Muruch’s musical mascot Allison Crowe will release a new album on June 25th! Inspired by her work on the play Newfoundland Vinyl, the album will be Allison’s first available as a vinyl LP. More details on the album will be made known in May.
Canadian duo Dala recently released their third studio album, Best Day. Dala’s penchant for peppy country-pop harmonies and melodic folk-pop melodies fall somewhere between Lady Antebellum and Sylvie Lewis.
The album begins with mandolin-accented country-pop ballad “Life on Earth,” which shows off the girls’ pretty, soprano-alto harmonies.
The title track dances and sways on sweet vocals, tinkling piano and buoyant strings. It sounds like the theme to a French romantic comedy.
The stunner “Lennon & McCartney” lives up to its title with an impressive and catchy piano melody. The lyrics are a pop culture cornucopia with references to everything from Shakespeare to Annie Hall. You can watch the video below.
Whispery vocals and sparse piano give “Father” a haunting intimacy.
And despite the overly precious blooper reel attached to it, I just couldn’t resist the perky and all too brief acapella finale “Too Many Kittens.”
You can download a free, legal mp3 of the unreleased song “Red is the Rose” by entering your email address into the widget below…
Allison Crowe will release all-new live video and audio recordings of her annual Tidings concerts later this year, and she is allowing us to premiere a free, legal mp3 from the upcoming live Tidings album. Allison’s haunting piano instrumental of “Carol of the Bells” serves as the introduction to this gorgeous, epic, extended, live Tidings version of “Disease” (originally featured on Live at Wood Hall and Little Light). You can stream or download the song via the SoundCloud widget below…
Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah Slean has long been a favorite of mine and I’m happy to say her ambitious new double album, Land & Sea, is her best work to date. The two-disc set is grand in scope and beautifully complex, yet one of the most irresistibly accessible collections I’ve ever heard. This magnificent new song cycle finds Sarah taking pop, folk, rock and classical to places they’ve never been before.
The collection of songs on the first disc, Land, are pop-driven, but Sarah incorporated elements and instrumentation from several other genres to add strength and substance.
Despite its title and choral embellishments, “Amen” is somewhat of a love song…in the sense of longing to be accepted and loved just as you are. A standout track on the album, the melody is anchored by a down-tempo beat in the verses and soars with a timeless pop chorus.
The sprawling piano melody “I Am a Light” rises and falls with the gentle waves of Sarah’s voice.
“The Day We Saved the World” and “Set It Free” make for a buoyant, inspirational pairing, while “Everybody’s on TV,” “Girls Hating Girls” and “Society Song” take clever jabs at the vapid and backbiting nature of the modern era.
“Society Song” is a supercatchy pop number carried by Gospel-influenced handclap percussion.
The second disc, Sea, is a much softer, somewhat somber affair. The influence of Sarah’s classical training, past collaborations with various composers and affinity for poetry, symphonies and Broadway musicals are all evident in the lovely orchestral arrangements of the songs. I was impressed to read Sarah did most of the string arrangements on herself.
The cinematic instrumental intro to “Cosmic Ballet” is especially beautiful.
The haunting, gorgeous “Napoleon” and the sweet melancholia of “Attention Archers” are the stand outs on Sea.
The lyrics of the delicate ballads “The One True Love” and “The Right Words,” which gives Sea its title, are poetic and moving.
Sarah Slean’s Land & Sea is sure to be on my best of the year list come December.
Sarah Slean – Amen by muruch *
*100% legal Soundcloud stream, uploaded w/ permission of artist’s PR rep
Muruch has long championed the music of brilliant, incomparable Canadian singer-songwriter, Allison Crowe and she often rewards our loyalty with exclusives such as this one. Allison will soon release a “Double-A Side Single” of her original piano song “Arthur” and a guitar cover of Patty Griffin’s “Up to the Mountain.” This year also marks the tenth anniversary of Allison’s record label, Rubenesque Records Ltd. To celebrate, she is generously allowing us here at Muruch to exclusively premiere the following free, 100% legal mp3s of her two new songs for two weeks. So download the mp3s while you can, enjoy the YouTube Videos, then go buy the digital double single and/or Allison’s other albums – I promise they’re all worth every penny!
Allison Crowe – Arthur (mp3 expired)*
Allison Crowe – Up to the Mountain (mp3 expired)*
*mp3s provided by & posted for 2 weeks w/ permission of artist’s manager – after that purchase the mp3s via Allison’s Bandcamp
Allison Crowe – Arthur (YouTube Video)*
Allison Crowe – Up to the Mountain (YouTube Video)*
*videos uploaded by artist’s manager
Buy Allison Crowe Music @ Amazon
Allison Crowe Official Site (Buy Music)
Sia – You’ve Changed (mp3) *
New electro-pop ditty from Sia’s upcoming album We Are Born, to be released in 2010.
Pre-order @ Amazon
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of artist’s PR rep
*******************
Luke Doucet – First Day (In The New Hometown) (mp3) *
This is a song from Luke Doucet’s latest album, Blood’s Too Rich (click album title for my review).
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of artist’s PR rep
*******************
Amelia Curran – The Mistress (mp3) *
Track from Canadian singer-songwriter Amelia Curran’s new album Hunter Hunter.
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of artist
The Little Death – Gather Round (mp3) *
The Little Death is Moby’s new side project with big-voiced singer Laura Dawn. This song is from the group’s self-titled debut.
The Little Death Official Site (Buy CD)
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of band’s PR rep
********************************
Le Vent du Nord – Lanlaire (mp3 expired) *
Le Vent du Nord – Octobre 1837 (mp3 expired) *
Two new songs from Canadian folk band Le Vent du Nord’s (The Wind of the North) album La Part du Feu. The title “Octobre 1837″ refers to a French uprising against British rule.
*mp3s provided by & posted w/ permission of band’s PR rep
