watch the eyes

Your Heartbeat's Constant Rythm

2008-09-01T15:16:00.005-05:00

Bird York
With those gorgeous red locks, smokey vocals, it's hard not to find Bird as a chanteuse. Her music is beat and jazz infused music with love and relationships as the vocal point. She does have quite a few quotable lyrics, my favorite being: "dizzy with need" from her song Haunting You. Although her collection never gets enough speed to go faster than a slow trot, I adore her songs in their entirety. Side note: you probably know Bird's song "In The Deep" from the movie Crash.

(mp3) Bird York - Come Home
(mp3) Bird York - Remedy
(mp3) Bird York - Haunting You

further reading
last.fm

The Winding Down

2008-08-31T22:17:00.013-05:00

The End of Summer...
with Labor Day fast approaching I can feel my heart begging for a brake pedal. No! I'm not ready yet! I love fall; the colors, the slant of the sun, the hot chocolate, fires and the cool winds. But I can wait. And I despise with what comes after it.

And I now present my first mix. Not with a specific theme, but one that fills me with sentimentality of fall. And perhaps a more intimate, slower, somber, acoustic feel in respect of fall. One thing I hate in music blogs is they don't explain artists in their mixes. I'm not asking for an essay, but just a little bit. give me something!

painting: ambera wellmann

Veda Hille
I have only heard this one song by Veda, but adore it with whole heartedly. Her vocals accompanying the music is the musical definition of fall "...like I've never been scared before"
(mp3) Veda Hille - Seasoned

Sibylle Baier
The story of the journey of Sibylle's gift of music makes my heart sing every time I think of it. Oh you don't know it? Well. Sibylle recorded the meat of her only album Colour Green in the 1970's in her home without ever releasing it. More of a hobby than an ambition. In recent years, her son found the old recordings and transferred them to CD's and the official release of Colour Green was in February 2006. Doesn't that make you gush!
(mp3) Sibylle Baier - I Lost Something in the Hills

Sharon Van Etten
She. is. adorable. More adorable than I have raved of any woman yet. Her vocals are smooth and smokey and smothered over guitar. She has memorable vocals, and you too will be singing "picking up
rocks so heavy I can't get hooome" late at night when your walking under moonshine.
(mp3) Sharon Van Etten - Pickin Up Rocks

Hanne Hukkelberg
I find some can rave about Hanne for forever. And I like her too, but not that much. Which makes her perfect for mixes. I don't have to write too much. But I do love this song!
(mp3) Hanne Hukkelberg - Break My Body

You Broke Me Down On Trial

2008-08-28T21:02:00.001-05:00

Wallis Bird
An Irish singer-songwriter with an enthusiastic fan base, Wallis Bird has amazing talent. Her songs have an incredible energy and the brbrightening is never ending. Spoons, her full length debut has quite a few gems and surprises. And although she is more pop based that my tastes, I really do enjoy her album Spoons. Her songs carry and incredible energy

(mp3) Wallis Bird - Counting to Sleep
(mp3) Wallis Bird - Blossoms in the Street

further reading
last.fm / official website

Breaking Up The Ice Drifts

2008-08-26T20:16:00.001-05:00

This is the Kit
"Birchwood Beaker" never fails to move me at any season. Kate Stables smokey vocals textured over an intimate guitar makes my heart skip. I love all of Krulle Bol, but this song is the real gem and the real reason why I love This is the Kit.

This is the Kit is the brainchild of Kate Stables and Emily Stables and the sometimes guest star, Jesse D. Vernon.

Kate Stables, my love, also has two other projects: Morningstar and Whalebone Polly. I have yet to hear these projects at all. But perhaps I will and fill you in.

(mp3) This is the Kit - Birchwood Beaker

further reading:
last.fm / official website

I'll Wait For You in the Train Station

2008-08-24T19:40:00.001-05:00

Cibelle
a chameleon of appearances, I would recognize those velvet vocals anywhere. You must be wondering, how do I pronounce this lovely ladies name? it's see-BELL-ee. However, I started saying differently, and am fixed in my ways. Cibelle's second album "The Shine of Dried Elective Leaves" made huge strides from her debut in my opinion. I love the build up in "Phoenix" and the way it breaks. It is unbelievable album. I've never thought of Portuguese as a beautiful sounding language, but Cibelle can make anything sound beautiful.

Bonus, Devendra Banhart makes an appearance on the song, "London, London".

(mp3) Cibelle - Green Grass
(mp3) Cibelle - Phoenix
(mp3) Cibelle - Train Station

further reading:
last.fm

Running Through The Saw-Edged Grass

2008-08-20T13:33:00.000-05:00

Alina Simone

My little lo-fi rock darling really does dazzle me with her rough cut vocals. I was so taken with her lyrics and her passive undertones beneath the bold self-assurance. That's it. That's all that needs be said.

(mp3) Alina Simone - Country of Two
(mp3) Alina Simone - Black Water
(mp3) Alina Simone - Saw Edged Grass

Further Reading:
last.fm / website

The Three Point Turn

2008-08-19T18:15:00.000-05:00

Diane Cluck

A long time favorite, Cluck is a Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter, but pushes the definition and raises the bar for "girl with her guitar" classification. Her lyrics and vocals are anything but commonplace. She is so hopeful and earnest, and it won't be fleeting. She plants memorable quotes like kisses: "and I do recall that my very best friends, are the ones who left me empty and ready to be filled again" (Yr Million Sweetnesses).

(mp3) Diane Cluck - Easy To Be Around
(mp3) Diane Cluck - Turnaround Road
(mp3) Diane Cluck - Yr Million Sweetnesses

further reading
last.fm / website

After A Few False Starts...

2008-08-18T20:25:00.001-05:00

After a few false starts and abandoned music blogs, I'm finally ready to knuckle down. With my agenda in hand, I now feel focused. And with an insecure footing, I'll press on to deliver you one of the few female devoted music blogs. What does this mean? I will only be writing about female musicians / female vocalists. I love male musicians and bands. Really, I do. But male musicians are frequented more than ladies. And I, love the ladies.

I'm not even sure really as to what direction I want to take this music blog. But oh the places it will go. All the women singers it will see. And all the lovely music it will hear. And you too! So I think I'm ready to start. Stay safe with Ani or Fiona? Or to be a real seasoned blogger and unearth new fantastic talent.

Klima
is the solo project of Angèle David-Guillou. Who is also known from the band Paino Magic. Her melodies are infused with synthpop yet melancholy. And that voice! in Fluorescent Stars it stops you right in your tracks, sits you down and makes you swoon. She creates highly personal music with a range beyond the usual parameters.

(mp3) Klima - Flourescent Stars

And to be fair, I give you the song that is responsible for the title of the song. By Ms. Ani DiFranco:
(mp3) Ani DiFranco - Outta Me, Onto You

"some people wear the smile like a disguise
those who smile a lot
watch the eyes"

futher reading
Klima - last.fm / myspace
Ani DiFranco -last.fm / website