Just discovered her and I must say I'm hooked. I waited for this kind of lush chamber-pop for a long time. Equal parts vast and intimate.
I wonder what ILX will think of her.
Album is on Spotify.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h50Q47W80ao
― Van Horn Street, Thursday, 19 February 2015 19:34 (nine years ago) link
I kept reading comparisons to Dusty Springfield and then I heard here, and she's no Dusty. She's ok, but I was a tad disappointed. Sorry.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 19 February 2015 20:24 (nine years ago) link
Oh don't be sorry! It's all good.
I should start collecting Dusty Springfield's records then.
― Van Horn Street, Thursday, 19 February 2015 20:40 (nine years ago) link
Matthew E White did the arrangements, yes? I'd like to hear him paired up with a more assertive singer sometime.
― Simon H., Thursday, 19 February 2015 20:42 (nine years ago) link
Really don't get the huge hype. It's pleasant but only the final song on the album connected (and it's very good).
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 19 February 2015 21:13 (nine years ago) link
i'm not a very big fan of her voice, and the songs are real discursive
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Thursday, 19 February 2015 21:39 (nine years ago) link
Pitchfork and the Washington Post's Chris Richards think more highly of her than many of us do
― curmudgeon, Friday, 20 February 2015 14:32 (nine years ago) link
this is pretty good, her voice isn't my favorite but m.e.w. could produce and arrange a belligerent drunk shouting nonsense and i'd prob find it listenable.
― call all destroyer, Friday, 20 February 2015 14:55 (nine years ago) link
i think she's great. the songwriting is fantastic, white does it great justice, and i love her voice - it's like mary lorson meets karen carpenter.
― IHeartMedia, the giant broadcaster formerly known as Clear Channel, (stevie), Friday, 20 February 2015 15:03 (nine years ago) link
and i'm playing this album to absolute death at the moment.
agreed that her voice sounds most at home in the musical theater style thing going on in the last track
― ciderpress, Friday, 20 February 2015 15:05 (nine years ago) link
This is very much like the Matthew E White record from a couple of years ago in that the arrangements and songwriting are fantastic but the voice and persona in the middle of it feels weak in comparison.
― Matt DC, Friday, 20 February 2015 15:26 (nine years ago) link
Yeah I heard that and thought "Wow, damn, a lost Disney showstopper from the late fifties/early sixties." An album in that general vein would have been far stronger.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 20 February 2015 15:37 (nine years ago) link
Matthew E. White has a new album coming out next month. Looking forward to hearing that one. I dig the Spacebomb label/studio's approach (modeled after Stax), but I agree on the vocals. Hopefully the success of this album will attract some more dynamic singers/songrwriters. I feel like these guys have a really strong album in them down the road.
― Benjamin-, Monday, 23 February 2015 22:50 (nine years ago) link
new Matthew E White is *excellent! though I think I still prefer the Prass.
― IHeartMedia, the giant broadcaster formerly known as Clear Channel, (stevie), Tuesday, 24 February 2015 09:07 (nine years ago) link
Yeah as someone who misses more expansive arrangements post-collapse-of-the-music-industry, I'm glad that a record label like Spacebomb exists.
― Matt DC, Tuesday, 24 February 2015 12:11 (nine years ago) link
I love the understatement of the voice, to each their own I guess.
― Van Horn Street, Tuesday, 24 February 2015 16:29 (nine years ago) link
tv show appearance
http://www.nbc.com/last-call-with-carson-daly/video/natalie-prass-why-dont-you-believe-in-me/2849451
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 February 2015 17:30 (nine years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO8XduS7VvA
― NotKnowPotato (stevie), Thursday, 16 April 2015 15:08 (nine years ago) link
I love the record and am happy to be going to see her in Glasgow in June, but the vocals in that clip are really really wonky.
― Eyeball Kicks, Thursday, 16 April 2015 15:16 (nine years ago) link
She was great live in London earlier this year. Never too taken with the sound on Later... tbh.
― NotKnowPotato (stevie), Thursday, 16 April 2015 15:42 (nine years ago) link
yeah i still play this record A LOT and it might be my favorite so far. But yeah, not a huge fan of Later... either.
― Van Horn Street, Friday, 17 April 2015 04:04 (nine years ago) link
Saw that exact same performance on later tonight and the vocals sounded OK. Either my TV sound is better than my work headphones, they've tidied it up, or I'm drunk.
