Cuddle Up With: Tame Impala

Cuddle Up With: Tame Impala

Wikipedia says that Tame Impala is "a three piece psychedelic rock band from Perth, Western Australia" and thats about all you need to know. In 2008 they released a short, rough self-titled EP that lifts heavily from late Beatles and jam-band psychedelia. Lead singer Kevin Parker sounds eerily like John "I Am A Walrus" Lennon on the EP, and the songs boasts solid melodies and a vintage production style.

From the two tracks that have been released from the band's debut full-length Innerspeaker, it seems Tame Impala is continuing with the psychedelic sound, albeit via much fuller production. I still haven't got my hands on a copy of the whole album, but it sounds promising.

Standout single, Runway, Houses, City, Clouds slowly fades in (don't turn up the volume...) with a rather significant riff. The train-wreck rhythm is backed by a soaring vocal melody that breaks open at about the 2:40 min mark into a Beatles-esque four-part harmony. The song floats for about thirty seconds before launching back into the driving rhythm and eventually fizzling out with what seems to be stylistic homage to the Beatles' "Sun King".

Stay tuned for more Tame Impala, who will be releasing their debut Innerspeaker in the U.S. on June 8.
Until then, grab their single below and be sure to listen to another gem from Innerspeaker, Solitude is Bliss at the band's myspace (Or you can purchase the song from Itunes).
Pre-order the album here.

Tame Impala :: Runway, Houses, City, Clouds (from Innerspeaker [2010])
Tame Impala :: Desire Be Desire Go (From Tame Impala EP [2008]) (...John Lennon...am I right?)
[mp3 removed by request]

Cuddle Buddies: Alela Diane

Cuddle Buddies: Alela Diane

Alela Diane Promotes Tranquility

In order to support artists from the Great Northwest, we here at BCB present Cuddle Buddies. A biweekly article about regional artists we think you should check out.

When I first began listening to Alela Diane, it was purely because of how much I love singing along to her songs. But, after a while, I realized that I couldn't stay away for more than a few days. I'd be scrolling through my itunes looking for music to listen to and her name's always at the beginning of the alphabet, I would try to skip over her name, but a little voice in my head would say, "ooh! alela!" (not to mention Alela is so much fun to say...) Her voice is captivating. Even mesmerizing, and it kept drawing me back.

Her new album, To Be Still, has been receiving a lot of attention lately. The folks over at poptartssucktoasted labeled her new album "definitely buzzworthy." Similarly, Gorillavs.Bear has a "well-documented love"for Diane and most recently they posted her warm and eerie video, "White As Diamonds." It seems that no one can quite get enough of Alela, newly signed on Rough Trade Records. And with good cause. She's amazing.

Many of the new songs aren't really new at all, they're remakes of her older songs, but every one of the remakes is much fuller and richer. Her music has a great old folk feeling; each of the songs tell a story with such imagery to place you directly in the nature she so seems to love. But don't think you'll just get the same old thing that's already been done either: her voice is her own (with a tiny hint of Joanna Newsom's whimsically warbly warble) and it turns the classic folk into a story out of a different world. Every song is completely wonderful and each time I listen, I am transported to isolated woods of nostalgia.

Also, if you're lucky enough to make it over to Austin, TX by March 20, you can catch Alela Diane at SXSW. And this is a cute video she did with her dad accompanying her on mandolin

Download "White as Diamonds" hizzle

Listen To Be Still at Rhapsody here

Buy Amazon.com here

NPR First Listen: Laura Gibson

NPR First Listen: Laura Gibson

I highly recommend heading over to NPR to hear Laura Gibson's new album, Beasts of Seasons, in its entirety.
I sort of figured Neko Case and Marissa Nadler would be my favorite female singer-songwriters of the year, but out of nowhere (Portland, Oregon) comes Gibson with what seems to be a fantastic album. For you, this means find a comfy blanket, make some tea and click the link above for forty minutes of pure Pacific Northwest musical bliss. That is all.



Laura Gibson :: Hands In Pockets from If You Come to Greet Me (2006)