motel de moka

photo: Parachutgirl.

Beth Jeans Houghton - Golden
Golden 7″ (Static Caravan, 2009)

This is a such a pleasant song. Beth Jeans Houghton’s voice seems to come from the same silken mist from which Vashti Bunyan appeared from,  share the same sort of charming simplicity in their songs. ‘Golden’ swells with an intimate beauty that invites and comforts the listener in one single stroke.
note: Song will not stream properly on our player due to a high sample rate.

Odawas - Harmless Lover’s Discourse
The Blue Depths (Jagjaguwar / 2009)

Considering their last record and their label is more associated with the ‘psych-folk’ movement, I wasnt expecting Odawas to shift sound in such extreme manners and come back as some sort of dreampop outfit. ‘Harmless Lover’s Discourse’ starts off rather predictable with a jubilant piano ditty that could have been penned by any britpop band from the past 15 years before being masterfully laid on a synth bed and drowned in Odawas’ psychedelic antics.

The Hundred in the Hands - Dressed in Dresden
Dressed in Dresden 7″ (Unsigned / 2009)

When I hear this song I regret not having a record label to sign ‘the Hundred in the Hands’ right away. This single totals the entire recorded output of this band thus far and it has to be one of the most addictive things I’ve heard in a very long time. Perfectly formed but appropriately rough around the edges; if you can keep still while listening to this song, you’re already dead.

Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
My Maudlin Career (4ad / 2009)

Oh, Camera Obscura how I’ve missed you.

Woods - The Dark
Songs of Shame (TBA)

Found this one over at GvB and just like Chris I haven’t been able to stick it out of my head. It’s a short and playful piece with some weird vocalisation and the charming lo-fi aesthetic keeps reminding me of Sebadoh a lot, particulary the canned drum sound. Would I be too off if I dared say it sounds like some sort of Sesame Street skit with Sebadoh providing the instrumentation?