THE RECOMMENDER – NUMBER 69

TINASHE

We first heard this fella through his Kissy Sell Out-produced tune, Come On Over (This Could Be Love).  We should admit at this point that Kissy seems a little bit of a one trick pony, with the trademark sound he adds to each of his remixes, making them recognisable as his, but ultimately a little same-y.  However, as his twinkling synths danced all over Tinashe’s track, we were intrigued.  Then the vocals kicked in.  Suddenly all the bouncing nonsense seemed to, well, make sense.  It was a tidy marriage, but without doubt the vocals were the star.  Like some kind of tacky biblical parable, we followed that star and arrived at Tinashe.  This solo artist was born in Zimbabwe of all places, via Hackney, looking very much the styled part, whilst having the musical talent to back it up as well as a large enough box of pop melodies to get the larger labels wetting their nibs.  It’s occasionally very light, with that annoying and rather unnecessary vocoder, but thankfully it’s not used too much and overall his urban pop has a genuine authenticity.  It’s early days, but getting Radio One DJs remixing your EPs is always a springy board.  It was pleasing to notice that he’s also entered the odd ‘tip for 2010’ list on some blogs too.  Viewing the video below, with him playing his African instrument, the Mbira, not only is this kind of element unique in today’s pop environment, but relating his African instincts into his talented music may be just the kind of credibility that balances any generic pop pitfalls.  His Mayday EP is out on March 1st and you can catch him live in support of Recommender darlings, Marina & The Diamonds on 29th January and Ellie Goulding on 10th February.   (MB)

Find him here:        Myspace

Hear him here:       TINASHE – COME ON OVER (THIS COULD BE LOVE)

TWIN SHADOW

Is there something in the water in New York? The rate at which artists are appearing is alarming!  So many of them are reaching our inbox and getting into The Recommender’s famous ‘queue’.  Just check out recent posts about MNDR, Sleigh Bells, Zambri, Theophilus London, MEN, Sensual Harassment etc.  It’s just getting silly now, there’s bloody loads of them!  New York, and perhaps more specifically Brooklyn, has never been short of talent, but never before have they burst through at this wonderful rate.  This must be what the popular blogs, Tastes Like Caramel, Brooklyn Vegan, The Culture Of Me, or Sheena Beaston feel like all the time, it’s like a bloggers paradise!  And so to this tidy little find for you.  If you like your electronic pop to be experimental, but never overdone, dreamy, but never sleepy, then this Yoiker may be about to soundtrack your life.  George Lewis Jnr isn’t afraid to follow his fun button, always creating delightfully enjoyable, melodic tunes, reminding us of bits of Flaming Lips, or Super Furry Animals playing their late night grooves.  It’s all shapely and beautiful, harmonic and clever.  There’s a lo-fi feel to it all, which isn’t surprising, considering Ed Banger‘s innovative Mickey Moonlight has been involved.  This is like the soundtrack to those moments when the drugs still haven’t quite worn off; you’re still smiling broadly and glowing, but firmly rooted to the sofa.  He has a single due out in March, so look out for that.  It seems Brooklyn never runs out of energy, so we are looking forward to what else appears throughout 2010.   (MB)

Find him here:         Myspace

Hear him here:         TWIN SHADOW – YELLOW BALLOON

BEAR IN HEAVEN

Ok, so we’re just going to tell you right now that this band will probably become one of your new favorites, if you’re not already familiar with them.  And now you’ve written that in your diary we can tell you why.  These four lads from Brooklyn (MB – that goddamn place again!) have brought something rather lovely and new to the table.  Their recent full-length, titled Beast Rest Forth Mouth, is a well-crafted, cohesive piece of rock, and it’s only slightly difficult to say without spitting on the person next to you.  It drives you down a wide open highway of psychedelic, swirling melodies and pounding, electronic beats and it enjoyably sweeps you into the sky on a wave of creatively spun vocal harmonies.  True, it came out last year, and it isn’t technically their first album, (nobody can seem to agree if they have two or three albums!), but because it’s miles above their previous work and because they’re about to tour with other Recommender favorites, Freelance Whales and Oh No Ono, we had to bring it to your attention.  This band are going to have a big 2010 and our confident point will be proved as the year develops.  Part of their Spring tour this year will find them at Austin’s famous SXSW music festival, where their reportedly mind-blowing shows will no doubt garner a great deal of attention.  The Recommender is expecting to earn it’s music press accreditation for this giant festival any day now, so we look forward to reporting first hand on their live shows, but for now take it from us, when it comes to the band of the year – all bets are currently off.   (OG)

Find them here:           Myspace

Hear them here:           BEAR IN HEAVEN – LOVESICK TEENAGERS