Hi, everyone! Well, I’m back from Scotland. And even though I’m not yet an immortal, I still had a pretty great trip (including my very first taste of haggis). Naturally, of course, there’s lots of great stuff to catch up on… So, why not come and join me for a recap of things that happened while I was away?
Hi, everyone! Welcome to the first entry in our very own “news round-up” series. A lot of things seem to happen that are difficult to expand into a full-on article, but remain worth pointing out just the same. And seeing as my rapidly ending Ph.D. program really intensifies the problem, I thought that this might be a nice way to capture some of those stray articles that seem to be piling up. So, follow me, and I’ll show you news from Stars, The Vaselines, David Byrne, and more!
Yeah, so, Milli Vanilli really happened. What can I say? I was young, and naive… sigh. To help clean your brain from that last post, it’s time, once again, to share a little bit of what I’ve been listening to over the past couple of weeks. It’s been another great period of exploration for me, and I’ve been working hard to share things with you each day. I’ve decided that the site works best on a Monday to Friday schedule, and I hope that you’ve found it satisfying. Also, I hope that you’ve had a chance to try the new music player. If not, it’s over on top of the sidebar. Let me know what you think, ok? (Couldn’t hurt…)
So, yeah, lots of wonderful folk and indie rock to share with you, as well as a couple of classic gems. So, why not follow me, and we’ll get started?
On my recent trip to France, I decided to pass the time reading the French edition of Rolling Stone. In its April issue, a review for Ólöf Arnalds‘ Við Og Við grabbed my attention with this description: “Imaginez une soirée au coin du feu, dans un salon cosy, en plein cœur de l’hiver” (Imagine an evening by the fireside, in a cozy lounge, in the heart of Winter…) Few things have been so evocative to my imagination, as settings like this, and so I pulled out my trusty iPod touch…and I was immediately transported.
I have long enjoyed the dramatic splendor of Icelandic artists like Bjork, Sigur Rós, and Amiina. Ólöf’ is a touring musician with Icelandic stalwarts Múm, and she also worked on this album (as well as her anticipated second album Ókídóki – out sometime this Spring ) with Kjartann Sveinsson of Sigur Rós. Her music is a perfect complement to these. Featuring simple arrangements, traditional instruments (with a few unusual additions like the ukulele), and a lilting, sprightly voice (what Rolling Stone called: “…la musique pour les elfes…), her music exudes calmness and gentility. And yet, in spite of this, it’s not ephemeral. There’s a love of craft, and a seriousness of purpose, that curls about these sounds. It is, as Rolling Stone concluded, “bewitching.”
Have a listen to her song Klara, and then check out some wonderful videos after the cut. You can also hear more of her music at her myspace page.
[audio:https://www.shh-listen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Olof_Arnalds-Klara.mp3|titles=Klara] Ólöf Arnalds – Klara