Album Review: Memoryhouse ‘The Slideshow Effect’
Time. No matter how hard you try, the runaway train that is life always seems to be one step ahead. You can mark your calendar weeks in advance so you have something to look forward to, but that day you’ve spent so much time looking forward to and yearning for will come and go as quickly as any other. My Facebook used to be full of pictures of all my drunk college friends. Now? Babies, ring fingers, and…well, I guess that’s really all it’s used for. But while we can’t stop our lives from moving forward, we should seek to soak in the moment when we can.
“All Our Wonder”
Memoryhouse’s debut LP The Slideshow Effect is a dream-pop DeLorean for me. Not a note seems out of place as every melody is impeccably crafted. At its core, this album is about the end of a relationship. However, it’s also about all of the memories made and lived along the way. Like going through your old photographs and reliving the smells in the air or the feeling of the wind at your face of a specific moment in time. The album has a calming aesthetic, with thoughtful songs designed to inspire fondly remembered events.
“Bonfire”
Best served with a glass of wine on a Monday night, The Slideshow Effect is a inspiring debut that will help the slow down your constantly running daily clock. High points include the upbeat “The Kids Were Wrong” at the beginning of the album, which I featured in our Mix Tape 2 last friday, the picturesque “Bonfire” and the dreamy “Walk With Me”. I equate the album listening experience to visiting an art gallery of simple brush strokes and earthy colors. While you may not remember any of the portraits individually, you leave with the peace of mind knowing that the whole was much greater than any individual part.
“Walk with Me”
Connect with Memoryhouse via Facebook | Twitter
Written by Greg Dahman
Album Review: Jessie Baylin ‘Little Spark’
I have realized that the key to my success in 2012 is to master the art of multitasking. As my head spins, I understand that this year is the busiest that I have been in my entire life. The first months have been jam packed with a new job, travel, spending time with family and friends, and continuing to try find the next album that sticks with me. Often, my posts come fast and provide me with an immediate opportunity to share my favorite new music with you. While I am granted a certain satisfaction from my contributions, it is immediate and then forgotten. There is little time to reflect on yesterday while sharing my tastes as there is always something new that I want to be talking about. The best part of contributing to this rapid-fire blog post blitz is when a record stands so tall that I hit a wall and reflect. Overcoming this type of obstacle is a blessing because it forces me to slow down and focus as life moves 100 miles per hour in front of me. This type of record demands a certain focus and a conscious concentration. Although, it is a tower to climb, the journey offers an opportunity to open the door for much needed meditation. Jessie Baylin’s Little Spark is the first record to insert itself in my musical skyline this year and I think it will linger a while before returning to earth.
Singer-songwriter Jessie Baylin uses beautiful arrangements to make Little Spark resonate with its listeners. After the first time I listened to this record, I pondered on its messages and realized that this was one that I could tell my parents about. A stripped down, masterfully orchestrated piece about love bred from a vocal fusion of country and soul made me realize that it not only spoke to different genres, but more importantly opposing generations. Little Spark strikes a myriad emotional chords, which provide a catalyst for thought. Listeners of all ages can relate to this material.
It should be noted that while Baylin’s vocals provide the talking points on this record, it is Richard Swift who has built its backbone with his consistently strong arrangements. Longtime member of The Shins, Swift serves as the chief arranger, multi-instrumentalist, and a pseudo coach for Baylin during the recording. Swift brought Baylin to Oregon to record the first three tracks and then finished the journey with producer Kevin Augunas in Los Angeles. The adoption of a stellar supporting cast displays Baylin’s flexibility and willingness to progress. Early listeners of Baylin will admit that Little Spark does not sound like anything that she has ever recorded. The influence of Swift, Augunas and composer Jimmie Haskell fostered a growth in Baylin’s writing.
“The Greatest Thing That Never Happened”
Track, “The Greatest Thing That Never Happened” begins with simple piano chords and a slow bass line that emphasizes Baylin’s commitment to simplicity. Horns enter to provide emphasis to the melody, a point for Swift that is noted by attentive listeners. Baylin’s vocals remain the centerpiece throughout, with each additional sound strategically designed by the album’s veteran architects. A full team effort that shows that it takes more than a star singer to create a championship recording.
