When These Ashes Blow Away

Slow Dazzle “Fleur De Lie” – It’s just too hot and muggy lately. This is most certainly not my time of the year, especially given that I’m still living in a place that entirely lacks air conditioning and I have to sleep in an attic that is at least 15°F hotter than it is outside. Recently, I’ve been wondering if my hatred of the summer months is really just a conditional thing, and that if I was in better shape, got out more often, and had a more comfortable home, I’d be all for it. I can understand what some people get out of this time of the year – it’s a good time to be an exhibitionist, sure, but there’s also some romance to it at times, and that’s always been lacking in my own life. “Fleur De Lie” has that sexy summer night sound to it, and it at least supports a pleasant fantasy. With any luck, I might end up having a summer more like this song before too long. (Click here to buy it from Misra.)

Contramano “Checking U” – The name “Contramano” translates to “against the flow,” which is sort of ironic when they makes songs like this which seem to flow with a natural grace and urgency. The percussion is lively and the vocals are spirited, but the star of this show is most certainly the cello, which dominates the arrangement and lends an airiness and elegance to the lead melodies that probably would not have come off if they had played the same parts on the standard electric guitar. (Click here to buy it from Contramano.)