COOLRUNNINGS: Babes Forever

While checking out Walsh's Smoke Weed About It last week, I discovered COOLRUNNINGS, who have also made their music available for free download on draculahorse.com. There are two EPs available, Buffalo and Babes Forever, the second of which I'm particularly enjoying at the moment.

The record is saturated with buxom rhythms that tremor through the body, initially feeling like the very best of music that you listen to for the pure sound of the thing. When the voice emerges, however, the lyrics are incisive and poetic, and seem to have originated in the same heart as the pulse.

In an interview for metropulse.com, Brandon Biondo has attributed the band's success to the face that they allow their music to be downloaded for free, and said of the music industry, "it’s not really that important anymore, and it’s awesome that now it’s all in the hands of the people who are actually really into music,” with which I wholeheartedly agree.

The band will be playing a run of shows this autumn with Millionyoung and Sunglasses.

SAN DIMAS OASIS

BABES FOREVER

TRIPPIN BALLS AT DUR WEINERSCHNITZEL

Mountain Man: Glasgow Academy

Last night I saw Mountain Man supporting Jonsi at the Academy. The set was short, but every song was breathtaking. The venue was much larger than The Deaf Institute, where I saw the band in June, and, obviously, the majority of the audience didn't come for the support, but their presence completely commanded the hall's attention. And I'd have to say that, in the past three months, Mountain Man have grown even tighter, which I wouldn't have believed possible.

There is something so enchantingly sublime about watching this band play. Made the Harbour is seductive and consuming, but even that does not compare to the live renditions, actually seeing in the faces that which you were so sure you heard on the record.

This is a recording of Dog Song. It is absolutely beautiful, just listen to those last wails.

Paper Bird: Daytrotter Session

Paper Bird, a seven-piece band from Denver, Colorado, have just recorded a new Daytrotter session which is available for free download and accompanied by a lovely article from Sean Moeller. The session was the first I'd heard of the band and it has me enamoured. The tracks are awash with zesty rhythms, the legion of vocalists staunchly harmonising with each other as their myriad instruments are tooted, beaten and plucked.

Paper Bird's second full length album, When The River Took Flight, was released at the end of July completely independently and can be purchased from the band's official site.