For me, “Yuma” serves as Little Spark‘s signature track. Baylin’s voice peaks as she sings, “Give him Arizona, and I took the California coast, tired of borders, I am going back to where I left my ghost.” This post-breakup seclusion displays the stick in the ground separation that we all demand after heartbreak. The incorporation of specific locations provides value to Baylin’s story as she paints a picture of the power of separation for all her listeners. Eventually, we all realize there is a time to jump the borders and explore new territory. Baylin displays that destination is oftentimes unknown, but the thought of relocation lead by the openness to explore new lands. “Yuma” provides the off the cuff escape that can help fill the void and turn down the blues. A fantastic fantasy laced with hope and message that Baylin drives into following track “Holiday”. These songs present an obstacle for listeners while providing the important opportunity to reflect before having to make that decision.
“Yuma”
The structure of ‘Little Spark’ offers an extremely listenable record open to many forums. It goes well with coffee in the morning. It helps to maintain composure while battling a deadline at work. It provides company in a single bedroom apartment. Most importantly, it provides me the opportunity to talk music with Dad. An opportunity that will always slow down time, no matter how insane life gets.
Connect with Jessie Baylin via Facebook | Twitter
Written by Brett McGrath
Album Review: Porcelain Raft ‘Strange Weekend’
My introduction came when Ernst Greene (Washed Out) told Pitchfork in an interview that his favorite new artist was Porcelain Raft. The unfamiliarity with this name drove me to his Bandcamp site and I streamed and then spent an easy $5.00 on his EP “Fountain’s Head”. I was immediately struck by the timing of the measures. The simple rhythm was paired with an influential voice. The more I listened, the more I appreciated what Porcelain Raft had to offer. My gratitude reached an all time high when Porcelain Raft came to Indianapolis and opened for Yuck. Mauro Remiddi was solely orchestrated an enormous sound. His entire performance offered a DIY approach smothered with polish and control. Remiddi carries this mix into his debut LP Strange Weekend, released this week on Bloomington’s Secretly Canadian.
The first thing I noticed when I saw Porcelain Raft live is that Remiddi is a punctual perfectionist. He understands that, in order for this project to work, time management and execution must be constantly at the top of mind. While the live show is good, the studio is Porcelain Raft’s dock, his comfortable home. It is my best guess that Remiddi took of his shoes, got warmed up and relaxed as he recorded Strange Weekend. A patient structure is noted throughout this recording as a heavy dose of daze brings each song together.
The album begins with an infectious rhythm that strikes each note at just the right time. Opener, “Drifting In and Out” is a great first impression for new listeners. An electric guitar blows through each speaker, recreating a chillwave vibe. As I listen to this track I understand why Washed Out was washed in. They share the DIY approach by creating a certain mood-melting music that can send one dreaming for days.
A repeated thump of a drum machine, the mellow progression of an acoustic guitar, and emotional vocals combine to ease your post work pains. Track, “Shapeless & Gone” follows with a certain relaxation that is pulled for the last note of “Drifting In and Out”. This song is certainly the catalyst that takes this album to the end. Many sounds cover the track, but Remiddi’s vocals push through the surface to guide not only the track, but also the listener.
“Shapeless & Gone”
“Unless You Speak from Your Heart” serves as the signature moment of the release for me. Remiddi calmly declares, “I don’t want to listen, unless you speak from your heart.” While simple, this phrase reflects a straight-to-the-point, subtle confidence that defines Porcelain Raft. This song is where thought mixes with vision and breeds a project. Listeners will have a difficult time letting go of this moment as 2012 quickly passes us by. Hundreds of albums will be released and thousand songs to follow, but “Unless You Speak from Your Heart” has the longevity to sail through the year on Porcelain Raft.
“Unless You Speak from your Heart”
The black sheep in this new flock of songs are acoustic tracks “Picture” and “The Way In”. The stripped-down melodies on the six-string allow Remiddi’s voice to shine. While these songs might appear unconventional for the album, they prove to be the most straightforward tracks of the bunch. It is his explanation for difference and dedication to simplicity.
I have listened to Strange Weekend backwards and forwards several times now. As I finish this post, I get the feeling that this album will be with me for a long time. Porcelain Raft might have started as a creative idea, but now has evolved into a true vision. I am not sure where he is going, but I hope he continues to embrace his simplicity and patience. I could chill here for a while.
Connect to Porcelain Raft via Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp
Written by Brett McGrath
Thought on Tracks 