Koodoz Design

Music + Internet = Awesome. If either of these two elements ceased to exist… I’d probably have to join them.

The need to sift through independent music blogs, ‘muso’ reviews and myspace pages to discover new music has, of late, become something of an obsession. An addiction, if you will, to find the next big thing in music, that impossibly impossible amalgamation of hybrid genres and that ‘Charlie finds the golden ticket’ moment you get when you hear the lobe-tingling voice of an untapped artist for the first time. That, for me, is the thrill of the chase.

When I get the chance, one of my fav sources that I frequent for discovering new sounds (via NewsFire) is a blog called Bolachas. Whiiich, incidentally, is where I stumbled across Mr Isakov and his new LP, This Empty Northern Hemisphere. Originally from South-Africa and raised in Philly, this Colorado based singer-songwriter (with the help of the very powerful Brandi Carlile on several tracks) has ever so subtly seduced me into the indie world of acoustic folk rock.

Now this isn’t the first time the twang of banjos, weeping cries of cellos and a lonely harmonica’s wails has won me over. The quintessential sound of ‘gold rush Americana’ is a sound I’ve become very fond of. In fact, if I dig deep enough, I think the fascination started after watching the very brilliant Deadwood. And although a little different in comparison, another big factor in shaping my appreciation for a folk soundscape came after hearing Midlake’s ‘Roscoe’ from the album The Trials of Van Occupanther (a concept album based around the life and times of a fictional pioneer) which naturally, and thankfully, led me into an OCD-esque state of obsession.

This Empty Northern Hemisphere is beautifully crafted and very easy on the ears, making it almost impossible to not listen to the album from beginning to end.

It’s funny, but when I think about how to describe music, I often find that it’s easier to describe from smells, colours and visuals. So… if images of corn fields, trousers supported by braces, weathered wooden porches and dusty shades of brown appeal to your senses, then I highly recommend you give this album a go. It’s definitely on my Top 10 Albums of 2009 shortlist.

Track List:

1. Dandelion Wine
2. Light Year
3. That Moon Song
4. Evelyn
5. Virginia May
6. Big Black Car
7. Master & a Hound
8. This Empty Northern Hemisphere
9. Idaho
10. Words
11. Fire Escape
12. If I Go, I’m Goin
13. One of Us Cannot Be Wrong

For more info on Gregory Alan Isakov, visit his (and his band’s) official site or head over to their MySpace page and introduce yourself.