One more late night video post. Hadley McCall Thackston’s Slow Burn has been my favorite song and music video during the last few days (ok, together with Fight by Vanessa Peters). I thought I share this a little bit later when I’ve spent more time with her debut full-length and can write a little bit about that too. But I love this too much to wait, so let’s share the video now and return to the album within a few weeks. This is such a beautiful and compelling folk song that leaves a lasting impression. My own reaction was complete opposite to slow burn though, because I instantly fell in love with the song. Oh and the video itself is also pure perfection. Especially the ending where the man at the back stands up, Hadley finishes the song with the striking last words, time stops for a split second and then the heartfelt smile and the reactions from the audience take away the pain. So brilliant.

Hadley McCall Thackston at Facebook

And thanks to Adam Wilson’s Quiet Revolution for tweeting this last weekend and bringing it to my attention.

He Arrived By Helicopter is a new project by Christian Gibbs (Lucinda Black Bear etc). The debut album The Shiny Hostel will be co-released by Eastern Spurs and Very Special Recordings on the 14th of September. The lead single Cold Damn Truth it a really great folk-tinged beauty that reminds me a bit of Joe Pernice’s work. However, this sweetness is only a tiny fraction of the He Arrived By Helicopter story. The album is actually mostly instrumental and contains a lot of experimental sounds and ambient moods. Not an issue though even for a pop kid like yours truly, because it’s all intriquing and inspring. This is the gorgeous first outtake Cold Damn Truth from the forthcoming album.

He Arrived By Helicopter at Facebook

Static Diary is the first solo album from Centro-Matic’s keyboard wizard Scott Danbom and it came out on Goliad Media on the 27th of July. The atmosphere carries me to a place somewhat similar to Grandaddy or Mercury Rev, but there’s also a lot more to this blissfully weird and endearingly beautiful adventure. I might not normally recommend records that contain experimental ambient moods, but this one has the magic to make my prejudices disappear. What an enchanting album to get lost into. Here’s a few of my own favorites, but you really need to get onboard and experience the whole journey. Preferably with good headphones.

Oh and thanks to Daniel Markham for introducing this record to me.