There’s Going To Be Some Changes In The Coming Year

Au Revoir Simone “Through The Backyards Of Our Neighbors” – This is taken from the forthcoming debut EP by Au Revoir Simone, a new all-girl keyboard-based band from New York City. The song is so wistful and romantic, it’s too bad that I couldn’t have posted this along with the John Cei Douglas comic from a while back, because it would have been a perfect match. Imagine a dreamier Electrelane or a warmer Stereolab, and you’ve got the right idea. There’s so much potential here, it should be interesting to see how this group progresses over the next year as they write more songs.

Valorie Keys “Listen Here” – I hadn’t heard this version of the classic Eddie Harris (who is not to be confused with one of the world’s most obnoxious actors, Ed Harris) song before a few days ago, but it was immediately clear to me that Sleater-Kinney has lifted almost all of their retro-soul moves directly from this recording. I would be completely shocked if the members of that band didn’t know this particular version of the song, especially since “Step Aside” from One Beat in specific sounds like a rewritten version of Keys’ “Listen Here,” right down to the vocal deliverary. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t fault them or anyone else from knicking the good bits of older songs, especially not when they have the good sense to lift from material as great as this. “Listen Here” is a fun bit of assertive soul, with a nice sunny skip to it that is perfect for the beginning of spring.

Elsewhere: Fans of The Fall should check out the interview with Mark E. Smith from this past Saturday’s episode of The Cherry Blossom Clinic on WFMU. Mark talks a bit about playing in the United States, performing in a wheelchair, the new Fall album, and his taste in comedy.