Island, Jo Gabriel’s fourth full-length album (released in 2005) is probably an ideal introduction to her work because it holds new songs and others from earlier releases. Jo takes the indulgences of This Mortal Coil and weaves them inside traditional and otherworldly piano pieces, accompanied by strings, fretless bass, guitar, her sometimes unusual vocals and Linda Mackley’s perfectly balanced percussion. Whilst the results are obviously off-centre, they remains deliciously melodic and listenable even if the lyrics travel to other places.

Live:

Island – iTunes UK
Jo Gabriel – Official Website

A reggae tinged ballad with horns, fingerclicks and a rarely used but all-important slap bass. Perhaps its something in the arrangement, because each time around, the chorus gets more desperate and pleading.

Warning: this song is likely to stick in your head once listened to.

Bertine Zetlitz: Rollerskating – iTunes UK

If you’ve ever found yourself wandering around The Ectophiles’ Guide to Good Music then you should buy Sofia Talvik’s debut album Blue Moon. Recorded with the amusingly named The Tallboys, it’s a sweet collection of acoustic alt-folk songs. So expect much strumming and picking of guitar strings, upright bass and cello. As a bonus you’ll get some adorable songs and Sofia’s pure vocals.

Blue Moon – Official Store
Blue Moon – iTunes UK
Sofia Talvik – Official Website

You’re fond of Fiona Apple, yes? Today you fancy something a little more raw in delivery but still lyrically visual? This one might be for you. I particularly like the piano and drum break towards the latter half, which turns the song into something quite thrilling, temporarily flipping Judith Shimer’s piano into a supporting role.

Mudd – MP3
Pretty Balanced – Official Website

I was planning on a different track today, but this just snuck in, took my hand and stole me away.

Ghosts comes from Sofia’s first album, Blue Moon, and proves beyond doubt that ice and snow help make the best music. Her second album Street of Dreams was released in 2007. Like all wised-up musicians she runs her own record label and store.. and blogs!

Blue Moon, Street of Dreams – Official Store
Sofia Talvik – Official Website
Blue Moon – iTunes UK
Street of Dreams – iTunes UK

Whilst Amazon procrastinates¹ on sending me Eisley’s second album, Combinations, out this month, I’m making do with their debut, Room Noises, released in 2005. This five piece group from Texas (four siblings and their cousin) makes charming friendly music which borrows from Belly, second generation Throwing Muses and touches the outer reaches of Concrete Blonde. Most songs are dominated by the DuPree sisters’ perfect (and imperfect) harmonies. None more than this delightful track, which cuts back on the instrumentation to let their voices do magic.

Room Noises – Amazon UK Import
Eisley – Official Website

¹ Update: It’s just despatched!

This project by Rhys Fulber, former member of Front Line Assembly and Delerium is known mostly to the dance crowd as the writer of the Sinéad O’Connor vocalled Tears From The Moon which featured on their 2003 self-titled debut. Pilgrimage comes from the follow-up Extraordinary Ways.

Initially screwing totally with the ‘stick your best track third on the album’ philosophy, Pilgrimage features wordless vocals from Leah Randi and Joanna Stevens, but introduces itself with a piano and pad intro under which a slow pitched down drum loop beats mysteriously. So, yes, it starts like one for the Dead Can Dance fans. Then it changes into an almost epic-house piano track, pinned by soaring strings and acoustic guitars, plus those fabulous voices.

Extraordinary Ways – Amazon UK
Extraordinary Ways – iTunes UK

Charlotte Martin’s Something Like a DVD was released in 2005. Intended as a “thank you” to fans who hadn’t yet seen her live, it was re-released in May this year. The DVD is a relatively intimate performance recorded at The Silent Movie Theatre in Los Angeles on 17 November 2005. As such, it bridges between 2004’s On Your Shore and last year’s Stromata album. The re-release adds a CD with seven new songs and a solemn studio reworking of Four Walls.

Whilst the majority of the live songs are simply accompanied by piano and synth (the latter sometimes mixed way too high), Four Walls also employs the breakbeat backing track that propels the song as it appears on the Veins EP and Stromata. The physicality of Charlotte’s live performance rejuvenates this song, making it one of the best on the DVD.

Something Like a Trailer:

Something Like a DVD – Amazon UK
Charlotte Martin