La Instrument

Did you know instrumental is an anagram of "Lunar Mittens"?

Yet another instrumental session is upon us, this will be a bumper issue as there will be a lack of mentaling next week (I apologise but holidays come first!). Bit of a mix today, with instrumental only tracks from Interpol and Spiritualized, and an acapella Bjork (this counts as the other end of the spectrum from instrumental). First up though I would like to introduce Amiina, a band from Iceland who you have all heard but never knew it. Amiina are the recording quartet for Sigur Ros and as I am aware once toured with them to promote Takk. As a band they excel mainly by playing stuff that doesn't sound too disimilar to Sigur Ros themselves but this is not exactly a bad thing.

Amiina - Rugla
Amiina - Glamur
Amiina - Hilli

Next up is St. Vincent, or under her real name Annie Clark, who has the power to completely render you useless for the few minutes that you listen to her music. Usually she is poppy, guitar powered, and well rounded with some awesome lyrics (enough to support Jose Gonzalez!). This on the other hand, is a tad different, it drips with affection and care and just wants to be listened too, I could spout on but why bother just listen!

St. Vincent - We Put a Pearl In The Ground

Instrumental versions of tracks that should be sung over are usually the first to be cursed by the fast-forward button. Thankfully that doesn't apply to our next two offerings, the first Interpol, is a track that does miss its lyrics, but gives you an ace insight to the complications that Interpol weave. Second up is possibly my favourite Spiritualized track of all time, and dont be surprised if its lyric-ked countpart makes an appearance sometime soon.

Interpol - Mammouth (instrumental)
Spritualized - I Didn't Mean to Hurt You (instrumental)

Toy Music, not a statement but infact the name of our next band, produce well toy music! Using the latest in toy piano, toy drum sticks, xylaphones and recorders Toy Music create some brilliant compositions using the oddest of instruments. This is no different, Strap The Button acts as a good starter for your toy music career and will have you pulling out that Early Learning Center saxophone in no time.

Toy Music - Strap the Button

Because of Ghosts, are a raw sounding mess of sound, which falls together perfectly in time and in tune. Parts of which are somewhere in between Explosions in the Sky and Godspeed You, with guitar phrases laced together with xylaphone and an almost marching band like snare drum. Intrestingly enough on the bands website one of the members has a prefered instrument of "Wine Glasses"

Because of Ghosts - You Fool (Your House Was Built on a Frozen Lake)
Because of Ghosts - No More Reason, No More Doubt

Carrying on our fine instrumentals is Dirty Three, a three piece (believe it or not) from Melbourne Australia. Whats interesting about Dirty Three is that as a band they are only loved between the hardcore, but as individual musicians they have spanned all over the place. Warren Ellis, the violin player, is actually the lead violin player for Nick Caves Bad Seeds, the band themselves have had seven albums, toured with Sonic Youth and Pavement to name but a few, and are fantastic!

Dirty Three - I Really Should of Gone Out Last Night
Dirty Three - Sea Above, Sky Below

Finally, I have spent pretty much all day trying to figure out how I can justify having this next track, and to be honest I cant. Bjork doing an acapella version of Hidden Place, in terms of its instrumental status its about as far away as one can get from instrumental, but surely in that sense, like you cant have religion without both God and the devil, it makes it one in the same...

Bjork - Hidden Place (Acapella)