This is the kind of album that is familiar the first time you hear it. And that is not to say that it is derivative of any pre-established sound, but rather chock full of diverse influences. Whether intentional or not, I can hear some...

08 February, 2011

Although it may be difficult to confine the music by multi-instrumentalist Chico Mann to just one genre, it is safe to say that his sophomore release, Analog Drift, is a quintessential New York album. With a heavy Afrobeat and Cuban influences, vocals in both Spanish and English, and a number of synthesizers in hand, Chico Mann, aka Marcos Garcia, creates a melting pot of soulful and sexy sounds, much like the city that never sleeps. Previously released digitally through Garcia's Website, Analog Drift is now expanding its audience through Wax Poetics Records and is ready to be played on the dance floors. Right from the first beat, a listener will want to put on a fedora hat and take over the town.

 

07 October, 2010

This week's recommended picks! Go to the website for the Seattle International Film Festival for more details. Between Two Worlds A man returns to his homeland in Sri Lanka -- post its 26-year civil war -- to discover that the repercussions of war last far beyond wars...

24 May, 2010

Superficially, Aluminum Babe seems to be a DIY-driven, fierce frontwoman-powered electro outfit making music suitable for garages and house parties. In theory, they seem to be the type of band that has a well-honed demographic and probably fills a solid niche. In reality, they're all...

15 September, 2009

When it comes to pop music, bands can try to "defy convention" in a myriad of ways. Some reach for far off musical influences, seeking to add some contrived spice to their normally pedestrian songwriting. Some try to create jarring textures that say to the...

18 March, 2009