Euan McMeeken – Memorials.

Since I’m doing a solo show with Beneath Us, The Waves and The Japanese War Effort on 30th March at Wee Red Bar.  Thought it’d be nice to post this little bit of fun.  This is the title track from my forthcoming solo EP.    After Fraser and I recorded it, we decided it would be fun to just film me singing along to the piano I’d just recorded.  The click track was not on for it so, if you note me going out of time with the music that’s cause I was counting the timing in my head.  Those who have worked with me will know that more often than not the timing in my head changes from version to version!  Anyways, the songs are with Neil from Beneath Us, The Waves who is scoring strings at the moment.  He’s actually scoring strings for most of the EP.  Opening track ‘December’ has viola by Nicohla Kerr, bakcing vocals from Anneke Kampman of Conquering Animal Sound and guitar by Richard Knox of Glissando.  More info on it all as soon as I have more myself.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this track.

Things That I Love Today #53

This is going to be released on 28th June 2010 on mini50.  Happy Days.

Take A Moment To Share An Artist You Love.

Why is it that artists like Elliott Smith, Vic Chesnutt and Mark Linkous never received the critical acclaim they deserved whilst they were on this planet and yet in the past few months endless articles have been written about the wonderful music they created and the great loss that their passing has resulted in?  I guess Nick Drake is the ultimate example of an artist more successful after his death than during his life having become a cult hero long after he passed away.  I think the same will happen with Smith, Chesnutt and Linkous, and whilst I think it’s great that these musicians music is celebrated, I also think it’s very sad that it takes their passing to bring us all together in this manner.  So here’s your chance.  In the comment box on this post, leave a message.  Tell me an artist that you love and that you want to share with everyone.  Tell me why you love them.  Tell me why you want people to know about them NOW.  They don’t have to be your favourite artist, just one that you feel people should check out.  The more obscure the better perhaps.  But you choose.   I’ll start:

I want everyone to check out Olafur Arnalds.  I owe his music so much.  His music has personally opened me to a new world of modern classical, ambient music.  His work has led me to the likes of Nest, Le Lendemain, Johann Johannsson, Max Richter, Library Tapes and Nils Frahm, to name a few.  Whilst he would not necessarily be my favourite of all those listed, he is the artist who made me think long and hard as to how I approached song writing.  He made me want to make my pieces simple.  Less complex.  More honest.  I started writing simplistic piano pieces. He basically shaped how I approach song writing.  He also made me reinvest in classical music and for that I will be forever grateful.  Eulogy For Evolution.  Buy it.  Enjoy it.  And make him a part of your world too.

Now it’s your turn.  Go on.  Please leave a message and bring somebody you love to our attention now.