Confinement by decree seems to be norm across the globe. We find ourselves in an unlikely situation where now more than ever we resort to the digital space to search for the latest news and to come across new music to help us ease the mounting pressures of today’s uncertain times. It was precisely while conducting this online exercise that I had the pleasure to find ‘Out of My Body’ by Mexico’s Roberto Mauricio Martinez, A.K.A. The Poetry.
This song narrates what appears to be an out of body experience. Roberto delivers his vocal in a Paul Banks style to let us know that: “Somebody is flying / maybe could be my soul…that is somebody / Out of My body”. These mystical lyrics are complemented by 3D synth textures finding their way to gain the listeners’ attention, almost as if they were yelling at the sorcerer to take part in a spell…spooky??? Nahhhhhh….on the contrary, I’d recommend to dim the lights and to dance carelessly as the Kraftwerk bass lines and subtle guitars make ‘Out of My Body’ even more enjoyable.
The Poetry has landed! What appears at first to be an ode to the 80s takes on a personality -and of course, a soul- of its own, allowing us to break away from what we hope to be temporary and to look forward to that festival where we’ll hear and dance to ‘Out of My Body’ live!
There was I time when I was a 24 hour rocker. I had long hair, listened religiously to New Jersey’s WSOU 89.5, and discarded any type of music that did not have a power chord in it. That all changed one summer when I became friends with DJ Luis Enrique Bocanegra A.K.A. Kid Chalupa. He is responsible for letting me know that other music genres can also ‘rock’. “The spirit of rock n’ roll also lives in house music”, he told me once at a party he was DJing at. It was true, for a self-confessed rocker like myself it was a discovery to see that house music did drive people into a frenzy, in a good way : )
Over the years, he introduced me to the likes of Masters at Work, Kid Cudi, Jill Scot, Chic, and of course Breakbot. 2010’s ‘Baby I’m Yours’ has been a staple of dancefloors over the past decade and I am certain that their latest release will too. ‘Be Mine Tonight’ instantly brings to mind the cadence of Earth Wind & Fire mixed with Chaka Kahn vocals, and a Giorgio Moroder wall of sound carefully constructed to include slap bass, Nord synth textures, and string stabs. “Can you feel my heartbeat?” asks singer Capucine Delaby A.K.A. Delafleur, at 116 bpm the answer is yes!
At 1:56 the strings take on a larger dimension, adding glamour and bringing an almost spiritual energy with them. I feel that ‘Be Mine Tonight’ could easily fit the scene in Saturday Night Fever where Tony Manero kisses Stephanie Mangano on the dancefloor. There is no dialogue but that scene is clearly about two souls destined to meet. When they lock eyes under the mirror ball, the vibe matches Delafleur’s lyrics perfectly: “Would you be mine? / You make my world go round”.
Years after my conversion into a house music fan I can say that
this song rocks!
‘Be Mine Tonight’ was released on March 13th on Ed Banger Records and Because Music.
Julia Bardo’s latest single ‘Please Don’t Tell Me’ reminds me of a Wes Anderson film, where the sum of distinct scenes give the storyline its full meaning. DISCLAIMER: This is a blog about music…nevertheless, this song challenged me in such a way that I’ve had to tap onto another art form (film) to give it an honest reading.
Julia “directed” the alt-indie ‘Please Don’t Tell Me’ using John Lennon’s vocal echo effect for the visual design (see definition), and Sheryl Crowe’s croon –circa ‘the Globe Sessions’– for the cinematography (see definition). The lyrics/scenes certainly evoke dissimilar situations. Opener “Watching shows on TV at night”, sure clashes with pre chorus “Cause I can watch you cry”. It is chorus line “Please don’t tell me who I am / Please don’t tell me who you are” where Julia -channelling Wes- hints what her film turned song is about…at least for me.
I interpret ‘Please Don’t Tell Me’ to be about one of those sudden soul searching (tear-gas induced) moments where we see ourselves in the mirror, and realize that we are here only for a while and we should make the most it. The closing “I just wanna have some fun / Running wild and never stop” confirms my hypothesis. I love Julia’s approach to song writing and directing, and I am sure you will too.
Film making 101 class, dismiss!!
