skip to main |
skip to sidebar
I've just started reading about Cass recently after hearing about his move to Domino, I'm not too familiar with his stuff but it seems very quiet, there's some high harmonies,
He opened for Jose Gonzalez recently, and toured with Ariel Pink, so he's in some great company.
For some reason I'm getting a Vashti feeling here, lots of background singing, but all from a really strong singer songwriter with an acoustic guitar. Kind A laid back Jens Lekman...you're getting the picture.
I missed him at Don Pedro's...that's a shame.
This is actually coming out in a few days on Domino UK:It's also import only from Domino or the usual guys like roadrecs, and Norman records.
That’s That, released on January 21st 2008, is the beautiful first single taken from Cass McCombs’ forthcoming album, ‘Dropping The Writ’- his first for Domino Records - due out on Monday 4th February.
You might think it funny this song bears the same title as one of Snoop’s. However coincidental, this sort of tragi-comedy that the artist cultivates does not stop here. The story about a past life and directed at a missing girl, is sharply told and almost entirely in non-sequitors. All instruments, besides bass (Luke Top) and drums (Garrett Ray), were played by Cass McCombs, as were most of the songs on the forthcoming album.
A dark and catchy number with elastic background vocals, That’s That appeals to the redheaded stepchild, but with an adult’s sense of humour and subject matter.
and some interesting commentary from Norman:
Cass Mccombs has always been seriously approved here at the towers. Those earlier albums ruled. He's left 4AD and shifted over to megaindie Domino. Funnily enough I had no idea he'd signed to Domino til someone told me they'd seen 7 copies of his new album in a big 2nd hand shop in Manchester. I've been itching to hear the new album. I emailed Domino asking why they sent promos out to folks who obviously weren't interested in the music instead of people who genuinely cared about the music but I got no reply. Ho hum....Probably too busy up in that London snorting dogs or something. Cass is back.The seven inch is called That's That.We like Cass and after a few listens it starts to proper grow on you. It's great to hear people making great timeless sounding music which isn't following any fashion. Both Brian and myself are stumped to give comparisons... always a good sign!! Maybe a bit of the earlier end of Richard Hawley in there? 7" only on hugemegaindie corporation Domino.
Jose has a new album coming out, a documentary in the works and sold out shows everywhere.
I'm glad to hear In Our Nature is still acoustic and minimal.
It's the tired old dilema for me. the artist wants to grow and not play acoustic heartbeats for ever, but that's what I want to hear (not that song specifically, but anything from veneer really.) I dread it when an orchestra is involved or a backup band, I mean... you just made the acoustic guitar exciting again for me. I'm sure you can support an orchestra, you deserve it, the music deserves it, but maybe it just feels forced too often.
Like the latest Iron and Wine. I wasn't a fan of the Calexico collaboration, but then again I'm not really into Calexico, so it could have just been that... but even then it was disappointing. I haven't heard the latest yet, and a lot of time has passed since The Creek so he should take this where ever it's going to go, but I will miss the acoustic quiet of previous efforts. So quiet it seems like the record it over and I can actually hear the crackle of the grooves. I have to get up and go check if I need to flip it over yet.
Speaking of grooves....I have seen two different versions of this 7", or lets say three different seven inches supporting the new album. This one is from a shop I really never heard of, but they are the only place carrying these 'swedish' editions, which are limited to 500 copies
This item will be released on October 10th, 2007 José González - Killing For Love 7"
Swedish edition.
A. Killing For Love
B. Smalltown Boy (Non album track)
500 Copies made.
This item will be released on November 10th, 2007 José González - Down The Line 7"
Swedish edition.
A. Down The Line
B. Instrumental (Non album track)
500 copies made.
Boomkat is carrying the wider distributed 'Down the Line / Small Town Boy' 7", which you could probably get from any good import place, Peacefrog is also carrying this directly for 4 pounds. (It does say this cannot be exported to the US, but we'll see about that)
These are both going to be impossible, but I had to tell someone about them. Good luck, I'd love to hear that instrumental track sometime. Now he really has to have a cover every album, it's not just a joke anymore...small town boy is a bronski beat cover, can't say I remember the original or even this band, but I think this guy was in the communards? I swear I had that tape in high school.
I actually found a bunch of vinyl from high school recently and a few choice picks were the Bill and Teds soundtrack and Celibrate the Nun, 808 state vs david bowie...wow I loved remixes apparently.
I was shocked to actually find a few things I wanted...tons of old Cure albums and New order.
From Boomkat:
I don't think I'd be exaggerating if I said all of you have heard 'Heartbeats' - if you haven't there's a good chance you've been exploring the North Pole or possibly sleeping for the last couple of years as it's a track that has been buzzing around the airwaves relentlessly. Luckily we absolutely loved it from the moment we heard it, and even now after a million plays it still sends shivers down my spine. The album received almost universal acclaim and had impressive sales figures to match - making it all the harder to deliver that all-important follow-up. 'Down the Line', happily, is really quite terrific and instead of trying something radically different José has simply done what we all wanted and carried on writing flawless introspective pop music with the kind of warm heart he is so well known for. Those of you who have seen him play live in the last year will probably already know this song, and as soon as I heard it I remembered every strum - that's the power of his songwriting. Much like classic singer/songwriter material from the 1960s and 70s there's something that just feels utterly timeless about this music. Being the nice Swedish gentleman that he is there's even a luscious exclusive track 'Smalltown Boy', a cover of the Bronski Beat track of the same name. How generous is that? Excellent stuff...
