The Corner Laughers - Concerns Of Wasp And Willow

 

The Corner Laughers first album in almost 6 years is a reason to celebrate. The follow up to 2020's Temescal Telegraph which was our album of the year. You can read my review here. It would always be some going to equal that album and they have.

I suspect many would label the quartet as Indie Pop and Karla Kane's dulcet tones underline that. But there is far more to the band that that with ventures into Folk, Americana and Jaunty Pop. Talking of the latter, Crumb Clean is Indie Pop excellence.

There is a mellowness that washes over you addictively. They are as ease with the dark or the light. The arrangements are superb, allowing the songs to breathe. The shuffle on Red Yarrow, Yellow Yarrow is partly let's do the song right here, but the arrangement shows the work that has gone into the song.

Rainbow Cardigan is troubadour Folk and even gives an inkling of The Seekers. Dusking is Easy Listening Joy, wonderful Pop. Dark Matter is all 60s Studio Pop with hints of the groovy. Victoria Sponge is splendid West Coast harmonic Pop.

My two favourites (and you will have different ones) are the dream like intensity of Larkspur Landing that has a stunning gentle Psych like arrangement. Then there is the arrangement of The Harvestman, a song that builds and builds with another stellar arrangement.

These are days when everything seems 100 mph, attention spans are short. Thank goodness for The Corner Laughers who provide a release that has to be listened to from start to finish. A release that underlines the benefit and strength of the album.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on CD and as a download.

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I Don't Hear A Single Album Of The Year 2020 - The Corner Laughers

The Corner Laughers are a special band. Karla Kane rightly gets a lot of the main attention, but they are very much the sum of their parts. Khoi Huynh throws up McCartney-esque Basslines and provides a fine rhythm section with drummer, Charlie Crabtree. Meanwhile Guitarist and longtime IDHAS hero, KC Bowman's playing allows the band to genre hop as they do, effortlessly.

Both Huynh and Bowman are both multi instrumentalists which allows a lot of freedom and inventiveness, the latter also recorded and mastered the album. However, it is not just the case of the singer getting the attention, Kane is the songwriter and her Ukelele playing is prevalent. Her sugar sweet voice is all encompassing, coming in somewhere between Rachel Sweet and Kirsty MacColl.

The band are generally hard to pin down sound wise and on their fifth album, their first for Big Stir, this is even more so. You can feel the West Coast air on the songs, but they are also draped in UK Indie, a bit of Americana and some wonderful Psych Pop. There are at times hints of Xtc in Skylarking mode or Robyn Hitchcock, so it makes complete sense that the only cover on the album is written by a Cleaner From Venus.







This versatility is probably best demonstrated by Lomo Alta, which is borders on freeform Jazz. Where as The Calculating Boy is top notch Psych Pop with some fine guitar leads, Sister Of The Pollen could be sung on Ready Steady Go and Wren In The Rain is pure St Etienne. Changeling is Kirsty MacColl borrowing Madness's piano and what a guitar break! It is an absolute gem of a tune.

The Lilac Line has a bass line to die for, enhancing a sort of Americana Pop, this band are so good that they've invented a genre. The Accepted Time is a song for an imaginary film and Skylarks of Britain is an outstanding slice of Canterbury Folk, the band turn into minstrels. Lord Richard comes across like a Robyn Hitchcock song written for The Seekers.

The album is like an IDHAS wish list with appearances from Rex Broome of The Armoires and Bradley Skaught of The Bye Bye Blackbirds. Topped off by a cover of Martin Newell's Goodguy Son, I am a longtime fanboy of the great man. The thing is though that this cover fits the album perfectly.







Getting The Corner Laughers on the label is a massive coup for Big Stir. A label that is the brightest spot of the last decade and is set up to dominate the next decade. Big Stir, despite all the press, were never a Power Pop label and now they have hooked one of the most innovative bands of this century. Temescal Telegraph is an absolute joy. Album Of The Year Material for sure and well worth raiding your purse for.

You can pre-order the album on Bandcamp here or on the Big Stir site here. You can buy the band's back catalogue here.


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KC Bowman - Crushes Of Context

 

There was a time in the 90s when my musical world was awash with quality Singer Songwriters wo turned lyrical adeptness and worthy subject matter into mini masterpieces. Even love songs were putty in their hands. I'm thinking go the likes of Jason Falkner and Michael Penn.

They didn't need bells and whistles, just pure talent. These were different times, albums sold and musicians had careers. Nowadays, you don't see exposure of too may similar characters, so we should be thankful that the likes of KC Bowman are still around. 

Crushes Of Context is an ace album. Songs with a message and performed with grace. No embellishments, just great playing and performance. Songs with depth that fit in different genres that make you sit and listen and admire.

Everything's Fluid sounds very 60s, but also can be compared to modern day Americana. Good Behaviour has gentle acoustic Jangle, Gimme The Concentrate is Funky, a little 80s and yet The Last Days Of Gloria Trillo instrumentally is more than a little 12 Bar. 

