Audio Absinthe - Music » Sweet

ARI ROZE – “Endless Memory”

Spencer — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 21:10:05 +0000

Ari Roze’s “Endless Memory” is seductively smooth, soulful, and funky. I forget where I first heard it, but I needed to check out some of his other tracks. Mighty Highness, his label, uploaded his songs (here) on SoundCloud along with some other really great tracks from other groups on their roster. Roze’s music really stuck with me. It kind of reminded me of Mocky – “Birds of a Feather” which I still occasionally throw on. There’s a warm quality to Roze’s sound, a vintage style that, for me, is impossible to resist. It’s best explained in this quote off his bio:

Ari Roze is a musician, composer & record collector hailing originally from Fire Island N.Y…& now living on the east coast of Australia…. Ari is not into taking the path of creating sample based or digitally fabricated music. Thus has emerged a recording studio focused on quality organic sounds. Original clavinet and rhodes keyboards, 60’s drum kits, RCA ribbon mics, Ampex tape, valve mic pre’s, tape echoes and a selection of killer musicians fill the space where original songwriting and musicianship are paramount.

(Mighty Highness, December 2010)

RADIOHEAD – King of Limbs

Spencer — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:28:35 +0000

“Little By Little”

“Codex”

Radiohead released digital copies of their new album, King of Limbs last Friday. Although it’s only 8 tracks long, many Radiohead enthusiasts have speculated that there will be more songs included in the physical release, pointing out that the 8th track is called “Separator” in which Thom Yorke sings, “If you think this is over, then you’re wrong…” The tracks above, “Little By Little” and “Codex” are my two favorite tracks off King of Limbs.

King of Limbs (February 2011)

MAYER HAWTHORNE – “Maybe So, Maybe No (Reggae Mix)”

Spencer — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:30:16 +0000

MAYER HAWTHORNE – “Maybe So, Maybe No (Reggae Mix)”

*REMOVED BY REQUEST* Mayer Hawthorne – “Maybe So, Maybe No” [Reggae Mix]

MAYER HAWTHORNE – “Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’”

Spencer — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:52:44 +0000

MAYER HAWTHORNE – “Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’”

QUADRON – “Herfra Hvor Vi Star”

Spencer — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:46:12 +0000

QUADRON – “Herfra Hvor Vi Star”

BLITZEN TRAPPER – “Heaven And Earth”

Spencer — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:18:57 +0000

BLITZEN TRAPPER- “Heaven And Earth”

Florence and the Machine – Acoustic tracks and Robert Palmer

Spencer — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:41:43 +0000

At the end of 2009, Florence and the Machine released a special 4-disc deluxe edition of their debut album, Lungs. The bonus tracks include acoustic versions, remixes, and live performances of the songs from the debut album. Florence’s powerful voice shines on these acoustic tracks. ”Hurricane Drunk” is the 6th single from the album and will be released on March 22, 2010 with the acoustic version included. Not included in the deluxe re-release was Florence’s cover of Robert Palmer’s “Addicted To Love.” It’s a pretty amazing version of the hit song from ’86 and certainly not what I was expecting when I first learned of it. These are truly great, beautiful songs. MP3: Florence and the Machine – “Hurricane Drunk (Acoustic Version)” *REMOVED BY REQUEST* MP3: Florence and the Machine – “Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) (Acoustic Version)” *REMOVED BY REQUEST* Lungs (Deluxe Edition) (November 2009) MP3: Florence and the Machine – “Addicted To Love (Robert Palmer)” *REMOVED BY REQUEST*

The Recordings of The Middle East

Spencer — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:18:54 +0000

I first heard the song “Blood” by Australian band The Middle East on KCRW a couple of months ago. The harmonies and soft, melodic progressions build to create moving, stirring music and the same is true for all of their songs, most of which are between 5 to 7 minutes long. ”Blood” immediately reminded me of “Wake Up” by Arcade Fire although I’m not sure if most people would feel the same way. When I first heard “Pig Food” I thought it had to be a cover of a Radiohead track. The debut album, The Recordings of The Middle East, was self-released in Australia in 2008. An EP was made available in the US on iTunes just a couple of weeks ago. Check out the tracks below including “Pig Food” which isn’t included on the EP. MP3: The Middle East – “Blood” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] MP3: The Middle East – “The Darkest Side” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] The Recordings of The Middle East EP (October 2009) MP3: The Middle East – “Pig Food” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] The Recordings of The Middle East (2008)

Reworks of art?

Spencer — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:05:33 +0000

I’ve wanted to share these songs for a while now but I didn’t have too much to say about them all. I think they’re all awesome remixes and covers of great tracks but check them out and decide for yourself… The xx – “You’ve Got The Love” (Florence and the Machine) (Download) [See post to listen to audio] Washed Out – “Feel It All Around (Toro y Moi Remix)” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] Taken By Trees – “My Boys” (Animal Collective) (Download) [See post to listen to audio] Florence and the Machine – “Drumming Song (Boy 8-bit Remix)” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] Phoenix – “Lisztomania (Alex Metric Remix)” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] Dr. Fox’s Old Timey String Band – “Kids” (MGMT) (Download) [See post to listen to audio] Mayer Hawthorne – “Green Eyed Love (Waajeed Remix)” *REMOVED BY REQUEST*

AIR – Love 2

Spencer — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:14:23 +0000

AIR‘s new album, Love 2, will be released in just a couple of days. The French duo wrote, performed, and produced the album and are joined by drummer Joey Waronker (Beck, REM, Thom Yorke’s new band) for 9 of the 12 tracks. The ethereal guitar pop wins me over for several songs but not throughout the entire album. ”Love” and “African Velvet” are two that stand out for me, along with “So Light Is Her Footfall” which has a fuzzy, psychedelic feel. All of the songs on the album have that warm, ambient pop sound AIR is well known for, but some of the tracks are just too soft for me. ”Heaven’s Light” and “Sing Sang Sung” are two examples; they are great electronic pop tracks but a little too sweet sounding for my taste. Love 2 has lot of fun, cool parts that I enjoy but for the most part, it stays too clean and too light for me to really love it. MP3: AIR – “So Light Is Her Footfall” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] MP3: AIR – “African Velvet” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] Love 2 (October 2009)