| Indie
Spins
June
15, 2004
by Michael Walls
First
Time Around
Welcome to the first installment of my column "Indie
Spins." As the title suggests, I will be writing
about indie music and will try to bring you regular servings
of suggested listening from the world of independent music.
Sleep Station
After The War (2004)
A
concept album, After The War touches on various
stories and emotions of being a solder during World War
II – love, longing, fear and death. If not for the
clarity of the lyrics and emotion of lead singer Dave Debiak,
this album could pass for a feel-good pop effort, along
the lines of The Beatles. But because of its storytelling
and unique song structuring, Wilco and Coldplay may be Sleep
Station’s nearest cousins. Except for punctuated interludes
of the sounds of war, like “Drums of War” (with
the sound of whistling soldiers marching into war) and “My
Darling” (of a soldier reading a poem to his darling),
the music is filled with crisp hooks and solid pop melodies,
worthy of radio play and movie soundtracks.
Links:
Sleep
Station website,
Eyeball
Records website
Emil McGloin
The First Time Around (2004)
This
debut CD by singer-songwriting Emil McGloin isn’t
something that will slap you in the face and make you scream
“WOW!” But, I don’t think McGloin is looking
for that type of audience. Emil McGloin plays a hybrid style
of blues and folk, with a dash of hip-hop and soul. On The
First Time Around McGloin follows a formula similar
to Pete Yorn or Willy Porter, where the catchiness of his
melodies and appeal of his mature vocal style aren’t
apparent until you find yourself singing along and tapping
your toes during the – well, third time around.
Links:
Emil
McGloin website
Smoke & Mirrors
The Perfume of Creosote: Desert Exotica Part One (2003)
“Ambient
world music” would be the closest label to pin on
this release by Smoke & Mirrors. But describing the
general genre of 23 tracks isn’t an easy task. This
richly layered instrumental “desert soundtrack”
can be loosely compared to Euphoria or Deep Forest, but
because of rhythm-heavy beats and uptempo trip-hop sounds,
a comparison to Moby is in order. Throw in some swirling
psychedelic trance sounds, some tribal beats, and some sampled
desert noises (like birds and wind), and you’ve got
yourself an aural journey through the Sonoran Desert.
Links:
Aural
Fixation Records website
Julian Velard
Make Me Feel (2003)
Listening
to the music of Julian Velard is only topped by experiencing
him Live. The music of Velard creates an environment that
makes you want to stand at a bar sipping martinis with
a room full of hip friends and strangers. As Velard alternates
between sitting and standing behind his keyboard, pounding
out a funky jazz groove – while his “A Band”
fills in the sound with horns and strings behind him –
you might feel compelled to throw out a wave in his direction.
And Velard, should he catch your wave, will easily smile
and wave right back. Make Me Feel is as close
to experiencing Julian Velard Live, without inviting him
over to your house. All you need is the martinis and some
friends.
Links: Julian
Velard website
(Michael
Walls is a volunteer staff writer for 2 Walls Webzine)
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