― Eyeball Kicks, Saturday, 18 April 2015 00:58 (nine years ago) link
Probably a combination of all three.
― Eyeball Kicks, Saturday, 18 April 2015 01:02 (nine years ago) link
Just discovering this. I think her songs and the arrangements are excellent, but there is something a little off about the vocals, like they sound too teen pop for the maturity of the songs.
― socka flocka-jones (man alive), Sunday, 21 August 2016 02:22 (seven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pv7rN-_IWU
looking forward to the new album
― ufo, Monday, 26 February 2018 14:47 (six years ago) link
said album is called The Future and The Past, out 06/01. "Short Court Style" is great.
― Simon H., Monday, 26 February 2018 14:58 (six years ago) link
her vocals sound a little less timid than before (the primary objection about her debut iirc), befitting the more muscular instrumental
― Simon H., Monday, 26 February 2018 15:01 (six years ago) link
hmmmmmmm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T0wYQpAlzo
― Simon H., Tuesday, 27 March 2018 14:57 (six years ago) link
don't know how I feel about the chorus but the rest is good
― ufo, Tuesday, 27 March 2018 15:23 (six years ago) link
Yeah that chorus is a bit lazy but love the neo-soul vibe on this one and all of her songs have stunning arrangements. Really liking the production on this two songs so far.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Tuesday, 27 March 2018 15:56 (six years ago) link
not exactly blown away by the lyrics but uh also not exactly the target demo on this one
― Simon H., Tuesday, 27 March 2018 15:57 (six years ago) link
Kinda reminds me of 'Worldwide Underground'-era Badu
― change display name (Jordan), Tuesday, 27 March 2018 16:03 (six years ago) link
File under: New material that retroactively makes me question what I heard in the old material. Such a bland song and such hokey genre appropr... er, homage
― Evan R, Tuesday, 27 March 2018 16:52 (six years ago) link
The new album is excellent. V different to the first. Her Janet Jackson cover was a great signpost for where she's gone.
― papa don't take no meth (stevie), Tuesday, 27 March 2018 19:40 (six years ago) link
https://www.npr.org/2018/05/24/613165661/first-listen-natalie-prass-the-future-and-the-past
Based on the opening seconds of this, brad should probably hear it
― Simon H., Thursday, 24 May 2018 13:25 (five years ago) link
Agreed. And it's really, really good.
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 24 May 2018 13:29 (five years ago) link
Some of this I'm not sure about (still find "Sisters" an irritant) but man the sonics on this are really something. 70s protest soul + 80s/90s r&b with a heavy dollop of strings and jazz piano? someone more versed in the genre(s) the extent to which someone's tried this already
― Simon H., Thursday, 24 May 2018 13:46 (five years ago) link
It's been quite a while since production stuck out to me like it does here, on first listen, you're completely otm. It's so clear and super funky and soulful.
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 24 May 2018 13:54 (five years ago) link
I'm still not that keen on Sisters, but the rest of it is sounding really good. Reminds me of that gorgeous last Corinne Bailey Rae album in places.
― kitchen person, Thursday, 24 May 2018 14:09 (five years ago) link
as with the last one, the vocals are gonna be the make or break for a lot of people I think
― Simon H., Thursday, 24 May 2018 14:12 (five years ago) link
Ship Goes Down absolutely kills me. The record's a masterpiece.
― Lou Grant, the Iranian cinema of late '70s TV (stevie), Thursday, 24 May 2018 14:18 (five years ago) link
this album is gorgeous and yeah wow, Ship Goes Down
― ufo, Thursday, 24 May 2018 16:50 (five years ago) link
Yeah so this completely rules, confirmed on a long summer walk
― Simon H., Saturday, 26 May 2018 20:24 (five years ago) link
her Spotify inspirations playlist contains a lot of stuff that's new to me
https://open.spotify.com/user/natalieprassofficial/playlist/73bDJ40IUKgE1HCLnjJnGR?si=BGrJEuyqTwS9mlGZf4cPUQ
― Simon H., Monday, 28 May 2018 19:11 (five years ago) link
album of the fuckin year
― flamenco blorf (BradNelson), Thursday, 31 May 2018 16:31 (five years ago) link
This is gorgeous.
