Jan 31, 2012

Tarantella: Gothic Influenced Folk Music

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Tarantella-Kal-Cahoone-and-John-Rumley-gothic-folk-musicTarantella! You think that it is an Italian folk dance or a Chuck Mangione album, right? I would like to introduce a great band from America. I have met with this band several months ago. Hearing talented female vocal, amazing musicality and sound made the band one of my favorites. The music contains American folk, gothic, indie, and rock elements with a perfect sound. We also could hear Latin and Spanish inspired melodies. If you like to find a unique sound and musicality, do not hesitate to buy a Tarantella album. Their melancholic and moody melodies with a dark sound will fascinate you. Watch the video I gave below to discover a great band Tarantella’s gothic influenced folk music.

Tarantella Dame Fuego video has been added upon permission of the band. Buy the album from Amazon.

Kal Cahoone met with multi instrumentalist John Rumley and they decided to start a band together. Tarantella’s original lineup is Kal Cahoone, John Rumley, Chad E. Johnson, Robert Ferbrache, Kelly O’Dea and Daniel Grandbois. Some members are from Slim Cessna's Auto Club that it is also the great American folk band. Tarantella combines American folk, Latin folk, gothic, indie and rock elements with English and Spanish lyrics. You should hear Kal Cahoone’s excellent vocal with the dark and melancholic sound. Instrumental variety is also very good that it is possible to hear banjo, accordion, violin, guitar, Jew’s harp and the other instruments used in folk music.

tarantella-gothic-folk-latin-indie-music

Tarantella has only one album named in Esqueletos. The album was released in 2005. I do not know why they did not make more albums. I hope we could hear more albums from Tarantella with Kal Cahoone’s fascinating vocal. She also has other projects with different musicians. Gothic atmosphere, moody and melancholic songs, Latin inspirations, good combination with American folk made Tarantella a high quality band. All the songs in Esqueletos album are suggested extremely. They are perfect songs that I especially suggest Dame Fuego, Southern Cross, Chi Sa Dove Sara, and Mexican Wine songs.

tarantella-esqueletos-gothic-folk-indie-albumTarantella is a great band combines folk and gothic elements successfully. Do not lose the album named in Esqueletos. I have checked some music forums that some writers suggest the band to Mazzy Star and Calexico fans. Please visit Tarantella official MySpace to listen some of their songs. I believe that the dark atmosphere will affect your feelings and you will buy the album to support them so that they make new albums.

http://www.myspace.com/tarantelladenver

Bye for now!

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Jan 24, 2012

Beirut: Balkan Music Influenced Indie Rock

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beirut-balkan-music-indie-rockToday I would like to write something about a young musician’s band Beirut. Beirut is an American group formed by Zach Condon. He is very young and successful musician. He is only 25 and he created appreciated works. He used to play trumpet in a jazz band before he formed Beirut. His music combines world music and indie rock elements successfully. He met Balkan Music during his trip to Europe. Some musicians like Goran Bregovic and Boban Markovic affected him. He was also interested in local music and musicians. His subsequent explorations shaped his musical structure and development. I could say that Zach Condon and his band Beirut is one of the most important musicians in world music with the great fusion of Balkan Music and indie rock. Their music does not only contain funny Balkan Music songs. Some of their songs will take you to another world.

This video has been created with Creative Commons License. It is not a subject of copyright.

Beirut’s instrumental variety is impressive that they use modern and local instruments together. They use trumpet, flugelhorn, ukulele, accordion, cello, melodica, percussion, glockenspiel, French horn, trombone, tuba, and many instruments with modern music instruments. Instrumental variety is one of the most important items their musical diversity. Zach Condon plays trumpet, flugelhorn, ukulele, euphonium, mandolin, accordion, and various keyboard instruments. After Zach came back from Europe, he studied in the university. During this period, Zach formed Beirut with his friends. He also recruited some of his friends to play in live shows. Although some of members left the band, new members did not change the band’s musicality negatively. They improve their sound continuously. Zach also have some side projects that he performs different genres like electronic.

Beirut has some albums and EP’s. Some of his EP’s are in album size. Let us see Beirut discography and some of my suggestions.

