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This is O’Spada

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‘Everything I am, and everything I want to be.
All I want to achieve, I already have in me’

Backed by a thunderous wall of fat synths and kicking bass, sharp guitar and cracking snares, carried on the silvered voice of an agathokakological angel sent from pop heaven on-high, these are the words of O’Spada, and as soon as you hear them you know them to be true.

O’Spada’s sound is the quintessence of fresh. It transports you to the past and future simultaneously, pulls your moneymaker forever in both directions, and forces your surrender on both fronts to the fundamental power of the groove. Listening to O’Spada is a time-quaking, chromosome-shaking mitosis of the soul, proving once again that Sweden is making the best pop music per capita of any country.

Here’s a taste (turn up that bass):

If that doesn’t get you moving, congratulations, you’re a corpse. Thankfully, there are many warm bodies across the globe getting down to this fledgling dance outfit, and after just two stellar singles released (their second, ‘Ten Strikes’, is one of 2009’s most joyous odes to infidelity (listen below), O’Spada has the world hungry for more. With an album set to drop a few months from now, I had the chance to chat with them for an exclusive trans-Atlantic interview.

This is O’Spada.

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Mar 08, 2010 | Categories: interviews, ledyard posts | Leave A Comment »

Thom Yorke will make beautiful music until he is dead

post brought to you by: ledyard

no credit for photo but found on this site

Just browsing around the music blogosphere today, I stumbled across a couple new tunes from Mr. Thom Yorke, the frontman for Radiohead and now another band, the newly christened Atoms for Peace (which features Flea on bass… am I the only one that finds Thom and Flea sharing a stage kinda funny? Thom Yorke with a tube sock on his junk?). This time, however, the alien chanter was performing a few songs solo, all of which some intrepid nerd was awesome enough to record. As I sat there watching & listening, I was overwhelmed by the majesty of his songwriting, and was doubly overwhelmed thinking about how LONG I’ve been listening to this man’s every recorded move, and how INCREDIBLY OFTEN I have felt this exact same way about whatever he has to show me. (more…)

Feb 27, 2010 | Categories: ledyard posts | 2 Comments »

A (big) return to (micro) patronage?

post brought to you by: calmstock

I’ve been MIA for a while. Getting a new EP recorded, CDs and vinyl pressed (one-sided white vinyl!), gigs and radio appearances booked, promo packages together– it’s a ton of work as you all know. But I think I’m coming out of the woods a bit and want to get some thoughts down on the exciting re-emergence of patronage via new, arts-focused, micro-funding platforms.

Perhaps best known as a driving force behind the European Renaissance, arts patronage has played a vital role in advancing culture for centuries. And beyond the visual arts, patronage has impacted the work of some of the greatest writers, scientists, and composers we’ve ever known. Nowadays, however, there’s a lot less in the way of direct-to-artist patronage. But since I’ve only taken one art history course, I’ll stop there and leave the history lesson to others.

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Feb 23, 2010 | Categories: calmstock posts | 4 Comments »

Vinyl spins to mp3?

post brought to you by: dyson

image by traance

I’m hoping to get some help on this subject. I have a question I’ve been wondering about for some time now. What the hell is the benefit of converting an album on vinyl to an album of digital files??

I understand the basic reasoning that an mp3 is MUCH more portable than a vinyl record. I understand that sometimes there are older releases that you can find only on vinyl. But besides that I am at a loss for words. This just goes against the whole point of vinyl releases. Right?? (more…)

Feb 16, 2010 | Categories: dyson posts, random thoughts | 11 Comments »

The Shape of the Earth

post brought to you by: dyson

shapeoftheearth I discovered The Shape of the Earth via music blogs and have put their album on repeat ever since. Is this proof that mainstream promotion of an album has a very small impact on discovering good new music? I’m not sure. But I didn’t hear about them first from Pitchfork or Rolling Stone…

From the first listen of the album I was sold. There’s something about them that is brutally honest. It speaks to you but doesn’t get forced on your ears. They clearly put their music first and worry about the rest second. This is one of the many reasons why I love them. (more…)

