Bandcamp Hunter

I’ve been back home for a couple of days now and in the hours that I’ve actually been conscious and not having fluorescent punch poured down my throat, I’ve been steadily hunting the web for new music. As my fellow Hunters can attest to, this Bandcamp scouring caper can be an addictive pursuit. I found myself relishing the poaching of new discoveries once again, shaking my head as I did so at the sheer abundance of high quality music out there. The fresh meat has been piled onto the back of the virtual truck and there is much to be mounted upon the Bandcamp Hunter den wall in coming weeks. As an animal lover this metaphor makes me sightly ill however I will stick to my guns, as it were.

I haven’t had a whole lot of time to process all the wonderful music The Huntress and BCH The 3rd (is that what he’s calling himself?) have posted so I’m going to go with something I found a couple of days ago, something I’m enjoying very much. Earlier in the year I followed the MJMJ Records story with interest-a tale of two guys moving from Wisconsin to LA in order to grow their record label and pursue their love of music. Once there however, their dreams were shat upon by some nasty scum suckers who pilfered everything they owned. Computers, clothes…the works. But these blokes didn’t collapse and cry (so the story I goes anyway-I certainly would have), they didn’t flee back to the icy north. Nay, they have continued to build MJMJ Records and release excellent music. Such as this split release from Esta Vivo and Gracie.

Sunrise is a power punch opener to this collection, a joyous little rocker full of summery harmonies and booming percussion. It’s a suggestion of things to come in some ways but also not at all. Both of these artists are eclectic : dipping into rock, pop, dance and tropicalia to produce a splendid musical mix. A lot of these tunes will engage your hips and flex your smile muscles-listen to Wonder Away and Natural Blossom  by Esta Vivo and tell me you can’t taste the piña colada, tell me you don’t want to tongue kiss a stranger. You are lying if you do. It’s not all palm trees and happy juice though-Just for Us is an abstract slice of intriguing electronica while the wonderfully realised Spring, Wake Me Up is a melancholy conclusion to Vivo’s contribution.

Gracie’s music leans more towards the chill side of things. These are gentle songs, beautifully crafted and infused with a tropical beat. The vocals are more hushed than Vivo’s deep tones, his simple lyrics floating throughout the lush soundscapes of acoustic guitar, piano and beats. Occasionally a scything electric guitar makes an appearance (midway through the fantastic For Dylan, From Africa), but nothing here sounds obtrusive, it’s music that has been constructed with great artistry.

These two artists compliment each other perfectly, particularly with those tropical sounds and complex, infectious beats. Another stellar release from MJMJ records then - it’s inspiring to see true music lovers persevering through adversity to share such wonderful music with us all. Long may they ride.

Post script : One of my favourite Bandcamp albums of the year is another MJMJ release - No Coast by Wild Ghosts. It’ll feature highly in my Bandcamp Picks of the Year which-along with the favourite releases of the other Hunters-will be published next Friday.