Caroline Now !

Everything is in her angelic voice, of course, but not only. Caroline wraps her thin, girlish voice around romantic and eerie songs. Murmurs is Caroline first album, released in March, it combines soft electronica, ambient and pop.

For the record, Caroline Lufkin, born and raised in Okinawa Japan, moved to Boston to attend Berklee School of Music. After graduating, Caroline returned to Japan for a short time then moved back to Los Angeles in 2005.

You can buy Murmurs direct from Temporary Residence, here - also check out her Myspace page for more info and songs.

• http://www.carolinelufkin.com/

• Caroline - Where's My Love.mp3

Living With War - After the words, the sound

Less than a month after sessions started at Redwood Digital on March 29, Living With War, the upcoming Neil Young’s “metal folk protest” against war is ready to be streamed at Young’s website today. Below is what Neil Young has scheduled for us to discover, after the lyrics, the sound:

"A timeline is being developed to track the record from it's inception and follow news reports chronologically, broken down network by network. The "Living With War" timeline will be available on my website soon.
A coalition of radio, satellite and inter-net outlets will begin playing the record free in it's entirety Friday Apr 28 06. It will be available as an album only on internet download May 2 06. A hard copy cd release will follow asap. The internet will be the only source for the "Living With War" bundled album in the days following May 2 and preceding the CD release to the street. PEACE."

• Click http://www.hyfntrak.com/neilyoung2/AFF23130/ to listen to the full album.

Play List:

1. AFTER THE GARDEN
2. LIVING WITH WAR
3. THE RESTLESS CONSUMER
4. SHOCK AND AWE
5. FAMILIES
6. FLAGS OF FREEDOM
7. LET’S IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT
8. LOOKIN’ FOR A LEADER
9. ROGER AND OUT
10. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

• http://neilyoung.com/
• http://livingwithwar.blogspot.com/

dEUS in Paris

Everything you want from a rock and roll show was present and in full force last night. A cool venue (with a good sound system!) like an old circus tent and a packed house (500? the 2nd sold out night!) certainly helped these Antwerp, Belgium boys feel right at home. I'd been really needing a full blast shot of rock and roll for a while now and I got everything I needed last night. 4 guys standing right across the front of the stage with no opening act (although one was advertised?) and we're off. dEUS is a great and powerful lock-tight rhythm section (drums and bass), 2 electric guitarists and one keyboard/violin player. dEUS is lots of Fender guitars- Precision bass, Teley's and Strat's- Pearl drums and Korg keyboards. Tom Barman handles the lead vocals but all the rest of the guys add in good backup and the songs are all sung in English. They have an amazing ability even when playing at full tilt boogie to elevate the song to an even higher level and that, believe me, is no little feat! I'd never seen them play live before and I was surprised actually by what a wide variety of songs they played. As you'd expect, there were the full out rockers but there were even 3 or 4 slow kinda soft, "jazzy" numbers and one acoustic guitar centered song and also a pure pop throw-away. They frequently used samples and loops but always tasteful and nothing ever distracted from the live playing. From their bio I see that this is not the original line-up but they play well together never the less. A working band. They were 100% "inside" the music all night and the audience responded in kind. They all play with power, passion, originality, daring, restraint and, what I really appreciated, skill. From beginning to end I had a wonderful time and can only say that if you have the chance to see this band please do yourself a favor and go. Thanks dEUS!!

bookerfatz2

PS- if I had one negative thing to say about last night it was the price of the ticket. 30€ per ticket. By the time my girlfriend and I got home we had spent 100€ (tickets + drinks + a kabob + metro). Maybe I'm out of touch with the times but isn't that a lot of money?

