Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Track - Sun is Shining


Having upon us one of the most joyful seasons of the year there is allways on companion, Music. In this time of the year every place has music specially regarding the holidays.
In my opinion most of it is great, but there are alternatives to what's traditional. So one good example of that, and that I think it also represents this Christmas season is this music from Bob Marley

Monday, December 8, 2008

Artist - Sia


Ignoring the fact that I might have wrote some similar post in some other place, today I bring you a singer that (referring her individual work) rocketed from non existence to my top preferences. Besides having some fantastic work she became specially known due to her collaboration with Zero 7. Her unique voice is dazzling and in my opinion is quite difficult not to like it. For those that don’t know to whom I’m referring her name is Sia. In Zero 7 she sings themes lime “waiting in line” or “distractions”, but her own work is also quite stunning. She has released several albums as well as some singles that deserve everyone’s time. From those I have to refer “Colour The Small One” or “Some People Have Real Problems”. Even though I prefer the first one both are quite good and surely deserve a spin (or several).
So, trying to reach your curious side, I leave you with this recommendation which you can take a peak look (or listen) at several sites (like Deezer.com, as I referred earlier) near you. As an alternative you can also buy her albums but that’s up to you.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Tech - Deezer.com


After my last entry I found it fair to talk about an enabler site instead of just music, after all it has been helping me to show some of the music I talk about. One great helper of my quest for old and new music has been Deezer.com. I believe many should know it but also that there are those that have no idea what it is. This particular site has a vast array of music’s that you can ear just like a radio and the DJ is you. This allows a user to quickly find that music that just popped in your head or to just discover a new artist or song based on the site’s recommendations. It also helps by allowing (for registered users, don’t worry it’s free) to create radios (that consist in an automated playlist) based on a music or artist that you select.
One other helpful functionality it has is the ability to recommend similar artists to the one your viewing, which can be quite good if you’re in an exploring mood. Of course there are other similar sites with some other nuances like Pandora.com, but I leave those for other occasions.
In the meantime, give it a try!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Soundtrack - Samurai Champloo - Departure


Soundtracks are often harder to ear as a standalone album. Unless you connect with the movie or if it's a compilation of themes from other groups (like the case of Grey's Anatomy soundtrack), it's quite hard to ear the album. One example I found that's quite pleasant by itself it's the Samurai Champloo Soundtrack. If you don't know it, it's an Anime series about two samurai and one strange companion, if you’re in to it I strongly advise to watch it.
Keeping myself to the matter in hand, the soundtrack it's calm and with a lot of rhythm, making it a quite enjoyable album, even if you know nothing about the anime.
There are several albums of the series soundtrack, including the original, Masta, Impression and others but my favorite is Departure (the one you can see on the picture). All the albums have a lot of similar elements and it is a purely matter of taste but all and all a album worth listening.
Just for those curious people here is a list of the tracks:

1 - Nujabes Battlecry (3:22)     Rap [Featuring] - Shing02
2 - Nujabes The Space Between Two World (4:41)
3 - Nujabes Aruarian Dance (4:10)
4 - Nujabes Kujaku (7:01)
5 - Nujabes Mystline (4:50)
6 - Nujabes 1st Samurai (3:13)
7 - Fat Jon Ole (3:27)
8 - Fat Jon 624 Part 2 (3:45)
9 - Fat Jon Genome (3:36)
10 - Fat Jon No Way Back (3:20)
11 - Fat Jon Funkin (3:37)
12 - Fat Jon Stay (3:44)
13 - Fat Jon Chambers (3:45)
14 - Fat Jon Ask (3:22)
15 - Fat Jon How You Feel (4:29)
16 - Fat Jon 624 Part 1 (2:43)
17 - Minmi 四季ノ唄 (5:00)

Monday, November 24, 2008

Album - So Still


"So Still" is album released in 2005 by Mozez, the male voice you migth know from Zero 7. He sings themes such as "Simple Things" and "This World". In this album we find a lot of the trip-hop style of Zero 7 but with an obvious contant presence of Mozez. In a first glance the album isn't as pleasent as Zero 7 albuns, but with a couple of listening cycles his work becomes a lot more enjoyable.
Along a 14 theme album we can ear a little more of Mozez warn and unique voice, which can be compared in tone to Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay. I would advise you to hear "Fell Free" "So Still", youtube can also be a good friend to find "Fell Free" videoclip.
Also, if you'd like more information on Mozez, his real name is Osmond Wright and his site (that hopefully will be up and running soon) is here

Here is a list of what you'll find in this album:
1. Feel Free
2. Baby Blue
3. Troubled Mind
4. So Still
5. Spinning Top
6. Somehow Now
7. Getting Better
8. Take The Sun
9. Fuzz Feat. Nightmares on Wax
10. Venus Rise
11. Beautiful Day Feat. Henry Binns from Zero 7
12. Stay Beautiful
13. If I Fall
14. Eternity

Discover Mozez!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Artist - Zero 7


Well known for its downtempo music, Zero 7 is a English group first appeared in 1999. Most of you might probably associate to Zero 7 the voices of Sia Furler or Mozez, but those voices are not the core of the group. Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker are the ones responsible for making the group and the sound manipulation that we know.
Zero 7 has already some albums that everyone should listen such as "Simple Thins" (2001), "When It Fall" (2004) or "The Garden" (2006). A new work is in the forge and should see the light of day during 2009, hopefully in the beginning of the year.
Then again, a lot more could be said about them, but the best experience is always to listen for yourself.
Also if you like you can always check out their site.

Discover Zero 7!

Artist - Goldfrapp

Starting her career in the 1990's and launching her first solo album in 1999, Goldfrapp is an English singer that brings us trip-hop/electronic music. Aiding her music is Will Gregory (synthesizer).
Her work naturally evolves, in her album "Felt Mountain" (2000) the themes are more electronic, almost industrialized or mechanical with a stronger presence of the instruments and not so her voice. On the other hand, "Seventh Tree" (2008) the themes are more warm and calm, giving a homeliness sensation.
Other two albums were released, Black Cherry (2003) and Supernature (2006), but those still require further listening and will probably have a review in the future.
The video is of the theme "Clowns" from her album “Seventh Tree".

Monday, November 17, 2008

Begining

A new project begins. This blog will be a simple insight on music, opinions on artists and their music and as time goes who knows the path this blog will take. I hope to have your interest and soon enough you participation.