I had the pleasure of interviewing the lovely *Maria Taylor* (http://www.absolutepunk.net/mariataylor) (*Azure Ray* (http://www.absolutepunk.net/azureray)) after her new album Overlook was released, so head over here (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2590932) read it and make sure to...

Click here for download Sounds like: Azure Ray, Pascal Pinon, Erika Spring Song: The Ronettes - Why Don't They Let Us Fall in Love (The Ronettes Cover) [download here ] What's so good? Maya Laner of Local Hero (we featured their single “ Lady Wisconsin ” back in December) recently recorded the sweetest little cover song we ever did hear. Her rendition of The Ronettes’ 1963 classic “”Why Don’t They Let Us Fall In Love” is delicate, and weaves ukelele, vocal overlays, acoustic guitar, and an accordion. Oh, and she blended the instrumentals herself! Not bad for an 18 year old ...

Twin Sister In Heaven (Domino Recording Co.) Twin Sister has been compared to bands like Portishead, Cocteau Twins and Azure Ray. While [...]

Here’s a wonderfully-shot video from last year of Azure Ray playing “Don’t Leave My Mind” live:

In August, Maria Taylor released her fourth solo disc, Overlook . This new disc is rawer, both in sound and emotion, than Taylor’s work with Azure Ray and Now It’s Overhead. The music on Taylor's latest disc is a compelling assortment of songs that range from wispy dream-pop to Michelle Shocked-style ragtime Americana to alt-country/folk to pulsing, jagged, alt-rock. Taylor just released the first video from her new disc, which is for the song "Matador" (below). Following this is a bootleg video of "Matador" performed live at The Grog Shop in Cleveland, OH on 11/12/11 ...

was kann an einem interview schon sonderlich exklusiv sein? der gegenüber? wir hatten es mit kai lehmann von garda zu tun und das ist ein ganz normaler typ, vielleicht etwas freundlicher und aufgeschlossener als viele andere zeitgenossen. ein musiker dazu, ein auf empfindungen programmierter also, der nach dem rechten ausdruck sucht. die umstände des interviews? auch nicht. wir tauschten uns per email aus, was die kommunikation eher erschwerte. der gegenstand des interviews? jawohl! treffer! quasi direkt aus dem studio heraus wurden unsere (investigativen) fragen beantwortet. im mittelpunkt stand alles wissenswerte rund um die zweite platte der sympathischen gruppe aus dresden ...

Maria Taylor, who is half of the Saddle Creek duo Azure Ray, showcases the complex, layered track that becomes more interesting when you can see all of the elements of its composition. Watch her new video for the song "Matador" here.

In August, Maria Taylor released her fourth solo disc, Overlook . This new disc is rawer, both in sound and emotion, than Taylor’s work with Azure Ray and Now It’s Overhead, and Taylor produced this disc herself after coming off a year-long writing dry spell. The music on Taylor's latest disc is a compelling assortment of songs that range from wispy dream-pop to Michelle Shocked-style ragtime Americana to alt-country/folk to pulsing, jagged, alt-rock. Note: Ignore the YouTube song title - this is a live performance of "Happenstance" Maria Taylor's show at Mercury Lounge is a late show ...

If you're looking for something to do on Sunday night, might I suggest heading over to The Drake, where Maria Taylor , one half of Azure Ray , will be performing in support of her recent solo album Overlook  ( review ). Check out the track "Matador":

‘In A Bad Way’ feels truer to Taylor’s southern roots than her better known ultra-folk work in Azure Ray, but terms like “roots” are always complicated. The problem here is that blues don’t really feel like the roots of Taylor’s music whatever her geographical extractions. Everything feels a bit neutered and Mannerist on ‘In A [...]

Sarah Jaffe will be headlining the Voces Femeninas Festival in Spain November 24-26! Past performers have included Azure Ray, Victoria Williams and Sharon Von Etten.

*Harouki Zombi* (http://www.haroukizombi.com/), the new project from Orenda Fink *(Azure Ray* (http://www.absolutepunk.net/azureray)) and Nina Barnes (*of Montreal (http://www.absolutepunk.net/ofmontreal)*), have created a Halloween playlist of their favourite songs for you to check out. If you're...

New pleasant surprise entered the inbox this week; Christine Leakey - why, she just leaked a few songs into my inbox, har har ugh - is a darling Canadian lady in her upper 30s who not only enjoys making cashew cheese and blogging , but is coming out with a record this January. The loungy, mildly jazzy teaser for her debut solo album ( Tapping Trees in a Trinket Box of Treasure ) is available for free on her Bandcamp page (as is everybody's music, it seems). These songs are soft and sweet, her aesthetic more retro than the music itself, and if you ...

Overlook  is the fourth solo album from Azure Ray 's Maria Taylor .  Checking in at only 9-tracks, it's a short but sweet effort this time around. Many of the songs, such as "Masterplan" or ""Like It Does", can be described as typically indie pop rock.  "This Could Take a Lifetime" comes perilously close to being a cheesy indie love song. Strewn among them though, are a number of stronger entries.  "Matador" has an extremely catchy, if short, guitar riff backed by a basic but effective percussion.  "Bad Idea?" is a playful stroll.  "Idle Mind" is introspective, while "In a ...

Although Maria Taylor had been busy touring as one-half of duo Azure Ray last year in support of their album “Drawing Down the Moon” (after a six-year hiatus), the singer-songwriter happily went head first into writing a new solo record after suffering from writer’s block the entire year before. The self-produced “Overlook” rejuvenates the grace [...]