In my recent (or like years long) haze of dance music I somehow completely missed the 2009 release from one of my past faves, Mirah. At the beginning of the 00's Mirah released her first full length album of charming, honest and generally great songs on K Records. "You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This" featured songs that perfectly captured lo-fi love, both friendly and otherwise, and a glimpse of a loving community. Over the years we've gotten more love songs and war songs and collaborations and even remixes, all more or less charming, honest and generally great in one way or another. Mirah's 2009 release (A)Spera is no exception.
The songs on (A)Spera are a little less lyrically straightforward than some of her earlier works but all tell very human stories in varying degrees of abstraction. Her voice is casual and soft with the tiniest bit of gravel and the music ranges from a stripped down guitar to a full band and string section. She's not reinventing the Mirah wheel here, but that doesn't make it any less interesting to listen to.
Although (A)Spera came out in March, I'm kind of glad I discovered it now. Even though there are some upbeat numbers on the record, Mirah just seems like Wintertime music to me so it's a nice musical addition to these dark days. If you are way behind like me, check out the first track from (A)Spera and remixes from YACHT and Guy Sigsworth from the 2006 Mirah remix album "Joyride:Remixes".
Mirah - Generosity
Mirah - Make It Hot (Over Remix)
Mirah - La Familia (Guy Sigsworth remix)
Mirah-(A)Spera
Mirah-(A)Spera
In my recent (or like years long) haze of dance music I somehow completely missed the 2009 release from one of my past faves, Mirah. At the beginning of the 00's Mirah released her first full length album of charming, honest and generally great songs on K Records. "You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This" featured songs that perfectly captured lo-fi love, both friendly and otherwise, and a glimpse of a loving community. Over the years we've gotten more love songs and war songs and collaborations and even remixes, all more or less charming, honest and generally great in one way or another. Mirah's 2009 release (A)Spera is no exception.
The songs on (A)Spera are a little less lyrically straightforward than some of her earlier works but all tell very human stories in varying degrees of abstraction. Her voice is casual and soft with the tiniest bit of gravel and the music ranges from a stripped down guitar to a full band and string section. She's not reinventing the Mirah wheel here, but that doesn't make it any less interesting to listen to.
Although (A)Spera came out in March, I'm kind of glad I discovered it now. Even though there are some upbeat numbers on the record, Mirah just seems like Wintertime music to me so it's a nice musical addition to these dark days. If you are way behind like me, check out the first track from (A)Spera and remixes from YACHT and Guy Sigsworth from the 2006 Mirah remix album "Joyride:Remixes".
Mirah - Generosity
Mirah - Make It Hot (Over Remix)
Mirah - La Familia (Guy Sigsworth remix)
Mirah-(A)Spera
In my recent (or like years long) haze of dance music I somehow completely missed the 2009 release from one of my past faves, Mirah. At the beginning of the 00's Mirah released her first full length album of charming, honest and generally great songs on K Records. "You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This" featured songs that perfectly captured lo-fi love, both friendly and otherwise, and a glimpse of a loving community. Over the years we've gotten more love songs and war songs and collaborations and even remixes, all more or less charming, honest and generally great in one way or another. Mirah's 2009 release (A)Spera is no exception.
The songs on (A)Spera are a little less lyrically straightforward than some of her earlier works but all tell very human stories in varying degrees of abstraction. Her voice is casual and soft with the tiniest bit of gravel and the music ranges from a stripped down guitar to a full band and string section. She's not reinventing the Mirah wheel here, but that doesn't make it any less interesting to listen to.
Although (A)Spera came out in March, I'm kind of glad I discovered it now. Even though there are some upbeat numbers on the record, Mirah just seems like Wintertime music to me so it's a nice musical addition to these dark days. If you are way behind like me, check out the first track from (A)Spera and remixes from YACHT and Guy Sigsworth from the 2006 Mirah remix album "Joyride:Remixes".
Mirah - Generosity
Mirah - Make It Hot (Over Remix)
Mirah - La Familia (Guy Sigsworth remix)
The Best of 2009 According To...Team Asia
And then 2009, you've been excused. You can leave quietly and never rear your head again. Any year where Kris Allen wins American Idol is a year not worth even living. And how can you kill Ty Frasier and let Katie Holmes suffer? Even the gays don't want anything to do with Tom Cruise no more. In a nutshell: 2009 sucked. But there were a few highlights, in no particular order:
After the cut!
1. Paper Heart
Finally a movie for all the weirdos in love, falling in love, or out of love. I know it's like, a fake movie or whatever. Not a documentary. Even so, it's closer to any feeling I ever had than say, "The Proposal".
2. Washed Out
Washed Out - Belong
3. Third And Delaware
Anything where the topic is "90's fave and feminist icon Roseanne" or "90's fashion", I'm definitely hitching myself onboard.
4. Yacht
Yacht - I'm In Love With A Ripper
5. It's Complicated
Let me make this clear: Meryl Streep's house in the movie won this.
6. Maangchi
When you don't get the Food Network, you take to the world wide web.
7. Esther Pearl Watson
Finally, all the issues of "Unlovable" in a giant hot pink glittery hardcover!
8. Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
9. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
10. Ke$ha
Ke$ha - Tik Tok
The Best of 2009 According To...Team Asia
And then 2009, you've been excused. You can leave quietly and never rear your head again. Any year where Kris Allen wins American Idol is a year not worth even living. And how can you kill Ty Frasier and let Katie Holmes suffer? Even the gays don't want anything to do with Tom Cruise no more. In a nutshell: 2009 sucked. But there were a few highlights, in no particular order:
After the cut!
1. Paper Heart
Finally a movie for all the weirdos in love, falling in love, or out of love. I know it's like, a fake movie or whatever. Not a documentary. Even so, it's closer to any feeling I ever had than say, "The Proposal".
2. Washed Out
Washed Out - Belong
3. Third And Delaware
Anything where the topic is "90's fave and feminist icon Roseanne" or "90's fashion", I'm definitely hitching myself onboard.
4. Yacht
Yacht - I'm In Love With A Ripper
5. It's Complicated
Let me make this clear: Meryl Streep's house in the movie won this.
6. Maangchi
When you don't get the Food Network, you take to the world wide web.
7. Esther Pearl Watson
Finally, all the issues of "Unlovable" in a giant hot pink glittery hardcover!
8. Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
9. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
10. Ke$ha
Ke$ha - Tik Tok
The Best of 2009 According To...Team Asia
And then 2009, you've been excused. You can leave quietly and never rear your head again. Any year where Kris Allen wins American Idol is a year not worth even living. And how can you kill Ty Frasier and let Katie Holmes suffer? Even the gays don't want anything to do with Tom Cruise no more. In a nutshell: 2009 sucked. But there were a few highlights, in no particular order:
After the cut!
1. Paper Heart
Finally a movie for all the weirdos in love, falling in love, or out of love. I know it's like, a fake movie or whatever. Not a documentary. Even so, it's closer to any feeling I ever had than say, "The Proposal".
2. Washed Out
Washed Out - Belong
3. Third And Delaware
Anything where the topic is "90's fave and feminist icon Roseanne" or "90's fashion", I'm definitely hitching myself onboard.
4. Yacht
Yacht - I'm In Love With A Ripper
5. It's Complicated
Let me make this clear: Meryl Streep's house in the movie won this.
6. Maangchi
When you don't get the Food Network, you take to the world wide web.
7. Esther Pearl Watson
Finally, all the issues of "Unlovable" in a giant hot pink glittery hardcover!
8. Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
9. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
10. Ke$ha
Ke$ha - Tik Tok