BABY DEE-Small Wonder (Live @Teatro Calderón, Madrid)
The second instalment of our Sinphonola Easter Special focuses in the old and the veteran; some familiar names and faces that return and things we had already seen or heard but somehow they got a second chance for exposure. And we begin with Baby Dee, the transgender multi-instrument player, already in her fifties, whose old fashion cabaret songs have captured the attention of the most renowned gay (and straight) artists around. Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Antony Hegarty, Marc Almond and a long etc, collaborate in Dee’s last album “Safe Inside The Day”, one of the most nicely crafted records of the year so far.
THE ROOTS FEAT. PATRICK STUMP-Birthday Girl
Veteran Philly rappers The Roots make a comeback too. About to launch their second album for their new imprint Def Jam, “Rising Down”, and with several videos and tracks ready to be checked online. We’ve already seen videos for “75 Bars” and “Get Busy”, but their first single and first ever intentional attempt to conquer the US mainstream charts will be “Birthday Girl” in which Patrick Stump of bland-emo act Fall Out Boy adds his ubiquitous presence, following his own steps in that horrible pseudo hip-hop number he did with Gym Class Heroes.
In a similar ground, although less stuck in a genre’s rules, Rober Award nominee as last year’s most promising artist, Santogold, finally has a video for her groundbreaking track “L.E.S. Artistes”, quoting influences from Alejandro Jodorowski’s filmography and managing to get even hipper in the making. Our hopes keeps on growing for her debut album.
R.E.M-Supernatural Superserious
More welcome returns. R.E.M. comes back after years of mainstream blandification with an album everybody has high hopes in for a return to past glories. The first reviews of “Accelerator” placed the band’s sound circa mid-nineties, grunge-influenced “Monster” album, which without being the band’s best, it certainly offers ground for hope. The now trio from Athens, will be heavily promoting the album’s release all over the world. This week has seen them taking over SXSW, soon they will come for a charity show at London’s Royal Albert Hall and an exclusive itunes session and the whole of the album will be premiered for the first time on Facebook, a week before its release on April the 1st.
Other pop-rock significant return in the last few months was the new album “In The Future” from seventies rock revisionists from British Columbia Black Mountain.
TILLY AND THE WALL-Beat Control
Headlining the indie hopefuls, the promising three female/one male combo Tilly & The Wall return with an image overhaul a la nu-rave fashion, and a totally new sound, probably influenced by their time touring around the British isles. “Beat Control” is colourful and chirpy and opens a brand new wave for the band. Sheffield’s The Long Blondes got their second album “Couples” ready, and have also gotten a contemporary make-up, judging by their anticipating single “Century”, leaving behind their cool retro references.
And probably the most eagerly awaited of them all: Annie, the Swedish DJ and popette who nearly conquered the world with “Heartbeat” returns after a three year hiatus. Her first track “Girlfriend” is available to check in her my space page.
THE RUBY SUNS-Tane Mahuta
Around the world, New Zealand sunny psychedelic popsters The Ruby Suns, revalidate their propositions with a superior second album, “Sea Lion”, in which they added exotic world rhythms to their sonic palette. Following the steps of weird-folktronic meisters Animal Collective, back with the new, more organic EP, “Water Courses”
THE HONEYDRIPS- (Lack Of ) Love Will Tear Us Apart
Swedish duo The Honeydrips released their breakthrough opus “Here comes the future” over a year ago, and after gaining considerable recognition in their country, the blogosphere have jumped into their fine melodic skills and could be one of this year’s nordic discoveries in the rest of the planet.
A long time ago as well, MGMT released their first EP in which their current big hit “Time To pretend” was already included. In all this time, a major got them signed and they are currently on the verge of mainstream success with their only half-brilliant “Oracular Spectacular”. Stick to the single.
Also out last year, but now included in Kelley Polar’s debut, “I need you to hold on while the sky is falling”, the track “Chrysanthemum” was a promising first hint to an album already generating waves of enthusiam online. Halfway between Air’s breezy electronica and the most bearable prog-rock, it reminds of recent electronic pop ventures like Matthew Dear’s and could be easily enjoying their same luck.
THE COUNT AND SINDEN FEAT. KID SISTER-Beeper
In the underground dance world, some tracks take ages to break into clubland. “Beeper” is about to become an international smash, thanks to Domino jumping in and a remix that features Rober Award best new artist nominee, Kid Sister, in what could be the hit that breaks the young rapper.
From the dubstep world, in trend again thanks to Burial and the hypersound label; Benga, helped by Coki, had his first single “Night” back into the spotlight, as part of the release of acclaimed debut album “Diary Of An Afro Warrior”.