Bows/Luke Sutherland fanatics, rejoice
After much prowling, I have turned up the next project the ever elusive Luke Sutherland. He has formed Music A.M. with 2 German friends of his, and they have recorded their first album "A Heart & Two Stars" (which, coincidentally enough, is also the name of a B-side that appeared on the Japanese import version of Bows-Blush). The album is out in some places, but most people will not be able to get ahold of it until the end of January (26th). Their official webpage (http://music-am.de) gives this description:
Musically speaking, MUSIC A.M. has carefully, almost bashfully woven diverse stylistic threads together: contemplative, ambient electronica, textures from country, folk and pop music, the structural ease of what is known as post-rock, and finally a synaestheticism, which I call "data pop". A Heart & Two Stars is cheered by its inherent wistfulness, anaesthetized by atmospheric calm and reserve, muddled by one?s own nightly dreams which, when transported into daylight, become fantastic, comical everyday stories. Luke Sutherland sings as one who would be silent, whilst the instruments are played as though they were listening.
MUSIC A.M. does not purvey a torpid, pseudo-romantic, introspective indie-electronica, having discovered instead its own narrative mode, which, given the choice between the reference points Yesterday and Today, chooses Tomorrow as the beloved Present. Music, which my ears long to hear when, in the first light of day, my eyes behold something which makes me smile.
You, for example.
Much too drifty and dreamy to be trip hop, but certain (perhaps chemically inclined) trip hop fans should enjoy this, and those who have found remarkable brilliance through Luke's projects Long Fin Killie and Bows will no doubtedly indulge in this stuff like fine chocolates galore. An mp3 sample can be found on the site. The sound of the album is mood music based on a perfect blend of atmospheric electronics, heavy on emotion and texture, completely amazing stuff. Lukes vocals here are probably the best I've ever heard. They are whispered in such a mellow fashion, almost like a male counterpart to Anja Garbarek's last outing. The status of Bows still remains a mystery.
Tracklist:
1 Blackflash
2 Big Wheel
3 Route 66
4 Wonderwoman
5 Supercharger
6 Cluster
7 Air Miami
8 Dynamite
9 Skyscraper
10 Ecstacy
11 Mascara
Other reviews:
http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/reviews/musicam_twostars.htm
http://www.rjschepper.com/Reviews%20Pages/musicam.htm