First Aid Kit - Summer Sessions Covers

The immensely talented Swedish sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg, who go under the moniker of First Aid Kit, are doing a series of cover versions this summer and have been inviting suggestions, via their website for appropriate songs to tackle. The teenage popstrels enchanted us last year with a delightful cover of Fleet Foxes Tiger Mountain Peasant Song and they have a mini album out on Rabid Records called 'Drunken Trees' So far, they have covered Walk The Line by Johnny Cash and Buffy Sainte Marie's Universal Soldier, if you have any inspired suggestion for their next effort, contact them via their website as shown below.

First Aid Kit are going to be on tour in the U.K with another Scratchy favourite Fanfarlo in September and October, in what should turn out to be one of the gigs of the year, so get those tickets A.S.A.P

I am a simple man so I sing a simple song

never been so much in love

and never hurt so bad at the same time.
I am a simple man

and I play a simple tune

I wish that I could see you once again

across the room like the first time.

I just want to hold you

I don't want to hold you down

I hear what you're saying

and you're spinning my head around

and I can't make it alone.

The ending of the tale

is the singing of the song

make me proud to be your man

only you can make me strong

like the last time.

I just want to hold you

I don't want to hold you down

I hear what you're saying

and you're spinning my head around

and I can't make it alone.

First Aid Kit - Simple Man - The original version was written and performed by Graham Nash from his 1971 solo album 'Songs For Beginners' which was released as the B side of the single 'Chicago' The song featured Rita Coolidge on backing vocals and apparently was penned on the afternoon of the Nash's break up with his then girlfriend Joni Mitchell.

Giglist:
16/08/09 Leicester England Summer Sundae
28/08/09 Hamburg Germany Kampnagel Sommer Stage
29/08/09 Marburg Germany
30/08/09 Wiesbaden Germany Folklore im Garten Festival
12/09/09 End Of The Road Festival Dorset England
28/09/09 Manchester Deaf Institute England w/Fanfarlo
29/09/09 York England Fibbers w/ Fanfarlo
30/09/09 Glasgow Scotland ABC2 w/ Fanfarlo
02/10/09 Middlesbrough England Westgarth w/ Fanfarlo.
03/10/09 Nottingham England Bodega w/ Fanfarlo
05/10/09 Oxford England Jechico Tavern w/ Fanfarlo

06/10/09 London England Bush Hall

07/10/09 Brighton England Hanbury Ballroom

08/10/09 Cardiff Wales CLWB IFOR Bach

09/10/09 Leeds England Brudenell Social Club

http://thisisfirstaidkit.com/

http://www.myspace.com/thisisfirstaidkit

http://www.youtube.com/user/jagadambarecords#play/uploads/0/zwpS6cDQg1o

ioktember

If you like your post-pop rock to be angsty, folksy, dramatic and lovely all at the same time, then ioktember, have recorded some songs in the basement of an old mental institution, that should get your hairs on the back of your neck standing on end.

I was ear wigging a conversation, during my weekly supermarket shop at the weekend, between a security guard and the till assistant. They began discussing and analysing their attempt to chat up two Swedish ladies, who had chanced upon the checkout of these budding romeos, which became the highlight of their day. The gist of the conversation was based on how the guys' charm and smarm could have been more finely honed, as their tactics evidently bombed. The opening gambit of asking the girls "where are they from?" quickly followed by a "Where's Sweden?" then culminating with the killer lines "Isn't that the country full of trees? no wait! are we confusing it with the the land of lakes?" the outcome of this charm offensive was a miserable strike out and the guys were left ruing their opportunity and lack of geography knowledge, as they contemplated the rest of day processing the meagre food rations of hordes of poor, disposed, music blog writers and middle class credit crunch refugees. I yearned to interject, that Sweden actually should be currently be known as 'the land the great bands' and here's another one..

Hailing from Stockholm, ioktember, risen from the remnants of a previous incarnation known as Infinite Regress and have leanings towards the big commercial sound of say Snow Patrol with the finely crafted songwriting of The Blue Nile and finely wrought offerings of This Mortal Coil.

