Track of the Day: 'Hey Mami' by Sylvan Esso

According to Soundcloud this has been around for about a year, so maybe I'm a bit late to the party. But the first time I heard it was when Mary Anne Hobbs played it this morning, and I've been hypnotised by it ever since. I love how it starts out like a simple child's rhyme, one of those things they used to teach you to sing in a round at school, and then the electronics kick and it becomes a totally different animal.



If, like me until 12 hours ago, you've not heard of them before, Sylvan Esso are comprised of Amelia Meath from Mountain Man and Nick Sanborn (Made of Oak / Megafaun). Their album came out earlier this year (I'm off to check it out when I've finished writing this) and they're on tour in Europe in September and early October before heading back to the States at the end of that month).

Track of the Day: 'You'll (Probably) Be OK' by Daniel John Marsden

Proof that sometimes all you need is 105 seconds of simplicity to make a good song. The track is taken from Marsden's EP 'Short Songs for Sad Children', which was recorded in just one day. He's heading back into the studio soon to record some more tracks but in the meantime you should track down the rest of the songs from this EP.

PS Great title for a song too!

New podcast - Austerity Audio vol. 2

It's time for the next instalment in my series of free, downloadable new music podcasts. As before (click here if you missed the last one) all of these tracks have been culled (legally) from the Internet over the past week or so, and it's a complete mish-mash of musical styles.

Left-click on the picture above to listen to the podcast, or right-click to save the podcast in full and then listen to it on your 8-track cassette player or phonograph later on. The full tracklisting is below together with some pointers as to where you can download some of the tracks individually. Remember - we're all in this together, so if you do find something that you really like in here then why not spend a few pence buying a track by that artist?

1. Gidge - For Seoul Pt. 2 (click here for details)
2. Ólöf Arnalds - Af Staö
3. Ásgeir Trausti - Going Home (click here for details)
4. Daughn Gibson - The Sound Of Law (available on the Sub Pop Soundcloud)
5. Marijuana Deathsquads - Dark Farm (click here for details)
6. KRTS - Close The Closet Door (Sieren Remix) (available on Soundcloud)
7. Orphan - Horns For The Spirits (Karen Gwyer Remix) (available on Soundcloud)
8. Kutmah - Changin' (available on Soundcloud)
9. The Jet Age of Tomorrow - Wonderful World (feat. Domo Genesis & Vince Staples) (from The Jellyfish Mentality)
10. Doin' It Good (Kanye West vs. Daft Punk) - The Hood Internet (available on Soundcloud)

New music: 'Figurehead' by Jonnie Common

Following up his 2011 album 'Master of None', Jonnie Common is putting this single out on Red Deer Records later this month. Two quite distinct versions of the track are included on the limited cassette and download release - where 'Figurehead (Wet)' is pulsing and insistent, 'Figurehead (Dry)' is more lo-fi and sparse, but suffice to say they're both really good. Have a listen to both and see which is your favourite, you'll be able to order them from Red Deer Club soon.

Track of the Day: 'Line Of Fire' by Junip

There's more than a hint of Simon & Garfunkel on this the title track from Junip's forthcoming album. The powerful arrangement elevates the track above your usual acoustic run of the mill fare, and although it doesn't sound at all contemporary there's a warmth and familiarity that will endear it to you.

The record will be out in the Spring in Europe (on City Slang) and North America (on Mute).

Live - in pictures: Gravenhurst / Eyes & No Eyes at Cecil Sharp House, London 26/9/12

A rather unusual and quaint venue (the home of English Folk, apparently) but they do a decent line in real ale and were warm and welcoming to us. My learned friend (who'd been there before) said that there are normally chairs put out in the venue, but the promoter had asked for these to be taken out - maybe they were expecting a moshpit to develop?

Eyes & No Eyes (there were actually more than 6 people watching them..)

Eyes & No Eyes were the support - an interesting four piece who do the quiet/loud/quiet well, with lots of experimentation and, unusually, a cellist.

Gravenhurst at Cecil Sharp House

Nick Talbot (Gravenhurst) took to the stage flanked by 2 ladies and entertained us for over an hour with his beautiful melodies, bursts of loud guitar, and a witty line in banter that bordered on stand-up comedy. Having had a tough time in Nottingham the night before - "At least 40 people paid to see me and then stood and talked all evening. I told them that it wasn't like watching the TV, and I could actually hear what they were saying, but they didn't take any notice" - he was pleased to have an appreciative audience.

Gravenhurst live (heckling mum not pictured...)

The only heckling came when he came back on for an encore. A lady shouted out "Are we allowed to call out for songs we like?" and Nick's reply - "Yes Mum, you can, that's what an encore's for" - had the audience in stitches and gained cheers for his Mum & Dad, who were standing at the front.

All in all a great night out.