In 2011 I went a little OTT with my postings of Holly Miranda, numerous exquisite live session videos and her gorgeous full length The Magician's Private Library had me spellbound and hooked on a ferocious talent armed with a unique and potent voice.
Since it's been quiet, too quiet, with no shows or tracks shared for a good couple of years until finally two tracks showed up on Holly's Soundcloud page last week (although it appears they were released towards the end of 2013) and finally, it seems we're beginning to gear up the anticipation for the follow up. The two tracks "Desert Call" and "Everlasting" already have me smitten...
"Desert Call" will be instantly familiar to fans of her debut, a swooning blend of honey-toned vocals and languid, shimmering instrumentation that drifts with a woozy, hypnotic sense of luxurious beauty and leaves you somewhere between waking and dreaming and the other, "Everlasting" is similarly rich and magical with Holly's vocals floating across an intricate backdrop of swirling piano chords and buzzing guitars, three years may have passed but Holly Miranda remains just as intoxicating.
Can the album please hurry up and be ready (and supporting UK shows too of course, I might as well be greedy whilst I'm here).
The problem with spending much of December devoted to the yearly cycle of lists is that you miss the fine new music that comes out around the same time, this for instance, a new track from Creep first aired over ten days ago but didn't catch my eyes until I started reading through some of the backlog of posts on my Google Reader over the weekend, it features guest vocals from none other than the wonderful Holly Miranda, Creep clearly have a thing for using gorgeous female voices, previous single "Days" featured Romy XX and feature collaborations are line up with Grimes and SIA.
"Animals" is gorgeous combination of Holly's breathy vocals, soothing and dreamy and an eerie, icy cold synth pulse with dramatic string swirls and drum machine beats, the accompanying videos creepy, futuristic themes fit of the track perfectly. Ideal for a cold-winters' night.
Aside from this collaboration, Holly Miranda has been treated Pledge Music users to a few preview tracks from her forthcoming album next year, they're beautiful.... cannot wait for both that and her next UK show.
I'm a bit pre-occupied with the goings on in London right now so I've not posted much and will possibly be sporadic for a few days, I find it frankly appalling that a potentially serious incident has been turned into random, mindless acts of premeditated violence against people by people of the same community. There is no ideology behind this, some of these "youths" may feel estranged from the mainstream and lack a career, a future, a community, but the majority responsible for these acts of violence are doing it for simple materialistic greed.
Whilst there will be time for a post-mortem after, now is not it, firstly we need to regain the streets and the confidence of the whole community as a whole and from reading twitter the polarisation of both those left-wing and right-wing I find equally sad and pathetic. Now isn't the time for "This is David Cameron's fault, his cuts are to blame" or "This is what you get after 13 years of new-labour and the mess they left office in". Now is the time to see it end and quickly. No one could have predicted what has happened and those who point the finger never seem to offer an alternative suggestion to end the scenes. Keep safe one and all.
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A lighter note, this is not a political blog after all, as I adhered to last week, Holly Miranda nearly has her second album ready, to help launch it she, like so many other artists, have taken to the Pledge Music platform to raise the sufficient funds needed. Those who donate via Pledge Music will receive the album first, updates and more. Head over and see for yourself and support one of the most independent artists in music today, in the world we increasingly find ourselves in, we need the relief that they bring. Looking forward to it and of course the London show, London will not be beaten by the acts of the last few days.
The best news from Friday came from Holly Miranda, with a post on her website, in which she states "Hey guys I want to share this version of ‘Pelican Rapids’ that I recorded in a poolhouse in Beverly Hills, CA a couple of months ago.... I’ll be making some exciting announcements about my new album next week".
Consider me excited, as well as a free download of "Pelican Rapids", new of a new album?! Amazing news, I was familiar with "Pelican Rapids" through listening to some live recordings of Holly endlessly in the middle of last year and this mix sees it follow a similar form, although slightly more stripped back, from the breathtaking build-up of Holly's beautiful, goose-bump inducing vocals and the choral harmonies to the second half which sees the introduction of a metronomic drum beat, keys and finally an echoey guitar.
Utterly, utterly gorgeous. Album news awaited with bated breath!