The band list My Bloody Valentine, Godspeed you! Black Emperor, Sigur Ros, Joy Division, Wu Tang Clan, Johnny Cash, Chris Isaak, Einsturzende Neubauten and The Pixies, so as influences go, you can see an interesting mix going on there.

The collective names of ioktember are Emil Henricson,Johan Augustsson, Daniel Andersson, Hanna Eklöf, Hannes Holmqvist and Max Håkan Holm. They describe themselves as "People gathered behind the old dumpster, randomly at first, to play the organ and have themselves an occasional sing-song" Actually, judging by the songs on their myspace.com/ioktember site, they're creating something very mournful but marvellous.

There are just the four tracks up on this website: Shine, Be There, For The Last Day Of Spring and My Love Something, of which the latter is the stand out tune for me, making good use of the boy/girl duet vocals singing an emotionally wrought tune, with a with a lilting horn arrangement.

The only significant blips on the blogging radar so far come from http://meadowmusic.se/en/?p=261 and http://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2009/05/from-old-mental-institution.html

http://ioktember.com/

http://www.myspace.com/ioktember

Lex Land - As Much As You Lead

The monthly tune changeover on my mp3 player changeover prompted this post, as this was one of the standout tracks from the constant loop of tunes demanding attention in my lugholes.

Lex Land is twenty two year old Californian who possesses a voice which has stickability, with a soulful languid resonance, that draws the listener in. When combined with a sure fire killer tune like the 'As Much As You Lead' tune, this becomes a deadly combination, which hooks you in.

Recommended, especially for those precious moments of the day, when we pause for breath from the twenty four seven madness of modern living, put our feet up, and take stock of surrounding everyday joys, like catching a few rays of sunshine whilst resting those weary bones.

The song is taken from her 2008 album Orange Days on Lemon Street, cannily named after her time, living on Lemon Street, in the town of Orange in Los Angeles composing this collection of songs. It is released via Intelligent Noise Records.

The song “As Much As You Lead,” has been featured on television shows such as “Private Practice,” “Brothers & Sisters,” and “One Tree Hill.” so she's obviously making waves in the right circles. I've noticed that these youth orientated dramas, usually imported by Channel 4 in the U.K and watched by Scratchy on a weekend morning, whilst recovering from one too many pints of 'Ole Grumblebelly' occasionally have cracking tunes to accompany the dramatic moments. The story lines wash over me but if they keep picking up on talent like Lex, I shall keep tuning in.

She also does a commendable version of the Joni Mitchell classic River from her Blue Album, which I had previously placed in the "cover versions shouldn't be attempted file, it's untouchable" so unfasten your seat belts, we're heading for a gentle landing!

Lex Land - As Much As You Lead - live at The Airliner in Los Angeles, CA on March 17, 2009

Lex Land - As Much As You Lead - Studio Version (No visuals)



Lex Land - Could've Had Me - live at Nashville's 3rd and Lindsley on June 22, 2008.

Upcoming Shows
18/06/09 in Long Beach, CA at Viento Y Agua
20/06/09 in Los Angeles, CA at The Mint
26/06/09 in Los Angeles, CA at Los Angeles Film Festival

01/08/09 The Lodge Ventura, California

http://www.lexland.net/

http://lexandthelostboys.blogspot.com/

http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/lex_land

http://www.imeem.com/lexland

Arborea

Arborea are a duo who create spectral haunting psych folk from their Lewiston base, deep in the Western Maine woodlands. Since forming in 2005 they have released two full length albums and have forged a growing reputation within the 'freaky folk' genre.

Arborea is also a mystical plane in the fantasy role playing game Dungeons & Dragons, described as a peaceful environment of natural beauty dominated by vast tall forests. This could be applied to their music as well, though I suspect they were inspired by their local surroundings rather than the adventure game. Arborea have encapsulated that pastoral setting with a sprinkling of bittersweet atmosphere, hanging over the songs like a mist of melancholy.

Their latest album, House Of Sticks, snuck out of the undergrowth on February 23rd 2009. It’s a mixture of old and new, with five tracks reworked from their 2006 debut album Wayfaring Summer (released on Summer Street Records) along with three more songs. These were originally recorded in the parlour of a 160-year-old family cabin that Shanti’s great grandfather built during the Great Depression, that lies amongst the Western Mountains of Maine.

