2012 Discoveries

First Aid Kit 'The Lions roar' - Some really sweet chick driven Americana, like this one a lot. I have their 2010 release, The Big Black & The Blue and although I do enjoy it, this new record is a major step forward. Highly recommended.

Neal - I have to agree, Lana del Rey is a sexy beast, wow. Don't have the record you mention, just a short self titled EP. After I read your post I did a quick video/pic Google, chick sure does have a look.

MayMay "MayMay EP" [Flau]

This is a very quiet, pretty yet interesting 5 song EP, her only release I believe. Highly recommended. http://www.flau.jp/releases/24_jp.html

It's released on Flau, a small independent label out of Tokyo that puts out some incredibly beautiful music. Artists like Henning Schmiedt, modern classical piano and Part Timer which is very hard to explain.

While on the subject of Part Timer, he's another worth mentioning in this thread. Three releases in particular, Reel to Reel on Lost Tribe Sound, Undead on Hibernate and Scissors and Sellotape (another Part Timer moniker) on Fracture. I can't really explain it, along the lines of The Caretaker/Leyland Kirby, sort of atmospheric folk ambient classical haze but I think many of you would appreciate it. Wonderful records.

A Marco sighting! Yo my brother. Yes, you must navigate a series of strategically placed obstacles in order to execute any function in the new and fresh Audiogon world. New World Order. Glad I met you a ways back because we never would have been able to connect here and now. All jokes aside, I truly feel sad for the young members and those yet to get here for that very reason. I have made some damn good friends in the community that was, that ain't gonna happen now as you must be a skilled hacker to find another members email address. Noticeable lack of traffic here and in the marketplace...insert blowing tumbleweed here.

Back on topic, thanks for the suggestions. I will seek out the film for sure. I've tried to dig Beirut but could not connect in past attempts. I need to revisit him, your not the first person I respect to recommend his newest album.

Good to see you around these parts. Keep the suggestions coming. The way I read this, it doesn't have to be from 2012, just a new discovery. Sending you a pic from Elvis....

Another:

Perfume Genius "Put Your Back N 2 It"

Don't let the title fool you, it's not a dance record. It's more a quiet, cloudy, atmospheric lofi singer/songwriter thing. I immediately thought of Antony & the Johnsons when I heard it, not just for the gender similarities but the tone and pace is very Antony like. Parts also remind me of Sufjan Stevens and Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse), both some of my favorite artists. I really like this record and will be headed off to buy his first in hopes it is similar. This is one of the better records I have heard in quite some time.

Tall Firs "Out Of It And Into It"

Stunning.

Todd - Yes, I do have Maraqopa. I have to admit that I have not listened to it that much. The times I did play it I did not find it overly engaging, although I don't dislike it by any means. I prefer his quieter moments so that album was less appealing than some of his older recordings. Still, I do think he is incredibly talented in all areas and under-appreciated...but I would not put him in the same class as Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse), may he rest in peace.

With Joyful Lips "Oneironautic"
http://boomkat.com/downloads/541978-with-joyful-lips-
oneironautics

Fennesz "AUN"
http://boomkat.com/downloads/544391-fennesz-aun

Tropic Of Cancer "Permissions Of Love"
http://boomkat.com/vinyl/536148-tropic-of-cancer-
permissions-of-love

Aidan Baker + Tim Hecker "Fantasma Parastasie"
http://boomkat.com/downloads/138764-aidan-baker-tim-hecker-
fantasma-parastasie

So this is not actually a discovery for me, been a fan of
his since I first heard his Nostalgia Ultra mixtape but I
thought this thread was the best place to post this.

Frank Ocean is just special. I'm not that big of an R+B fan
in general so it's surprising that this album struck me as
much as it did. With his first true full length, channel
ORANGE, Ocean has left us with a classic for a generation.
He's a brilliant songwriter/composer with a voice echoing
Stevie (when I first heard "Sweet Life" I thought it was
Stevie!). He's got his Odd Future swag but can also command
a stage in front of an orchestra as he did on Fallon a
couple nights ago (see clips on Youtube). The production on
the record is nothing short of brilliant seamlessly moving
from sweeping strings to hard progressive jazz breaks to
radio static background to strip club groove to metal
guitar...but at it's core it's soulful swag R+B and a very
special record.

So....discover Frank Ocean "channel ORANGE"

Caught In The Wake Forever "Against A Simple Wooden
Cross"

I've been listening to a pre-release copy of this album from
Hibernate, a label that can do no wrong these days when it
comes to ambient/drone/modern classical music. I had not
heard Caught In The Wake Forever until I heard this new
album and I immediately began looking at other releases.
It's a beautiful album mixed with field recordings,
electric/acoustic guitar, piano and ambient soundscapes.
Highly recommended.

http://caughtinthewakeforever.bandcamp.com/album/sadness-
static

You can download a free 2 track album collaboration with
Caught In A Wake, Karina ESP and Sheepdog on his Bandcamp
page (flac or whatever format you select) called Sadness &
Static. It's a nice intro to his style although I would
describe the new record as having more song structure and it
also has some vocal tracks (beautiful too).