It's been pretty quiet on the Holly Miranda front this year, a new website aside I'm hoping Holly has been tucked away writing the follow up to the sublime Magician's Private Library, though she treated us to a nice Easter surprise of a covers feast.
Further to the two covers posted here in January Holly has added a bundle to her Soundcloud page, so far eleven tracks in total featuring a variety of covers, modern hits and older tracks too, all with Holly's stamp on them - if this was an album, I'd certainly be buying it (hint) for now we'll have to stream away.
I've added a few of my favourite below, an even better treat for me would be a UK show so I can make up for my schoolboy error I discussed about on one of my previous Holly posts, it was preaching to the converted with me, but these covers are completely beautiful, her dreamy, ethereal, magical voice turns me to putty everytime.
P.S. If you are new to Holly, follow this label and make sure you download the concerts you'll find linked, they'll be on constant repeat for days I assure you.
Edit 25th April: One more, one of the best songs ever written, Holly you really are spoiling us:
I'm shocked that this is only my fifth Holly Miranda post, I feel like I go on about her a lot. As well as her own beautifully stunning album 'The Magician's Private Library' Holly is quite fond of doing covers. An EP 'Come To See' has five on it from a wide range of genres covering Lauryn Hill ("Ex-Factor") through to Jeff Buckley ("Lover You Should've Over), if you've not heard them you need to correct that.
We've now a couple more, one which Holly shared for New Year a cover of the Sparklehorse track "Hundreds of Sparrows" which she'd performed live a number of times before and the other, "You and I Undercover" a song I'm not familiar with by Steel Train. Listen to them below:
Delicate, beautiful, what an extraordinary talent. I could go on... If you are in Australia, Holly is playing four shows over the next week. I'm hoping a return to the UK shores is pending (soon please).
Ten Favourite Musical Moments in 2010 - Part Two (Numbers 5-1)
Here's the top five musical highlights of 2010 for me a variety of reasons. I've rambled on below...
5. Soap&Skin – Live at Union Chapel
I’m still a little confused by this show. It was so intense, so spectacular but also completely nuts / on-edge that I can’t get my head around it. I thought Anja was on the brink of a breakdown at the time, I still do but I have been told it was all “part of the show” but I have not seen someone tackle/ appear to tackle so many stage demons as Soap&Skin that night.
Yet for someone who had to fight back the tears a few times and had to stop to gain composure on a couple of occasions the show was phenomenal, really it was just absolutely amazing. From the majestic beauty of “Cynthia” and “Mr Gaunt Pt. 1000” to the incredibly amazing heathen like possessed chants of “Marche Funebre”. That particular song is the best finale I’ve seen all year and second only to “There is no Light” for show stopping. Here it is from another show:
It defied any logic I could come up with that someone who was struggling to compose themselves just minutes before could come up to the front of the stage of Union Chapel and literally belt out a demonic and utterly mesmerizing performance like Anja did during “Marche Funebre”.
One thing I do know is that when Soap&Skin return I’ll be in attendance.
Read my show review at the time here.
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4. Holly Miranda – August – I’d Rather Go Blind / NYC Taper / Fiume Nights Session…
One of my biggest regrets of the year (in a musical sense) is July 26th. Holly Miranda was playing the Borderline, I had a ticket but the mixture of being at a Christening up north the day before and a general lethargic attitude meant I didn’t go.
How silly I was because just a few weeks later I completely fell for Holly’s music mainly thanks to this clip of her covering Etta James...
Soon after NYC Taper put a few recordings online. (Download them here and here). By this point I was completely smitten and in denial that just a few weeks earlier I’d missed a chance to see her live myself, especially as Holly hasn’t returned to the UK since.
Least these sessions and recordings have given me a taste of what her live show would have been like and boy does it sound good. There hasn’t been any news since the summer, hopefully we’ll see a return soon in early 2011 (fingers crossed).
Holly’s album ‘The Magician’s Private Library’ came out in February and has been criminally overlooked on the whole, make sure you give it a listen because it’s one of the years best without doubt.
Download some of the above sessions here.
