Faunts - Feel. Love. Thinking. Of. (2009)

9.8

This is pretty not new, but wow, was I missing out. Hello 80s melancholy love electronica. This really reminds me a lot of M83's Saturdays =Youth, just without all the ambient electronic flourishes. This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it sure is mine.

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More (2009)

Hi. How are you? Or so Spongebob says.

9.7

Every song here ends up being a pulsing anthem that leaves you a bit wasted and expectant. Am surprised where it ended up because I skipped around it quite a bit at first, but it got me today, like a hook in the eye.

A post.

Fotosputnik - Translucent Marmoset (2009)

7.8

A soundtrack to space travel, I say. Maybe it's because of the satellite-photograph cover, the band name, the song titles, or maybe it's just the vision I have of Jimi Hendrix and Syd Barrett aboard the Starship Enterprise that comes to mind while listening to this album, but if ever you were planning a trip into outerspace, this is the album for you. It begins and ends strongly, with whirling soundscapes that slowly reveal themselves, see "Victory Expo" and "Action Kids". The pulsing rhythms and distortia (did I just make that word up?) also house a number of field recordings, bringing additional texture to the instrumentals. The middle, however, begins to fly a little off course as things begin to slow down and drone on a bit. Then again, this is krautrock, a term I am not in the habit of using as I don't really listen to all that much of it. So I am sure tried-and-true krautrockers will find much to love in the mid-section as well.

The CD format comes in silkscreened and sewn envelope, with a hand-numbered colored insert. With ony 222 made it is of the very limited edition type.

BTLA, Vol. 9

Scouring iTunes, why bother? I already have. You needed a little help, you know, a break, right? Here's a collection of the most interesting new releases, from groups I had not a clue about, on iTunes this week. (I know I'm lame.)

Albums:
Israel Darling - Dinosaur Bones and Mechanical Hands

EPs & Singles:
Mapletons - Gunpowder
The Nobility - Gentle Giant
Cale Parks - Two Swift Mars

So How Was That Review

That being my first somewhat fleshed out review, how was it? I know I have at least one more coming up, but I would like to be in the realm of decency, so let me know your thoughts...

Megafaun - Gather, Form & Fly (2009)

8.9

Purchased on a mere whim, this is quite good. You see, somewhere out there the name Bon Iver was put next to Megafaun. And it turns out that it's not because they sound alike (for the most part), but because they play a part in the story that became Bon Iver. If you remember, Justin Vernon headed off to that cabin because his band had disbanded and etc. Megafaun was the band he left, although they then went by DeYarmond Edison.

To me this is a summer night, with a nice cool drink and good conversation. In general, this is folky Americana, but with a playful approach to instrumentation and song structure. While there are standout tracks that you could take with you just about anywhere, there are still some that seem to require the confines of the album as a whole. There are long-drawn intros and/or outros filled with field recordings and a series of varied suites. At times I seem to find myself wondering if they simply got lazy and didn't fully flesh out the songs. But the deftness with which they layer all the disparate parts together tells me other wise. And each time your patience seems to be rewarded with soothing harmonies and delicate melodies.

The vinyl format comes with 2 LPs, 3-sides of music and 1-side art. The album insert was printed on a quarter folded piece of newspaper featuring, on one side lyrics and album info, and on the other this picture:

It also came with a digital download. (Pst...they have beards!)