Wing And A Prayer

There’s just something about the music of the multi-instrumentalist Courtney Wing that make me want to listen to it over and over. It’s some of the happiest, warmest music I’ve heard in a long time, and instantly puts me in a great mood. He comes from an interesting background—his father is Chinese and his mother is Russian and Icelandic. Wing started playing music as a youngster and when he was in his 20s, he played in a reggae band in Belize and learned flamenco in the south of France. He has a couple cds out and his youtube videos are quite creative.

To Esmerine, With Love And Squalor

Among the many splinter groups of Godspeed You Black Emperor!, my favorite is the Montreal-based group, Esmerine. Unlike GYBE!, which is focused on layers of guitar, Esmerine is relies mainly on cello, marimbas, and percussion. Their sound is quiet and relaxed, and could be labled neoclassical. Great, late night music. Esmerine has released three cds since their 2003 recording, If Only a Sweet Surrender to the Nights to Come Be True. And 10 points to anyone who gets the reference in this review’s title.

Who Knew?

Sure, I already knew that Scarlett Johansson was a beautiful, talented actor. I’m a big fan of hers. But I had no idea that she could sing as well. And not just a mediocre voice that a good producer transforms into someone who can sell records based on their name. This girl, er, lady, can sing. She’s performed with the Jesus and Mary Chain and has covered a bunch of Tom Waits tunes. And she’s recorded with Peter Yorn and David Bowie. Not too shabby for a 27-year old. She’s got quite a range, from soft and dreamy to sultry and sexy. I guess you could say I’ve got a case of Scarlett Fever.

The XX Files

Jamie XX is a side project of Jamie Smith of the lo-fi group, the xx. Jamie started his career as a drummer, but has expanded into using electronic percussion pads and heavy sampling, which create a totally unique sound. He’s become a much sought after remixer for a number of artists including Adele and Florence and the Machine. His mixes are beat heavy and are very trance.

Nudge. Nudge.

Elbow has been around for a while, yet I haven’t really gotten into them until I heard a couple tracks from their stunning new album Build A Rocket Boys! It’s the group’s first release since their Mercury Prize winning The Seldom Seen Kid. It’s full of catchy tunes and features a somewhat stripped-down sound. The lead singer, Guy Garvey’s voice reminds me a lot of Peter Gabriel. A lot. His songs are catchy, poppy and have great earworm potential . I just can't get the song, With Love out of my head. The group describes their sound as prog-rock without the guitar solos. Now I’ve got to hunt down their older releases to see what I’ve been missing.

Sweet Marissa

I first heard Marissa Nadler on a recent SoundCheck show on NPR and her performance blew me away. Her lush, dreamy vocals, beautiful guitar work, and mature lyrics caught me off guard. Marissa was born in Boston and released her first cd in 2004. Her voice reminds me a little bit of Hope Sandoval and Joanna Newsom—with a commanding, melancholy feel to it. After her fourth release, she was dropped by her record company. Through a Kickstarter campaign, she raised funds from her fans to produce a new, self-titled cd and a video in early 2011. For some reason, she’s more popular in Europe (they have better taste?) than in the States. If you like what you hear, her cd is available directly from her website: http://marissanadler.com It’s well worth it, as every song on the cd is outstanding.

A Real Gem

If you’re into quiet, hauntingly beautiful vocals, and meditative, classically influenced instrumentals, then Gem Club is your kind of group. It consists primarily of singer/pianist Christopher Barnes and cellist/bells/singer Kristen Drymala. The two make some heartbreakingly pretty music together. They remind me a little of Bon Iver, but their sound is truly their own. They’re from Somerville, MA and just released their first full-length debut, Breakers, this year.