OFF THE RECORD

'Getting Wise' by Yves Klein Blue

2009-05-15T14:20:00.009+10:00

You might remember I introduced to the blog, Brisbane indie rock band Yves Klein Blue. Other than busy being played in car ads and touring everywhere, they've settled down to release their first full length album this June, called 'Ragged & Ecstatic'. The track 'Getting Wise' will be the first single released off the new record. And in their 50's reminiscent nature, neon signs and surge of lights and colours; 'Getting Wise' is a nifty swagger pop shamble (yeah I think I just made that up) number with plenty of nods, grooves and beats to tune into. One thing I'm not sure about is the slight religious connotation... I'm not going to go into that, as many have with Cold War Kids. But as the title track suggests, the young band are, musically, finding their feet, shifting between rockabilly and um... soul; but really, it does work. Yves Klein Blue are inventive without having to be orchestral or use a lot quirky instruments. Instead it's nothing more than basics of guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice and a whole lot of heart and enthusiasm.

Single launch shows:

Wed 27 May – The Toff In Town, Melbourne - tickets

Thur 28 May – Supper Club, Sydney - tickets

And if you're interested in the band playing a gig at your next house party, you can sign this petition. Good luck!

(MP3) Yves Klein Blue - Gettting Wise

Futher Information:
Myspace Site | Purchase Drawn To Themselves EP | More MP3's

Papa Vs Pretty

2009-03-31T10:01:00.005+11:00

Every little now and then a new band emerges with sounds of something fresh and promising. Slipping into that radar is a very young band and one of Sydney's own, Papa Vs Pretty. Catching on quickly is their described 'soaring, beat-afflicted post-gaze new-wave', but anything goes, really. Their music is a vast mixture of band's influences from Talking Heads, Radiohead, Beck, Joy Division to Grizzly Bear, blending sombre sounds of haunting synths, pulsating guitar build ups and the guileless vocals of frontman Thomas Rawle. Having reformed last year with their current line up, the band have graced the airplay of Sydney's FBi radio and played numerous shows throughout the country and at some big festivals like Laneway, Peats Ridge and Parklife alongside some like-minded Dappled Cities, Temper Trap, The Devoted Few and Seabellies. Papa Vs Pretty, however exert an extreme amount of talent and energy of their own, showcased through their live performances with such flair and exuberance; making an incredible impression of a definite band to watch. They've just released their second and latest EP comprised of some of tracks I'll let you have a taste test listen to below.

Papa Vs Pretty Arrestem
Papa Vs Pretty Sleep (Again)

Purchase Papa Vs Pretty and watch Ballad

Moscow Olympics

2009-03-01T18:55:00.003+11:00

Named after an Orange Juice song and the 1980 summer games, is little known Fillipino indie pop quintet, Moscow Olympics, whose amazing debut 'Cut The World ' was one of my favourite albums of 2008 that I never got around to introducing because I either was procrastinating or consumed by books, or both. At first upon listening you could easily mistake this band of being of a shoegaze, post-punk British band from twenty or so years back. But Moscow Olympics wear their influences proud with Galaxie 500, Blueboy, New Order and Sarah Records favourites, yet sound entirely their own in this current moment in time. Much like contemporaries of The Radio Dept., their airy space soundscapes and subtle jangly melodies are gapingly entracing, at the same time painfully pretty. A very fine craft work of indie pop greatness at its best and even more so special from an emerging band from this part of the world. With bands like these it makes me excited about music from all broad of the spectrum, like the discovery of a rarity. Precious.

Moscow Olympics No Winter, No Autumn
Moscow Olympics Cut The World

Purchase Cut The World

Damn Arms

2009-01-22T23:38:00.002+11:00

Its pretty sweet how this band has gone from kinda cool "synth thrash" band to "totally amazing space disco epic". I heard a few months ago that they broke up but apparently my sources are wrong.

Damn Arms - Destination Part II

James' Top 20 Albums of 2008

2009-01-01T20:42:00.020+11:00

Fuck Buttons | Street Horrrsing
(ATP Recordings)

I don't get why everyone made a big who-ha out of the whole "fuck" thing that some artists have chosen to place somewhere in their names. There's a naughty word in the name; big whoop, move on. This album was bound to get noticed, and for numerous other reasons than just the band's name. One reason being the production work done by Mogwai member John Cummings, another being it's odd name, and on top of that! The actual sound and end product Andrew Hung and Michael Pincott have managed to pull out from some mysterious place. It's unlike anything around today, or even anything in existence. It has this post-rock hypnotic feel about it that's helped favorously by it's build up's, it's climaxes and the constant repetition of drone music. Most definitely a major eye-opener for me.

(MP3) Fuck Buttons - 'Okay, Let's Talk About Magic'
(MP3) Fuck Buttons - 'Colours Move'

Scarlett Johansson | Anywhere I Lay My Head
(ATCO Records)

From reading the promos prior to the album's release this looked like it was going to be a winner in just about everyone's eyes. With all songs being Tom Wait covers, David Bowie featuring on backing vocals, Tunde Adebimpe also featuring on backing vocals, Nick Zinner performing guitar work, and David Sitek doing production work! What went wrong? Why did people just not agree with this album? Most people believed that the album was just too "obscure", "impossible" or "drowned" but in my eyes I see it as this: "obscure" yes, definitely but in a way that's intriguing and engaging, "impossible" perhaps but the challenge Scarlett set for herself was something completely something she could pull off, and as for "drowned"! That's the whole effect. It's as if Cocteau Twins and Mercury Rev were picking a bar-fight with Sonic Youth. It just works. That's all there is to it.

(MP3) Scarlett Johansson - 'Anywhere I Lay My Head'
(MP3) Scarlett Johansson - 'Song For Jo'

My Disco | Paradise
(Stomp Records)

My Disco's second effort, 'Paradise', was something of a complete turn-around to that of their debut, 'Cancer'. It's different in the fact that the album quite literally has nothing going on at all. It's not as hectic as some might have hoped but this album reveals so much more energy then that of it's predecessor. From listening you can tell it feels more comfortable. With Steve Albini behind the decks this time around the band I think were able to accomplish more then what they had originally set out to do. This is Albini's effect; he has this with everything he touches. It's incredibly hard to pigeon-hole a band like My Disco, and that's why it's best not too. But a band that manages to produce just simple beats and simple structures, and still manage to make a song that's more infectious then that of a dance-floor filler amazes me. They should forever remain a mystery.

