Soko
Soko; is the little 21 year old French actor/singer by the name of Stephanie Sokolinksy who's been getting a lot of airplay on Australian radio for the past couple of the months for that one song I'll Kill Her. It's one of those creepy stalker songs: "If I find her, I swear, I'll kill her", but her thick accent and broken English makes it sound ever so adorable. Earlier this year she released a five track EP titled Not Sokute. Expect some sweet vocals, quirky folk acoustic alone-in-bedroom-corner pop; this is addicting.
Soko I'll Kill Her
Soko The Dandy Cowboys
Soko It's Raining Outside
Labels: Sandra
Labels: Winston
Labels: James
Labels: Grace
Labels: James
Labels: Sandra
Labels: Winston
Labels: Sandra
Labels: James
Ewan Pearson
Ewan Pearson is a DJ and Producer. He has done remixes for the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Ladytron and Goldfrapp. He has also produced tracks for the Rapture, Ladytron, M83 and is currently working with Lost Valentinos. His style varies from trashy electroclash to epic spaced out disco.
Apart from his immaculate credentials as a producer he also knows his way around the turntables. One friend told me that his new years eve set at rocket bar was one of best he had ever heard. If his DJ compilation Sci.fi.Hi.fi. 01 is anything to go by this claim could well be true.Its a textured aural journey filled with synth arpeggios and sparse lyrics. Some of the tracks would probably be considered minimal or deep house while others are more difficult to classify like his remix of Feist's inside and out as well as Brazilian Girls' Don’t Stop.
Ladytron Evil (Ewan Pearson remix)
Feist Inside and Out (Ewan Pearson remix)
Blood Red Shoes
It's not every day I come across a band quite unique as UK two piece, Blood Red Shoes. Laura-Mary Carter and Steven Ansell make the band and I must say, they can both play their instruments pretty damn finely (watch video below for proof). To be honest, I've only heard the one song, It's Getting Boring By The Sea, and I'm absolutely addicted. Over the years they have released several 7 inch records and numerous singles and as far as I know, they will be releasing an album on V2 in the near future if it hasn't already been released (correct me if I'm wrong). In the next few months or so, the band will be supporting the likes of Maximo Park and Biffy Clyro, plus performing a hell of a lot of their own shoes all over the UK and Europe. This post is merely a heads up, if these guys are aren't big already, they soon will be. Most addictive band around today.
Blood Red Shoes It's Getting Boring By The Sea
Beach House
When I first heard Victoria Legrand melt her words into my skin in the opening track "Childhood" (Love you all the time / Even though you’re not mine), it struck a euphoric feeling throughout. Beach House only have one record out, but it is, in short, stunning. Someone could of listened to their album and surmise that it was an undiscovered gem from another time (I know I did) or make connections regarding similarities – Mazzy Star, The Zombies, Slowdive and perhaps a bit of Broadcast, but Beach House are entirely in their own category. They craft minimalist and serene dream pop with hefty amounts of fuzzy organs, woozy slide guitars and breathy, delicate vocals that weave throughout so seamlessly. The blankets of melancholy are balanced out with the relaxing calmness lingering over. The imagery connected to this album is pretty breathtaking. The record is a soft waltz; the sweet breeze on a dim day; the languidness of a sunset rising. Perfect.
Beach House’s self titled debut album is available now on Mistletone Records.
Beach House Saltwater
Beach House Master of None
Beach House Childhood
Mercy Arms
I've been absent from the site for almost two weeks now and there has been only one reason. It wasn't because I got some incurable sickness or my computer magically blew up, but it was for the simple fact that I literally had no music to post about. It seemed whatever I thought about posting about, it had already been done. So, today I finally got of my butt and got some new music (I won't reveal them for they will be future posts). One release that I got was the brand new EP from Australia's latest talent, Mercy Arms. Kept Low is the band's debut release on the sort of new label, Levity (home to New Zealander's Cut Off Your Hands). There is absolutely everything on this 5 track CD, that you could ever hope for in a beginning band. Their solidified their unique sound that takes you into extreme jungle like drumbeats, but mixing it with the catchy guitar riffs and chunky as hell bass lines. Mercy Arms are interpretors of garage rock that is existing today. Fans of fellow Australian acts such as Red Riders, Ghostwood, or even Damn Arms will gobble Mercy Arms up at the first opportunity.
