Review: It's not easy to work out which you should focus more on here. Sharon Van Etten's 'Let Go' is a triumph of gradually building and developing indie rock, existing as it does somewhere between the late-1960s and today. Her cover of 'Some Things Last A Long Time' , originally recorded by the legendary Daniel Johnston, is also a real triumph. Anyone who can make his work sound like their own deserves some serious props.
But then the film itself, Feels Good Man, needs a reference too, as it's among the most important documentaries of recent years. Charting the rise and re-appropriation by the alt-right of the Pepe the Frog meme, it paints a chilling picture of the cartoonish nightmare dystopian novelists could barely predict, which we have walked into, led like children to the sacrificial altar of Coca-Cola or some other multinational brand. Take that description, imagine the songs that depict it, and you should end up here.
Review: Something in the Eastern European house and dance music proclivity has always struck us as enduringly authentic, perhaps due to its interest in folk music fusions; the label Sad Fun have surely played a key part in doling out this impression. Now they offer their latest addition to the fantasy with a label-described "true Estonian lowkey gem" in the form of duo Ajukaja & Edith Karlson, aka. Vana, whose combined efforts frankly, dustily and ironically toy with the pop music cliches native to their homeland. A-and-B-siders 'Vimme Ratsu' and 'Kuu Maa' are said to rework an '80s Estonian coastal folk-pop favourite and perform a "pseudo-reggae" pastiche respectively. Both have that effortless murmured charm on the vocals, recalling a nostalgic time of European make-do, A10-mic-from-the-junk-store, bottle episodic, rickety recorded goodness.
Review: While most of us will (sadly) not be going anywhere this holiday season, we can still get a musical taster of what it would be like Chilling at Christmas in the St Petersburg studio of modern funk apostles the Vicious Seeds. Their festive offering is a drowsy, deep, slow and laidback affair - the kind of jazzy instrumental soul and funk that would probably go well with a few mince pies and a needlessly large glass of port. A-side 'Meeting at Flea Market' is particularly lovely, with trombone and trumpet-heavy riffs and leisurely jazz guitar solos making themselves comfortable atop crunchy, deep (filled) funk drums. 'Shades of Pale', meanwhile, is even deeper, warmer and more bass-heavy, with some of the laziest and jazziest electric guitar solos we've ever heard. Delicious!
Review: Spasibo Records present a fresh 7" by the Vicious Seeds, hailing from St. Petersburg. With vibraphonist Pavel Chizhik taking centre stage (Chizhik isn't usually a member of the band), 'Village Hassle' makes for a cleverly collaborative rare groove and instrumental reggae-soul release. The titular A-side flaunts Chizhik's vibraphone via the mix alone, fleshing out its low-end elements against a driven instrumental backbeat; 'Monthly Rainfall', meanwhile, goes for all-out slow-jammed soul by way of cross-sticked snares and offbeat chord plucks run through short-release springs.
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