AIDAN JOHN MOFFAT - I CAN HEAR YOUR HEART
The record that let us know that Mr. Moffat has a middle name is the record that resumes his sex obsessions the most. The first one that he publishes under his name is a compendium of short songs/poems and a long story with samplers of classic, camera music, beat boxes, accordions, film sequences and many other things. The final result makes blush Mr. Tellier with his concept album about sex. Fun the first time you listen to it, but also a complex musical record for your romance nights if you want to avoid to play again Marvin Gaye.
ATLAS SOUND - LET THE BLIND LEAD THOSE WHO CAN'T SEE BUT CANNOT FEEL
Under this pseudo-biblical name lays my favorite record of the year so far. The guy under Deerhunter publishes the record of his side project and exceeds the achievements of his main band. Psychedelia, shoegaze, feedback, atmospheres and good songs, not only in the record, but also in the many eps and songs that you can download for free in his blog. Even more songs and as good as in the record. This is quite more impressive than the Radiohead pay-what-you-want effort. Can't wait to see them live.
EL GUINCHO - ALEGRANZA
Many things in many places have been already written about this record. The most impressive thing, probably is that he's Spanish and he's having an impressive international success with his first record. And the record is really good, probably so influenced by Animal Collective and Panda Bear (as you can see in all the reviews) but also with a lot of personal characteristics like the inclusion of tropical stuff that makes it quite a festive record. See him play live in one of the three dates planned for this month in London.
FOALS - ANTIDOTESYeah, I know. Too much interest probably in this band before the publishing of their first record. I quite lost my interest before listening to it and after seeing the forth single sounds exactly the same as the first three. But wait, the record is enjoyable and more assorted than what you can expect. Don't believe the hype but this is not a bluff, at least not yet...
HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR - H.A.L.A.
Most people will track this record thanks to knowing about Antony's collaboration in Blind. And his collaboration in the band, in many other songs of the record, is crucial. Who could predict that his voice could fit that well in a post-disco wrap? But this is not all in this record. The other voices, the arrangements and the songs themselves have also enough value to consider this project not only another one where he helped adding his personal voice.
HIGH PLACES - 03/07- 09/07
Probably this is the closer we've been to listen to the sound of water in a record. All the arrangements in the record look like they've been filtered out under the sea: pianos, African orchestras, percussion instruments of all kind and vocal melodies that remember the happy easy days of Beat Happening. Probably the most original production of the year so far.
LITTLE ANNIE AND PAUL WALLFISCH - WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD PIANOS
Little Annie maybe should have to change her name as she's not little anymore. She's older and bigger than ever before in this cover record that recovers our faith in the genre after listening to the deception of the second Cat Power's effort miles away to her previous one in personality and success. Annie takes the songs to her cabaret flavour atmosphere. Maybe the closest Tom Waits feminine version we have nowadays.
SAMAMIDON - BUT THIS CHICKEN PROVED FALSEHEARTED
Nobody sang that bad in a folk record since the first Will Oldham efforts with a result that it's not annoying but enriches the songs giving them more naturallity and emotion. Nothing new but good songs and good performance.
