accountancy 

Open mic nights and guitar shops are full of covers of ‘Stairway to Heaven’, pub rock is full of ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and Puff Daddy sometimes samples them but there is another side to Led Zeppelin that is worth exploring. The simple acoustic side. This song comes from Led Zeppelin three which has such classics as ‘Immigrant song’ but this and a few of the other tracks on this album have a more reflective quality. This song is devoid of Robert Plant vocal histrionics and Jimmy Page guitar noodles- not to say these don’t have their place but this song shows the depth of Led Zeppelin. Robert Plant sings of playing childhood games and John Paul Jones I assume shows his multi instrument skills by playing a mandolin. Jimmy Page plays huge open chords ringing out accompanied with some slide guitar that reflects the melancholy of Plant’s youth. In this song, you can hear the direct influence of Zeppelin on artists such as Jeff Buckley especially on his song ‘Last Goodbye’. The song has some beautiful Beatle esque harmonies with Robert Plant. It’s sincerity is in it’s humble nature, not something you would expect from Led Zeppelin. 

More than just clever word play, this song off Jim O’Rourke’s album Eureka is one of the highlights of ‘pop’ Jim O’Rourke. I say ‘pop’ Jim O’Rourke, as sometimes you don’t know what you’re going to get with this enigma of modern music. Currently residing in Japan, delving in film scores and avant-garde albums seems a long way away from this song. Not saying this song is ‘pop’ in any conventional means. It begins with Tortoise guitar work with tight drum patterns, which makes no surprise considering Gastr Del Sol’s, but then breaks into a Burt Bacharach ascending piano sequence with even a trumpet. After you feel you have a hold of the song it dissipates with a piano chord flickered into a smart production effect. The song then takes on a different tone completely and becomes a string, piano and trumpet led sequence reminiscent of maybe an ending credit sequence of a film. It certainly shows an influence now shown in artists such as Sufijan Stevens or even Owen Pallet. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoaYAVVB99E

https://twitter.com/#!/Goodbyeoldpaint

In a world that has created minimal dance music (See Ritchie Hawtin for Techno, Burial for dubsetp etc) there has now been an evolution to a concept of maximal dance music. This could be defined by the use of multilayering production techniques being used. Flying Lotus is one of the leading exponents of this phenomena in the Hip Hop field. Laurel Halo could be considered to be a dance music peer in this new music style. 

 In this single which contains 5 tracks (more of an EP really), displays a refreshing positive sound. The production and synthesizer swirls may have similarities to early 1980’s sounds such as Arthur Russell, another famous Arthur in Arthur Baker’s production for bands such as African Bambaataa and New Order, or even Madonna, there still seems a uniqueness which is ensured through the structure of the songs. It’s hard to predict where each arpeggiated synthesizer line is going to take you.  Laurel Halo also has a beautiful clear voice which envelops into open spaces in each of the songs shown here. In my personal favourite track ‘Embasy’, the voice yearns to be heard reaching scaling highs but not stretched. Some of the tracks are reminiscent of Animal Collective in the Merriweather Post Pavillion track guise but in a more reflective gaze. It’s also a collection of songs that grow with each listen and that might be due to the maximal genre demands but they never seem to be mundane. 

8/10 

Brazil, one of the world’s biggest and most diverse country is famous for sun, football, and carnivals. So what is the music like? Due to David Bryne’s record label Luaka Pop, exhibitions of Tropicalismo in the Barbican, and it’s direct influences on Beck and Kings of Convenience. Brazilian music has a higher profile than it has ever had before. So here is a brief introduction to the music. Once again I won’t claim that it is complete because that would be naive but I’m sure you will find something there. Also my Portuguese is non-existent so I won’t be able to focus too much on the lyrics.

1.  ‘Um Tom’ by Caetano Veloso

 I chose this song due to the beautiful simplicity of the song and it’s arrangement. Caetono is part of the famous group of Tropicalismo artist’s who came to prominence in the 1960’s as a visual art and musical reaction to the military government. This is a later piece by Caetano Veloso.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5B11-k-tkM (Live version with added audience voice over/shaky camera work) 

 2.  ‘Procissao’ by Gilberto Gil.

 Gilberto Gil was another member of the resistance movement in the 1960’s. This song highlights the Tropicalia sound perfectly. The fusion of 60’s pop styles such as The Beatles and Rolling Stones with the more traditional carnival big drums and Brazilian acoustic guitar style.  Gilberto Gil was Brazil’s minister of culture from 2003-2008.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxW5tG87i5o (There are two versions of this song but I prefer this one)

 3.  ‘The Girl From Ipanema’ by Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto

 It would be impossible to miss this off any Brazil compilation. One of the most famous songs demonstrating the sweet sounds of bossa nova. The bossa nova style was  devised from the samba style but also highly influenced by American blues and jazz. It was, if possible, a folk music for the middle classes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJkxFhFRFDA (Beautiful live version and awkward hip shuffle)

 4.  ‘ A Minha Meina’ By Os Mutantes

 Another song possibly familiar as it has been covered by The Bees. OS Mutantes are one of the best bands ever to come out of Brazil. I love this song for the gentle nature of the vocals which are then punctuated by the visceral fuzz guitar riff which recurs throughout the whole song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEpSFOibJho

5 ‘Ponta De Lanca Africano’ By Jorge Ben

 Jorge Ben displays the more funky nature of Brazilian pop music. Not to dissimilar to the music of Parliment, Jorge creates music that is perfect for carnivals with a huge influence of the samba style to his music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpQNOVDWur8 

 6. ‘Pequines E Pitbull’ By Seu Jorge

 Seu Jorge is most famous for his David Bowie covers on “The Life Aquatic’ OST but he is also makes music in his own right. He is seen as the spearhead of the modern revival of samba music following the inspiration of Jorge Ben and also the Samba School in which the dancers of the carnivals learn their trade.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5WkakZMRf4

7.  ‘Mais Que Nada’ by Sergio Mendes

 This song is famous for it’s association with the Brazilian football team. It seems to get re-released every World Cup. However sport and music are very much hand in hand in Brazil especially in Football with songs being dedicated to stars past and present.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDlVZNfxVtE (The original version) 

8.  ‘Vida De Cachorro’ by Os Mutantes

I know their 2nd apperance on this compliation but this shows a different side of Os Mutantees. The more mellow sound bares similarity to The Beatles (Especially The White Album era)  with it’s finger picking and if you ca get past the animal sounds at the end it’s well worth a listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4WdqZBtd1s (Great video if you like dogs as well- apologies that it cuts of)

9. ‘Let’s make love and listen to death from above’ by CSS

 To end with, I have chosen a very familiar song to English ears.  CSS started in the Brazilian underground scene and are now international stars. To gain success in Brazil, early releases of their albums were accompanied with a blank CD, so that the buyer could copy the CD for someone else.  It also show’s the future is bright for Brazilian music.