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On Our iPod

Weird Dreams - Choreography (album)

Crocodiles - Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9) 7”

The Hairs - I’ve Been Working Out 7”

King Creosote and Jon Hopkins - Third Swan single

Cate Le Bon - Cyrk (album)

Tashaki Miyaki - sings the Everly Brothers 7”

Antony Harding - The Birds Sing Goodnight To You And Me (album)

Veronica Falls - My Heart Beats 7”

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Album Review

Nat Johnson and the Figureheads
I'm Across, I'm Ashore Thee SPC

Article written by Matt H - Jan 30, 2012

Nat Johnson and the Figureheads - who ate all the pie?

Sometimes you just don’t know what else to say. Over the years we’ve lauded Nat Johnson’s tunefulness. Her intelligence. The hint of melancholy, bitterness and/or humour that always seems to inhabit her often breezy and uplifting pop songs, raising them, for us, above the crowd. And yet she remains something of a hidden gem, perhaps because of those things as much as despite them – too pop to be a proper folky, a bit too accessible for the indie cardy crowd, but not enough for the Radio 2 lot.

For all of that (and a certain frustration with her lot was apparently the grit in the lyrical oyster this time around) she keeps putting out really rather smashing records. All of the above qualities are present and correct in her new collection. And beyond, with Kev Gori given a bit more rein to make a bit of guitar noise on occasion (not least on the opener, Astronomy and closer The Steeplejack), and there’s something a bit more driven about some of the underlying rhythms too. Not to mention the odd dash of horn, organ and even musical saw on top of the usual string textures to keep the sounds interesting.

So, what else to say? Er, “buy the record”?

Sheffield Memorial Hall - 15 February
London Bush Hall - 16 February

Links:
http://www.natjohnson.co.uk/
http://www.heychuck.com/theespc/index.php