Bat For Lashes’ recently performed her latest single “Daniel” on Live with Jools Holland, a great show for true performers to play on and let themselves go with excellent performances. You can watch the performance here.
Archive for April, 2009
Live Vault – Bat For Lashes
Video Vault – Patrick Wolf
Patrick Wolf is returning with his fourth album “The Bachelor (Battle One)” and this is the video to the first single Vulture. I see bum, I see leather, I see lots of skin. Fans will be pleased! The song’s pretty damn good too. The Bachelor is due out June 1st.
Tori Amos Full Songs & Free Track From AATS
Tori’s latest album is causing all kinds of crazy over at HPG and now she’s released a track for free! “Maybe California” is an acheingly beautiful ballad and is available to download for free over at www.toriamos.com/gift.
Also available is its visualette and now two more songs have surfaces at Barnes & Noble. “Give” and “Curtain Call” are available and are showing the albums more darker side with a chilling piano riff of “Give” and the rousingly depressed “Curtain Call”. Enjoy and we will bring you a review on the day its released in the UK.
Chris Huelsbeck Gets ReRun
Chris Huelsbeck’s Symphonic Shades Orchestra album will be getting a reprint. After selling out the original edition, due to high demand a second permanent print will be issued this Summer. This will come off the back of the latest concert with the Royal Stockholm Orchestra.
Tori Amos Pre-Order Info
Just a heads up that if you pre-order Abnormally Attracted To Sin from Itunes, you’ll gain a password to get first dibs on this years concert tickets before they go on general sale. Follow on from that, you’ll get single Welcome to England immideately, b-side Oscar’s Theme and if you’re quick, an early release of another bonus track called “It’s a Bitch to Grow Up”. Similarly newbury comics are offering signed copies if you pre-order. Sadly over in the UK (where I am) there’s not a lot going on yet however, its not long left to go now. AATS will be released on the 19th of May.
Keiichi Shibata – “Brandish Piano Collections” Review
Welcome to Brandish Piano Collections, the piano collection that is not solely piano! Almost every song is based on the piano with various snyths and instruments layered over the top of it. Keiichi Shibata takes the arrangements to dizzying heights and for a piano collection that’s some 15 years old this original outlook on piano collections is still surprisingly fresh.
“Prologue – Bundevia” is a very solemn song with the piano plays the background to a bizarre organ-sounding soundwave that plays out a dark and sorrow filled melody. The song is fantastic and will have you feeling glum and hopeless in no time. It’s more like a requiem of beauty than anything else and captures the overall mood of the album completely. “Shop” continues this slow, glum feeling, but this time has a light string backing that fades in and away to fantastic effect. The playing of the piano is great and although there is no fast playing, the tune is complex. After a while the song uplifts a little as other instrument samples are entered. The effect is like a piano led orchestra. “Shop” is another fantastic song.
“Game Over” doesn’t have any piano for the first 10 seconds! The sparse beginning makes you feel isolated and desolate. After a minute, the tune starts, which is fantastically catchy but sorrow filled too. The balance is a fine one but it is stricken perfectly. Quite how you can make a four and a half minute version of a game over screen become such an excellent track is beyond me. “Brandish Tower” is a dramatic piece too, with a beat pounded out on the lower keys with an almost Spanish feel to the main tune. The strings are back again and work well. The chorus is majestically played with a trumpet synth thrown in for good measure! Organ join in and then play out the tune for the second time round. The pitch is perfect and although it may sound on paper chaotic, it sounds perfect to the ear.
“Cave” is the first all piano song, and it relies on a good tune to get through. It’s a beautifully played song, and the tune is infectious. “Spilling Innocent Blood” on the other hand is the least piano based so far. Congas and synthesizer waves start the song before after 45 seconds, getting to the piano. It doesn’t feel jarred but there is a big difference between the agile piano playing and emergency of the starting piece. The end is fantastic; as the last notes are played a hollow breeze begins – perfect!
“Stage Clear” starts off with a bang, before playing the melody. There is percussion in this great tune, which sounds like someone is playing the beat on a piano top. It’s another unusual twist in the album that works fantastically and sounds really organic.
