One of the highlights of the up and coming Home Tapes label, Paul Duncan’s To An Ambient Hollywood was called a “beautiful little record that occupies its own personal space, waiting to be picked up…[and] more than willing to please” by Stylus writer Todd Burns. And nearly two years on from its release, its rewards are still evident in the amount of plays that it gets at Stylus headquarters. We asked Paul to provide some commentary on a few of his recent favorite tracks…

Robert Wyatt– Heaps of Sheeps, [Shleep]

This is pop music at its very best. Arranged by Brian Eno, who also plays keys/synth/vocals, this track proves its worth in the realm of what’s important in pop music while still bending and shaping it from the inside out. It makes me remember why I thought songs like “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel were important growing up and why there’s a reason to keep searching, although Robert Wyatt takes many more liberties with pop and the end product ends up being something very personal and subjectively brilliant. This track reveals itself through watery synth, thick, beautifully arranged background vocals, wandering lead vocals, strict, but syncopated rhythm, etc., etc.

A beautiful song constructed from Robert Wyatt’s poetic retaliation on insomnia calls for loving ears and a sense of humor.

… fans of Jessica Simpson welcome …

[visit a Robert Wyatt website here, buy Shleep here]

Camberwell Now– Working Nights, [All’s Well]

Formed by drummer/band leader/singer, Charles Hayward, of the late seventies experimental noise/tape manipulating rock band This Heat, Camberwell Now could be described as a more accessible, one album 1986 version of This Heat, or as a brilliantly laced together sociopolitical record made of fleeting pop melodies and an amazingly timeless relevance to a society of people. An album with a spate of ideas responded to by the likes of Edward Ka-Spel, Christoph Heemann, Nurse with Wound, etc…

Beginning with repetitive drumming, bass, synth and the words; “Three weeks on and one week off , that is how my life is planned … eat, work, sleep when you’re on the night shift, wheels of industry turning around”, the song starts to show its cycle of harsh, but subtle, melancholy sentiment and commentary. The album continues to pan through these scenes of every day activity washed in deep blue with scholarly cinematography. This track conjures up John Cougar Mellancamp’s obtuse blue-collar ballads left bloody on the floor.

… apologies to fans of John Cougar Mellencamp for all affronts

[visit a discography website of Camberwell Now here, buy All’s Well here]

Autistic Daughters– A Box Full Of Birds, [Jealousy and Diamond]

Let me begin by saying : late Talk Talk meets with that last For Carnation record, meets with Slowdive, meets with the glue that would hold those three parties together. Maybe that’s all I need to say … ? Recorded at Amann Studios in Vienna (home to recordings of Christian Fennesz, etc.) with Dean Roberts (Thela) on vocals/guitar/harmonica/harmonium, Martin Brandlmayr (Trapist/Radian) on drums/vibraphone and Werner Dafeldecker (Polweshel) on upright/electric bass. One of the most intricately beautiful releases I’ve heard from Kranky, or anyone for that matter, in a while.

[visit an Autistic Daughters website here, buy Jealousy and Diamond here]