new the national, yawn, lusine.

The National, a Brooklyn Night favorite, has leaked a new single from their upcoming album High Violet. 'Bloodbuzz Ohio' isn't a stretch from their previous material; sustained piano chords, racing drums, dark vocal melodies, droning bass, horns, epic finishes. Though I have and continue to appreciate The National's subdued music making tendencies, I wanted to hear something a little more innovative from their newest single. Alas, I will have to settle for another classic The National tune. (Get tickets to see these guys at Prospect Park, July 27. I'll be there.)

The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio

Scanning the internet for worthy listening material, a couple tracks caught my ear. The first is 'Empress' by Chicago's YAWN. Akin to Yeasayer and Animal Collective, YAWN utilizes worldly instrumentation in developing percussive and bouncy music. Compared to much of their other music, 'Empress' is suspenseful and intense. Tension is built simultaneously by a broken percussion track, rigid guitar work, and a dark vocal verse. The lyrics seem to be a commentary on the need for things to seem perfect in an imperfect world. Not new, "You want to be comfortable, so comfortable it hurts." The first line still haunts me.

YAWN - Empress

The second track is by Lusine. I have written about Lusine before and am really into his sounds. The music is danceable but not clubby, it has a certain Four Tet kind of feel but is more intentionally electronic. Check it out.

Lusine - Emerald

That's all for today.

Love,
Jake

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lusine.

Today, thanks to RCRDLBL.com, I discovered Lusine's latest release, 'A Certain Distance' (2009).  Based in Seattle, Lusine is the brainchild of Jeff McIlwain, a student of 90's Brit Electronica.  On 'A Certain Distance,' Lusine combines the sounds of Four Tet, Boards of Canada and Air with verse chorus writing tendencies, as well as the lyrical sensibilities of featured artist Vilja Larjosto on two tracks.  Her vocals bind the air of Portishead and Morcheeba with the depth of Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond.  In tracks 'Twilight' and 'Two Dots,' layered vocals float across wonderfully ambient soundscapes while the combined artists' pop tendencies allow the songs to remain suspenseful.

Lusine has put out seven solo releases and has collaborated with artists on compilations for many labels.  One such collaboration caught my ear.  'Locks,' written in conjunction with David Wingo, was recorded for Ghostly International's 2006 compilation, 'Idol Tryouts Two.'  Wingo's strumming and Lusine's electronic pulses combine for a soothing vamp that, while I can't say I hear the tune develope too much, had my head floating in clouds (and I was totally sober!).


Lusine - Two Dots (feat. Vilja Larjosto)
Lusine - Twilight (feat. Vilja Larjosto)
Lusine - Cirrus