Don’t Miss A Beat is here to recommend five tracks a week. Rather than being a standard ‘five new tracks you must hear’ it will comprise a selection of music that fall into five categories.
There will be a new track and older track in some way related to the new track, a track from a recently released album, a track somewhat related to the week just past, and a track by an artist playing in Manchester in the coming week.
New Track: Summer Twins – Florence
Summer Twins are Californian sisters Chelsea and Justine Brown. Their most recent EP Forget Me came out in 2013, which followed 2012’s self-titled debut album. Their second LP Limbo came out October 2 on Burger Records, for which they drafted in esteemed producer of Thee Oh Sees Chris Woodhouse. The Los Angeles sisters create harmony-heavy garage songs likely to be popular with those who like Courtney Barnett and Ty Segall. Florence is the third track on the album and is the current single.
Old Track: Freakin’ Disco – Forget Me
Keeping with the theme of forgetting, Budapest band Freakin’ Disco has a track which shares its name with Summer Twins’ EP. I discovered this band whilst in a bar in the city and was impressed by their complexity and musicianship, which put them a cut above your usual bar band. The combine complicated rhythms and time signatures with samples, which are created live on turntables. It’s fantastic to watch. Since that gig in July 2014 they have put out a few recordings, but have remained largely underground and not strayed far from Hungary.
Track from album out this week: Here We Go Magic – Falling
New Yorkers Here We Go Magic’s work has attracted the discerning attention of Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, who worked on their last album A Different Ship. Their follow-up Be Small came out October 16 on Secretly Canadian, and lead single Falling shows that the band are still doing what they do best. Their songs build up gradually, with subtle motorik rhythms and intricate guitar work. Falling builds to a particularly uplifting crescendo. Singer Luke Temple does the artwork for all of their music, so it’s well worth paying attention to their posters and album covers. Falling is accompanied by a typically aesthetically pleasing and funny video.
Track relevant to this week: The Stooges – Fun House
The death of Steve Mackay, legendary saxophone player perhaps most famous for his work with The Stooges, died this year. A hugely influential band, The Stooges, which featured Iggy Pop, paved the way for punk with their albums in the late 60s/early 70s. Fun House is the title track from the band’s second record, released in 1970 on Elektra. Mackay’s playing is ever present throughout the song and – along with the late, great Ron Asheton’s guitar playing – is perhaps what makes the song so memorable.
Gig to see: Songhoy Blues – Soubour
Malian band Songhoy Blues play Gorilla on October 25. A band with a hugely interesting back story, they left their home when music was banned there. Discovered by Damon Albarn’s Africa Express and produced by Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, they blend American blues with traditional Malian sounds to create their unique sound which has received a great deal of media coverage and critical acclaim. Soubour is the opening track from their album Music In Exile was released early 2015 on Transgressive. Their television performances and reputation as a joyous live act make them a must see.
Tickets here: http://www.seetickets.com/event/songhoy-blues/gorilla/867732
Picture courtesy of Pascal, with thanks.
