THE RECOMMENDER – NUMBER 62

KiT

How is it that every time we come across a band from Paris it makes us want to be right there, in their beautiful, hipster culture?  It’s probably the same factor that made us want to live in Brooklyn when we discovered Sleigh Bells, or Los Angeles when we first came across Heartsrevolution, or Berlin when, or Manchester when, or, or, etc.  OK, to be fair, our home town of Brighton is plenty cool enough thanks, but this three piece from the Gallic capital are definitely made from that most attractive of purest hip.  We are suckers for the sexy vocalist, complete with every word seemingly breathed out, rather than sung.  It’s all so effortless and it challenges you in a manner not seen since the likes of Billy Corgan or Debbie Harry before him.  This all drifts over the top of a lo-fi electro synth and disco beat that simultaneously captures the minds attention whilst  moving your feet in all directions.  This is care-free music, made by care-free imaginations, for care-free music fans.  It’s hard to know why the blogs haven’t gone totally bananas for this pleasant piece of Parisian pop, as they’d slot onto a Kitsune Maison Compilation with ease.  They tick all the right electro boxes and serve up the kind of magic that many blogs stick to as part of their strict diet.  Perhaps it’s simply early days for them, or the publicity machine hasn’t yet got into gear.  It will eventually, but for now it’s perhaps Paris’ secret.  As for us, we’re going to have to get around to organising that goddamn city break.   (MB)

Find them here:        Myspace

Hear them here:       KiT – ANIMALS ysi

SILVER COLUMNS

For crying out loud!! We’re getting very bored with the amount of new bands that are deciding to hide their identities from view. From the likes of Fake Blood to Golden Filter it seems people are forever shunning the front of the stage by not confirming who is behind the music. Why they do it is something we seem to be talking about on a regular basis. Perhaps its to restrict the rapid pace in which blogs and the wider online community bore people to death by diluting music through the scrutiny, sharing and critiquing of everything new?  Perhaps not allowing people to know who you are holds something back, giving the artist a sense of empowerment?  Either way it’s over-done now, so much so that it would almost be a better publicity stunt if you actually showed your face and confirmed your name!  Anyway, Silver Columns didn’t even have a Myspace when we first caught wind of them, but although that’s now been corrected, their identity is still being held back.  Apart from this irritation their original music and superb remixes are fantastic.  They also clearly get Joe-Hot Chip‘s approval as he has remixed their track, Brow Beaten, to brilliant effect (see below).  Their hearts beat disco and their synth riffs bleed the kind of choppy rhythms we adore.  This kind of dance music is a little on the camp side, as you will hear with their vocal mantras, but it’s in a good way, like it’s fearless, rather than fluffy.  One thing this lot seemed to have learned, identity or no identity, is that it’s all about the music.  However, in defence of us bloggers, it always has been really.   (MB)

Find them here:      Myspace

Hear them here:     SILVER COLUMNS – BROW BEATEN (Joe Hot Chip Remix) ysi

FYFE DANGERFIELD

We aren’t particular fans of Fyfe’s other regular band, the well known Guillemots, for which he sings lead vocals.  For a long time they’ve let us down on the promise they seemed to hold, with their classically trained abilities, as their songs waft between dull and slightly more dull, only coming up for quality air with one decent track per album.  Anyway, we aren’t talking about Guillemots today.  Why their lead singer Fyfe should get a mention on here when we consider his other band so poorly is a little bit difficult to pin down, as there aren’t that many initial differences.  Suffice to say, particularly on the track we attach below, it seems he has magically managed to fill in all the gaps left by the Guillemots.  The gaps where all those killer melodies and pop hooks were sitting.  The gaps where the fuzzy keyboards, beat-claps and chunky samples reside.  Gone are the bored, lifeless tunes and in their place you find an electric, funked-up selection of proper pop. Thank fuck for that.  His vocals seem released from their previous restrictions, which is evidenced more clearly on other solo tracks where he provides a lot more natural spirit and bravery. Guillemots will no doubt be supportive, however, we hope that they now realise that it’s Fyfe who’s clearly their best chance of a good peak.  His solo album, Fly Yellow Moon, is due out January 18th 2010.    (MB)

Find him here:        Myspace

Hear him here:       FYFE DANGERFIELD – WHEN YOU WALK IN THE ROOM ysi