Young Galaxy - "Suzanne". There was something about the Spanish team, that year. They were not the fastest, nor the most precise. They were not aggressive, nor meek. Their play seemed to come from a different place than the other teams'. They moved like fireflies in a copse. They would pass silently across the field, through and among their opponents. Their only sound was the ripple and flick of their royal-blue uniforms. The Spaniards were tireless and strange. They raised one arm when they wanted a pass; they had dark eyes; the balls seemed to follow them; they touched, they touched, they touched. The other team would not understand. They would simply not understand. The vuvuzelas sang their doleful b-flat. The Spaniards passed the ball to and fro, crisscrossing like kites, 32 passes in a single play; and then finally, with something like regret, into the goal. They placed second, behind Argentina.

[buy Young Galaxy's bright ivory new EP, No Art on iTunes / See them on tour this month with the Besnard Lakes, or beside Adam & the Amethysts and Little Scream at Montreal's Belmont on June 26.]

Pat Jordache - "Phantom Limb". I wrote about this, Pat Jordache's debut, last month. Now it has a name. It is called Future Songs. It is available here, for whatever price you name, or on limited-edition cassette. I saw Pat again this weekend, backing Tune-Yards for a few songs. He played his guitar like he was playing the gold prize in a physics contest. He played it like he was a soulful emperor. Future Songs is no longer confused; it is rough-housing; it is stargazing when you're in love, reeling from a blow to the head, wearing sunglasses. "Phantom Limb" is a song you can leave behind and then come back and it'll still be good later.

[buy]

(photo by Shadi Ghadirian)