The Indie Anthology 22: essential songs

New chapter of our Anthology, that this time also aims to be a (modest) but open vindication of a group, then a solo artist, criminally neglected despite being responsible of a couple of records plus an EP that are among the most beautiful music created in the last 15 years.

Song: Coat
Artist: Angelou
Year: 2000

How uncool is admitting I wasn't impressed at all by Jeff Buckley's "Grace"? Or that I didn't know about Nick Drake? During my university years it was mainly R.E.M. and jangle-pop bands, plus a bunch of female singer-songwriters (Beth Orton on top). But thanks to mythical radio programs like "Boulevard" or "Siglo XXI" (how important was Radio3 for our musical education, sadly those days are gone) a new voice appeared. It was Holly Lerski fragile, mysterious but warm folk-rock. For me, first came "Hallellujah EP". I remember going back and forth on my Walkman to listen again & again my crappy radio recording of their haunting cover of "River Man". Angelou made me discover Nick Drake. Then came a pretty odd, Spanish only, compilation of their tunes entitled "Midnight Witcheries" that was absolutely flawless (and now a very important person in my life possess).  It wasn't enough. "Automatic Miracles" followed, and then "While You Were Sleeping". An absolute favourite of mine. Ethereal, delicate, intimate. Where instruments aren't just playing, they are shining. Where silences and space are also notes. And where simplicity equals purity and honesty. Melodies that seem suspended in the air, expected to the band to be grabbed. Abducted as a I was by the record, the tune "Little Sister" "forced" me to check Buckley again. Luckily. Holly, please come back! 

Discoverer 6: new indie findings

Sunday morning= new indie proposals. Here we go!

Cascadeur. Behind this artistic name and his masked face hides Alex Longo, a singular vocalist and songwriter. With three self-produced albums, he won the 2008 prestigious "CQFD" Prize awarded by French indie magazine Les Inrockuptibles, receiving a lot of attention since then in France. Music that recalls Antony and the Johnsons or the intensity of Jeff Buckley, that has an official debut album nowadays, with "The Human Octopus", ten songs, reworked and polished, from his first three albums and 18 new ones.



The Hi-Life Companion. This Bristol indiepop band debuted with a quickly sold out single in Cloudberry Records on 2008. Since then you can find them crafting gorgeous music. From The Beach Boys to Pavement, from Felt to the Velvet Underground, from Belle and Sebastian to The Go Betweens... harmonies, hand-clapping, jangling guitars, wonderful and dreamy instrumentals.... The DNA of perfect pop music flourishes on the diverse and  rich "Say Yes", their debut album, released last year. A record that should be in every shelf of all good music collector.

The Girl In The Gorilla Suit by The Hi-Life Companion

Night Comes Down by The Hi-Life Companion

The Ambience Affair. This Irish duo of vocalist/guitarist Jamie Clarke and drummer Marc Gallagher are responsible of a couple of great EPs, "Fragile Things" and "Patterns". Their music mixes some kind of dreamy landscapes, atmospheric textures with fierce playing and vocals, creating truly exceptional songs. After being mesmerized by "Patterns",  I was impatiently looking for more songs, and growing in frustration due to the lack of news. But now they are back, and after hearing "Weeds", the first taste of their debut album, with the help of a stomping cello and trumpets, it is going to be worth the waiting.