Your Hands Music | Your Hands Music

Jasper’s Purchase Of The Week – The National

There’s only one album out this week that you should spend your loose pocket change on and it’s from one of our favourite acts of the last fuck knows how many years……. The National.

the-national-demons

Don’t be Daft I hear you cry (see what I did there?? Give me a sec while I compose myself under the weight of my immense wit)!!! Yeah you’re right, I’m talking complete codswallop (great word that) as you should obviously buy Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories as well, but let’s stick up for the underdog and go with The National for the pick of the week. They haven’t after all, had the backing of a marketing campaign that Jesus would probably go with if he wanted build a bit of hype around his next trip to planet earth. And besides I wrote about RAM on friday, and I’m sure those two french robots’ helmets have already swollen enough as it is.

Anyway back to the music. If you don’t already know what The National sound like well, imagine an American version of Elbow, and you’re kind of getting there. They’ve been around for well over 10 years making album after album of innovative, emotive, and immaculate guitar music (I’ve got more bland music journo adjectives in my locker too), that was largely ignored for a good portion of that time before finally breaking into the mainstream. If you’ve seen the film, Warrior, you’ve probably already spent a few minutes of your life balling your eyes out to one of their tracks- I still can’t listen to About Today without seeing Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton rolling around together and welling up. Bit gay? So I can admit to a good cry every now and then, what’s it to yous?! Anyway I’m off to grow some body hair, drink beer and chop up some wood… uh.

Cough, getting back to The National and their latest offering, Trouble Will Find Me, it’s lyrically at least, probably their most personal, whilst also being a bit more chilled than the last few records, but it’s definitely up there with their best work. Fancy a little taste?? This one’s called Demons and it’s the album’s lead single.

Now off you trot to your local Our Price to pick up the cassette.

J x

The Weekend Warm Up – Daft Punk

It’s literally the most hyped thing in the world ever, but just in case you live in a afghan cave or Fritzl’s dungeon (bad taste?! If so apologies), or haven’t seen it already slapped over facebook/ twitter etc 50 million times this week, those two smooth shiny robot dudes below are releasing an album along with all their uber-cool friends, on monday and in case you didn’t know (again for reasons listed above) you can stream the whole album on iTunes now by clicking HERE.

Obviously it’s really funking good and for once, from an industry that gives us more false dawns than, well, actual dawns, the hype’s actually justified.

Turn up your hi-fi’s, girls find a chess board dance floor, drop your fake Louis Vuitton handbags on the floor and dance around them, lads get your chest rugs out and mix up some Pina Coladas, and tell your parents you’re not coming home tonight (I’m kidding… you’re obviously not gonna get lucky), cos it’s friday and disco’s back baby…

J x

Jasper’s New Music Takeaway – London Grammar

Like your tunes slow burning, reflective, and slightly sinister?? Then you’re gonna love London Grammar. Sounding somewhere between Florence and Adele with added beats and more than a hint of The xx, they’re the perfect soundtrack to a bit of self loathing.

So… who wants to join me in a quick wallow??

Beautiful stuff.

J x

The Weekend Warm Up – Fenech Soler

Hello Mummy,

Wowzers. I’m pretty sure we had two actual nice days of weather this week (Monday and Tuesday count right?). On those actual nice days, whilst sipping a hideously strong Long Island, I came across this little beaut.

Fenech Soler, Maiyu.

It’s actual nice -

Byes,

Jasper’s Purchase Of The Week – Noah & The Whale

I said last week that the 90′s revival would have to wait a week before I started immersing myself in it again, but having sifted through this weeks musical offerings, albeit in between shifts chucking my guts up on account of a fairly hefty bank holiday hangover, I’m sticking firmly with more 80′s influenced shiz. Last week it was Shout Out Louds album, Optica, this week it’s Noah & The Whale’s latest, Heart Of Nowhere, and where the Shout Out Louds took inspiration from mostly pop influences, Noah & his Whale (wonder whether the name is a reference to a slightly rotund ex?? we’ve all done ‘em….) for the most part, look towards the soft rock gods in doing there best Dire Straits and Tom Petty impressions. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if Charlie Fink (he’ll obviously never pull off the look as well as King Mark did- see below) recorded the majority of his guitar parts wearing a sweatband or bandana.

Now obviously, NATW can’t touch the Straits for tunes (or self indulgent noodling)- who can?? But the album’s definitely pitched in that MOR soft rock territory where Knopfler’s spent his career. So if that sounds like it’ll float your boat, it’s where I’d recommend sinking your left over nuggets from the weekend.

J x