I have a fondness for music that isn’t over-produced, – music that isn’t "perfect". I love hearing the noises that exists in the recording room, – the squeak of a chair, some hiss from the cheap recording equipment or the sound of fingers touching guitar strings. In most recordings these sounds are cleaned out of the finished product, or they don’t exist at all because of the sound-proof studios or the hi-tech equipment. For me, these sounds add a quality to the music. Call it warmth, friendliness, a human factor, – whatever. Everything is supposed to be so right these days, – in every aspect of the world, even music blogs, – and I’m really enjoying to hear people just playing MUSIC, – having fun while they are recording, and not spending too much time thinking about doing it right. I might be wrong, – maybe this is "the right" among some people, – I don’t know. For me, it is a refreshment.
Recently, I’ve found lots of these wonderful little recordings, – very lo-fi, very here and now -, on myspace or on last.fm. Many of them are found because of a brilliant podcast called "5…4…3…2…fun!!", – originally a radioshow from a Santa Barbara student radio station, but luckily for me also available as a podcast. I’ve also found some through a nice netlabel called the 001 Collective, which releases several fine artists for free on the net. Here are only a few of the ones I’ve enjoyed lately, and if you like these ones, I might dig up some more. A tribute to all the lo-fi-ness in this hi-fi-world! Let’s go!
WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS
I’ll start with Watercolor Paintings, a project that’s actually led by the people behind 5…4…3…2…fun!!. Rebecca Redman makes nice, acoustic, intimate indiepop songs together with her brother Joshua, and this time it was the music of Watercolour Paintings that led me to the 5…4…3…2…fun!!-podcast. I’m not sure how I found this band, but I guess it was through some recommendation on last.fm. The songs are wonderful, – often played on acoustic guitar, harp, ukulele and various toy instruments. Rebecca has a bunch of songs available for free on her myspace, and I think this is the one I love the most:
Watercolor Paintings – Happyships
SHELBY SIFERS
Shelby Sifers plays wonderful songs in much of the same style as Watercolor Paintings. Her style has been described as "Cutesy" or "Love Core", which in many ways describes her work very well. Her vocals is the main element in her recordings, and she spices it up with acoustic guitar, banjo, keyboard and melodica, always arranged very minimalistic. The lyrics are one of the things that really makes me happy when I listen to Shelby Sifers. They’re about the small things in life, that sometimes becomes the big things in somebody’s life.Another nice thing is that she often lets friends and familymembers join in on the songs, like on this cute and lovely song:
Shelby Sifers – Things are Beautiful
…and if you like this, there are a lot of free songs by her on her last.fm page and on her myspace page.
FRAGILE FAWN
Fragile Fawn is another of these wonderful small bands. They’re from Oak Park, California, and I think they are a duo. I also think their names are Dani and Devon … or Dani and Clarke…, but I’m not 100% sure. Are you? Anyway, – nice music! Cute-Country? UPDATED! The band is definitely a duo, and their names are Devon Clarke Geyer (who goes by Clarke! for his solo stuff) And Dani Fine. Dani lives in Oak Park and Devon has moved to Boston, so the band is currently only working together when he’s home for holidays. Some digital recording software and the internet would have been the sollution for many bands in this situation today, but I guess a digital recorded version of Fragile Fawn would not be the same. I’m all for digital recordings for other bands, but please Dani and Devon, work hard with the songwriting and recordings during the holidays instead!
Fragile Fawn – Love to love to love
BARE KNEES
Behind the Bare Knees-moniker is Kasper and Kathrin from Gothenburg, Sweden. The duo write funny lyrics and lo-fi songs about kassettendecks and underwear, and their acoustic popsongs have so far been released on an EP called "Bare knees bit my daughter!" and an album called "Pump up the lump". Both of these releases are available as free downloads on the band’s website. Bare Knees will soon release another album, – a split album recorded together with Ray Rumours. The album will feature 7 songs from each band, and it will be released on Cosy Recordings.
Bare Knees – Always on your side
That’s all for today. Maybe more later, if you want me to… 
Great post!
I already knew Shelby Sifers, and I’m definately trying those other ones!
aww you are great!
Hoshwa »