“A Journey Without Rest” is a blues song and only the second all piano song. If you like blues songs, you’ll love this as it’s beautifully played, with all the frills included! “Ruins” is another piano only song, which is a little less obvious to the catchy song people, but the playing is excellent again, and after a few listens, you’ll like this piece a whole lot more than first time through. “Solders Sorrow”, the closing track, an epic 6 and a half minutes. It is played ever so fragile and gracefully and is a poignant way to finish the album and sums it all up.
Brandish Piano Collections is a rare piece of artistic beauty. Perfectly played music, with all the trimmings and all the unique twists and turns to make an epic album forever memorable. With piano collections constantly staying (especially back in 1994/5) in a set box, this really broke a mould and I highly recommend it all these later. Well done Keiichi Shibata!
Otograph – “Dive Into PixelJunk Monsters” Review
PixelJunk Monsters (and Encore) have been out for a long time and the soundtrack has also been available at a shockingly cheap price on the PlayStation Network. Duo Otograph scored the soundtrack and offer up a cute, melodic and fun selection of tunes.
“Dive into PixelJunk Monsters” opens the 24 track album with the tone it continues with. The bleeps, blips, muted electronic drums and ambient melodies that layer over each other are beautiful and entrancing. This swifly follows on with “melodie” which has a charming electric piano riff and some excellent studio trickery to give it ebb and flow. It’s a personal favourite although most of the soundtrack just blends from one track to next in an airy light haze.
“45×8 60×6 90×4″ is a manic yet underplayed pressure track. The speed that the keyboard riffs interact with each other is perfectly pitched to be both cute and tense. “Good Morning” slows things down with a song that mimics a stretch on a sunbed at sunrise. “Circle Flight Sketches” is another looping track that is added to with soft marimbas and organs but it never feels like a holiday song – more like a sunny stroll with friends.
“A-maze-ing maze” is the first song to add in an acoustic guitar sample led track. A constant plucking backing melody fills the speakers whilst an intricate riff is repeated over the top like a mantra. It’s quite hypnotic, like most of the soundtrack. “Flux” is all about soft electronic blips that roll from the tongue which passes over to “Hyper Puzzle Like a Sherbert” which is a bit more percussive and boppy. A simple two chord backing melody is completely fused with seemingly random tunes over the top which makes for excellent listening. The same can be said for “Chocolate Ripples” where the electronic riffs sound almost jazz guitar like. A bossa nova beat and some beautiful music box tinkles set this song off.
“Its a Sonny” is a bit more bold and clumsy with a marching drum beat and simple organ riffs that gradually evolve into a cute track before “Fantasia” strips off the drums and layers various synth pads and reverbed keyboards for a digital classic Otograph style. “mono no aware” has muted piano leading the main tune with a slightly discordant melody which then paired with a picturesque backing track makes for an interesting piece. “Phase Lunaire” continues much of the same synth work in this, the plodding bass beat led section of the soundtrack.
“High Pressure Area” is about as dramatic as it gets with a light drum and bass beat and some very soft high pitched stabs on the keyboard before the low-fi bass heavy “cracked big egg” gives you a slow ambient track that whilst doesn’t have much development, isn’t awful to listen to. “Visualise Your Enemy” is a fast paced melodic minute of keyboard aurora before “Ryhmes” very short electric piano kicks in to lead to the six minute “Bye Bye Monsters” which is the epic track of the album. Starting off with just one keyboard riff and constantly adding, turning and developing, its a marvel in creating a beautiful sound scape to get lost in and one you don’t particularly wish to leave.
“Cool Brain” drum loop introduces you to “lumiere tremblotante” which is warm and cuddly much like most of the album… until “final bit explosion” which is the sole hardcore electronica track. Even then it’d pale to any dance track but in the context of the album, this is the gritty, cold and clinical track with a heavy bass line. “Another Chance” is a low-fi track like Mogwai would produce before the warmth returns for closers “Lovely Brain” and “Game Over” with lush, cosy production from the organs, soft fuzzy percussion and a gelling love from one layered item to another.
