On September 10, Goldfrapp will be releasing Tales Of Us and boy, is it a major departure from their previous work. Opting out of electronic pop entirely, the London group has instead crafted an album that is cinematic and gorgeous and sounds like an entirely different Goldfrapp. “Annabel” is one of the songs off the new record and is the one that caught my attention right away. It’s an acoustic tale that holds just the right amount of drama and the right amount of strings. Allison Goldfrapp sounds great in it too. The song is accompanied by a video, which you can see here:
I can’t really decide whether or not I like or dislike this song. Released earlier this summer, I Need Your Love is the seventh single off Calvin Harris record and it’s been a pretty big hit this summer. Yet I can’t decide whether I actually like this song. I think it has to do with the lyrics and the delivery.
For some reason, when Ellie sings the chorus
I need your love
I need your time
When everything’s wrong
You make it right
I feel so high
I come alive
I need to be free with you tonight
I need your love
I feel like she is singing it in a tone or manner that feels instructional. It reminds me of ESL or when you are learning French or something and the teacher delivers a sentence in that tone in which you have to repeat it. Sadly, me and everyone else who has listened to this song has now memorized these lyrics and in my mind, any song we can sing out, we will end up liking, whether you like it or not. So I feel like somehow I have been tricked into liking this song because I know the lyrics, and I only know the lyrics because this song sounds like an instructional or tutorial lesson on the actual lyrics. Does that even make sense?
I guess that’s probably how all pop songs work, but for some reason, I feel duped on this one. Having said that, I’d probably still dance to it so maybe I’m also a hypocrite.
Your band doesn’t have to have a lead singer with a wiry build, beautiful features and a scrunchable head of jet black hair.
But it doesn’t hurt.
Let’s start with the opener though – GRMLN opened for Geographer Friday night at Schubas Tavern. The quartet out of California had only one band member over the age of 21, and they also had the most impressive collective set of haircuts I’d ever seen. Lead singer had a swoop cut that completely obscured his face but served as a perfect pinwheel when he started flailing, and the drummer had a head full of beautiful red ringlets. The band had a good sound to boot – a sort of grungy-punk-rock sound that was hazy as well as catchy.
Geographer rounded out the night with the perfect combination: an eclectic array of real instruments (guitar, sax, electric cello, drums) and a whole lotta synth. The trio brought an electric energy to the stage that transmitted to the excitable crowd at Schubas, and culminated in a bro dance/love fest at the front of the crowd. The crowd apparently self-describes their music as “soulful music from outer space” and I’d say that’s actually pretty much spot on. The highlight of the night for me was their cover of Arthur Russell – This Is How We Walk On the Moon. Give it a listen:
On July 19, the band Ohbijou announced they were going on indefinite hiatus after three stellar albums and countless other contributions to the local music and arts scene. Fortunately for Ohbijou fans, the hiatus announcement was accompanied by one of those classic Oprah “but wait there’s more!” moments:
Not wanting to leave their fans without a farewell show, Ohbijou and friends will be playing one last time at the Great Hall on September 7. It’ll be a night of celebration and joy.
I had a chance to have a virtual sit down with Casey Mecija of Ohbijou to talk about deep impacting issues such as Syria, singularity, concussions in professional sports and US foreign policies but that got too real, so instead, lets reflect on the music and the band instead.
When a band says they are breaking up or going on indefinite hiatus these days, people tend to take it with a grain of salt. Has Ohbijou given themselves any sort of self imposed embargo in terms of how much time can pass should you decide to reform for a special show or anything?
We won’t be reforming anytime soon. We are all looking forward to different creative pursuits. We are saying goodbye to this musical project, though bittersweet, there are many exciting experiences unfolding for all of us outside of the band.
You mentioned some of the places you visited when you toured. What was the best/most unique place you have played, and what was the worse?
Every place we’ve visited has carried its own unique impacts on us. I wouldn’t say we’ve ever had a bad experience. The most exciting ones have been touring across Europe, going to Japan, Taipei, China and traveling across North America with The Acorn. We have definitely encountered challenges, much like any band. Overall we have many good memories that continue to resonate with us.
In a recent interview, you mentioned that the band was “tired and broke”. Do you regret not taking any of the commercial offers you mentioned in your farewell video, especially since it seems like many bands have no problem with it?
No regrets here. We have been very fortunate as a band. We’ve traveled the world, met many wonderful and kind people, played in front of large and welcoming audiences…I feel like we’ve had a special run at this and there are no regrets. We are proud of our accomplishments.
Reflection time: what were your favorite and/or proudest moments?
One of my favourite moments was playing the Hillside festival last year. The energy of the audience was incredible. I felt lost in many good feelings while singing in that performance.
We were one of first bands to participate in the Banff Indie Music residency. We were given a cabin, access to instruments, a studio, engineer and producer. We were told to spend our time writing music and all around us were mountains and infinite sky. It was a very special experience.
Lastly, participating in the Friends In Bellwoods project and helping to raise almost $40,000 for the Daily Bread Food Bank of Toronto is something we feel proud about.
Finally, what are the odds for a massive “all our friends on stage” singalong at the Great Hall on September 7th?
