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a broad spectrum of sounds from each instrument that runs from relatively conventional to very abstract. Both musicians also use voice, again in a variety of ways, from gutteral grunts to whistling. They create a half dozen cryptically named pieces in this exploratory fashion, each with its own character, energy, patterns of movement and interactions. The vivid and immediate recording was made direct to quarter-inch tape at the Streetlevel Photoworks Gallery, and is released on CD-R in an edition of 100 handmade copies (see iorram.blogspot.com/ for availability). (Kenny Mathieson)
FOLK POP ADAM GREEN Minor Love (Rough Trade) ●●●●●
FOLKY POP THAO WITH THE GET DOWN STAY DOWN Know Better, Learn Faster (Kill Rock Stars) ●●●●●
Someone once described Thao Nguyen as ‘like Sufjan Steven’s cute little sister’. She could also probably pass for a bouncier, chirpier cousin of Cat Power, or a more playful, joke-cracking relative of Natasha ‘Bat For Lashes’ Khan. Her country-flavoured indie-pop has been
gathering fans since her 2008 album We Brave Bee Stings and All, which was full of quirky charm, and included the sunny ukelele hit, ‘Bag of Hammers’ (a former List Single of the Fortnight.) This follow-up contains just as much sense of
humour, and the same warm flirtiness running through her lyrics, but the Vietnamese-American songwriter, who has toured with Rilo Kiley, Xiu
Xiu and Vampire Weekend in the past very busy two years, stops things from getting too tooth- rottingly sweet with a more mature view of the world this time around. ‘The album is called Know Better, Learn Faster because you can’t,’ says the singer. ‘By the time you realise you should, it’s too late. I enjoy the predicament and the totally devastating, unfunny humour of that.’ The album, 13-tracks of upbeat, anti-love
break-up songs, calls in favours from several US indie lovelies – Andrew Bird shows off his whistling skills and virtuoso violin bowing on the title track, Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, Sufjan Stevens) is in charge of production duties and fellow Portland, Oregon resident, Laura Veirs drops in with some guest vocals. Smart, scuzzy, soft and cheeky, depending on the song, she takes an indie-pop look at complicated love and ‘sad sex’ while keeping a smile on her face. (Claire Sawers)
POP ROCK VAMPIRE WEEKEND Contra (XL) ●●●●● Where would these Ivy League afro-pop boffins be without Paul Simon’s Graceland? Half an album short of songs on their second long- player, Contra, that’s where.
a titular and musical dead-ringer for Simon’s ‘Under African Skies’. Their angular alter-
ego, however, reveals a few surprises: the swaggering, brassy fanfare of ‘Run’; the maniacal two-tone tub- thump of ‘Cousins’; and the electronic heart-pop of ‘Giving up the Gun’, which pleasingly exchanges Paul Simon for The Postal Service. (Nicola Meighan)
JAZZ JOHN TURVILLE TRIO Midas (F-IRE presents) ●●●●●
were winners of the 2009 PRS Promoter’s Choice award, and this fine debut album on the F-IRE Collective’s own ‘F-IRE presents’ label arrives ahead of a visit later this month to the Jazz Bar in Edinburgh.
They take a lyrical and thoughtful approach to the art of piano trio (Turville’s graceful ‘Waltz for Bill Evans’ is an apposite reference, although ‘Albaicin’ is more Jarrett-esque), and sound very comfortable in each other’s company, responding to prompts and developing ideas in
If the New York quartet’s much-hyped debut merged African rhythms and art-rock, then Contra is a more schizophrenic affair: their ‘World’ persona is typified by ‘White Sky’ -
John Turville is a London-based pianist whose CV includes work with saxophonists Gilad Atzmon and Tim Garland. This trio with bassist Chris Hill and drummer Ben Reynolds
an empathic manner that is never flashy, but always satisfyingly musical. Singer Brigitte Beraha contributes vocals to three of the tracks, including versions of Nick Drake’s ‘Fruit Tree’ and Ellington’s ‘Solitude’. (Kenny Mathieson) JAZZ PETER NICHOLSON/ RAYMOND MACDONALD Streetlevel (Iorram Records) ●●●●●
More adventures in free improvisation from this Glasgow-based, musician-run label. Nicholson’s cello and the alto and soprano saxophones of MacDonald are deployed in characteristically free ranging fashion, coaxing
Looking like he’s walked straight off a Strokes album wrap party and now sounding exactly (I mean exactly) like Transformer-era Lou Reed, the former half of NYC’s Moldy Peaches delivers his sixth solo album. If or when you get over the potentially debilitating vocal stumbling block, some stirringly wonderful songs abound throughout Minor Love. Impressive in anyone’s book are the nursery rhyme of ‘Stadium Soul’, the Devendra roots of ‘Don’t Call Me Uncle’ and the effortlessly jaunty ‘Buddy Bradley’. He may have something of an obsession with flatulence, but this collection is a delightfully aromatic peach. (Brian Donaldson)
ALSO RELEASED
Icons of Elegance – Dancing Is Easy (Dinner With Daisy) A broad musical smorgasbord from the Swedish brothers – small, three-minute nibbles of Peñate- pop, boogie-woogie, melancholy surf-rock and jingle-jangle guitars. Very sugary- sweet, and entirely unconcerned with being anything more than danceable fun. Chew Lips – Unicorn (Family Recordings) Track four on this electro- pop debut is entitled ‘Karen’ – very fittingly, as the entire album sounds remarkably like Yeah Yeah Yeah’s last album It’s Blitz! Maybe it’s the synths, maybe it’s the strong female vocals – in any case, it’s not a comparison to be ashamed of.
Justin Sandercoe – Small Town Eyes (Ocean Reds Records) The man who taught millions how to play guitar via YouTube releases his first album. As expected, it’s extremely guitar- orientated, with acoustic strum-along riffs plus Santana- or Clapton-esque solos.
Danny and the Champions of the World – Streets Of Our Time (Loose Music) It’s fitting that Oxford’s Jericho Tavern and the Farmhouse in Canterbury feature in Danny’s upcoming touring schedule. Banjos, harmonicas and pedal-steel inform you that this is goodtime folk and country territory, and you’re welcome to tip back your Stetson and enjoy. You Me At Six – Hold Me Down (Virgin) Chances are, if you liked YMA6’s first effort Take Off Your Colours, you’ll find plenty to like here. Spiky pop-punk riffs, catchy choruses and guest vocalists from The Blackout and Kids in Glass Houses ensure there’s nothing to disappoint the fans.
7–21 Jan 2010 THE LIST 63