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3. Wildbirds & Peacedrums – Live at the Lexington and the jaw-dropping brilliance of “There is No Light”…
Probably my favourite gig of the year was Wildbirds & Peacedrums live at the Lexington, I’m not very good at decided something for certain like that but without doubt the biggest “Oh My Fucking God This Is AMAZING” moment was during “There is No Light”. It was epic, the drumming of Andreas Werliin was incredibly intense and the vocals of Mariam’s are above extraordinary. The strength and range of her voice is simply amazing. It was what they call a “Goosebumps” moment.
This isn’t the same show, but it gives you an idea:
It was not a one song show, “My Heart” is equally amazing, the encore saw a beautiful cover of “Wild is the Wind”. Another older song “Today/Tomorrow” again is the perfect song with yet another epic drum peak.
Their amazing performance reduced The Lexington to silence (seems a lot of my favourite gigs this year have been there!) and definitely one of the highlights of my musical year.
Read my initial thoughts here and more of W&P’s here.
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2. Caitlin Rose – August / September shows
The late summer of 2010 was all about Caitlin Rose, from August 19th to October 4th I saw her seven times, then once again in November. I saw her solo, with half a band, a full band and in a variety of locations, none of them disappointed, all of them left me feeling that Caitlin is something special.
From playing to 600 or so people at XOYO with the full band and performing almost a ‘rock & roll’ show to the 150 people squeezed into Brixton Windmill for an intimate show just as Radio Two started to champion her Caitlin has triumphed and succeeded to win over the hearts of so many people.
Her beautiful voice, endearing personality and above all wonderful lyrics and songs have been the sound track to so many of my days this year that I owe an awful lot to the Nashville singer.
‘Own Side Now’ is finally due for a US release in March 2011, I do hope it doesn’t mean Caitlin will forget us over here, I doubt it, it does seem that she’s at home in London – I hope so – you’re welcome here whenever Caitlin. Sometime soon please!
Read my original live review of Caitlin here and here, an interview here and the full archive for some live material, album review and general Caitlin love-in.
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1. The Joy Formidable – The NME Tour and March Tour.
These were simply a brilliant few weeks, if you’ve read this rambling shambles of a blog for any length of time you’ll know I’m pretty obsessed with The Joy Formidable, it was good to see them on some of the biggest stages they’ve ever headlined, even if the later tour was an NME sponsored event and had one of the worst supports I’ve ever heard (Flats) and also one of the most boring bands ever (Chapel Club).
The Joy Formidable are one of the most energetic and engaging bands I’ve ever come across. Every single show is an experience full of relentless energy. I’ve seen them about 20 times (so far) and I’ve never walked away one bit disappointed apart from that the show was over. The NME tour stepped it up a notch more from the March tour, the sound is expanding, their performances are show stopping and with songs like Spectrum / Whirring / The Greatest Light etc the material is suited to the live arena. Never do the guys disappoint, they give everything they have 100% of the time and then a little bit more too. Something a bit like this (hope there is a full recording of this – upcoming DVD maybe?!):
Hear a few recordings from the tour in the TJF archive here.
Plenty more to come in 2011, including ‘The Big Roar’….
Order // 'Teen Dream' is the third release from Baltimore-based duo Beach House – singer/keyboardist Victoria Legrand and guitarist Alex Scally, and it's absolutely unbelievable. Beach House managed to stay off the mainstream radar before this release, with 'Teen Dream' there was no chance of this happening.
"Zebra" the sublime opener sets the tone, gentle electric guitar waltzing in the background whilst vocals ooze over the top. It’s a recipe used throughout the album, never more noticeable than on the second song Silver Soul. Where guitar isn't, gentle shimmering keys lies to complement Legrands exquisite vocals.
The lovely ah ah ah’s at the start of the preceding single "Norway" leads the album to a new peak. The album throughout is stunningly atmospheric. Generally the sound remains constant, a rich, woozy and happy feeling that few records have come close to this year. The sublime last track "Take Care" is another song with a sweet melody and hypnotic vocal.
This will be an album listened to by those who’ve lost love, are in love and those who just want to listen to a good record. Absolute lush.
Order // Hadestown is a work of pure genius, Anais Mitchell's almost mind-boggling focus and dedication for many years has been realised in epic form. The whole production is deep and immaculate.