― Tim F, Thursday, 31 May 2018 21:06 (five years ago) link
yesss brad!
― Simon H., Thursday, 31 May 2018 21:09 (five years ago) link
"Ain't Nobody" is an amazing closer, love the way it combines all the album's sounds and even throws in that little reprise of "Hot for the Mountain"
― Simon H., Thursday, 31 May 2018 21:13 (five years ago) link
why do birds, do they suddenlydisappear
― Simon H., Thursday, 31 May 2018 21:57 (five years ago) link
Never Too Late through to Ain't Nobody is a really incredible run of tracks
― ufo, Friday, 1 June 2018 14:54 (five years ago) link
The production on this thing is impeccable. Fantastic sounding album. Didn't expect to like this as much as I do.
― triggercut, Friday, 1 June 2018 15:23 (five years ago) link
Just wanna echo the chorus that this is upper echelon level dope
― synonym toast crunch (Ross), Monday, 4 June 2018 19:31 (five years ago) link
Surprised I haven't seen more (any?) chatter about it beyond here
― Simon H., Monday, 4 June 2018 19:43 (five years ago) link
As a piano player and music lover, the pfogrsssion In hot for the mountain rules me
― synonym toast crunch (Ross), Monday, 4 June 2018 21:01 (five years ago) link
Some of the backing vocals bring to mind deradoorian and Coffman from dirty projectors
― Slippage (Ross), Friday, 8 June 2018 12:25 (five years ago) link
I sort of can't believe that it's mostly the same group of folks behind this record and the debut.
― I'm Finn thanks, don't mention it (fionnland), Friday, 8 June 2018 21:15 (five years ago) link
i love this album
― maura, Saturday, 9 June 2018 10:32 (five years ago) link
round and roundhad ups and downs
― flamenco blorf (BradNelson), Saturday, 9 June 2018 12:57 (five years ago) link
the progresssion In hot for the mountain rules me
Yeah this stood out for me too - liking this album a lot on first listen
― nashwan, Saturday, 9 June 2018 13:18 (five years ago) link
This album is so good
― Slippage (Ross), Saturday, 9 June 2018 16:00 (five years ago) link
Sisters tho sucks
― Slippage (Ross), Sunday, 10 June 2018 07:36 (five years ago) link
Disagree, re sisters. This is one of the three best albums I've heard all year. And this is a very good year.
― Stanley Therapy (stevie), Sunday, 10 June 2018 13:00 (five years ago) link
This is very good. The "Your Fire"/"The Fire"/"Hot…" section is a bit ho hum, but the rest is, um, fire. Will probably buy.
― Jeff W, Sunday, 10 June 2018 14:15 (five years ago) link
Lost is so gorgeous
― Slippage (Ross), Monday, 11 June 2018 17:59 (five years ago) link
Only song I’ve heard from her is the one that sounded like Disney (think it was the final song on her debut?)
Yup, and I said as much as the time. I'll get around to this but something about her's always been a bit offputting, somehow.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 11 June 2018 18:01 (five years ago) link
That's baffling to me. There's a huge change in style between the debut and the new one, but I can't for the life of me imagine how one would find any of her music offputting. Ymmv though obv.
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 11 June 2018 18:21 (five years ago) link
To clarify: I am allergic to everything remotely Disney, am just not getting it from her.
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 11 June 2018 18:29 (five years ago) link
i've heard a lot of ppl compare the first album to disney soundtracks
― flamenco blorf (BradNelson), Monday, 11 June 2018 18:29 (five years ago) link
Madness.
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 11 June 2018 18:35 (five years ago) link
She's wearing her influences on her sleeve on her debut: Joni, Mary Margaret O'Hara, symphonic film score music as a background. Sure. But the latter doesn't always equate to "Disney", people.
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 11 June 2018 18:38 (five years ago) link
I only heard it specifically in that last track but it was definitely the association I made on a cold first listen, having not heard anything else by her/about her before listening to the album as a whole.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 11 June 2018 18:50 (five years ago) link
Last track wouldn't have raised any eyebrows on the Lalaland soundtrack, in context of the album it's not as idiosyncratic imo, but I get you'd get this Disney feeling now.
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 11 June 2018 18:59 (five years ago) link
anyway it doesn't carry through to the new album at all ned
― flamenco blorf (BradNelson), Monday, 11 June 2018 19:00 (five years ago) link
Yeah, new one is like it's by someone else entirely.