Gelling is really what this soundtrack from Otograph is all about. Everything seemlessly fits in perfect precision. Its a soundtrack you could quite easily have this playing on repeat and not notice for hours because its that hypnotic. A joyous soundtrack for anyone to pick up and enjoy.
Live Vault – PJ Harvey & John Parish
PJ Harvey and John Parish have performed the unique “Pig Will Not” on KcRw and here’s the video performance for everyone to enjoy. I know this song won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but for those who dig it, its something like an orgasm!
Kingdom Hearts Piano Collection Trailer
Gametrailers have the official video trailer of Yoko Shimomura’s Kingdom Hearts Piano Collections. She and her performers played a special small concert to showcase the album. You can view the trailer here. I wonder if a DVD will ever surface?
Are Lamb Back Together?
Lamb appear to be touring again! Lou Rhodes had been doing solo work but a tour has been organised across Europe and their official website has been completely revamped and updated. Does that mean a new album is in the works and they are back together? Here’s to hoping so!
Live Vault – Vienna Teng
To celebrate the release of “Inland Territory” which we will be reviewing tomorrow, we have Vienna Teng as this week’s Live Vault. Performing a Mandarin song “Ru Guo” that was taught by her mother, I have no idea what the words mean but its a beautiful song nonetheless. Enjoy.
Brendan Perry’s New Album “Ark” Coming August
It’s been a long time coming but Brendan Perry’s eagerly awaited new album “Ark” will be available for digital download in August this year. Those of us wanting CD’s will have to wait until October but considering the 11 year wait so far, another two months is fine!
To support “Ark” Brendan will be touring with a a full band too and although specific dates aren’t yet known, they will be in August and October. Let the excitement begin!
Bat For Lashes – “Two Suns” Review
Second albums are supposed to be the hard ones to do. Keeping your original sound whilst staying fresh and not repeating. Bat For Lashes’ début album “Fur and Gold” was a corker and with the follow up “Two Suns” released Monday HPM can report that Natasha Atlas has pulled out another stunner from her bag of tricks with an album that’s infectious and catchy as it is unique.
Opener “Glass” has a real rumbling urgency about it with rolling drum beats and soaring vocals in the chorus. There’s an opening poem that’s integral to the overall thought pattern to the album as a whole which seems tied to the history books of Solomon. “Glass” is catchy and violently addictive with its mix of tribal elements and electronics. This is carried through to the more minimal “Sleep Alone” which runs parallel with “Trophy” from the previous album in terms of its overall soundscape and feel. There’s the plodding bass, stomping beat and some funky vocal hooks over the top.
“Moon and Moon” has been about on the internet for ages – infact we featured it in a Live Vault post months ago. The album version differs little from that performance but remains just as enchantingly beautiful. It’s really the only ballad on the album so it stands out even more as a highlight. That’s followed by single “Daniel” which gives a more electro-pop vibe than the rest of the album contains. It’s about as a commercial as the album gets with its 80′s synth and pop beats. The chorus is understated and its all about the instrument riffs.
“Peace of Mind” follows as the experimental piece on the album. It’s difficult upon first listen but after a few rounds in your player it’s electric folk / gospel cross over catches on as a mark of genius as it all comes together for the end result. “Siren’s Song” then takes over as the big number of the album. Starting off just piano and vocal – instruments are added and the pace quickens into a frenzied freak out – similar to “Bat’s Mouth” only more gritter and angrier. There’s a doomsday feel to the song, like walking off the edge of a plank. The atmosphere’s electric and its a great example of how a simple song can really be effective.
“Pearls Dream” will probably be a single with its uptempo alternative dance beat and its marvellous chorus with its duelling vocals that lead the way to an infectious song. Infact if its not the next single, I will eat my proverbial hat! “Good Love” is organ heavy and possibly my least favourite of the album. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the track, it just feels a little clunky at the beginning compared to the smooth timing of the rest of the album but I am being very picky. Here Natasha’s vocal layering is particularly pretty as she talks over the verses and ambience swirls around it.
