Anne Marie Almedal - Malojian - Louise Lemón
Background - Norwegian singer-songwriter Anne Marie Almedal has shared a new single from her forthcoming album 'Lightshadow', which is due out 26th October 2018. The single is also accompanied by a stunning new video by Pål M. Laukli.
Somewhat destined to be the first track of Anne Marie Almedal’s new album 'You Keep Me At Arm’s Length' arrives with just Anne Marie’s commanding vocals and Nicholas Sillitoe’s wistful folk guitar accompaniment, a brooding piano and synth bass slowly adding momentum.
Melancholy as ever, bittersweet, focused and full of longing, the new single is a bold blend of folk, electronics, indie-dream-pop and nonchalant vocals. It’s a song about unrequited nearness, love forlorn, hopes and dreams flailing in the distant horizon. Something familiar, something new.
'You Keep Me At Arm’s Length' was recorded in Anne Marie’s hometown Kristiansand in a summer break with producer/co-writer Nicholas taking time off his busy soundtrack schedule together with new-found producer/multi-instrumentalist Alf Vaksdal. Drums were added by the young and talented Marius Trøan Hansen, and Nicholas returned home to London to polish the mix with producer Tim Bran (London Grammar/Halsey/Birdy). The result, a one-listen-and-you’re-hooked defining new direction and perfect introduction to the new album. FACEBOOK.
Calm, relaxed and oh so engaging, Anne Marie Almedal vocals shine on 'You Keep Me At Arm's Length' a refined modern indie folk song. The musical backdrop adds more vibrancy to the track as it gradually builds as a beautiful accompaniment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background - Northern Irish songwriter and musician Malojian (aka Stephen Scullion), releases a deluxe version of his recent Northern Irish Music Prize shortlisted album Let Your Weirdness Carry You Home, featuring seven extra demos, acoustic and live versions of album tracks. Blending folk and Americana with psychedelia, Scullion weaves intricately drawn vignettes with imaginative and contemplative songwriting, dotted with warmth and humour.
Malojian shares a brand new track "Beardness", which blends the music of title track “Let Your Weirdness Carry You Home” and the words to lead-single “Beard Song”, which fit like a glove.
Let Your Weirdness Carry You Home (Deluxe Edition) will be available as an 18-track CD via Quiet Arch Records on 30 November. There will also be a package of the original vinyl album with the 18-track CD and a bonus 7 inch single. The CD and Single can be bought separately for those who already own the vinyl album. He's playing shows all over Ireland and heading to England for a few dates (see below).
Let Your Weirdness Carry You Home was recorded in a lighthouse on the remote picturesque island of Rathlin off the coast of Northern Ireland and only accessible by boat. The coastal element is reflected in some of the songs and imagery, with Vikings landing ashore in “The Beard Song” video and in the vintage seaside feel of the video for title track “Let Your Weirdness Carry You Home”. The album features guests including; Teenage Fanclub’s Gerard Love, session drummer Joey Waronker (Beck, R.E.M., Atoms For Peace, Roger Waters), bassist Jon Thorne (Yorkston/Thorne/Khan, Lamb) and more, enhancing Malojian’s musical vision.
Let Your Weirdness Carry You Home is Malojian’s fourth studio album, following his debut The Deer’s Cry in 2014, Southlands in 2015 (nominated for the Northern Irish Music Prize), the Steve Albini produced (and also Northern Irish Music Prize nominated) This Is Nowhere in 2016. There’s an accompanying documentary about the making of There Is Nowhere, which documents the rush to complete the album in just four days at Steve Albini’s studio in Chicago. WEBSITE.
Opening with some sonic guitar blasts, the song quickly settles into a steady alt rocker as 'Beardness' gathers momentum and feeling. Hints of psychedelic influences are both there vocally and within the music on this rather catchy song.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background - Following on from last year’s critically praised debut album ‘Purge’, Louise Lemón returns with her ambitious new single ‘Cross’ taken from her highly anticipated new album, due for release in March 2019. The Swedish ‘Death gospel’ artist has delivered a truly awe-inspiring release that sees her channel the confident and sultry vibes of the early Fleetwood Mac-era, producing a tighter and more focused sound in the process.
Since the release of ‘Purge’ last year, Louise has been focusing her attention on more elementary deep sounds and even more profound lyrics. ‘Cross’ sits as the example of what we can expect from this new record, confident and captivating throughout with her immensely strong vocals in the foreground.
Experimenting with instrumentation and production since her last full-length, Lemón is a rejuvenated presence on these new songs. Shaking off the expectations of her past, she is looking to tread a new path with her latest material, taking cues from the 60s and 70s psych-rock and soul era to influence her new direction. The sound is crisper, cleaner but unmistakably her.
“’Cross’ is one of the last songs I wrote for this album and this song, as well as the whole album, is about acceptance and growing” Louise says. “To dare to really listen to the most inner thoughts. Not judging instead trying to learn and rather than running from something owning it. Looking back to rise forward.”
Speaking about the new album, Louise added, “I wanted to make it this album both darker and brighter. We've used far cleaner sounds than ever before, concentrating on creating darkness in new ways. The songwriting has been very focused. I’ve evolved as a woman and with my writing I’ve explored new feelings, going further and deeper in to the ways I’ve felt and the situations life's brought me to. It was such a blessing to be able to work with my band so closely, they are very much a part of the soundscape and we couldn’t be happier to have had Randall Dunn produce it.” WEBSITE.
It was back in April 2017 that we last featured Louise Lemón, I have to say I didn't realise it had been that long. 'Cross' makes for a grand return, the gospel style chorus is notable as are Louise's confident and melodic vocals. There is plenty of additional energy in the musical arrangement, this is a splendid return, one that is full of promise.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments