Friday, November 24, 2006

Audrey EP

(Stereo Test Kit Records, 2005)
Original Czech version of the review is placed on www.post-rock.cz here.

Audrey is beautiful name for girl's post-rock band formed in small town on south Sweden in 2002. Members of the quartet are Anna, Victoria, Emilie a Rebecka. Unfortunately I don't know which girl sings but her amazing voice warms up your hearts. It is the one of advantages the band. She reminds you Björk from Sugercubes's era or maybe Ema Brabcová from Czech band Khoiba.

Opening song Box, and Fights has a dominant guitar theme at the beginning which meanders like a ribbon with honey cello at the other side during the whole track. An initial declamation is changing into a gently insisting singing. Guitarist Victoria
Skoglund said about meaning of their lyrics:

"I like it when the lyrics can mean different things, that we give clues to our audience. Sometimes we can write quite incoherent things, but we are looking for a feeling in the music,"

Next Triumphal Arch starts with a muffled sound of piano as if from the next room through a half-open door. A guitar with smooth drums join in a little while. Suddenly the singing begins and you catch yourself that you are watching from window at a wind how is fondling with leaves in a tree-top and you're thinking about things from your mind oblivion. You're still listening mesmerized and don't want doing anything else because you are satisfied.

Suddenly you notice the song went over to next song fluently, only two-minutes length We Thought We Were Ghosts, But We Are Feathers. And it disappears as a featherlet in the wind for coming a new song Hymn, my most beautiful one and at the same time the most sad song in the EP. At an initiation the song reminds you Sigur Rós with shimmering guitar and murky keyboards. The lyrics start with "I can still taste you in corner of my mouth." and you get into the mood when thinking about past or present relationships.

Last the fifth track Helpless as well as its song-sisters is slow, full of melancholy and sorrow nevertheless emotions and certain defiance rise up from the music and the voice.


Audrey draws their songs with simplicity and minimalistic outline and gorgeous voices without supportive rolling guitar walls. However emotional impact on audience is extraordinary. They are not for daily listening but for right mood and state of mind. It's perfect for sleepy-rainy afternoon. They are one of the most shinning star on the post-rock sky this year for me! Highly recommend!

Track list
1 | Box, and Fights | 4:45
2 | Triumphal Arch | 5:07
3 | We Thought We Were Ghosts, But We Are Feathers | 2:44
4 | Hymn | 7:17
5 | Helpless | 6:11
Total time - 00:26:04

MySpace >
http://www.myspace.com/audreyswe
Free mp3 > Box, and Fights

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

11/11 Sufjan Stevens at Paradiso, Amsterdam

Sufjan Stevens and his band the Magical Butterfly Brigade (incl. excellent five brass members) perfomed at the Paradiso last saturday nearly two-hour show. The music fairly floated on their beautiful wings to aud and I was truly happy to see them live at the moment. It was spectacular and awesome experience and travelling to Amsterdam was definetely worth.

Many thanks Sufjan!

PM: Thank you K and T! ... you know for what ;-)

Click on photos to enlarge.

Rubber Santas and Supermans were everywhere on the stage even on the piano :o)

Sufjan with eagle's wings

A snow projection during x-mas song "Majesty Snowbird"

Annie Clark aka St. Vincent charmed us with her beautiful voice

Only Sufjan and piano (bonus song "John Wayne Gacy, Jr.")

Sufjan and Buterflies without wings

All members of band played on piano during the concert

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Sufjan Stevens Tour













I am crazy looking forward Sufjan Stevens in Paradiso, Amsterdam 'couse I've never seen him live before. And also I'm courious about live performing his rich arangement in CDs.

I'm aware of this tour dates is little late so I'm appologise you.

Official Page > www.sufjan.com
MySpace > http://www.myspace.com/illinoiseispretty

11/09 |
Le Bataclan | Paris, France
11/10 |
Gloria | Cologne, Germany
11/11 |
Paradiso | Amsterdam, Netherland
11/12 |
Vega | Copenhagen, Denmark
11/14 |
Sentrum Scene | Oslo, Norway
11/15 |
Berns | Stockholm, Sweden
11/17 |
Frikirkjan Church | Reykjavik, Iceland
11/18 |
Frikirkjan Church | Reykjavik, Iceland

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Brad Mehldau Live in Prague - solo piano

What can I say about sunday's solo concert of Brad Mehldau in Dvorak Hall of Rudolfinum in Prague? I have no words ... or simply ... It was excellent, breathtaking and unforgettable experience with heart and soul and standing ovations at the end.

Thank you, Brad!

PS: you can read a little more about concert on Vysous's journal here.