Feb 09, 2010 | Categories: Reviews, dyson posts | Leave A Comment »

Beirut, the child of Brian Wilson?

post brought to you by: dyson

Beirut-Gulag_Orkestar When I first heard Beirut I was sold. I didn’t need the buzz and background to make me fall in love with his music. I listened to ‘Gulag Orkestar‘ and knew what was going on. I was once that kid in his bedroom, recording the music he knew and loved. (don’t go looking for any of my 4-track recordings though…)

There is way more to Zach Condon than just a talented kid with some instruments and recording gear putting out records. He has moved passed it all and grown into something way more promising than an ‘indie’ kid recording his music. And while we’re on the topic, can his music be put into the ‘indie’ category?? Who the hell knows.

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Feb 04, 2010 | Categories: dyson posts | 2 Comments »

Crash Kings

post brought to you by: dyson

crash_kings If there was any band I really wanted to see succeed in the music world it would be the Crash Kings. Their music kicks ass. THEY kick ass. What more could you ask of a band?

I was lucky enough to have Tony Beliveau (keyboards and vocals) take some time out of their current tour and answer some questions regarding their sound, success, and what it’s like being a touring band based out of LA.

I highly suggest going to see them play this Sunday 1/31/10 at Great Scott in Boston. (or try to catch a date on the rest of their tour) Their record is phenomenal but live is where they shine. I spent a few years watching, having fun, and getting to know Mike and Tony (sadly don’t know Jason yet) but what I do know is that they are the real deal. They don’t mess around with music. They play what they believe and play what naturally comes out of them. We just happen to be lucky as hell, because what they produce is always incredible.

Check out what Tony had to say:

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Jan 27, 2010 | Categories: dyson posts, interviews | Leave A Comment »

Being Peter Katis

post brought to you by: dyson

photo by Michael Murray from the calcutta blog

Bands like Interpol, The National, Frightened Rabbit, The Twilight Sad, Fanfarlo, Mates of State have all become widely known, recognized, and loved amongst the music scene. They’re all great musicians who write great songs.

But there is one strong glue that holds all these bands together and has helped put them into our line of vision (or ears). That man is Peter Katis of Tarquin Studios. And guess what, he does it out of the comfort of his home.

I’m a sucker for the man behind the scenes because my entrance into music was known that if I was lucky, I would be the man credited in the liner notes. This is the life of a record producer/engineer who does it not for the money, but for the love of his craft. (more…)

Jan 25, 2010 | Categories: Recording, dyson posts | 2 Comments »

Breaking news: Record labels can hurt music

post brought to you by: dyson

jon-fiona The control that record labels have is no new news. It’s been a fight that’s been going on for years and we continue to reach that breaking point of making some sort of shift with it.

Many artists have and will try to rid themselves of this mess that major labels put them into. But to be successful and actually make a buck in the music industry as a musician means you need to be signed to a great record label. (if you’re looking my preference is Nonesuch and here’s to hoping this model changes)

The best case I can think of (and the one I spent all morning harping on) is the release of Fiona Apple’s ‘Extraordinary Machine’. There’s a whole story behind the release of this record. I can’t get all the facts straight because clearly I was not a part of it… But from what I gather it was a record Fiona wanted to give more credit to Jon than Epic Records wanted to. I’ve heard it was meant to be a Fiona Apple/Jon Brion release but Epic would not allow it. (more…)

Jan 18, 2010 | Categories: dyson posts, random thoughts | 2 Comments »

Instructions for Insomniacs

post brought to you by: dyson

bachelorette I’m not one to promote new music. (and this music isn’t really new) Everything I find is because of fellow music bloggers and friends who just go nuts over music. So I’ll let them continue on with what they do best and occasionally I may chime in (kinda like now).

This band came to me from a friend we’ll call ‘Bob’. He and I worked together for a while and traded off music like it was sorority girls at slutty colleges. (I went to Berklee so I know nothing of sorority girls and their ways and apologize for stereotyping but oddly was the first reference I could think of).

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Jan 16, 2010 | Categories: Reviews, dyson posts | 3 Comments »

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