Camille- Monday song

Camille is a french singer who in early 2002 signed a contract with virgin records who released her first album le sac des filles.
When Myrthe introduced me to her I heard most of her really happy songs. Her a capella is great to listen to and most of her music is not without a sense of humour.

Le fil which was produced in collaboration with English producer MaJiKer. This album incorporated an avant-garde concept - a string, or thread ("le fil"), which was a drone that persisted throughout the entire course of the album. All of the songs in this album are based on the exploration of the voice, with only a double bass or double bass and keyboard as accompanying instruments. You only realise this when you listen to the whole album at a stretch so i suggest you do not download individual songs (shame on those who do!) Her music is not about lyrics however its about harmony and sound, it helps if you don't know french!

This song however is from her album Music Hole, her latest album released April 2008. I'm not sure what to think of it really, there is no real flow and some of the songs are just embarrassing but this one song Winters child stuck out like a square peg. Once again her music has nothing to do with her lyrics! The ambiance she creates with this song is fantastic. I love music that flows into you little by little letting you savour it so it fits. This one however has its own surprises. It gives me chills every time i listen to it!

Carmen McRae

"I was vain and blind then

Prone to be unkind then

Wish they’d turn back time somehow

Then I was audacious

I ignored what was precious

How I wish you’d ask me now"

How I wish By Thelonious Monk

I have a history with jazz that goes back a long way. When I was little my dad would sing me the standards. On our long drives together we would listen to jazz and he would play out the rhythm on the car wheel while I sang.

When he figured out I could actually keep in tune he began introducing me to the great singers.

Ella Fitzgerald was our favourite! I memorized all the lines and we would spend hours singing in my parents bedroom.

I went to boarding school a few years later and every time he came he would bring me recorded cassettes of other jazz divas. I still have my first Porgy and Bess tape, its been cello taped so much I'm sure most of the album is missing.

Boarding school also changed my taste in music. I started listening to the doors, dire straits and the Beatles. My dad of course was extremely disappointed with me. We had long silent feuds because i refused to listen to his records any more.

He tried so many times, bought me CD, took me to gigs and all the while I kept pushing him away.

Only recently the two of us went to The Lincoln center jazz club in new york to listen to a gig. When I saw the happiness on his face, the devotion with which he took his photographs I realized that the only reason I have even gotten to creating this blog is because of him. What hurts even more is I don't think he has ever given up on me and never will.

I've been going through our jazz collection and found all these beautiful Cd's of almost every successful jazz diva. Carmen sings monk is one of my new favourites. I remember my father went through a phase where he listened to the instrumental version of 'It's over now' all the time. I found this song on the Cd and think it's a fantastic version. This is dedicated to my father and his incredibly strong obsession with the kind of music I am now starting to love.

Little Dragon

Was it the blue night

Gone fragile

Was it both men

In wonder steady gone under

Was it the light ways

So frightening

Was it two wills

One mirror holding us dearer now.

Shilo introduced me to Little Dragon on the bus today and for that i will be forever in her debt.

Little Dragon is a Swedish band consisting of Swedish-Japanese singer Yukimi Nagano(vocals, percussion. She also sang a few songs with Koop on their Koop Island blues album) and her close high-school friends Erik Bodin (drums), Fredrik Källgren Wallin (bass), and Håkan Wirenstrand (keyboards).

The first Little Dragon's release was a double A-side 7’’ single ‘Twice’/’Test’, released on Off The Wall label in 2006. The following year, the band signed with the larger British Peacefrog records and released their debut self-titled album Little dragon in 2007.

This song is simply beautiful. Its one of those that you put on repeat and listen to all day. Its tender and full of all these little surprises in the vocals. If you are in Bangalore the weather is perfect for this song!

Unfortunately the rest of the album is not half as good, I don't think they have figured how to do the slightly upbeat songs without compromising on their sound.

The video of this song is just as beautiful as the song itself. Like the song its beauty lies in its simplicity. I know I've used the word beautiful too many times but its all I can think of when i listen to it. What a lovely way to start the day!

Kings of leon

Why would anyone listen to a band from Tennessee? Well we can make a few exceptions for this particular band.
Kings of Leon is a band you listen to when you want to obliterate something (or facing Bangalore traffic) Its
the kind of music where you bounce a lot,sing really loudly and act idiotic.

This song is one of their more quiet ones. Its one of those songs that you listen to and not analyze. The lyrics make no sense
but it has a great sound and Caleb Followills vocals really compliment the song.

If you are a first time Kings of Leon Listener and like this song please download songs from their earlier albums something went drastically wrong in this new one. try Aha Shake Heartbreak.

Monday

Avial is a Malayalam rock band formed in 2003. After the huge response to their first single Nada Nada they released
Avial- The Debut in 2008. Of course it was a sensational hit in kerala but they soon moved outwards to other places in India.

I think their music is great. Its got a whole combination of genres along with really strong malayali vocals. Who would have thought?

Karukara is my favourite song. I love the vocals and its really strong bass track. Unfortunately when i heard them live it wasn't half as good but i'm sure they'll get there. Whats also interesting about this song is all its sections. There are so many parts so it never really gets boring. I find something new every time i listen to it and that's what makes a good song!

I'm sorry but the video has something random happening in the first and last 10 seconds please ignore it!

Sunday

I think everyone went through a nirvana phase when they were young. Of course all my adoration came to a grinding halt when i realised that most of their songs were ripped off. Whatever said and done they were still an integral part of my angsty teenage years.

I totally forgot about the band when suddenly Premjit introduced me to a Tori Amos version of smells like teen spirit. At first I just didnt want to go anywhere close to listening to it out of some sort of nostalgic devotion but when I actually got around to doing it, well my apologies to nirvana but she nailed this one. She is haunting and seductive and everything Kurt isn't. There is so much criticism about this but I suggest you try listening to it with an open mind.

He also introduced me to a whole load of other rather fantastic versions but i'll save those for another time!

saturday

Ali Farka toure was one of africas most internationally renound musicians. He is known for his marrying the blues and his traditional malian style.

I first heard Ali when my mother used his music for one of her films. It was one of his later albums niafunke, focussing on a more traditional style. I loved it in the first 30 seconds and am now a big fan!

This song is a beautiful example of his fantastic style. When he plays the blues he plays with your heart.