On quarterly musical obsessions (UPDATED)
08.2.2009 I have a pretty solid track record of identifying and presenting musical trends, more or less. It was even the foundation on which I made my living for many years. Im not infallible...I have been very wrong in the past, but I have also been very right.
That said, as I get older- I am less inclined to immediately jump up and proclaim every interesting piece of music to be the next big thing. It's more of a quarterly thing... four or five times a year I find my new favorite song, and I subsequently spend the next few weeks feverishly evangelizing for it.
So far this year i've had 3 new favorite songs.
The first was Empire of the Sun- Walking on a Dream
Then there was Camera Obscura- French Navy
And now... there is Mpho. Her song is called Box N Locks.
Watch video here. (why on earth would you disable embedding with a new artist?)
80's aficionados will immediately recognize the sample from Echo Beach by Martha and the Muffins.
Mpho is one Mpho Skeef...from the UK by way of South Africa. Martha and the Muffins gave Mpho full clearance to use the sample, which is not only unusual, but also very smart. The commercial placement and licensing potential of the new version of this song is limitless. I have to imagine that music supervisors worldwide are currently recognizing the potential in this song.
Additionally, its a total summer banger. Does this mean you'll hear it on your local terrestrial radio outlet? Unlikely, at least in the US. Too hard to categorize. Too edgy for pop radio and too pop for "alternative" radio.
So where does the "trendspotting" tag come in? This song is very good, but its not going to start a revolution. I am predicting a renaissance, however. A renaissance of that sweeeeet 80's flange guitar sound. Seriously. I think that flange is going to be the new keyboard in '10.
That said- I think that I have found my final new favorite song for Q4 of 2009. Ladies and Gentlemen, Brooklyn-by-way-of-Baltimore band Yeasayer. This is the video for their new single- Ambling Alp. It is also NSFW...you have been warned.
Matthew Bates
UPDATE: I've just fallen in love with Mpho even further. Czech out her sweet Kate Bush cover:
Music, Trendspotting, placement in Music 
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Reader Comments (2)
I liked it. So much useful material. I read with great interest.
Wow! I'm impressed... I mean, I never ever imagined Mat Diablo would love Camera Obscura. Don't take me wrong, but since what I hear on your show it's way too different I'm gladly impressed by your new musical obsessions and your taste in music. Really. It's a pity much of those bands are not 91.x material tho. When I listen to 91.x it's basically for your show, so would be nice to hear some good stuff like that someday soon.
Regards from Tijuana, Mexico!