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Album Review: Cots, ‘Disturbing Body’

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A multi-disciplinary artist and multi-instrumentalist, Steph Yates has clearly done a lot. A brief perusal of her website brings up compositions, animations, and sculptures, even before getting to the music. Known for Ontario musical projects Esther Grey and Cupcake Ductape, Yates now operates under the Cots name, and this debut album, Disturbing Body, is intensely thoughtful and emotionally complex. There are weighty ideas here: Yates is concerned with mysteries of love and attraction within our universe. “These songs, for the most part, have to do with the heart,” Yates said, and you can sense it in this collection of songs; the record is an evidently personal creation. 

Perhaps given the grand subject matter, one would have expected a sonic palette of equal majesty, but it’s missing on Disturbing Body. Instead, Yates opts for simpler instrumentation, favouring brushes of acoustic guitar, hints of furtive bossa nova, and slight jazz interjections. What the meagre backdrop does too, however, is present Yates as a writer of terrific ability: the intricate and contemplative narrative in ‘Our Breath’ and the poetic structure of ‘Last Sip’ mark her as a writer in musician’s clothing (from her website, only one chapbook relating to art appears under ‘Writing’). “The saddest breath of the bottle is your last sip,” begins ‘Last Sip’, a supremely gut-wrenching line. The closing song, ‘Midnight at the Station’, also sees Yates paint a wonderful snapshot of the busy goings-on at a train station. 

The atmosphere is disruptively eerie and haunting throughout, from the first erratic notes of the title track to the depressive strumming in ‘Last Sip’ to the slow and hazy jazz of ‘Sun-Spotted Apple’. When bossa nova is incorporated, it’s never domineering, remaining just slightly danceable. One such track, ‘Bitter Part of the Fruit’, is an upbeat ode to accepting the good with the bad in life (“In needing the antidote/ Look for the bitter part of the fruit”). Illuminating horns and strings also colour the stunningly morbid ‘Flowers’, Yates singing coyly, “Flowers on the body dead/ Flowers I sent.” She might not possess an expansive vocal range, but her confrontational and haunting delivery matches the words and the atmosphere exquisitely. 

The Montreal-based artist’s achievement on Disrupting Body is considerably modest but appealingly so. As an intimate presentation of the strange balance between love and attraction, life and death, the album holds a delicate beauty. Yates is a true artist, no matter which form she takes. 

Album Review: Devendra Banhart & Noah Georgeson, ‘Refuge’

Devendra, I’ve a feeling we’re not listening to freak folk anymore. After gaining acclaim as the slightly comical but effortlessly talented pioneer of the genre in the mid-2000’s – not so much a pioneer as a sudden revivalist, as its lineage can be traced back to the wonderful Vashti Bunyan in the 1960s – Banhart has come a long way in the last decade and a bit. On Refuge, his collaborative album with frequent collaborator Noah Georgeson, there are no psychedelic flourishes or wandering acoustic guitars to be heard; instead the pair have created a delicate ambient record that seeks to be the sonic equivalent of its title. 

It sometimes feels like the COVID-19 pandemic has aged us all quickly and terribly. There have been bouts of mourning for a way of life lost; we have grappled internally and externally with now existing in an even more fragile and uncertain world. A freak folk album, as reflective art, wouldn’t have made sense, but these soothing sounds do. It’s why Banhart said “we’re hoping to create a sense of comfort and coming back to the moment” about the album, which is, essentially, an elongated way of saying ‘Refuge’. 

Banhart and Georgeson’s relationship stretches a long time back, when the idea of a life-altering pandemic would have been cause for scorn. Georgeson has co-produced several of his friend’s albums, including some of his finest (2007’s Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon and 2013’s Mala). And it’s really not that much of an ungraspable sonic leap to Refuge either: Banhart has been steadily transitioning from freak folk since the start of the last decade, Mala, Ape in Pink Marble, and Ma all possessing more considered songwriting and melancholic notes. The beard has more flecks of grey, the thoughts are more pensive. 

When considering an ambient record, it’s always helpful to return to the form’s greatest practitioner: “it must be as ignorable as it is interesting,” Brian Eno said, and on this front Refuge succeeds. It can be played under deep focus, as you look for lurking patterns and conjured emotions; it can also be supreme soothing background art, finishing its journey before you even really noticed it had begun. Its strength lies less in the qualities of the individual tracks than the collective picture that Georgeson and Banhart paint – that they recorded their parts separately during last year’s lockdowns is testament to their understanding of each other’s vision. They recruited a plethora of other wondrous musicians to embellish the canvas too, including Mary Lattimore on harp and Nicole Lawrence on pedal steel; their contributions might be minimal but they’re still felt. Flashes of strings and woodwind dip in and out throughout the haunting droning. 

