LEILA ADU has been described as 'A Nina Simone for the Noughties', and her two acclaimed albums infuse a broadly 'art-rock' approach with elements of torch song, speakeasy blues, avant garde jazz, gamelan, post-rock textures, and a David Lynch style dreamlike b-movie melodrama. As her website has it, exploring the "dissonant edges of familiar forms", but with that kind of 'dissonance' that they once accused Thelonious Monk or Debussy of, the kind that soon betrays it's own compelling melodic and harmonic logic to the attentive listener...
'Dark Joan', Leila's third album as a solo artist, was recorded in Chicago with the legendary Steve Albini (PJ Harvey, Joanna Newsome, Nirvana, Pixies), and Albini's genius has been to strip her sound back to it's essence, and hold it's most distinctive qualities up to the light. It doesn't hurt that this is by far Leila's most powerful set of songs to date, and if anything we are lead even deeper into her world by the pictures painted with just piano (or in some cases harpsichord or a grime-encrusted electric piano) and that voice...
Capable of anything from delicate heartbreaking purity to a fearsome dramatic power, her powers are seemingly limitless, yet unlike most other singers of her calibre, never does she resort to melodrama or show-boating, or any kind of pastiche, instead she employs her resources fully in the expression of her distinctive musical vision and the deep well-spring of her imagination. Nothing ever sounds as though it could have not been sung...
Download from iTunes, LP/CD from http://www.frizzrecords.com
Songs and WhispersMonday 16th November – FREE GIG!!!Pronoia club will be hijacked for a one off collaboration with ‘Songs and Whispers,’ an Anglo/Deutsche project showcasing up and coming artists from across the UK and Germany. Run in association with Dandyland Records (DE), Songs and Whispers will be holding their debut London gig The George Tavern in east London on Monday 16th November. This will be a truly special evening featuring some great artists, magic/comedy – we hope you can make it. Doors 7:30pm FREE entry.
Featuring: SOMEDAY JACOB/DAN SHEARS/ROBERT CARL BLANK/ANDY WILKINS
This Friday we’re recording a live album at this gig! It’d be cool if you could come and shout at us. xx
"Anutha Kinda Brotha" is the debut LP from underground legend ART TERRY. Since moving to the UK from his native Los Angeles in the early 90s, Mr Terry has established himself as one of London's characters. Describing Art's sound to the uninitiated usually involves debunking some of the stereotypes of what the 'typical' black Californian might play. Despite his jazz training, and coming of age to the sounds of classic soul and funk, these styles are only a part of his musical vision. His fascination with folk styles, classical music, punk rock, pure pop, easy listening, musical theatre and the European avant garde have taken him on different paths from most...
The result is an orchestral pop record full of sonic inventiveness, whether it's the blend of Shuggie Otis's 60s California and Sun Ra's ancient Egypt on 'Bible', Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons leading a mariachi band on 'Escort', or the Walt Disney music box orchestra of 'Miss Dominatrix', but whilst this is very much a sonic feast, we shouldn't overlook Art's extraordinary lyrical adeptness, and the distinctive character this brings to the proceedings, with a knack for unique and colourful imagery, and how like a great short story writer he is able to paint an engaging picture whilst keeping back from casting judgement on his characters, always leaving open ends for the listener to tie; giving us the feeling that however far astray someone might have gone, there is always sympathy and human feeling for them in Art's mind...
"Modern Mediaeval" is the third LP from singer-songwriter DAVID GARSIDE, and the first to receive the full Frizz Records vinyl treatment. It’s also clearly the most fully-realised statement of his distinctive vision so far…
It’s an easy route to locate David in the tradition of his ‘classic’ influences (McCartney, Nick Drake, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, The Beach Boys, Love, Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel, Dexy’s…), but there are few songwriters working today that have absorbed these influences so fully, and arrived at a mature style as David has…
This is ’singer-songwriter’ music in the sense that it’s focus is on song-craft and the unfolding of the lyrical vision of a single individual, but if so then it’s definitely at the sophisticated end of the scale (’progressive’ if that term isn’t too loaded…), filed alongside ‘Bryter Layter’, ‘The Hissing Of Summer Lawns’, ‘Pretzel Logic’ or ‘Surf’s Up’...another FRIZZ RECORDS instant classic!
"Modern Mediaeval" can be downloaded from the iTunes Store
The album is also available on heavyweight vinyl LP, or on Digipack CD from www.FrizzRecords.com & all good retailers
Furore at The Jago Gallery, over thirty new paintings by David Porter, September 17th – 29th, Private view 17th Sept, 7 – 10 pm, all welcome!!
The Jago 77 Redchurch Street, E2 7DJ, www.thejago.com
How’s it going?
This bank holiday Sunday we’re playing the Carnival aftershow party at Ginglik, Shepherd’s Bush Green. It’s gonna be great! Come along and say hello.
Or, on Friday 4th September we’re playing at the very cool Born Bad night which is normally in Brighton but has made the trip up to London for a change. It’s at Barden’s Boudoir.
The Severed Limb xx
Out September on Golden Lab
See myspace.com/goldenlabrecords for more information.
Hello there A-LineTune in to episode 12 of the Lantern Society Radio Hour, featuring the creme de la creme of the capital's most comely crooners. Stunning live performances beautifully captured for your listening pleasure, at London's Finest Folk Club, The Lantern Society.And, why not join us for the next Lantern Society - Thursday 18th June.The Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon Rd, London. EC1R 3BLLISTEN TO STREAMING FEED....
Best wishes and thanksTrevor Mosswww.trevormo