December « 2013 « Knox Road

[Abby’s Road] Best wishes

“Despite the commerce involved, we hope you will consider this our gift to you.”
-Low’s Christmas liner notes.

Ahhh the holidays. For me it’s Christmas. Now while I lean toward the more secular, bedazzled version containing spangles, boughs of holly and sticky mugs of Glühwein rather than mangers and swaddling clothes (blatant honesty, folks), I understand that all encompassing ‘holiday time’ means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. I have shamelessly chosen the Candy Cane Lane version and I’m happy with it.

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Lee

Knox Road’s Top Albums of 2013

Another year, another top albums list (some things changed, though — we turned 5 years old!). We asked Knox Road writers to provide their Top Albums of 2013. You know what ensued. Tears, laughter, debate. Actually not much of any of those. Just heartfelt thoughts. If these lists make you listen to one new album, it was all worth it. Have a happy holiday season and stay warm.

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Lee

Danger Village presents “The Ghost Control Mix”

You may have noticed we’re big Danger Village folks around here. Beth has filled our ears with goodies over the past few years, and I’ve had the chance to become REAL LIFE FRIENDS with her. One of those real-life-friends moments happened to be over CMJ, where Beth and I talked about one of her special Danger Village mixes for Knox Road. Despite moving to the warmer west coast, she’s been inspired by the colder weather and presented us with some end of year favorites. Catch “The Ghost Control Mix” below, which I’ve been listening to on repeat. I’ll let her chat about it from here. Beth, take it away.

“For the end of the year I compiled a list of new artists that fit into the darker, colder, wintery mood of December. This list has more male artists than any I’ve made this year, which is a nice trend as I’ve been lamenting the lack of truly talented, soulful male songwriters with beautiful voices. I’m glad to have come across a few at the end of this year like Benjamin Clementine and Isaac Sakima. I’m also enjoying how artists are blending electronics with more organic sounds, like we hear here with Adult Jazz, ceo and Young Fathers.

Overall it’s been a great year for music but I think 2014 is going to be even better.”

Track list after the jump.

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Lee

[MP3] Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons: “Hurricane”

You can see the opening scene to a TV show in this Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons song. The main character is purposefully walking, or jogging in the morning, or doing something mischievous that makes them look and feel superior to all else. You know what I’m talking about.

“Hurricane” takes on […]

Abby

[Abby’s Road] Freundliche Stammbaum

It’s been a while. Radical Face. What a lovely place to start. So…

Recently I had the pleasure of seeing the last gig of the Radical Face EU tour here in Munich. While the exquisite recorded versions of Ben Cooper’s songs machine ideas into an almost hand-hewn reality, the live versions are remarkable as well for a slew of other reasons. Taking into consideration Cooper is (mostly) a one-man operation when recording, one would assume that a live setting would be more than challenging. Naturally, variations in the natural fabric of the recorded songs occur and are welcomed. With the inclusion of a viola da gamba and bass on this tour, the *collection of Radical Face touring musicians (friends on and off the stage for years) were a marvel of good humor and song. And to be able to spin such beauty into this cover? It’s like voodoo.

Moving on…

Coinciding with the US/EU tours, late October/early November (depending upon where you call home) welcomed the release of Radical Face’s newest LP and 2nd installment of the Family Tree trilogy, The Branches. The aural equivalent of a tome of ancient photos and pages of handwritten tales of familial woes and joys, it is true to form and does what all of Cooper’s releases have done since Ghost way back in 2007. It evokes a sense of history and heartbreak, taking root at the base of one’s spine at first listen in an attempt to draw you into its biology. And succeeds.

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