'Skeleton' by Abe Vigoda
(MP3) Abe Vigoda - Skeleton
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Labels: Alexandra, Live Review
Labels: Single Review, Winston
Labels: 5 Songs with..., James
Labels: James, Single Review
Kim Salmon and The Surrealists @ Ding Dong Lounge
Photos taken by Mandy Hall and can be viewed here along with her other work.
Second was one of my favourite bands Witch Hats, showcasing some new material. With hectic lyrics about everything and nothing at all, matched with static, manic guitar and crashing drums there is a genuine punk brutality in this band live performance, matching that of punk predecessors such as the Birthday Party. Placed amongst the newer songs were Summer of Pain, Jock The Untold and Hellhole, the live renderings of these dirty, sharp songs coming to life even more so, possessing a real viciousness, though hearing some of the new, unknown songs was a great indicator as to what is to come from this amazing band.
Coming into this gig, I know very little of Kim Salmon. I knew of how influential his music in its various form (The Scientists, Beasts of Bourbon, The Surrealists) has been not only on Australian bands, but world-wide, but basically went into this blind, not knowing what to expect. The songs has a muddy distortion to them, with Salmons vocals traveling from barely-there whispers to deafening screeches and growls, with the music often doing the same, with moments of bass heavy riffs, to barley-there, almost silent spaces, strung together with piercing guitar. I was watching, and could see how this man and all of the musical catalogue he brings with him has influenced so many over the years, I could see how this band had influenced Witch Hats, who played just before them, though for some reason something about his performance just went straight over the top of me head. Whether it be that we’re just too many generations apart for me to be able to fully appreciate what he was doing, or maybe it was just a genuinely shrug-worthy performance, I am not sure. I feel somewhat disappointed in myself for not seeing what many people there obviously had seen in the past and continued to see this night, but something was just not happening for me.
'The Bismarck' by Lost Valentinos
(MP3) Lost Valentinos - The Bismarck
(MP3) Lost Valentinos - The Bismarck (Knife Machine Remix)
Myspace Site | Purchase The Bismarck | More MP3's
5 Songs with Children Collide
(MP3) Children Collide - Skeleton Dance
(MP3) Children Collide - Chosen Armies
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JOHNNY MACKAY OF CHILDREN COLLIDE'S 5 CURRENT FAVORITES
(MP3) NEU! - Hallogallo
I’m obsessed with this band at the moment. I love the use of the driving or “motorik” beat, something I really want to explore further in my own music. Hallo Gallo embodies what I love about the feel of NEU!
(MP3) Peter And The Wolf - Safe Travels
Cute sentimental folk from Austin, Texas. This guy writes songs that make me feel like being a character in a fairy tale. I really wanted him to look like a medieval lumberjack, but he looks more like a pro tennis player or something…anyway, check him out.
(MP3) Bridezilla - Saint Francine
One of the best new bands in Australia at the moment. I love this song, recently got passed their EP and listened to it a bunch of times in a row. This song especially sticks out to me. I hope they do well.
(MP3) Spaceman 3 - Ecstacy In Slow Motion
This is basically the same sound repeating itself for about 9 minutes. It put me into another world the first time I heard it, so meditative and beautiful. It’s off a weird record called Dreamweapon that I had to order once I’d heard this song.
(MP3) The E.L.F. - Billie
After a tour with this brilliant man I couldn’t get this song out of my head for weeks. He knows how to write a tune, he also knows how to be a funny bastard and when he’s not dropping beats in Port Moresby he’s making videos of himself in his bedroom.
Myspace Site | Purchase The Long Now | More MP3's | Watch Social Currency
Bodies Of Water
Gold, Tan, Peach, and Grey is this majestic churchy Arcade Fire-esque killer of an opening track that just simply sets the mood for the rest of the album, and has this flow about it that makes you want to take in what's being put in front of you, do some kind of tribal dancing, or just simply sit there in awe. And with proceeding tracks Under The Pines, Only You and Water Here the album just keeps on transcending through different emotions. It's really hard to pin-point just the kind of effect this album has on you. I don't know, I think for once I could just be completely lost for words and unable to describe how unbelievable A Certain Feeling really is.
(MP3) Bodies Of Water - Under The Pines
(MP3) Bodies Of Water - Darling Be Here
(MP3) Bodies Of Water - If I Were A Bell
There's influences coming from everywhere with this group; from 80's classics, theatre-esque bands such as Queen, and of course, some straight up traditional prop-rock. With this album winning me over from the first listen I had to investigate their previous release Ears Will Pop And Eyes Will Blink. It's now obvious to see how A Certain Feeling got it's sound but what I like about this first release from the group is that it was actually a little bit more different and they are group who have/are progressing with their sound. This comes across as almost something The Polyphonic Spree could've whipped up.
The song-writing for this album really takes the limelight away from everything else, it's incredibly distinctive and written so exceptionally well. They incorporated all these whimsical lyricism into a blend of songs ranging once again folk to prog-rock but what really entertained me with a couple of songs is the occasional Spaghetti-Western opening's and even bridges. Bodies of Water are perfect, that's all I can say about them now. They just have everything down pat and perform it so pleasantly. Only a handful of artists can put a huge grin on my face, and I can happily add this band to the list.
(MP3) Bodies Of Water - These Are The Eyes
(MP3) Bodies Of Water - I Guess I'll Forget The Sound, I Guess, I Guess
(MP3) Bodies Of Water - It Is Familiar
Myspace Site | Album Catalogue | More MP3's | I Heard It Sound Video
'Into The Chaos' by Howling Bells
With tours coming in every direction for the band, from headliners to supporting big acts (The Killers, Placebo and currently Mercury Rev) the four-piece has seen nothing but positive feedback. I pretty much fell in love with the Howling Bells from first listen of their 2006 - and breaking - single Low Happening, and the self-titled album that proceeded. But with a couple of years passed by and now this hot new single in everybody's hands, this are only going to take off dramatically once again.
The single is probably what most have come to love about the band as it takes a similar path to that of the previously mentioned song Low Happening and even Wishing Stone with it's flamboyant but structurely (yes, I made up a word) perfect drumming and guitar work. Juanita Stein's vocals are once again the stealer. There are not a lot of female vocalists around today that can really pull off the sexy rock 'n roll voice but by god Stein has got this so far down pat it's not funny. I can honestly see this single taking off, and it most certainly remind people once again that although the group has been hibernating for some time, they are still together and most definitely back with that certain something to get the senseless tingling again.
(MP3) Howling Bells - Into The Chaos
Myspace Site | Pre-Order Into The Chaos | More MP3's | Watch Live Recording | 5 Songs with...
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