Musical Smorgasbord

A brief bulletin and indeed chronicle of what I am feeding my ears, brain and soul this week...

Before I Forget - Daisuke Tanabe
Intricate, subtle and beautiful. All the hallmarks of the Japanese aesthetic realised in aural form. With a little measure of icelandic plinkplonk for good measure...

xx - The xx
Probably won't be new to many of you, since the release of their debut album to subtle popular acclaim has meant a certain air of ubiquity. However, this should not detract from the simple elegance and style of this record. If it hasn't entered your sphere as yet, expand your sphere to include it.

Tripper - Efterklang
For me, this is a little bit of an oldie but goodie. This was my own personal soundtrack watching the sun rise over Darjeeling, lighting Kachenjunga with a pinkish hue before revealing its true awesomeness.
Make a new musical memory for yourself with their epic Danish soundscapes.

My Get Up and Go Just Got Up and Went - Ass
One man. One Guitar. Finger-pickin' brilliance. Moving, haunting but won't be put in the corner either. Ass, he's got balls.

Gently - Soft Words Traverse
An audio panarama of an album. Moving through folk, post-rock, electronica and always full of emotion, this instrumental debut from Young Billy Mays should find space to traverse through your consciousness.