Random Thursday Reviews

In the words of David Berman, random rules.

Nik Freitas - Middle (Affairs of the Heart, from the album Saturday night underwater)

Understated but insinuatingly catchy tune, anchored by a wry vibrato vocal, somewhere between Harry Nilsson and George Harrison. The arrangement features cooing female singers and heart-tugging mellotrons, two of my favourite things in the world. There's also a drop-dead gorgeous raindrop piano line. Why can't daytime radio start selling some of this? C'mon playlisters...

*In between being a touring member of both Bright Eyes and Broken Bells, Freitas also found time to release an EP at the end of last year. Here's the charming title track, a bouncing paean to vintage synths.



Washed Out - Eyes be closed (Weird World, from the album Within and without)

Washed Out is producer Ernest Greene from Atlanta. His new album was recorded with Ben Allen - Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion, Deerhunter's Halcyon digest - and there are shades of both in the lovely blissed-out, hazy drift of this song. Anthemic quality suggests stadium venues more than clubs. Make space in the chillwave club for a new member.

Get a load of it here.

http://www.dominorecordco.com/uk/news/03-05-11/new-washed-out-song-and-eurowithin-and-withouteurotm-album-artwork-revealed/

Papercuts - Do you really wanna know (Sub Pop, from the album Fading parade)

Lovely slice of wistful, C-86ish indie pop from Jason Robert Quever and friends of San Francisco. Whispered vocals, reverbed guitars and a pitter-patter bassline - a total treat basically.

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