eic: boduf songs

Showing posts with label boduf songs. Show all posts

Monday, February 11, 2013

EIC's 10Q's w/ Oh, Yoko

"..astonishing, nostalgic, pretty, inviting, and forward thinking.."

Oh, Yoko

Sentimental Spirit Pop

Oh, Yoko Bio:

Seashore is the debut release by Oh, Yoko, the duo of Rie Mitsutake and Will Long. Rie Mitsutake, as Miko, has released full-length albums on labels such as Plop (Japan) and Someone Good (Australia). She has toured in Japan and Australia, and also collaborates with many other artists. Will Long, as Celer, has released music on labels from North America, Europe, and Asia. He also operates his own label, Two Acorns, and record store, Floor Sugar. Together they create nostalgic pop, using retro electronic and acoustic instruments, to create something pure for a more simple life.

Hello, how are you?

Hello! We are fine.

What are you currently listening to?

Prince, Boduf Songs, Earthstar, Christian Von Eschersheim, From Within (Pete Namlook and Richie Hawtin), Les Baxtier, Glenn Gould, Maria Callas, Roedelius, YMOÉ..

When did this project come about and whom were your biggest influences for said project?

It started in 2010. We were communicating by email at first to trade music, and then we decided to start making something together. Will was interested in archival interviews with the Beatles and Beatles fans and thought it would be a nice combination with my music. I'd wanted to do something different from my solo works (Miko), something more abstract and simple. I thought our collaboration would be something special because our music is very different and I couldn't imagine how it could be.

Care to tell us a little bit about your latest single 'Seashore'?

Will made a tape loop from a synthesizer and gave it to me. I was just improvising listening to the track and recorded acoustic guitar, piano and vocals. I made it very quickly. I recorded it in my room, so you can hear my cat's meow too! Our original inspiration was to make a track that sounded like it was in a beach house by the ocean, playing guitar behind the screened porch, but we called it 'Seashore' because the band Beach House already had that name, and Miko has a song called 'Sea house'. After I finished making my tracks, Will mixed, arranged it and added effects. We liked the maxi single CD format and thought it would be fun to release a single. We asked Terre Thaemlitz for a remix because he is our friend and we love his music, especially his dance remixes. It was actually his suggestion to include the instrumental version of 'Seashore'. It worked well and we hope we can do more singles with remixes by other artists in the future. It was also a good way to start our 'Normal Cookie' label. It was a good experience to release our music by ourselves. It was Will's idea to use the photo of my childhood for the artwork. We like the nostalgic design, and it fits our music very well.

Is there a full length debut on the way and when might that be?

We've been working on our album and hopefully we can release it in 2013.

Any plans to tour for said release?

No yet. Hopefully we can find a good label that supports our tour.

Got any other projects we should know about?

I am working on a synthesizer music project. I was influenced by Roedelius's old albums a lot, and started making simple synthesizer music. Will is currently working on a new solo sequencer project, an album and tour for his new project with Christoph Heemann (Hollywood Dream Trip), and some new albums as Celer.

What movie would work best on mute while listening to you music?

We made our own movie to go with the music!

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?

We will be silly and just pick each other's music.

Are you living your dream?

Yes

Thanx Rie & Will!

Oh, Yoko are currently working on their debut LP, look for that sometime soon (please?)...

Friday, July 13, 2012

Good (FREE) music laying around the interwebs.. Pt. 1

Ghibli - Pythia

Eyeliner - High Fashion Mood Music

Eraas - Fang

EDH - Ramble (Subtitle Remix)

Derek Piotr - Deliver

Claps - Strain

Cerulean - Hearts Stop

Boduf Songs - Temping

Angel Haze - Werkin' Girls

~njoy.

Monday, September 27, 2010

EIC'S10Q'S w/Boduf Songs

"..perfect drizzled down sounds for a gloomy day with little or no intentions of becoming un-mellow.."

Boduf Songs
Neo Debilitating Aura

Boduf Songs Bio:
Under the name Boduf Songs, Southampton, England's Mat Sweet records spare, haunting music based in the traditions of British folk, embellished with subtle sound effects that add an even more evocative feel. Working on his own and with friends, Sweet released a wide variety of music on his Bluebaby label, spanning sounds from heavy rock to abstract electronic pieces. In 2004, Sweet made the first Boduf Songs demos, which he recorded on his own with a handful of equipment that included a toy piano, field recordings, his computer, and acoustic guitar. Kranky was impressed enough with the demo that they released it as is the following year as "Boduf Songs". In 2006, Sweet returned with "Lion Devours the Sun", which further refined his stripped-down, eerie, and sometimes darkly humorous sound. Sweet recorded 2008's "How Shadows Chase The Balance" late at night with just a microphone. In 2010 Boduf Songs released his latest " This Alone Above All Else In Spite Of Everything".

