While I don’t consider myself an active listener of “World” music, one of my new favorite musicians has made me realize that I really need to explore this genre more. His name is Mamer and he is from Xinjiang, China.

Mamer’s reinterprets ancient Kazak folk songs with a modernized alt-country aesthetic, using instruments such as an open-tuned acoustic guitar, dombra, sherter (plucked lute), Jew’s harp, and dabel drum. He searches for inspiration from the old and new, saying “I always stay awhile with the old people in the mountains, learning their songs and traditions. Without this a whole way of life will be lost to the young generation. I want to breathe new life into the poems and songs I grew up with.”

Some contributing musicians on his debut release, Eagle, include French composer Hector Zazou, a throat singer named Ilichi, Bela Fleck, and Mamer’s former band IZ. Fleck and Mamer play dual banjos on “Celebration,” and it’s pretty amazing.

I can’t recommend this album enough. It’s soothing to the ears, original, and overall, just one of the most enjoyable albums I’ve listened to recently. Mamer sings in the Kazakh language, so there is absolutely no way one who doesn’t speak the Kazakh language will know what he is saying (unless you hire a costly translator, which I strongly considered doing, but ultimately decided against).

Eagle (2009):

Mamer – Kargashai

Mamer – Celebration

Myspace | Amazon |iTunes| Real World Records (label & more bio info)

Eagle does not release in the UK until May 15th, but you can Pre-order from Real World Records (link above).

If you are a fan of Jens Lekman, Ron Sexsmith, or Xiu Xiu, I highly recommend you check out the music of Sleeping States, which is the brainchild of musician Markland Starkie. Recently, I’ve been turning to his 2007 debut, There The Open Spaces, when looking for good music to chill out to. If you enjoy lo-fi, dreamy music, or music that has been influenced by knitting (see Myspace), this album has some fantastic songs for you to add to your rotation.

My favorite tracks off the album include “Rivers,” which has been one of my mix songs welcoming summer, as well as “Sleeping States, Or Who Has Been Rocking My Dreamboat?,” “I Wonder,” and the ten minute track “Memory Games.”

Starkie is in his late twenties, and based in Bristol. Although There The Open Spaces is his main release, he started Sleeping States in 2004 and has released EP’s before and after the 2007 release.

There The Open Spaces (2007):

Sleeping States – Rivers

Sleeping States – Sleeping States, Or Who Has Been Rocking My Dreamboat?

Site | iTunes | Amazon | Myspace

Passion Pit‘s “Sleepyhead” video was one of the cooler vids from last year (and Pitchfork endorsed!). Here we have the video for the new single from upcoming album, Manners. This song has taken some heat since it’s release, mostly because it isn’t “Sleepyhead.” And it’s tough not to compare the two. “Sleepyhead” was immaculate in it’s immediate, pop infectiousness and it was the world’s introduction to the band. Frontman Michael Angelakos’s falsetto was endearing and the backing story – that the entire EP was written as a valentine’s gift for his girlfriend – was adorable. “The Reeling” shows us a slicker, more-produced sound from a band introduced as a type of bedroom pop. Where “Sleepyhead” resonated immediately, “The Reeling” is definitely a grower. But for that reason, I’ve already become more fond of this track. And this video – beautiful girls literally tearing up a New York night – is the ideal reflection of their music. IndieMuse is psyched for Manners to drop, and until then will have to hold ourselves over watching this video on repeat.

Jens Lekman has released a new single/video with the help of a (group? sham? new backing band?) called the Sweptaways. I found it courtesy of the ever-wonderful I Guess I’m Floating. A few minutes of Jens riding sunny, chamber harmonies, crooning lost-love and dreams of eventual, emotional retribution. Sounds about right. I hope to see more from him soon, cause goddamn do I love me some Jens Lekman.

And just ’cause:

Jens Lekman – Black Cab

Hey everyone, since I’m totally strung out in preparation for graduation, just wanted to give you a quick mix. I’ve been out for a bit, so I’m gonna give you the accelerated version. As I occasionally do, here’s a little stream-of-consciousness mixtape of my recent musical findings.

(On the go? Here’s the entire mix as a ZIP file [zShare].)

