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Wow! Whattashow.
More photos soon.
Tasseomancy + Suspiria
@ Dalston Roof Park
29.06.11
[tickets]
Here is a band I first met over two years ago. I immediately fell in love with their storytelling and beautiful voices. The sound now is very different from what it was then; much more rounded and full – they’ve come along way. After working so closely with them for the past half year, even the change between now and January feels huge. They have a new album titled ‘Ulalume’ out in North America (Out Of This Spark) and in the UK (Turf Records) in August. The album will be available digitally elsewhere, or you can import CD/vinyl from OOTS, or a beautiful candle + matchbook set w/download code from Turf.
For those unfamiliar, Tasseomancy is the work of sisters Sari and Romy Lightman (formerly Ghost Bees). The new album was recorded last winter at home in Canada with the help of their friends Taylor and Simon (Timber Timbre), who play on and produce the record. Sari and Romy live in Toronto and also sing in friend Katie Stelmanis’ pop group Austra.
This will be their first headline show in the UK since May of last year, and it promises to be one not to miss. On a day off from tour with Austra they will treat punters to a set amongst the greenery of Dalston Roof Park, plus there will be a screening of the personally chosen classic Suspiria.
They are brilliant. I promise you.
Listen to a song here:
Come see them live! One month to the day.
Martha singing the last song her mother wrote…
Heartbreaking. The part at 2.35 where Martha’s voice trembles and she cries broke my heart there and then and again now.
Not sure what’s inspired my Kate & Anna kick, but this is beautiful.
Brilliant rehearsal footage from last year:
The best is at the end! Love Over And Over is one of my favourite songs ever. Sung by Rufus, Martha, Anna, Teddy Thompson, Lisa Hannigan, Nick Cave and more.
The resulting concert at Royal Festival Hall was one of my favourite I’ve ever been to. A beautiful, sincere and moving tribute show.
Niki And The Dove at The Haunt, Brighton
On Thursday my friend Laura came up with the idea of going to Brighton to see Niki and the Dove. I had missed the London show on Tuesday because I was at Braids (wrong move) and Laura said we could get a burger beforehand, and that was the deal breaker.
Brighton is so easy to get to from London. I want to go there more for gigs. The Haunt is a short walk from the station and the perfect venue for this kind of music (Austra are playing there in July – makes sense also).
Niki And The Dove is the best pop group I’ve seen in yonks. Here is ‘DJ Ease My Mind’:
Singer Malin is effortlessly spellbinding. She dances and gestures to the music, and it looks beautiful. Facepaint, glitter and bubble machine in tow, they played as a trio and the sound was huge. You can tell the music has been influenced by a lot of other musicians I adore, but the whole thing is pulled off so well that you can forget those other groups whilst you’re there watching them play. Plus added Swedish charm. They used flutes and bird whistles and grinned ear to ear at the end of each song.
Very wonderful. Keep your eyes on Niki And The Dove…
Review: Hurray For The Riff Raff at The Old Queen’s Head
Honestly, hearing ‘acoustic guitar + fiddle duo’ makes me do a precautionary wince; but it was unnecessary for Hurray For The Riff Raff, who were lovely. Alynda, a New Orleans via New York lady, was utterly charming. Her songs were honest and her voice was beautiful. What separates her from a lot of the acoustic guitar weilding songwriters I see filling so many support slots across London, is she seems to be drawing inspiration from real (interesting) places. She left home at 17, and traveled the States. Her tribute to her friend, murdered a couple of years ago at just 21, titled ‘Sali’s Song’ (from the new album), was beautiful and heartbreaking. ‘Daniella’ was my favourite song – a wonderfully open and unambiguous love song to another girl. The room suited the show perfectly and it felt like a very intimate show.
While it was just a duo this particular time, HFTRR is also a full band. I’d love to see the whole band at some point.
Pick up the new album if you’ve not got it! Out via Loose Records.
I wasn’t digging it. It felt like Dirty Projectors minus all the good things I love about Dirty Projectors. They weren’t bad, it just felt very derivative of other bands. Still, it is their first album and maybe their sound will develop more in the future. They played enthusiastically and seemed to be having fun – which always makes me happy to see. The crowd were into it too, so maybe it was just me.
This was beautiful.
Before you know it, she’s built a whole landscape from looping a vocal phrase.
Check out her new album ‘The Magic Place’. I think I bought it from Bandcamp for $8 or something. Worth every penny. Glad to finally see her live after repeatedly missing her at SXSW.
This was good! I like his new album and it was nice to hear the songs live.
Yes, his stance is always like that.
I saw Dark Dark Dark play a few songs under a bandstand, a full set at The Lexington and another at The Tabernacle this month. I can honestly say they are one of my favourite bands I’ve come across in the past year. They write really great songs and something about them just feels special. Their stage manner is polite, grateful, sweet and genuine and it really endears me to them. I love the album ‘Wild Go’ and the ‘Bright Bright Bright’ EP, and hearing the songs performed live was a delight. As a whole band, they’re brilliant. Each member is an excellent musician and contributes to the overall sound. Together, it’s wonderful.
Here is ‘Daydreaming’: