Glass Vaults - Sojourn

Gorgeous. Everything that Glass Vaults has been, but warmer. Glass Vaults' new album "Sojourn" is launching in September. The two releases so far indicate an evolution from what I experienced as a ambient melodic electronic focus with often-times dense minor scale textures, to what might be a more guitar-driven (but not dominated) sound, and a sunnier tonal outlook. The "Sojourn" single is my favourite of the two tracks released so far, "Sacred Heart" being the first release. "Sojourn" is a simple love song with a big heart, and layers of rich melody, texture...and light? Impressionist music maybe. The cover art hints at this. Richard Larsen's vocals seem enhanced by the context. And the second lift of the song at 3:10 is one of those dopamine moments. I recommend you listen to this on very good headphones, or on a sound system with good bass response. The beautifully-constructed video is the work of Ryan Fielding, and uses some footage from the much-missed "Camp A Low Hum" music festival which I regret never having attended. The love song could just as easily have been for the festival, a meeting of those that follow alternative life paths and the music that seems to be an integral part of it all. As it is, Paul Simon's "Graceland" and the NZ summer are also objects of the artists' affection here. I will be buying "Sojourn". If you would like to listen to the first two singles right now, or even get acquainted with historical material, please go to the link below. I own everything Glass Vaults have released so far.

http://glassvaults.bandcamp.com/

Glass Vaults - Sojourn

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Ffunny Ffrends

From 2011's "Unknown Mortal Orchestra" album (their first), and to mark my first time attendance at a live performance of Unknown Mortal Orchestra (UMO), here is the first track released by UMO back in 2010, "Ffunny FFrends". UMO are Ruban Nielson (vocals/guitar), Jake Portrait (bass) and Greg Rogrove (drums). Described as an "American and New Zealand band" due to their Portland, Oregon base, and American band members, nonetheless, to me this is a quintessentially New Zealand offering, with Ruban Nielson (ex-Auckland's "Mint Chicks") dominating the creative process. Pitchfork magazine said the following about the first album - "an expert use of space rare for such a lo-fi record, UMO manages a unique immersive and psychedelic quality without relying on the usual array of bong-ripping effects". That very lo-fi "space" meant it took me awhile to warm to UMO, but I am now pretty much fully onboard, although I find my affection quite polarized between tracks, with some of the tracks still not dragging me in. That might just be my problem though. I do love "FFunny Ffrends", "Thought Ballune", "How Can U Love Me", "Nerve Damage", "Little Blu House", and "Strangers are Strange"- yup, pretty much the entire album! UMO have a new album "II", to be released on the Jagjaguwardue label sometime in February 2013. The band are touring as part of the release process. I am very much looking forward to seeing them live. You can buy the first UMO album at the link below:

http://www.fatpossum.com/products/unknown-mortal-orchestra

UMO wiki here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unknown_Mortal_Orchestra

For details of their Wellington gig on Friday January 4th, 2013, please see the link below:

http://www.bodega.co.nz/2013/01/04/unkown-mortal-orchestra/



Unknown Mortal Orchestra -  Ffunny Ffrends (OFFICIAL)