For the Shawn Lee feature, it will be necessary to wait for April 9^th, the release date of the disc which already promises to fill our ears with 18 announced tracks, to transitions that seem more worked on the CD version. In the meantime, you have the opportunity to hear about the financial campaign launched via PledgeMusic by the Londonian in order to give body to his second collaborative LP with the Californian AM, a pair that has already achieved recent success with Celestial Electric.

In order to do this, a single address but multiple possibilities. There will be something for all budgets, from a simple preview download to financing entire tours by acquiring a lot of personal items, such as Shawn Lee’s famous tiger mask (yes yes) or a track composed for you and given the name you choose– Louna, one of the personalized songs issued during the campaign for the preceding opus, listen via the small integrated drive on the left of the page, will find itself on the new album.

Note that 10% of the money collected will go to Echo Park Animal Alliance, a community that helps abandoned pets and other endangered birds.

To end, the next French dates for AM & Shawn Lee, while waiting for their return to Europe expected in September if your investments permit them:

24 avril : Club Silencio (Paris)
26 avril : Printemps de Bourges
27 avril : Nouveau Casino (Paris)

“…bottled musical happiness and jive, a potent, magical elixir of funk, r&b and folk… Mixed into a life affirming and body moving beat happy slice of musical awesome…” –Subba-Cultcha 9 out of 10 stars

“…one of the most diverse records you’ll hear this year, while still carrying many great melodic hooks and accessible tunes.”–Mr. Scott Music blog

“…un album coloré, à la production très innovante, entre bossa, soul, et pop vintage.”—Start Up

English translation: “a colorful album, producing highly innovative combination of bossa, soul, and vintage pop.” —Start Up

People know Shawn Lee, superprolific songwriter and passionate about fun and vintage soul. AM is a guitarist and singer originally from New Orleans who played with Caetano Veloso and opened for Charlotte Gainsbourg. Their explosive meeting offers a colorful album, producing highly innovative bossa, soul, and vintage pop. A delight to savor without moderation.

“a dozen beautifully written songs”- 4 Stars Album Review Music OMH UK

“an electro-soul classic that also encompasses pop, soul, funk, jazz, Brazilian tropicalia, Turkish psychedelia and vintage soundtracks.”-Indie London Album Review 4.5 Stars out of 5 Stars

“…a bright and upbeat album full of catchy hooks, sunshiny melodies, Latin American-inspired grooves, and funky rhythms.”—Matthew, Turntable Kitchen

You don’t even need to be on the same continent these days to record an album. American AM and Englishman Shawn Lee prove this on ‘Celestial Electric’.

When singer/songwriter AM heard producer/multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lee’s Music & Rhythm on the radio in the US, he contacted him and quickly a friendship emerged which resulted in the aforementioned album for which both parties recorded in their own hometowns of Los Angeles and London.

Both gentlemen share a love for groove sixties and seventies soundtracks, which you can clearly hear on ‘Celestial Electric’. Enchanting rhythms for drums and percussion are combined with subtle synthesizer and guitars. AM’s lush and somewhat distant vocals top it all off.

The result has a real warm vintage sound. You could imagine AIR’s classic album ‘Moon Safari’ would have sounded this way (and AM actually toured with AIR recently) had they recorded it in the seventies.

This album is laid-back and a incredibly well produced product. (Co-produced by AM and Shawn Lee)  It works well for a quiet Sunday afternoon, yet it is exciting enough not to be just background music. Hopefully this collaboration will bring us more goodies in the future.

http://amsounds.com/2011/02/clash-magazine-uk-feature

LYRICS FOR AM’s ALBUM SOUL VARIATIONS & ENDINGS ARE BEGINNINGS EP

Endings are Beginnings

I tell myself
That I’m not who I’ve hated
And when I do
I’m like an old record playing back
And I want to start
But it’s so hard to begin
Everybody’s racing
But nobody’s winning

I’ve tried to forget you
But you just are not leaving
And god I wish
That I could just be at peace with it
Because I’ve done my best
To believe that endings
Have something
To do with beginnings

