To the duo’s debut Darkside Many were able to agree in 2013, the slightly distant electro pop liked to play in living rooms as an urban background noise. Then came – nothing. Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington stayed very active, but each on their own. Now, eight years later: suddenly a new album. Times have changed, and so has the basic mood. “Spiral” (Matador / Beggars) mainly shows the dark side of Darkside. Restrained chants over dripping drums, heavy double bass, a bit of Krautrock, almost chamber music. In between restlessness, walks through the digital undergrowth, percussion like from the farm, bells, pots, copper sounds. One can well imagine that David Bowie from the “Blackstar” phase would have liked all of this very much. Only “Liberty Bell”, released six months ago, dances around here a little lonely, clear beat, classic song structure, an irritatingly good-humored party guest. But for God’s sake that shouldn’t say anything against the party. Sometimes the most beautiful evenings are when you sit together melancholy and stay silent in front of the fireplace.
What a life! David Crosby, the old walrus: co-founder of the Byrds, Co-founder of Crosby Stills Nash (& Young), ex-boyfriend of Joni Mitchell, sperm donor for Melissa Etheridge, drugs, weapons, prison, band breakups, reunions, then even more division, bad words, now the unreachable greatest hate figure in life by Stills, Nash and Young. Eternal up and down, over long stretches above all down. But always and above all this angelic voice, this velvety tenor, in which boyish innocence mixes with the roadside experience of at least ten Californian tramps. Shortly before he turns 80, Crosby is knocking out another really good album, “For Free” (BMG / Warner). You have to step over the somewhat pleasing one or two country rock numbers at the beginning in a friendly manner, then the level rises, complex choirs, jazzy harmonies (no wonder: Donald Fagen as a guest). And finally the title song by Joni Mitchell, sung gently but not serene, cautious but not tired. An old man in the shape of his life.
Everyone knows One Hit Wonder. A huge success, then never again. Often tragic. Similar case: the phenomenon, uh, what do we call it – TV Show Hit Wonder? Bands that you basically only know because of the title song of a TV series. The Rembrandts are forever the ones with the “Friends” song (clap, clap, clap). And the Barenaked ladies from Toronto would be pretty unknown in Europe had it not been for years at the beginning of every episode of “Big Bang Theory”. The ladies – and this connects them with the underrated Rembrandts – have a lot of good songs that work even without a series. On their 13th album “Detour De Force” they play fluffy folk-pop with a lot of humor, the melodies go well, everything shines and sparkles very nicely. Excellent summer music. However, the texts make up a lot, funny everyday observations, absurd life questions, mostly pretty all american – and that doesn’t always translate easily over here. Still, the band deserves a friendly listening, especially if you don’t like “Big Bang Theory” that much.
Finally, an eternal misunderstanding: Many people are of the opinion that in order to bow to someone in the music world, be it the best to play their music. The gesture is nice, of course. But the cases in which cover versions come close to the original can be counted on a set of guitar strings. The traditional British indie label 4AD, Founded in 1980, could have celebrated an anniversary last year. But because there wasn’t much partying recently, the festival album will be submitted later this year: “Bills & Aches & Blues” (4AD / Matador) brings together great songs from the label’s past, covered by musicians from the label’s present. Tune yards play “Cannonball” by the Breeders, quite neat, SOHN float enraptured by “Song To The Siren” by This Mortal Coil, Future Islands glue “The Moon Is Blue” by Colourbox with a lot of synthesizers. And so on. You can do anything, congratulations too. But almost no version wins really exciting new pages from the original. Gesture good, result is a shame. And please, the unsuccessful start, “Gigantic” in the version by Tkay Maidza? Help no! Better the big old ones right away Pixies hear again in the original.