Hadestown is a folk opera, a retelling of the story of Orpheus, set in a sort of post-apocalyptic depression era version of Hades, tied together with brilliant songs of contemporary social, political and archetypal commentary. Greg Brown sings the role of Hades. Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver) sings the role of Orpheus. Ani DiFranco sings the role of Persephone. And Anais, herself, sings the role of Eurydice.
Concept albums are always hit or miss, this is very much a success and Anais Mitchell has created a unique and wonderful thing and one that deserve a good run on the West End let alone much high critical reception as an album. Simply listen to "Hadestown".
Order // Sometimes I think it’s good to throw all pretence out of the window and say “yeah, actually this is pretty good”. Let’s face facts, Hurts are not covering new ground here. They make unashamed synth-based pop songs that are lifted directly from either Tears for Fears / Pet Shop Boys / A Nother 80’s act. That however does not stop it being highly enjoyable, and for me ‘Happiness’ is just that.
I got the Hurts bug about a year ago when an early version of “Wonderful Life” leaked onto the net, mass hysteria followed, they came forth on the BBC Sound of 2010 list but then apart from a couple of February gigs promptly disappeared from existence. First single “Better Than Love” didn’t do very well, and they weren't very well received on a NME Radar tour.
It was only when “Wonderful Life” itself came out as a single that they finally exploded into the mainstream audience, and boy did they, a sell out tour followed and no doubt through label Sony connections they were soon being covered by Kylie Minouge, who also duets with the band on their album, and on one of the stand-outs “Devotion”.
Their immaculate appearance might give some the impression of a manufactured band akin to a Cowell production and whilst there maybe a smattering of truth behind that, I’m happy to but that to aside if the music hold its own. “Happiness” is epic (sometimes ridiculously so) but Hurts have written some exquisite pop gems. The synths of ‘Silver Lining’ create a grandiose opening. “Stay” a cross between a tenor and Take That is an unashamed highlight and “Unspoken” is a wonderful melodramatic anthem.
There are some less than serious Euro-Pop moments in “Sunday” which creates a welcome diversion from the moody, doom-laden balladry of the album. The best song however is of course “Wonderful Life” , the example of a perfect pop song. It's melancholy, dark yet retaining a feeling a hope ‘Don’t let go // never give up, it’s such a wonderful life’
Style, gravitas and substance are all abundant; Hurts are the pop act of 2010.
Listen: 7. Holly Miranda – The Magician’s Private Library
Order // An album I liked on release that has grown on me like fine wine (although I’ll stick with a cold beer) thanks mainly to the discovery of some amazing live recordings and acoustic sessions that showcase Holly Miranda’s stunning vocal range and ability.
‘The Magician’s Private Library’ creates an overwhelming sensual, woozy feeling. Holly’s lush, ethereal vocals give the feeling of soothing and dreaming. Quite in fitting with the continual reference to sleep over the course of the album. The simmering simplistic beauty of “Waves” is heart-wrenching at times. “Everytime I Go To Sleep” and “Joints” similarly are superbly written and delicately delivered.
David Sitek production is apparent with an overriding TV on the Radio feel at times, never more than on “No One Just Is”, minimal beats, keys and bassline and on the gorgeous breathy “Slow Burn Treason” a duet with (no less) Kyp Malone.
This is a lovingly created album, the process in creating the album must have been a long one and it shows in the slow-burning, emotive feeling it encapsulates. Delicate, beautiful and most importantly majestic.
Previously: Plenty; live recordings, videos of some of the best covers I’ve ever heard, the amazing Fiume Nights session. Go look in the archive now.
Order // After releasing the most magnificent ‘Funeral’ Arcade Fire were always going to fall short in some people’s eyes. They followed up with the excellent ‘Neon Bible’ which was a fantastic album, combining a traditional Arcade Fire sound with a dark, almost preachy bombast yet some quarters were already pointing daggers at them. There was a worry that Arcade Fire were on their way to do a Bono and become nothing more than stadium rock mainstays, however ‘The Suburbs’ quashed any of those concerns on first listen.