A quick run down of the instruments used on this album gives a fair indication of the field of music we are batting in here. Shanti Curran, she of the hair stand on end vocals plays banjo, percussion, guitar, bowed strings and the ukulele. Her husband Buck Curran is on acoustic guitar, steel/slide guitar, electric guitar, flutes, vocals, bowed strings and the inevitable banjo.

House Of Sticks

Rivers and Rapids
A gentle shimmering river’s edge of a tune with a menacing rip current for those unwary bathers dipping their toes into it's icy waters.

Beirut
This is a straight forward lovely mournful track exemplifying Shanti's pure vocals.

Alligator
A change of mood with Shanti's delivering a smokey vocal performance to accompany the tumbleweed slide guitar, think of Mazzy Star setting up camp in a glade on humid summer evening with crickets chirping away in the distance.

Dance Sing Fight
This is the stand out track of the collection, it starts off as a spare delicate whisper of a song which then blooms into a chorus lifted and tweaked from Aussie agit eco-rocker’s Midnight Oil biggest hit Beds are Burning with a potent reworking of the call for reparations for the Aboriginal community and a call to look after the planet (note: this was back in the Eighties before it was fashionable for every floppy haired rocker to jump on the green bandwagon)

How can we dance when our earth is burning, how can we sleep when our minds are turning,
The time has come, to say fair’s fair, to pay the rent, to pay our share...

Look Down Fair Moon
This is a simple instrumental song stripped down to the bare bones.

House Of Sticks
The nursery rhyme simplicity of the introductory segment, opens up into a vista of epic big sky sound territory, occupied so successfully by Ry Cooder on his celebrated film soundtrack Paris Texas.

On to the Shore
The calming mantra like vocals gently laps on to the shore of the tune that has a psychedelic/ eastern influence.

In The Tall Grass
Your ears will tingle when that wheeze of a harmonium kicks in on the final new track.

You can buy House Of Sticks here It's distributed by Darla Records in the U.S.A .You can get it from Spanish Label Borne Recordings and Acuarela Records, and via Amazon in the U.K . A record that follows in the footsteps of the likes of Vashti Bunyan, John Fahey and Sandy Denny and a contemporary of Alela Diane and Devendra Banhart.

There is also an Arborea inspired compilation record project called Leaves of Life which aims to help with important relief efforts in Africa. All the proceeds will go to the World Food Program and Not On Our Watch agencies. It includes artists such as the aforementioned Alela Diane and Devendra Banhart as well as Marissa Nadler It's due for release in the summer of 2009 through Borne! Records. More information on this project can be found at wearsthetrousers.com

Arborea - Black Mountain Road - taken from Arborea (2008) released by Fire Museum Records Official Video (directed by Francesco Paolo Paladino)

It’s ghostly vocal whispers ease us through the song which features Espers’ Helena Espvall chipping in on the cello.



Upcoming Gigs
17 Apr 09 Guthrie’s as part of the ’Neighbor by Neighbor’ Film Showing Lewiston, Maine U.S.A
18 Apr 09 Montague Bookmill w/Nuda Veritas Montague, Massachusetts U.S.A
07 Jun 09 Unity Centre with Eric Carbonara and Paper Hats Unity, Maine U.S.A
27 Jun 09 Space Gallery with Alec K. Redfearn TBA

http://www.myspace.com/arborea2

http://arboreamusic.blogspot.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arborea_(band)

John Martyn - tribute

I don't usually do tributes, mainly because other blogs/media media tend to do these kind of things much more thoroughly, but I couldn't let the sad passing of the legendary singer/songwriter John Martyn go without a small tip of a hat and a big thank you for all the wonderful music he created in his lifetime.

I think it's safe to say that his album Solid Air is a stone cold classic and a copy should be part of any self respecting music fan's collection. It's a record that is regularly given a spin by me, when I feel the need to mellow out and each time I'm struck by just how fresh it still sounds... A sure sign of quality! It's also a reminder for me to delve further into his back catalogue, as I have inexplicably neglected to mine deeply this rich seam of folk gold up to now; high time to remedy this oversight now.. so R.I.P to you John and that's all that really needs to be said...

