New Song On Sunday

 

This isn’t the first time that Panda Bear and Sonic Boom have been featured on these pages. The collaboration between the two Portugal-based musicians continues and reaches another high point with their recently released album, A ? Of When. With this album, they have taken a big step towards a contemporary revival of the Beach Boys. Pete Kember crafts psychedelic fragments on the guitar, and Noah Lennox harmoniously weaves them together in the studio with flutes and alarm sirens. The result is a minor masterpiece of pop history that is simply a joy to listen to, thanks to its positive vibes.

Reset Goes Mariachi

 

How great an album is is often shown by how the individual songs are developed. Sonic Boom and Panda Bear released Reset exactly two years ago, for me one of the best records of this year. Since then they released a remix of this album and a dub version as well. Both great in their ways. Now they surprised with a release of two songs in mariachi versions. They translated two songs into Spanish and re-recorded them in Mexico with a local mariachi band. The result are two new songs for me. Of course the songs are based on the originals but the instrumentation with guitars, trumpets and violins have completely turned the basic orientation on its head. I have to admit that I love the mariachi sound from time to time and so I can't say anything bad about these versions. Viva.

2023 - This Year In Music Part III

 

It was conceivable that Reset, the last year record by Sonic Boom and Panda Bear will be remixed. But I didn't expected that Adrian Sherwood will be at the controllers to create a dub version of this album. The original was a favorite of mine last year and this dub album was a steady companion to me during the summer.

No year without anything new by Andy Bell. Earlier this year he released Tidal Love Numbers, a good collaboration with Essex-based duo Masal to explore some ambient jazz roots to release Gateway Mechanics a live experiment by GLOK in September this year. This record shows everything I like from him: dubbed-out acid, psychedelica, a bit of Balearic and ambient. Wish I could see him live one day.

Since Craven Faults released their first album in 2020 I was fascinated by their music. Not only because you can classify them easily. I enjoy their hypnotic sound made only with a few drum snippets and putting an electronic coat over them. Of course it is another music to drift away but if it is made like on Severals, I will walk this road with them.

This Is The Kit is the alias of British singer/songwriter Kate Staples. Her latest album Careful Of Your Keepers was a surprise and a delight. I seldom heard a new great voice like her during the last years. One of the best new artists for me.

Another album that made fun for a while was Zuma 85 by California based Allah-Las. With songs between Velvets, glam and vocoder their songs work well. Not the big thing but a band you get from what you expect.

In Dub

 

One of last years highlights in music was Reset, a collaboration between Sonic Boom and Panda Bear. It was a retro based album using fragments of music long gone by to create something really new. Because of the quality of the songs and the variety of ideas in them it was played often at my place. Now they return with a dub version of this album. Adrian Sherwood on the controllers made these songs more brighter than they were by adding strings, horns and additional piano to this versions. Not bad way to start into another hot and sunny Sunday.

2022 Long Part III

 

Let's finish my musical review of this year's music. The collaboration of Sonic Boom and Panda Bear came unexpected but gave us a lot of great songs with great harmonies, melodies and a massive retro-charm.

The Pink Album by Unloved was one of highlights this year. A psychedelic synthesis of dark pop, 60's girl group sounds, ambient patterns and dance floor undertones makes this album remarkable.

Danish producer Andres Trentemoller made an album that was especially for me because I love the way he can create electronic sounds. Many songs have a somber aura but listening more than one time you can see the magic of his musical cosmos in Memoria.

One of the best albums of this year came out early this year. Flicker by Andy Bell conglomeration of very different sounds from the last decades and full of ideas, melodies, hooks and great songs. Always a pleasure to come back to this great album.

Spiritualized came back with Everything Was Beautiful an album that shows everything I expected form the Jason Pierce' beginnings over his krautrock phase to his last album. Nothing more or less a great album.

Every year is a good year, when Michael Head releases a new album. Dear Scott is more than I expected. Still on a high level with his distinctive voice and a lot of great songs he returned as my favorite solo artist.

Go On

Another post after a period of absence. During the last weeks I wasn't able to pull myself together and continue working on this blog. Not that I doesn't wanted to keep on it was the fact that I spent a lot of time with my guests from Sri Lanka to visit some places of interest and that I lost my inspiration for the blog. I was happy enough to follow other bloggers but I had no idea for a new series or just to write about music. Of course I will continue and there will be a time to write regular. Today's song is an appetizer from the upcoming album by Panda Bear and Sonic Boom. They will release Reset in a couple of weeks. Together they finished ten tracks that combine poppy catchiness, playful psychedelia and nostalgic vibes. The upfront single "Go on" is the perfect match. Peter Kember used intros of classic songs from the 50'/60's to create new psychedelic pop songs from it. Based on a song by The Troggs the flimsy electronica sound sneaks forward step by step with repetitive vocals and spreads good mood with hand claps, relaxed riffs and gentle choirs. A perfect song for a hot summer day.