Boogarins – “Erre”
Brazil’s Boogarins have created an excellent psychedelic pop record in “As Plantas Que Curam” (translated as Plants That Heal). It came out last Fall on LA’s Burger Records but after rave reviews for their live show from SXSW, they got a second push. Band members Fernando Almeida and Benke Ferraz are still in their late teens and met while in school in the central Brazilian city of Goiânia. Almeida is the poet and singer while Ferraz is the multi-instrumentalist and gear-head.
The Bogarim the band was named for is a jasmine flower the ancients say “smells like pure love.”
Take a listen to “Erre“.
Katie Herzig – “We Belong” and “Frequencies”
Nashville-based singer has been all over our airwaves as the female vocal on “We Belong”, arguably the best track off RAC’s long-awaited debut full length.
But earlier this month she put out her 5th studio album, and it should not go unnoticed.
I often multi-task when I listen to music, but when I put it on yesterday, I stopped everything I was doing within the first 15 seconds and turned it up LOUD.
“Frequencies” is a stunner and a great way to start a record.
I remember being extremely impressed when she came through KCRW in 2008 behind her album “Apple Tree” (and its’ standout track “Hologram”). I highly recommend giving “Walk Through Walls” a listen.
Inventions – “Peaceable Child”
I’m always on the lookout for great instrumental music. Classical can do the trick, but sometimes I’m looking for something a bit more modern.
Inventions’ debut LP is exactly that. It’s a project from members from Mark T. Smith of Explosions in the Sky and Portland-based ambient artist Matthew Cooper, who goes by the moniker Eluvium.
As their bio says, “the album’s eight tracks create their own tiny, wondrous corner of the world, one with ever-changing sounds and brilliantly affective colors.”
Neulore – “Shadow of a Man”
Just when I thought I was done with “ohhh weee ohhs”, and any chorus of the like, here comes Neulore with “Shadow of a Man”. It’s the lyrics that really get me.
For fans of Lumineers and Of Monsters and Men, this Nashville band does a good job of pushing this “new folk” sound forward. This song could easily be a huge pop hit.
RR