That band who has stolen my heart with the tune ‘Iron Mask’ once upon a time are about to release an eagerly anticipated debut now. The Domino State is what I am talking about and ‘Uneasy Lies the Crown’ is that awaited album released through Exhibition Records on 16th August.
Here is a little bite for starters. Check out ‘We Must Not Shut Ourselves Away’ ; new single and the black and white fancy video. Enjoy the gaze, post-punk beats and glorious vocals of Matt Forder along the way.
Is it me or Peter Sarsgaard has one of the most fantastic voices ever? It is so good that I get to ignore the acting at times. Not that he can’t act or anything. He does act! The voice just steals the show. Don’t be going ‘Oh, so John Malkovich’ now. Yes. A bit. But aren’t we all being John Malkovich-es every now and then?! tee hee
You’ve gotta be silent in order not to wake the devils up. Invisible insects and you and your empty cups. Tonight is fenouil-proof! Like the ones before. You’ve always liked that linden smell anyway. Maybe because once upon a time in the past; ‘your skin smells linden’ you were told. Now that feels warm. No? Time is kicking seeming a bit shy below the darkness. You wish you had some linden and Elliott Smith.
“I’m scared in my own apartment. I’m scared 24 hours a day. But not necessarily in New York. I actually feel pretty comfortable in New York. I get scared like in Sweden. You know, it’s … kind of empty, they’re all drunk. Everything works. You know, if you stop at a stop light and don’t turn your engine off, people come over and talk to you about it. You go to the medicine cabinet and open it up and there will be a little poster saying: “In case of suicide – call…” You turn on the TV, there’s an ear operation. These things scare me. New York? No.”
That feeling you have in your vessels. They are getting so vast that you can have the Mediterranean Sea settled in them. Peace. Happiness. Due to the mood; depression. But happiness mostly. Mood surfing upon drinks surfing. Cheating on all of them using an alternative one. Like the life itself. Cheating on all your tastes and favorites when the ‘random’ time comes. Being that moderate, understanding, unconcerned human being you have never achieved to become. Sepia looking head lights shining on your night. Encouraging to show off. You are that one person walking alone. Scared. Or just worried a bit. With the vessels getting enlarged. C’est la vie. And this is good.
We all need some. Not in the crude way. Softly and gently. So that it won’t trigger my migraine. Wouldn’t like to be the type wearing sunglasses day and night. So soft that the caramel looking color invites you to hallucinate over the shadows. Make up the story of the whitewashed wall behind. Not so depressive, please. Light brings hope. So said Daniel Johnston once: ‘Maybe hope can shine a light… Love can save you now’.
Then there goes Jacob Golden’s calling to mind: ‘My favorite Daniel Johnston song was recorded on a tape deck before you were born...’ Can’t truly figure which song is Jacob’s favorite. Not a big big deal anyway. I will just shine my lights on tonight.
Let’s sit and have a rest. Shall we? Stretch your legs to the bits and give hatred looks to the blocks you won’t ever see again. Think positive, eh? An old AmAnSet record cherishing your ears, eyelids down and fingers air-drumming. Benches are cool. You can scratch your name on them. Or your imaginary lovers’. Stupid lyrics. Nietzscherian quotes. Made up slogans. Imagine being a drunkard and falling asleep just before the morning light. Leaves will protect you from the devils you create in your imagination. People are evil and so is their imagination. Benches are nice. They don’t breathe.
Very much beloved Jimmy LaValle is back with his magic stick in hand. That magic he is generously spreading through The Album Leaf is entitled ‘A Chorus of Storytellers‘ this time. Such poetry! Been almost 4 years since Into The Blue Again has turned us upside down. Imagine the thirst we Album Leafers have towards new stuff. 4 years, I mean! (However a new Tristeza release last year helped me to whine less but still The Album Leaf is no Tristeza… Right?)
Recorded by Ryan Hadlock in Seattle and mixed by Birgir Jon Birgisson of Sigur Ros in Reykjavik (Oh yes!); new album is released on 2nd February through Sub Pop family again. I love my Sub Pop more each day.
First impressions; I am fascinated. As usual. ‘There Is A Wind‘, ‘We Are‘, ‘Falling From the Sun‘ and ‘Stand Still‘ are promising to become new Album Leaf classics; recalling ‘On Your Way’, ‘Over the Pond’, ‘Eastern Glow’…etc.
The thing about this new album is that for the first time the whole live band have performed the songs together instead of LaValle playing them as he did for earlier releases before. LaValle is becoming more of an orchestra now sharing his spot behind the mixing desks and all that stuff. Bringing together the chorus of his precious touring team: Matthew Resovich, Drew Andrews, Luis Hermosillo…
Perro’s down to earth opening of the record is like giving a soft massage to one’s soul. Getting followed with bagpipe like sounding Blank Pages and more strings and horns attached soul breakers down the line.
I guess Within Dreams, Summer Fog and Until The Last are few songs that Jon Birgisson affect is felt most. The strings, soothing catastrophe getting you déjà vu the calmest moments you have cherished back from Takk days.
Most powerful and say charts-friendly tune Almost There and Thule-esqueTied Knots wrapping up this 11 piece of ethereal balance. Satisfaction. And beyond.
Downtempo, piano, violin, sheltering vocals (some from The Black Heart Procession’s Pall Jenkins)… Same old beauty in the haunting ambiance, LaValle and co. are digging deep that sleeping desolation in mankind.
