Sunday 13 October 2013

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 13/10/13 - Porcelain Raft, Arcade Fire, Cass McCombs, Tindersticks

Four tracks that warmed our cockles.....


Old Pa's Corner:-
Tindersticks - Goodbye to the City (2013)


I always get excited when I hear of a new Tindersticks album, even if this one contain only songs from their past, but redone. Not usually keen on this sort of thing. Jeff Lynn did it recently and it did not really work. Chris Rea did it also, but in his case it was a great success. The original track came from their Waiting for the Moon album (2003), not one of their best, but this was one of the standout tracks. Oh! I just love the voice of Stuart Staples, it is so distinctive, like Leonard Cohen or Ian Curtis. I am a great fan of doom and gloom, it makes me happy. If doom is your bag, then Staples is your man.

I think Stuart and the boys do the track justice but but I give the original the edge.


Shell Hunter:-
Arcade Fire - 'Reflektor' (2013)



I love, love, love this song! It has seriously grown on me! At first I thought it sounded a bit like Hercules and Love Affair with it's jiggly danciness but Win Butler, the Fire's lead singers vocals gave it away. I love the addition of the whispy french lyrics, they give it a certain...I don't know what. I read that none other than our mate David Bowie popped by the studio whist the band were mixing to have a listen, liked what he heard so much that he was invited to guest on the single! This track is taken from their fourth album (out on 28th October), also called Reflektor, and was produced by another musical mastermind, James Murphy, the former frontman of LCD Soundsystem. It truly shows that he is definitely not losing his edge!


SFW:-

Cass McCombs - 'There Can Be Only One' (2013)




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Whether or not There Can Be Only One is a reference to Highlander, you'd have to ask Mr McCombs directly. This song features on his latest release, the 2 disc, Big Wheels and Others, which is released tomorrow (October 14th) - a great excuse to visit your local record shop. A relaxed vibe of guitar, bass & bongos. It has the sort of groove that makes you want to bump & grind with the missus. I think he's a genius.


Flycasual:-
Porcelain Raft - 'Lost Connection' (2013)



Oooof, no problem connecting with this beautifully melancholic track that gets under your skin but in a good way. The rolling piano in tandem with the vocal melody makes for a emotional kidney punch of a song which just sounds like it has been written by somebody who's been kicked in the butt by love. It's fo sho the stand out from London based Italian, Mauro Remiddi aka, Porcelain Raft, second album Permanent Signal.

Cheer up by browsing Porcelain Raft's website here...

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TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 13/10/13 - Porcelain Raft, Arcade Fire, Cass McCombs, Tindersticks
4/ 5
Oleh

7 comments

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14 October 2013 at 10:03

Old Pa. I'm with you all the way and have been a fan of the 'Sticks since the early 90's. Top stuff.

Shell Hunter. Practically everyone I know (including me!) has commented on what a grower this tune is. Looking forward to the album.

SFW. I know very little about Cass McCombs, but I like this a great deal and will be investigating further.

Flycasual. Has a touch of Roy Harper's 'When an Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease' about it, which is no bad thing in my opinion. Heart-rending. A new name to me. Is all their stuff this emotional?

My compliments to the Tune Doctor - what a great selection this week.

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14 October 2013 at 19:01

Kind words Mr Swede thanks...

I was expecting big things from the album, judging by this track and another called 'Minor Pleasure', but was left a little disappointed. Great voice, the guy has talent but the other tracks don't quite reach the heights as those two songs.

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15 October 2013 at 12:02

Indeed a great selecshan...

Old Pa, you're right about Stuart Staples' voice, it's so distinctive. This is a good track, love the horn and sax's.

Shell Hunter, excellent write up....see! As soon as I heard it I knew you would like it. Looking forward to the new album.

Sfw, Can you imagine if this was used for Highlander? (Christopher Lambert, the number 2 action movie star of the 80's, after Michael Douglas) this is fantastic and will be thereabouts for one of my songs of the year. Reminds me a bit of Ray Lamontagne's How Come. Where's the wife now!?

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sfw
15 October 2013 at 12:13

One of my fav TOTW's...

OP - Like this very much, I need to get myself more immersed in these firestarters

SH - I think A.C. are bladdy brilliant. Your write up has made me pre-order it!

FC - Like a battered boxer, I love the bruises. Apart from Cass, this is my fav.

..and FC, she is still on the tour bus..

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15 October 2013 at 13:00

SFW - one word - brilliant!
SH - one word - brilliant!
FC - one word - brilliant!

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