Earlier this year Badru released said EP, Vacancy. A sparse folk release, Vacancy details post-relationship heartbreak and subsequent emotional stasis in the confessional, angry-but-still-in-love style of all the best break-up songs. Take ‘Waiting Around’ as an example:

“I waited all this time to see,
if you’re still waiting for me.

Well I’ve been waiting around
and the sky’s been falling down,
but the world keeps spinning around.
Why you laughing now?”

Earlier this week, Badru put up a new track, ‘Foreign Hands’. While the style is very much rooted in delicate melancholy, the song sees a slight shift in tone, with the raw pain dulled to a nostalgic longing. “So, here’s to the days we wont forget,” Badru sings, “that burn out quick like cigarettes. We found out love could not be kept.”

Judging by what has been served up so far, you should hope-for/expect more of the same in the future. Until then, you should head on over to the Aisha Badru Bandcamp page and treat yourself.

The post Some Songs From Aisha Badru appeared first on Various Small Flames.

You can get it now on Exploding In Sound Records, the home of other slightly weird bands like Krill.

The post Advent Calendar [7th]: Palehound – Pet Carrot appeared first on Various Small Flames.

Tyler, the Creator – Yonkers 

“One of the rare occasions where a song blew me away so much on the first listen that I had to immediately play it again. Fresh, sinister and outright angry with the polarising character/personality/performance to back it up.” Dave

Tyler Butler – Morana 

“Winter King has been one of my albums of the year and Morana sums up everything that is good about Tyler Butler. For me, folk is at it’s best when used as a vehicle to tell a story. Butler can write with depth and convey a suitable sense of melancholy but (importantly) also manages to infuse each song with a believable honesty and endearing warmth. The perfect antidote to superficial nature of much of contemporary music.” Jon

Youth Lagoon – July

“This was probably the track that I took most quickly to this year. The way the song slowly builds, gathering momentum before finally hitting a cathartic crescendo. The video I’ve included is a live session version of the song which is brilliantly recorded.” Liam

Richard Knox & Frederic D. Oberland – Sleeping Land (Part I) 

“This track transports me to the ends of the earth instantly. Knox and Oberland manage to capture the violent beauty of the Arctic in a way that’s simultaneously emotional and subtle. Pure escapism.” Matt

Jamie XX – Far Nearer 

“I latched onto this song the night the London riots really kicked off. I was glued to the news with this looping over and over. It felt so vibrant in comparison to everything else that was going on.” Will

The post Wake the Deaf’s Top Tracks of 2011 appeared first on Various Small Flames.