dEUS – Le Cabaret Sauvage – April 26, 2006

1. BAD TIMING
2. STOP-START NATURE
3. INSTANT STREET
4. FELL OFF THE FLOOR, MAN
5. NIGHTSHOPPING
6. SICK SUGAR
7. WORST CASE SCENARIO
8. SUN RA
9. THEME FROM TURNPIKE
10. PUT THE FREAKS UP FRONT
11. NOTHING REALLY ENDS
12. ROSES
13. ROCK CHICK
14. LITTLE ARITHMETICS
15. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT
16. SUDS & SODA
-----------------------
17. POCKET REVOLUTION
18. IF YOU DON’T GET WHAT YOU WANT
19. VIA
-----------------------
20. MAGIC HOUR

• Official Website : deus.be
• MySpace : myspace.com/deusbe

• dEUS - If You Dont Get What You Want.mp3 (From Pocket Revolution)

Sid and Susie under the covers

I know you love covers, me too! So we are very lucky because those times many artists published loads of albums full of covers. Lately we had, for example, K.D. Lang’s Hymms Of The 49th Parallel, Paul Anka’ Rock Swings, Kate Roger’s Seconds, Kathryn Williams’s Relations, Paul Weller’s Studio 150, Rush’s Feedback, Wilson Phillips’s California, Cat Power’s The Covers Record, etc, etc, etc.
But, be aware, for those artists it could be a risky business because such albums can be very boring or the choice of the so-called classic songs be without interest. Also, the interpretation can be worst than the original versions showing a lack of inspiration or emotion, or talent.

The latest try is from Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs: Under The Covers Vol. 1 (Shout! Factory, April 2006). I must say that they have chosen superb songs.

• Tracklisting:

1. I See The Rain (The Marmalade)
2. And Your Bird Can Sing (The Beatles)
3. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (Bob Dylan)
4. Who Knows Where The Time Goes? (Fairport Convention)
5. Cinnamon Girl (Neil Young And Crazy Horse)

6. Alone Again Or (Love)
7. Warmth Of The Sun (The Beach Boys)
8. Different Drum (The Stone Poneys, featuring Linda Ronstadt)
9. The Kids Are Alright (The Who)
10. Sunday Morning (The Velvet Underground)
11. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (Neil Young And Crazy Horse)
12. Care Of Cell #44 (The Zombies)
13. Monday Monday (The Mamas And The Papas)
14. She May Call You Up Tonight (The Left Banke)
15. Run To Me (The Bee Gees)

• Band Website : http://www.sidnsusie.com/
• Band MySpace : http://www.myspace.com/sidnsusie

• Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs - Cinnamon Girl (Neil Young).mp3

The John Parish Spitz Live Album

From http://www.spitz.co.uk/ : “Composer, singer, guitarist and percussionist, John Parish has produced and contributed to a dazzling catalogue of bands and albums. From Tracey Chapman's Let it Rain through Sparklehorse's It's a Wonderful Life to Goldfrapp's Felt Mountain, his dab hands have consistently worked an incalculable magic. A founding member of Automatic Dlamini and long-time collaborator of PJ Harvey, Parish tenders an impressive contribution in the solo stakes too. His third outing, Once Upon A Time (a line lifted from his youngest daughter, Hopey), tells a messily infectious, sparsely beautiful tale. This show celebrates the release of his exclusive live album on Spitz Live Records: The John Parish Spitz Live Album. It's available now and John's back for another mesmerizing performance this Thursday 27th of April to launch the whole thing with a smile and a song.”

• http://www.johnparish.com/

• Some samples from Once Upon A Time

Merz is back

“When I was a child, my mother nourished me with English folk like the Incredible String Band and John Martyn but when I was a student my favourite group was Cocteau Twins…” said Conrad Lambert aka Merz who published a very well acclaimed debut album in 1999. Since then, no news from him at all, he disappeared without saying goodbye... Hopefully, seven years later, Merz found new inspirations and the road to the studios. He is back now with a magical second opus called Loveheart (Grönland Records) full of delicate songs like Postcard from a Dark Star or Verily.

