After releasing several singles, the Oakland band Bells Atlas has finally released their self-titled album. With influences ranging from Missy Elliott to Björk, the new album only reiterates and builds on the music that the band established with their singles. As mentioned before on LeB, Bells Atlas really does embrace the genre of afro-indie-soul all the way from the vocals of Sandra Lawson-Ndu to the diverse rhythms of each song. One of my favorite new songs off the album is “Capable People,” featuring the vocals of bassist Doug Stuart. You can listen to “Capable People” below and check out the rest of the album here.
6. Capable People by Bells Atlas
The song “Treat Me Like Fire” is originally by New York singer Lion Babe. And while there aren’t many remixes on LeB, Asher Roth kills it on his overdub of Lion Babe’s track. There may be only one lyrical verse, but Roth’s words are clever and intriguing, and he makes it sound as if he was a part of the song from the start. Roth’s version of the song, which was released yesterday, will be part of his soon to be released The Greenhouse Effect Vol. 2. In the past ten days, Roth has already released four tracks, only adding more anticipation to the upcoming mixtape. You can listen to and download “Treat Me Like Fire” below.
Today we introduce a new item to our sidebar: The Fortnight Feature. Basically, for a fortnight, LeB will showcase a cool blog or site on the sidebar. The first feature is the blog Write.Click.Cook.Listen. This blog not only features great music but also food and writing. Check it out!
We last posted about Leftover Cuties when they released their Christmas album back in December. Now this four-piece band from Venice, California has released the single “One Heart” in anticipation to the album Spark & the Fire, which will be released on July 23rd. “One Heart” is catchy and rhythmic. I love how the band continues to incorporate horn fills and a modernized retro feel in their music, and as usual, singer Shirli McAllen is on the ball with her soulful lyrics. You can listen to and download “One Heart” for free below. Additionally, Leftover Cuties will begin their U.S. tour on July 11th.
The recent single, “Can’t Put My Finger On It,” from Amy Lynn & The Gunshow is incredibly simple. While the song is performed as a seven-piece band in live settings, this one-take recording consists of only Amy Lynn’s voice and husband Alex Hamlin’s bari sax playing. Hamlin lays down a funky base with tongue slaps and all, and the rudimentary combination of voice and sax works perfectly. There is no loss of soul, and Lynn and Hamlin show the amazing possibilities of simplicity. You can download the single for free at this link and also check out several of the band’s upcoming summer shows.
Today we’ve got more music from the electro-duo Du Tonc. The duo is comprised of Matt Van Schie and Mighty Mouse, and “Rise” is actually only the group’s third single. You can check out the other two singles here. Additionally, “Rise” was released as part of Nightfilm, Du Tonc’s new record label. The disco beat still lives and is the driving force in the new single, yet the music’s mood has become more mysterious. I also love the touch of cowbell in the song. You can listen to “Rise” below, and for a limited time you can download it for free. Enjoy!
Australian group The Trouble With Templeton plans to release their upcoming album in August. In anticipation, the group has released two singles, one of them being “Like A Kid.” Originally founded in 2011 by Thomas Calder, the five-piece band you hear today has only released these two singles. Nevertheless, The Trouble Wit Templeton has already received a large response from the Australian music community and beyond. “Like A Kid” only builds on the group’s first single, showcasing the band’s ability to create a big sound whilst maintaining some interesting guitar harmonies and Calder’s charismatic vocals. You can listen to “Like A Kid” below and also be sure to check out the music video here.
The trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie was one of the pioneers of bebop as well as a catalyst for the introduction of Afro-Latin American music to jazz. “Manteca,” written by Gillespie, legendary percussionist Chano Pozo, and Gil Fuller, was one of the first latin-jazz tunes, and it still is one of the most famous today. Since it was written in 1947, the song has been performed in combo and big band settings. From the simple bass line intro to Dizzy’s high register playing, “Manteca’s” strong latin rhythms and blaring horn parts inspire a unique mix of passion and energy. Below you can watch Dizzy performing “Manteca” with the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band in 1970.
Blinker the Star released their first album back in 1995. Now six albums later, this Canadian group has put out the single “Future Fires.” For the band, the goal was the channel the energy used for an album into just one song. Combining various guitar effects with electronic elements, the song really does harness some energy. This month, Blinker the Star will be playing their first shows in nine years, and until June 14th, the single is free. Also, I would just like to point out that Thursday was LeB’s first birthday, so if you are still reading this blog, thank you for the continuing support. Oh yeah, there’s a video too. You can listen to and download “Future Fires” below.
British singer Andreya Triana has recently released the single “Song For A Friend.” Following the release of her album, Lost Where I Belong, in 2010, Triana has been a bit quiet. Nonetheless, “Song For A Friend” still proves that she is still up to her usual soulful stylings. Triana’s voice is powerful in a unique way as she invokes deep meaning into literally every syllable that comes out of her mouth. Using organ, piano, and string elements, the song seems to draw its inspiration from gospel music. You can listen to “Song For A Friend” below and check out some of Triana’s upcoming tour dates here.
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