Indie stalwart Parasol just released the latest album by Unbunny, Snow Tires. It's great and Coolfer has been spinning the CD quite a bit lately. Musically, Snow Tires has the slow, rootsy gallop of vintage Neil Young and the minor key somberness of Elliot Smith. The lyrics are moving novelletes that capture emotions with incredible vividness and insight. The songs' bare honesty reminds me of Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend. The combination is quite moving and one of those rare records that is great simply for humming along and equally great for dissecting word by word. It gets better with every listen.

Posted by Glenn at 12:45 AM | Link | Comment (2)
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When I think of hard techno, I often think of comments by a friend of mine in Madrid: "Great music, but the club's always full of sweaty, shirtless guys." After a while, he'd leave for a club with more women.

Sven Vath's In The Mix: Sound of the Fourth Season has something for both types of clubs. The first disc has the slamming tracks--T.Raumschmiere's "Monstertruckdriver" fits right in with the array of German techno, minimal beats and industrial influences. The second disc is playful and pert in comparison. Jay Alansky's "Bud Life" starts the disc out on a more subdued note. Tracks by Richardo Villalobos, Dntel and Photogenic give it a good bounce.

Recommended.

Cocoon.net
Studio Distribution home

Posted by Glenn at 5:30 AM | Link
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Coolfer is in love with the new album by All Night Radio, Spirit Stereo Frequency. The band's founding members, Dave Scher and Jimi Hey, are founding members of psychedelic country revivalists Beachwood Sparks.

Spirit Stereo Frequency trades in Gram Parsons' California country twang for Robert Wyatt's eclectic melodicism and the trappings of the stoned Canterbury scene of yore. It's out Tuesday the 17th on SubPop Records and it's a fun, beautiful album. Highly recommended.

Download the "Daylight Till Dawn" MP3 from SubPop.com.

Posted by Glenn at 11:16 AM | Link
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Any album with the line, "Piazza, New York catcher, are you straight or are you gay?" is doing something right. In the case of Belle & Sebastian's latest album, Dear Catostrophe Waitress, it's just more of the witty, sports-related lyricism that has made the band so endearing. After two albums that didn't do much for Coolfer-- Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant and Storytelling--the band is a front-runner to win the Comeback of the Year Award.

Posted by Glenn at 4:23 AM | Link
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Aparat's Duplex is a fine listen for two reasons. First, in a time when laptop producers are following the trends of Luomo and Metro Area, Duplex proudly wears good ol' glitch on its sleeve. Not that Coolfer doesn't like microhouse, but the occasional album that falls outside of the trend is refreshing. Second, the skittish beats and warm melodies are excellent. In Duplex, skilled programming meets gentle, uneasy ambience in a joyous clutter. This is one of Coolfer's favorites of 2003 thus far.

Posted by Glenn at 12:12 AM | Link
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Stars' latest album, Heart, is a beautiful pop record, perfectly described as "electronic chamber pop" by Allmusic.com. Fans of Ivy, Saint Etienne, the Delgados, the Lightning Seeds or New Order's more touching songs should be down with it. Go to the band's download page at NMC.com and listen to "Elevator Love Letter" and "Romantic Comedy" to get the picture.

Available in the band's native Canada for a while, Heart will finally be released on 9/23 in the States. They'll be stopping by NYC's Mercury Lounge on Sunday, 9/21 for a headlining show, and they've got an in-store performance at Other Music on 9/22. Boss.

Posted by Glenn at 12:24 PM | Link
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A Strangely Isolated Place by Ulrich Schnauss is one of my favorite albums of the year, and it's been much played since I picked it up upon Other Music's glowing recommendation. Part electronic, part shoegazer-inspired indie rock, the album has the warm tones and atmospheres that electronic music often lacks. Check the Real Audio clip on Other Music's website before it's gone.

Posted by Glenn at 2:57 PM | Link | Comment (1)
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