(MP3) My Disco - 'You Came To Me...'
(MP3) My Disco - 'An Even Sun'

Bon Iver | For Emma, Forever Ago
(Jagjaguar Records)

This album was so close to perfect it wasn't funny. It was simply irresistible and an absolutely astonishing debut album. From the moment 'Skinny Love' caught the attention of mainstream airwaves there was going to be success written all over the album. There's personal trouble, love, heartache, guilt and regret. It had the essential traits for an enjoyable and thought provoking listen and it was an album for all to take in, and feel in some way, a relation to the stories. 'For Emma, Forever Ago' was the only album this year to actually send chills down my spine and make my hair stand tall. It's both chilling and comforting, it makes you feel welcome but yet still haunts your ever move. It sticks with you for hours afterwards and just begs to be listened once again. Although this album was one of the most played albums on my stereo this year, it lacked only one thing; sustainability.

(MP3) Bon Iver - 'Skinny Love'
(MP3) Bon Iver - 're: Stacks'

Brightblack Morning Light | Motion To Rejoin
(Matador Records)

Brightblack Morning Light's second album, Motion To Rejoin, was one of the most simplistic and easily enjoyable manners. But in saying that, it was also the most obscure and magnetic. The album is covered with this sort of south-western psychedelic rock feel with infectious lazy instrumentation and minimal BPM. It's the perfect hangover cure! It just wakes you up, gives you a nice affirming smack to the face, and then brings you back down to it's level and fills you in. This is a band that is happily planted within their Utopian beliefs and this album - compared to their debut offering - is one that shows they have reached a stage in their music that truly reflects this. It's atmospheric, undeniable heady, and spiritually awakening (if your not already involved in that). The album works in one continuum and comes at you at a very slow and inducing pace.

(MP3) Brightblack Morning Light - 'Gathered Years'
(MP3) Brightblack Morning Light - 'Past A Weatherbeaten Fencepost'

Cheap Time | Cheap Time
(In The Red Recordings)

Out of all of the discoveries I made this year, I was extremely happy to come across this little unknown band from America. But in saying that, it's hard to take in the fact that they really are unknown. This three piece youth-infused Ramonds loving group has taken punk music to a new level. But it's not the punk music that most kids have come to love and know today, I'm talking about Ramones style, the 70's; where punk really stood out. This album is probably the most catchiest and fun-loving 30 minutes of music you'll most likely listen too all year.

(MP3) Cheap Time - 'People Talk'
(MP3) Cheap Time - 'The Ballad Of Max Frost'

Witch Hats | Cellulite Soul
(In-Fidelity Records)

This album makes me smile. Witch Hats debut album, Cellulite Soul, was just one of the albums where from the very first note of opening track 'Before I Weigh' to closing track 'Doors Film' you could only do nothing but sit back, relax, have a chuckle, and try and believe what your hearing. This isn't because the album is terrible, just listening to this album makes me wish I had of taken up an instrument when I had the chance to. It's this grunge downpour with hugely distorted everything that would make Sonic Youth start scratching their heads. Kris Buscombe has one of the best voices in Australia; it's croaky, it's crackly, but he somehow manages to sing melodies so smoothly. It's an enjoyable album and proves that although The Scientists and other Australian rock bands of the yester-era may now be distinct, the legend still remains.

(MP3) Witch Hats - 'Before I Weigh'
(MP3) Witch Hats - 'I Can't Stay At Home'

Mercy Arms | Mercy Arms
(Independant)

This was one of my most anticipated releases for this year. There just seemed to be a lot riding on it, and there were a lot of expectations in which a lot of people were hoping the band were going to meet. They did exactly this, but not only did this just meet expectations they also went that little bit further. There are influences all over the place, and some of them do shine through but what bands these days don't have influences that creep through in their music? It's just natural, and there are some Jesus And Mary Chain lovers out their hopefully appreciating Mercy Arms' music. This debut album most differently solidifies the group as a must see and a must heard band.

(MP3) Mercy Arms - 'Down Here, So Long'
(MP3) Mercy Arms - 'Shine A Light Down'

Black Mountain | In The Future
(Jagjaguar Records)

This album was possibly the most perfect follow-up to any other debut around in these last handful of years. It was the return of Canada's psych and prog-rock spiritual leaders Black Mountain and just like their first, and self-titled album, it was just another huge roller-coaster of gigantic monster riffs, swirling cosmic rock and incredibly powerful ballads. The band have once again stuck proud and true to their classic rock calling and have come up with more songs of fantascism. I wouldn't call them revivalists now; they've moved way past that and can definitely be classed as being in a genre of their own. 'In The Future' is something only measured in epic proportions and can only be fully described in a ten page booklet. There's a lot of depth to this album, and a lot of emotion, that it's really hard to dumb down the effect this album has on listeners to one paragraph.

(MP3) Black Mountain - 'Stormy High'
(MP3) Black Mountain - 'Evil Ways'

Foals | Antidotes
(Sub Pop Records)

What a year it was for this group! So much love behind these guys right now it's really not funny. I did try to not let all this attention to the band get to me but for people who know me well, they will know that when people around me start loving an artist, I start drifting away from them. And unfortunately, that's what sort of happened. I did my best but when you have every second person coming up asking if you've heard 'Cassius', then it gets annoying. But, in saying all that I still really enjoyed this album when it was released. Just the fact that the band had the balls to reject Dave Sitek's mix of the album and go with their own was definitely attention-seeking. Seriously? Who in the right mind has the balls to reject that man? It's crazy. Anyway, call these guys what you want but they really know what they are doing and have one fine debut release under their belts.

(MP3) Foals - 'Olympic Airways'
(MP3) Foals - 'Two Steps, Twice'

The Ruby Suns | Sea Lion
(Popfrenzy Records)

A real late contender for me; only due to the fact that for some reason I put off listening to the album up until about a month ago. God knows why. I guess that perhaps there were just other albums I was looking forward to listening too more. I've learnt from my mistake now. In saying all this, I think my opinion of the release could be in order, yes? There's some real distinctive influences ranging throughout this album - moreso then their prior release - with African tribal beats taking control but also their homeland of New Zealand taking a shine with 'Tane Mahuta' sung completely in Māori. With these influences and the blend of calm, reverbed psychedelic pop making up an album filled with exotic sounds and unique instrumentation, how was this album not going to be good?

