Amycanbe are a group very much in the European folktronica bag. If you’ve come across their previous singles, ‘The Song Of Matthew And Mark’ and the excellent ‘Your Own Thing’ (with that man Daisuke Tanabe turning up again on the remix!) you’ll already impressed with this 4-piece band.

Amycanbe are like an Italian Tunng especially on the track ‘Killer Bees’ (which comes with a charming video via YouTube).

If you’re into this, the opening track ‘24 Hours’ is nothing like a Jack Bauer theme tune. More of a glorious summer’s day that you just don’t want to end, like ‘Talk A Bit’ (with a touch of trumpet and synth).

Francesca Amati’s vocals are a little “breathy” at times, sometimes a little Bjork, sometimes a little Sol Seppy.

If you’ve missed a twangy guitar a la Lee Hazelwood (RIP), ‘Get Closer’ is the one for you.

A lighter version of Blankit on the whole while some of the tracks are a little more indie guitar pop, like ‘Burning’ and ‘Little Dog’. One little moan, at 45 minutes, they could have squeezed on the Daisuke Tanabe remix as a bonus track?

Generally, I love the mellow mood (epitomised by ‘Too Much Work’) and all the little bits of clarinet, trumpet, synths and electronica that they use. If you’re after a journey to a more reflective gentle area, this is a great debut album.

Forthcoming Gigs
Oct 18 2007 The Fox, Lewisham, London
Oct 19 2007 Under The Boardwalk, Sheffield
Oct 20 2007 Catch Shoredicth, London
Oct 21 2007 Radio Session @ Oxide Radio Oxford
Oct 22 2007 12 BAR CLUB [Album Launch] London
Oct 24 2007 The Troubadour, London
Oct 25 2007 Jamm, London

Hectic Mix nominations: ‘Killer Bees’, ‘Your Own Thing’, ‘24 Hours’, ‘The Song Of Matthew And Mark’, ‘Down Under’, ‘Let Me’, ‘Too Much Work’, ‘Heal’

Reviewed: Amycanbe — Being A Grown-Up Sure Is Complicated (Dancing Turtle Records) Release date: October 2007
Drums — Marco Trinchillo
Guitar — Mattia Mercuriali
Piano — Paolo Gradari
Vocals — Francesca Amati
Tracklisting:
1 24 Hours (3:44)
2 Talk A Bit (3:30)
3 Get Closer (3:01)
4 The Song Of Matthew And Mark (2:22)
5 All The Places (4:28)
6 Down Under (3:18)
7 Little Dog (4:19)
8 Your Own Thing (2:45)
9 Let Me (3:11)
10 Burning (3:25)
11 Too Much Work (3:29)
12 Killer Bees (3:41)
13 Heal (4:03)

Links:
www.amycanbe.com
Available online at www.dancingturtle.co.uk/shop/amybeing
www.dancingturtle.co.uk
www.myspace.com/dancingturtlerecords
www.last.fm/label/Dancing+Turtle+Records
www.myspace.com/shakutorimusi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Hazlewood (9 July 1929 — 4 August 2007)