Produced by Bruno Ellingham (New Order, KT Tunstall...), Merz also invited few friends to play along with him: the Goldfrapp bass player (Charlie Jones), Beth Gibbons (Portishead), John Baggot (from Robert Plant’s band) and the Norwegian Even Johansen (Magnet).

• His website: http://www.merz.co.uk/news/
• Merz - Dangerous Heady Love Scheme.mp3

Single of the month : Live with Massive Attack

Bristol collective Massive Attack, the trio of 3D, Mushroom, and Daddy G emerged in the beginning of the 90’s as the pioneers of a dark and hypnotic liquor sound called trip-hop. I will not be original in saying that Massive Attack were among the most creative groups of the last 15 years.

Collected, released this month on Virgin, is a compilation of 13 emblematic tracks like Unfinished Sympathy, Protection, Teardrop and other excellent risky beverages.

Added to those gems, Live With Me is “the” unreleased track, a haunting blues sing by the deep voice of Terry Callier. Once you have heard Live With Me you'll feel in a different mood that will make you want to hear it again and again…

• Massive Attack - Live With Me.mp3
  

... and then, watch 20 times the intriguing and frightening video directed by Jonathan Glaser.

• Massive Attack - Live With Me.video

Of course, the above Mp3 and video are for sampling purpose only. If you like the song, I am sure you will be buying this album.

The day Neil Young joined John Lennon

You may say I'm a dreamer,
but I'm not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

John Lennon (1971)

I think it’s not too late for me to remind you that if you plan to come to Paris before the end of June, you should spend some of your precious time visiting the amazing exhibition about the life and works of John Lennon called John Lennon, Unfinished Music (Cité de la Musique, Paris).
Why should I mention it now? Well, I remembered the first time I went to see this exhibition that I was wondering what John would have done since the beginning of this century and I was complaining that there were very few people in rock industry now saying no against the war(s). Hopefully, Neil Young is joining John Lennon in his fight for “peace and love” and I think nobody will stop him.

More info about Living With War the new project of Neil Young on his official website neilyoung.com and on thrasherswheat

The Lennon’s exhibition is presented chronologically, from Lennon's childhood years through Beatlemania and Peace and Love. Lots of unseen materials, photographs and movies. Don't miss it !

More informations about John Lennon, Unfinished Music:

• email: rp@cite-musique.fr
• website: www.cite-musique.fr

• John Lennon - Imagine.mp3

About Vito

I briefly mentioned Vito during the review of Sophia’s performance in Paris late Tuesday, so I have to come back and say a little bit more about this band and give you links to hear some of their music.

Vito is a group of five men from Cardiff. Five musicians who think about themselves as a unit operating together, as we usually say: a collective. The music of Vito can be called progressive rock, post rock, avant rock… something like that, and is very much inspired by bands like Sigur Ros, Mogwai or Godsped You! Black Emperor.

Vito is on tour now in Europe until the end of May supporting Sophia and promoting their debut album entitled Make Good Areas Disturbed (March 2006, The Flower Shop Recordings).

• Photos by Robert Gil

• More on vitomusic or myspace - vitotheband

• Vito - Welcome the Lightning.mp3

Sophia in Paris

Robin Proper-Sheppard, also known as Sophia, alike Marl Kozelek (Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon) or Terry Lee Hale, is among the most celebrated uncelebrated careers in rock. I mean, despite years of writing wonderful songs, recording strong albums, touring again and again, Robin still doesn’t attract the attention he deserves and spend most of last years in the shadows. Well, I hear you, Sophia is huge in Belgium and Germany, shows for this tour are already sold out, but… yesterday, in a city like Paris, only a hundred of fans… Ok, quantity isn’t quality, of course, but it’s sad.

Anyway, how was it? Well, no surprise, it was a very very good performance, as usual. Starting with the intimate acoustic side of Robin backed with a string section, it ended like a Hawkwind gig (or God Machine!) with his friends from Vito. Four electric guitars on stage, what a sound!

