My ipod got a further dose of UK bump courtesy of the (now) London-based Swedish DJ Annie, who released her campy follow-up to 2005's Annimalia this month, with Don't Stop. It's fun, but kinda light, though this particular track bucks that trend a bit.
Jason Molina and Will Johnson teamed up for something a little darker and edgier with the self-titled Molina & Johnson. Johnson plays mostly piano, Molina guitar, and occasionally I think hear someone play a saw. It's the closest thing I can probably get to earlier Songs: Ohia, so I'll take it.
Molina & Johnson were not the only representatives of Austin, TX to make their way to my ears this month as Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar fame released the third album under his metal-punk hybrid vehicle, Grady. Johnson relocated to Austin five years ago after spending some down time back home in Alberta. Good As Dead, the first post-Big Sugar work I've heard from Johnson, takes me back to those "Dear Mr. Fantasy" days.
I also picked up the latest album from The Thermals, Now I Can See, as well as XXXX by You Say Party! We Say Die!. For me, the rough-and-tumble rhetoric of the Thermals trumps the dance floor friendly tunes of YSPWD.
Finally, after weeks of waiting for it's arrival, DJ Spooky's dense The Secret Song is the most recent composition to attract my attention. It'll take a few more spins for all of it's secrets to tumble out.