(MP3) The Ruby Suns - 'Ole Rinka'
(MP3) The Ruby Suns - 'Morning Sun'

Wavves | Wavves
(De Stijl Records)

Did this guy become huge or what!? It took like a week, tops, for everyone in the blogesphere to just eat this guy up. I don't blame everyone though, I can say that I am quite happily sitting on the same boat and enjoying every second of it. Nathan Williams has quite literally pulled some kind of a miracle out of his backside. It seemed that nothing was going to able to outshine this whole eletronic/rave craze that has quite literally taken over the world and formed this new "trend" but with the help of Wavves and other acts such as No Age, Jay Retard, Women and countless others this whole lo-fi/no-fi/fuzzed out music has really started to take off. This album is fantastic. It's just a huge wake up call and was completely unexpected. It's distorted to the extreme extent that distortion can reach, it's incredibly hard to understand the lyrics, and it's the best damn fun ever.

(MP3) Wavves - 'California Goth'
(MP3) Wavves - 'The Boys Will Love Us'

Beaches | Beaches
(Mistletone Records)

Speaking of artists taking off from quite literally no where, Melbourne's very own all girl psychedelic rock group, Beaches, is another one to add to that list. This group of ladies, and somewhat a super group featuring Antonia Sellbach (Love Of Diagrams), Alison Bolgar (Panel Of Judges), Gill Tucker (Spider Vomit), Ali McCann and Karla Way, have pretty much taken Melbourne and the whole of Victoria over, and soon enough all the other states. The self-titled album is unlike anything around today, and is smothered with endless jams played out to perfection. The whole album has this cosmic feel to it and is hauntingly and jaw-droppingly brilliant.

(MP3) Beaches - 'Sandy'
(MP3) Beaches - 'Free Way'

The Drones | Havillah
(ATP Recordings)

There's a lot that's different with Havillah compared to that of The Drones' stripped back 2006 album, Gala Mill. Mainly, it's a little bit more upbeat which is something fans haven't heard from the group since Here Comes The Lies all those years ago. But something that hasn't changed at all, not one bit, is vocalist Gareth Liddiard who still has this deep and dark thoughts on his mind that brings out a lot more emotion within each of the group's songs. This makes the album ironic, seeing as though it's a lot more enjoyable and easier to get into, but it seems to be the darkest album they have written in their career. I love this album because it's just noise; just straight up and in your face noise. There are a few acoustic numbers for good measure though.

(MP3) The Drones - 'The Minotaur'
(MP3) The Drones - 'Luck In Odd Numbers'

Bodies Of Water | A Certain Feeling
(Popfrenzy Records)

This is an album that made me re-think my snobbish-ness towards music, and to go by the saying "never judge a book by it's cover". Although it wasn't the cover that put me off, it was the critics. Just about every journalist out there who was in charge of writing up a review for this album claimed them as the next Polyphonic Spree. This statement put a complete downer on the album and for some reason or another put me off listening to it. That was, until the wave of unjust reviews died off. I haven't looked back since giving this album it's much deserved and overdue listen. Yes, there are little glimpses of The Polyphonic Spree here but who cares, seriously. It's a phenomenal album, with hand-claps, sing alongs and catchy beats, but all in a high-pitched, rock opera sort of way.

(MP3) Bodies Of Water - 'Under The Pines'
(MP3) Bodies Of Water - 'Even In A Cave'

El Guincho | Alegranza!
(Mistletone Records)

If ever there was going to be a party record to define the year 2008, I would be putting all votes on El Guincho's debut effort, Alegranza!. With every listen of this album I find something new to love about it and there is always a different song that I feel some sort of a connection with and give it the nice repeat treatment. There are so many hints of what we thought were pretty much dead genres, including Tropicalia but with blends of afro-beats, instrumental samples, and a feel-good vibe around the whole album I would imagine it would be extremely difficult to not even get a foot tapping along to this. It's infectious in a very good way, and is already getting the multiple plays this Summer and will most likely continue to do so.

(MP3) El Guincho - 'Palmitos Park'
(MP3) El Guincho - 'Kalise'

Abe Vigoda | Skeleton
(PPM Records)

This album is a complete rarity. Purely for the fact that right from the very first note strumming by all members in the band for the opening song Dead City/Waste Wilderness, you just knew that this album was definitely going to be something different. It's impossible to pigeonhole this band, no one could do it. One minute their punk, another their rock, but then they throw in this tropical feel which is revealed through the drum beats and guitar work, but on top of all this there's this real experimental thing going on with little gadgets. It's mind-bottling just how good the end product sounds. It's almost as if Battles and The Ruby Suns are the parents of a child who digs only 80's guilty pleasures and flamboyant punk. If ballets were done in punk form, this album would be the soundtrack.

(MP3) Abe Vigoda - 'Dead City/Waste Wilderness'
(MP3) Abe Vigoda - 'Skeleton'

Beach House | Devotion
(Mistletone Records)

What a phenomenal album this is. I can safely add this to the list of albums that give me chills and make my hair stand tall. It's hauntingly beautiful chamber music at it's finest. The albums is covered in this elegance, but it still has the effect to creep you the hell out. Which turns out to be a really good thing as it helps me remember which tracks did what. What this duo does with their music is both moving and relaxing. It's Sunday morning music, it's depressed music, it's probably the only album from this year that can actually put me to sleep at night (I'm not too big on the whole listening to music whilst you sleep, but this album I can let slide). It's a stunning follow up to their debut a couple of years ago, and this album is anything to go by then the future is looking pretty good for Baltimore duo.

(MP3) Beach House - 'You Came To Me'
(MP3) Beach House - 'Heart Of Chambers'

Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds | Dig, Lazzurus, Dig!!!

Could their be any other album released this year that was as cool as this one? Seriously, this album was really one that defined 2008 for me (Why wasn't it #1 then? See what's #1 to find out). It's obvious to see now that Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds have a made a pretty change in their music and their overall image with a lot of Grinderman project sticking with Cave as he was making this record. Which is not a bad thing at all! And that's why this album is so far up the list. Don't get me wrong, I love just about anything Nick Cave touches, and the Bad Seeds albums that have been released in the past are all amazing in their own unique way, and Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! just shows listeners of perhaps a glimpse into the future of the direction in which the band is heading next. The album had me from opening riff. Oh! And just for the record, Midnight Man is hands down the best song of 2008; nothing topped it.

(MP3) Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - 'Albert Goes West'
(MP3) Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - 'Midnight Man'

Kes Band | Kes Band
(Mistletone Records)

Welcome to the record that truly made up my year. With all the descriptions I have given to the other albums that made up my top 20 for this year, this album combines all those together and doubles it. This album is everything to me; it's almost as if it's prized percession. The project features lead vocalist and extroadinaire Karl E. Scullin (aka KES and ex-Bird Blobs member), and other well-known Melbourne musicians Paddy Mann (aka Grand Salvo), Oliver Mann, and Laura Jean amongst a whole host of others performing in a very communal effort. Their music is entertaining, as not only does it really tug at all emotions whilst truly exploring some indifferent and abstract structuring but the album also highlights Scullin's lyrical ability more so then his solo-work and shows off his almost elfin voice. This album will forever remain a favorite of mine.

(MP3) Kes Band - 'Eventually'
(MP3) Kes Band - 'Kids Of Equador'

'Skeleton' by Abe Vigoda

2008-11-28T13:00:00.003+11:00

To this day I can honestly say that I have never really given much thought about Mimes. It's not that I have a distaste for them or don't appreciate what they do; their just people who have never crossed my mind or I've spared a moment to give a though too. That is until now because I can tell you that after just witnessing Abe Vigoda's video for Skeleton I'm officially spooked. The way the group portrays these Mimes - whilst still rocking out to the tune, might I add - is eerie to say the least. There's glimpses of freaky smiles, weird hair-do's and extreme close ups of the members faces just starring blankingly. It's enough to give a small child nightmares. On top of this though, the film-clip is actually really incredibly brilliant. I'm sort of lost for words in just how to describe it but the way the camera shakes with each members bopping, the way it chops from one side of the group performing to the other and just the cross fades really keeps the interest level at a high. You have no choice but to watch, it's hard to look away. Even if the band does look their thinking about killing you. This is a stunning track from a stunning album, and if I were to recommend a "tropical-punk" album to someone whose interested I would hands down go for Skeleton. I'm also well aware that Skeleton may be the only "tropical punk" album in existence but that doesn't mean it's not crap.

(MP3) Abe Vigoda - Skeleton

Futher Information:
Myspace Site | Purchase Skeleton | More MP3's

Kim Salmon and The Surrealists @ Ding Dong Lounge

2008-11-20T22:56:00.004+11:00

Photos taken by Mandy Hall and can be viewed here along with her other work.

Opening up the night was Pistons Misfire, a ‘supergroup’ of sorts, containing members from various bands such as Kamikaze Trio, Group Seizure, Digger & the Pussycats and The Cheats. This band was loud and brash, with a clash of distorted guitar and deafening drums, as if the result if Jay Reatard collaborating with Wolf & Cub. It was punk, with psychedelic undertones but still maintaining a contemporary appeal. I admit that the Wolf & Cub comparison may appear to be somewhat lazy, as this band too had two drummers booming their way through an electric set.

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

2008-11-18T00:22:00.005+11:00

The Lost Valentinos have finally returned after many many countless months in somewhat hiding, and what a surprising return it has been. The Bismarck is the name of the group's latest single. Their remix own under the Knife Machine moniker reminds me of New Order and how they always did their own extended remixes - which a lot of the times were actually better than the original. I guess maybe, its a personal thing but for some reason I really prefer it if there are less vocals and the track is 50 percent longer. Its good that I can still be a little excited about an "dance punk" band in late 2008 but the Lost Valentinos' new single just gets it right. Bismark is a pretty sweet glimpse into what the group could be producing next. It's been too long since the release of their last single 17 Death. Hopefully this time we wont have to wait as long for the album to arrive.

(MP3) Lost Valentinos - The Bismarck
(MP3) Lost Valentinos - The Bismarck (Knife Machine Remix)

Futher Information:
Myspace Site | Purchase The Bismarck | More MP3's

5 Songs with Children Collide

2008-11-13T15:24:00.002+11:00

It's been a little since I've posted one of these (which I really should start doing a lot more frequently seeing as though there are so many more yet to be posted) but now that I'm trying to get things up and rolling on this website once again - and introducing some new features in the not-to-distant future - it's pretty much a perfect time to be doing this. So, all excuses aside, it's time to push forward. Children Collide is possibly one of the most talked about Melbourne bands at the moment. What with a debut album now released, a stellar live reputation, and some incredible music to go with it; it was only going to be a matter of time for these guys. The Long Now is the name of the album and starting tomorrow night the boys are set to tour around Australia promoting it. The tour dates and supports are available at this link but I also managed to steal some time from lead-vocalist Johnny Mackay for a quick interview and a '5 Songs with...' which he was only more then happy to take part in.

(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.

Futher Information:
Myspace Site | Purchase The Long Now | More MP3's | Watch Social Currency

Bodies Of Water

2008-11-08T20:55:00.002+11:00

It probably seems that with every post I put together and publish I'm always speaking about bands that I absolutely love to death and couldn't live without. Well, in some cases, this is true and this one today most definitely fits under that category of "if they didn't exist, I might just die". I have to admit, I'm a late bloomer to this prog-rocking gospel-folk group but as cliched as it always sounds, it's always better late then never. It wasn't until this year's release of A Certain Feeling that Bodies Of Water grabbed my attention, and every bit of it. They quite literally just blew me away, I was stunned by the creativity and the brilliance that this band is just smothered with.

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

Futher Information:
Myspace Site | Album Catalogue | More MP3's | I Heard It Sound Video

'Into The Chaos' by Howling Bells

2008-11-06T22:22:00.012+11:00

I don't know if I could be anymore excited at the moment. Not only have I managed to find some motivation to try and get Off The Record back up and running again in much a better way (did you notice the "single review" stamp on the above picture? a sign of things to come people) but in doing this, and searching around for something new and pretty damn good to post about, I happened to just visit the Howling Bells website at just the right moment as their new single Into The Choas has just been let out into the world for people to enjoy and love. In the midst of all these "follow-up" albums that have been coming in flourishes this year, somewhere in the minds of people the question of when the Howling Bells would release a new album surely would have been floating about, somewhere. I know for me it certainly has been, and although there is no official date for the release of the next album all I can say is let the countdown begin.

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

Futher Information:
Myspace Site | Pre-Order Into The Chaos | More MP3's | Watch Live Recording | 5 Songs with...

'Ritual' by Tic Toc Tokyo

2008-10-20T11:57:00.000+11:00

This video came as a bit of a surprise, a good surprise at that. The boys in Tic Toc Tokyo have once again shown that they are the hottest unknown thing going round Melbourne, and this video only encapsulates that even more. With news of an album coming early next year, it looks like the group could be in for some exciting times ahead. For now though, we have to make do with their single, 'Ritual', which isn't necessarily a bad thing at all. Try not to enjoy this.