So, next time, you know what you have to do, if Sophia comes nearby, please, don’t miss Doctor Sophia and Mister Robin.

Sophia - La Maroquinerie, Paris - April 17, 2006

1. SO SLOW (*)
2. IF ONLY (*)
3. SWEPT BACK (*)
4. THE SEA (*)
5. WITHIN WITHOUT (*)
6. I LEFT YOU (*)
7. IS IT ANY WONDER
8. HOLYDAYS ARE NICE
9. WHEN YOU'RE SAD
10. DESERT SONG #2 (*/+)
11. THE RIVER SONG (*/+)
-------------------------
12. THEME FROM THE MAY QUEEN #1 - ALRIGHT (OH YEAH) (+)
13. ROLLIN' (+)

(*) with string section (only for the Paris gig !)
(+) with Vito

• Photo by Robert Gil
  
  
• http://www.sophiamusic.net/

• Sophia - Ship In The Sand.mp3

Neil Young ready for war

I just finished a new record... it's call Living With War... Neil Young said on his official website http://neilyoung.com/

Recorded in secret in the beginning of April, Living With War is a protest album featuring an anti-Iraq war track with "a holy vow to never kill again" and a song titled Let's Impeach The President.

• More details about the new Neil Young battle on: http://www.thrasherswheat.org/wheatfield.html

• Neil Young - Rockin' In A Free World (video)

From The Smiths to Arctic Monkeys

The French weekly cultural magazine Les Inrockuptibles just turned 20 last March. So, as we all know, for every birthday there is a present. 20 ans, 100 chansons is a 6 cds box set launched for the occasion. It covers the period from 1986 to now in six parts, from The Smiths to Arctic Monkeys:

• 1986-1990 - The Smiths...
• 1991-1996 - PJ Harvey...
• 1996-1998 - Björk...
• 1998-2000 - Deus...
• 2000-2004 - Cat Power...
• 2004-2006 - Arctic Monkeys...

I am sure you will find artists and songs that you loved when you were younger… Sorry! Of course, some are missing and I agree with you. Anyway, it a nice flashback covering the last 20 years and an interesting survey of the rising of new sounds during the last two decades.

Björk - PJ Harvey – Placebo - The Divine Comedy - The Verve - Mercury Rev – Pixies – Morrissey - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Tricky - Oasis – Radiohead - The Stone Roses – Portishead - The La's - The Jesus & Mary Chain - The Smiths - The Chemical Brothers - Prodigy - Daft Punk - Fatboy Slim - Alex Gopher – Mazzy Star - House Of Pain - Bloc Party - Antony & The Johnsons - The Arcade Fire - Franz Ferdinand - The Libertines - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Cat Power – Massive Attack – Jeff Buckley…

• The full track listing is here (.pdf):

http://www.lesinrocks.com/inrocks/special/nf0306/goodies/tracklisting.pdf

• You may try to find 20 ans, 100 chansons - Les Inrockuptibles here at: fnac.com

• PJ Harvey - The Falling.mp3

Easter covers - Jane Birkin

Between original compositions written by Beth Gibbons, Rufus Wainwright and Neil Hannon, among others, Jane Birkin includes in her last production called Fictions (March 2006) few covers that you might want to find like eggs during Easter time :

• Alice - Tom Waits
• Harvest Moon - Neil Young
• Mother Stands For Comfort - Kate Bush

You can hear samples on Jane’s official web site: http://www.janebirkin.net/uk/music.html

• Franz Ferdinand & Jane Birkin (live) - A Song For Sorry Angel mp3

Mogwai in Paris

Mogwai loves to play loud, very loud. But, Mogwai doesn't want to make noise to make noise. They want you to feel peaceful even if it is "noisy". Each song is like a sonic mantra. Some of them can even start with quiet notes... Yesterday, the six members of Mogwai, a band formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1996, where in Paris at Le Bataclan and they gave a very, very strong set.

