Listen to the Curse from Folklore

I have tons of emails where I’ve been super into stuff, but just haven’t quite gotten to them, and as there seems to be a general lull this week, I’ve started digging deep into some of those emails, which is where I revisited the latest from Folklore. For me, the band take some sounds from the likes of Neutral Milk Hotel and Arcade Fire; they are offering up this pleasant folk pop, but obscured by a willingness to toy with structure. Take the opener from The Curse, “A-Frame Kitchen,” which revolves heavily on a strum and vocals for the song’s first minute, then it sort of erupts, like your speakers got blown, but those sounds don’t bother you as they tie it all together. “The Curse” is a definite hit, sort of harkening back to that Elephant 6 sound, though I’ll admit I’m a bit basic today, and falling for “Hazy Summer.” Give the whole thing a listen if you like, and throw the band a few bucks, as its NYP!

Shelf Life Sounds Pretty Stellar

shelfsFor the last several years I’ve had a penchant for bedroom pop, wrapped in warped tape sounds, mixed with oddity a la Coma Cinema. This project from Philly’s Shelf Life reminds me of that, though the recording is a bit stronger, relying more upon the craftsmanship of the songwriting than on the process of lo-fidelity. The project is set to have its debut, Everyone Make Happy, released in September via Lefse, and this first single indicates a pretty remarkable start.  Tracks like this don’t just spring up every day, which is why I’m going to fawn on this all day long. You with me?

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