John Martyn - May You Never from the album Solid Air (1973)



The two albums he made early in his career with his (ex) wife Beverley, a phenomenal talent in her own right, are also highly recommended.

John and Beverley Martyn - Auntie Aviator from Road to Ruin (1970)



http://www.johnmartyn.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Martyn_(musician)

http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/john_martyn

Hajen - Twelve Grooves of Christmas Part 7

Of all all the acts that popped up on my musical radar this year, the blip that shone the brightest for me was a young Scandinavian lady called Hajen. Now I know it's poor form to have favourites when it comes to your children, and so the same should apply to all of the music acts that come to shelter under Scratchy's 'umbrella of praise' but sometimes you can't help being just that bit extra fond of the one that stands out, a bit like a poppy swaying in the summer breeze of sound above the music meadow.

Hajen has one of those unique voices, which make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, every time those husky yet chocolate melting vocal chords open up and belt out raw emotion. So far her public song writing output consists of showing just a handful of songs on her myspace website, as well as performing at some low key live shows in her native Sweden. The styles of the songs are melancholy and stripped bare of any extraneous details, with just a piano for accompaniment; authentically crafted artisan tunes fashioned from everyday experiences.

She was initially brought to my attention by 'Mr Swedesplease' who runs an excellent blog, covering all things musically coming out of that country (http://www.swedesplease.net/) and I was immediately drawn into the wake of this jaw dropping talent. The micro-record label Knoppar are looking after Hajen's interests, they describe themselves "as small label based in a suburb of a suburb of a suburb of a big city in Sweden" incidentally Knoppar also have the wonderful Tvärvägen signed to them, please do check them out as well.

According to the good folk at Knoppar, Hajen has recorded a Christmas song, called Hajens Julsång This song will be only available until the 31st of December at the KNOPPAR download store. All of the benefits of the sales are going to the Stadsmissionen in Gothenburg, which helps a number of worthy causes, like abused families, the homeless, mentally ill and socially vulnerable. More information can be obtained here at http://www.stadsmissionen.org/ So get downloading for a good cause, you know it makes more sense than splurging out an a badly fitting cardigan, in the chaos and carnage of the shopping scrum that passes for the Boxing Day sales.

Extra Information: If someone have no pay pal account or problems with transferring the money, please send a mail to http:/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=knoppar@gmail.com and we will find a solution for that.

Hajen sings her own composition 'Svensken'



http://www.myspace.com/hajensmyspace

http://www.myspace.com/tvarvagen

Peter Broderick - Twelve Grooves Of Christmas Part 5

The festive season; you know it's not just about getting hammered at the office party then throwing up on the last train home, having roaring arguments with the in-laws or spending money in an orgy of consumer consumption, in the forlorn hope of keeping the kids' monstrous appetite for toy stimulation sated for a few hours.

This can also be the season to sit back and reflect on the trials and tribulations of the past twelve months, remembering the highs and lows of personal events that have affected one's friends and family. It's a time to take stock of what we would like to achieve in the coming year, plan the steps one must take in order to fulfill those burning ambitions and avoid any pitfalls that have recently encumbered our daily lives. As Del Boy used to say to Rodney in the television sitcom 'Only Fools and Horses' "This time next year, we'll be millionaires"


A perfect musical accompaniment to these precious moments of sanguine thought, can be captured through the languid beauty of Peter Broderick's music. His sublime second album, simply called 'Home' was released earlier this year to oodles of praise, indeed this record has even troubled some of the 'Best Of' end of year lists in the established media. The blend of neo-classical, alt folk and minimalism of Broderick's music, combines to deliver fragile but beautiful music that is haunting yet comforting as well. This talented young man has a promising future ahead of him and should be making a big impression on the music scene in 2009.



http://www.myspace.com/peterbroderick

Thos Henley - Twelve Grooves of Christmas - Part 1

In a shameless cash in on this festive season and because every other Tom, Dick and Sally feels obliged to make an end of year list, I've decided to revisit some of our finest finds of 2008.