The sound is big, the themes slightly mellower, more elegiac, the long album is one that beautifully flows through elegant melodies and evocative imagery of an strict American town upbringing, over the course of 16 tracks there are numerous highlights.
You can here bits of Springsteen throughout the catchy “Modern Man”. The punky spark of the outstanding “Month of May” leads to one of the best songs Arcade Fire have ever recorded. The amazing video sequence for “We Used to Wait” casts a shadow over the song itself, which is hauntingly beautiful. Regine also plays her part in the urgent duet “Empty Room” and the delicious electro pop of “Sprawl II”.
For some The Suburbs will be overlong, for some it’ll be a masterpiece. Without doubt it’s their most cohesive album to date and a worthy addition to the Arcade Fire catalogue.
Photo by Anika in London - check out her amazing website, a lady with exquisite taste who has turned me onto a few artists through her site.
I had to post Holly again for a few different reasons. Mainly because I'm in love with her amazing music and live performances. Make sure you check out my previous posts for more of them. Her Etta James cover is simply too beautiful for words, as I said here.
The first half of this post is her set for NPR World Cafe, a 25 minute interview / 4 song session. Wonderful too (of course!):
Setlist:
"High Tide"
"No One Justice"
"Nobody Sees Me Like You"
"Waves"
Still want more? Good: NYCTaper has posted more Holly here - part of the Vivo in Vino concert series, which matches artists with winemakers for a night of music and vino (which sounds fun, if messy)...
Head to NYCTaper and make sure you get a piece of Holly's set, which was primarily an acoustic cover set - it's wonderful, as you'd expect - what a great voice.
Holly Miranda - 2010-08-08, Vino In Vino,New York, NY USA
Setlist:
[Total Time 48:12]
01 [introduction/wine discussion]
02 Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want (Smiths)
03 Waves
04 I’m Your Man (Leonard Cohen)
05 Secret Identity
06 Glass, Concrete & Stone (David Byrne)
07 [set break + introduction]
08 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James)
09 I’m On Fire (Springsteen)
10 God Damn the Sun (Swans)
11 Lover, You Should Have Come Over (Jeff Buckley)
12 [banter/audience participation practice]
13 Ex-Factor (Lauren Hill)
I've taken in a lot of good shit recently, Mountain Man have blown me away at Glastonbury, I've fallen in love in equal measure with Caitlin Rose and Emma Moss (again), I've discovered Lanterns in the Lake, that's all off the top of my head.
This however possibly eclipses them all...
Here's another acoustic take on Waves to leave you with on this post. So many amazing video's / versions by Holly over the Internet. I really am regretting staying at home the extra day at the end of July and missing her now. Come back to the UK soon please!
Holly Miranda is a joy and you should go purchase her music - thanks to the magic of the Internet you can listen to it in full below and buy it here with a Rough Trade bonus CD (which is equally brilliant too) or from amazon. Holly is Brooklyn-based like it seems the rest of the world is!
The name of her album is The Magician’s Private Library and it came out about Feb time, so I am a bit slow to the party with this post, but better late than not at all... I was meant to see her a few weeks back, but something came up, next time she is in the UK I will try my hardest, there are definite TV on the Radio sounds throughout which is clear with the involvement of Dave Sitek as producer.
You can get a complete set download from NYCTaper. She plays for an hour and the track list goes like this: A gorgeous voice and a wonderous sound:
01 No One Just Is
02 Waves
03 Mark My Words [new song]
04 No One Can See Me Like You Do (Yoko Ono)
05 High Tide
06 Forest Green, Oh Forest Green
07 Everytime I Go To Sleep
08 Joints
09 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James)
10 Slow Burn Treason
11 Sleep on Fire
12 [banter]
13 Pelican Rapids
14 [encore break]
15 Singular Acceptance
16 Secret Identity
17 Hymnal
// Sometimes I think it’s good to throw all pretence out of the window and say “yeah, actually this is pretty good”. Let’s face facts, Hurts are not covering new ground here. They make unashamed synth-based pop songs that are lifted directly from either Tears for Fears / Pet Shop Boys / A Nother 80’s act. That however does not stop it being highly enjoyable, and for me ‘Happiness’ is just that. 