Tic Toc Tokyo Ritual

Portugal. The Man

2008-10-07T17:45:00.003+11:00

If you look up at the above picture you'll see a band who look like they have a bit of fun. That band, in case you hadn't picked by the post-title, is Portugal. The Man. And that photo is probably the only time you'll see the band being anything but serious. They are just one of a handful of artists that I have been following ever since their beginning and have witnessed, this one in-particular, only continue to rise up and up with each release and secure a spot safely as one of my favorite bands. Their now three albums into their career, and with their latest (and most definitely their most creative) album, Censored Colors, we (well, I) have noticed a band that has matured from their roots and have taken on exploring directions that people probably wouldn't have expected the band to look down at all. It's worked out superbly for them, and I think with the album being released through their own label (but also having that extra support from Equal Vision) has given them that freedom they were most likely after all along. Censored Colors is a huge step-up from last year's release, Church Mouth, and sees the group taking in influences from just about everywhere from 70's rock (they most definitely found/rediscovered the Led Zep records), vintage folk, and just about every other genre out there worth messing around with. I've spent the last couple of days just trying to think of a way to describe the sound of which Portugal. The Man have found themselves doing, and this is what I could come up with (poorly, might I add); A piano/acoustic-based less-experimental Mars Volta with shorter songs sort of. The vocals sound nothing like The Mars Volta, but I made that comparison due to the fact that the group have incorporated a wide-range of instrumentation and new structuring of their songs that has that familiarity (just listen to the fade between 'New Orleans' and 'Never Pleased' and you'll see). Censored Colors is probably one of only a handful of albums released this year that I have not gotten sick of at any stage of the album's progression, and definitely one I'm not shy of putting on repeat. I was by no-means disappointed with Church Mouth last year, but I did see some struggles and worrying signs and it pleases me to say that this is a band that has truly found themselves now. Their confident, their rousing, their everything I want at this current moment, and produced a 15-track album worth more then just one listen. Album of the Year contender? You better believe it.

Portugal. The Man Lay Me Back Down
Portugal. The Man New Orleans / Never Pleased
Portugal. The Man 1989

Purchase Censored Colors.

Voltaire Twins

2008-10-06T14:24:00.006+11:00

Voltaire Twins are from Perth and are a sister/brother duo. They make pretty catchy rudimentary pop music. They have recently supported Ladytron and played Parklife. Their early demos consist of two tracks, 'Disco Inteligence Light' and 'London. 'Disco Intelligence Light' will probably get most people's attention with its charming Glass Candy meets Crystal Castles aesthetic. Personally I'm beginning to despise the whole "8-bit" glitchy sound but I think I'm part of a minority, so I'm sure people are going to love this. Where they really shine is 'London', with its brooding synth patterns interceding delicate boy/girl vocals. It has a real vulnerability and honesty to it that is rare.

Voltaire Twins - Disco Intelligence Light
Voltaire Twins - London (highly recommended)

Ladytron

2008-09-23T20:46:00.003+10:00

Winston's post yesterday has reminded me that I needed to post this Ladytron one I wrote up months ago, better late then never, hey? It's been three years now since Ladytron's last (and arguably their most definitive) release, Witching Hour. The foursome return with their new album Velocifero, which has taken just under a year to structure, produce and officially release. The group haven't expanded too much on their sound, still sticking with the echoing electronic-noir sound, but also having delved deeper and thrown in a few noticeable gimmicks here and there. It works off a treat; it leaves an impact with each synth angsty beat that comes with each track and leaves us just as curious for the next song to follow. The albums opening tracks Ghosts and I'm Not Scared both reek of single material, and could both do the same wonders as what 'Seventeen' did for the band back in their hey-day. Helen Marnie's vocals are eerie and ghastly but at the same time have this softness and rocky attitude within it. Helen provides that extra edge for the group and in the final outcome blends in the flow and stir of the album. Overall, the album wont stir already fans but will welcome new fans quite persuasively. Catch Ladytron as they head around the Australia in the next week, and also taking in Adelaide's Parklife Festival as co-headliners with Peaches.

Ladytron Ghosts
Ladytron I'm Not Scared

Purchase Velocifero and watch the video for Ghosts.

Fluorescent

2008-09-22T13:11:00.000+10:00

The fact that I wasn't aware of Fluorescent until this morning is really a testament to the diversity and strength of the Australia music scene. Their style is somewhere between My Bloody Valentine and New Order. This is most obvious in their track Unfamiliar with begins with a primitive synthetic drum sequence which slowly begins to segue into a dense drowning wall of guitar. Really endearing stuff.

They have been on the scene for a few years and have played with Midnight Juggernauts, PNAU and Cut Copy. You can catch them on the 4th of October supporting Ladytron at their third and final Show in Melbourne at the Esplanade Hotel (I know I will be there).

Fluorescent - Sleeping
Fluorescent - Collapse
Fluorescent - Unfamiliar

Their Album Winter is available for free from their website

Pepi Ginsberg

2008-09-20T16:45:00.000+10:00

There's just something about Pepi Ginsberg that has me infatuated. With every listen of this singer/song-writer's album, Red, I find myself only going back for another listen, and then another listen on top of that. The album was produced by Dr. Dog's Scott McMicken and with his expertise behind the desk he was able to expand Ginsberg's vintage feel and make it a compelling album. Her vocals are invigorating and layered with emotion that only further encapsulates whoever listens. Pepi's influences range from everywhere, most notably being that of Bob Dylan, but also the likes of Jolie Holland (perhaps a little more upbeat) and vocal influence (most notably through In My Bones) has got to be from Patti Smith. She creates the sort of music that's nostalgic, covered with this analog feel and would even fit nicely into the soundtrack for a Gondry film.

Pepi Ginsberg The Waterline
Pepi Ginsberg In My Bones
Pepi Ginsberg Ghosts Of Perdition

Purchase Red and watch the video for The Waterline.

5 Songs with Whitley

2008-09-17T22:40:00.004+10:00

Whitley is one of those indescribable artists that only comes around very rarely. It's astonishing to believe how much he (Lawrence Greenwood) has achieved in such a short span, and at a young age (and it's even sweeter that his Victorian). His won fans world-wide, and sold out shows at just about every pub and venue to fit a decent sized crowd around Australia. It is with this that it is no surprise that Whitley he soon to pack up the bags and head off to America for a monthly stint with everybody's favorite pop-folk dream boy, Ben Kweller. Whitley plays one more show (and it's sold out, who would have thought?) before heading off but prior to this taking place I manage to grab some time and convince Whitley to compile a '5 Songs with' for everybody. Enjoy.

