Organos' Concha 
by Grayson Currin @currincy
If you listen closely, the first voice you'll hear on Concha, the sprightly eight-song gem from Organos, is founder Maria Albani speaking, not singing. "Here," she says about five seconds in, signaling the moment in which the simple beat widens and her broad bass tone falls into place.
That command is an appropriate place to start with regard to Albani, a longtime local-band role player whose first outing as a frontwoman rendered an outfit that frankly doesn't sound like many others.

First Night

I reviewed this album back in April and have listened to it quite a bit since then.  The other day “Side Girl” came on the shuffle and it’s been bouncing around ever since.  The first thing I’ll say about this song is: handclaps.  I love some good handclaps in a song, and this one uses handclaps as the sole instrument other than voice.  Even better: there’s nothing ornate about the clapping; it just provides a straight beat for the voice to play off.  That voice sings out a really simple and pretty melody with really sharp, thoughtful lyrics to match: “And when the lights go out / And there’s room for doubt / Don’t you know / I’m gonna have your back babe.”  In my review I called this song a folk song that should be and now is; like good folk songs, “Side Girl” is simple without being simplistic and fun without being stupid (in fact, it’s pretty damn smart).  Its simplicity also gives it a certain flexibility that allows it to be adapted, reshaped and just generally played around with: witness the aRoaRoa remix, which you can download for free here. 

Side Girl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Kf2ZX0_gF98


Same Eyes

extra vocals and bass by Julian Brown (Feist/Apostle of Hustle)

Lit Up Rooms

It'll Never Come

Fits and Fears

At the End of the Ride

Extra percussion and bass by Joshua Carpenter (Floating Action/Schooner)