'Costello then launches into a dizzying monologue about the historical development of Western music, encompassing the harmonic innovations of Bach, Debussy's appropriation of Balinese gamelan music, the reinterpretation of classical concepts in film music, and the ambient theories of Brian Eno.' And the question was only 'Hi, how are you?'! Not really; Elvis expounds in the Telegraph today. However, in the latest edition of The Word he marshalls his verbosity in support of some real musical significance:
'There's a group out of Los Angeles called Rilo Kiley. I just got sent a white label of their new one and the songs are tremendous..totally amazing. And the melodies! They're young, but the melodies are.. from a weird place that you'd never imagine a band their age relating to. Popular songs, not trying to be hip or pounding or anything. Just really well written.' [Full text's here] Top bloke that Costello, always said so...

[Further Attractions: LA teen girl group The Like play a little headliner at The Barfly Oct 19. So what? Well, drummer-Like is Pete Thomas' daughter, Tennessee(!) and bassist-Like is Charlotte Froom, daughter of Mitchell so even if the music's pretty dull - 'Their sound exemplifies everything that their lineage implies, an uber-cool, power-pop Wilson Phillips,' warns some bloke somewhere - there should be a few faces in the room. "My grandparents will get to see me!”, says Tennessee, 18...]

Just like Sir Elvis, Rilo Kiley's More adventurous is also top of reallyrather's listening pile alongside Magic wand, Little Wings' 'threadbare but still warm weave of folk, country, and indie music' [Allmusic]...

Back in May this blog wondered if & when the new long-player from lower-than-low-key Pacific coast songstress Anamude would ever appear. Lo! it now seems set to surface on the increasingly useful Keep Recordings...

..whence, of course, also comes the deliciciously lackadaisical Shelley Short record [see last month]. Ms Short is also scheduled to pop up on the covermount CD with the forthcoming (Oct) edition of UK mag Comes With A Smile...

Little-known young singer-songwriter signs to a major, turns into stroppy, temperamental diva overnight!;-) A dose of them end of tour/support slot blues overcame Haley Bonar last week at the Windmill in Brixton as she upped sticks and left the building three numbers into her set. A deeply apologetic Bonar later claimed this to be a regrettable career first. Wouldn't be suprised if the intolerable chatter didn't have something to do with it - try the Arts Cafe or the 12 Bar next time, Haley. Bonar has signed to V2 who've given her a free hand on an album apparently slated for January...

Give a listen to:
CocoRosie / Good Friday
Viva Voce / The heat can melt your brain