a calm smooth narration, and this mood is held throughout the whole … Continue reading
Tanlines – Mixed Emotions [True Panther, 2012] “Mixed Emotions” by a New York duo Tanlines really gives you mixed feelings. On the one hand, you can nearly see through lots of borrowings – from the 80s, from the 90s. They … Continue reading
Miike Snow – Happy To You [Columbia, 2012] Miike Snow is more of a singles project than an album one. The second album, Happy To You, as a whole is not reaching the level of the single Paddling Out. At … Continue reading
The Shins – Port of Morrow [Aural Apothecary/Columbia, 2012] The fourth album of The Shins came out after five years of silence. I’ll say at once, it was so much worth waiting for! Port of Morrow sounds lush and mature. … Continue reading
Xiu Xiu – Always [Bella Union, 2012] Xiu Xiu is long past surprising anyone: for what it’s worth, it’s the ninth album, about the same good old thing – emotions that are overflowing, tearing through, and coming out in a … Continue reading
Lana Del Rey – Born To Die [Stranger/Interscope, 2012] Lana Del Rey was timely signed to one of the still-existing music label giants, Interscope (sub of Universal Music Group). No wonder – her name is surrounded by hype in the … Continue reading
Montag, Canadian Antoine Bédard, launched in the beginning of 2012 his project Phases. It will consist of 12 singles by the end of the year. For now, we have the first two, New Designs in January and Trop The Light … Continue reading
