Showing posts with label folk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label folk. Show all posts

20.8.08

Heartbeeps, Canton EP



And what have we here now? C’est quoi Heartbeeps?

Heartbeeps is Craig Nunn from Leeds, constant traveler and creator of what he calls "instants songs". That's why this EP lasts less than 10 minutes, and each song no more than two. It's amazing what one man can do with his memories, the way he manifests his deepest emotions; the glimpse of a young boy with a profound desire to make honest songs (mistakes included) and “a true record” in this world where hours are spent on postproduction.

The four songs were made during December 2007 and January of this year, no wonder why listening to Canton reminds me of Winter, dead leaves, green grass, and makes me want to put on my “Hat & Gloves & Scarf” and go out and walk through “Glacial Valleys” after taking an overnight train (“Kuszetka” in Polish) and seeing how the “Light Leaks” through a frozen window while singing it was where we wanted to be…

Just so you all know, everything was recorded on one take, all lyrics were improvised, and each track was written and recorded in less than an hour. Whoever’s fond of lo-fi and sweet-happy-melancholic songs that you can play over and over without getting tired of them, download Canton now!

Craig Nunn also has a new band called Internet Forever. If anyone wishes to check it out, visit www.myspace.com/internetforever.

Cheers!

Text: *mil.


// HEARTBEEPS / CANTON EP //

1.- Glacial Valleys
2.- Light Leaks
3.- Hat & Gloves & Scarf
4.- Kuszetka


DOWNLOAD EP
RAR file, includes artwork



All tracks written and produced by Craig Nunn. Artwork by Topiz. Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons
BY-NC-ND 2.5 License. The Poni Republic, 2008.

9.6.08

En Ventura



Escuchar a En Ventura es como encender una luz de bengala y bailar al son de las chispitas que su pop psicodélico emana para todos nosotros. Este cuarteto oriundo de Monterrey, incubadora de proyectos independientes bastante prometedores, preparó su primer EP homónimo con dulces ingredientes tales como el folk, noise, rock, y por momentos hasta shoegaze. Cuatro tenues voces nos cuentan historias que abarcan desde temáticas contemporáneas relacionadas con la migración de "Los granjeros del amor", hasta aventuras por mundos surrealistas que nos muestran paisajes con personajes de "Cara de piña" y sabor "Chantilly".

Los integrantes de En Ventura se enorgullecen de ser 100% mexicanos, cantando únicamente en español, y sí, los cuatro cantan; ellos son Martín Tafich (bajo), José Miguel Polo (batería), Elías Marcos (guitarra) y Roberto Polo (teclados y guitarra). Mucho se ha hablado de sus presentaciones en vivo, ya que sus pegajosas canciones hacen a cualquiera dar brinquitos o mover la patita. La improvisación es una virtud que estos jóvenes músicos explotan en sus conciertos, además de deleitar a la audiencia con su variada dotación de instrumentos, entre los cuales incluye el banjo, el ukulele y caracoles.

Hoy por hoy, bajo esta nube gris de múltiples géneros y sonidos, hace falta de vez en cuando un cielo azul, alguna pradera y cometas de colores flotando en el aire.


Texto: *mil.





// EN VENTURA / EN VENTURA EP //
01 - Avant - DOWNLOAD
02 - Los Granjeros del Amor - DOWNLOAD
03 - Chantilly - DOWNLOAD
04 - Cara de Piña - DOWNLOAD
05 - Orvonton - DOWNLOAD

DOWNLOAD EP
RAR file, includes artwork



All tracks written and produced by En Ventura. En Ventura EP includes tracks taken from Los Gandharvas and are courtesy of Delhotel Records. Artwork by Peras & Manzanas. Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.5 License. The Poni Republic, 2008.

3.5.08

Jóvenes y Sexys, Bruno EP



Jóvenes y Sexys es un proyecto de música tan caprichoso como mágico. Eso sí, existe una determinada estructura que se rige por el manto de las seis cuerdas de la guitarra acústica rasgada como si el escucha estuviera en pleno campamento dominical, acurrucado frente a una fogata y en plena contemplación estelar.

Como el basamento se da en guitarra, existe suficiente "aire" para colar melodías y expandir la abstracción no hacia lejanos horizontes sino directo a las entrañas; en resumidas cuentas, es un pop casi fantasmal solamente que tras escucharlo, queda diseminado ectoplasma dentro de los conductos auditivos, cosa que asevera su presencia física más allá del mero goce auditivo.

