Review: Alex Schaaf | Photo: David Andrako/Courtesy of Kaufman Center

The human voice is perhaps the most interesting instrument of them all. It is the only instrument that you are born with, and the only one that you will have to live with for the rest of your life. Sure, you can take voice lessons and try to shape the way you present your voice to the world, but nothing can change the pure essence of the voice you were given. My favorite singers are the ones that have the least formal training; the ones that are using the full nature of their voice rather than trying to hide their own uniqueness by trying to sound like someone else.

Last Saturday’s installment of the wonderful Ecstatic Music Festival in NYC was a full-on presentation of the wonders of the human voice. The artist that drew me to this show was Merrill Garbus, of experimental pop group tUnE-yArDs. Her debut album, which came out in 2009, was an impressive display of her own voice, sometimes smooth and sensual, sometimes harsh and grating, but it was always her voice and no one else’s.

The Ecstatic Music Festival is a series of concerts at the Kaufman Center in Manhattan; concerts which often pair a group of experimental, but classically-trained musicians, with someone from the “indie” world. Dan Deacon performed with So Percussion a few weeks ago; Nico Muhly’s music was performed by the Chiara String Quartet, Owen Pallett will perform in the future, as well as a collaborative performance between Clogs and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus.

Saturday night’s concert featured Garbus along with two other composers, Caleb Burhans and William Brittelle, whose works were performed by Roomful of Teeth, an eight-voice vocal ensemble that proved to be a sort of “blank canvas” on which the composers would paint their works of art. The vocalists are dedicated to studying vocal styles from around the world, and are incredibly capable of adapting their own voices to fit whatever style they are asked to. In that way, they were working as interpreters: they were the master carpenter, rather than being the architect. Whatever was asked of them they could accomplish, from Tuvan throat singing to yodeling, to more pop singing styles and more operatic vibrato-filled passages.

The majority of the crowd seemed to be drawn there by Garbus’ appearance, as the heartiest applause came after her pieces. The group performed two pieces without Garbus on stage, but those pieces, “Quizassa” and “Ansa Ya” were unmistakably created by the mind behind tUnE-yArDs, as they seemed to come off as more extended, experimental versions of Garbus’ normal pop-structured songs.

Later in the show, Garbus came on stage to join the choir, and they performed two songs – “Hatari,” from Garbus’s debut, “BiRd-BrAiNs,” and a song from the upcoming album “w h o k i l l” called “doorstep.” The performance of “Hatari” was a near replication of the recorded version, as Garbus looped her floor tom and vocals as usual, but the female singers of Roomful of Teeth were able to fill in the call and response vocals that are present on the album, along with adding harmony to Garbus’s African-inspired vocal passages.

The new song “doorstep” was right in line with the first tUnE-yArDs album, but it seemed to take a more personal step forward, with lyrics that were more straightforward and calmly delivered, with the same amount of rhythmic complexity and soulful background vocals. The new album comes out on April 19 on 4AD, and I could not be more excited for it. Garbus seems poised for a major wave of praise, and the crowd seemed aware that this was her “moment” as well (David Byrne’s appearance in the crowd only added to this sense of excitement). It was a special, intimate night that showcased a familiar artist in an unfamiliar environment, and in the case of Merrill Garbus and tUnE-yArDs, a night which only served to raise my anticipation for the new album even more.

Pre-Order: tUnE-yArDs – W H O K I L L
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MP3: tUnE-yArDs – “Bizness”

You can stream Lucinda Williams new album Blessed in full at NPR. Aquarium Drunkard has an interview with Lucinda. She plays a solo acoustic show at Turner Hall Ballroom on Wednesday, February 23rd.

The New York Times has the premiere of the video for “Boeing 737,” from the Low Anthem’s new album, Smart Flesh, out tomorrow on Nonesuch.

The L.A. Times music blog Pop & Hiss premieres Lord Huron’s ‘Stranger.’. If you’re not familiar with the group, I encourage you to check out their EP’s.

Watch the video for Kanye West’s “All of the Lights.”

Tickets for Nathaniel Rateliff’s show at Club Garibaldi in Milwaukee on Sunday, March 27th are now on sale.

Pitchfork reviews “Ghost Town” from Kurt Vile’s forthcoming Matador release, Smoke Ring for My Halo. Vile will be on World Cafe this Friday.

Maps & Atlases have a new video for “Living Decorations,” from their 2010 release, Perch Patchwork. The band will play a free show Lawrence University in Appleton, WI on Thursday, March 3rd.

Here are the Wisconsin and Illinois shows we recommend you take in this week. This week we’re presenting two shows in Milwaukee: Juniper Tar and Deep Dark Woods at the Cactus Club on Friday and Charlie Parr with Chris Porterfield at Linneman’s on Sunday. Check out the upcoming concerts below and let us know which ones you’ll be attending or ones you think should really make our list.

