Blonde Redhead

A couple of years ago my good friend Codename Sparrow urged me to check out a band from New York by the name of Blonde Redhead. I had a listen to their album at the time, Misery Is A Butterfly, but for some strange reason it just didn't do anything for me, despite the added attraction of Fugazi's Guy Piccotto helming the boards. Then two years later I came across a copy of the album in a charity shop for 50p, and since picking it up it's become one of my favourite albums in recent memory. The gorgeous, lilting vocals of Kazu Makino, Simone Pace's on-point drumming, and twin brother Amedeo Pace's knack for creating melodies which wouldn't seem out of place whilst walking through a haunted fairground combine to produce songs which remain with you long after you've heard them, digging deeper into your soul. They're one of the few bands around who can illicit feelings of euphoria and despair in the space of four and a half minutes.

The band's latest album 23 has just been released in the UK on 4AD, and with Alan Moulder helping out on the final stages of production this time around it appears they've gone for a heavier and more focused sound considering Moulder's previous work (well, just a few small bands such as The Killers, U2 and Nine Inch Nails. No biggies really). Opener and title track '23' is a sign that the band have found a perfect marriage between the dreamy soundscapes of previous albums, and a pop sensibility that occasionally snuck through on their last album as Makino's vocals fly against a dirge of MBV style guitars and percussion. One of the first hidden treasures of 2007? You betcha.

Blonde Redhead - 23

Bonus:

Blonde Redhead - Melody (from Misery Is A Butterfly)

Blonde Redhead play Koko on May 30. Tickets available from TicketWeb.

A bundle of truffles

* Mixtape of the week? Has to be Jus Ske's re-rub of Pharrell's less-than-exciting offering from last year, 'In My Mind'. In a classic case of 'name as many sampled artists as you can', My Mind Is Playing Tricks On Me teams Skateboard P with U2, James Brown, Eric B & Rakim, Nelly Furtado, Radiohead and a stack more wax. There are more hits than misses on MMIPTOM, which certainly couldn't be said about Mr Williams debut. Nice artist website too.

Peep My Mind Is Playing Tricks On Me at Discobelle


* Indie boys rejoice! Feist, or Leslie as she's known to her mom and pop, will release her second album, The Reminder on April 23 (and a week later if your sitting Stateside). If that's not enough, she's touring these isles as well the week before.

April 16 - Komedia, Brighton
April 17 - Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Boom Boom Boom, Mushaboom indeed.


* Indie girls rejoice! Also swinging by with a new album and tour is Mr Conor Oberst, or Bright Eyes as he's known to whichever indie moppet is staring deep into his peepers this month. He'll be at London's Koko on March 16, no doubt playing tunes from his upcoming album Cassadaga, which has guest appearances from Gillian Welch, and Sleater Kinney and Quasi holder of 'banging sticks' Janet Weiss (*sigh*). Those who can't wait that long should snap up taster EP Four Winds, out on March 5. Here's a taster.

Bright Eyes - Endless Entertainment


* Dilla died a year ago this week. Pitchfork has a nice piece here, while those of you who missed the tribute concert at London's Cargo last Saturday should head over to Stones Throw's interweb home to download J Rocc's stellar Dilla podcast, and turn your speakers up.