MP3: The Fine Arts Showcase - Dance with yr shadow
I'm a bit overburdened right now, so Nancy Baym will take care of today's mp3:
The Fine Arts Showcase's 2006 second record, "Radiola", was a rare gem of sonic perfection, traversing genres and sounds in a poignant and catchy 35 minute journey. And what better to follow that up with than... a cover album of songs by The Rough Bunnies, a friend's obscure lofi band? Hey, why not? Especially if it all sounds as good as this first single, "Dance with yr shadow". Always an evocative (yet never maudlin) singer, Gustaf Kjellvander's got the sound of heartbreak, confusion, and longing down so perfectly that he makes a romantic like me want to take him home and fix what ails him in 17 seconds flat. Surely a new speed record. It's a sad song about the angst of being blown off by someone you thought you had a thing with wrapped in plaintive verses and a retro new-wave hook that can cause serious infectious reaction. If only the second half were as compelling as the first.
Note: The album is now set for a May 25 release. Probably. Read more.
The Fine Arts Showcase - Dance with yr shadow