Jessie Ware - Testing Your Preferences

     Some songs lend themselves well to allowing listeners to get a better understanding of their musical preferences or to gain confidence in the accuracy of their current understandings. Jessie Ware’s “Say You Love Me” is one of those songs. Even though it doesn’t change genres as the song progresses, it includes the type of variations that allow the listener to reflect upon featured elements. It is often minimalistic, so the variations stand out.

     Here is our self-analysis:

     1. At the outset, the vocals are supported by guitars, but the mixing emphasizes the percussion more than the guitars. Indie Obsessive prefers the traditional percussive sounds. Electronics are fine, and actually add to the attractiveness of some songs. But listening to the first portion of “Say You Love Me” has us wondering how much more we would enjoy the song if an old-school drum set were used. Ya know, one that doesn’t require an electrical cord extending from it.

     2. At around the 2:37 mark, the song starts a crescendo. At 2:53, the intensity undergoes a second acceleration. Self-analysis: Indie Obsessive loves energy surges. That’s not likely to ever change.

     3. At 3:09, a choir enters. We have heard others assert that using a choir is a low-effort means for re-engaging listeners. Self-analysis: If use of a choir is a means of manipulating us, Indie obsessive doesn’t care. We enjoy choir-infused Indie.

     4. Finally, at 3:58, everything else falls to the wayside and Ware’s voice carries the song home. Unlike earlier portions, it is the sound of one voice and it is just an acoustic guitar. Self-analysis: Indie Obsessive agrees that for this song, with its message, the down tempo departure was well selected.

     “Say You Love Me” by Jesse Ware

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessiewaremusic

Website: http://jessieware.com/

"Nineties Child" by NÖME – A Song Review

    NÖME is a four-piece anthemic band that recently released an EP entitled “Eagle.” The members of the London-based band are Rachel (lead vocals, keys and rhythm guitar), Jack (lead guitar), George (bass) and  Kayleigh (percussion). Count Indie Obsessive among its quickly growing base of fans.

     If you attend a concert performance of the New York band Bleachers, the lead singer (Jack Antonoff) will ask if you are a child of the Nineties. Then, they will launch into a cover of the Nineties hit “Dreams” by the Cranberries. Well, NÖME does them one better; the song “Nineties Child” is receiving much deserved attention in the blogosphere. But our preference may be the title track, “Eagle,” since the first half of the song captures all of the features that we love from the Australian band The Jezabels.

     "Nineties Child" by NÖME

     "Eagle" by NÖME

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nomemusic

Website: http://www.nomemusic.com/

Folks We Oughta Know – The August Version

     Semi-regularly, a post is dedicated to the Indie Folk genre. Today we received an email from a friend, Bob G., who has a broad range of musical knowledge. Among Bob’s suggestions was a song that fits the description of being Folk we oughta know. The recommendation from Bob was “From The Wreckage (Build A Home)” by a duo based in Austin, Texas. The song surfaced in 2013, but we missed it.

     The Austin duo is Dwight Baker and Patricia Lynn, who perform under the name The Wind and the Wave. The percussion that is first heard at the one-minute mark is the feature that pulls us into the song.

    " From The Wreckage (Build A Home)" by the Wind and the Wave

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewindandthewave

Website: http://www.thewindandthewave.com/

     From New York arrives 5J Barrow with its song “Talking My Soul.” The song has its surges and its lulls, with no warnings of the upcoming transitions between the two. It’s a song that would be energizing to see in concert.

     The members of 5J Barrow are Eryn Murman (vocals), Jason Hite (vocals and guitar), Eric Namaky (vocals and piano), Michael Hunter (violin), Ian Hunt (percussion) and Hayden Frank (bass).

     “Talking My Soul” by 5J Barrow (Currently, the band is allowing free downloads in the Wav format.)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5jBarrow

Website: http://www.5jbarrow.com/

     Oxford & Co. is Sam Stephenson and Cameron Potts from Sydney, Australia. Two songs are embedded below. They are among five songs in a Noisetrade offer at http://noisetrade.com/oxfordandco/oxford-co-ep-by-oxford-co. “Twenty Days (& Twenty Nights)” is our personal favorite from the duo, but “Love Is Gone” is not far behind. “Love Is Gone” has a Johnny Cash feel to it, but does become somewhat repetitive in its center portion.

      “Twenty Days (& Twenty Nights)” by Oxford & Co.

      “Love Is Gone” by Oxford & Co.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/OxfordMusic

Website: http://www.oxfordand.co/

     Vio/Miré hails from Providence, Rhode Island. “Dogs 1” is the most intimate of the songs within this blog post. But almost by default, a song that uses the cello can be identified as the one that presents an intimacy. The members are James Falzone (synthesizers and keyboards), Brendan Glasson (reed organ, guitar and vocals), Dave Noyes (cello and trombone), and Emily Dix Thomas (cello). 

      “Dogs 1” by Vio/Miré (Currently, the band is allowing free downloads in the Wav format.)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viomire

Website: http://sealooks.net/

    Wooden Wand is the performance name of singer/songwriter James Jackson Toth of Joshua Tree, California.
     “Staying Up” by Wooden Wand is the performance name of singer/songwriter James Jackson Toth of Joshua Tree, California.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodenwand

Website: http://www.woodenwand.org/