Record Store Day (August 29) sees the vinyl release of Volume 2 of Aquarium Drunkard’s ongoing Lagniappe Sessions. The 13 performances gathered here on wax all have one thing in common: they’re all bursting at the seams with love and appreciation for the power of song. We’re in a blessedly irony-free zone here; even if the song choices may occasionally seem unusual, there’s not a trace of mockery to be found. There are ghosts in the grooves here, as well. But don’t worry — they’re friendly…
Category: Lagniappe Sessions
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Sven Wunder
… two vibrant, cinematic interpretations of traditional Japanese songs. “Tōryanse,” a children’s song typically played as crosswalk music, is reimagined here with a Yamasuki Singers-style choir over a lush and propulsive arrangement not dissimilar to the music on Wunder’s excellent Wabi Sabi LP. “Sakura,” which is customarily performed during Cherry Blossom season, finds the enigmatic maestro going wild on the harpsichord amidst swelling strings, traditional instrumentation and one of his signature breakbeats.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Sessa
Atenção! An outsize portion of our 2019 listening was dominated by Grandeza, the debut album from São Paulo–born artist Sessa. As such, the follow lagniappe session is something akin to the sound of the inevitably. This, the first installment of a two-part session, begins with Sessa’s delicate rendering of Helene Smith’s soulful “I’m Controlled By Your Love”, a cover deftly employed to audiences while in LA earlier this year. Next, the artist pays tribute to fellow countryman, and Tropicália pioneer, Jorge Mautner — taking on 1976’s “Samba Jambo”, before closing out with Haitian composer and guitarist Frantz Casseus’s “Yanvalloux”.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Sunny War
This week’s installment of the Lagniappe Sessions catches up with DTLA troubadour Sunny War (née Sydney Lyndella Ward). In contrast to her roots gigging in punk bands, War’s approach as a solo artist (a clawhammer infused amalgamation of blues and folk) has more in common with Joan Armatrading, and Joni Mitchell than Joan Jett. Though influences do die hard (see: War’s stripped down take of “Fragile”, via Wire’s perennial debut, Pink Flag).
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Lola Kirke
For her first ever Lagniappe Session, singer/songwriter/actress Lola Kirke takes to interpreting R&B, pop, and country classics by Irma Thomas, Madonna, Gary Stewart, and Samantha Mathis.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Omni (Second Session)
Just prior to the lockdown, Omni recorded their second entry for the Lagniappe Sessions. While their 2016 initial set paid tribute to ‘the best Alice Cooper song you’ve never heard’, here, the Atlanta trio take on Billy Joel’s FM radio-ready paean to the shadow self — “The Stranger.” Next up… some 10cc!
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Julien Gasc
For this week’s installment of the Lagniappe Sessions, Gasc chose a fitting selection of tunes that feels something like a stripped-down companion piece to his debut lp, ‘L’Appel de la Forêt’. Now at Aquarium Drunkard, the Toulouse, France based troubadour covering Marie Laforêt, The Who and Michel Delpech.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: M. Ward
For his debut Lagniappe Session, Ward decided to dig deep into the historical archives to rework some classic standards—one jazz, one classical—using some heavy guitar strings and the rustic hum of vintage Americana.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Black Lips
Prior to the release of their ninth record — the incredibly apt titled Sing In A World That’s Falling Apart — Black Lips touched down in Los Angeles for a secret show at Gold Diggers in East Hollywood. The following Lagniappe Session was cut just prior in the studio out back. Having morphed in both personnel and sound in recent years, drummer Oakley Munson runs us through the band’s cover selects, below — from drawing inspiration from Hank Williams to long lost VU nuggets …
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Ilyas Ahmed
One of the underground’s most reliable figures for the past decade-and-a-half, Ilyas Ahmed isn’t an easy artist to pin down…for his debut Lagniappe Session, Ahmed doesn’t bother digging out obscurities. Instead, he offers awesomely fresh spins on classics from the Rolling Stones, Joy Division and the Velvet Underground, turning these well-worn tunes inside out and revealing new colors.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Ben Watt
“Shed a skin, it’s no big thing,” Ben Watt sings on “You’ve Changed, I’ve Changed,” one of the 10 songs that makes up the Everything But The Girl co-founder’s new album, Storm Damage. Watt’s long career has demonstrated his ability to shift approaches, but no matter the format—glistening electronic music or autumnal Britfolk—his thoughtful voice remains constant. For his first ever Lagniappe Session, he brings two gorgeous covers of Sharon Van Etten’s “Comeback Kid” and Ten City’s “That’s The Way Love Is.”
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Yann Tiersen
…original pieces that could be described as minimalist are uprooted and placed into entirely different realms, as Tiersen tackles a 16+ minute Steve Reich piece, a classic Françoise Hardy chanson, and a tune by country gospel musician E.C. Ball. In the hands of Tiersen all become transformed.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Elkhorn
For their inaugural Lagniappe Session, guitar duo Elkhorn take on the traditional ballad “Morning Dew,” as heard by Bonnie Dobson via Garcia, the aforementioned Robbie Basho, Dave Holland, Sonic Youth, and a new traditional song, “John Henry,” often heard as a ballad and a hammer song or work song.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Molly Sarlé
Folk singer Molly Sarlé knows a thing or two about singing other people’s songs—she didn’t title her 2019 lp Karaoke Angel for nothing. For her debut solo Lagniappe Session, she inhabited a set of songs by Fleetwood Mac, Big Star, and Annie Lennox.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: The Districts
Save the date: March 2020 — the return of The Districts via their fourth lp, You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere. Gearing up for the release, the Pennsylvania based quartet donned their Santa caps for this month’s installment of the Lagniappe Sessions unpacking a bag of covers ranging from OMD, Tusk era Fleetwood Mac, Psychic TV & more.