Whitley I Remember
Whitley Lost In Time

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WHITLEY'S 5 FAVORITE SONGS

Arcade Fire Intervention
I love the way that it lulls you into it's tune. Then there is this rise and a KEY CHANGE! I'd never go there. Key changes can sound so dubious, unless you're in a cool jazz lounge, and really jazz is not cool. So, the chances of good key changes are pretty minimal these days.

The National Fake Empire
The timing, I'm not sure what it is, is cool. It's like the three into four vibe. It's been recorded by Peter Katis so well. The vocals are beautiful. The lyrics are nice too. I want to see a one man band perform it.

Rufus Wainwright The Art Teacher
A great song of forbidden love and admiration. I feel like a schoolgirl when I listen to this song. A very manly, very straight schoolgirl.

Washington Lightwell
She wrote this song about a homeless musician who lived in a lightwell in a house in Carlton. I don't think her album is out yet but from the tracks I've heard, it's going to be a cracker.

The Panics Get Us Home
When I toured with these guys, I would hang out for this song every night. Great arrangements, great strings, awesome lyrics. They are so powerful when they play this live. Myles looks like he's going to snap his arms, he hits the drums so hard. Myles is also like a schoolgirl, he has very soft skin, like a princess.

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Previous '5 Songs with'.
Click Me Click Me Click Me

Fan Death

2008-09-14T18:59:00.003+10:00

I'd like to introduce everyone to a group that will be the most talked about in 2009. They go by the name of Fan Death, and these past couple of weeks have been popping up on just about all of the well-known blogs around the world. There's always an artist that comes along out of nowhere and just creates this massive hype around them, and become one of the most talked about items (take MGMT for example). I'm getting some real Kate Bush cross Goblin vibes about this duo, which actually is really refreshing to hear. They do a nice little take on that weird sort of 80's pop, and just to further creep you out, include some eerily spooky vocals that are unbelievably deep and invigorating. There's not much music around to judge the group by, but from the looks of it Erol Alkan has snapped the duo up and is releasing a 7' inch through his label in the not to distant future.

Fan Death The Constellations
Fan Death The Son Will Rise
Fan Death Veronica's Veil

Jeremy Jay

2008-09-11T11:09:00.001+10:00

Jeremy Jay's music is one of a story-telling nature, much in the same vein as Jonathan Richman's solo work. His songs are short and sweet and, as described by himself, "influenced by dreams and the more fantastic surrealist sensibility linked with the French New Wave". His intriguing to say the least, for there's obvious influences ranging from Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, to even the likes of Francois Hardy and David Bowie (Hunky Dory days) but this textural blend of slow dance ballads and over the top fuzzed-out guitar work is something worthy of an applause. Jeremy is backed by a three piece band containing none-other then the extraordinary Yasmine Smith (ex-Lost Kids), Ilya Malinsky (well known rock-critic) and Nick Pahl who all come from diverse backgrounds. A Place Where We Could Go is filled with teenage fantasies, childish lyrics, and moody pop. He is America's answer to Jens Lekman, and tracks such as 'Hold Me In Your Arms Tonight', 'The Living Dolls', and 'Oh, Bright Young Things' are perfect examples. This album is for the lonely, the together and everything in-between. It's a trip down nostalgic lane and an album of unprecedented instrumentation. Most definitely one to hold on to.

Jeremy Jay Hold Me In Your Arms Tonight
Jeremy Jay The Living Dolls
Jeremy Jay Oh, Bright Young Things

Purchase A Place Where We Could Go.

5 Songs with Mew

2008-09-08T19:12:00.003+10:00

Mew is probably one of the most interesting bands I have come across, and to be honest if it weren't for Jacq (a previous Off The Record contributor, and a Mew fanatic) I might not have even come to know the band at all. Their a band focussed deeply in the music they create, and aren't happy unless it's 100% up to their standards. Their prog-rock at it's finest and most experimental with instrumentation that sends readers into a sense of loss. With all the love and worship for their music aside, it is with great pleasure I post one of my favorite '5 Songs with...'. Jonas Bjerre, lead singer of the band, was very kind enough to take some time out from the band's heavily induced studio recording time to talk a bit about what's happening at the moment in the Mew camp and of course, put together this 5 song playlist for everyone. There's not a lot more I can say, so without more writing space wasted, let's get on with it.

Mew Apocalypso
Mew Special

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JONAS BJERRE OF MEW'S TOP 5 SONGS.

Scott Walker It's Raining Today
I really admire him for taking what was essentially popular music to a much darker place. This song is a beautiful one in itself - but what really makes it interesting are the discordant strings in the right speaker (or is it the left one?). And of course, his voice is mesmerizing.

Stina Nordenstam Little Star
This is a perfect pop song if pop music was actually allowed to be this perfect.
Her voice is so haunting and unique and her lyrics conjure up nightmares and difficult situations. That whole album is tremendous. It's hard to pick just one song. Somehow the Scandinavian moody jazz tone in the production of this album works wonders. Any other artist and I probably would not like it. She also made albums with much wilder, more raw production, but this is my fave.

Pixies No.13 Baby
Who can choose one Pixies song? It's impossible. What a band they were, their blend of incredible pop tunes mixed with that strange aggression and surreal, violent (and often funny) lyrics which all unite into what only they can do. I chose this track because there is a magic moment in which a Mexican-sounding fairly aggressive song about a girl with a tattooed tit suddenly and unexpectedly changes into a hauntingly beautiful and sad guitar theme, the kind you want to go on forever.

The Swirlies San Cristobal de las Casas
They are one of our biggest influences. This rather progressive and noisy, yet strangely melodic song is one of the best tracks off their second album.

Laurie Anderson O Superman (For Massenet)
"So hold me mom, in your long arms"

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Previous '5 Songs with".
Click Me Click Me Click Me

'Walking On A Dream' by Empire Of The Sun

2008-09-07T21:00:00.002+10:00

Could this video, collaboration, the idea in general be possibly the coolest thing to happen this year? I think so. When you think about it, Empire Of The Sun made up of Luke Steele (The Sleepy Jackson fame, and idol of mine) and Nick Littlemore (Pnau fame, well known Australian producer) is possible the best match-up. Just everything about it works, and with that all in mind, it makes their debut album 'Walking On A dream' such a huge anticipation. The video for the single of the same name has been floating around for a little while now, and there has not been one negative review yet. This is all positive, and what could make it sweeter? A totally awesome album artwork that's what (which can be found here). Enjoy, lather it up, don't feel guilty about loving this more then you should. I don't.