Irregular Cool Kids is pure Andrew Gold and Talus Monkey could be Gilbert O'Sullivan backed by Elephant Talk era King Crimson. Armed To The Pepsodent Teeth is a wonderfully venomous political affair which this time could have Petty's Heartbreakers as backing band sound wise. 

Cold Wartime Economy is one of the simpler songs, but also one of the most effective. It has a Country Rock vibe and compare that to Elves which is just splendidly gobsmackingly weird and thankfully not a Christmas song. You will love the songs here, but my top tip is to also listen to the lyrics.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2020 : Top 10

01 The Corner Laughers - Temescal Telegraph       IDHAS Review

02 Derrero - Time Lapse       IDHAS Review

03 Spygenius - Man On The Sea       IDHAS Review








04 Tugboat Captain - Rut       IDHAS Review

05 Chris Church - Backwards Compatible      IDHAS Review

06 Ward White - Leonard At The Audit      IDHAS Review








07 Paul Molloy - The Fifth Dandelion        IDHAS Review

08 I Do You Do Karate - One Last Job In Mexico        IDHAS Review

09 Davey Lane - Don't Bank Your Heart On It        IDHAS Review

10 Custard Flux - Oxygen        IDHAS Review






.....................

The Corner Laughers - Temescal Telegraph

The Corner Laughers are a special band. Karla Kane rightly gets a lot of the main attention, but they are very much the sum of their parts. Khoi Huynh throws up McCartney-esque Basslines and provides a fine rhythm section with drummer, Charlie Crabtree. Meanwhile Guitarist and longtime IDHAS hero, KC Bowman's playing allows the band to genre hop as they do, effortlessly.

Both Huynh and Bowman are both multi instrumentalists which allows a lot of freedom and inventiveness, the latter also recorded and mastered the album. However, it is not just the case of the singer getting the attention, Kane is the songwriter and her Ukelele playing is prevalent. Her sugar sweet voice is all encompassing, coming in somewhere between Rachel Sweet and Kirsty MacColl.

The band are generally hard to pin down sound wise and on their fifth album, their first for Big Stir, this is even more so. You can feel the West Coast air on the songs, but they are also draped in UK Indie, a bit of Americana and some wonderful Psych Pop. There are at times hints of Xtc in Skylarking mode or Robyn Hitchcock, so it makes complete sense that the only cover on the album is written by a Cleaner From Venus.









This versatility is probably best demonstrated by Lomo Alta, which is borders on freeform Jazz. Where as The Calculating Boy is top notch Psych Pop with some fine guitar leads, Sister Of The Pollen could be sung on Ready Steady Go and Wren In The Rain is pure St Etienne. Changeling is Kirsty MacColl borrowing Madness's piano and what a guitar break! It is an absolute gem of a tune.

The Lilac Line has a bass line to die for, enhancing a sort of Americana Pop, this band are so good that they've invented a genre. The Accepted Time is a song for an imaginary film and Skylarks of Britain is an outstanding slice of Canterbury Folk, the band turn into minstrels. Lord Richard comes across like a Robyn Hitchcock song written for The Seekers.

The album is like an IDHAS wish list with appearances from Rex Broome of The Armoires and Bradley Skaught of The Bye Bye Blackbirds. Topped off by a cover of Martin Newell's Goodguy Son, I am a longtime fanboy of the great man. The thing is though that this cover fits the album perfectly.







Getting The Corner Laughers on the label is a massive coup for Big Stir. A label that is the brightest spot of the last decade and is set up to dominate the next decade. Big Stir, despite all the press, were never a Power Pop label and now they have hooked one of the most innovative bands of this century. Temescal Telegraph is an absolute joy. Album Of The Year Material for sure and well worth raiding your purse for.

You can pre-order the album on Bandcamp here or on the Big Stir site here. You can buy the band's back catalogue here.


........

Various - Friends And Frenemies

Allen Clapp is largely known for the Magnificent Orange Peels. although his solo work matches anything from the band's great back catalogue.

Mystery Lawn Music was founded by Clapp in 2009 as a way of releasing The Orange Peels' crowd funded album 2020. After the album was released, other artists approached him to see if they could appear on the label.





At first it was mainly North Californian bands that were produced at Mystery Lawn Studios. Clapp realised that most bands could get their music ready for the world, but didn't know how to release it for general consumption.

Mystery Lawn Music has grown and grown and the initial half a dozen artists are now approaching 20. It has developed into a community of like minded musicians, far beyond that North Carolina base. The artists often play together, swap band members and ask each other for advice.





The 18 songs on offer are from a varied selection of artists. Some are well known to Power Pop fans, such as The Orange Peels, The Corner Laughers, Anton Barbeau, The Flywheels, Agony Aunts, Jim Ruiz and William Cleere. Others are less well known, but every bit as good.

11 of the 18 songs present are exclusive to the compilation, for many this is the premier. Of those 11 songs, Allen Clapp himself has included Friend Collector.




Mystery Lawn Music offers up a vast array of talent that enhances all's music collection and sphere of musical knowledge. It is available for the bargain price of 5 dollars here. It's also available from the likes of Amazon, iTunes and Spotify.