One of the best new bands to watch and listen to this season is Sleepy Sun, the sextet from San Francisco. The musicians, friends, and lovers have come out with their first album entitled Embrace and have been met with exultations, especially after SXSW. Their psychedelic styled rock and roll tracks pull you in from the start of the album all the way through the finish. Even “White Dove”, a 9:23 minute song, is compatible with the ADHD in all of us.
With an album this high energy, I can’t wait to see what they do live. God, I love the harmonica.
“Krautrock” is a, not so popular, musical genre that originated in Germany in the 1960s. The term “Kraut” is an ethnic slur used to describe a German person during World War II, and the “rock” is psychedelic, progressive music mixed with ideas from contemporary experimental classical music. If “Krautrock” were made today it would fall under a more familiar genre, ambience.
Combining this idea of “Krautrock” with some 90′s electronic music Fujiya & Miyagi have created a buzz-worthy sound. Contrary to what their name might imply(Asian?), this band was formed in Brighton, England. The ambience sound, combined with David Best’s whispering lyrics creates a very fetching consonance.
Fujiya & Miyagi released their 3rd album, Lightbulbs in September, 2008. The band-mates are currently touring Europe, so far no dates for visiting US, but no doubt you will hear their tunes at your local indie dance parties.
The School of Seven Bells is said to have been a South American academy of pick pockets back in the 80s. PBS aired a special one late night on this mythical academy of thieves, which inspired a certain Alejandra to embark on an artistic journey under the cognomen School of Seven Bells.
Two years later, in 2006 this idea came to fruition and so the band School of Seven Bells was born. The core of this band is made up of twin sisters Alejandra and Claudia Deheza, and the former Secret Machines member Benjamin Curtis. The band toured with Blonde Redhead in September 2007 and on October 23rd released their debut album, Alpinisms. Filled with dreamy electronics and vocals that take wing, the psychedelic group won themselves the rating of “America’s shoegaze revival at its most meticulously refined” by SPIN Magazine.
The School of Seven Bells is opening up for M83 tonight at Webster Hall. Both bands on stage in one night? This show should not disappoint, go check it out!
