![blackvelvet [mp3] Introducing // Madeline Gather the Feathers](http://www.madelinesongs.com/etc/blackvelvet.jpg "[mp3] Introducing // Madeline Gather the Feathers")
Madeline Adams has recorded using just her first name for the last decade and recorded with a host of accompanying musicians. Her music has been released in collaboration with such luminaries as the Elephant 6 collective (Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control), Phosphorescent, and Phil Elverum (Mt. Eerie). And despite a host of influences as clear as Neko Case and Johnny Cash/The Carter Family, what’s striking is how much her music is all her own, focusing strongly on her unique vocals and musical voice.
There’s something dark and immediately striking about “Gather the Feathers” beyond even the subject matter of the lyrics, which discuss the debris left by dogs who attacked and consumed the narrator’s chickens. “Bury the bones in the boneyard,” she sings ominously during the song’s lilting chorus. “Gather the Feathers” has a rich, deep tone, complemented by strong bass and Madeline’s absolutely gorgeous and haunting voice. By the 2:30 point in this song, when she asks plaintively, “How could you? In my home? In my yard?” the song reaches its lush climax, and striking cello beautifully fills the spaces between the rather soft guitars and light rhythm, allowing her voice to carry a feeling of shock and desperation.
The comparison to Neko Case is a good one on this song, but I’m reminded of Kristen Hersch’s solo music as well. Not all of Madeline’s songs are quite so haunting as this one, with many nicely modernizing the classic folk and Americana feel, but that haunting tone and mood is what drew me to this so quickly. “Gather the Feathers” is a lovely song bearing multiple repeats.
Connect with Madeline // Twitter | web
Madeline // Gather the Feathers [mp3] from Black Velvet
![gardensvilla large [mp3] Introducing // Gardens & Villa](http://tympanogram.com/files/gardensvilla_large.jpg "[mp3] Introducing // Gardens & Villa")
As of late there has been a great deal of noise surrounding Santa Barbara’s Garden & Villa. Much of the noise has come from my compatriots in the onerous task of blogging, and as reading this site and others is the closest I’ve personally been to blogging lately, I allowed the mp3′s to ruminate a bit before deciding to voice my useless chatter on the topic. “Black Hills” was my first impression, and, for the most part has remained the most lasting of what I’ve listened to from the band’s eponymous debut, which was recorded with Secretly Canadian label-mate Richard Swift. The track is a languid burner, with synths and other instrumentation set to a steady beat you can slowly nod your head to as you get swallowed in the vocals.
[mp3] Gardens & Villa // Black Hills
Gardens & Villa effortlessly mix and match genres within their 80s feel. That they recorded their record with a singer songwriter, yet are going on tour with Foster the People and Generationals separately, speaks to the range of sounds and genres the band is comfortable with. There is funky dance-y edge on tracks such as “Star Fire Power” that lends itself to supporting Foster the People, but at the same time the track has the ability to mesh well with the quirky pop of Generationals. Without needing much effort to find it, there is something to enjoy here for everyone.
[mp3] Gardens & Villa // Star Fire Power
![boylant unnamed portraits cover [mp3] Introducing // Boylant](http://tympanogram.com/files/boylant-unnamed-portraits-cover.jpg "boylant unnamed portraits cover")
In order to find out more about his project, Reed Parker made things interesting for me. Armed merely with a link to his new track (released under the moniker ‘Boylant’) and his name, I was able to drum up a Facebook page and a Soundcloud page through Google, and I’ve written posts with much less to go on about an artist.
Boylant, as it turns out, is more than just the one song he started us with; there is also a four-song EP that predates it by about 34 years – or so Boylant’s Bandcamp page says. (Judging from his Facebook page, however, it was actually released about a month ago.) Entitled Unnamed Portraits, it’s the kind of lo-fi bedroom pop that is oft created but rarely – for lack of a better word – good. Boylant, thankfully, falls closer to the ‘good’ end of the enjoyment spectrum than not.
Based on these five tracks, Boylant will be an interesting project to see take shape. Parker feels his way around various sounds, from a kind of droning, maudlin rock on “Fingers” to the poppier bent of “Shades.”
You can grab the rest of Boylant’s EP over at his Bandcamp page for free, and you really should.
Connect with Boylant // Facebook | Soundcloud | Bandcamp
Boylant // Echo Hill [mp3] from Unnamed Portraits EP
Boylant // Shades [mp3]
![LEAGUE1 [mp3] Introducing // LEAGUE](http://tympanogram.com/files/LEAGUE1.jpg "[mp3] Introducing // LEAGUE")
Writing about music frequently, as a music blog proprietor is prone to do, it is quite simple to fall into worn patterns. When first listening to London duo LEAGUE and their catchy “Two Wild Hearts,” thoughts immediately travelled to that of a comparison to Klaxons – what with an anthemic feel throughout fostered by synth jaunts and soaring guitars. Comparisons are often necessary and vital when writing of new music to capture what can be a tenuous grip on a reader’s attention, but the act of continually comparing something new to something older can also get rather boring and cumbersome. Quite confounding then, as soon as I began thinking of what else I could possibly write about LEAGUE other than similar artists, it occurred to me that the vocals sound awfully familiar to those of MGMT.
[mp3] LEAGUE // Two Wild Hearts
So, having fallen into the usual trappings of blog writing, I suppose since this is an introductory post I’m obligated give some information about the somewhat recently conceived band as well. As previously mentioned, they hail from London and are currently a two-piece soliciting a third for drums. The original members dropped out of school to live on the beach and experiment with a sound that ultimately weaves intricate soundscapes that wash lovingly over you until maximum enjoyment is attained.
![jerseyband [mp3] Introducing // Jerseyband](http://tympanogram.com/files/jerseyband.jpg "jerseyband")
Jerseyband is a unique group. They play a style of music that they have dubbed “lungcore” – a hard-edged version of prog-metal fronted by a horn section. The amalgam of jazz elements with metal make complete sense in their hands, and they have happily produced six full length albums of fun, tricky and hard hitting music over the course of their decade of existence. I have personally been a fan of their music since 2006 when a friend let me borrow their 2003 album Little Bag of Feet for Shoes. What struck me right away was the perfection in their playing, the sudden turns, the death metal stabs of low end guitar and the way that the sax section really worked as one. Sure, they are blending several different styles of music, but they really make it something wholly original. I never thought I would bang my head to saxophone music, but I had never heard music like this before.
Their live album Lungpunch Fantasy showcased compositions that had never been committed to disc before, with the added bonus of putting their live chops on display. The amazing thing is that it serves to prove that their tightness is not a result of any studio trickery. These guys are the real deal. Discovering that they have all graduated from the prestigious Eastman School of Music brings things even more into focus.
Jerseyband has recently completed the recording sessions for what they hope to be their seventh full length album. This is where we come in. They need help funding the mastering, mixing and production and are trying to do so through Kickstarter. If you aren’t familiar with how the site works, basically someone proposes a project and it is only funded fully if enough people pledge money within the time limit. Though a lot of the projects may seem frivolous, there are quite a few that are worthwhile. I see it as a way to independently do anything. Visit the site, take a look at the goodies that can be had for pledging at a certain level, and consider helping this band bring some new music into the world. You can check out all of their music on their Bandcamp page and watch them in action on Youtube.
Connect with Jerseyband // Facebook | Bandcamp | web
Jerseyband // The Glad Hand [mp3] from Beast-Wedding
