If you have not yet discovered this amazing duo, your life is about to get way better. I found them when they did a random interview on a local radio station here in Portlandia. This album was released in August 2009, but I don't run into it alot here in the states, despite it making it to 9th on Rolling Stone's list of Best Albums of 2009. Where I do hear this album, though, is all over young adult-oriented TV and movies -- tracks have been featured on Vampire Diaries and 90210, as well as in the film I Am Number Four, so for those of you YA-oriented types here in the states, you may feel like you recognize them.
The album has been described as having a "sleek, whispery" quality due to being recorded in a small garage that was part of the XL studios, often at night, and I'd say that is accurate. It's great bare bones, slow groove romantic material, the kind of music you can imagine dancing close in dim lighting to. The fact that there are male and female vocals telling what feel like two sides of the same story makes it a particularly romantic album.
Him: Please don't say we're done. I'm not finished. I could give you so more. Make you feel like never before. Welcome, they said, welcome to the floor.
Her: It's been a while and you've found someone better but I've been waiting too long to give this up. The more I see, I understand. But sometimes, I still need you.
Her: Sometimes I still need you.
Him: Somtimes I still need you.
Her: Sometimes I still need you.
Him: Somtimes I still need you.
~ "Heart Skips A Beat"
I have some friends who used to date, both cool applied-art types who live the kind of purpose-driven/wandering lives that make the rest of jealous, and sadly don't anymore. FN1. If I were going to pick an album that sounded to me like the quality of their story, sweet and a little sad and not yet finished, this would be it.
The new album has been such a hit tracks have been covered by everyone from the Gorillaz to The Antlers. So don't take my word for it; it's great stuff, so go get it.
Recommended if you like: Lykke Li, Portishead, CoCoRosie, The Cure, The Smiths
While spinning, wear: S-Perfumes 100% Love, Bond no. 9 West Side, DSH Perfumes Tea Rose
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FN1. Though I still hold out hope they'll get a rom-com ending together instead of an awful, indie-style "of course they're not together, this is the real world" ending that seems so depressingly true-to-life.
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