Candied Brains!

At first, you’d expect quirky, uke-playing crooner, Dent May to be playing some kind of ukulele inspired parodies of songs, a la Richard Cheese; however, his good feeling music is anything but parody. His debut release on Animal Collective’s Paw Tracks label, is full of simple heartfelt music. Toe-tapping 50’s-style pop songs are belted out in his deep, loungy voice and accompanied by his indeed magnificent ukulele. Part Don Ho, part Buddy Holly, and part Beruit, he bangs out 12 tracks of simple, solid rockin’ tunes. Perfect music for lounging around on holiday during the summer. Standout track “26 Miles (Santa Catalina)”, charming and anachronistic, paints a picture of a romantic island getaway while strongly drawing from the 1958 hit “Lollipop”. “Meet Me in the Garden” is a syrupy sweet song that lets May explore vocally. Light up a pipe, sit on your velvety chair, mix a margarita and a martini together (on second thought, pick one or the other), and imagine a simpler time.

6/10

[last.fm] [myspace] [paw tracks store]

London-dwelling Alessi Laurent-Marke’s debut album on Virgin, Notes From the Treehouse is a succulently sweet, atmospheric folk pop album. Produced by Bright Eyes’ Mike Mogis, the 18 year-old’s almost fairytale-like songs will uplift your spirits and enchant your mind. The instrumentation, such as at the beginning on “Glendora”, will pull you into a serene dream-world, if you allow them. Opening to close, the album takes you on an adventure through an Americana-inspired surreality. Her distinct and accented vocals are used instrumentally, noticeably on the track “Hummingbird”, where her wavering voice remind you of the song’s namesake creature. At other times, her voice is reminiscent of Björk and can vary from whispers to a haunting, breathy lull. The lyrics are anything but child-like, showing maturity beyond what you would expect from someone so young. The album is definitely worth checking out.

7/10

[last.fm]  [myspace]