Stepping Stone

Take on what you will
But I still
Believe what I do
And I was your stepping stone
And I knew

So take your hand in mine
And all you will find
You’ll find what you need
And I was your stepping stone
And I couldn’t leave

Oh now my head keeps spinning
Oh now I’m right back in it
Oh now I was your stand in
Oh now I guess this will pass in time

Take things as they come
But you know that is so hard
Yeah you know what I mean
To take your piece of ground
And let what will be just be

Oh now my head keeps spinning
Oh now I’m right back in it
Oh now I was your stand in
Oh now I guess this will pass in time

I was your stepping stone
I guess this will pass in time
I was your stepping stone
I guess this will pass in time
I was your stepping stone
I guess this will pass in time

I Want Someone

C’mon don’t fill your plate
Loneliness will be up late
Backbones can’t stay straight
When all you do is take and you take

Yeah how the sun shines
When I’m making you mine
You give me half yourself
Say you’re taking your time
I want someone
You want everyone else

There’s one thing I do know
We all want someone to own
But things aren’t much better alone
I’m coming back to you I know

Yeah how the sun shines
When I’m making you mine
You give me half yourself
Say you’re taking your time
I want someone
You want everyone else

Yeah how the sun shines
When I’m making you mine
You give me half yourself
Say you’re taking your time
I want someone
You want everyone else
I want someone to stay

Old Song

Keep saying that you’re somewhere you’re nowhere at all
Now you’re running on habit hanging plans on the wall
It always seemed like the tables turned easy for you
Now there’s all these people tellin’ you what to do

But I know that you once were somebody that had so much to say
Now you’re nothing but an old song rearranged

When you’ve got all you need sometimes you can’t tell
I wonder if those big hands are holding you well
This wasn’t what I had hoped for I wanted you to shine
Now it seems that you’re moving down the narrowest line

But I know that you once were somebody that had so much to say
Now you’re nothing but an old song rearranged
Now you’re lost cuz you’ve got yourself in the way
Now you’re nothing but an old song rearranged

Now they’re stuck on their new found
Soon you won’t be around
God I wish I was wrong

But I know that you once were somebody that had so much to say
Now you’re nothing but an old song rearranged
Now you’re lost cuz you’ve got yourself in the way
Now you’re nothing but an old song rearranged

Live a Lie

All around me now
There’s nothing but pain
And I’m giving nothing back
That you gave
My house is crowded now
And I just can’t convey
Just how much you meant to me

And you take
A little time
Those mistakes
You know they were mine
And all the plans
That we made
Turned to stone
Walking away to live a lie

Now you found an open place
Where you wanted to be
And there’s nothing better than
What you need
And all those lonely eyes
Keep searching the streets
To find the things you gave to me

And you take
A little time
Those mistakes
You know they were mine
And all the plans
That we made
Turned to stone
Walking away to live a lie

And you take
A little time
Those mistakes
You know they were mine
And all the plans
That we made
Turned to stone
Walking away to live a lie
Walking away to live a lie
Walking away to live a lie

Pulling Triggers

I don’t know what you’re saying
Don’t bother explaining
Your reasons are old
Hoping somebody’s listening
Can’t you see that you missed them
It’s taking its toll

All good things have gone under
Continue to lumber
So bright and so loud
Just forget all you wanted
It’s time to move on here
We’re lost in the sound

Wander Wander
Backwards you wander
Think you know my name

You’re pulling triggers
On anything bigger
Than yourself
Everyday

Windowpanes are all broken
Don’t speak cuz you’ve spoken
I won’t hear a thing
All or nothing defeats you
My god can’t we please you
It’s some kind of game

Wander Wander
Backwards you wander
Think you know my name

You’re pulling triggers
On anything bigger
Than yourself
Everyday
And all your troubles
Just blame them on your double
As you walk away

Wander Wander
Backwards you wander
Think you know our name

You’re pulling triggers
On anything bigger
Than yourself
Everyday
And all your troubles
Just blame them on your double
As you walk away