Hello, how are you?
Pretty good thanks. You?

What are you currently listening to?
XTC "Black Sea"

What’s the story with the band name?
Secret stuff. A promise once made should ne'er be forgot.

The new album is sooo very nice (really, good job).. How was the recording experience?
Thank you very much. I honestly don't remember a whole lot specifically about recording it... Without wanting to get too personal or melodramatic, I was having a very shitty time while writing it, and for various reasons my recollection of that chapter is a bit hazy.

What do you mean by “This Alone Above All Else In Spite Of Everything”?
Music is one of the few things that drags me through the bleak hours. It refers to some other things too, tra la la.

You’re “original/unique” sound is definitely present, but it seems with “This Alone..” you’ve let a few more electronic sounds creep there way in, is there a reason for that?
When I first started writing as Boduf Songs I was very much aware that it was one-person deal, as opposed to various bands and collaborations I'd done previously, and I guess I wanted it to sound that way. Now I don't care so much about that and it's fun to explore and experiment with other things. Sometimes a full sound with lots of layers is great, sometimes it's good to stand alone in a cave hitting a pan with a stick.

Do you plan on touring for the album?
Yessir, European tour should be happening in Spring of next year - maybe some US dates after that.

What’s the most relaxing album you own?
"Neroli" by Brian Eno.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
Uh... good grief... that's just... well whatever it is I'm probably going to get sick of it pretty quickly anyway... maybe something comforting and drifty like Celer or Gas or Boards Of Canada.

Are you living your dream?
No, and that's just as well because last night my dream was of flying on a ball of wool over a planet made up entirely of black tennis courts and nothing else and although there was a distinct vertiginous sensation, balancing as I was on so small an object and so high above the world, it was pretty exhilarating and not as alarming as you might expect. It would, however, be weird and scary to live that.

Thanx Mat!

Boduf Songs is currently putting together a European tour followed shortly (hopefully) by a small US tour...

REVIEW: Boduf Songs - This Alone Above All Else In Spite Of Everything

7.75 out of 10
Find it here.

Mathew Sweet has been releasing songs under the "mysterious moniker" Boduf Songs for the past 6 years or so. His first album was a set of demos that he sent in to Kranky. Of-course Kranky, being the amazing label that they are, jumped right on board and released these tracks shortly after. The end result being the debut self-titled release, which to this day is one of the best "acoustic" compositions I have ever heard. Since then Mat has released a few more albums that continue in the "Acoustic/Ambient" genre with his subtle hints of electronics & natural sounds. "This Alone Above All Else In Spite Of Everything" is the fourth proper release for Boduf Songs. Much like the previous releases it carries on with Mat's signature sound, only this time around with more electronics and what sounds/feels like a stripped down almost Industrial sound. (somewhat)

"This Alone.." starts off with a "bare-boned" piano sustained, reverberated, and slightly glowing amongst a void of hollowed sounds. About 1 minute in Mathew's "sweet" (sorry had to do it) vocals come in. Right about that moment you will begin to feel very comforted, possibly drowsy, definitely contemplative, and quite possibly smitten. Underneath the gorgeous piano compositions & hazey vocals lay microbial bits of field recordings, "twinkly" dins, and enough organic-tronics to please the "headphone snob" in all of us. I should warn (some of) you when Mat wrote this album he was at a down point in his life. This will be completely apparent while listening to this album. But these songs aren't exactly about "sadness", rather it's about getting over the obstacles that are holding you back (quite possibly with a "pessimistic" POV--maybe). Eh, either way, these tracks are perfect drizzled down sounds for a gloomy day with little or no intentions of becoming un-mellow. Personally I like those days, so finding a soundtrack that suites isn't a bad thing.

I LOVE how consistent this artist is with his releases, can't say I've ever been let down. This may be my favorite Boduf Songs album to date. It's definitely his most "accessible" (depending on the person I suppose). It seems Boduf Songs expand it's sounds with each new release, "This Alone.." is definitely the most full sounding to date. This album is also very minimal in it's truest form. It's also RECOMMENDED.

Standout Tracks: All. Definitely check out; Decapitation Blues, Absolutely Null And Utterly Void, Have Decided To Pass Through Matter (yes please), They Get On Slowly (this song reminds of NIN for some reason..)