Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Ami Saraiya - Archaeologist
Ami SaraiyaArchaeologist
Label: Self Released
Sultry musical temptations shudder and delight throughout this deep and dreamy gypsy diatribe. Buffeted about on lilting waltzes bring forth a grand display of vocal and rhythmic variety from then and now as well as here and there.
• Ami Saraiya WebsiteLuisa Maita - Lero-Lero
Luisa MaitaLero-Lero
Label: Cumbancha
Singing in Portuguese, this sultry songstress who was born from a family of musicians in Sao Paulo and is a rising star in the Brazilian music scene, delivers a sleek samba swing injected with downtempo electronica and pop sensations.
• Luisa Maita Website • Luisa Maita FacebookPierre De Gaillande - Bad Reputation
Pierre De GaillandeBad Reputation
Label: Barbes
Georges Brassens was sort of a French Bob Dylan type dark pop bardic icon. Here his music and poetry is evoked, channeled and translated into English via De Gaillande’s tantalizing obsession with the silver tongued poet and musician. The simple rhythms were maintained as original as possible while being fitted for English. Thought provoking, memorable and disturbingly charming.
• Pierre De Gaillande WebsiteBottegasonora - Disco Naif
BottegasonoraDisco Naif
Label: Bottegasonora
Warbling ranty vocals are accompanied by quirky simplistic synthesized rhythms from this Italian musician. Lyrics are formed into pop format so the accented choruses are repeated often, but this is then countered by a curious and bewildering cabaret atmosphere. Fans of kitchy throwback electro music inspired by the late 70’s will find that this will hit the spot.
• Bottegasonora Website • Bottegasonora FacebookDevo - Something For Everybody
DevoSomething For Everybody
Label: Warner Brothers
Outstanding! A triumphant and glorious rebirth of these 1980’s new wave icons. From top to bottom, song after song their quirky signature staccato synth pop rock finds renewed life in the new millennium. The biggest difference is their signature red energy dome hats are now blue! Album details were honed by their online community and the results shine.
• Devo Website • Devo Facebook • Devo WikiBeats Antique - Contraption Vol. II
Beats AntiqueContraption Vol. II
Label: Antique Records
I’m pretty smitten with this prolific (7 releases in 5 years!) group. Dreamy alluring Middle Eastern and Gypsy melodies are married to equally intriguing electronic infusions. Add in violin, belly dancing, live drums and special DJ Pizazz, and viola! Brilliance.
• Beats Antique Website • Beats Antique Facebook • Beats Antique WikiUnwoman - The Fires I Started
UnwomanThe Fires I Started
Label: self
Erica Mulkey is Unwoman, a popular and prolific San Francisco-based cellist-singer-songwriter that spices up the strings with electronic beats and attitude. With seven self-produced solo albums and six successful Kickstarter campaigns under her belt, she is turning herself into a musical icon thanks to all the fans she accumulates at the steampunk, goth, and sci-fi-related events that she highlights.
• Unwoman Website • Unwoman Facebook • Unwoman WikiWookiefoot - Ready or Not
WookiefootReady or Not
Label: Wookiefoot (self)
Wookiefoot (one of my all time favorite bands!) continues on their cosmic musical consciousness exploration journey by offering another ever-evolving excursion into anthemic New Age-ish euphemisms gone hippy pop reggae bluegrass jam funk. Will they be the Shangri La for your soul too? Don’t miss their tour this fall!
• Wookiefoot Website • Wookiefoot FacebookMichael Franti and Spearhead - All People
Michael Franti and SpearheadAll People
Label: Universal
Celebrating the beauty of diversity through peaceful, loving melodies and lyrics is a trademark of Franti and crew. Now, 8 studio albums in, Franti has still managed to cling to the peace-loving, socially active principals that propelled him to this point. Supremely danceable grooves and compelling anthemic pop delights will again and again have you on your feet and shaking your wild thang. See them on 9/25 at the Orpheum Theater in Madison, WI.
• Michael Franti and Spearhead Website • Michael Franti and Spearhead Facebook • Michael Franti and Spearhead WikiTal National - Kaani
Tal NationalKaani
Label: FatCat
Before becoming the national treasure and pop phenomenon of the West African country of Niger, Tal National honed their craft for 6 long years before recording their first release. Known for their playing all-night-long shows five nights a week in their native country, the band rose to huge success and are in high demand.
Kaani, their first international release, is sung all in Zarma, Haossa (Niger’s main languages), and French. It is a non-stop flurry of Afropop with dancing guitar melodies combined with traditional regional inflections and percussion plus touches of desert blues and soukous that deftly combines the traditional with the modern. Their first international tour stops on 9/21 in Milwaukee, WI at Global Union Festival: Humbolt Park Bandshell.
• Tal National Website • Tal National FacebookWildlight - The Tide
WildlightThe Tide
Label: Jumpsuit Records
Few releases have the magic that is found within the delicate interplay between the combined efforts of Ayla Nereo and David Sugalski (The Polish Ambassador). You will find your mind dancing effortlessly on the dreamy floating folky vocals of Nereo while Sugalski pushes polished downtempo beats into your consciousness. Simple yet breathtaking.
• Wildlight Website • Wildlight FacebookKishi Bashi - String Quartet Live!
Kishi BashiString Quartet Live!
Label: Joyful Noise Recordings
Violin virtuoso, singer, and composer Kishi Bashi (aka K Ishibashi) soars to amazing heights fueled by the glorious foundation of an accompanying string ensemble that allow him to reimagine his award winning and critically acclaimed first two releases, 151a and Lighght through an orchestral pop lens. Through his experimental and unconventional song writing skills as well as his soaring voice, he has spilled his talent into ever more imaginative and rewarding compositional endeavors.
• Kishi Bashi Website • Kishi Bashi Facebook • Kishi Bashi WikiView More
Viewing Page 2 - of 5