From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V14 #320 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Monday, November 23 2009 Volume 14 : Number 320 To unsubscribe: e-mail ecto-digest-request@smoe.org and put the word unsubscribe in the message body. Today's Subjects: ----------------- Fri night, Laura Veirs, April Smith [Karen Hester Subject: Fri night, Laura Veirs, April Smith April Smith started with a love song to her favorite serial killer Dexter. Her songs are bubbly vintage, influenced by Victorian music hall and forwards to about the 60s. April reminded me of a non-menacing Devil Doll, or Elizabeth and the Catapult, though without transcending her genre influences as often as Elizabeth does. Backing band the Great Picture Show contributed enthusiastic finger snaps to 'Terrible Things' and luggage percussion to 'Colors'. http://www.myspace.com/aprilsmithmusic Laura Veirs has a lo-fi flat approach which doesn't quite suit a happy drinking audience, but I was up the front enjoying it all. Her striped pregnant belly made for a good guitar rest. Viola - yey - and banjo for a trad song about chickens. Lots of new songs from upcoming album 'July Flame', $10 at the show or wait for the official release next year. I wasn't about to wait. I love the title track's 'can I call you mine?' choir, the slow haunt of 'Little deschutes', a river of piano and droning guitar, whispered "I want nothing more than to float with you". 'I can see your tracks' has a western feel with snakes, smoke and a haunting cowboy howl in the background. The swaying strings and loops and hornet rain of 'Wide-eyed, legless' has me hitting repeat, repeat. 'Sun is king' has 70s harmonies, not my thing, I prefer her older American folk references, music from mountains and plains. Laura's lyrics are literate and evocative and full of the natural world. This album has a gnarled tree, darkened dale, honey wax, lonely cave, sea swell, hail storm and, uh, steer manure. Rimbaud's 'Sleeper in the valley' fits right in with a green hollow, singing river and blue watercress. http://www.lauraveirs.com/ - sign up for two free songs from 'July Flame'. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:19:45 -0600 From: Paul Jensen Subject: Re: Fri night, Laura Veirs, April Smith I have enjoyed following Laura Veirs throughout her career, and I think her new album "July Flame" is just incredible. This album will serve as an excellent entryway into her work for those unfamiliar, and will impress longtime fans. I'm reminded of Aimee Mann, who has always been consistently good, but then released the stellar "Smilers" album last year that just blew me away.. "July Flame" has the same impact on me. I hope ecto-folk check it out! Paul - -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "This is the time. And this is the record of the time." -Laurie Anderson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V14 #320 ***************************