Upcoming Shows:

2/21 – Tennis + Holiday Shores – High Saloon (MADISON)
2/21 – The Forms – Empty Bottle (CHICAGO)
2/21 – Wild Nothing + Abe Vigoda – Der Rathskeller (MADISON)
2/22 – Tennis + Holiday Shores – Lincoln Hall (CHICAGO)
2/22 – Morcheeba – House of Blues (CHICAGO)
2/23 – Lucinda Williams – Turner Hall Ballroom (MILWAUKEE)
2/23 – The Forms – Mad Planet (MILWAUKEE)
2/23 – Say Hi + Blair – High Noon Saloon (MADISON)
2/24 – Akron/Family + Delicate Steve – Lincoln Hall (CHICAGO)
2/24 – Dum Dum Girls + The Minks – Empty Bottle (CHICAGO)
2/24 – The Forms – Project Lodge (MADISON)
2/25 – Baths + Braids + Star Slinger – Der Rathskeller (MADISON)
2/25 – Juniper Tar + Deep Dark Woods – Cactus Club (MILWAUKEE)
2/25 – Kings Go Forth + Herman Astro – Turner Hall Ballroom (MILWAUKEE)
2/25 – Pete Yorn + Ben Kweller – Pabst Theater (MILWAUKEE)
2/25 – Breathe Owl Breathe + Yann Tiersen – The Bottom Lounge (CHICAGO)
2/25 – Say Hi + Blair – Lincoln Hall (CHICAGO)
2/25 – Smith Westerns – The Frequency (MADISON)
2/25 – Drive-By Truckers + Heartless Bastards – Vic Theatre (CHICAGO)
2/26 – Drive-By Truckers + Heartless Bastards – Vic Theatre (CHICAGO)
2/26 – Charlie Parr – The North Mendota Supper Club (MADISON)
2/26 – Pete Yorn + Ben Kweller – Canopy Club (CHAMPAIGN)
2/26 – Sat. Nite Duets – Lawrence University (APPLETON)
2/26 – All Tiny Creatures – The Project Lodge (MADISON)
2/26 – Smith Westerns – The Empty Bottle (CHICAGO)
2/26 – The Deep Dark Woods + Juniper Tar – Der Rathskeller (MADISON)
2/27 – Charlie Parr + Christopher Porterfield (Conrad Plymouth) – Linneman’s (MILWAUKEE)

Just Announced:

3/3 – Maps & Atlases – Lawrence University (APPLETON)
3/26 – Volcano Choir – Turner Hall Ballroom (MILWAUKEE)
4/9 – Maritime + Sat. Nite Duets + Testa Rosa – Turner Hall Ballroom (MILWAUKEE)
4/13 – Common Loon + Take Care – Cactus Club (MILWAUKEE)
4/28 – William Fitzsimmons – Shank Hall (MILWAUKEE)
5/3 – Jackson Browne – Overture Center (MADISON)

We’re presenting a top-notch showcase at Linneman’s in Milwaukee tonight (Saturday) with performances by Icarus Himself, Sat. Nite Duets and Surgeons In Heat. Music starts at 9PM and $6 gets you in the door. See you there!

Download: Icarus Himself – Daytrotter Session
MP3: Sat. Nite Duets – “All Nite Long”
MP3: Surgeons In Heat – “Summerteeth” (Wilco cover)

Radiohead’s new album The King of Limbs arrived today, a day earlier than promised. I’ve made it through the albums eight tracks a couple times now as it continues to sink in. If you haven’t heard the album you can purchase the digital files here and watch the video for “Lotus Flower above. What do you think of the new Radiohead record?

Thank you to 88.9 Radio Milwaukee for naming us their Blog of the Year. You can check out the rest of the winners of the 2011 Radio Milwaukee Music Award winners here.

Telekinesis’ Michael Lerner shares his love of the BMW 2002 with Aquarium Drunkard.

I’ve been really enjoying Lia Ices Grown Unknown album, released last month on Jagjaguwar. Pitchfork has the beautiful video of “Daphne” from said record.

Damien Jurado heads into the studio with Richard Swift to Begin LP 10

One of the albums I’m most excited about this year is tUnE-yArDs w h o k i l l, which arrives April 19th on 4AD. If the track “Bizness” is any indication of what the rest of the record holds, we’re in for a beauty.
MP3: tUnE-yArDs – “Bizness”

Deerhunter have released an 8 track iTunes Live Session, entitled Live From Soho yesterday. It was an easy buy at $3.99. “The session was recorded late last September at the Apple Store in Soho, NYC and features back catalogue tracks as well as versions of several songs taken from latest album, Halcyon Digest.” Listen to ‘Desire Lines’ at Pitchfork.

Strand of Oaks has released demos/outtakes from Pope Killdragon. You can stream and download the entire collection here.

Timber Timbre’s back with a new album, Creep On Creepin’ On from which they’re sharing a stream of the the debut single, “Black Water.”

The Felice Brothers have signed to Fat Possum Records, who will release the band’s new album this spring. The Felice Brothers are touring significantly in the coming months.

Bonnaroo announced its line-up yesterday.

NPR has the first listen of Julianna Barwick’s album, The Magic Place.

I’m heading to the High Noon Saloon in Madison tonight for the Deerhoof show. It’s been a good number of years since I’ve seen the band live. AV Club Madison chats with drummer Greg Saunier. We interviewed guitarist Ed Rodriguez last week.

We’re presenting a top-notch showcase at Linneman’s in Milwaukee on Saturday, February 19th with performances by Icarus Himself, Sat. Nite Duets and Surgeons In Heat. Music starts at 9PM and $6 gets you in the door.

Update: Volcano Choir is playing Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee on Saturday, March 26th.