Instead of sticking with, what I believe has become a stale format of topic on GW, the this-is-my-genre-here-are-artists, I've decided to change it up a bit. This week I'm giving you 5 albums to relax to. They're not necessarily obscure, but thought I'd try this and see what it's like. Gives a bit more of a specific point of discussion.
5. Beach House - Devotion Site | Wiki | MySpace
Described as dream pop by pretty much everywhere I've looked, this is the second album of this band. It's a very atmospheric album and much fuller than their first one. It can be almost haunting and dark at times, but
"Wedding Bell" strikes in with such an upbeat sound that the vocals seem almost out-of-place before settling in really nicely. My favourite song has to be the last though, after a friend pointed it out,
"Home Again". It's a truly relaxing song and I've went to sleep with this album on more than a few times now.
4. Grouper - Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill MySpace
This album is very recent and probably the most obscure on my list. It's also my favourite album of the year so far. The vocals are very mystical, and at times can be haunting, but ultimately float over the superbly fragile guitar in the background. The artists has had two previous drone albums, so there are some elements of that creep in from those albums, especially the distinguishable recording technique. But for me, it just adds to the sound and atmosphere of the album.
3. Air France - On Trade Winds/No Way Down EPs MySpace | Wiki
I've decided just to bundle these two EPs together since it's a total of 35 minutes for both, and it's all the band have released. I just recently discovered them, and they're best described as "bliss pop". It's just such a cheery, upbeat set of EPs that I can't get enough of. The vocals are so wonderfully melodic, and the layers of instruments create an absolutely brilliant dreamy atmosphere. From the first EP, the song "Beach Party" is perfectly titled, as it sounds exactly like it is and all the added touches and background melodies in "Collapsing on Your Doorstep" make it my favourite from the second EP. Very upbeat.
2. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans Site | Wiki
To describe this album in 5 words, I would use: One man and his banjo. Although there is some percussion and strings in the album, the banjo takes the lead and, combined Sufjan's incredible voice, this album is such a relaxing journey. Most of the songs consist of just a delicate riff repeated and it creates such a simple set of tracks that I never get tired of. The album's main subject matter is faith but this is
not Christian rock or Christian folk. It's just Sufjan's chosen subject matter for this album. I don't see why it should, but please don't let that affect your opinion of this album. He is not preaching to you. As for the songs I think Sufjan is a master of progression and buildup to the almost choir-like choruses and the choice of instruments in each song has been carefully whittled down to the essentials.
"The Dress Looks Nice On You" is a personal favourite and a portfolio for stripped down acoustic music, and
"In The Devil's Territory" shows what he can do with composition and just a few extra layers. I think this is an absolutely essential acoustic album.
1. Air - Moon Safari Site | Wiki | MySpace
There are few greater pleasures in my life than going to sleep with this album in the background. Except waking up and pressing play again. I can't get enough of this album. It's so light and airy, with so many perfectly tweaked instruments and melodies layered on top of each other to create a slice of delicious ambient cake. The album starts out with crashing waves which progresses into a funky bass riff before moving onto a fantastic keyboard solo and then ending in dreamy synth. And that's all in the first song,
"La Femme D'Argent". But the band are more than capable of creating incredible catchy, tuneful pop songs in
"All I Need" and
"Kelly Watch the Stars", as well ending the album in what I can really only describe as space-jazz, with
"Le Voyage De Penelope". This album will relax you like no other.