La dupla de Ezequiel (Cheky) y Lorena Orlando (Loocila) —túrmix de sangre venezolana salpicando suelo mexicano— han sucumbido ante las bondades del internet y aunque físicamente no perciben el sudor de cada uno, mandan vía e-mail sus caprichos compositivos para ensamblarlos en algún disco duro.

La música de Jóvenes y Sexys es como una carretera de cornisa: corre recta al borde del precipicio de la melancolía pero el casi silencioso teclado impide con sus notas que caigamos redonditos a un abismo. Mientras que la guitarra espina con folk, un pizpireto teclado rebota de aquí a allá. La coacción entre lo electrónico y lo orgánico se aviene más allá de la perfección; se adecua, embrolla y embruja. “Suerte” es un ejemplo capital porque entre arpegios cojos y ritmos con la taquicardia usual del bossa nova, se asoman capas y capas de dobles voces, xilófonos preciosistas y hasta el pandero casi autóctono. Pero si la canción anterior es el estandarte para identificar su estilo, “El reloj”, que planea entre la urgencia melódica acústica de grupos como Frente!, o The Sundays, y “Divine Hammer”, que vuela alto con sus melodías vocales superpuestas a lo Innocence Mission y su álbum Glow, son prácticamente banderas inmensas que cubren su horizonte.

Dentro de esta amalgama de naïvité desbordada, Jóvenes y Sexys se yerguen con soltura. En una comparación bajo los preceptos de lo versallesco, cada una de las cuatro nubes melódicas de Bruno EP poseen reminiscencias de Aurora y la Academia, pero sin Iñaki y cerrando algunas compuertas femeninas que llenaban de rosa y melosidad las melodías de este extinto grupo de féminas defeñas. Quizá la comparación sea descabellada pero en México —o al menos fuera del sobado circuito underground— no ha habido una banda que vuelva a atacar al pop que reposa plácido sobre la guitarra acústica, al igual que las melodías vocales que fluctúan entre el dramatismo y el susurro.


Texto: David Meléndez.




// JÓVENES Y SEXYS / BRUNO EP //

01 - El Reloj DOWNLOAD
02 - Suerte DOWNLOAD
03 - Gold Day (with joiejoiejoie) DOWNLOAD
04 - Divine Hammer DOWNLOAD

DOWNLOAD EP
RAR file, includes artwork



All songs written by Ezequiel Bertho and Lorena Orlando, except "Gold Day", written by Ezequiel Bertho, Lorena Orlando and Clément Marion, and "Divine Hammer", written by Kim Deal. Additional electric guitar, vocals, synth and programming on "Gold Day" by Clément Marion. Additional handclapping on "El reloj" and programming on "Gold Day" by José Ignacio Benítez.

All songs produced, mixed and mastered by José Ignacio Benítez. Artwork by Loocila. Caracas, 2008. Contact: myspace.com/jovenesysexys

Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.5 License. The Poni Republic, 2008.

joiejoiejoie, Green! EP



With the 2006 follow-up, Green!, Clément Marion takes us out for a day outdoors. As the EP's title an cover art suggest, these 4 short songs actually sound green, if that makes any sense. Throughout the lenght of this new release we get to silently admire the nature by the river, walk on a field surrounded by sunflowers, get gently wet by a soft drizzle and dance between the trees without caring about anything else. Who can reject this offer?

Green! was recorded using only an acoustic guitar, a melodica, a flute, some programming and Clem's sweet voice. This lo-fi folky approach was only hinted on his previous releases, and it's maybe because it's simplicity that it leaves you smiling, fulfilled and wanting more of this green love.

Text: Cheky.




// JOIEJOIEJOIE / GREEN! EP //
01 - Cosmic Green DOWNLOAD
02 - Hyper Green DOWNLOAD
03 - Sweet Green DOWNLOAD
04 - Escalope de Dinde DOWNLOAD

DOWNLOAD EP
RAR file, includes artwork

All songs written and recorded by Clément Marion. Artwork by The Poni Republic. Belgium, 2007. Contact: joiejoiejoie.free.fr.

Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.5 License. The Poni Republic, 2008.

