1: FKA twigs
LP1
FKA Twigs – haunts your synapses like banshee caught in a bottle…
Gloucestershire (UK) born Tahliah Debrett Barnett - FKA twigs – self-released her imaginatively titled debut extended play – EP1 – on Bandcamp on 4 December 2012 – this has evolved into studio album LP1 released on 6 August 2014 by Young Turks.
“Video Girl” taken from LP/1 haunts your synapses like banshee caught in a bottle.
By dragging chains and unreliable beats around the aisle, the altar boy (that is Twigs) limp the soundstuff across a wide cathedral of sound.
After a suffering a pause so anxious it causes mild coronary shock – a low moan introduces us to the icicle clear vocal that ought not be so sexy (so cold) ….
But, somehow, this manages to pull at your drawers in a way that nothing else can.
2: Angel Olsen
Burn Your Fire For No Witness
Photo Credit BEAIR @Silencio
Burn Your Fire For No Witness is the second studio album to be released by Missouri (US) indie rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Angel Olsen.
“Windows” about agoraphobia brings the quivering low and slow to our ear-drums.
This is so lowland sad that it tips your heart into despair.
The guitar is almost invisible – just a suitable connective tissues for the tender emptiness of the vocal.
Yet the song is thought provoking and impossibly fine.
Like a sudden mist rising from a dell – it is not-quite-real.
Without substance – yet it can be touched… like the fingers of a spectre.
3: Tune-Yards
Nikki Nack
Tune-Yards – Clean, refreshing and admirably quirky…
Nikki Nack is the third full-length release by New England puppeteer and afrobeat folkster Merrill Garbus’ project Tune-Yards.
“Water Fountain” sounds like a rodeo in your local junk-yard.
Box-top percussion and bings and bounces a-plenty.
The chorus is thoroughly addictive. And the main verse meanders through the piece like a jigsaw crack.
Clean, refreshing and admirably quirky.
4: Tinashe
Aquarius
Tinashe – warming-oil voice…
This 21-year-old singer-songwriter and performer arrives with a distinct and dynamic vision of R&B punctuated by hip-hop attitude, pop flavor, rock swagger, and electronica spark.
“Pretend” ( ft. A$AP ROCKY ) is mixed up. Like waking up after a chaotic dream.
It muddles with your head. But the luxurious vocals are super-smooth and linger long after the song has finished.
The arrangement on this track is incredible. It holds attraction without taking away any attention from that warming-oil voice.
“When I’m looking for love … I pretend it’s you …” This has sadness written all over it.
5: Lykke Li
I Never Learn
Lykke Li – the voice oozes out before it jellifies…
Swedish indie pop singer-songwriter Lykke Li recorded her first album at age 21.
Gunshot sways like a cypress caught in a breeze.
The vulnerable vocal nibbles at the foothills of this tune.
Less sharply-tipped than other songs, the voice oozes out before it jellifies.
The chorus is boldly coloured, powerful and merciless.
The whole thing is awash with colour and emotion.
6: Future Islands
Singles
Future Islands – Samuel Herring’s vocal is incredibly passionate…
Future Islands – a synthpop band based in Baltimore, Maryland – signed to 4AD in 2014 – and released their new album, Singles, in March.
Opening track “Seasons (Waiting On You)” has that gorgeous feeling of nostalgia that you have been waiting for.
This is early 1980’s synth with a soulful feeling.
Samuel Herring’s vocal is incredibly passionate.
Gruff and gravelly. Without sentiment.
The arrangements are treacly and relaxed. What a joy!
7: Wild Beasts
Present Tense
Wild Beasts – lick away the poison from your wounds…
Kendal (UK) indie rockers Wild Beasts released their fourth studio album Present Tense on 24 February 2014.
“A Simple Beautiful Truth” has immensely satisfying, super-sleek vocals that sigh-high as they lick away the poison from your wounds.
The synths tiptoe along efficiently – but, mainly, this is a celebration of those golden falsetto vocals.
Let them shimmer away inside your sanctums.
8: The War on Drugs
Lost In The Dream
The War on Drugs – wild-west atmosphere that reminds you of the open-road and sun-in-your-eyes….
The War on Drugs is an American indie rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 2005. The band released their third studio album, Lost in the Dream in March.
“Red Eyes” is kinda Tom Pettyish – with elegant ripples of guitar and the kind of heroic wild-west atmosphere that reminds you of the open-road and sun-in-your-eyes.
The rhythms pant and yearn.
The dance starts with a flaring guitar – and then you will be up and twirling … with the rest of ‘em.
9: La Roux
Trouble In Paradise
La Roux – The amber vocal crests and falls like a lion’s mane…
Yes we still love Elly Jackson. And the 5 year gap between albums has not disenchanted us.
Now her voice has matured and the production has grown thoughtful… there is a lot to be said for the new album.
Opening track “Uptight Downtown” has got that sexy, hippy bass going on.
And then a rasping synth shivers like a stripper who has gone out into the cold for a ciggie.
The amber vocal crests and falls like a lion’s mane … and the rhythms make a bee-line for your nerve-endings.
Soon you will be toe-tapping uncontrollably.
10: Caribou
Our Love
Caribou – grows abundant and strangely, hypnotically, soporific…
Canadian composer, musician and recording artist Dan Snaith records as Caribou – performing with a live band (he plays percussion.)
First track from the album – “Can’t Do Without You” has spirals of sherbet-stars that fuss around your head as the “I Can’t Doo-oo Without” words sputter out.
The plaintive and insistent vocal (is it John Herbert from family Guy?) gets boiled up.
This seems to fertilise the mulch of the song. Because it soon grows abundant and strangely, hypnotically, soporific.
KEEP CHECKING RAW RAMP IN 2015 – The Freshest & Hottest Talent Around
Words: @neilmach 2014 ©
