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Bolachas Now Playing

#211: Chico da Tina, “Minho Trapstar”

Hailing from Viana do Castelo, Portugal, Francisco da Concertina – or Chico da Tina – is the only trap star we know that plays concertina, would rather have a 18th century neoclassical painting on his neck instead of golden chains, buys his wares from local markets instead of “flea markets” or vintage shops, and whose notion of a good time is more likely to be a small village romaria instead of a club in the city. You won’t get it if you don’t know the language, but it’s your fault anyway. Plus: new tracks by Destroyer, Girl Ray, Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Lalalar, Health&Beauty, Black Bombaim & João Pais Filipe, Clark, Maria Reis, Josienne Clarke, Basia Bulat, Frances Quinlan, Hoops, Tōth, Califone, SUSS, Twain, Futurebirds, Tuomo & Markus, Drive-By Truckers, Honey Harper, and Leonard Cohen.

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live

The TakeRoot 2019 review

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Garrett T. Capps. Photo by Knelis / TakeRoot 

It’s midnight in Groningen. It’s the end of an abnormally warm November saturday and it should also have been the end of an eight hour marathon of roots and americana across six rooms in the De Oosterpoort complex. But Garrett T. Capps and his NASA Country have different ideas. Suddenly, a “curfew” seems like a malleable concept as fellow Texans Robert Ellis and James Steinle join the band on stage for a sprawling and ecstatic “Born in San Antone” and a version of the classic “She’s About a Mover”, penned by San Antonio’s very own Doug Sahm. Capps seems comfortable as the frontman to a 21st century version of the mighty Texas Tornados, powered by a strong rhythm section and an unusual synth that takes his brand of Americana to another dimension. I’ve been calling it krautcountry after seeing them in Paradiso’s small room in the same evening as Faust and Camera, and you should too.

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Bolachas Now Playing

#210: Tindersticks, “No Treasure But Hope”

The second coming of tindersticks (official) keeps yielding fruits. Everything the band has released since the mid-00s lineup change, from the Constellation to the City Slang eras, has been consistently good. Their 12th album, “No Treasure But Hope”, is amongst the best of the bunch. Don’t be that person who reads “12th album” and instantly looks the other way. Staples and co not only still have it in them; they seem like they’re ageing too gracefully.

Plus: new tracks by Chuck Prophet, Federale, Jesca Hoop, Bill Fay, Joe Henry, Andy Shauf, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Pan•American, Land of kush, Tinashe, Rosalía, Jessie Ware, of Montreal, Wye Oak, William Doyle, …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Scott & Charlene’s Wedding, Ratboys, Hot Snakes, and black midi.

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Bolachas Now Playing

#209: Xylouris White, “The Sisypheans”

We’re back from Le Guess Who?, one of the few festivals in Europe where we could choose between four or five quality club nights in various venues or a packed Xylouris White gig post-midnight on a Saturday. We were lucky to get in and witness one of the best concerts of the festival, which doubled as a release show, since the duo composed of Greek singer/laouto player George Xylouris and Dirty Three’s Jim White has just released their fourth album in six years, The Sisypheans. Plus: new tracks by Oiseaux-Tempête, 10 000 Russos, Katie Gately, FKA twigs, SebastiAn, Moor Mother, Vanishing Twin, Gus Seyffert, Wolf Parade, Jeffrey Lewis, Jonathan Wilson, Itasca, Mount Eerie & Julie Doiron, The Delines, Twain, Sea Lion, and The Good Ones.

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Bolachas Now Playing

#208: Vetiver, “Up On High”

After two more layered, denser, and less critically popular records where we saw Andy Cabic holler at soft rock and psychedelia, “Up on High” is the sound of Vetiver returning to their acoustic beginnings. Welcome to your new favourite Saturday morning breakfast prep folk rock record. Plus: new tracks by Terry Allen, Simon Joyner, Tindersticks, Lambchop, Itasca, Mount Eerie & Julie Doiron, Michael Kiwanuka, Dylan LeBlanc, Theo Lawrence, Charles Rumback & Ryley Walker, Squirrel Flower, The Deer, Cate Le Bon & Bradford Cox, The Growlers, Pinegrove, Iguana Death Cult, Imperial Wax, Pop. 1280, DJ Nigga Fox, Peel Dream Magazine, and Warmduscher.