14.9.07

joiejoiejoie, 2006 EP



Clément Marion is French and currently living in Belgium. He's the kind of songwriter that would attract the attention of people who dig Sofia Coppola's soundtracks. Guitar strings from an imaginary futurist languid sunset in France, dream landscapes to whistle cheerfully non-stop -la joie joie joie-. A cabalistic seven as the number of themes that inspire the search of an alternate reality, and letting out the child within. Open those windows, let that warm and summer air fill your body, this is sweetest way to say good bye to that inevitable summer love.

Text: Javier Audirac.


// JOIEJOIEJOIE / 2006 EP //
01 - ZÀITIÀN (INTRO) DOWNLOAD
02 - PILMIPILPI DOWNLOAD
03 - MÙLÁN (MAGNOLIA) DOWNLOAD
04 - PART. 1 DOWNLOAD
05 - BIG RED SQUAW TO DIE TOMORROW DOWNLOAD
06 - PART. 2 DOWNLOAD
07 - VALETINE RIZ DOWNLOAD

DOWNLOAD EP
ZIP file, includes
printable artwork.


All songs written and recorded by Clément Marion. Artwork by Nicolás Pradilla. Photograph by Joakim Chardonnens. Belgium, 2006. Contact: joiejoiejoie.free.fr.

Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.5 License. The Poni Republic, 2007.

13.9.07

Sunday Parlours/ Anois, Split EP



This is the kind of music you'd put together on a mixtape for one of those romantically hurtful soundtracks we all have lying around in our thoughts. Remember when hooking up split EPs was intriguing and exciting? Those times when two of your favorite bands were put together in one short record, just for the experience of sharing a couple of songs to each other?

Fortunately, these times are still going on, in different formats indeed, but the spirit can hardly be denied. Anois and Sunday Parlours mean so much to our label that the minute we heard this, we just stood there overwhelmed, kind of like when you have a crush. Silently happy.

Both projects were inevitably put together by destiny -or by accident, as Malte from Sunday Parlours says they met-, and we're absolutely celebrating the fact that we were able to put this release out to you for free. Somewhere between the development of Anois' forthcoming debut album and the latest release of Sunday Parlours, both couples were kind enough to gather a handful of precious folk pop lullabies for us.

Honest sounds, creative passages and pretty enjoyable nostalgic lyrics great for a weekend to stay home, open up that forgotten box of memories and abandon yourself to a set of melancholic whispers.





// SUNDAY PARLOURS/ ANOIS / SPLIT EP //
01 - The Words You Spoke DOWNLOAD
02 - Winter Stories DOWNLOAD
03 - November DOWNLOAD
04 - Homecall DOWNLOAD

DOWNLOAD EP
ZIP file, includes printable artwork


Tracks 1 & 2 written by Malte Jantzen and Saskia Melina Waldeck (Sunday Parlours). Tracks 3 & 4 written by Lars Kranholdt and Anne Bayer (Anois). Artwork by Anna Emilia. Germany, 2007. Contact: myspace.com/sundayparlours & pleasemutetoday.com.

Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.5 License. The Poni Republic, 2007.

10.3.07

Sunday Parlours, Self-titled



Malte Jantzen and Saskia Melina are the kind of persons who chill at their flats with no fear of staying there locked until late night, just sitting there, passionately silent, listening with infinite attention to their most favorite songs, mutually whispering, so they don't disrespect whoever is performing through the stereo.

Are you that kind of person too? We are.

Sunday Parlours is that kind of music that leaves you alone with your most intimate sighs and thoughts. Lo-fi bedroom folk from Nordhessen, Germany, that will dearly daze those who like the moods of Komëit, Quarks, Anois, or Spain, Ida, and Hayden.





// SUNDAY PARLOURS / SELFT-TITLED //
01 - Chapter One: The Matching Face DOWNLOAD
02 - The Cold DOWNLOAD
03 - Dear Annabelle DOWNLOAD
04 - Chapter Two: There Is Nothing But Emptiness When You Leave DOWNLOAD
05 - Passenger Seat DOWNLOAD
06 The Arrival of the Story of the Sailors' Wife DOWNLOAD
07 Chapter Three: Will It Always Be Like This? DOWNLOAD

DOWNLOAD EP
ZIP file, includes printable artwork


Songs for Sunday Parlours are Malte Jantzen & Saskia Melina Waldeck. Recorded 2006 by Malte Jantzen & Saskia Melina Waldeck. Artwork by Lars Kranholdt. Contact: myspace.com/songsforsundayparlours.

Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.5 License. The Poni Republic, 2006.

14.10.06

Oto Efekt, Living Room EP



For musicians, the main goal is to create moods and pictures that strike each listener, suggesting mental images and drawings in order to let people penetrate its inner world. While listening to Oto Efekt; the project of young French songwriter named Phoene Somsavath, we can all see that she succeeded in doing this. All is blue and grey in her universe, and remains pale for each song.

She sings about the darkest parts of her life, talking about experiences and men we don't know. Are they friends or lovers who have disappeared, or people she met, and then lost? Who are Vincent and Eduardo? Who said something? She just asks for answers and needs for help, and perhaps only the listener can answer these questions. She stands here, naked and revealing her world and thoughts, and musically, the listener becomes a kind of confessor and a way for her to rest and confide.

The Living Room EP is amazing and wonderful, intimate and intelligent. From song to song, the listener will go for a walk, taking Phoene by the hand, and share her musical universe.

Review by Slug @ Past All Concerns.





// OTO EFEKT / LIVING ROOM //
01 - In This Hole (Poni Mix) DOWNLOAD
02 - Vincent DOWNLOAD
03 - Something You Said DOWNLOAD
04 - See DOWNLOAD
05 - Song For Eduardo DOWNLOAD

DOWNLOAD ALBUM
ZIP file, includes printable artwork

Guitars, keyboards, concertina, programming, vocals by Phoene Somsavath. All songs written by Phoene Somsavath. Mixed and masterized by Pierre Lefeuvre except In This Hole (Poni Mix); mixed by Phoene Somsavath. Recorded in Paris, 2006. Contact: www.otoefekt.com. Art work by Paulina Magos / Phoene Somsavath.

Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.5 License. The Poni Republic, 2006.

11.3.06

Anois, Tracery On A Frosted Window EP



It doesn't matter what's your spot in the globe, if it's spring, summer or fall. Anois will trick winter upon your toes, or any season that makes you feel remotely cold.

Poni Republic couldn't be more proud to present Anois' debut EP, a folk guided chamber pop music record, beautifully crafted by intimate atmospheres and shivering whispers sung softly by a girl and a boy, as if they were memories of earlier conversations about uncertain destinies.

Let the music of Lars Kranholdt and Anne Bayer embrace, you and your loneliness, even if you're one of those who brats about being completely happy.






// ANOIS / TRACERY ON A FROSTED WINDOW //
01 - Set The Pace DOWNLOAD
02 - And You Are Okay DOWNLOAD
03 - Tracery On A Frosted Window DOWNLOAD
04 - Min-For DOWNLOAD
05 - Throw Out The Light DOWNLOAD
06 - #3 DOWNLOAD
07 - I'm Currently Not Plenty DOWNLOAD

DOWNLOAD EP
ZIP file, includes printable artwork.


All songs written and produced by Anois. Guitar, vocals and programming by Lars Kranholdt. Additional vocals by Anne Bayer. Violin by Nastasja Ernst. Recorded up north Germany; 2005. Contact: pleasemutetoday.com.

Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.5 License. The Poni Republic, 2006.

27.11.05

Yamamoto, Columpio EP


Photo by Mariana Bello.

Yamamoto is a beautiful duo from Tijuana who puts out the finest no-fi pop currently available in Mexico. They've been around in the borderline noise and Kleenex pop scene since the mid nineties, and it isn't until now that we can hear them in one single piece. This is Supereit's alter-ego in love. So they say...

Boy to girl flirtations, whispers and naive sighs. Love is music that will always make us smile, and Yamamoto was not the exception. This EP is the true reason the Poni Republic started. Columpio was and is our gem. Now, it's also yours.



// YAMAMOTO / COLUMPIO EP //
01 - Starflyer DOWNLOAD
02 - Nunu DOWNLOAD
03 - Bedtime Story DOWNLOAD
04 - Columpio DOWNLOAD
05 - Subebaja DOWNLOAD
06 - Stargazer DOWNLOAD

All songs written and produced by Mario Supereit and Brenda J. Tijuana, Mexico; 2005. Art work by Manuel Morales. Contact: myspace.com/yamamoto

Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.5 License. The Poni Republic, 2005.