Streets You’ll Never Know

Through your window
You say people are feeling pain
Looking out at the streets
you’ll never know
You’re taking pictures
Of the things that you want to see
Looking out at
The streets you’ll never know

You always find a reason
You’re keeping out of season
Tell me something I haven’t heard
You’re keeping down
You’re waiting
And time just keeps on fading
I think it’s time you took your turn

Speaking softly
You say things are the worst they could be
Never touching the streets
How could you know
Those timeless answers
Now you’re not fooled and you don’t agree
Looking out at the streets
You’ll never know

You always find a reason
You’re keeping out of season
Tell me something I haven’t heard
You’re keeping down
You’re waiting
Time just keeps on fading
I think it’s time you took your
And I think it’s time you took your turn

The walls you put up they won’t crumble
Cuz you just won’t let them
And lonely roads are not the only paths
That you can tread on
And tables turn but you just have to go ahead
Let them turn

And speaking softly
You say things are not what they seem
Looking out at the streets
How could you know

You always find a reason
You’re keeping out of season
Tell me something I haven’t heard
You’re keeping down
You’re waiting
Time just keeps on fading
I think it’s time you took your
And I think it’s time you took your turn

Stop

They told your story backwards that’s what you say
It doesn’t matter cuz nobody cares anyway
All the moments choking can’t get em down
Keep on looking but I can’s see what you’ve found

But I’m not gonna stop till you see me lonely
I don’t want to know all the tables you’ve turned
Say that you just want me to see your answers
But I’m watching them burn

I’m not gonna pour more salt in your wounds
But I’m not gonna move any mountains for you
Can’t you see that you have already won
Don’t want to fight but you have loaded the gun

But I’m not gonna stop till you see me lonely
I don’t want to know all the tables you’ve turned
Say that you just want me to see your answers
But I’m watching them burn
But I’m not gonna stop till you see me lonely
I don’t want to know all the tables you’ve turned
Say that you just want me to see your answers
But I’m watching them burn

What I’m seeing is wrong
You can’t change what’s already done
And I don’t know what to say
Anymore

But I’m not gonna stop till you see me lonely
I don’t want to know all the tables you’ve turned
Say that you just want me to see your answers
But I’m watching them burn
But I’m not gonna stop till you see me lonely
I don’t want to know all the tables you’ve turned
Say that you just want me to see your answers
But I’m watching them burn

We Will Remain

I know it won’t be the same
Two figures meeting in the middle
Hold onto something
Now that I know this
I know that I’m gonna change

I know it’s easy to say
Two made us two is what we will remain
All that I wanted
Is right here before me
I know that I’m gonna stay
All that I wanted
Is right here before me
I know that I’m gonna stay

Back-story is that nobody knows for sure
What will remain
And now I know I am sure about where I stand
I’m not afraid

Back-story is that nobody knows for sure
What will remain
And now I know I am sure about where I stand
I’m not afraid

I know it’s easy to say
Two made us two is what we will remain
All that I wanted
Is right here before me
I know that I’m gonna stay
All that I wanted
Is right here before me
I know that I’m gonna stay

Everybody’s Jesus

You’re reaching out for the loneliest hand
The friend that you want to make
You always mention the people you know
Don’t you know there’s a time and place
You walk along and hope they will follow
Comfort is the voice you bring
You just pretend that you’re part of the plan
Till you get everything you need

You want to own all the hands that you hold
You’re telling’ stories that you’ve already told

But you care
Yeah you care

Lord knows you’re a fantasy foe
You can look but you just can’t touch
You make believe there’s a story to read
But I know that it won’t say much

You want to own all the hands that you hold
You’re telling’ stories that you’ve already told

But you care
Yeah you care

You want to own all the hands that you hold
You’re telling’ stories that you’ve already told
I know the reasons they’re not what you say now
It’s more defeating and I hope you would see

But you can’t
Yeah you can’t

What You Hide

Tell me stories tell me lies
Don’t want to know the things you hide
Take me back to where I was
Watching sunsets feeling fine

Just be careful what you say
Some things will not wash away
Now I don’t need to know it all
I just hope you feel the same