1. Jib Kidder ‘Library Catalog Music Series: Music For Hypnotized Minds’
This sometimes strange, oft-mesmerizing album arrived in the post a couple of weeks ago, and hasn’t been far from the top of the playlist pile ever since. Sure, this Georgian dreamscapist is making records that create moods rather than snappy pop tunes, but he’s melodically adept and an excellent and inventive guitarist, in addition to being a beats master and imaginative sonic painter. There is nothing on Youtube from the new album as yet, but I strongly urge you to check out this clip of ‘Windowdipper’ from 2008’s ‘All Yall’ for a taster:
2. Colourmusic ‘My _____ Is Pink’
They hail from Oklahoma, but comparisons with Flaming Lips are lazy and wide of the mark. The band’s first UK release on Memphis Industries drops in the UK on April 4th, which is followed by a bunch of UK shows in May. A clip of ‘Yes!’ from the album can be viewed here:
3. Hiss Golden Messenger ‘From Country Hai East Cotton’
A very lovely record by the puzzlingly named Hiss Golden Messenger is occupying a fair amount of our time here. It’s pretty, has great tunes and the songs are straightforward without being clichéd. We are now rueing the fact that we missed him when he played in London a few weeks back. We’ll be there next time for sure! In the meantime, we’ll comfort ourselves with tracks like this one, ‘Nathaniel’:
4. D. Charles Speer & The Helix – ?????
No, that’s not the title, we actually know nothing about this record, other than some tasteful, good hearted, uninformative soul sent us a CD in the post with the band’s rather memorable name inscribed across it in black marker. Anyway, there are some nice clips on the net, of which this is probably the best:
5. My Morning Jacket ‘Circuital’
They’re back! This one only just turned up, and we are not sure of a release date yet, but as always with this excellent band, it’s terrific.
Here’s a taster, with a clip of the title track, filmed last year in San Diego:
