Tuesday Tunes--December 15, 2015
Shaun Cordingley
This week, I am a little all over the place, with a very touching dreamgaze song from one of my old favorite indie bands, to some experimental pop, and a new take on an old(e) English folk song.
Not to mention the trip into Mongolian folk metal...
The Guys From do not hold the rights to any of these songs, it is more our hope to expose our readers to new and different music, or re-expose them to things they may have forgotten about.
At the top of each section, will be the song name, followed by the artists' name linked to their website, so you can fall down the rabbit hole, finding and supporting what you dig.
Open Your Eyes - School of Seven Bells
I have been a fan of the Indie Pop, dreamgaze band School of Seven Bells (SVIIB) for a while, particularly their 2010 album Disconnect from Desire, and I have been eagerly awaiting their next album, yet understanding why they have been quiet. For those unaware of SVIIB, the band was originally twin sisters Alejandra and Claudia Dehaza, and Benjamin Curtis, with Claudia Dehaza leaving the group in 2010. Continuing as a duo, Dehaza and Curtis continued working (releasing Ghostory in 2012), however in 2013, Curtis was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblasitc lymphoma and passed away late in 2013.
'Open Your Eyes' is the first single off of School of Seven Bells' new album SVIIB, which is sounding like a touching concept album; Alejandra stated on their website :
Friends,
Benjamin and I wrote this record during a tour break in the summer of 2012. I can easily say that it was one of the most creative and inspired summers of our lives. What followed was the most tragic, soul shaking tidal wave that life could deliver, but even that wouldn’t stop the vision for this record from being realized. This is a love letter from start to finish. It’s the story of us starting from that first day we met in 2004, and that’s the story of School of Seven Bells. So much love to all of you. Thank you for being a constant light in our lives. This record is for you <3
-Alejandra
Based on how stunningly beautiful, and so very SVIIB 'Open Your Eyes' sounds, I am looking forward to February 2016 for the full album release.
Nottamun Town - Listenbee
Listenbee's second track, after their debut 'Save Me', is a fun, organic dance remake of an old English folk song by the DJ and producer. The highlights here the unique and gorgeous vocals, and the simple, organic feeling layers of strings, winds, and that summer-y beat. Listenbee's two tracks (not paying attention to the slough of quite good remixes) have a natural flair to them that I find intriguing, and I for one know that I am keeping an eye out for when more Listenbee appears.
FloriDada - Animal Collective
There was a part of me that thought 'Animal Collective is pretty well known' but then I caught myself singing 'FloriDada' last night and this morning and figured that I was essentially kidding myself by not including it on this list. Originally from Baltimore, this experimental pop group has been working together since 1999, with each of the bands' members making various forays into solo productions, however it is always their very best when they get back into the Collective to release an album.
The first single from their upcoming album, 'FloriDada', is a bright, summery tune using vocal layering and Beach Boys style harmonies making a song that really only the Animal Collective could, it's fun, it's silly, but at the same time, the construction of the melody is, as always, impeccable.
Animal Collectives' tenth album Painting With will release in February, 2016.
Romeo - Chairlift
Synthpop band Chairlift's third studio album, Moth releases on the 22nd of January, 2016, and the second single they have released for it, 'Romeo' is a fun and catchy slice of indie electronic pop, featuring Caroline Polachek's vocal prowess, giving 'Romeo' one hell of a throwback pop feel, while at the same time, feeling different from a lot of the indie "80s new wave" that is around today.
This is one of those songs that you might not be sure of off the first minute, but by the end you will be bobbing along, or singing those elongated 'Romeo's along with Polachek on the fifth listen.
Galloping Steeds - Tengger Cavalry
Mongolian Folk Metal.
I am just....I....To be honest, this was a complete 'blow me out of the water' surprise; Tengger Cavalry followed us (@guysfromblank) on Twitter, and I gave them a listen, and it pretty much instantly became my afternoon that day. I am not even that big of a metal fan...I like metal (particularly old school, arena metal), but the concept of this band I just had to hear. There is just something about this that hits a whole lot of 'yes' for me and the blend of metal and traditional Mongolian sound works so much better than you would expect.
Originally started as a one man project in 2010 by Nature Ganganbaigal, a film/video game composer, and traditional Mongolian Morin Khuur (it's the 'horsehead fiddle--the second you hear it, you will know it) and throat singing performer (who has played The Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall), the band has had a few members come in and out around Ganganbaigal, who relocated from China to New York in 2015 and restarted the band with new American musicians. 'Galloping Steeds' is the lead track from their 2012 album Sunesu Cavalry and sets up the rest of the album flawlessly. Their latest album Blood Sacrifice Shaman came out this year.
Why these sounds work together, I have no idea, but Tengger Cavalry is a refreshing and exciting new metal sound that stands out in the often "same-y" metal scene of today. Go in with an open mind, and at least something of an appreciation for either metal, or traditional folk music, and you will get hooked. I promise.
And if you are a little put off by the metal side of Tengger Cavalry, perhaps check out Nature Ganganbaigal's more traditional and orchestral release To Where Tengger Leads Me.
Once again, here is the November Tuesday Tunes Apple Music Playlist, with all the tunes from the month built together into a set list (as if I was spinning them for you somewhere, just without being able to talk your through hard transitions..which I am totally looking forward to when I'm trying to get Tengger Cavalry into next months' list...).
The October Apple Music Playlist is still available of course as well, in case you have not caught that one yet (or just need more theguysfrom.com in your life).
Support what you dig! It's soooo much cheaper than anything else out there. You cannot even buy a candle for what one of the songs listed here would cost you....
See you again next Tuesday with 5 more tracks.