Empire Of The Sun Walking On A Dream

Also, how many blogs can say they have been mentioned on Gorilla Vs Bear? You can now add Off The Record to that least for it seems I got Chris pretty excited about the artwork as well. You can read that post here.

Tilly And The Wall

2008-09-06T20:24:00.003+10:00

I remember two years back when listening to Tilly And The Wall was something so innocent and nostalgic. It's amazing what two years can do to a band, and their music, it's not so clean and fun now; this band is serious. With their third album (O), they have so much more attitude and angst it's really hard to believe your actually listening to them. There's still the sing-a-longs, the fun loving, and dance-crazed toe-taps but there's just so much more layers now. It's phenomenal to listen too. They've transformed their energy of declarative exuberance in another direction. I mean come on! There's saxophones now? And an actual drum-kit (only in a few songs)? And this whole Americana-Western feel? There's even swear words!? What's going on here? Okay, this really does need to be listened too to fully understand. Tilly And The Wall's hard working lifestyle has completely paid off for them, it's a given. I'm just gobsmacked at how much this group has changed. I need to sit down, this is too much.

Tilly And The Wall Pot Kettle Black
Tilly And The Wall I Found You
Tilly And The Wall Dust Me Off

Purchase (O) and watch the video for Pot Kettle Black.

Scary Mansion

2008-09-05T19:45:00.003+10:00

Scary Mansion is a recent discover I made by accident. You know when your checking out music on Myspace (the cool and hip way) and you just find bands through bands that just extend into other bands? Well, that's how it happened. Don't ask me the direct path I took to find Leah Hayes solo project but it's turned out to be one of those small miracles. Hayes is also a novelist, so it's with any wonder why her music is so complex and each song told to such a great detail which makes her debut album, Every Joke Is Half The Truth, a new and in-focus listen. It's intriguing, it draws you in from the very beginning, and above all it's just flat out weird and gloomy. It's not depressing though, which just adds more confusement, but go with me on this. Hayes fits nicely into the anti-folk genre, that as of late seems to be making quite the comeback. If your a fan of Cat Power, or even My Brightest Diamond, and don't mind a bit of story-telling you really should go past this girl.

Scary Mansion Sharkish Sea
Scary Mansion Scum Inside

Purchase Every Joke Is Half The Truth.

'Keeping It Clean' by Songs

2008-09-04T19:27:00.002+10:00

For those of you who are completely unaware of who Songs are, and what they are all about; firstly I say for shame and secondly I say it's never too late. With just an EP under their name, and split EP on the horizon with Love Of Diagrams, this Sydney four-piece are making waves and huge impressions. Their a band that knows what they are really doing and doing it incredibly well, and it shows so much in their recordings. 'Keeping It Clean' is the lead single off the self-titled EP (which was released through Pop Frenzy a few months back), and it is exactly that. It's nothing to bewildering but it has just as much of an effect as something out of this world. For some reason I'm getting vibes of mellow Sonic Youth and Go-Betweens. Each to their own I guess.

Songs Keeping It Clean
Songs KC's In Trouble

Purchase the self-titled EP.

My Morning Jacket

2008-09-02T15:26:00.003+10:00

I don't think it's hard to figure out that Off The Record is in-fact named after the My Morning Jacket song of the same title, which featured on the group's stunning 2005 release Z. So in saying that we here all have a little soft-spot for the band, whether we be huge fans or not. Today marks some exciting news, as it's finally been announced (after being rumoured for so many months) that the boys will be heading down to Australia in January to take part in the Big Day Out Festival. With that though, comes even more exciting news that they will also be supporting Neil Young on his sideshows (who has just been announced to headline BDO as well). I couldn't be more happier with this. Both artists are such an obvious pairing, and with a new album, Evil Urges, under MMJ's belt that just throws you around with emotion teasers, flamboyant jams and a signature sound fans have come to love, there's no doubting MMJ are going to be some crowd favorites this coming Summer. Start counting down the days now, this is definitely going to be something special.

My Morning Jacket Highly Suspicious
My Morning Jacket Librarian
My Morning Jacket Off The Record

NEIL YOUNG & MY MORNING JACKET AUSTRALIAN SUMMER TOUR '09

Jan 21: Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
Jan 24: Entertainment Centre, Sydney
Jan 28: Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne

Tickets on sale 19 September.

Purchase Evil Urges and watch the video for I'm Amazed.

High Places

2008-09-01T15:56:00.000+10:00

High Places come across as a fragile duo - very innocent looking - that have a low-key energy similar to His Name Is Alive and YACHT but consist of this experimentation within in their music that would make even David Londstreth (Dirty Projectors fame) extremely jealous. One of my favorite labels, Mistletone Records, has quickly snapped this band up and are just about to release an album of recordings done early this year entitled (plainly, but effectively) 03/07-09/07. This album shows High Places at their finest, and probably their most experimental. It couldn't be a better warm-up release for their debut album which will arrive hopefully in the coming months. It sounds like something Noah Lennox could conjure up if he had the helping hand of soothing female vocalist. Their's sing-a-longs, gadgets of all sorts and a musical tone to love. High Places could very be one of my discoveries of the year.

High Places Head Spins (Extended Version)
High Places Shared Islands
High Places The Modern Things (Björk Cover)

Purchase 03/07-09/07.

'Summer Song' by YACHT

2008-08-31T16:42:00.002+10:00

It's good to be back to writing after spending the last week or so enjoying all lights of various gigs/concerts and mixing with some interesting people (some very interesting people). One thing that had me extremely delighted was from an email I opened today consisting of a brand new video from YACHT. The video is for the already-well loved and adored track, Summer Song, and is incredibly amusing not just for the video's simplicity but by the rip off of Tapeheads as well. It's well called for, and If there was going to be one artist in this day and age that was going to pull off such a stunt as this, and do it so damn well, it surely had to be YACHT, there's no other possible answer. The video just works, and it's great to see something so simple work a hell of a lot better then that of a high-paid full on production shoot. Hopefully, in the not to distant future (edit: possibly early next year by the looks of it), we might get something new in the form of an album from this, now (Claire L. Evans is an official member), duo.