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 11 June 2018 19:03 (five years ago) link
Which does intrigue!
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 11 June 2018 19:04 (five years ago) link
Yeah I love this record and I didn’t care for that Disney esque track - felt like just another Josephine foster devendra freak folk thing
― Slippage (Ross), Monday, 11 June 2018 19:26 (five years ago) link
whoa this is different from her first one
― ciderpress, Friday, 21 September 2018 13:24 (five years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnux4JLY0Eo
really like the video for 'the fire'
album is still one of my favourites this year
― ufo, Friday, 21 September 2018 14:17 (five years ago) link
yep, I still play it a lot even with the deluge of great new albums
― wayne trotsky (Simon H.), Friday, 21 September 2018 14:19 (five years ago) link
It's easily in my top 3 of the year
― canary christ (stevie), Friday, 21 September 2018 18:02 (five years ago) link
Saw her last night, really really great show. Don't miss this tour, please.
― geoffreyess, Saturday, 22 September 2018 21:29 (five years ago) link
http://vancouverweekly.com/natalie-prass-on-trying-to-stay-hopeful-in-troubling-times-61689-2/
I got to interview her! I'm new to music journalism, so that was pretty exciting.
― josh az (2011nostalgia), Monday, 24 September 2018 05:08 (five years ago) link
oh very cool josh
album definitely in my top 10
― sweetheart of the neo-geo (Ross), Monday, 24 September 2018 16:12 (five years ago) link
great piece Josh!
― canary christ (stevie), Monday, 24 September 2018 18:48 (five years ago) link
Thank you!
― josh az (2011nostalgia), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 00:31 (five years ago) link
I’m actually at her Vancouver concert now, any ilx users here? She’s not on for another hour but it’s still heartbreaking how few ppl there are here
― josh az (2011nostalgia), Wednesday, 26 September 2018 03:59 (five years ago) link
kinda crazy that you can release critically acclaimed albums and have a label doing promo and everything and still not necessarily fill small venues
― niels, Thursday, 27 September 2018 08:21 (five years ago) link
my brother once saw Clipse, just slightly past their prime, play a Danish club in front of an audience of about 20 people
― niels, Thursday, 27 September 2018 08:22 (five years ago) link
picked up this record for the first time in months and i can't believe it exists, what a rush <3
― princess of hell (BradNelson), Monday, 29 October 2018 19:42 (five years ago) link
brad you're getting an EOY list ready aren't you
― wayne trotsky (Simon H.), Monday, 29 October 2018 20:23 (five years ago) link
who can say
― princess of hell (BradNelson), Monday, 29 October 2018 20:23 (five years ago) link
also imo i should not be getting a year-end list ready bc it's still october but for some reason websites are beholden to magazine publishing schedules
― princess of hell (BradNelson), Monday, 29 October 2018 20:25 (five years ago) link
rigging up the brad signal
https://www.stereogum.com/2027828/natalie-prass-prefab-sprout-wild-horses/video/
― resident hack (Simon H.), Wednesday, 9 January 2019 14:15 (five years ago) link
oh my god
― ufo, Wednesday, 9 January 2019 14:30 (five years ago) link
She really nails it with that live version
― X-Prince Protégé (sonnyboy), Saturday, 12 January 2019 13:18 (five years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUbMT0T2rIc
"Oh My", 1:35 in, the cadence of "Seems like everyday we're losing..." is bringing up another song, but I'm stumped. Thinking Prince or some current synthpop band, and near resigned to just stumbling across it in the future. Any ideas?
― the body of a spider... (scampering alpaca), Wednesday, 20 February 2019 16:29 (five years ago) link
nice performance on corden:
https://youtu.be/Z2oZDu-V-v8
― we're far from the challops now (voodoo chili), Thursday, 21 February 2019 16:25 (five years ago) link
That's great! She should be a huge star right now.
I keep going back to that Sprout cover. Such a gorgeous version.
― kitchen person, Thursday, 21 February 2019 17:12 (five years ago) link
more fun: https://www.npr.org/2019/02/22/697010742/natalie-prass-tiny-desk-concert
awesome to know that Hot For The Mountain is her favorite, as it's my favorite too.
― we're far from the challops now (voodoo chili), Monday, 25 February 2019 20:30 (five years ago) link