Musings on Music -- Mina Tindle / Let’s Buy Happiness / Swarmi Baracus / Harry Keyworth
Hello. Still having the intro debate, mostly internally, but I’ve decided to go ahead and continue with introductions as very few people read this blog, and I’m not sure whether the people who do are the same people every week. Anyway. Enough of that.
In short, this is a weekly (at the moment) blog on music I’ve heard and have chosen to share with you, whoever you may be. Most of the music is new, most is British, and most I’ve heard on Tom Robinson’s BBC6 Mixtape podcast. I’ve usually also searched for a video online, ripped it and then uploaded it to my Youku page. If you have any suggestions about new bands I should give a listen, I’d be glad to hear from you here or follow me on Twitter or Sina Weibo (look out for the #Sunday Soundtrack# tag).
Mina Tindle
“Bells”
First up we have the lovely Mina Tindle, a French singer with Spanish roots. On her website, she’s described as “the new voice of the modern French pop dreamers.” Not sure what that means, to be honest, but I like her sound. Yes, this track has some similarities with Fiest, particularly the verses, but Mina has a powerful voice and knows how to use it. Listening to other songs she has, it’s not all acoustic folk, and she obviously likes to mix up her styles. According to the Mixtape blog, she didn’t start making music until her early 20s when she moved to New York. She eventually returned to to her native Paris to complete her debut album, “Taranta.”
Let’s Buy Happiness
“Works Better On Paper”
“Dirty Lakes”
Now, maybe I’m pushing it here, moving from Mina to another band with soft, female vocals, but I couldn’t resist. Their choruses are just too good. “Works Better on Paper” sounds like it has been recorded with the band in a relaxing bath; it sounds so relaxed, so effortless. However, compared with the more upbeat “Dirty Lakes,” it shows the group is not a one-trick pony. Let’s Buy Happiness are a five-piece from Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the UK. They are Sarah Hall on vocals and brother James Hall on guitar and keys, along with guitarist Graeme Martin, Mark Brown on bass and James King on drums.
Swarmi Baracus
“Hyper”
“The Recipe”
Here’s a nice change of pace entirely. Now I’m not usually into British urban acts; I never could see what all the fuss was about with people like Dizzy Rascal and Plan B, but then again I didn’t grow up on a tough council estate. There’s something about Swami “Barracuda” Baracus that I find a lot more accessible. I can’t explain why, so I won’t try. Here’s an edited version of his website bio: Baracus is a West London-based British-Asian rapper whose genre-defying style has earned him multiple awards and nominations. According to his website, he has been rapping from a very early age, and his influences have come from a diverse range of urban rap acts.
Harry Keyworth
“Knew That Day”
And we’re back to acoustic folk. This guy has a great slap guitar technique that I love and, to continue my weak comparisons, is blessed with some Bon Iver-esque, falsetto vocals.
OK, short and sweet this week. Enjoy the tracks.