The best music… report 1

Flowertown – Half Yesterday (Mt.St.Mtn/Paisley Shirt Records)

I was first introduced to the wonderful San Francisco indiepop scene by hearing The Reds, Pinks & Purples (Glenn Donaldson) back in 2020. From there I’ve fallen in love with the likes of Cindy, Tony Jay, April Magazine and countless others playing woozy lofi dreampop that is both barely there and everywhere all at the same time. (For further reading on the wider SF scene I heartily recommend a read of this wonderful piece by Mariana Timony, published late last year… https://daily.bandcamp.com/scene-report/san-francisco-indie-pop-list)

Flowertown comprises Karina Gill (Cindy) and Mike Ramos (Tony Jay/April Magazine) and this is their third vinyl release. The title track ‘Half Yesterday’ has just dropped and it’s wonderful. Less tape hiss induced atmospherics on this latest cut, with more clarity in the melodies and some gorgeous keys weaving in and out of the mix.

We live in the strangest, most chaotic of times, and this music gives me another space to exist in, a space where time moves along a little slower, and all those little in between moments that matter so much have room to flourish. I recommend repeated listening, because once it clicks you’re letting yourself into the most beautiful of worlds.

https://paisleyshirtrecords.bandcamp.com/album/half-yesterday

https://flowertownsf.bandcamp.com/album/half-yesterday

XAM Duo – II (Sonic Cathedral)

This is the second album from Yorkshire duo XAM Duo, and they weren’t at all on my radar until my local record shop South made it album of the week. I clicked through and for once the label press release spiel enticed me in rather than completely baffle me as is often the case these days.

This is beautiful meditative electronica (or even Jazztronica if I may?) We start and end with beat driven synth bass enthused tunes, and in between go deeper and deeper inwards with ambient soundscapes that put me in mind of the dreamier end of the Lost In Translation soundtrack. The wonderfully (just about) restrained saxophone that weaves in and out of this album gives me the ‘In A Silent Way’ feels at times, and adds yet another layer to this short but affecting record.

Any time I’ve been starting to feel a bit chaotic these tunes have been pulling me back together, and anything bridging the gap between 90s techno and 70s Miles is an absolute winner in my book.

https://xammusik.bandcamp.com/album/xam-duo-ii

MYTBE – Moody (self released)

Instagram stories from like minded souls can be a fine way to pick up on new music and so it was for me with London based MYTBE. Somebody linked through to her 2021 jam ‘Tied’ and I was hooked. A stunning voice, raw lyrics and a sound that was equal parts introspective acoustic and expansive electronic. (The live version on YouTube remains one of the finest things I’ve seen on there in recent years https://youtu.be/K2t6s6L1t8E.)

‘Moody’ is the latest MYTBE release and this time we are as stripped back as we can get. The purest of vocals that cracks with emotion as the song develops, with a beautifully fragile picked guitar backing, jazzing rather than folking as it unfolds slowly. This isn’t your standard verse/chorus songwriter stuff, this is a song that goes exactly where it feels, and every note pulls you along with it. So good.

Plantman – Days Of The Rocks

Matt Randall, accompanied by a close knit family of fellow Essex based musicians, has been releasing albums as Plantman since around 2010. Beautiful, enchanting collections that have consistently enriched my life since stumbling upon his stunning ‘Whispering Trees’ album in late 2015.

In 2016, I was fortunate enough to catch Plantman live at the Leigh Folk Festival, where the band turned in one of the finest local live performances I’ve ever witnessed. Here’s ‘Slow Design’ from that perfect Sunday afternoon…

My late 2020 was brightened considerably by whispers of a new album, and now in early December here it is. Days Of The Rocks. It might just be his best yet.

This time out Matt is assisted by long standing bandmate Adam Radmall, with support from musical allies Roy Thirlwall/Michelle Bappoo (Melodiegroup), Leighton Jennings (Dark Globes) and recording engineer/studio wizard John Hannon. All of these contributors add their own colour and flavour to the album, whilst never overpower the homespun essence of Matts writing.

Highlight is the wonderful High Hopes, recorded largely at home on 8 track before being ‘tidied up’ at NO studio, where the album was predominantly recorded. The low key drum machine ticking along puts me in mind of those gorgeous early Durutti Column sides, and the sweeping instrumental passages echo peak New Order (think Your Silent Face, but with guitars in place of synths).

This is probably Matts most direct statement to date. Most songs clock in around or under the three minute mark, and not a single second is wasted. 2020 has pulled most of us to the very edge of our being, so when the title track asks us “did you ever feel young…?” it hits me like a train, every single time.

Matt is a gardener by trade, and he always paints this beautifully into his music. Listening to this album I hear the sun rising, winter rain, the budding of spring… it’s all there waiting to be discovered. The album is currently available digitally via Bandcamp, ahead of a full release next year. Dive in folks, you’ll never look back.