Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Ladybug Transistor



My brother went to a show the other day, and this band, that he'd never heard of, was the opening act. He liked them and told me about them, and I liked them, and now I'm telling you. They have two albums on spotify, and I've listened to them both in my distracted way. They have some elements that add up to general goodness in a band, by my reckoning...HORNS!! Musical complexity, and lots of instruments you don't expect in pop music (cellos, flutes, violins) intriguing lyrics, a female bass-player (think about it--how many good bands have female bass players? Right?)

They play breezy pop music, almost 60s sounding, sometimes, but it feels like there's more going on there. Anyway, there are two albums on spotify, and I've enjoyed them both, and thought I'd share...

Oceans in the Hall
Perfect for Shattering

The video I posted actually has a female vocalist, but most of the songs are sung by a fellow.

25 comments:

shane said...

there was a lovely geeza watching Grace Jones on Saturday night - taller than me - I'm 6 foot ish.. skin tight leggings, vest top, peak cap... I'm guessing just walked over from the cabaret tent.. at the festival I went to.

then the heavens opened and the rain began to fall, soaking the field.
His 7 inch heals and poor legs just couldn't cope.

any way that video reminded me of that.. long time to stand for a shot!

(did you remember Nelly McKay 'Wont U please B nice' over on RR?)

and female bass players - cool as...

Blimpy said...

...Kim Deal" - The Dandy Warhols

do i win spill points?

steenbeck said...

i'm not qualified to dole out spoints.

But. Spoints for all my friends!!!!!'n


talking heads...

treefrogdemon said...

Love the video, steen - how long do you think she was standing there for?

saneshane said...

blimp
s'points are yours.

ejaydee said...

I like it, though I feel I may have heard it before, possibly in a trailer for a Sundance -type film.

steenbeck said...

Speaking of Cellos, which I seem to be doing a lot lately (or was that one a double bass?) I really like the Arthur Russell track on your social CD. Just started listening.

ejaydee said...

You liked that Arthur Russell song? OK I'm dropping a 13 CD retrospective in the D-box as we speak.

Wait, a minute, "just started listening"? I hope you're following the sequence order, it took me a while to get it right, it's the reason I had to finish burning CDs at the social location.

ejaydee said...

I liked Oceans In The Hall even more.

DarceysDad said...

Good bands with female bass players?

Why, Drive-By Truckers, natch.

I'll share a bottle of Jack with Shonna anytime DarceysMam will let me!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa8oMNLVraU&feature=related

Anonymous said...

Sonic Youth - Kim Gordon

steenbeck said...

I've been meaning to ask, does "natch" mean "naturally"? I feel like I should know, but I don't.

Ejay--I was going to look for more Arthur Russell, so I'm muy excited about Dropbox.

I am trying to listen in order, but I think that Arthur Russell might be the first one that started playing when it all loaded into my iTunes. know what I mean? I haven't heard everything yet, but so far I've loved (everything) Bobby Womack, Cartola, Jorge Ben, and Evinha--what a sweet song. When did/does she sing?

I was listening to the Pharcyde album that Dilla partly produced, and there are some really good tracks on it. (I've had it for a while and haven't taken the time to really listen) I watched a video today for Drop, that was apparently directed by Spike Jonze. Hmm.

ejaydee said...

Oh, I was joking about the Russellster (nah, that doesn't work), but I can drop a nice single CD comp. I only found out Spike Jonze directed Drop aaaages after first seeing the video, but it was my favourite for a long time, so much so that I'm not sure I've ever heard the song without the video, nor do I think I want to. I could have put Runnin' in that CD. I Am I Be by De La was supposed to be in there but it didn't fit well enough.

I'm not sure Evinha is still singing, but this song (it was supposed to be the closer) is from 1973. I really like her voice, very sweet, but quite playful too.

steenbeck said...

Ohhh, you were joking. I didn't notice cause I was looking forward to hearing more. But I get it now. I would like to hear more.

I like all of Buhloone Mind State, and think it is all over rated.

It's strange about Pharcyde...I knew a few songs but didn't really know, if you know what I mean. I feel like I'm taking a leisurely tour of a certain kind of west coast hip hop...Souls of Mischief, Jurassic 5, Blackalicious, Pharcyde...it goes on and on. I read today that Pharcyde and SOM made an album together. Something about mighty pythons. I'd like to find that.

steenbeck said...

Under rated. I think it's all under rated. Sigh.

steenbeck said...

and...oh for heaven's sake. You said 13 CD and I read "13 Song" sorry to kill your joke. Apparently my reading comprehension went with my sentence-making ability.

ejaydee said...

Yeah, thanks a lot Steenbeck... sigh.

Seriously, Pharcyde and SOM? Was it like a group thing with the Hieroglyphics? How rare is that, 2 groups making a "duo" album? Is the Pharcyde album you were talking about Labcabincalifornia?

ejaydee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
steenbeck said...

Yes, Labcabincalifornia. I've had it for a while, but it wasn't until I got Bizarre Ride II a few days ago that I realized I hadn't listened to Labcab... enough.

Supposedly they almost finished a 12 inch. Or something. The Almighty Mighty Pythons. Some of it seems to be available somewhere, but I haven't found it yet. If I do, I'll pass it along.

steenbeck said...

You can hear two tracks here...

http://unpiano.com/music/2008/08/25/almyghty-myghty-pythons/

I was going to hear hear mnemonic's comment on Shoegazer's post, but thought it might be better not to. Glad she said it though.

And, amusingly, a friend of mine is in a band playing a show with Ladybug Transistor, and her friend left a comment that they (LT) have spent 15 years trying to make the next Beegees album. Ouch.

ejaydee said...

Thanks. Ohoh, that blog looks kinda cool.

steenbeck said...

Yes! I just spent a little too much time there.

ejaydee said...

Love the beat to Curb Your Nerve.

tincanman said...

Steen if you like cello, I have some Yo-Yo Ma

Albert Dock said...

Dear Lord,,, that was absolutely brilliant!