Mercy Arms Kept Low
Mercy Arms Shot Right Down
Mercy Arms Uptown Address
Dr. Dog
I was first introduced to Dr. Dog by their smooth cover of Heart It Races by Architecture In Helsinki, and it's only been now that Australia can get their piece of Dr. Dog thanks to the signing with Brisbane label Dew Process. Filling in the shoes of some notable 60's psychedelic folk-pop of The Beatles; Philadelphia's Dr. Dog have reinvented themselves from lo-fi conformity into a more polished sound of playful harmonies and memorable melodies. We All Belong is nostalgic and enjoyable, embellishing textured instrumental arrangements through their talented musical capabilities and songwriting of wandering odysseys. For fans of Wilco, My Morning Jacket and Elephant Six bands, this is album is one to add to your list of this year's albums to listen to.
Just check out their animated video of My Old Ways, directed by Isobel Knowles, former member of Architecture In Helsinki, so you can guarantee some cute stuff (by the way, she's also done videos for Sarah Blasko, New Buffalo and Ground Components to name a few). Australians can get their hands on Dr. Dog's album We All Belong, released through Dew Process on October 6th.
Dr. Dog Worst Trip
Dr. Dog The Girl (Beck Remix)
Dr. Dog Heart It Races (Architecture In Helsinki Cover)
Dance 'Till The Morning Sun
Brazilian Girls are a New York electronic quartet. Mixing several languages (French, German and English) and styles of music (bossa nova, house, reggae and trip hop) together to make a collage of dark brooding beats. Their sound is very unique. This song is utterly breathtaking.
Brazilian Girls Dance 'Till The Morning Sun
I guess I am behind the time if I am blogging about a defunct band, but I only recently discovered Out Hud. They shared several members with !!! before they broke up in 2005. From New York via California they created a fresh and vibrant fusion of dance and funk. Their first album, S.T.R.E.E.T.D.A.D, is a swirling mix of drum machines, synthesizers, funky bass lines, and electric cello. Their second and last album, Let Us Never Speak Of It Again, had an equally experimental take on their funk punk formula but brought poppier aspects into the mix with the inclusion of vocals.
Out Hud My Two Nads (Dad Reprise)
Out Hud Its For You ( Rub 'n Tug remix)
teenagersintokyo
DJs turned musicians, the ladies of teenagersintokyo formed from their seventh grade art class, crooning Daft Punk tunes; with the loss of one member and picking up long time friend Rudy as their new drummer, all within the last year, and whilst their early demos (produced by Lost Valentinos' Jono Ma) have suddenly turned to danceworthy anthems of the Sydney scene. Last week they released their very first record; self titled, it's a five track ep of haunting synths and creepy beats, drawing synth pop and post-punk influences from bands like Siouxsie And The Banshees and Chicks on Speed.
They're currently on a national tour with the New Zealand boys from Cut Off Your Hands, so if you're in Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne, do go see them! They will keep you on your dancing shoes all night with their explosive combination of incredible energy and vibrantly stylish outfits.
teenagersintokyo Robocat
teenagersintokyo End It Tonight
Portugal. The Man
These guys are no strangers to Off The Record. There were numerous amounts of times last year where they featured in a few posts and their album Waiter: "You Vultures!" made it to #3 on my Top 15 Albums of 2006. So, after a strong debut release that hasn't even been out for just over a year, what does a band do? They record a new album of course and release it as soon as possible. Now brings us to their strangely different follow-up release Church Mouth. Portugal. The Man are now a three piece, losing two members, and sadly their keyboardist was one of the members who has left, which has resulted in the band losing their little bit of uniqueness and structure. But never to worry their scared child, for Portugal. The Man have lost a little something somewhere but have gained an extra hand somewhere else. Losing two members has let the band to explore even more with their instruments and to take their music in a different direction. Their songs are still as catchy as ever, they still mess with your mind, and most of all, they can still make an excellent album even if they did have some hiccups.
Portugal. The Man The Bottom
Portugal. The Man Bellies Are Full
Portugal. The Man Church Mouth
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