The Valerian Nexus

A Hushed Thrill!

2012-03-07T01:03:00.000-05:00

Grizzly Bear

Sometimes the right band can come along and lend to the listener so much inspiration! A song can satiate the senses to a point of bliss, allowing for the feeling of "letting go" and becoming one with the music. I tend to gravitate towards this type of sound and I seem to content myself to bands that are of the quieter, more thoughtful persuasion.

Grizzly Bear is the type of band that I can always come back to. I never tire of their complex and almost hypnotic melodies that always seem to allude me. Each time I listen, I discover a new facet of their music. They are a group of extremely talented and multifaceted musicians. Their songs appear as harmonious paintings of incredible detail and delicacy but surprising in that they are delightfully strange and subtly dark. They are also chock full of raw passion that translates to an outstanding acoustic performance and a haunting sense of intimacy.

I decided to share Grizzly Bear's song 'Ready, Able' not only because it is an amazing song but also because the video is incredible. I fully appreciate the raw stop-motion and the intricate woodland world that the artist created but also how well it melded with the song.

The song starts out strong and is already beckoning the listener to take a journey before taking flight in the wonderment of the soaring vocals and pleasant electronic chords. The lyrics are thoughtful and seem to chant an internal dialogue of bewilderment, giving the song a mysterious air of discontent. There is a melding of sounds that gives this song an almost otherworldly feel which can make it hard to categorize but I can say that it leaves one with a feeling of utter calm and a quiet lingering unrest.

Want some company for dinner?

2011-11-10T03:02:00.000-05:00

The Swell Season

I love keeping up with NPR's Music Page on youtube because they have a knack for hosting musicians with pure, raw, unadulterated talent. When I stumbled upon this gem I was so enthralled with the set that I watched the entire thing all the way through! There is so much intense emotion and fellowship present in the room that it seeped into my living room and I felt part of the experience. I love that they ended up playing an entire set for this tiny room of very appreciative listeners and actually engaged them in the process! There is an array of emotions experienced in their serious and somewhat melancholy songs, but they soften the experience with laughter and jests to ease the intensity. I found myself in tears at times and at others cracking up from Hansard's charming Irish wit!

So, the band...or rather the collaboration calls themselves The Swell Season. They consist of Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard, two amazing musicians in their own right. Together they cause an electric mixture of chemistry and an almost exhibitionist display of musicianship. I would be interested in learning how they categorize their sound, but if I had to place a label on them I suppose I would loosely choose folk. Their sound is a soft hush amidst delicate instrumentals with stunning, reflective lyrics and the occasional, startling jolt of Glen Hansard's soulful vocalizations.

My suggestion is to invite this band to join you as you prepare a meal. I decided to try it one night and it was quite memorable. Of course, I live alone so for the 30 or so minutes of the video it felt as though I had some extremely talented company over! By the end of the set I had this overwhelming sense of intimacy...I was laughing and singing along as I fussed over my culinary masterpiece. I have to say that it was an excellent evening! I cannot imagine seeing them live, and I am looking forward to them touring close to my area.

Rock with Classical Elements

2011-09-16T00:03:00.000-04:00

Florence and the Machine

Most people are at least somewhat familiar with Florence and the Machine, but they deserve a deeper look than just the hit songs. Florence Welch is an astounding vocalist that can be versatile and powerful enough to switch genres within a song comfortably. Her soaring crescendo demands attention as she leads into more classical vocalizing that takes one's breath away. It is like a slap in the face with awesomeness then a kiss of pure bliss to complete the experience. This can become a little distressing when one confronts the daunting task of placing this band within a single genre. Although they mix styles, each song is a patchwork work of art that is modern and classical simultaneously. I tend to want to include them loosely in my rock collection, because they provide such a chest-pounding powerful sound.

I would like to share my favorite song from the band, Cosmic Love. This song instantly gives me chill bumps! Also, I enjoy a good video and this one is a wonderful visual compliment to the song. This is also the song that caused me to stand up and take notice of this wonderful band and look at their unique style and undeniable soul.

The first thing I love about the video is the autumnal color scheme (I love warm colors). I am also sensing a loose reference from The Fifth Element (one of my favorite movies) or perhaps I just want there to be. There is undeniable sexuality in this video, and it seems to be about a loss of innocence as she turns into "darkness". A motion towards love and womanhood, a new-found sense of self...passionate and almost painful. The thought that love seems to cease light and with it life is an interesting concept. It seems that the song is attempting to capture those brief seconds that are somehow frozen in time in our memory where we know that our lives have been forever altered by someone else. Light being the 'light' of her heart is returned to it's rightful home after a sojourn into the deep space of pleasure. As if love is the escape...she is returned to her state of innocence for now.

