I think I have a soft spot for
anything that has the Asthmatic Kitty imprint. The label is home to a
fine roster of artists that includes: Sufjan Stevens, My Brightest Diamond,
Shapes and Sizes, the Castanets, and Rafter, who is the focus of today's
post. I think what really gets me about the label is how they always
seem to serve as a platform for artists that display a wide range of sounds,
with every new disc I hear I am never quite sure what I am going to get.
I think that if I were to choose an artist that embodies my description of
the label it would be Rafter and if you give the songs below a listen I
think that you will notice how both of them are filled to the brim with a
wide range of genres, just like the label.
:Rafter - Bicycle:
The thing that gets me most about this song is how well everything about it
fits together. It has really catchy guitar work, simply but effective
drums, and the most strange, yet captivating, use of electronic noises that
I have heard in quite awhile. I especially love how the song shifts
into something different at two points, one at the 1:00 mark and another at
the 3:25 mark right before the song ends. All in all the music in this
is fantastic and Rafter's vocal work does a great job of leaving nothing
desired. I really get a nice feeling when I stumble across artists
like this because of how much of a pleasure it is to listen to something
that has been crafted with care.
:Rafter - My Friend The Crow:
I mentioned that Rafter covers a wide range of genres and this pretty much
declares that statement to be fact. Maybe all of this comes from the
fact that he owns a studio and has worked with a ton of different artists
such as: Fiery Furnaces, GoGoGo Airheart, Black Heart Procession, The Album
Leaf, The Rapture, and a zillion others. Where I found Bicycle
to more interesting then anything else I absolutely find this song to be
beautiful. Rafter is brilliant at immaculately putting things together
and when you give this a listen make sure to pay attention at all of the
little details that the song carries. The siren type noise effect is
really well done, the banjo plucking is more then neat, and the electronic
beat is perfect. If that wasn't enough the vocals are quiet and emit a
really nice "close proximity" type feeling.
Rafter's new album, 10 Songs, is available now and make sure to visit him on
Myspace.
Also, has anyone seen
this? It is pretty neat and I totally
want every design.
-
John Laird -
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