Burial – Untrue.

I have received a lot of emails recently, and they are either asking about the Radiohead webcast or about Burial. The two are intertwined, as Thom Yorke played ‘Near dark’ during his dj set. So I figured why not give Burial his very own _wednesday_weview.

I came across Burial from a remix he did of Block Party’s  ‘Where is home?’ and was hooked. I started seeing his name in blogland more and more so tracked down his sophomore album ‘Untrue’, and it’s a fitting album to review following Foley Rooms, because Burial also samples life and uses found sounds. Recent interviews reveal his samples include “Vin Diesel’s car keys in a film, bullet casings hitting concrete in Metal Gear Solid on the PlayStation”.

Running 13 tracks long, this atmospheric, corroded two-step album is ideal headphone space. There is an unnerving tension that pervades this release that I just love. The faintly skittish beats seem to resist their own pace, radio static and atmospherics try to conceal the heavily manipulated vocals, but the snatches of melody are the hook that will have you waking up with the refrain running through your head.

‘Untrue’ is both a step back to dubstep and a step forward to a new place. A place that Burial is intent on sharing, but most reluctant to advertise. ‘Untrue’ will definitely make the top ten for 2007

THINK: Enigmatic home produced london street music
READ: A Burial interview in the Guardian
WATCH: Ghost Hardware Clip
BUY: Download Untrue at Amazon

Joanna Newsom Plays Sydney Festival

“Joanna Newsom performs her astonishing symphonic album Ys, accompanied by the Sydney Symphony in the grandeur of the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall”
- Sydney  Festival

“Music form another, better planet”
- Evening Standard

How’s that for timing? I reckon you should check out the review, listen to a few more of her tarcks, rush out and buy the album, then high five me on Sat 26th January ‘08 when we have a beer after an amazing performance. Who’s in?

G

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