Refuge is entrancing and enveloping, its subtle strokes allowing for quiet rumination. One’s compassion for an ambient record like this will depend on their need for escapism, for refuge. Maybe this was the case for Banhart and Georgeson too: to witness two old friends, their artistic lives intertwined, come together at a most frightening time for contemplative collaboration, is a gift in itself.

Phoebe Bridgers Shares New ‘Kyoto’ Remixes by Bartees Strange, the Marías, and Glitch Gum

Phoebe Bridgers has shared three new remixes of her song ‘Kyoto’. The Punisher single has been reinterpreted by Bartees Strange, the Marías, and Glitch Gum. Listen to the new versions below.

“I wanted to find a way to make this song hit in a completely different way, but still retain some of the big and small moments that make the song special to me,” Bartees Strange said of his reworking in a statement. “At first I was thinking through how I could use the stems, but the more I got into it the more I wanted to take it somewhere else entirely. Crushing tune, glad I could mess around with it.”

Of their remix, Los Angeles band the Marías said: “I remember seeing Phoebe years ago at an open mic here in Los Angeles, and I knew right off the bat that she was really special. Working on this remix was a sort of full circle moment for us. ‘Kyoto’ is an amazing song as-is, so with the remix we were just curious to see what it would sound like with the vocal slowed down and adding some of our favorite synth sounds behind it.”

Glitch Gum, who previously covered the track, commented: “All I know is one day,  when I was in between Zoom classes last Fall, I thought, ‘Man, what if Phoebe Bridgers did hyperpop?’ That idea turned into a 30-second snippet of ‘Kyoto’, which turned into a full song, which turned into working with Phoebe and her team to make this little quarantine project come full circle in ways I could never even fathom. It was so fun deconstructing the musical realms of both Phoebe and I and combining them into something that filled the hyperpop-indie-crossover-shaped hole in my brain. I am just really happy with how it turned out and forever thankful for Phoebe, her friends, and their continuous support.”

Lily Konigsberg Announces Debut Album, Releases New Song

Lily Konigsberg has announced her debut solo album, Lily We Need to Talk Now, which arrives October 29 via Wharf Cat. Along with the announcement, Konigsberg has shared the lead single ‘That’s the Way I Like It’. Check it out below.

“I said ‘I’m going to write a song now’ to my friend and then wrote this song in 20 minutes,” Konigsberg said of ‘That’s the Way I Like It’ in a statement. “The chords are symmetrical so it’s really fun to play on guitar. It’s a fucking catchy and sassy song about getting what I want when I deserve it. Not whatever I want. Just when I deserve it.”

Konigsberg released the compilation The Best of Lily Konigsberg Right Now earlier this year. Her band Palberta issued their latest album Palberta5000 in January. More recently, Konigsberg and Water From Your Eyes’ Nate Amos formed the duo My Idea and dropped their That’s My Idea EP.

Lily We Need to Talk Now Cover Artwork:

Lily We Need to Talk Now Tracklist:

1. Beauty
2. I Can Make You Sweat Forever
3. That’s the Way I Like It
4. Alone
5. Don’t Be Lazy With Me
6. Proud Home
7. Hark
8. Bad Boy
9. Roses, Again
10. Goodbye
11. True

Japanese Breakfast Cover Sufjan Stevens’ ‘Romulus’

Japanese Breakfast have shared a cover of Sufjan Stevens’ ‘Romulus’ for SiriusXMU Sessions. Michelle Zauner recorded her rendition of the track, which originally appeared on Stevens’ 2003 album Greetings From Michigan the Great Lake State, at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. The cover features contributions from Gabby’s World and Molly Germer. Listen to it below.

Japanese Breakfast’s most recent album, Jubilee, came out earlier this year. Her soundtrack for the video game Sable is set for release on September 23.

How To Start A BookTube Channel

Many book lovers love to share their recommendations for the best things to read, whether through rating sites like Goodreads or on social media like Instagram. YouTube is another popular option for book lovers. If you’re been thinking about starting your own BookTube channel, here are some tips to get you started.

Invest In Equipment

You don’t need any fancy, expensive equipment to start a BookTube channel. When you’re starting out, you can use equipment you already have, such as your phone. Film in a well-lit area, and buy a cheap microphone to improve your audio. You can upgrade to better lighting or a better camera later on. 

Create A Backdrop

Your bookshelves could make the perfect backdrop, but don’t worry if you can’t make that work. Just choose a backdrop that is clutter and distraction-free. Test a few locations to find somewhere with good audio and consistent lighting. 

