In No Particular Order: September 23, 2016
Alright.
It’s already Wednesday and the next edition of In No Particular Order is almost upon us, so I’m going to keep this week short and sweet (unlike last week) – just like the parting small talk of passing acquaintances.
“Hey, how are you?”
“Good, thanks. You?”
“Good”.
“Great! See you around!”
(Fin)
Check out more of the new releases here and follow me on Instagram and Twitter because I said so.
Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam – I Had A Dream That You Were Mine
You might recognize both names in this unlikely duo: Hamilton Leithauser is the growly-voiced former frontman of The Walkmen, and Rostam Batmanglij is the former multi-instrumentalist/producer/songwriter from Vampire Weekend. Although the music of their previous full-time gigs may not exactly compare, the match they find working together on I Had A Dream That You Were Mine puts that all to the side and seems to begin from square one. Even when you take into account the fact that Rostam had produced a few tracks on Leithauser’s first solo album Black Hours in 2014, the musical connection and creation on I Had A Dream seems to emerge from an organic, first time experience.
The two pals meet in the middle on the new record: Rostam’s love for layered guitar and keyboard tracks, and his classical training coming out in the form of subtle hints of sonatas in his piano playing, while Leithauser’s Americana love roughing the edges of his voice and his songwriting tracing the outline of Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. The mix-match pair of two solo artists is what gives the album such a rich character and personality. Opening tune (and ear-worm favourite) “A 1000 Times” showcases exactly how dynamic the duo truly is, with Rotsam playing a soft melody on an old piano and Leithauser’s smooth croon lighting the way, before suddenly switching to a full band and his raw, unfiltered vocals taking over. iPhone 7 commercial hit “In A Black Out” and album closer “1959” share similar explosive minimalistic characteristics, with fingering picking guitar playing and soft piano respectively taking over the spotlight as Leithauser switches between his soft and harsh vocal qualities.
If you listen closely, you can hear the distant call-and-response echoes across the canyon of music between The Walkmen and Vampire Weekend on each track. Their respective influences come out at the best of times, like the nod to ’60s pop on “Rough Going (I Won’t Let Up)” sounding like early Vampire Weekend, and “The Morning Stars” teasing The Walkmen fans, making I Had A Dream… a stunning hybrid of the two.
Listen to the full album on Spotify, and buy a copy here.
Must-haves: “A 1000 Times” // “In A Black Out” // “Rough Going (I Won’t Let Up)”
GRiZ – Good Will Prevail
Honestly, I’m surprised this branch of electronic dance music has not taken over the mainstream. Blending heavy doses of funk into his music, GRiZ has added in an irresistible ingredient into the already popular EDM scene. Although of course he is probably not the first, nor will he be the last, there is something to be said about doing it well and having fun while doing it. The young american DJ is up to his fourth album now, Good Will Prevail, and the saxophone-slinging musician has added another steady handful of funk-fuelled “bangers” as the kids say.
Dubstep, rock, and of course funk, are the driving influences behind the track list. “Wicked”, “I Don’t Mind”, and “Good Times Roll” contribute to the tireless first half of the album, giving listeners the perfect welcoming to a great time. From then on, the pace stays up but the vibe of the album and the set list takes turns incorporating different styles, influences, and features.
Featuring a ton of contributors on the record including Big Gigantic, Basstracks, Cherub, Muzzy Bearr, and Son Little, Good Will Prevail and its positive vibes come in all different forms. “Driftini” featuring nu-R&B singer Son Little slows things down, while “Rather Be Free” is a downtempo, bass-crunching dubstep track, and as you might expect, “PS GFY” (an acronym for P.S. Go Fuck Yourself) is a groovy, nu-funk tune supported by the smooth vocals and OutKast-esuqe attitude of Cherub.
Get ready to dance along and let the good times roll. Listen to the full album via Spotify and get your copy here (heck, there’s even free music available).
Must-haves: “I Don’t Mind” //”Good Times Roll” // ” “What We’ve Become”