“Two Planets” is the tribal song of the album although the percussion throughout the album is excellent. With Bat For Lashes there’s always an ancient meets the future clashing sound to her work and nowhere is that shown better than here. It’s a free flowing track that may be overlooked by some but its a work of art. Ruslana anyone?
“Travelling Woman” is the most straightforward track on the album – almost band like. However the cleverness comes in the time transitions between the 4 beat a bar verses and the waltzing slowed down choruses. It’s an interesting twist that gives the song its own lullaby persona. That leaves closer “The Big Sleep” which is bizarrely comical and cosmic with a perfectly sad piano ambient track being sung over by a sincere Natasha and absolutely murdered by a male at the same time who’s singingly almost anti-operatic. It’s got its charm but you can’t take it seriously which I hope is its intention – however if you’re in a sad mood it could well be effective.
“Two Suns” is a triumph. Bat For Lashes has moved forward and included a splash more electronica to her sound whilst not losing her native roots in ancient music. The cross over of the two is sublime, the music is compelling as it is a joy to listen to and I for one am satisfied that this is in the top three releases so far in 2009.
Video Vault – Tori Amos
Leading single from the upcoming 10th studio album “Abnormally Addicted to Sin”, “Welcome to England” now has its full music video up for everyone to enjoy. You can watch it and hear the single here. Sounds like a mixture of all kinds of styles – SW/TBK era with a new synth edge.
“Final Fantasy IV Celtic Moon” Review
“Final Fantasy IV Celtic Moon” takes the songs from the epic game’s NES soundtrack and rearranges them onto beautifully played Celtic instrumentation. Selecting 15 tracks, the album still tells the story of the game well and is very well paced.
“The Prelude” opens the album setting the scene with arpeggios from an Irish harp and the main tune played by a timber flute. It’s a dreamy way to start the album and stays faithful the original version. “Prologue” is more traditional in the Celtic and Irish sense. The various string instruments plod though the track but fail to really give it the power that the classic song deserves which is a shame. “Chocobo-Chocobo” does give it some oomph though and dares to take one of the all time favourite songs into a light. After playing it through jollily it then speeds up and plays it just how a Celtic dance would. The result is something more bouncy and uplifting before returning to the original formula.
“Into The Darkness” takes the tone down with some excellently majestic but haunting playing and was a surprise highlight of the album for me. Sadly the “Main Theme Of Final Fantasy IV” is a tail of two halves. The first half of the song is great, with someone going bananas on a xylophone, but after that it quickly becomes sombre and downbeat and while the actual tune is still well played, it seems like the wrong tone is set.
“Welcome To Own Town!” starts off very relaxed before getting a Chocobo-Chocobo treatment with a new rendition. Strangely there is little correlation between this part and the actual tune, but it is once again another highlight from the album where I didn’t expect to find one!
“Theme Of Love” is tenderly done and played out like an opera death scene! It manages to capture everything in the song that despite having many different version made from it, still manages to be fresh and entertaining. “Melody Of Lute” starts off just as the “lute” in a nice little solo piece before the other instruments gradually filter in and make this piece well remembered for being heartfelt and excellently played. Followed by “Parom & Polom” which also gets it own little individual original section that barely tries to follow the chords of the actual song, yet still fits it, this song has the unfortunate problem that its repeated just one time too many. This song proves you can have just slightly too much of a great song. It doesn’t ruin the song by any means, but it could have been better shortened.
“Giotto, The Great King” plods through original tune happily enough before getting a Celtic fair arrangement half way through and really only getting mean and evil during the last half minute! In stark contrast “Dancing Calcobrena” is haunting and mystic from the outset with its merry-go-round keyboards and its Spanish yet evil sounding fiddle. Continuing on with the mystic tones comes “Mystic Mysidia” with it’s slightly out of tune melodies that are portrayed superbly with this kind of instrumentation. “Illusionary World” finishes off what is the best segment of the album. All these songs are show the best of Celtic Moon, being intensely dark and delicious.