At the end of the show, I had the chance to catch the set list. I give it to you as it was printed. In parentheses, the exact title.

Mogwai - Le Bataclan, Paris - April 13, 2006

1. AUTO ROCK
2. FRIEND (Friend Of The Night)
3. LONG WAY (Yes, I Am A Long Way From Home)
4. TRAVEL (Travel Is Dangerous)
5. STANLEY KUBRICK
6. ACID FOOD
7. I KNOW YOU ARE (I Know You Are But What Am I ?)
8. FOLK DEATH (Folk Death 95)
9. ITHICA (Ithica 27 o 9)
10. TRACY
11. HUNTED (Hunted By A Freak)
12. RATTS (Ratts Of The Capitol)
--------------------
13. GLASGOW M/S (Glasgow Mega-Snake)
14. HELICON 1
15. WE'RE NO HERE

• Mogwai - Hunted By a Freak.mp3

• More about Mogwai : http://www.mogwai.co.uk/
• or http://www.myspace.com/mogwai

Photo Laurent Baillet : Mogwai - La Laiterie, Strasbourg

Yo La Tengo : Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma

Well we had some good news from Yo La Tengo. This is Ira speaking :

"Hey everybody, Just want to let you know that anyone looking for a curious way to while away the time until our new record comes out in September can go to yolatengo.com and pick up a copy of Yo La Tengo Is Murdering the Classics, a compilation of our appearances on the WFMU fundraising marathon. For 70 excruciating minutes, you will hear us butchering some of your favorite songs, played by us in the studio at WFMU with no preparation, no rehearsal, suggested by the listeners who pledge money to the station while we're on the air. It's more fun than going to the dentist . . . barely."

You can go to You Aint No Picasso to see if one of your favorite songs is in on the "dead list"... Maybe one from Bob Dylan, one from Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Captain Beefheart ? Who knows !

Of course, you can shop here Yo la Tengo Is Murdering The Classics

• Yo La Tengo - Little Eyes.mp3

Fiona Apple in Paris

Fiona Apple’s new tour kicked off last night in Paris, monday April 10. The venue is a historical monument dedicated to music(s) and is the place where the French Cancan entertained the Parisians during decades. It is called “Les Folies Bergère” and the red neon outside just tell you where you are: The Most famous music-hall in the world. Can you believe that? Anyway, this is where Fiona Apple pleased us with her talent in a sold out seated theatre.
I have never seen her playing live before - she only came once in Paris in 1997 - but after watching the DVD from her last album Extraordinary Woman, I thought she is the kind of performer who may be very vulnerable on stage in front of a thousand+ crowd in a foreign country. I was wrong, when she sings she has power, she is angry, she is strong. On piano or standing in front of the crowd, microphone in hand, she is deep inside herself, deep inside her songs where she takes her strength. Sometimes she whisper but most of time she screams, dances and finishing every song breathless. Backed by a strong four pieces band she keeps the audience silent until the last note and them lets the applause riging. At that moment, in a second, she becomes shy and fragile coming back to earth and she looks like the young girl she was when she started her career ten years ago at the age of 19.
Well, that was “Fifi à Paris" as someone shouted in the crowd. Some fans throw flowers and necklaces to her... we are at the "Folies Bergère" aren’t we? Next to me were the musicians from Air together with Charlotte Gainsbourg, the French actress, daughter of Serge and Jane as you all know…

Fiona Apple - Folies Bergère, Paris - April 10, 2006

1. GET HIM BACK
2. BETTER VERSION OF ME
3. SHADOWBOXER
4. TO YOUR LOVE
5. I KNOW
6. SLEEP TO DREAM
7. LIMP
8. PAPER BAG
9. TYMPS (THE SICK IN THE HEAD SONG)
10. OH WELL
11. ON THE BOUND
12. RED RED RED
13. NOT ABOUT LOVE
14. O'SAILOR
15. GET GONE
16. FAST AS YOU CAN
17. EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE
18. CRIMINAL
19. PARTING GIFT

