About a year ago, Lara Fahey (photographer and DC101 producer) was telling me about a bunch of the bands she was excited about. Some of them I figured I wouldn’t like just by the names (e.g. 36crazyfists. Good band, just not my thing) but one of the group was a band from New Orleans called Mute Math [ official | wikipedia | myspace | virb ]. I picked up their Reset EP [ no longer available ] and was quite impressed. It had elements of electronic and rock with a guys voice that was reminiscent of Sting in some places (especially on the track “Peculiar”).

I listened to it on and off for most of the year, but then I picked up the full length record, and that’s when I really started listening to the band heavily. While my band was at SXSW last month, it shared the top spot with Brian Eno and my own studio demos.

The songs “Typical”, “Noticed”, “Control” and “Picture” all stood out as great hooks with wonderful textures. The rest of the record is a rich soundscape full of dynamic shifts and juxtaposing textures that are reminiscent of post-OK Computer Radiohead.

The Video Blog

The band is dedicated to, if not obsessed with video blogging. They’ve been posting short snippets on their YouTube account for almost two years now. Some of my favorite video snippets are Paul’s discussion of the previous night’s opening act or the show in a nutshell.

The most interesting thing by far is their new video for Typical which features the band performing the song backwards and then having the tape reversed for the audience.

The Live Show

So Lara called me right when I got back from SXSW and reminded me that Mute Math was playing the 9:30 Club that night. I ran over after work and made their set (the doors were at 5pm!) and it was by far and away one of the best shows I’ve seen in the last few years. The show started with the drummer affixing his headphones with a roll of gaffer’s tape (a black cloth variation on duct tape used by electricians and sound engineers). Then the lead singer jumped on top of his Fender Rhodes a few times. Then he did a half-handstand on it. There was an upright bass solo. There was a percussion and pedalboard solo. A PEDAL BOARD SOLO And then in the last song there was a custom made instrument that was passed into the audience towards the end of the song, and was played by various people, and was returned unharmed to the lead singer.

All of this occured in the middle of their performance as if it was standard procedure!

According to Lara, and from the looks of the live videos on line, most of it is. That’s a great live show. A perfect performance. It’s simply inspiring to see a band with so much diversity and de facto geekiness doing well (the lead singer plays a keytar for pete’s sake).

Further Listening

Reset EP [ Amazon ] (No longer available in the iTunes store)

Mute Math [ Amazon | iTunes ]

Typical Video [ YouTube | Reversed ]

I tend to arrive at concerts in time to see the openers. Sometimes, they are absolutely horrible. Actually, a lot of the time I wonder how they got on tour in the first place. But other times, I am amazed and turned on to a cool new performer. The ratio is about 3 suck to 1 good so far. But this is a story about the good. “Teh suck” will come later.

Evan Field (guitar hero in Honor by August) pointed out that most of the female artists I listen to have a very similar vocal style (see Blondfire, Ivy, Stars), Imogen Heap, Shivaree), Emily Haines, etc.), so that I gravitated towards another similar delivery style is no surprise.

I went to the Ray Lamontagne show at the 9:30 club on his first record with Andy (aka DJ Kynz). Very quiet show. The opening artist was a woman and an acoustic guitarist (who Imogen later found out was Robert F. Cranny, Sarah’s co-writer and co-producer). Her name was Sarah Blasko [ official | wikipedia | myspace ]. She had a cool vocal delivery and song structure reminiscent of some of the darker Neil Finn stuff and lyrics heavily influenced by the Thom Yorke school. So I pick up the record, The Overture and the Underscore and it doesn’t leave my playlist for months. Songs like “Don’t U Eva” and “Perfect Now” are just these great sonic assemblies with complex orchestrations (underscore if you will).

Her first record/EP, Prelusive is different than her full length. It’s her still trying to find her voice, especially in the production sensibilities. But it’s great for a debut EP. Far better than most bands ever achieve.

She released a new record late last year in Australia, but it’s not yet hit the shelves in the US. What the Sea Wants the Sea Will Have is a more energetic record than the last, featuring a broader sonic range. I think most of this can be attributed to production but parts of it are simply the vocal delivery. The record was recorded at Neil Finn’s studio in New Zealand and features some very unique sounds. “Explain” features a Bassoon followed by a string section—not exactly standard rock fare. The record, and her material in general exhibits a large nod to classical. Songs like “Queen of Apology” have an underlying counterpoint that borders on baroque harpsichord lines. My favorite tune on the record is probably “Hammer” followed closely by “Queen of Apology” and “Always On This Line”. You can hear some of these on her myspace page.

Sadly, it looks like she has no upcoming US tour dates planned at this time.

Further Listening

Prelusive [ Amazon ]
The Overture and the Underscore [ Amazon | iTunes ]
What the Sea Wants the Sea Will Have [ Amazon ] (import only)

Various videos and live audio on the fan site

I recommend the Live at the Chapel (link to video zip download) performance from her Overture/Underscore record tour in Australia.

.sara advised me that I was hoarding music and new stuff I’d been listening to instead of sharing with the class. So I’ve decided to start a weekly “column” as it were where I’ll tell the class about something I’ve found musically that I think you should peep.

This could be entitled “New Hotness: Maura Davis,” but I figured that would be misinterpreted by most readers.

Years ago Courtney used to live in Richmond. And at that time she new a guy named Cam. Cam played in a band called Denali [ official | label/jade tree | myspace ]. A young four piece fronted by the incomparable Maura Davis, Denali mixed a variety of sounds and styles that to me sound like a female version of Jeff Buckley jamming with Radiohead circa right before the OK Computer recording sessions with a little indie thrown in for good measure.

Courtney played me some Denali back in the early Rotoscope days, and it was cool but I kinda forgot about it for a few years. About two years ago I rediscovered them, only to discover that the band had broken up, and Maura had formed a new band called Ambulette [ official | label/astralwerks | myspace ]. Ambulette was also briefly called Bella Lea.

Anyway, The Lottery EP [itunes link] is their first release. It shows off the superb range from Maura and the arrangements have become stripped down from the Denali era. Some of the songs embody a bouncier, brighter feel than the Denali material did. “I’ve Got More” [ video on YouTube ] and “Seconds Until Midnight” are the two uptempo tracks on the five song EP and both show off not only the dynamic range of Maura’s voice, but of the entire band as well. Explosive choruses and driving verse riffs rock out for four minutes a pop. The EP ends with a beautiful interpretation of Jacques Brel’s Ne Me Quitte Pas (translated to English as If You Go Away) which is far beyond Maura’s young 26 years. For anyone familiar with Nina Simone’s cover of the song, you’ll appreciate this interpretation of it. Maura simply explodes with a vocal assault backed by Jonny Greenwood styled tremolo guitar strumming backing her up towards the end of the song.

This is just their demo EP. The full length should be out this year and if the EP is any demonstration, it’ll be one hell of a record.

Further Listening

"I’ve Got More" in studio performance [YouTube video from Fearless Music, NYC]

Ambulette MySpace Page (recommend “Seconds Until Midnight”)

The Lottery EP (Ambulette) [ itms | Amazon ]
Denali (Denali) [ itms | Amazon ]
The Instinct (Denali) [ itms | Amazon ]

Free Denali Demo from Jade Tree