‘Please
Don’t Tell Me’ is part
of her debut EP ‘Phase’ released on 6 March on Wichita
Recordings.
Catch Julia during on the remaining dates of her UK tour
with The
Orielles this month:
Mar 13 – Liverpool, UK @ Studio 2 Mar 14 – York, UK @ Fulford Arms Mar 19 – London, UK @ Pin Ups Mar 21 – Sheffield, UK @ Delicious Clam Mar 28 – Halifax, UK @ Orange Box
I recently stumbled upon “Tournament” by Brooklyn’s Nation of Language (NoL), a 4 minute description of a man’s journey through the streets of New York in search for his own identity…poetic?, it’s about to get better.
NoL isn’t afraid to draw from the 80s. Singer Ian Devaney elegant baritone blends well with a Yazoo 808 beat, a Peter Hook baseline, and Depeche Mode textures. Musical alchemy meant to swiftly cast a spell on the listeners, inviting them to sing along to the words -“I can build a world around me underneath the light”-, and dance while having introspective thoughts about what place they occupy in the universe.
‘Tournament‘ is part of the string of singles to be released by NoL from their album ‘Presence’ out in April this year. Next time you go out, you’ll find yourself dancing to this track!
And the story goes…I first met AmyJo in October 2019 through a common friend –the great Lee Chamberlain from Alpha Circle– who invited me to check out her show at a venue in Latina, Madrid. “It’s an acoustic performance”, he said. I happen to be a fan of the guitar + vocals format, as it allows the listener to get the ‘naked’ version of the songs and makes for an intimate performance. Therefore, I walked into the venue with that concept in mind. Indeed, the performance was intimate but far removed from a performer just strumming a guitar over vocals. AmyJo came on stage with a ‘Karen O’ circa 2004 outfit and handed and array of toy instruments to those in attendance, to then crack a few jokes and start her set with the energy of a hurricane. It hit me right in the face…and I loved it!!! She encouraged the audience to clap and sing along, making us feel like were on stage with her while being at the greatest party ever.
The track that gives the name to the EP ‘Smile & Dance’ starts out with Bloc Party (banquet) drums and a Debbie Harry like vocal doing ‘Maria’, accompanied by an enticing bassline and minimalistic guitar work. Elements that work perfectly together, strutting on route to CBGB’s with the swagger of a very well-rehearsed gang of rockers settled on nothing but getting signed by Seymour Stein. Less than a minute into the song we hear Amy Jo confidently sing (I also got the mental image of her commanding the troupe with a tambourine): “Smile like you have never smiled before / and dance like it’s your first time on the dancefloor”. From that moment on the band lets it all out, making the song an instant crowd favourite while becoming spiritual label mates of the Talking Heads and the Pretenders. I would like to highlight the bridge where the band gets to showcase their skills, constructing an atmospheric landscape, with syncopated beats and synth textures, mixed with spoken word…genius! “Smile and dance / cuz you’re here anyway,” that’s AmyJo singing in the coda as Seymour nods to his head of A&R, who in turn instructs the intern to blast the volume for all of midtown Manhattan to listen to this 24 kt gold. plated gem. I’m hooked and I want others to taste the potion!!!
Courtesy of facebook.com/amyjodoh
‘Now it’s gone’ channels Madness at their purest. Ska guitars complemented by a horn section and an equally sexy vocal delivery courtesy of AmyJo, both seducing the airwaves and building up the track to let the guitar wail away with a thunderous solo. AmyJo sings: “Don’t wanna think that someone took It away from me”…trust me, nobody could have gotten a hold of that guitar solo as it was ripping out of the speaker. Rock fans out there, beware.
Other tracks include the Johnny Marr guitar sounding ‘Arise’, and the more Elastica-belligerent ‘Rats’ and ‘New Year’s Revolution’. All three ready-made for this summer’s festivals, denoting this band’s talent and their ability to craft a set of songs that supersede the bounds of 432Hz, making me feel –just as I when I saw AmyJo’s acoustic set- like I was at the greatest party ever. This is a long awaited cocktail of nu wave and dance rock that will make streaming platforms collapse : )
Those of us lucky to be based in Madrid will have a chance to catch the band launch their brand new EP next Friday the 13th at ‘la Cocina’ (Get tickets here). Will you join us??? You have to!!!