Studio Albums

  • Gulag Orkestar (2006) is a successful debut album. Balkan Music elements combined with modern elements perfectly. I suggest this album extremely. The Gulag Orkestar, Brandenburg, Postcards from Italy and The Canals of Our City are my favorites. Balkan Music elements in sentimental way will fascinate you.
  • The Flying Club Cup (2007) contains more Balkan brass band and indie rock elements. It is also my favorite album. Nantes, A Sunday Smile, In the Mausoleum, and St. Apollonia are my favorites. Do not lose the album.
  • The Rip Tide (2011) is the last album of Beirut. It contains less Balkan Music elements, more indie rock. I also suggest the album highly. The Rip Tide, Vagabond, and Payne’s Bay are my favorites.

beirut-gulag-orkestar-album beirut-the-flying-club-cup-album beirut-march-of-the-zapotec-holland-ep

EP’s

  • The Guns of Brixton / Interior of a Dutch House (2006) is an EP made with Calexico.
  • Lon Gisland (2007)
  • Pompeii EP (2007)
  • Elephant Gun EP (2007)
  • March of the Zapotec/Holland EP (2009) contains 11 songs like an album. It is influenced by Zach’s Mexico trip. Holland section of the EP contains electronic elements. I suggest it highly.

Beirut has two DVD’s. Cheap Magic Inside released in 2007, and Beirut: Live at the Music Hall of Williamsburg released in 2009. I suggest the first one highly.

Beirut is a successful band that I suggest it extremely. Their songs will take you to another world. Please visit their website to listen to Beirut songs’ preview and buy their albums. Do not lose the magical albums and EP’s.

http://beirutband.com/

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Jan 8, 2012

Dengue Fever: Cambodian Music in Rock and Psychedelic Indie

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dengue-fever-band-cambodian-rock-musicDengue Fever! It resembles a disease, right? It is also a pop rock band from Los Angeles their music influenced by Cambodian music. The band’s music includes pop, rock, indie and psychedelic elements with a Cambodian vocal. I have discovered Dengue Fever, while I was trying to find some new stuff on the internet. I found an album cover and it made me think that it’s a psychedelic album. While I was listening to the album, I read the band’s story. Dengue Fever’s founder Ethan Holtzman went to Cambodia to find a singer. He met with a Cambodian singer Chhom Nimol. She is already well known karaoke singer in Cambodia. After they met, she decided to move to America to make more money and Dengue Fever has been founded. I like immigrant influenced groups or artists. Their music is really interesting and listenable. In my previous posts, you could find some immigrant based groups like Kiosk from Iran. Please click here to read. You will like it.

This video has been created with Creative Commons License. It is not subject of copyright issue.

During the Vietnam War, some radio stations were founded to cheer up soldiers. Those radio stations played songs from well known groups like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Local people also listened to those stations and they were affected by music. Local people founded some groups and made music in western style fusing with their local music. I used to live in China and I visited some countries like Vietnam, Thailand and Philippines. I listened to many local groups that their musical ability is very high. If you visit Hong Kong, find Amazonia Rock Bar. A Philippines based rock group plays there. You could understand Far East people musical ability. They are perfect. Anyway, let’s talk more about Dengue Fever.

dengue-fever-venus-on-earth-albumDengue Fever music is really good that it includes indie, rock, pop and psychedelic elements. This variety makes their music different form ordinary indie groups. At least, they have cultural items to add their music. Dengue Fever’s music neither totally ethnic music influenced by Cambodian music nor pure indie music in an ordinary pattern. Listeners feel comfortable, while they are listening to their music. Chhom Nimol’s different voice color, psychedelic elements, other musician’s contribution raises the bar. Songs are in Khmer language until the third album. Before I give suggestions about Dengue Fever albums, I could suggest their self titled debut album Dengue Fever.

The group has some albums given below;

  • Dengue Fever (2003) is the debut album that lyrics are in Khmer (Cambodian) language. Songs are cover versions of 60’s Cambodian rock groups. The debut album is the band’s best album that it’s extremely suggested album. Let the album makes you feel very good and comfortable with Cambodian lyrics. The song named in 22 Hours is the best I think. I’m Sixteen; Hold My Hips are other suggested songs. Actually, all the songs in the album are extremely suggested. Buy it!
  • Escape from Dragon House (2005)
  • Venus On Earth (2008) is the album that I listened first time Dengue Fever. Some of songs are in English. Tiger Phone Card, Sober Driver, and Women in the Shoes are extremely sound. This album is also suggested extremely. The album selected one of the best world music albums by iTunes.
  • Sleepwalking Through the Mekong (2009)
  • Cannibal Courtship (2011)

dengue-fever-band-cambodian-debut-albumDengue Fever is highly listenable group that you could find psychedelic, rock and indie elements. It is also group that you will never feel regret due to buy their albums. Let the band bring you to their world with their different and listenable style Visit Dengue Fever’s official website and official MySpace profile page to listen to preview songs and get more information. Don’t lose this band.

http://www.denguefevermusic.com

http://www.myspace.com/denguefevermusic

Bye for now!

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