I needed to cheer myself up on Wednesday morning, so - thanks to a pre-arranged visit to Cardiff - I did a bit of retail therapy in HMV.
I really like Michael Kiwanuka's music, although this is the first record of his I've bought. I was surprised by how much of it I've recognised on first play. He did a great set at Glastonbury in the summer, and has a new album out now as well.
This is a Khruangbin album. I love Khruangbin! I came to them via a live set that was shown on BBC Wales a couple of years ago after a performance in Cardiff. They're a Texan three-piece. I've no idea how to describe their music other than "groovy". Their wiki page says they blend soul, dub, rock and psychedelia, which sounds about as good a description as any. All three of them are amazing musicians. Two of them wear wigs. I've got a couple of CDs and one other vinyl record by them, but I think this might be a live album. Khruangbin! It means "aeroplane" in Thai.
Suzanne Vega has put out a quartet of records with re-recordings of her songs arranged thematically. I've got the first and third of the set on vinyl, and this is the second. I've been a fan since hearing "Small Blue Thing" on the radio in 1985, and that song still sends shivers down my spine. She's created a fantastic body of work over forty years.
Thanks, Alastair! I always manage to grab a few tracks from these. Big Khruangbin fan as well.
ReplyDeleteNice!
DeleteKhruangbin! I discovered them from random a YouTube recommendation, and they became my favourite band for chill "groovy" music for a year or so.
ReplyDeleteYes, they go down well when I'm in the mood.
DeleteI love the idea of re-recording songs, but releasing them arranged by theme. I wonder if many more artists have rereleased works this way?
ReplyDeleteI expect so but this is the only such series I can think of off the top of my head.
DeleteJust saw an article or review on Michael Kiwanuka in Mojo, and it made me wonder, Mr. Reynolds, do you subscribe? Not easy (or cheap) for me to do so here in the States but I make a point of it.
ReplyDeleteNo, I've never subscribed but I would buy the occasional issue from time to time. The only music mag I had a long-standing subscription to was Q, back in its heyday, and I also used to get the short-lived Volume magazine (which initially came in a book format with a CD attached, very nice). I discovered a lot of great music via Volume - Goldfrapp (they promoted their first single), Disco Inferno, many others.
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