Joanna Newsom & The Y Street Band

Joanna Newsom should have featured somewhere on Triplejaysus before, but sadly I think due to lack of courage on my behalf, she hasn’t. Her album ‘Ys‘ was too late an entrant to feature in the top ten albums of 2006, but probably should have. Albeit harp music from a pixie like Newsom with the voice of a ..um..pixie. Come to think of it, she plucks like a pixie too. (Bit of Blue for the Dads.)

This self titled EP, a  play on words ( when you know that the previous album ‘Ys’ was pronounced ‘eeees’) is a collection of two new arrangements of previously released tracks, and one new composition, ‘Colleen’. What is noteworthy this time is the presence of the Y Street Band, made up of some of her touring band. Soft duets, virtuoso banjo (always wanted to say that) and strings flesh out Newsom’s compositions as much as you could say they need fleshing out.

If you like music that rewards an investment, then Joanna Newsom’s music is for you. Each listen reveals another chapter, and you become focused on a new portion of the oft 10+ minute opus’s’s’s. Its a delight for those willing to put in the time. And just in case you missed it - she plays the harp.

THINK: Next best thing to a JN longplayer
READ: A particilarly wordy interview with JN
WATCH: The Hypnotic Joanna Newsom
BUY: Ys and JN&TYSB at amazon

Sharon Jones and The Dapp Kings  -
Just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in

Previously:
Friday Funk #4 - The Watts Breakaway - Johnny Oti
Friday Funk #3 - Staussmania - Salinas
Friday Funk #2 - Your way too - Dragons
Friday Funk #1 - Green Day - Mo’ Horizons (12? remix)

Waldeck  - Ballroom Stories

Klaus Waldeck is one of the original purveyors of the Vienna Sound. Together with the likes of Kruder & Dorfmeister, Tosca and Madrid del los Austrias (snigger snigger) he took the world by storm with a unique blend of nujazz downtempo beats.

Waldeck is back with Ballroom Stories, and it’s a doozey. Waldeck guides us through jazz and swing, with hints of Tom Waits along the way. Joy Malcom and Zeebee purr over sublimely produced beats, strings and keys. I featured ‘Addicted’ on the October Edition of Borrowed Beats, and ‘Make My Day’ is featured in a Mercedes add at the moment.

This is a sophisticated album from a sophisticated individual. I thoroughly recommend it to all my sophisticated readers and listeners.

THINK: K&D Meets Zero 7
READ: Waldeck’s Home and myspace pages
WATCH: Get Up Carmen Clip
BUY: Ballroom Stories At Amazon

 ..cause I’m the duckinest, dodgenist, dancinest cat you ever knew!

Previously:
Friday Funk #3 - Staussmania - Salinas
Friday Funk #2 - Your way too - Dragons
Friday Funk #1 - Green Day - Mo’ Horizons (12″ remix)

I couldn’t finish the week without a Radiohead Update (_radio_update). It seems that not only has everyone spent the week listening to In Rainbows, but we’ve been asking eachother what we think, and did we steal it?. It seems that everyone has an opinion - from Portishead to the Whitehouse (seriously). Fans have written plays, been submitting cover art, and remixes - and now mash up’s. ABX show just how funky my favourite track (neck and neck with Nude) Reckoner really is.