First, from a fantastic compilation a friend of mine picked up in Northampton, just a slice from what is one of the grooviest collections of funk I have ever heard. Get it. Dance.

• MP3: Vibes Alive – “The Spoken Word (Remix)” from The Best of Cookin’

Positive vibrations ongoing. Upcoming Song of the Day on this next band soon. Their album is on frequent rotation over here–though I hear “it’s been out FOREVER!!!”…

• MP3: School of Seven Bells – “Half Asleep” from Alpinisms

Speaking of shameful neglegence–Midlake. Apparently, I missed out on these guys a bit at the time, but seriously… SO good. SO underrated.

• MP3: Midlake – “Young Bride” from The Trials of Van Occupanther

A brilliant compilation with emotion to be had from every performer. Probably the strongest attempt at getting so many popular indie artists together like this.

• MP3: Andrew Bird – “The Giant of Illinois” from Dark Was The Night

I have no clue where this song came from but its texture gets stuck in my head.

• MP3: Lands & Peoples – “Isabella”

Hmmm…. this one is happier. Like… WAY happier. I mean, it has bells… as we’ve come to expect from these guys.

• MP3: The Boy Least Likely To – “A Fairytale Ending” from The Law of the Playground

Speaking of celebrating happiness, Wilco is always refreshing… and they never mind laughing at themselves. I’m unbelievably psyched for their upcoming album (*cross fingers* Late June), supposedly includes some form of this song.

• MP3: Wilco – “Wilco (The Song)” from The Colbert Report

Can’t wait? Check out Wilco’s new DVD out now!!!!!

• MP3: Wilco – “Ashes of American Flags (Live)” from Ashes of American Flags DVD

Wilco keys player, Mikael Jorgensen, has his own thing going too and his influence is clear.

• MP3: Pronto – “When I’m on the Rocks” from All Is Golden

Another band I feel is underrated, Akron/Family has been getting me anxious for their new album.

• MP3: Akron/Family – “River” from Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free

On the local side, these guys have been making great music down the street, and I wasn’t hearing it. Thanks Brendan!

• MP3: Magic Magic – “French Song” from Magic Magic

As always, Passion Pit deliver with a bite from their upcoming.

• MP3: Passion Pit – “The Reeling” from Manners

Here’s a solid 9-minute electro-journey to the inside of your brain. Grab a bunch of their stuff for free on MySpace.

• MP3: Death By Panda – “Passion Fruit” from Celebration

My Morning Jacket has been pumping out the soul on all cylinders recently. Remember, if you haven’t seen them live… do it.

• MP3: My Morning Jacket – “They Ran” live in Las Vegas

This is just a really great song. You got it right, Binky… you got it.

• MP3: Binky Griptite – “You’re Gonna Cry” from One Time, You’re Mine 7″

Fact: Soul Sides is without a doubt the blog I could not live without.This trippy GEM reminds me of the score from Fantastic Planet.

• MP3: Ian Carr’s Nucleus – “Roots”

There will be a new Lips album this year… hopefully this summer… I CANNOT F%#King Wait! A nice little outro…

• MP3: The Flaming Lips – “In Excelsior Vaginalistic” from the Christmas on Mars OST

Stay tuned for more. I have a lot to tell you.

Thanks for reminding me about this gem, Monique!

“If they only knew he was a 9/11 hero…”

“They do.”

Springtime appropriate:

Tags: Hipster, Olympics, Video

I first discovered the Decemberists when Picaresque went big. Eleven, self-contained pop odysseys, each one casting the previous in shades of grandeur I had yet to experience with music. (It didn’t help that it coincided with the heyday of my fantasy-novel indulgence.) I moved back from there, absorbing Her Majesty and Castaways and Cutouts, obsessing over the Tain EP and sort of enjoying the Five Songs EP. Listening to the Decemberists became an event, almost a hobby. They were something I could move to out of boredom, disappearing for ten minutes with the high-seas treachery of “The Mariner’s Revenge” or dissolving to the Fievel Goes West solo in “Chimbley Sweep.” So when The Crane Wife hit, and the brilliant pop songwriting behind “16 Military Wives” was replaced with twelve minute prog-rock escapades a-la Animals-era Pink Floyd, I was disappointed. And with Hazards of Love, they’ve further indulged their penchant for long-winded guitar solos and sparse riffage.

