Easy Like Sunday Morning #11

Ok, so Fridays post was missing. Long story cut short I left my house on Thursday to pre-swall for soulwaxmas and I returned home on Saturday evening, on the Friday between I went to ASIWYFA's gig and went to a ludicrous house party the same night (people were arriving when I was leaving at 9am and it was the most active part of the party). ASIWYFA blew Belfast apart, I missed soulwax and Tiga on the Friday (forgot ticket and had to go back) but mix hell blew the roof of the place, 2manydjs however just did the exact same thing they did at Belsonic, it was rubbish the first time and it was rubbish again if you were to listen to the two sets you'd be convinced that no music had been released in the past 6 months as they were pretty much the same. Because of all this my body clock has been all off, I slept a good bit of today as I didn’t go to bed until lunchtime.

For the first post of the day I'm going to be posting Air's - Ce matin là from their stunning album Moon Safari. If I were to try and explain what Easy Like Sunday Morning was about to someone who didn’t get the title (ie a complete idiot), I would just give them a copy of Moon Safari and they would instantly understand what we were trying to show people. I honestly think that this is possibly the most organic sounding album every made and if I were trying to determine if a pair of speakers were worth my money or not, this is the album I'd use. Ce matin là is constantly a song I find getting stuck in my head, I'll find myself on a bus, train or walking around town/uni just humming the infectious brass lead over and over again. Everything from that typical air-esque bass to the steel sounding guitar are perfect in this track. I'm really actually surprised that I haven't posted this track earlier as it is my favorite Air track from what I personally think is the dynamic duo's best work. I urge you to get a copy of this album by any means necessary even if it means robbing it from a shop (I don't condone any criminal activity, this is clearly a sarcastic comment meant to raise a cheap laugh, however if you do decide to do this just use the ten tracks on the album as your defense and the jury will understand and probably let you off), the reason I urge you to listen to this album is that you will almost definitely find a different favorite track to mine, it's just that sort of album. I discovered this album when I was in my 3rd or 4th year of school during the height of listening to metal bands such as Megadeth and going through a typical stage of not wanting to conform (by ironically conforming to something else…), but that alone says a lot about the album, as it is something especially at that time which I would not have expected to like and it is without a doubt beside Grandmaster Flash one of the two key elements in the change that made me listen to music the way I do today. This is definitely, for me, an in bed sort of album, one to go to sleep to and one to wake up to, its therapeutic in ways that therapy could never be and proves that simplicity is one of the keys to perfection. I could go on and on about why this album is one of the best made and why it's so good but i'd rather let you discover it for yourself than let me impose learned habits in regards to how and why you should listen to it. Ce matin là by some sort of beautiful coincidence means "That Morning".

Air - Ce matin là

The next song I'm going to post is another obvious one that has somehow eluded me up until now, Simon and Garfunkel's always atmospheric The Sound of Silence. Anyone who goes to the cinema even semi-often or enjoys film will recognize this track as it is used on a seemingly regular basis within film. The best use of this track is clearly from the film The Graduate, the song plays at a time when Hoffmans character has finished his time at university, graduated and is having off time discovering who he is before he decides to tackle the world. The song very appropriately plays when his family are bothering him about his future and he lies in his pool then immerses himself underwater, hence the song being used (lots of symbolism going on here film fans). The song is a herald to what Simon and Garfunkel used to be before their constant break-ups and reunification's (as of writing this they are together…kinda). The song opens with simplistic guitar work that progresses throughout the song and is backed by the perfect and typical harmonizing voices of Simon & Garfunkel.

Simon & Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence

The next track I want to post is a slight progression for the blog as I don’t think we've talked about the genre yet. Like the track above, most people will probably be familiar with this track through film. The track is Brian Eno's Deep Blue Day which methodical film fans may be familiar with as the track that plays during Trainspotting when Renton dives into the toilet. There's not really much to talk about historically for this track other than it was purportedly first used and written for a documentary by NASA called For All Mankind. It’s a very Caribbean themed track so hopefully it'll warm you up in this shockingly cold winter we're having.