Let's be clear about this, right from the start, I'm not suggesting this is a definitive guide to the best music released in the past twelve months, it's more of a nod of appreciation to some of the acts I've come across that I particularly enjoyed listening to. To be honest, I don't buy too many contemporary albums these days, mainly because it's increasingly difficult to buy copies on vinyl. It also seems rather pointless for me to devote time and energy to artists who are already being rightly lauded elsewhere; let's face it, what could I add of value, to the avalanche of plaudits that have been heaped onto the marvellous Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes albums.


One final caveat, the order of the countdown is no reflection of the relative quality of the acts. Think of this exercise as being carried out in the style of a school sports day, run by a loony left council, where competition has been banned and everyone's a winner, even the kid who tripped up on his own shoelaces at the beginning of the egg and spoon race (oops! I mean activity) They all win a prize, the coveted Scratchy Buckles Seal Of Approval, which you'll agree is almost as prodigious as a Grammy.

First up, is young scamp around town called Thos Henley, he brandishes a banjo, a smooth voice and a fine ear for a good tune. The recent revival of interest in artists, who inhabit the folky end of the music spectrum is heartening to behold and Thos was a breath of fresh air in this scene. 'Summer On The Thames' ebbed and flowed like a summer song should and his cover of the Leona Lewis hit 'Bleeding Love' was inspired.

If he continues to develop his songwriting skills and hones his pastoral sound, this coming year should deliver some well deserved national attention. I look forward to a debut album coming out and I'm also determined to finally catch the band perform live in 2009 as he regularly performs in my neck of the woods.

He is the video that accompanies a delicate song simply called 'Her'



http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=18340541

Hajen and Tvärvägen

Hajen is a singer songwriter from Gothenburg, Sweden, who has a talent for penning languid mournful tunes. She possesses a voice of rare depth and soulful resonance, it gives you goose bumps, just from hearing a fleeting glimpse of her vocals.

Her real name is Amanda and her nom de plume 'Hajen' seems to translate as 'shark' in Swedish. Beyond these sketchy details, I have little more to add, except that she tinkles those ivories with a restrained air of beauty and I look forward to hearing more of her work in the very near future.

http://www.myspace.com/hajensmyspace

Some Upcoming dates...

25.Okt.2008 Rookiefestivalen ’08 Hultsfred

20.Nov.2008 Kontiki Gothenburg
23.Nov.2008 Ladyfest GBG - Gothenburg

27.Nov.2008 Kvinna på Kontiki Gothenburg

20.Dec.2008 Woody West X-mas, Gothenburg

Check out her label mate Tvärvägen, he makes a sound akin to 'An Old Curiosity Shop' being run by Noggin the Nog in a fading seaside town. Bonus points are awarded for featuring a record player prominently within this video.. His new record, Sånger från Tvärvägen, is out in on 19th of November on Knoppar Records.

http://www.myspace.com/tvarvagen

Tvärvägen - September from Henrik Ohberg on Vimeo.

http://www.myspace.com/knoppar

http://knoppar.blogspot.com/

Thanks to these top blogs for bringing these artists to my attention...

http://www.swedesplease.net/2008/10/20/hajen-swedesplease-mp3-blog/

http://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2008/08/from-nowhere-to-sea.html

Promotional photo material was shot by the talented Hanna...

http://flickr.com/photos/lupomanaro/

Cultural references for younger folk, unfamiliar with the Saga of the Northlands here..

http://www.nogginthenog.co.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noggin_the_Nog

http://www.smallfilms.co.uk/noggin/

Peter Broderick

It’s always a good sign when an album's content, defies pigeonholing and Peter Broderick’s style could be described as anything from classical, folk, Americana, minimalism, lo-fi, slowcore or a soundtrack to a pastoral scene.

The music he creates elicits responses like haunting, reflective, hypnotising, spine tingling, soothing, peaceful, beautiful and heart wrenching. The tender moments of Brian Eno, Michael Nyman and Harold Budd, or the more introspective sequences of Sigur Ros, spring to mind when referencing his musical bedfellows. Peter Broderick, is a classically trained multi-instrumentalist, born and raised in Portland, Oregon, who at the tender age of twenty one, is perched on the ledge of a creative mountain. He is set to take flight and soar towards the clouds of critical acclaim and hopefully ascending favourable thermals of popularity.