“Rydia” returns to the elegant side of Celtic Moon with a peaceful and delicate version of the song with soft instrumentation and tear jerking beauty before “Troian Beauty” finishes off the album in more anthem style.
“Final Fantasy IV Celtic Moon” is one of those albums that grows on you more with every listen. You can’t get away from comparing it to Xenogears:Creid or even the Genso Suikoden Celtic trilogy which is a shame because most of those albums are better judged separately as this Celtic influenced album has a different tone to it all together and therefore holds its own niche in the genre. Despite seeming a bit sparse and little misjudged in places, the majority of the tracks make for excellent listening and any game music fan should find solace in this album.
Crayon OST Review
Crayon OST is the soundtrack to Crayon Physics Deluxe, an indie game. A three track soundtrack was released for free and it contains some of the most dreamy game music in recent memory.
Stian Stark’s “Crayon Dreams” is a beautiful breath of fresh air. With dreamy soft piano and acoustic guitars leading the melody, there’s a backing vocal and what sounds like a summer breeze or wave crashing in the background. It all adds to the atmosphere that you could just close your eyes and be swept away with.
“Afternoon Snooze” by Alec Holowka follows the same vein but adds in some keyboard samples too. It reminds me bit of something you’d find on a chill out CD or Chill FM. It’s laid back and its melodies slide around and become a zen like force to listen to.
The final track is my personal favourite. “Lullaby” by _ghost is a simple acoustic guitar and vocal sample piece that wades in from a paradise lost, seeps warm tender kisses to your ears and then gently rolls into the sunset waving goodbye for now. One of the prettiest songs I’ve heard in an age, it’s a bit like when I heard “Castle in the Mist”, “Heal” and “Continue” from Michiru Oshima’s Ico soundtrack and instantly connected with their looped etherality. There’s just a connection that you can only describe when you get it. It’s here with this simple song.
If you enjoy chilled out relaxing music, this is an absolute must have and anyone who enjoys the lighter side of music will seek instant comfort with this free downloadable soundtrack. Relaxed perfection.
Garry Schyman – BioShock Score Review
Garry Schyman’s “BioShock Score” was released as a free downloadable CD containing a selection of the orchestral music from the iconic game. Sadly, of the 12 tracks only one is over two minutes in length and because of that, BioShock score is very short indeed. What’s here though is good.
“Bioshock Main Theme (The Ocean on His Shoulders)” is a tender piece of string work that slowly rouses and swells emotion like an epitaph. It’s a tragic and haunting piece. “Welcome to Rapture” ups the pace with an intricate but understated piece that has underlying tension throughout but never tenses up and freaks out and because of that very reason, it gives the track a disturbing edge.
“Dr. Steinman” is all about the madding high string arrangement that spirals at speed into a frenzy. One minute of pure carnage on a violin! “The Docks” is eerie with an accordion playing in the distance whilst various ambient noises re imagine all kinds of nasties for you. “The Dash” is a short percussive burst somewhere between the two previous tracks. “Step Into My Gardens” then uses the string instruments to all kinds of ambient effects which although this takes place throughout the album, sounds particularly menacing here. It’s one garden I wouldn’t have a tea party in!
“Dancers on a String” is a gentle waltz of piano and violin that is as sinister as it is beautiful before the big three minute “Cohens Masterpiece” bounds onto your speakers as a classical piano track. The playing is perfectly pitched between artistic and melodic for the score’s mood.
“The Engine City” starts the final chapter with its heavy stabbing percussion and string section. The scale sounds epic here more in keeping with a big budget movies climax. Contrasted by the saddening “Empty Houses” which is so innocent sounding that paired with the right visual could evoke tears. A bitter tenderness. “This is Where They Sleep” is a tense piece that manages to make string instruments sound like air raid sirens. The constant rising of notes brings a chill. Closing with “All Spliced Up” which is a dramatic hell for leather orchestral piece, BioShock score is gone in a matter of 20 minutes but remains firmly in your head.
BioShock score works best as a full album placed together but anyone who enjoys orchestral works or music that evokes an eerie atmosphere should do themselves a favour and download this free soundtrack score. It’s well worth the time and no money is needed!
