some new and enjoyable music
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Spent some time listening to the May 2004 Album, Instant PIG, from Korean/Canadian band Clazziquai. The group is more a project than a long lived band with a particular evolved style. How to describe? Well most songs are instrumentally focused with a calming melody of vocal notes in mostly english with occasional korean. A bit of bossa nova with some calm breakbeat from time to time, and some classic house beats that creap in from time to time. It’s a good listen and I think the music deserves to stand out by it’s own and not be even slightly compared to anything K-pop. It’s unconventional, but at the same time with melodies that can remind you of a few Astrud Gilberto tracks; but I found myself thinking of an cd that my dad once gave me: combustible edison. They had similar vocal styles to Clazziquai and bossa nova beats and a few cosmic sounds in the background.
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Another album that I started listening to is Strawberry Jam by the Animal Collective. This is the first time I have been exposed to this band, and I am interested in hearing more of their works. Very hard to describe this album with words; but I will try. Reverb on guitars and drums with unique lyrics that read like the singer is looking to take you there. Beats per minute change at an increasing pace, but you could just as easily throw these tracks on at a gathering and people would be pleased by the melodies and vocal sounds. Vocal sounds? Yeah, almost like humming or whistle’ing but not exactly and some cool samples that loop. This album has pushed some serious musical ground; next time they are playing in NYC and I am there, I would certainly see them live.
Originally published on truman.net. See the archived copy.