The melancholy charms of Peter was first heard on vinyl through an early single 'Retreat/Release' out in 2007 on Type Records, a mini album/maxi E.P titled 'Docile' soon followed on Kning Disk

‘Float’ was his first fully fledged album, it drifted into the public realm, back in May 2008 on Type Records. Short, sparse piano compositions, complemented by lush strings, dominate this mostly instrumental collection of ten songs. The resulting sombre yet atmospheric vibe yields a touching yet tentative debut.

Broderick, despite his tender years, has managed to chalk up an impressive list of collaborations and contributed to such luminaries as M. Ward, Zooey Deschanel’s She and Him project, Horse Feathers, Norfolk & Western, Loch Lomond ,White Hinterland, Library Tapes, Machinefabriek, Laura Gibson and Our Broken Garden.

In 2007, he moved to Copenhagen, joined Danish folk band Efterklang and spent the majority of the year, touring around Europe, performing as part of their live band.

The second album Home is out now on Bella Union, in Europe and Hush Records in America. Broderick has progressed into a more expansive sound with increasing use of delicate layered vocals and guitars. The use of percussion, banjo, mandolin, a saw, pump organ, field recordings and clay whistle show the variety of souces Peter uses to convey his own musical vision. Listening to the results, takes you to a warm safe place, like recalling a favourite hidey hole from childhood, a reassuring hug from a loved one, a secure retreat.

Home and Float have been pressed on a limited edition vinyl, this begs the question why limit these splendorous objects? it should be obligatory for every connoisseur of gorgeous, emotive music to own and cherish these records.

18 Oct 2008 Beurskaffe w/ Horse Feathers Brussels
20 Oct 2008 The Social w/ Our Broken GardenLondon
22 Oct 2008 INSTORE PERFORMANCE at Resident Records Brighton
23 Oct 2008 Moles Club Bath
24 Oct 2008 Taylor Johns House w/ Olafur Arnalds Coventry
02 Nov 2008 Union Chapel w/ Sylvain Chauveau and Greg Haines London
13 Nov 2008 Schokoladen Mitte w/ Jæ Berlin
29 Nov 2008 Uppsala Konsert & Kongress w/ Efterklang Uppsala
05 Dec 2008 Loppen w/ Mugison Gothenburg
06 Dec 2008 An Club w/ Efterklang Athens
08 Dec 2008 Hafenklang w/ Mugison Hamburg
09 Dec 2008 Loppen w/ Mugison Copenhagen
10 Dec 2008 Voxhall w/ Mugison Århus
11 Dec 2008 Posten w/ Mugison Odense
12 Dec 2008 Studenterhuset w/ Mugison Alborg
13 Dec 2008 State X Festival / Paard Den Haag
14 Dec 2008 Admiralspalast w/ Mugison Berlin
15 Dec 2008 Orangehouse w/ Mugison München

http://www.myspace.com/peterbroderick

http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/2008/05/peter-broderick-float-type-recordings/

http://www.hushrecords.com/?cat=30

http://www.hushrecords.com/?page_id=328

http://www.efterklang.net/

http://www.myspace.com/efterklang

Huw Lloyd Langton wows 'em at Open Mic night...

... at the Woodman Pub near the Bournemouth/Poole border. A regular now at the impromptu muso-fest - "I only comes down when the missus has finished with me for the night" - says a man looking much older than his 57 years would presume. Ever cheerful and chatty, Huw cuts a frail figure with stick-thin drianpipe jean-enclosed legs peering below a dusky-green ex-army coat. Was it the aftermath of his Legionnaire's Disease or the aftermath of Hawkwind's legendary drug consumption that has left him a more lucid but similarly delicate version of Ozzy?

Whatever his constitution, the old skills are ever present. He has to have his guitar carried down to the pub for him but when wielding it on the cramped, slight raise that is the Woodman's stage it is a show of effortless mastery that greets us. Some old blues, some old Hawkwind (Hurry On Sundown! What else do you need!) and long, extended jam sessions with the disgustingly talented Marcus Gee on bass (in the photo above). Credit, too, to the mystery bongo player who lifted the whole evening with his masterful skin-thumping.

http://www.huwlloyd-langton.co.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huw_Lloyd-Langton

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawkwind

http://www.hawkwindmuseum.co.uk/