Due to some unfortunate circumstances, I'll be making a last-minute trip to Toronto tomorrow morning. Consequently, I really need to get to bed, so tonight things will be brief.

Doris - "Did You Give the World Some Love?". On the bright side, however, this song is totally, unabashedly, roll-down-the-hill kick-the-bucket-and-come-back-to-life awesome. It's from a 1970 LP of the same name, by Swedish singer Doris Svensson. The song is written by Norman L. Martin. Kinda Petula Clark, kinda Dusty Springfield, kinda Carole King, it's a breathless swirl of a song, a simple setting of piano and acoustic guitar that's been made mountainous by the conclusion. Pressing swells of strings, smashing drums, a psychedelic burble of electric guitar. Over it all, Svensson's brilliant voice - it's coo and snarl, Jackie DeShannon and The Flirtations. Berndt Egerbladh's arrangement is genuis: sounds climb all over both channels, with surprising flashes and familiar smiles. When the main theme whispers back at 2:20, it's a big white bed by a bright open window, and then we're bounding out and through, down the hill, into the nightlife and the starlight and the dazzling glow of human generosity. Single of the year! (if only.) (more info here) [buy]

Now listen to it. See? Wasn't I right? Totally, unabashedly, roll-down-the-hill kick-the-bucket-and-come-back-to-life awesome!

Elsewhere -

A good cover-story on (and a terrific photo of) The Arcade Fire in Now. [via Chromewaves]

Five's posted some live Royal City tracks at My Mean Magpie, including the excellent "Postcards" (seriously: go get it).

See you Monday.