The joys of sound

I love music. Almost as much as I love film. Yet music is that thing that you can place in the background and let it evolve around you. Colouring in mundane routine. It is heard in a different context as a soundtrack to everyday life. It evokes joy, sadness, love and nostalgia.

I also love to share music. New discoveries are a joy to me. Its like I've found something that connects with me and I want everyone else to hear it. To make their own connections.

So here are a list of singers and bands that I've found over the last few months. I hope you make them a part of the soundtrack of your life.

MuteMath

"Giddily swiping ideas from several decades' worth of alternative rock, New Orleans' electro-rock quartet Mute Math at times recalls New Order's synth-dance epics, the shambling shuffle of the Stone Roses and the rest of the Madchester scene, the spiky chilliness of prime Radiohead, Air's serene ambient pop, and somewhat incongruously, the booming vocals of mainstream alt-rockers of the post-Eddie Vedder era."

Myspace site - http://www.myspace.com/mutemath

MuteMath are an insanely talented band. They produce such a confident, orginal sound that sometimes is reminiscent of Peter Gabriel, The Police, Pink Floyd, and Radiohead. The sound is a times rocky and at others insanely club influenced.


Justin Nozuka

"The maturity of Justin Nozuka's music, a soulful blend of R&B and pensive singer/songwriter folk that recalls both Nick Drake and Lauryn Hill, belies his tender years: Nozuka was only 18 when his debut album was released.Playing gigs on Toronto's active folk and singer/songwriter circuit while still in high school, Nozuka attracted the attention of the British indie label Outcaste Records (Joss Stone, KT Tunstall), which signed the youngster for his 2006 debut album, Holly."

MySpace link! - http://www.myspace.com/justinnozuka

This young guy has such a wonderful voice. Tender and powerful at the same time, its the most striking male voice I've heard since Jeff Buckley's vocal acrobatics on the brilliant Grace. His songs are striped back acoustic numbers that ooze soul and honesty.

MONO

"Japanese experimental group Mono came together in 2000, choosing to forgo vocals and concentrate instead on atmospheric classical-inspired rock music.The foursome, bassist Tamaki (the lone female in the group), drummer Yasunori Takada, and guitarists Takaakira "Taka" Goto and Yoda, released their first full-length record, Under the Pipal Tree, in 2001 on John Zorn's Tzadik label."


Official Band website - http://www.mono-jpn.com/

Most Japanese music is fun, throwaway pop, that made me laugh during my time in Japan, mainly because the singer will occasionally throw in an English word. However Mono are different, with no singers their music is haunting and reminiscent of Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Check out "You Are There"

All entries in italics are taken from www.allmusic.com