The reason Picaresque was so absorbing was that the instrumentation propelled the story-telling. There was a give and a take between plot and musical action. As a whole the story is lost, and despite its concept album status and the high-arching, grand drama of the plot, it somehow lacks cohesion. It melds in controlled spurts, like on “The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid”, where Colin Meloy and some lovely lady trade dialogue over sharp, early seventies hard-rock riffs. But at the end of the album, I’m lost.

After several listens, I’ve gathered only the following:

1)That Love is Hazardous. But vaguely so.
2) Thistles Whiste in Bistly Mistle Histle Kistle
3) Judging from the bass tone, the Decemberists totally dig Hounds of Love-era Kate Bush
4) Chris Funk is still a guitar legend, despite any of the mean things I said above. That dude kills it.

From The Hazards of Love:

The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won’t Wrestle the Thistles Undone)

The Decemberists – Won’t Want For Love (Margarelt in the Taiga)

From Picaresque:

The Decemberists – 16 Military Wives

From Her Majesty:

The Decemberists – The Chimbley Sweep

Jack White continues to solidify his role as one of the most proflic figures in modern rock. He’s always creating, and never dissapoints. That being said, none of his divergences have ever quite lived up to the raw power of his White Stripes material, his new song under the name Dead Weather being no exception. For this band, White has teamed up with lead Kill Allisson Mosshart, Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Dean Fertia and Raconteur‘s bassist Jack Lawence. White plays drums and sings. Muddy, droning guitars back androgynous vocals (is it White or Mosshart? Whitehart? Mosswhite?) and a savage hi-hat attack, courtesy of White. For the time being, this’ll satisfy my Jack White intake. I’m still eagerly awaiting whatever he does as the Stripes next though.

Stream “Hang You From the Heavens” here.

I have several places of note I would like to direct you. Once a month, at a house in Allston, a bunch of folk singers get together to sing songs for each other. Along with my friend Addision, I covered this event for the Boston Phoenix. Addison also edited some footage for the Boston music blog EnoughCowbell.com, some of our friends. Here are several links to some amazing performances by some genuine Boston folk singers. And check back with EnoughCowbell over the next few days for some more footage. (Above photo credit: Ryan McCune)

The Boston Phoenix – Montage video and accompanying article. Brief into to the absurd talent gathered in the room that night. As we gather more footage, we’ll unveil these glimpses in full.

Akhil & Andy (of Banana Phonetic) – Two A.M. performance by IndieMuse’s own Akhil Bhatt.

(Above photo credit: Vincent Joseph)

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Cymbals Eat Guitars is a Staten Island four-piece that plays some pretty sweet indie-rock. End generic intro. Their album “Why There Are Mountains” plays like a slideshow – each track has it’s own flow, it’s own personality, it’s own definite chronological place, yet it retains the cohesion of a purpose-built album. The songs flow through valleys, high into peaks, and descend on the other side, guided by squealing guitars into a loopy haze (perhaps a literal interpreation of the album title?).

I’m dropping two tracks today, representative of two different sounds.

Spacey-keyboards start “Share” before giving way to the slow, industrial trudge on guitars channeling the axe-saw grind of My Bloody Valentine’s “To Here Knows When.” The requisite haze shimmers over the vocals and bass plods along, roughly mirroring the melody with several notes. The song plateaus as horns enter the mix, bellowing triumph over crushing guitars, and a screeching, Malkmusian guitar solo. Victory.

Cymbals Eat Guitars – Share

And here we have the opener. A see-sawing harmony teetters over screaming synths and guitars before the songs mellows, and the vocals enter atop softer, prettier instrumentation. It’s a six-minute joy ride. I’m pretty tired, and this album is now lulling me to sleep. So instead of half-assing the rest, I’m just going to tell you to listen. So do it.

Cymbals Eat Guitars – And the Hazy Sea

Also, if you dig this, you might be into All These Kings, a Boston based band and good friends of mine. Check em out.

All These Kings – Pay No Mind

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