• One the highlights of yesterday evening was Fiona Apple - Criminal
• Tonight, Fiona Apple will play in London before flying back to the States for ten more shows. Details on http://www.fionaapple.org/
• and info on http://www.fiona-apple.com/
  

Liz Durrett - The Mezzanine

I may not be the first one to praise Liz Durrett voice and poetry in the blog community, but as far as it is my “coup de coeur” for this year I want to share it with you. The Mezzanine (January 2006) is Liz second album and was produced by her uncle mister Vic Chesnutt (excuse me!).

Liz Durrett - The Mezzanine

Liz Durrett with Vic Chesnutt - Somewhere (Beatles cover)

More info on Liz Durrett can be found at her homepage or at WARM's website.

When Beth Orton quote Neil Young

Taken from Heart of Soul a song from her last and beautiful studio release Comfort of Strangers, which features production by Jim O’Rourke – hey Jim, why is it very low in sound so we have to turn the stereo up to hear it properly ? – Beth Orton said :

Magpies and maelstroms
Always hard hitting hailstorms
No blame no forgiveness
We consent and we complete this
And we, we dance at the precipice
When we get close like this
You can’t put out a fire with no crocodile
And me, I’m laying face down
So tell me what Neil Young said
You pick a flower then it’s dead

Guess Beth has in mind Neil Young’s Love Is a Rose from Decade, also sung by Linda Ronstadt:

Love is a rose but you better not pick it
It only grows when it's on the vine.
A handful of thorns and you'll know you've missed it
You lose your love when you say the word "mine".

Who also quote Neil Young? As far as I remember:

· Lynyrd Skynyrd, of course, in Sweet Home Alabama (Second Helping – 1974): I Heard Mister Young sing about her… Well, I hope, Neil Young will remember…
· Sonic Youth, in Crème Brûlèe (Dirty – 1992): last night I dreamed I kissed Neil Young if I was a boy I guess it would be fun.
· Bob Dylan, in High Lands (Time Out Of Mind – 1997): I’m listening to Neil Young, I gotta turn up the sound.

Any one else?

You can listen to Heart of Soul in :http://www.myspace.com/bethorton

• http://bethorton.astralwerks.com
  
  
  

AK-Momo - A boy and a girl

AK-Momo is a Swedish electronic pop duo. AK von Malmborg has a childish and innocent voice that reminds me those from Beth Gibbons and Kate Bush.

Boys and Girls is the last song from their debut album called Return to N.Y. (A Hidden Agenda Record) and the melody has a Goldfrapp’s Felt Mountain vibe going on.

• AK-Momo - Boys And Girls

More info on allmusic.com
And you may find the cd on Parasol.com

Introducing The Late Cord

A year after the released of Micah P. Hinson and the Gospel Progress, a critically acclaimed debut cd, Micah P. Hinson, from Texas, joined John Marc Lapham, also from Texas, to form The Late Cord.

Their debut mini album Lights From The Wheelhouse, on 4AD, is scheduled for release in the UK on April 24.

You should listen and download here at www.thelatecord.com an mp3 called My Most Meaningful Relationships Are With Dead People, an amazing song !

Cat Power on the road again

Good news, according to Matador, Chan Marshall is well and alive and will be on the road less than three months after she cancelled her previous tour due to health reasons. New late-April / early-May dates have been announced for Cat Power with The Memphis Rhythm Band in the US before, hopefully, she will come to England and France as previously scheduled.

For details, visit the tours page on Matador website and stay tuned as more shows may be announced.

• Speaking of tour, a tour de force by DJ Earworm: a mix of Bjork and Death Cab for Cutie of All Is Full Of Love with the very emotional Cat Power’s Names and few other tunes from Cornelius and Chris Isaak.

• DJ Earworm - Brazil is Full of Love