-
Conquering Animal Sound Play…Stephan Bodzin
A recommendation from Glasgow duo CAS’ James Scott!
Stephan Bodzin’s “Liebe Ist…”
Anneke and I regularly wax lyrical about this album in interviews. It’s easily one of my very favourite records, and I’m sure that as long as people are asking us “What are your influences?” I’ll be giving this album a mention. It’s entirely instrumental, it’s dark, minimal techno, and it’s very, very repetitive, but the layers of rhythm, texture and melody that it contains are breathtaking at times, and I defy you to put on any of the tracks and fail to be moved by it.
Eye opening stuff!
-
Detour Wee Jaunt…Conquering Animal Sound
If you’ve not yet heard of Detour Scotland I’ll explain they facilitate ‘adventures in new Scottish music’; live sets by grassroots talent everywhere from caravans to kitchens. It’s all filmed for your edification and hosted on their video blog.
Earlier this year Detour staged a wee jaunt in Edinburgh, showcasing ten artists in random parts of the city. They’ve been releasing one video a day over the past week: this is Conquering Animal Sound at The List Magazine.
I love this video - the duo have a unique, captivating presence and their music is gorgeously full of shaking percussion, softly plucked guitars and enveloping vocal loops.
It is special.
-
Avalanche Top 20 vs The Grammys
Hello December! Once again it’s that brilliant time of year where round-ups of what’s been musically most noted come spilling forth. This week Edinburgh’s Avalanche Records released their predicted top 20 sellers for 2011, a lovely collection of albums that you should really own.
While there are some notable exceptions, especially as they point out from releases later in the year, it’s testament to the willing and focused effort from the folks at Avalanche which sees new Scottish music dominating. The likes of Bwani Junction, We Were Promised Jetpacks and Conquering Animal Sound sit side-by-side or top one of the year’s most critically applauded releases - PJ Harvey’s Let England Shake and the newly Grammy nominated Bon Iver.
The Grammy nominations were released today and it’s an unsurprisingly revelation Justin Vernon’s band is the only act to cross both lists, securing a well deserved place in four overall categories (including an intriguing ‘Best new Artist’ plaudit, considering For Emma, Ever Ago made the Rolling Stone top 50 four years ago not quite sure of the criteria).
I take the Grammys with a pinch of salt remembering although they won best album most of America had trouble with the concept of Arcade Fire last year, but the full list shows some promise. Yes you have to dig through a mismatch of the mainstream charts (Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Jay Z, Bruno Mars, Kanye West) but there is a pleasing commendation for the Foo Fighters, matching Adele with a worthy name check in six categories and The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, Radiohead, Death Cab for Cutie, The Black Keys, Cut Copy and Memory Tapes are all undeniably in there.
Anyway if basically what you’re thinking is that the two lists are poles apart that would be true. It’s nice to see a level diversity in the Grammy’s, but mostly the fact that I’d take Avalanche’s lot over it any day makes me hugely proud that Scots are doing their own thing so bloody well.
Read Avalanche’s full list here, check out the Grammy nominees on USA Today.
Video above is the sublime Conquering Animal Sound’s, Wildthings - the number eight artist in Avalanche’s list. There’s a name I bet the US would really grapple with.
About me
A small but perfectly formed version of musical treasure trove http://playthatsongforme.wordpress.com
