28. Au Revoir Simone – Still Night, Still Light
Andy: Unranked :: Dave: 16
Au Revoir Simone author a lovely brand of synthpop that can’t help but exude calm. Composed of three women, the band regularly unleash three dueling voices and three dueling keyboards. But then again the description of dueling may be off the mark. The voices and keyboards meld so harmoniously you can’t imagine their coalescence any other way. The sound is ambient pop music you can listen to at any point in your day and it will serve to enhance the enjoyability of whatever you may be doing at that particular moment. This is not strictly background music, it doesn’t force its way into your consciousness, yet never loses potency.
Still Night, Still Light, the trio’s third album, was released earlier this year and I happened to swipe it up along with the rest of their catalogue (including a remix album) all at once directly from music mecca Amie Street. I jumped at the opportunity to pick up the band’s entire set of albums as I became familiar with the group a few years back when they happened to open for Voxtrot in Buffalo.
If you’re looking for something to enjoy that won’t command your attention, this album would be it. In fact, I believe I just heard one of their songs in the background as the musical accompaniment to a Cheerios commercial. Or maybe it was another breakfast cereal, or another product entirely. I didn’t notice because I was focusing on the song. Which proves maybe it’s not just background music after all.
Au Revoir Simone – Another Likely Story (mp3) from Still Night, Still Light
27. Matt & Kim – Grand
Andy: 36 :: Dave: 21
Unlike today’s other album, Matt & Kim’s sophomore release Grand demands your attention right from the get go. With their own interesting brand of lo-fi pop/rock, the sometimes naked duo could perhaps be categorized as their own new genre of music: Circus Rock. Then again, maybe that genre has been discussed elsewhere and this writer has failed to do even negligible research. But alluding to the circus is apropos. Multiple songs and/or parts of songs give the distinct impression one might get from music heard at an actual circus event.
Consumable in one brief sitting, Grand is an example of the band’s work in general, that being Matt & Kim are only interested in keeping your attention for short bursts before moving on to the next act. It’s frenetic and varied with multiple hand claps and synthesizers galore layered upon Kim’s driving beats. If only all circuses were as interesting as this album proves to be, perhaps I may attend one in the future.
Matt & Kim – Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare (mp3) from Grand