I would love to hear other interpretations or impressions that you may have, so please feel free to comment.

Jazzy poetry

2011-09-01T10:46:00.000-04:00

Joni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell is a dynamic and talented musician. No doubt that many people are familiar with her earlier work as an influencing young artist from the west coast in the 1960's. She epitomized the era of peace and love through her music and later into her career she only grew in complexity.

I fell in love with her music from her folk ballads. I reveled in her simplicity and the political messages that she conveyed. She has always been accomplished in anything creative: painting, music, and poetry. It wasn't til I took someone's advice and checked out her album Hejira that I discovered how versatile she really is. To my surprise I found another side of Joni's music...a mellower jazzy side to be exact.

This is certainly an album to keep on hand. It is the type of record that I can listen to beginning to end and never skip a song. The songs are thoughtful and chock full of imagery. The sound is mellow with hints of melancholy and reminiscence. There are definite jazz and blues undertones, but in the end the sound is an unique as Joni herself. The lyrics are intricate and heavy in symbolism. She has the ability to give the listener a glimpse into her psyche from her music. So, even if you are not typically a Joni Mitchell fan then you should still check this album out.

I selected this live version of Hejira because she does such an excellent job and you can see her interesting guitar style first hand. This title track is the best song from Joni in my opinion. She has always been known for her stellar prose. I think that this song is a prime example of her haunting accounts of such small moments that often times go unnoticed. Her heavy imagery and analogic musings always make me think more deeply about the world.

Trippy Simplicity

2011-09-01T01:28:00.000-04:00

Chad VanGaalen

Noteworthy musician/artist by the name of Chad VanGaalen is worth checking out. Chad is not only a talented musician but he is also an artist and all around do-it-yourself'er! He does his own artwork, videos, recording, mixing, editing, etc... Not to mention he is incredibly talented and his videos are like a subconscious fever-dream, which goes wonderfully with his style. I appreciate him not only musically but also in his artwork. His art and music are quite similar: jarring, raw, and honest. He puts himself out there and it totally works.

It is hard to place Chad in a singular category, but I would say that if you like a blend of organic folk mixed with electronic beats and experimentalist spice then he is hard to beat. He does tend to favor a more chilled out and low-key sound but that is one of the many reasons why I like him. There is a delicacy to his sound and his vocals are pleasantly rough and yet terribly beautiful giving one the impression of constantly teetering on an edge, which makes the listening experience exciting to say the least.

The song is called 'Clinically Dead' and I think that it showcases Vangaalen's style perfectly. It is one of my many favorites. The song boasts an organic folk rock sound, the gentle vocals of Vangaalen and superb lyrics. I love the imagery not only from the lyrics but also the paired images from the video. Although it may not make much sense if you take it too seriously, if you approach it from a subconscious viewpoint it meshes well. It certainly lends a dream scape flavor, and just the right amount of quirkiness.

First blog and Junip!

2011-08-23T03:50:00.000-04:00

Hello, and thanks for reading! This post is hopefully the first of many to come. I want to welcome you to my page! The goal for this blog is to share music and possibly these posts will move someone else in the same way each song touches me. Music is a spiritual and visceral experience that permeates into my soul. Hopefully this page will serve as a guide for someone who likes to experience new music. That being said, I have a very eclectic taste in music. It was a daunting task to find a first post, but then I thought why not just do the band that I am listening to right now. So, here is what I am tapping my toe to right now:

Junip

After playing Red Dead Redemption (I will not spoil for any who haven't played the game) I became an immediate fan of Jose Gonzales. His solo work is unique and amazing, and as an added bonus he is also in a band called Junip. They are an incredibly talented group! Each member is a talented musician with a classical foundation. As a whole they put out an amazing sound that is rich and dark. These musicians were certainly made for each other because they compliment each other in a sensual and complex way. The song is called 'Black Refuge'. It is a perfect example of their pure talent and heady lyricism. I have been continually impressed by Junip's videos (and Mr. Gonzales as well). They are not only heavily symbolic but also artistic, expressive and unique.

Junip-Black Refuge (you tube link)

Black Refuge cannot be truly appreciated with a cursory glance. I would recommend letting it soak for a bit then coming back to it because there are so many details to the whole experience. After listening several times one begins to pick out the subtleties, and in turn an appreciation for Junip as the quietly awesome band they are.