Brooklyn-based artist Doe Paoro describes her music as “Ghost Soul,” characterized by a dolorous, ethereal sound that evokes the resurrection of “a choir of ghosts who haven’t completely detached from the human experience.”
Echoes of attachment and detachment permeate her debut album, Slow to Love, out this December. The tracks’ haunting vocals were strongly influenced by her in-depth study of Lhamo—a powerful, unusual and vocally acrobatic Tibetan-style opera—that she encountered while traveling alone through the Himalayas this past year. During this period, Paoro also spent several weeks practicing silent meditation. The high-contrast nature of her music is directly influenced by these experiences, which forced her to reflect on the deep and expansive space between silence and sound.
Upon returning to the U.S., Paoro sketched out Slow to Love while isolated in a cabin near her hometown of Syracuse, New York, finishing off production a few weeks later back in Brooklyn. Her first single, “Can’t Leave You,” was co-produced by cellist Yuri Hart and Decibel Studios’ Lasse Mårtén, who began collaborating with Paoro after he saw a YouTube video of her performing it on the piano.
Paoro has been compared to Adele, Lykke Li and James Blake, but her haunting vocals and spacious arrangements are singular, realized in a state of sorrow without bitterness, passion without pretense.
1-2-hear went to Brighton’s sunny Great Escape on Saturday - a gifted Irish18 year old guy who goes by the name of Mmoths was our highlight..dreamy electronica heaven….
Call The Doctors new DIY video: “Seventeen” - you cant beat some horses doing drugs ;-) Catch them on 6 music soon doing a live session for Marc Riley!!!
Last week 1-2-hear went to Scala for Clock Operas album launch - it was truly epic !! Favourite tracks of the night - “Belongings”( made me feel all warm & fuzzy inside :-) & “11th Hour”. Click on the CLF magazine title link above to see a 1-2-hear photo taken on the night & listen to 11th hour.
The Blood Arm are a Los Angeles/Berlin-based four-piece American high five rock band.Watch their new video for single “Relentless Love” (27th June 2011 release)…
The Shutes & The Bishops @ Old Blue Last, London (16/12/2010)
It’s a freezing winter’s night but thankfully the Isle of Wights very own The Shutes brought summer warmth to a xmas boubled filled room. This band could be the soundtrack to next year’s summer with their infectious surf pop. Micheal Champion’s interesting reverbed vocals shine through, along with some very festive woolly jumpers (note to drummer). The stand out tracks tonight were “Who Da Lang” and “Hits Like Mourning” the title track of their first EP release which has been picking up spins on 6 music. The Shutes seem to encapsulate a new youth and they made me want to be a teenager again having fun on long, hot summer days and nights. Watch out for this band in 2011!
The Bishops London household must be a very proud one. The band is fronted by 3 brothers who are tight not only in looks (obviously as one is a twin set) but also musically. Mike Bishop on lead vocals has a bucketful of energy and despite it being the last day of a European tour he was still on form. After 9 years they have grown more facial hair and have a new EP to be released in early 2011. They have departed from their prominent garage/beat sound of their first two albums and grown into a more contemporary and alternative indie rock direction. “Nowhere to Run” taken from the upcoming EP was the highlight of the set and it has a rather sweet video. The Bishops have energy, endurance, style and good family values!!!
Until very recently Saint Saviour was known mainly as Groove Armada’s incumbent front girl, but now she has taken centre stage as a solo artist with her haunting new-gospel ballads and country soul tracks. With a recent sellout London Bush Hall show, an electric performance at Jo Whileys Little Noise Sessions, a SXSW booking and a personal invite from Theo Hutchcraft to support Hurts on their February 2011 tour she has finally arrived.
Little Noise Sessions is a week-long indoor acoustic festival in the intimate venue of Islington Union Chapel. Curated by Radio 1 dj Jo Whiley, looking very glamorous in a LBD.
With the pews full and alter lit up there was an air of relaxed suspense as London based duo Summer Camp opened the night. We caught Summer Camp at Bestival but this was a completely different experience to their usual lo-fi electronica, as they play a stripped back acoustic set which was polished, sweet and endearing. The stand out track was the recognisable single released this year on Moshi Moshi “Ghost Train” which created some head nods and foot tapping, a perfect start to the evening.
Next up was Saint Saviour who until very recently was known mainly as Groove Armada’s incumbent front girl, but her electric performance of haunting new-gospel ballads and country soul tracks saw her come into her own right. Along with the relevance of her name she was a perfect choice for the evening, excelling in the chapel settings with her vocals backed by a strings section. She put a spell over the audience captivating everybody with her hypnotic dance movements and an air of mystery. Her last song “When You Smile” stole the show.
Claire Maguire was the only artist who we weren’t familiar with, after a nervous start she belted out a string of pop songs including “Aint Nobody”. The strength of her voice is apparent; she had a dark goth like appearance, but we’re not sure if she has the songs to back it up. Her backing band were smartly suited and booted and a big sound resonated around the chapel.
Manchester based duo Hurts headlined, but unfortunately they were one man down as keyboard played Adam had injured his back carrying a piano. In his place was Annie Lennox’s 17 year old model daughter, androgynously dressed who poe faced pulled petals from a bunch of white roses throughout the entire set, just brilliant! Lead singer Theo carried on regardless doing a fine job, with great humour, rapport with the audience and looking mighty fine. Hurts pull off this smart 80s look with a well-tailored suit, white scarf, 2 earring hoops and slicked back hair. It’s 80s pop and it works, for some reason we thought they might be cheesy but it’s almost like they have brought the eighties up to the noughties with a classic stylised pop twist. We are certainly fans now. “Wonderful Life” stood out with very relevant lyrics to the Mencap charity “Don’t let go, never give up, it’s such a wonderful life”
We for one will be attending next year’s Little Noise Sessions, it showed us what amazing UK musical talent we have. The after party had a great vibe to it, with the artists also attending, but this may have had something to do with the free bar…it always helps!