Books

Choose the books you’re going to cover. Many BookTubers concentrate on the books that they are currently reading and share reviews. It can help to choose a niche that fits the books you like to read most, such as reviewing new YA releases, or books for parents to read to their children. As well as reviews, you could also create videos on wider book themes, such as comparing the book to the movie adaption or using https://booksloom.com to find books that are often overlooked. 

You don’t need lots of disposable income or to keep buying books all the time. There are some websites that over review copies of books, or you can use your local library to get hold of new releases without spending a lot of money. Kindle also has many classics available for free. 

New and upcoming books are always popular on BookTube, there is also demand on YouTube for lists of older favourites too. Don’t feel as though you can’t share books that are a few years old. 

Think About Your Content

Reviews are a big part of BookTube, but filming a review can be harder than you’d think. You will want to clearly describe the plot, and share your opinions without giving away any spoilers. Get started by writing down a quick summary of the book. Double-check you know how to pronounce the author’s name or any difficult character names. If you do make a mistake, don’t worry. Start your thought again from a point where you can smoothly edit out the mistake. 

Make sure you know what you can and can’t share in your videos. Reading the book’s summary can be a good way to clearly explain the plot. If you’re going to give away any spoilers, make sure you state that clearly, and tell people when they are and when to skip ahead to in order to avoid them. As well as your books, make sure you understand the rules about any music or images you use on your channels and don’t accidentally fall foul of a copyright strike.

What impact will the Premier League’s VAR changes have this season?

The landscape of English football has changed dramatically since VAR was introduced in the Premier League in 2019. The system brought in to reduce controversy over refereeing decisions has created plenty of controversy itself, and for the last couple of seasons, it’s felt like VAR has become more of a story than the actual football — with the Premier League odds harder to predict as a result.

As we approach the third season where VAR will be used in the English top flight, the powers that be have outlined a number of changes to the way that the system will be implemented this campaign, in a bid to prevent VAR from getting involved too regularly in decision-making. Let’s run through the changes and assess whether they will make a tangible difference in the Premier League this season.

What’s changed?

One of the main ways VAR will be used more sparingly this season is when it comes to penalty decisions over minor contact in the box. We have seen countless examples of players winning spot-kicks after VAR detects minimal contact on an attacking player from a defender.

“Contact on its own is only part of the what referees should look for,” referees’ chief Mike Riley said. “They should also ask themselves if the contact has a consequence, and then if the player used that contact to try and win a foul or a penalty. It’s not sufficient just to say: ‘Yes, there’s contact.’ I think it moves the dial back towards where we were in a pre-VAR world. We don’t want trivial things penalised.”

Another major change will involve the use of thicker lines when making offside decisions, which will create a clearer distinction between onside and offside in video replays, and help to avoid the kind of ‘armpit offsides’ we have seen so many times in previous seasons.

Lastly, handball has been revamped so that there will be no punishment for accidental offences in the build-up the goal. Handball will only punish an attacker if they score directly as a result of a handball, or immediately after.

What effects will the changes have?

For penalty decisions, we should see a decrease in the number of ‘soft’ penalties awarded for minimal contact. It will be interesting to see how referees enforce these changes. As always, much will hinge on the individual referee who is assigned to be the VAR for a particular match. What constitutes minimal contact for one referee will constitute significant contact for another, and it’s simply a fact that in a sport of subjective refereeing decisions, there will always be some kind of controversy.

The ridiculously tight offside decisions have been the bugbear of every player, coach and fan throughout the last couple of seasons. We have seen goals that appear perfectly good to the naked eye be ruled out for the most miniscule of offside margins. That should change this season thanks to the thicker lines being used to judge offside decisions. According to Riley, 20 goals were chalked off last season that wouldn’t have been under the new guidelines, so we should get to see more goals as a result!

The handball law was the most sensible to change, as goals were being ruled out for the most ludicrous of reasons – like a player accidentally handling the ball some 20 seconds before a goal was scored.

In the end, none of these changes should pose too much threat to those leading the Premier League winner odds list, but everyone wants a more free-flowing game, so let’s hope VAR will fade into the background slightly in the upcoming season.

Having a Hard Time Choosing A Present? Here Are 5 Wonderful Gift Ideas For Your Wife

Are you looking for a wonderful gift idea for your wife? Do you want to topple your record of gifting the best gift on her birthday last year?

We understand it is often a struggle to find something for your wife or girlfriend or fiance that she will love. But we are here to help. 

Whenever you are stuck on choosing what to buy for your wife, follow your gut. Think about what she likes and the things she values- you know it, concentrate your mind a little! ( you have the answers) 

You can either go sentimental way or practical way. If you want to give something sentimental -choose a gift that you know has a meaning or thought behind it, and your wife will love it. 

