I'm heading up to Montreal tonight to see The Arcade Fire and may not be back till late, so as not to disappoint the Monday mornin' visitors, I'm submitting this very early. Cheers.
The Organ - "Brother". The opening song from The Organ's new LP, "Brother" is like a classic cut of 80s pop: Cure guitars and the sharp line of Katie Sketch's vocals. It's a sour and melancholy mix; guitars gnash, drums smash, and the organ pushes toward a long cliff drop. If Joy Division were a quintet of Vancouver women, this the song they would record after a long drive through a Saskatchewan summer. If female tigers learned rock'n'roll, this is the music they would play for their long lost boyfriends. When Sketch sings the word "rapture," it's a small and classic moment, a strange and perfect beat. [buy]
Sam Phillips - "Reflecting Light". Richard passed on this track by Sam Phillips, a name I didn't know. Further research shows that she's been releasing albums for years, with guest spots by the likes of Elvis Costello. "Reflecting Light" is an elegant waltz, Phillips' deep voice rising and falling with a considered poise. She doesn't over-emote: things are kept plain, true, even slightly mysterious. The song's show emotion is relegated to the long, swooning notes of the backing string trio. There's a lovely push-and-pull between these aesthetics - the indulgent romanticism of the strings, the slow-and-casual hook of the vocal melody. [buy]