From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V7 #193 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Wednesday, July 11 2001 Volume 07 : Number 193 Today's Subjects: ----------------- sarina simoom (and mercy bell?) [Andrew Fries ] About Ben Folds ["Lord Tyr" ] About Ben ["Lord Tyr" ] new suzanne vega. ["heidi maier" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 16:22:46 +1000 From: Andrew Fries Subject: sarina simoom (and mercy bell?) It's been a while since I posted but I'm still here - just had nothing to say. In fact I've been going through one of those periods when I just don't listen to any music at all - sometimes for over a week! Yes, it happens to me every now and then, but I bounce back eventually. What broke the draught this time was the arrival of my order from Amazon: I got Ekova's "heaven's dust", because I really liked my first purchase ("space lullabies and other fantasmagorie"). The new Cowboy Junkies, because... well, no reason required, I'll pretty much automatically buy anything they release. Then there's Rajna's "Ishati", recommended by Craig a while back. I liked his description enough to take a bit of a gamble on this one. Finally there's Sarina simoom - "thread bone bare", also recommended on Ecto, but unfortunately I forget by whom. It was one of the less regular posters, if I recall. Thank you, anyway! All worthy purchases, I'm happy with them all. But "thread bone bare" appears to be my pick of this bunch, for now at least. And I suspect I know why: it's unlikely to work for most of you, but something about Jenna Herbst's vocal manner just reminds me of Becca Boucher from The Mercy Bell - an Australian band, obscure but very close to my heart. Still, quite apart from that, Sarina simoom have plenty going for them. The keywords here would be: "quiet intensity". They seem to rely on creating the mood rather than catchy hook to draw the listener in - those tunes are not immediately obvious, but often quietly beautiful if you're willing to give them a chance. My favourite is probably the closing track, "thread" - I can't stop myself from hitting the "repeat" button when it's over, it's just gorgeous! Sparse, clean arrangements, sometimes with just a slightly jazzy feel to them consist largely of strummed guitar and the bass/drums section, with occasional violin used to good effect. But Jenna's voice is the dominating instrument here. I haven't seen them perform so I could be completely off-mark, but I imagine this rather unassuming looking person you probably wouldn't notice in the crowd, but up there - is she standing in the spotlight, or is it her passion, her intensity shining? Ah, I know where I got that image... I'm thinking of The Mercy Bell again. At this point I'd like to throw this question to you all: do you know anything about "The Mercy Bell" current status/activities/existence? They are from Australia, they went under the name of "Eat the Menu" until "persuaded" to change the name by their label. A couple of years ago they became another casualty, picked up and then screwed by the major. Oh well, another of those indie acts who really should've known better... But this wasn't quite the end of the story. Perhaps about a year ago, somebody kindly e-mailed me with the information they didn't in fact break up but relocated overseas (I'm thinking the US, but it might've been England), continued making music and were at the time at the verge of getting some sort of recording deal. And this really is the end of the story, because I've never been able to find out anything more. So... has anyone come across them? Can you bring me some good news? Pretty please? - ---------------------------------------------------- 'Those who would give up liberty in the interest of security deserve, and will have, neither.' --Benjamin Franklin - ---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 08:06:10 -0700 From: "Lord Tyr" Subject: About Ben Folds Hmm I never knew they broke-up... I found an album which isn't listed called 'Rockin The Suburbs' I think I might have got a copy early of his new release but it seems it's being released as Ben Folds Five.... go figure,,, but it's a great album my Favorite one so far :) - ---------- Tyr ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 08:08:42 -0700 From: "Lord Tyr" Subject: About Ben Ooops my bad... It's being released by only Ben Folds... The Single for Rockin The Suburbs is July 31st The Album September 11th... http://www.benfolds.com/ It rockz :) can't wait to get a store bought copy... Tyr ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 12:48:39 +1000 From: "heidi maier" Subject: new suzanne vega. hello folks, i just thought that other suzanne vega admirers might be interested to know that the complete lyrics to her upcoming album, "songs in red and grey", are online at her website: www.vega.net heidi. - ------ "i want so much to write well, though i know i don't ... but during and at the end of my life, i will adore those who have." -- *dorothy parker* * heidi maier - maier@joynet.com.au * ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V7 #193 **************************