Consider what time of year it is if you want to go with a practical gift. Is it summer yet? Why not get her some beautiful bikini sets or floral summer dresses? It’ll be a hit with your wife.

And if you’re still stumped about what to get her, you’ve come to the right place because we’ve got some suggestions that will make her say, “Wow, that’s so awesome, I love it.” 

Let’s get started

Elegant Lounge Wear 

A pair of plush silk pajamas are both comfortable and attractive, and now that everyone is staying at home in their pajamas, it would be ideal if the pajamas are elegant and comfy.

Luxury Watch

The best way to show the love of your life that you cherish your time together is to get her a watch you know she’ll adore. You can get your wife a luxury watch like a Richard Mille wrist watch if you have a budget and want to go the extra mile. Roses and chocolates don’t last lifetimes, but watches do.

A Massager

Your wife’s neck and back may be screaming for help if she’s crammed behind the desk! You might hear her complaining about how much sitting in a chair hurts her muscles.

While you can’t help her with the workload, you can get her a massager. There are many compact massagers on the market today that are effective at releasing knots.

This is a functional gift, and believe us when we say that even if they are a little pricey, your wife will keep coming back to them, so the cost is justified.

A Pair Of Sneakers 

Sneakers are necessary because if your wife is going for a long commute to her office, working out, or just strolling around the neighborhood, she should have comfortable shoes. 

Good shoes are set to take people to good places, and there are plenty of options available today from various brands. Shoes that are both comfortable and very stylish.

If you feel extra special, you can get her two shoes- one lifestyle shoe and one workout shoe! (we bet she won’t have any complaints) 

Bobblehead Figurine

This is another sentimental gift that will undoubtedly be treasured.

It’s very easy to get customized bobbleheads in the style you want; all you have to do is send your photos to the bubblehead company, and they’ll customize them for you.

Isn’t it adorable to have bobbleheads that look like you and your wife? If she’s the type who appreciates emotional and thoughtful gifts, we’re sure she’ll adore this one.

Preserved Roses 

We all know that most people adore flowers, but the sad reality is that they only last two days. What you can do better is get her a beautiful bouquet of preserved roses—they last for over a year- yes, you read that correctly. 

Various companies sell these. You can check them out, and if your wife loves flowers, you know what to get her this time around.

Conclusion

The most important thing you can give your wife is love, and gifts are just icing on the cake for spoiling her on this wonderful journey.

Kanye West Announces Third ‘Donda’ Album Listening Event

After two separate events at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta earlier this summer, Kanye West has announced a third listening session for his long-delayed album Donda. It’s set to take place in his hometown of Chicago, at Soldier Field, on August 26, according to a post on the rapper’s Instagram.

The follow-up to 2019’s Jesus Is King was originally slated for release after the first livestream event at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on July 23, but the album never materialized. West reportedly ended up staying in the venue to finish the album and launched a second livestream event at the stadium on August 5 that revealed features from the Weeknd, Jay Electronica, and the Lox. The record has yet to be officially released.

 

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Remi Wolf Announces Debut Album ‘Juno’, Drops Two New Tracks

Remi Wolf has announced that her debut album Juno will arrive on October 15. Today, Wolf has previewed the record with two new tracks, ‘Quiet On Set’ and ‘Grumpy Old Man’, both of which come with their own visuals. Check them out below and scroll down for the LP’s cover artwork.

In a press release, Wolf describes ‘Quiet On Set’ as “full on psycho,” adding that “as much as the song is silly and fun, it really does reflect my life and feelings at the time…overworked, manic, reckless, and childish.” Of ‘Grumpy Old Man’, she comments that “some of the most benign things [that] can make me irritated and defensive, which makes me feel old, fragile, and careless.”

Talking about the creation of Juno, Wolf explained:

Creating my debut album ‘Juno’ was like a fever dream. So many changes were happening in my life while I was creating these songs and I think my album really reflects the feelings of tension and release that these changes provoked in me. Every song on this record is a vivid snapshot into what was going on in my life and mindset the day I wrote each one. I hope my Remjobs can hear my honesty and passion come through and, if not, I just hope they think each song is a banger! The album is named ‘Juno’ after my beautiful dog I adopted during lockdown. He ended up being in every single writing session for this album and I consider him my partner, witness, and support in the making of this record.

Earlier this year, Remi Wolf unveiled the We Love Dogs! remix EP, featuring reworkings of songs from her June 2020 EP I’m Allergic to Dogs! from the likes of Beck, Hot Chip, Little Dragon, Sylvan Esso, and more. Last month, she released the new single ‘Liquor Store’.

Juno Cover Artwork: