OUR FAVORITE NEW MUSIC & MOVIES! - Amoeba Music

Rebel Beat: The Story of L.A.
Rockabilly (2006) – Directed by
Betty B.
This well-made indie documentary takes you
on a journey back the 1950s rockabilly scene
in the City of Angels, through the revival during
the ’70s and up till today. See interviews with
the pioneers such as Janis Martin, Johnny powers,
and glen glenn as well as today’s headliners
from Wild records, Big Sandy, Three Bad Jacks,
and more. Visit the happening spots around L.A.
to see the shows, and dancing. The great thing
about this film is it keeps the viewer engaged
as if you were having a drunken conversation at
a show versus listening to a historian or theologian
lecture for an hour and a half. See the
custom car shows, burlesque performers and
a glimpse into the granddaddy of all rockabilly
parties, “Viva Las Vegas,” which is held annually in
Sin City on Easter weekend. Hear performances,
listen to vendors, promoters, DJs, musicians, and
everyday L.A. scensters share their social world
with you in Rebel Beat.
Note: Check out www.weberslive.com for rockabilly
shows in L.A. every Friday night hosted by Miss Reverend
Martini.
hIlANd.
Trash Humpers (2009) –
Directed by Harmony Korine
Loose Screws (Screwballs II)
(Blu-ray) (1985) – Directed by
Rafal Zielinski
Local Customs: Lone Star
Lowlands – Various Artists
(NUMErO grOUp)
58 MUSIC WE LIKE H Spring/Summer 2011
Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever
(2009) – Directed by Ti West
Tonetta – 777 Vol.II (BLACk TENT
prESS)
IlENE
Fujiya & Miyagi –
Ventriloquizzing (YEp rOC rECOrDS)
Soft-spoken grooviness.
Maserati – Pyramid of the Sun
(TEMpOrArY rESIDENCE)
Trippy, hypnotic electronics delivered at sonic
speed.
Gang of Four – Content
(YEp rOC rECOrDS)
Catchy and crunchy as can be.
Adele – 21 (COLUMBIA)
Only heard a couple of songs at the time of
writing this, but they were sooo good.
Wire – Red Barked Tree
(pINkFLAg)
A most melodic outing. Hard to believe this is
coming from only three musicians.
Marsen Jules – Yara (Remastered)
(OkTAF/FOrCED ExpOSUrE)
get lost in this organic neo-classical electonic
masterwork.
Shriekback – Life in the
Loading Bay (INDIE EUrOpE/zOOM)
Carl Marsh is BACk.
Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi
(101 DISTrIBUTION)
A voice to be reckoned with.
Free Moral Agents – Control
This (INgrOOVES)
genre defying side project from Mars Volta keyboardist.
Interesting.
Tricky – Mixed Race (DOMINO)
Tricky’s back.
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross –
The Social Network
(Soundtrack) (NULL)
Trent reznor at his best.
jAMIE S.
Alasdair Roberts – Too Long In
This Condition (DrAg CITY)
Alasdair Roberts is a prolific Scottish folk singer
who releases roughly an album a year on
the Drag City label. His latest is a collection
of very old murder ballads and ghost stories.
I love it because his talents as a musician and
storyteller bring these songs to life, and draw
you into the long ago. With his subtle but brilliant
arrangements, a sudden pause here, an unruly
shouted harmony there, a measure where
all instruments drop out except for handclaps,
the listener has a sense more of watching a play
than listening to a song. Of course, these ArE
stories, all tragic or sinister, but Mr. robert’s
gentle, folksy tenor makes you feel surprisingly
comforted, like he’s invited you in and you’re in
a cozy armchair with a blanket and he’s fixed
you some bergamot tea. Never mind that the
songs are about the devil luring young brides
away, murderous jealousy between siblings, or
the maniac home invader, “Long Lankin,” who
kills a mother and baby with the help of the
family’s own “false nurse.”
Most of the music is upbeat with brisk
Scottish reel tempos and arrangements
featuring fiddle, handclaps, and of course
lots of fingerpicked guitar. Alasdair Roberts
is quite an accomplished guitarist. The spirited
playing isn’t at odds with the subject
matter because, again, Mr. roberts gives
the tales a vibrancy, and also because he
sticks to shortened, simpler versions
lyrically. And there is a sense of distance;
these things happened so long ago,
they don’t seem as much like
nightmares, just curious folklore.
A few songs are slow and mournful,
such as “The Lover’s ghost”
or “Little Sir Hugh.” The album is
billed as “Alasdair roberts And
Friends” and there are ten
additional players. Everyone
does an excellent job, but my
favorite is Emily portman’s
harmony vocals which add
the right dreamy sadness to
complement Mr. roberts’ amiable
vocal delivery.
Prince Rama – Shadow Temple
(pAW TrACkS)
Imagine if Siouxie Sioux’s other band, The Creatures,
was jamming out with the cast of Hair who
were performing “Walking In Space,” or if L.A.’s
own pocahaunted decided to join in on some
Hare krishna devotional chanting. Then you’ll
have some idea of what prince rama sounds like.
Their songwriting emphasizes vocals, which are
often layered and choral, and the drums, which
are busy, tom-tom and cymbal heavy, with a tribal
feel. The group is signed to paw Tracks, Animal
Collective’s label, and there is a sonic connection
between these two groups as well. While
many of prince rama’s melodies call to mind traditional
Western hymns or carols, there is also a
strong Indian influence; lots of “Oms.” They also
like to yelp and whoop wildly on occasion. They
use distortion and echo to give their vocals a supernatural
sound. The male vocals are treated so
they sound especially low register; part monks
singing baritone and part foreign deity.
The band is made up of two sisters and their
friend: Taraka Larson sings, plays keyboards and
guitar; Nimai Larson is the drummer, who plays
standing up; and the third member is Michael
Collins, who plays synthesizer and sings. They
get extra points for being a three piece, but
sounding like easily triple that number of members.
They really do sound like a full choir and a
tribal drum section. Other instruments act
as a backdrop, added for emphasis, or are
sometimes used in a transitional interlude
before the vocals and drums take over
again. There is a joyful, celebratory chaos
to this album that I especially like. Again,
think of Animal Collective’s music. Over half
of the songs are based on traditional Indian
chants due to a shared childhood experience:
prince rama all grew up in the same Hare
krishna community in Florida.
p.S. Watch their live video to the song “raghupati”
on YouTube and I think you’ll love
them, too!
Forest Swords – Dagger
Paths (OLD ENgLISH SpELLINg BEE)
Forest Swords, a.k.a. Matthew Barnes,
a Uk electronic producer, uses a LOT
of ’80s proto-goth-art-punk icons as
inspiration for his ghostly, dramatic,
and menacingly sexy music. There
are rowland S. Howard (of The
Birthday party) style bright reverb,
Morricone on heroin guitar leads,
Bauhaus scratchy, skittery monster
treated guitar noise, distant Ian
MUSIC WE LIKE H Spring/Summer 2011 59