Music like the curve of gold

"To Build a Home" by The Cinematic Orchestra is one of my very, very favorite songs. You just have to hear it. It's very simple—piano, voice, some strings—sweet, beautiful, and so very sad.

It's not the typical track for The Cinematic Orchestra; they're actually a new age-y jazz band that plays around with electronics as well as more traditional jazz sounds. Their range and types of songs are extremely varied, but "To Build a Home" is nonetheless an exception to their general rule. It's more balladic than their usual stuff, more acoustic, and just so good.

Moreover, the band collaborated with production group Up the Resolution to create a wonderful video for both "To Build a Home" and another song, "Breathe," from the same album. "Breathe" has a similar melancholy tone (which is probably why it was chosen to be in the video), but in terms of instrumentation and structure is a little more like the typical Cinematic Orchestra sound.

I don't want to ruin anything, but the video is emotive and absolutely beautiful and never fails to make me tear up at least a little.

"To Build a Home"/"Breathe" by The Cinematic Orchestra from Ma Fleur (2007)

-A

P.S.— The post's title comes from a very lovely poem called "Barter," by Sara Teasdale, and I highly recommend looking it up.

Dum bah did du dum

One of the best gifts I ever received was for my 18th birthday. It was 3 cases from my older brother. Each one contain a significant portion of his CD collection. I tirelessly worked at listening to all or some of each album. I found a ton of a great music is in there, on such a CD was from a band called Soul Coughing, which I had never heard of, it was one measly CD, a live album recorded at the 9:30 Club in D.C.

I'm not sure why I liked the album so much. But upon further reflection I think it was because of the tip of the tongue vocals (most of lead singers Mike Doughty's lyrics are on the spot slam poetry style) they also have this heavy upright bass sound with a intimate feel. The band is even less polished than some of the music I've been listening to, which is saying a lot. If there was ever a band that totally embodied rawness, this band might take that prize. They just sound so fresh that you'd think each track was totally free form and written just for that specific moment.

They have been described by critics as "slacker jazz" which I wouldn't have though of to describe a band on my own, but when you listen to a couple of their tracks it becomes incredibly obvious that it is very descriptive. They just have this feeling of we-don't-care-so-listen-if-you-want-to music. I won't post about each track because they are incredibly unique, so just listen and you'll see what I mean.

"Circles" by Soul Coughing from Lust In Phaze (2002)

"Janine" by Soul Coughing from Live At The 9:30 (1998)

"Maybe I'll Come Down" by Soul Coughing from El Oso (1998) *this ones my favorite*

-S