Hungary is hardly the first place cool-hunters search for the latest pop act, but some are making an exception for the chamber pop trio, The Unbending Trees. Helmed by the full-throated tenor of Kristof Hajos, whose love for Jarvis Cocker is evident in his emotional phrasing, the Trees work a Keane-like configuration vocals, drums, piano and occasionally bass. The stripped back, melancholic sound of their debut, Chemically Happy (is the New Sad), has garnered support from the UK press hordes, from the Times to the Independent, as well as the BBC, who invited The Unbending Trees to perform on Radio 1. They've also been signed to Strange Feeling Records, the label of Ben Watt (of Everything But the Girl/Buzzin' Fly fame), but don't expect to hear their floor-clearing sounds in clubs anytime soon.
Sounds like: Jarvis Cocker, Leonard Cohen, Red House Painters
The Unbending Trees - Everybody's Lover (Live)
The Unbending Trees on RCRD LBL
The Unbending Trees on Myspace
I found out this morning that Richard Wright, piano/keyboardist and founding member of PINK FLOYD died from cancer. Pretty tragic. What's more tragic, however, is that after maybe, say, and hour the story was completely thrown out the window for things like "Britney makes a comeback!" and "TRL to end in November"
Do we really have to start weeping for TRL? Couldn't we wait for November? Do we care that Britney Spears is "coming back" AGAIN? I didn't know she went anywhere!!
I guess Rick Wright didn't have a very good PR person.
It's quite a shame that a "real musician" who made great music for over twenty years, could just be forgotten within hours by mainstream media..... Id have given it at least a day!!
I could go on, but I dont wanna sound like "that guy"
I hope you are all enjoying our FREE download from last week, "Walk Out The Door"
I dedicate that song to Rick Wright and Syd Barrett!!
Love,
Sean Voyeur
That John Roberts is the first American to have his music released by Hamburg-based Dial Records is a telling sign of the quality of his work. Indeed, his debut release, "Hesitant," simultaneously defies and lives up its name with unusual and surprisingly cohesive sounds that roughly resemble deep-house. You can hear the influence of his pal Eliot Lipp in the disjointed title track, which staggers its way through disparate percussion slates before finding the swing to win over dancers. "Promise" is slower and even more finely filigreed, ribbed with chilly piano runs, separated by sharp claps and falling into a shuffling house groove. By contrast, "Sweat Me" is simply chilled out, floating by on a bed of organ and clammy piano chords. Although he's since relocated to Berlin, Roberts' debut does his homeland proud and reminds Europe that some young Americans still have it.
Sounds Like: Theo Parrish, Eliot Lipp, Henrik Schwarz
Stream: John Roberts - Hesitate
John Roberts @ Myspace
Dial Records @ Myspace
John Roberts @ RCRD LBL
Buy John Roberts releases
Sometimes all you need is a piano to thrill the ears, especially if Francesco Tristano is at the keys. The young, Barcelona-based composer set techno fans' hearts aflutter with his solo piano interpretation of one of the genre's most seminal tunes, "Strings of Life" by Derrick May. True to the spirit of the track, Tristano really leans into the rapid fire melody while coaxing every bit of tunefulness from its dynamic structure. The tune was so well liked it spawned "The Melody," a second version, as well as remixes from Carl Craig, Balil (ex-The Black Dog), Kiki and Apparet. Kiki parks the piano in the middle of the party and gets raucous, while Apparet opts for cut up, almost IDM textures. While it will be difficult to surpass the joy of "Strings of Life," Tristano's debut album, Not For Piano (Infiné), is a strong step in the right direction.
DOWNLOAD: Francesco Tristano - "Strings of Life"
STREAM: Francesco Tristano - "Strings of Life" (Kiki remix)
Francesco Tristano @ Myspace
Francesco Tristano @ RCRD LBL
Buy Francesco Tristano releases
