Hooked on Seinabo Sey* and you’ve already forgotten most of Rihanna’s anti-pop ANTI LP? Wondering how to fill the void left by Sade and Lauryn Hill’s illusiveness? Check out Iyeoka’s Gold. The Nigerian-American started out as a poet in the previous decade, slowly working more music into her sound, and now, after a six year wait, she’s a full-fledged singer whose poetry influences her singing style. Gold is still heavily influenced by Caribbean and Afro sounds, but Iyeoka’s sound branches out to corners reminiscent of the aforementioned Ms. Hill, Amy Winehouse, and especially the lighter side of Nina Simone. Gold might suffer at times from too many ideas being tossed at the wall (much like Rihanna’s early work), but in the end, this Gold has some worthy nuggets.
With classic late ’80s outfit Book of Love back on tour with new music and The Cure putting on their best tour in decades, nostalgia for the darker edge of synth is back. Fans of Siouxsie, Xymox, Japan and early Dead Can Dance MUST get out and find Cult Club’s Play With Lies. The romantic and professional duo of Sally Dige Jorgensen and Laslo Antal (Sixth June) go deep into the sound of these mid-’80s heroes without sounding as if they’re winkingly stealing or spoofing; rather, they come off as a duo who truly misses the stripped down simplicity of vintage drum machines, keyboards and fret bass enough to make their own salve. But don’t let the comparisons lead you down a dark path: Play With Lies carries all for the dance floor DNA we often forget came with that era.
Since jettisoning the last of the non-Wilson members of Heart, Ann and Nancy have struggled to put together quality new music. With Beautiful Broken, Heart is back with its strongest collection since 1993’s sorely overlooked rock masterpiece, Desire Walks On. Choosing to go off the major label grid and dump long time bassist Howard Leese, Heart hasn’t found a strong voice in 20+ years. Now some of their mojo is back, especially when they rock like old on songs like “Heaven,” “I Jump” and the James Hetfield (Metallica)-assisted title track. Where they still falter is trying for new “These Dreams”-style slow clunkers that show the chinks in their underproduced armor. Heart, despite the talent, needs outside writers and production, but this is a great step back to their heyday.
Whether established classics, new takes on retro sounds or brand-new emerging talent, check out these worthy independent acts basking in the summer sun just off the main-stream.
*If you had to Google her, shame on you. So good.
Moose will be spinning all his favorite summer indie acts all night long at this week’s Otter at The SoFo Tap, 4923 N. Clark St., 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.