Playing catch-up with The Streetlamp - Doble Pletina and Kitten Pyramid

Just occasionally, we get a little snowed-under here at Streetlamp HQ and things that we meant to do get lost at the bottom of the in-tray or pushed to the back of the mind. It can be hard sometimes to follow-up on a band that had you raving ecstatically a year back, or even 6 months ago, when there are so many new bands, books and films jostling for your attention. Tonight, therefore, I'd like to re-visit two bands that we've featured before on the Streetlamp, but of whom we temporarily lost sight. The first is the wonderful Spanish, lo-fi, indie-pop duo Doble Pletina, who you hopefully remember me enthusing over back in January (see 'here' for details).


Well, it turns out that after releasing the 6 track demo album that had me so excited, they quickly followed up with a two-song single release in March. This was called marzo, and featured the songs 'Eso hacíamos' and 'Deseos a la primera'. Both are every bit as good as the previous Doble Pletina releases and that's why I'm so ashamed to admit that your normally, eagle-eyed Streetlamp team totally overlooked this release at the time. Ooops! Let's rectify that now by belatedly embedding both tracks and suggesting that you head over to Doble Pletina's bandcamp page, or their last.fm page, to pick up the free downloads and have a listen to all of their wonderful music.




The other artist who has been beavering away since his Streetlamp debut in September 2010 (see 'here') is film-maker Scott Marson. You may remember that Scott was working on a long term project called 'Elephants & Cars'. This was a short, surreal thriller about a day in the life of Scott's uncle Jarek, a paranoid schizophrenic. Scott had also been producing music as part of the film soundtrack under the name Kitten Pyramid and it was these songs; clever, folk-infused, pop nuggets, that brought him to our attention. Indeed, we liked the songs so much that one of them, W.H.A.L.E., even made it into our 2010 Streetlamp Festive Thirty. Kitten Pyramid is now a three piece, with Matt Salmonella joining on Bass/Production and Rob Refrigerator on Drums/Guitar. The trio have refitted W.H.A.L.E. and it can be heard in its latest incarnation below.




Still an excellent pop song I think. As well as this new improved W.H.A.L.E., the band have recently released, and made available as a free download, a new song called Emily the Mermaids, which, you can hear above, is every bit as good.
Scott has also finished the film trailer for 'Elephants & Cars', as well as completing surreal short film 'Sherley's Famous Cat Book'. I'm embedding both below.

Enjoy!






Griff
xx

Griff says: Kitten - free to good home.

It's been a quiet old week; Gordon is off sunning himself in the Mediterranean like a latter day Lord Byron, leaving me to mind the shop. Of course, as usual, I've been keeping my ear to the ground but I just wasn't hearing anything worth passing on. I began to wonder yesterday whether I should just declare September a Streetlamp holiday...and then, just when I least expected it, serendipity knocked. And this wasn't just a good find, this goes into the category of excellent find. So who's the band? Well it's not really a band, it's the soundtrack to a film, as yet unmade, called 'Elephants and Cars'. The film is the project of Scott Marson who hails from Swadlincote in Derbyshire. He describes it thus:

"Elephants & Cars is a short thriller about my uncle Jarek. The plot involves Jarek arriving at East Midlands Airport with a suitcase and instructions written on his hand. The film follows his journey; to his aunty and uncle's house, on the bus to his new job, to the shops, and back again. The difference is it's through the eyes and mind of a paranoid schizophrenic - a tense, foreboding, surreal and often funny day as he slips in and out of reality. I wanted to show what it must be like for someone that hears voices loud and clear, and can see things that no-one else can.
I have been writing songs for this project for the past ten years and filming for the past two."
Scott has released some of the songs that he's written for the film on Soundcloud under the moniker 'Kitten Pyramid'. In the main, the songs fit comfortably into the indie-folk genre but there's rather more to the music than that. W.H.A.L.E. has a short, strongly-melodic, traditional rock 'n' roll, pop structure that'll make you want to leap out of your chair and bellow "Whale!" at the top of your voice. Don't believe me? Have a listen:
W.H.A.L.E. by Kitten Pyramid




The more folky songs have a gentle, introspective air and the vulnerability conveyed in the vocal delivery, as well as the vocal harmonies employed, reminds me a little of Robert Wyatt. Have a listen:

3hrs by Kitten Pyramid



Seahouses by Kitten Pyramid


Fire by Kitten Pyramid


Like what you hear? Good. If you're interested and you are a secret millionaire, or have usable blackmail photographs of the rich and famous in your possesion, then you can contribute to Scott's project. Work in progress continues on 'Elephants & Cars' and Scott is looking for a producer, if anyone's interested? If you're not a secret millionaire and you still want to help then spread the word, visit Scott on Facebook or Twitter and give him a pat on the back. Remember, many of the songs featured are available to download freely so, at the very least, go along and say thank you.

cheers,

Griff
xx