Darren Hanlon, The Lucksmiths, Corduroy

In 2007 Fingertips and Mountaintops was released, featuring Elbows By Darren Hanlon, that was my favourite song that I actually didn’t know for a while, but now that I know it better, I love it more :)

Darren, currently living in Sydney first started performing solo in 1999. Since then he has released 3 albums (Hello Stranger, Little Chills, Fingertips and Mountaintops), 2 EPs, and four singles with Candle Records. 

His genre is described as folk-pop, folk-rock, and folk-punk. One gets the impression he has a folk base.
Darren plays guitar, banjo, and I think a few other instruments as well as singing beautifully
I would have to say that Wish That I Was Beautiful For You, Elbows, and Punk’s Not Dead are my favourite songs so far.

Before going solo, Darren was in the Simpetons*, and also played keys for The Lucksmiths, which I’ll get to later.

His lyrics are described as intelligent and witty, and he likes to do ‘intimate’ shows, which means he goes to the small towns, and just plays in the local pub. Twice he has played in my very own tiny hometown, the first time I had never heard of him, and therefore didn’t know about it, and the second time I was going to another concert the next day, and I wasn’t allowed to

But if I’m still around when he gets back from touring the UK, and he happens to be playing near me, WATCH OUT, I’ll be first to get tickets, maybe.

The Lucksmiths are also with Candle Records, and equally as great in my opinion. Now, I actually don’t have much to say on them, not owning any records, having only head their stuff while on roadtrips with friends, all I can say is go to their Myspace, and decide for yourself!

Branching into another world really, I am going to talk about Corduroy, an acid-jazz outfit, based in London, who it’s great to have a little wiggle to
Just so you know, I know next to nothing about acid jazz, except for the fact that it’s great music! Corduroy have released 5 albums, and unfortunately, their Myspace only has one song – boohoo.

Well, I officially have a stupid (no, dumb) cold, so I shall try to blog more often… if you can relate those to phrases, please tell me what the link is!

Ciao!

First in, best dressed

I was reading my monthly jmag, and it said there was like, 5,000,000 artists or something amazing like that on Unearthed.com, and I realised how it’s like, WOW! But, it hasn’t daunted me in the slightest, for it was only the other day that I went (thanks to jmag) and found another 3-4 bands on there that I really like – Pear, The Tiger & Me, and Lei Mai* Swan – and there was more, but I’m lazy

*Mei Lai Swan – could I even get her name right????????? She is totally amazing though!

Unfortunately I am not going to do all the hard work for you today, as the internet has been going SUPER slow, and only going to some pages – Unearthed isn’t one of them, so I am actually unable to make it easy for you. BUT! IF YOU FOLLOW this LINK, you should get to Uneathed.com! Hopefully the fact that I can’t access it should mean nothing!

Okay – review time.

Pear (A.K.A Steph Lees) is from Brisbane, and plays everything from guitar, to piano, to accordion, (sounds a bit like me) and I LOVE her voice!  Really rootsy etc.
She is also in the band Maudlin, Moot and Badger – which I also cannot find anywhere – anywho. Steph’s blog is here, and I found it interesting to spend 10 mins reading the list of bands that she likes….

Next up-The Tiger &  Me.

Beautiful. That’s what I say. They have the whole girl/guy harmony thing going, so there is a hint of Angus & Julia, but Alleyway is more pianno-y/jazzy, but the ‘chorus’ is so sad, and pretty. Just listen. I think you may understand me then, maybe.

Murder In Uniform is really good also, but as with That Ghost – Brendan Welch  (that song isnt’ there, but it aint anywhere else!) I find the lyrics a bit creepy.

The Forsaken Few is yet ANOTHER great song from these guys – they must be good, I like ALL THREE of their songs! This one has a more Laura Marling style, but Jane and Ade switch around with the vocals, which I like, cos it adds a lot more variety…

Mei Lai Swan is great! So great that I actually went and bought her cd!
She has a nice, deepish voice, and beautiful cello playing done by herself.

I’m Always Doing Good is a darker piece with (for lack of better description) a swaying feel. It’s pretty much just about how great she is, doing good stuff, but should she think she’s so great?

Come as You Are is has a lot more of layered strings and harmonies etc. It also doesn’t have as much of a firm beat. Not my favourite, but still good.

Whereas ‘Remember The Circus’ is again a laidback jazzy piece. In this, as all jazzyish voices do, I am reminded of the Waifs’ Sundirtwater. With the cello doing all sorts of cool jazzy basslines (actually, maybe it’s not a cello… it sounds a bit deep to me. Well, I can’t tell you. Sorry) it even has a horn and saxophone section – yum.

And my equal but different fave of her songs is Lullaby for a Winters Night. It is beautiful, with the cello doing amazing phrasing and arpeggioletic things underneath. I think I must be a sucker for strings or something, but it’s just sensational! Her voice is so adapt, like, in this song its husky and quiet and beautiful and sad, and in others its hard and jazzy etc.etc. and I really admire that.

Well, I hope you have a great time listening, it’s good stuff! I spose I should probably do more on the weekend eh? My list of bands to blog about is about 15 long, and growing. Sigh.

Taataa