Showing posts with label indie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label indie. Show all posts

Feel Our Nature


I’m on to another album recommendation, that of Jose Gonzales’ “In Our Nature.” I wrote about and featured his debut album on a blog posted last December (here), and since then, I’ve been incessantly streaming his music, because after some hook-and-crook searches, I got a copy of the album and was then blown away by select tracks from that; Heartbeats in particular.

I’ve been listening to “In Our Nature” for a few days now, even putting it on my WMP while editing or captioning files. I wanted to “feel” the music first before I decide to feature it, and feel I have: the acoustic-indie-folk feel that only Mr. Gonzales gets to deliver. It may be a challenge bringing other people to music made this way, what with commercialized ones competing with each other for listenership on the airwaves, but at least we tried. His music can be both relaxing and insightful, and you’ll be lost in your own thoughts while having “In Our Nature” in the background. The strings just have that effect on you. I particularly like listening to it while hitting the covers, the stereo on semi-max volume and with the lights turned off. I don’t care if I awaken my neighbors at 1:00 in the morning, but I have heard neither complaints or violent reactions from them. Makes me think I have them converted as well. Weheh.

“Teardrop,” an acoustic Massive Attack cover, and “Cycling Trivialities” are stunners. Stream the album here.

Rediscovering the Music of José González

Photo from thephoenix.com

This guy, José González, was namedropped by a former colleague from the office, Camoi. I remember she sent a link for a video of one of González' live performances and mentioned something like "him being her new love." And hearing his "Veneer" album and raving about his brand of folk-acoustic music, now I know the reason why.

My interest to rediscover this guy's music was really piqued when a work batchmate, Edsol, recently posted on his Multiply videos for some of González' songs--a cover of Massive Attack's "Teardrop" (astig!), "Hand On Your Heart," and two others I forgot. When I began streaming "Veneer," his voice sounded familiar to me, and I soon learned why when I found this little bit of info while researching for his profile on the net: He was one of the voices behind Zero 7's "Futures," a song from one of the chillout/downtempo bands I listen to.

I'm yet to find a CD of his debut album, but as of now I'm content with just audiostreaming his music online (here). Great stuff, the reason why I blogged about his music here. I only decide, by the way, to feature or rave about albums when most, if not all, of the songs on the tracklist give me that auricular pleasure that only a handful get to ever do, and "Veneer" is one of them. I have never heard of anybody else producing this kind of music, and this is enough reason for us to support Indie more. I know I'm not alone with this. Down with commercial music!

"Heartbeats" is a standout.