Brian Eno - Deep Blue Day

The next track I'm posting is one everyone should be familiar with, as it was Christmas number one a few years ago, I think it was the last xmas number 1 before x factor began(kudos to rage btw, really didn’t think it was even remotely possible, the internet continues to surprise me). The track also featured in what could perceivabley be my favorite film (after The Trilogy). The song, as the pub-quiz enthusiasts would probably know by now is Gary Jules' Mad World (originally by Tears for Fears). Video game fans may will be familiar with the track through its appearance in one of the trailers for the first Gears of War game (which I personally think completely misled people about what the game would be like). The track is great and one that should definitely be listened to in a relaxing manner (otherwise you'll probably over think it and make yourself depressed) I don’t like to tell people how to listen to music but I'll make an exception here by saying to concentrate on the piano, the keys keep this song alive.

Gary Jules - Mad World

To finish up today, as it's the last Sunday post before Christmas, I thought I'd throw in a Xmas treat for you all to appreciate on this fine Sunday evening. From the nature of the post and what I've just said, some of you may have already guessed that the track I'm going to post; none-other than Oceansize's cover of Walking In The Air. The reason I'm posting this is very specified, so bear with me (in honesty the song justifies itself, kind of making the rest of this post irrelevant, but there is reasoning). Covers to many are a loved thing, to others they can seem gimmicky; I stand somewhere in the middle, mainly because not all covers work and a lot are indeed gimmicky. To me covers can be a work of genius, if done right. The reason for this is that they instantly make genres of music that others may not be familiar with, or willing to explore, very accessible. It gives people an understanding of the track as the cover version will add a "what if?" element to the songs they are applied to. Now I'm obviously talking here about cross-genre covers, covers that try to perfectly emulate the same sound end up sounding shite. Some work (check for Chris Cornell's live acoustic version of Billie Jean, the one he recorded for Carry On just didn’t work imo) and some don't (ie Will Young desecrating The Doors legacy - im not even linking to this one). This is something that works and can easily be enjoyed by all, it's an upbeat and completely original look on a classic that everyone is familiar with, if you want someone to become a post-rock fan this Christmas then show them this, they may just thank you for it.

Oceansize - Walking In The Air

Easy Like Sunday Morning #6

This week I have decided to list some of my all-time favourite more relaxed or laidback tracks. Originally this wasn't an intentional thing but as I was compiling the tracks that's just the way it went. Practically all of these tracks I would consider essential listening providing this type of music is what you're into. If not, you may find some of them a little difficult to get on board with but you may even surprise yourself if you give them a chance.

Firstly is Oceansize's Music For A Nurse. After getting featured in an Orange advertisement, a television drama and a recent film, The Invisible, this track was consequently considered almost platitudinous or overplayed if you listened to the critics. Thankfully I didn't and still don't. Regardless of where or how heavily this track was featured, it never becomes convoluted or feels misplaced. It is rare for a song to be able to convey such a large range of emotions from so many different people. Whereas some people may hear this song as a melancholic or desolate piece, I see it more as a graceful yet ultimately triumphant song. There is no wrong interpretation, it is roughly down to how the song is approached and the listeners general outlook and overall levels of perception but even then let's not get ahead of ourselves. Music For A Nurse comes from the innovative yet frequently misunderstood album Everyone Into Position. Originally, although I enjoyed it, I didn't quite see what the big fuss was about. I was very much still in love with their first album Effloresce and with the follow-up there was a slight departure in style and a significant departure in focus. At first glance, Everyone Into Position seemed to be a softer, more brooding rendition of their music as opposed to the heavier yet multifaceted first album. It took me a long time to come to terms with this new approach because while I often acknowledged its artistic merit in my own mind, it never quite hit the pinnacle of Effloresce for me. To an extent, my stance hasn't changed but after managing to see them live (still my favourite gig) I learnt a new level of appreciation for the album, particularly Ornament/The Last Wrongs. It was only after this concert that I came to realise just how elegant and imaginative it was aesthetically. Music For A Nurse was chosen because it is an untarnished extension of these aesthetic qualities.

Oceansize - Music For A Nurse

The second track to be posted is The Postal Service's Such Great Heights. You may remember that the last time I did this I chose Death Cab For Cutie's Soul Meets Body. It isn't a coincidence that this weeks post features The Postal Service, a collaborative effort between Ben Gibbard, the vocalist for DCFC and Jimmy Tamborello (also known by the pseudonym Dntel) of Figurine and Headset. It was a deliberate choice to continue with this alignment as I feel it best summarises Ben Gibbard's songwriting prowess yet also offers something fresh and to an extent unconventional. The name The Postal Service originates with the way in which they chose to produce the bands songs. It was only after Tamborello had written and recorded the instrumental parts that they were sent to Gibbard who would then edit or refine them and come up with the vocals which he believed best fitted the music. Given that this was a sideproject for both artists, in order to undertake these songwriting duties without compromising their main projects, they chose to send eachother demo tapes via the United States Postal Service. The song Such Great Heights is arguably the standout track from the album because whilst there are other tracks which are notable, it best represents both the band itself and the ideals on which it was formed. The vocals are irrestibly catchy yet the music is so off-the-wall that it just works. Listening to this song and concentrating solely on the instrumental parts gives a huge inclination as to just how made for eachother these two are. Despite being very much an electronica song, it still manages to maintain a certain degree of indie pop sensibility which never ceases to bring a smile to my face.

The Postal Service - Such Great Heights

The middle track for today's post is by the man himself, Gerry Rafferty. Of course it could only be his seminal not-quite-a-number-one Baker Street. Unless you're a robot from outer space (and even then you probably still would have heard it), it is practically guaranteed that you have heard this track somewhere along your travels. It is inescapable and is one of those rare tracks that means something to each individual listener. If you haven't heard it or the name sounds unfamiliar to you, why not take some time to get acquainted? Its unlikely you'll regret it. One of the main reasons this song is so well-known is because of that saxophone solo. Not only did Raphael Ravenscroft's solo rejuvenate the instrument within the mainstream media but it also did so within the public domain resulting in a surge in saxophone sales. Baker Street, to me, is essential Sunday listening. I don't know what it is about this song but it just perfectly manifests a lazy Sunday morning or afternoon to me in a way that very few songs can. It manages to convey a lackadaisical vibe without stretching too far into that category while all the while remaining effortlessly cool. It is a shame that Rafferty failed to emulate the success of Baker Street in later years because if this is what he could do with a song about busking in London, who knows what he could have done with more commodious subject matter. Then again, maybe this unpretentious background is where the song's engagingness stems from. Personally I think its the killer sax solo.

Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street

Fourth on the chopping block is La Ritournelle by Sebastien Tellier. You may remember Mr. Tellier from his Eurovision entry that was deemed controversial due to his emphasis on singing in English rather than his native tongue of French, leading Tellier to increase the amount of French within the song itself. Regardless, he still only scored 47 points resulting in a position of 18th, demonstrating exactly how tasteless and bureaucratic this 'competition' is. I don't know what would be worse, Tellier losing to a bunch of manufactured pop artists or winning and obtaining a sense of unflourished credibility in all the wrong circles. I once put a slightly remixed version of La Ritornelle onto a mix CD and sent it around a multitude of people around the United Kingdom and Ireland. The reason behind this distribution was because of a project involving an exchange of music that crops up every couple of years on various different forum boards I use. Needless to say the results were unabashededly negative. I hope this second lease of life fares a little better because I honestly believe this song to be one of the greatest of all time. It just works on so many different levels and offers something which has become more and more difficult to acquire within the music industry in recent years: purity. Admittedly, the remix which I originally sent around I feel is a slight improvement over the source track due to a very, very minimal increase in speed, but I think it would be wrong of me to post anything but the original within this post. It is still utterly fantastic in every respect.

Sebastien Tellier - La Ritournelle

Lastly we have a track I've been sitting on for the best part of a year, Common Market's Tobacco Road. I'm sure you want to know exactly why I've been sitting on a track for so long, especially considering this blog has only existed for just under three months now. The answer is that sometime in the future I am hoping to be featured in a Halo 3 montage showcasing my skills and whatnot. Whilst this track was never intended to be used in conjunction with the gameplay footage, after initially listening to it whenever that was I figured that it would make excellent credit music. I am reasonably sure that I was introduced to this track after downloading it from a blog which is puzzling because it is not the sort of music that is typically featured on blogs. Either way, it has everything that one could possibly want from credit music; an unashamed melody and flow that hints at a sentimentality that most rappers wouldn't touch with a six foot pole. The use of piano is simple yet effective and communicates a mixture of despondency and longing remembrance that expertly fits the message I will almost undoubtedly be trying to divulge at the end of the video. The very fact that it is making it into this video whenever it will be (it may even never come around) should give a broad implication as to just how highly I think of it. Give it a few listens and hopefully you'll feel the same way.

Common Market - Tobacco Road