It is raining beautiful music lately. This 5-track EP that was released in 2010 is among the purest things I've heard all year. Swedish singer-songwriter Amanda Bergman aka Idiot Wind is working on her debut album as we speak (or type) according to her website and I'll just pray that's the truth, because I need to get my hands on more of her amazing voice and beautiful intimite songs.
Google taught me that Idiot Wind is a Bob Dylan-song, just like "Mama, You've Been On My Mind". So one might think Amanda is into Bob. However it is, this is a great cover of a great song. And it's not the only one.
"Canary Bird" is the most intense piece on this 20-minute release that has that one flaw of being over too soon. But that is the only 'bad' thing I can really say about this. After hearing it just once, I ordered myself a copy (which I received today, I am now the proud receiver of a Swedish package) and the digital version is on non-stop rotation whenever I'm somewhere near my laptop.
This might just end up being my favourite EP of the year, slightly ignoring it is over 2 years old. I've fallen in love this year, that's what counts (for me)!
Balto is back. Their 2011-release October's Road was a very special album for me. I've listened a lot to it last year and it's still one of my favourite albums to help me gently fall asleep in the dark hours of the night. The new release is called Monuments and is another great addition to the list of releases this collective has been putting out there in 2012.
Balto is a productive and very talented collective: Daniel Sheron is Balto's main writer, Andrew Sheron aka Everyman Of Parts has released his great debut album Travelling Time earlier this year, John Glouchevitch aka Jeannot released a beautiful debut Turner Street EP and Philippe Bronchtein aka Hip Hatchet has made one of the best albums of the year with Joy and Better Days. I should probably find out what the other 2 members of the collective (Charlie Freundlich & Sam Budish) have been up to lately, because I will probably enjoy it a lot. I'll just have to figure out what names they're using..
Back to Balto though and the new little masterpiece they've delivered. Monuments holds 6 beautiful Americana-songs that show progress when compared with the previous release, but is unmistakenly Balto. When you hear that guitar start after 5 seconds and Daniel starts singing you feel right at home. This EP will undoubtfully find her way to my 2012-endlist (which in my mind I've been working on just for a little bit, probably a result of that Fall kicking in these last few rainy days) and that will be well deserved.
Another beauty from this talented collective that'll be played an loved over and over again for the rest of the year and beyond. Oh, and did I mention it'll only cost you 4 Dollars to get it (as if you needed anymore reason to get it..)?
Neil Halstead has just released his latest album Palindrome Hunches and the few songs I've heard so far are absolutely beautiful. A singer-songwriter with a great voice and even greater songs, a rare combination. The songs remind me a lot of Nick Drake, which is among the biggest compliments I can give to a musician, Neil is either related to Nick Drake or inspired by him. Doesn't really matter, his music is of the same fine quality. That new album is still finding her way to my mailbox, but I'll surely get back on this one. Beauty in all its forms!
No loud Monday Morning Kick-Off this week. Sleep wouldn't come most of the night and I refuse to wake up for now. Perfect little songs like Paper Aeroplanes writes them so well are just what I need today. Have a good week.
Here's some Sunday Night Jazz for your listening pleasure. Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey played at the North Sea Jazz Festival this year and it was one of the best concerts I've seen this year.
They have released their latest album Race Riot Suite last year and played the entire album for us. Hearing this live was absolutely beautiful, but the album is also very good. It is Jazz with a fine edge to it. It's roaring, sizzling, hammering and it's got a great vibe to it. Now that I'm listening to it again all day, I can assure you that this is excellent 'feel good'-music.
Race Riot Suite is their 21st album and there's a special theme about the 1921 Tulsa race riot. You can even download an iPad-app with all the background information or find out more about it on their website. That brutal piece of history has evolved into a stunningly beautiful album on which the jazz combo makes vivacious music, taking you on a journey into history.
One of the best concerts and one of the finest additions to my ever-growing collection of music for 2012: Race Riot Suite.
Two months ago The Foreign Films released a new single called "Sweet Sorrow / You Were My Summer Sun". Two fine songs, released together, just like last year. "Sweet Sorrow" is by far my favourite, is has a great Beatlesesque sound to it and half a dozen other great influences. But it's still his own sound. After that fine duo-release from 2011, The Foreign Films have (or has, in case of a one-man-project) done it again!
Strike three for my "a-fine-song-every-evening"-theme, I randomly came up with last night.
Rural Ghosts are back! 4 months and 4 days ago (I swear I don't plan this shit) I admitted to love "Bright Side" from their March-release Rural Ghosts EP and they've released their new single "Eyes" about 4 weeks ago. And I just can't get enough of it. Think Snow Patrol, but better and darker. Perhaps I Am Kloot is a more suitable band for comparisation (thinking out loud here..).
B-sides "Scatia" and the Manchester version of "Eyes" (whatever that may mean) are both pretty nice tracks and make this a fine 'complete' release, but that single version of "Eyes" is simply beautiful. Get it (for free) @ http://ruralghosts.bandcamp.com/.
In Februari of this year Burningboy released his debut EP The Dark Months and it is a Beauty! Four fine songs with "Rise (to Meet You)" as the best display of this man's qualities. An intense voice that reaches into your soul combined with a fast guitar makes this a song easily played over and over again.
It's songs like this that makes me love music so much.
All of the music files featured on this site are for sampling purposes only. If you like any of the songs, please support this band/artist and go buy the albums. If you are the legal owner of a music file or picture featured on this site and would like this removed, please contact me @ jeroen[at]pluginbaby.nl and everything will be removed as soon as possible.
Plug in Baby! is a music blog dedicated to sharing beautiful music. I don't care about styles or hypes; if it's good, i'll share it. Words are
scarce, I prefer to let the fine tunes speak for themselves. Long reviews about great albums are rare, but not impossible.
