Sounds Of My Summer.

At some point in this summer I found myself on a beautiful winding gossamer path of ambient loveliness, thanks to Spotify and my own curious mind. I can't even remember where it began, but I'd like to share with you some of the gems I found.

Who: Balmorhea.
Where: Austin, Texas.
What: Two of their albums in particular, River's Arms, and Constellations.

Described as a 'minimalist instrumental ensemble',  they create music that is both evocative and visionary. I find listening to them sets off a visual transportation of the mind! Wonderful and sublime.

Listen here for more.

Sounds Of My Summer.

Who: (Fleet Fox) J Tillman.
What: This year's album I Will Return-Long May You Run.

Sounds Of My Summer.

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been listening to so much incredible music over the summer. So, over the next week or so, I'm going to give a taster of what has been the soundtrack to this most lovely of summers. I hope you enjoy!

~*~

Who: Band Of Horses.
What: New album, Infinite Arms, out last May.
Listen to more: Here.
(This song from their previous album Cease To Begin.)

Something Old, Something New...

Nothing more satisfying than finding something for next to nothing is there? Our local town recently had a new addition of a charity (thrift) shop! This is a very telling sign of the times and rather something as this particular well-to-do town is more home to the likes of up-market boutiques and I never thought I'd see a charity shop there. But there it is, and I have to say the quality is delightfully up-market! But of course. And even better, the prices are proper charity shop prices, unlike certain other ones who have been taking the you-know-what of recent years.

So I popped in the other day with very little in my purse and no intention really other than to have a look. But I did spend. A little.

This sweet cardigan is so perfectly Julia Childs that I 

couldn't resist it at just €3.

I think it's the colour as much as anything.

And although this skirt (for €5) doesn't look so great on a hanger,

it's lovely on. It's years since I wore something so long

and I bought it thinking I would alter it in some way,

but it's too nice as it is! 

But then, part of my intention not to spend was because earlier in the week 

I had (fatally) gone to my favourite shop, Avoca for breakfast and as 

usual stopped to look at their sale rail on the way out. Shopping with friends 

can be bad for you. Persuasive friends. Friends who insist you try on that

dress that made you gasp when you saw it, and then rave about how perfect it is

on you...sigh... I am weak...I am. So I bought it. And, yes it was on the sale rail,

but this is Avoca we are talking about... 

So I won't be telling you how much I paid for it, even when one friend was cheeky

enough to ask them to knock a bit more off it (which they did!). 

It wasn't huge. It was less than €100. But still more than I would usually spend.

But I had to. And I'm glad I did. Because it is just so lovely.
A friend said it is like something out of Bagpuss,
which is so apt because that is a world that still exists in my head.
Some days I think in my head I am in that little shop:
Bagpuss & Co.
It's perfect. A shop that doesn't sell anything.
It's just a place for lost things...

Take a little peep here.
This is my childhood, this is all that makes me who I am today.
I cannot think of anything that captures it better.

Chequerboard

Another music post. I know. But I guess I've been doing more listening than looking lately, and this particular gem is something that just keeps on growing the more you listen to it.

Chequerboard is John Lambert, an Irish musician who divides his time between Dublin, and Sligo, and there is something both soothing and uplifting about his music that means you can have it on loop for a whole day and at no point do you feel you've overdone it.

In the words of The Ticket magazine: Chequerboard is the nomme de guerre of Irish musician & visual artist John Lambert who blends classically tinged acoustic guitar music with glitchy electronica. His delicate, detailed and emotionally charged instrumental music has been capturing the imagination of critics and the public alike since the release of his celebrated ‘Penny Black’ album. (***** 5 stars, The Ticket)

Here's one of his suitably atmospheric video's that perfectly captures his sound, which has been described as soundscapes. Do give it time, it's a slow build.

Check out a series of article on John here on NME's website. And you can hear some of his music over on his myspace here.