Track of the Day: The Mountain Goats - The Mess Inside

Today is an important day. Twelve years after the release of The Mountain Goats' seminal album, 'All Hail West Texas', Merge Records have releasing a remastered version; cleaned up (though not too much. I'd hate it to lose the old girl's signature hiss) and version on vinyl.

In honor of such a momentous occasion my track of the day is it's standout track 'The Mess Inside'. This beautiful anti-love song details a couple who are trying to fix a relationship which is beyond repair. Despite it's archaic recording style and simple instrumentation it is one of the most heart breaking songs in modern music, with each of it's four verses delivering another cruel blow to the future of its characters.

''But you cannot run, and you cannot hide, from the wreck we've made of our house,and from the mess inside.



Lyrics:
'We took a weekend, drove to Provo.
the snow was white and fluffy.
but a weekend in Utah won't fix what's wrong with us.
the gray sky was vast and real cryptic above me.
i wanted you to love me like you used to do.

We took two weeks in the Bahamas.
went out dancing every night.
tried to fight the creeping sense of dread with temporal things.
most of the time i guess i felt alright.
but i wanted you to love me like you used to do.

But you cannot run
and you cannot hide,
from the wreck we've made of our house,
and from the mess inside.

We went down to New Orleans
one weekend in the Spring.
looked hard for what we'd lost.
it was painful to admit it, but we couldn't find a thing.
i wanted you to love me like you used to do.

We went to New York city in September.
took the train out of Manhattan to the grand army stop.
found that bench we'd sat together on a thousand years ago
when i felt such love for you i thought my heart was gonna pop.
i wanted you to love me like you used to do.

But i cannot run.
and i can't hide.
from the wreck we've made of our house.from the mess inside.'

Track of the Day: Matthew and the Atlas - Everything That Dies

Today's TOTD comes courtesy of Aldershot-based folkster Matthew Hegarty, aka Matthew and the Atlas. Featuring his signature gorgeous, smokey vocals, the track has an ambient-pop feel to it's back beat, with a resonating base-line and crawling percussion; alongside this sit the more traditional harmonies which he's made a staple over his career.

Following numerous EP's to date, Matthew recently posted on his Facebook that he'd 'Finished recording the album and now busy mixing it', so fans will be happy that the long wait for a debut album look to be drawing to a close. If the rest of it's as good as this then it looks to have been worth it....

My 2013 in Music..... Thus Far (Part One)

When the 11th hour of 2013 approaches, I know where I'll be; sat, happy in the wake of the festive period, but preparing to draft up the annual, self-absorbed 'end of year list'. With the previous January feeling like several lifetimes ago, I normally struggle with the same question - 'What have I been listening to this year?'. As a help to my future self, and in an attempy to pass on a few of the tracks which have been soundtracking my year, this is My 2013 in Music..... Thus Far:

1. Phoria - Red
With the release of 'Red' in March the blogosphere exploded. Hitting number 2 on the Hype Machine, and receiving rave reviews from Noisey, DIY, Clash and everything in between, the track gained both national airplay and over 100,000 Soundcloud plays in just four weeks. Their EP 'Bloodworks' was released the following month, to rave reviews; and although it was a really great collection of ambient-electronica, this track still stands out as one of the finest of the year.



2. Volcano Choir - Byegone
Justin Vernon is a truly special man. His work as Bon Iver will always hold a special place in the deepest pits of my heart - and regardless of the clichés which go with it 'For Emma..' holds its place in my top 10 all time albums. When I watched his new/old project Volcano Choir's new album release video and heard this track soundtracking it I was blown away. Rousing, intricate musicianship and his usual beautiful but ambiguous lyrics. Roll on the new album on September 3rd.



3. Okkervil River - It Was Our Season
Yet another excellent band gracing us with an album in September 2013, ensuring that the latter half of the year does not dissapoint. I absolutely adore Okkervil River, and the fact that they're not better known by music lovers or lavished with the wealth of both accolaides and money which they deserve, is one of music's many injustices. Here we see Will Sheff return to the piano and craft a song about the all-encompasing, emothional rollercoaster that is childhood love. It's incredibly witty and emotive in all the right places, showing great promise for the upcoming 'The Silver Gymnasium' LP.

 

4. Night Beds - Tenn
Nashville-based Night Beds, led by the vocal and songwriting talents of Winston Yellen, released 'Country Sleep', and album detailing the lows and even-deeper lows of their frontman's struggles with love and addiction. To put it in simple terms, it is absolutely incredible. With airs of Ryan Adams' 'Heartbreaker', the country-dowsed closer 'Tenn' is luciously downbeat with Yellen dropping lyrics like 'sorrow stole my youth/ what's left I'll give to you' with effortless skill.



5. Seasfire - Falling
I first heard this track on John Kennedy's XFM Xposure show, and was absolutely blown away by their luciously laidback, dreamy sound. The four-piece are based in Bristol and their spacious, lo-fi sound is definitely reminicent of city-mates, Massive Attack. With their EP 'We Will Wake' released to widespread acclaim, they are band of huge promise, who's debut album I'll be awaiting with baited breath.

 

Track of the Day: Noah Gundersen - Family

One of my most recent obsessions is of the non-musical variety, and comes in the form of FX show Sons of Anarchy. Not only has this programme given me many tense moments worrying for the fate of my favorite California biker gang, but also many incredible musical moments. My love of intelligent, down-trodden indie-folk songs over a backdrops of brutal shootouts and infidelity has led me to many nights of sleep deprivation, enjoying the never-ending trials and tribulations on the 'Sons'.

The latest and greatest of these spellbinding discoveries is Washington States' Noah Gundersen. His beautiful track, 'Family', featured prominently in the final moments of season four's 'With an X'; and I was blown away by it's rich melody and dark subject matter. Noah himself described it as "pay[ing] homage to the people who have shaped his life." "Family comes in many forms.... It lives with us, for better and for worse. It shapes us."

Enjoy the song like it should be: turn of any distractions, dim the lights, press 'play' and read the lyrics as you go.



Say something awful
As if fucking the world is your right
And i watch you stumble
Drunk out into the night
To cat call ladies
You're thirsty for blood, you're picking a fight
And i wanted to ask you
Man, what do you do in the daylight

So bum me a cigarette, buy me a beer
Till i'm happy to be here, happy to be here
With all of my family, hookers in heels
And the men who watch them like hungry black eels

Run into me sunday
Tell me you had one hell of a time
And through the haze and the gun smoke, i'm forced to believe
You're probably right
Someone lies bleeding
Someone got violent and did not think twice
And i watched you my brother, making a fool of the moon tonight

So bum me a cigarette, buy me a beer
Till i'm happy to be here, happy to be here
With all of my family, hookers in heels
And the men who watch them like hungry black eels

Am I just a spark....

Track of the Day: Denai Moore - Gone

Today's TOTD is courtesy of 19 year old London-based songstress, Denai Moore.

Though this young artist has only been writing music for two years she has a natural, raw quality which makes for compelling listening. On 'Gone' she shows hints of Bon Iver and James Blake, in this luscious piano ballad. Rich, detailed vocals, paired with emotive lyrics and a simple piano melody create three and a half minutes of pure beauty.

Having released an EP called 'Saudade' earlier this year, she is already gaining supporters in high places, earning the praise of contemporaries such as Plan B and Tom Odell; as well as upcoming support for Iron & Wine on their summer tour (see below). At such a young age she's very much one to keep an eye out for in the future, though she's already looking on the verge of big things now.




23rd May - Electric Ballroom, London - supporting Tom Odell
30th May - Opera House, Manchester - supporting Iron & Wine
31st May - The Barbican, London - supporting Iron & Wine
1st June - Cigale, Paris - supporting Iron & Wine
17th August - Green Man Festival, Wales

Track of the Day: The 1975 - Haunt // Bed

The 1975 have today released the stream of their second single 'Haunt // Bed', from the band's upcoming EP IV, which is coming out through Dirty Hit (Polydoor in the UK) on May 20th.

After slowly building upon the success of their previous EPs Facedown, Sex, and Music For Cars, The 1975 became a household name with the staggering success of their single 'Chocolate' (taken from the latter), which received widespread airplay, topping at number 19 in the UK charts.

On 'Haunt // Bed' the band have taken on a more reserved, lo-fi sound; coupling pop melodies with glistening production. Healy's vocals are hidden deeper within the mix - used like a more conventional instrument - layered behind a wall of electronic harmonies and a spattering of rhymic beats, making this the perfect stripped back pop song. 

With the band’s May UK tour already sold out (including landmark shows at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire and Manchester’s The Ritz) it's looking like 2013 is going to be a huge year for the Manchester four-piece.

Track of the Day: MT WARNING - Forward Miles

It's been a long and sunny bank holiday weekend, and one which has seen me soaking up copious amounts of vitamin D, cider, and MT WARNING.

The Australian outfit have very little presence online as of yet, however, their one online imprint, their music, more than makes up for it. 'Forward Miles' is a fuzzy and atmospheric, gorgeously building through its verse before exploding to life in its driving chorus. Having been chosen this week as Zane Lowe's 'Next Hype' track, we can expect to hear plenty more from this song and this band. I for one can't wait.

'I'm gonna live in a postcard,I'm gonna live in the sky.'