Alright, I’m back. For how long who knows, but here we go, bringing up the lovely Yula again, of Nanuchka, World/Inferno, et al). This time, she’s got a whole different assortment of folks, and though some of it is fairly familiar (Thumb Cinema mostly so, due to it already having been lent to World/Inferno for their last record, though it has certainly evolved into a fairly different song by now), there is a lot of craziness going on here, most notably from the opener, Back Off America, which was almost too crazy to get into, but has since endeared itself to me greatly.

The whole album is available at Woodland Records, which is quite nice of them, though they also provide a means to not only buy a physical copy, but to donate if you enjoy it. It’s fairly similar to what they’ve got going at Quote Unquote Records, which has a bunch more bands I need to get to on here one day.

From Victor
Back Off America – (MP3, 3.7 MB)
96 Yulix – (MP3, 5.3 MB)
Thumb Cinema – (MP3, 6.2 MB)
Magical Acoustic – (MP3, 3.4 MB)

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Please allow me to introduce you to Django Reinhardt. Despite what you may hear from other either/or writers, no one has ever heard of Django Reinhardt before. Django Reinhardt was one of the first European jazz artists. His long musical career allowed him to span from original jazz in the 1920s to the charleston. He played even into the 1950s. Django has always been known as one of the world’s greatest jazz guitarists despite having his hands partially crippled in a house fire when he was 18. Django’s music is always good for driving on a moonlit night with the windows open. Especially when you have nowhere in particular to go.

From Django Reinhardt Discography
Swing From Paris – (MP3, 02:37, 3.6 MB)
I Saw Stars – (MP3, 02:49, 2.6 MB)
Hungaria – (MP3, 02:49, 3.9 MB)

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Gabriela Kulka reminds me of Regina Spektor, if only because they are ladies who jam out on pianos. Gabriela’s music is more of a cabaret style, which inevitably means that I like it more. And while some will certainly call it blasphemy, she is also a much better singer. Though these three songs are the only ones of hers that I like, she’s got a bunch more linked on her site. And I can’t think of anything else to say, and nobody reads this far anyway, so just grab the songs and go!

From Out
New To Somebody – (MP3, 5.3 MB)
Pilot – (MP3, 5.9 MB)
Shark – (MP3, 3.8 MB)

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It is funny that Ant has made mention of mix CDs, as I have neglected this site recently because I got caught up in making my own mix CDs for various internet folk. Nevertheless, I have been informed indirectly that I am a bum and should post more. And what luck! I have just the band for you.

So, The Cat Empire, a band from Australia that mixes all kinds of styles, such as gypsy, jazz, ska, etc., and manages to make it sound cohesive. This particular recording was done in Cuba, and their surroundings definitely seem to have left a mark on its overall tone.

They assert that we should “get so funk-inflicted it’s a crime”. Every day that passes without you listening to this band is a travesty.

From The Cat Empire
The Wine Song – (MP3, 6.8 MB)
Hello – (MP3, 3.5 MB)

From Two Shoes
The Car Song – (MP3, 4.0 MB)
How to Explain – (MP3, 3.3 MB)

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Let’s tie things in together, shall we? This 10 minute long collaboration between Guignol and Nanuchka does a good job of sounding a lot longer. Plus we’ve got Jack Terricloth (of World/Inferno, et al, though his real name is Pete) sounding in for a duet on Captain Sensible Calling.

Anyway. This kicks off with a familiar Guignol tune, but with some delicious female vocals (in Hebrew) laid over it. This works surprisingly well, though it’ll confuse your friends if you put it on in the car (I know this from experience). We then get some random instrumention, a right rocking track, and the duet of which I have already spoken.

Nanuchka claims to have a more reasonable length record out, but damned if I’ve been able to find a way to get it. They’ve got some other tracks available at their site, but they are mostly embedded in flash, so good luck! Since Red is one of them though, I have kindly provided you with a tasting right here.

From Drink the Best Wine First
Red – (MP3, 2.9 MB)

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Continuing on from Eva Cassidy, we move into more modern times with the acclaimed Norah Jones. It’s not often that America gives Grammy’s to artists who actually deserve it, but I guess there’s a time for everything. Norah took home an impressive amount of them back in 2002 (I think) with her first album Come Away With Me.

But uh oh, mainstream appeal? Never fear folks, I’m here to give Norah the official either/or seal of approval thanks to a very smooth, silky voice, beautiful songs and some great lyrics. While I don’t confess myself to be knowledgable on all things concerning jazz, I knows what I likes and I do likes this! Tunes such as Feelin’ the Same Way and Nightengale give us listeners a taste of something just a tad bit more uptempo, while tunes like Come Away With Me and The Nearness of You strip it back down to something that’s quite intimate and pleasing.

And she’s a cutie. <3

Unfortunately, thanks to the crappiness that is flash, you’ve have to navigate to the Media page on Norah’s website to check out some of her songs.

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It’s not often that I get the opportunity to step out and get some music that I happened to stumble across, but hey, here I am! Eva Cassidy was recommended to me by a friend and woo nelly, she sure was right in recommendin’ her! Cassidy has quite a striking voice, beautiful but powerful at the same time, seen in the very accomplished album Songbird. Covers are her forte surprisingly enough, as she definately has (or had unfortunately – she passed away in 1996 as a result of melanoma) the talent to make the songs her own.

Ranging from soul (People Get Ready), to jazz (Wade in the Water and Wayfaring Stranger) to quiet, acoustic/piano combos (Autumn Leaves), this 1992 release is still a joy to listen to.

Combining jazz and soul with such a pure voice? A winner, I say!

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Accordion, tuba, clarinet, etc., instruments seldom heard over the airwaves. This collection of musicians are like the village bicycle — the artists themselves mingle within other bands (World/Inferno, Anti-Social Music), as well as provide backing for various artists (Mischief Brew, Nanuchka). Additionally, they have released a self-titled collection of instrumental compositions.

You want a genre amalgamation? I would give you gypsy-punk-jazz. Except that sounds pretentious, so never mind. Listen to some clips.

From Guignol (self-titled)
All or Nothing Machine – (MP3, 2.1 MB)
Tea House – (MP3, 2.9 MB)
Bad Day at the U.N. – (MP3, 2.5 MB)

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To paraphrase Jim Gaffigan, not only is Katie Melua beautiful, but she can SING! What a double threat, indeed. If Norah Jones was slightly more influenced by pop music and had smoother vocals, she’d probably sound pretty close to Ms. Melua. Then again, maybe she wouldn’t; I can’t say I’m an expert in alternative universes (maybe I am in an alternate universe).

Unfortunately, the media I’ve got for you today is just audio clips, but the aural quality more than makes up for the lack of chronological quantity.

From Piece By Piece
Piece By Piece (MP3, 811 KB)
Spider’s Web (MP3, 490 KB)
Shy Boy (MP3, 806 KB)
Nine Million Bicycles (MP3, 685 KB)

From Call Off The Search
Crawling Up A Hill (MP3, 559 KB)
My Aphrodisiac Is You (MP3, 690 KB)

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