YACHT Summer Song
YACHT See A Penny (Pick It Up)

Whitley and Jae Laffer

2008-08-24T12:23:00.001+10:00

Melbourne's very Whitley is set to play a once-off show before leaving the country to tour America with everyone's favorite, Ben Kweller. Joining Whitley for the show will be Panics lead-singer Jae Laffer, and Sime Nugent. This is most defintely one of those rare chances you get to expereince to extraordinary artists at their finest as they perform the best of their repertoire, some new tracks, and collaborative material. The Panics are also set to head off to the UK and Canada in the next coming months to record their follow-up to 2007 J-Award winning album, Cruel Guards. So this is most definitely a last chance to see two rising Australian acts before they take on the world. The show will take place at Northcote Social Club on the 18th September. This will sell out.

Whitley I Remember
Whitley Lost In Time
The Panics Don't Fight It
The Panics Get Us Home

'Social Currency' by Children Collide

2008-08-22T22:54:00.003+10:00

I confessed my undying love for this band a little while back but now it's time to once again. This isn't a bad thing; credit where credit's due, these guys really know what their doing and I am just in awe of the music they produce. So, the single for 'Social Currency' is out and about now, and getting the attention it very much deserves, but now there is an accompanying video as well. If anything, this video further proves just why this song is brilliant in all forms. The cheesy slow-motion so very much suits this song, it just works. The groups debut album, 'The Long Now', is soon to hit store (October 11) and I couldn't be anymore excited. There's too many anticipated releases coming up and this is just another to the list.

Children Collide Social Currency
Children Collide Hail Good Fellow

Tic Toc Tokyo

2008-08-18T20:37:00.002+10:00

I've been meaning to make a post about this band for some time but for some reason or another (which seems to be a fair bit) I never seem to get around to it. Not today though, I think Melbourne's Tic Toc Tokyo needs a good old push in the right direction. What amazes me most about this band is their decision to go for the mix of bongo's and drums and it works out an absolute treat. It adds this whole new sense to their music, makes that lot more easier to dance too and very enjoyable. It's flirtatious in the same way that TV On The Radio are flirtatious. The band's EP has been doing some rounds as of late, and getting a bit of air play here and there but hopefully with an album maybe on the horizon things will really pick up for the band. I'd love to see it happen.

Tic Toc Tokyo Ladies Of Vogue
Tic Toc Tokyo Colour Of Place

'These Roses' by Gin Wigmore

2008-08-15T22:37:00.003+10:00

I thought it was about time that I gave in a posted one of my guilty pleasures for the moment. It's a New Zealand (currently located in Sydney) artist by the name of Gin Wigmore, who is only just started to get some real hype behind her. But, just from listening to her music, you know the obvious comparisons that are going to be made against her. "Yet another Amy Winehouse" you can imagine some saying, but as a good friend of mine put it, Gin is "a white Macy Gray". Now there's not to many of those around is there? I'd like to see Gin take off, her music is most definitely something different. Ignore what everyone else says about this girl that's in any way negative. I can see her making a big impression pretty quickly, and These Roses will be the song to spark it.

Gin Wigmore These Roses

The Drones

2008-08-14T14:59:00.003+10:00

This is something worth anticipating. The Drones are just about ready to unload their new album upon us lucky Australians, and the rest of the world shortly after. The album will be called 'Havilah' (Oh! which reminds me, the band has a pronunciation competition going) and it looks like it will see the light of day sooner than their "early next year" prediction on September 20th. Coming off the album will be lead single (and a huge step-up might I add), The Minotaur, which looks to be doing all guns at the moment coping a hell of a lot of air play world-wide. There's a lot of love for this band, and it couldn't be more deserving. When it comes to hard-working Australian artists, The Drones are sitting pretty towards the top of that list. The band has just been announced to partake in the end of the year festivities that is Falls Festival, and if all goes well their could be a headline tour of their own. Keep your eyes peeled.

The Drones The Minotaur
The Drones I Drink (Charles Aznavour Cover)

5 Songs with Liars

2008-08-13T15:55:00.009+10:00

I love Liars; there is absolutely no other way I can possible put it. Their the biggest mystery to hit music since Paul McCartney's "mysterious disappearance" all those years ago. Over the groups time we have seen them evolve from being funk punk perfectionists, to freak-folk missionaries, to story tellers, and with last years self-titled effort (and #2 on my end of the year list) becoming this frantic white noise avant garde band. So you can imagine the excitement that was built all over my face when I had the pleasure of speaking to lead-singer Angus Andrew a little while back. It didn't feel like an interview, but rather a conversation for I was a little dumbfounded when he revealed some childhood stories. Angus was very willing, and over the moon might I add, over the opportunity to compile a playlist for Off The Record. And with that, I give you yet another '5 Songs with'. Enjoy.

Liars Army Of Me (Björk Cover)
Liars Freak Out

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ANGUS ANDREW OF LIARS TOP 5 SONGS OF ALL-TIME, MAYBE.

America Horse With No Name
I grew up in Mt. Eliza, Victoria (James - That's like ten minutes from where I live!) on the beach. When I was about 6 they screened "World Safari I" at the local town hall. For some reason my whole family went to see it. This song seemed to play through the whole thing and I remember thinking that it had to be the Australian National Anthem. How disappointed I was when in my teens when I realised it was written by a band called 'America'.

Chamillionaire Game Gonna Cost A Fee
I feel so let down by modern hip-hop. If I could I'd just listen to Biggie forever. But man, I still really try. I mean the new Wu is rad but honestly I think the last entire hip-hop album I loved was Under Construction and that was ages ago. Anyway, like I said, I'm always trying and this song by Chamillionaire is really nice. I like Pharoahe Monk too.

Devendra Banhart Shabop Shalom
Since I heard this song I've emailed it to practically every Jewish person I know. I told Devendra it made me wanna become one. His voice is just amazing like Roy Orbison or something and the production is so beautiful. I love the whole album.

Tunnel Of Love Sex Freak
If your back-stage with Liars before a show your guaranteed to hear a Tunnel Of Love song, or 12. They were one of the first bands we played shows with and I still can't get enough of 'em. I've lost track of how many records they've made, its that many! This song is the first song on their first album called Tunnel of Love. They're currently on tour in Europe, I think.

Unwound We Invent You
I just wanted to put an Unwound song on here cause they're so damn important. But which song? They made start to finish albums with each track as good as the next. I've chosen the first song on Leaves Turn Inside You which was their last album and makes me really sad. I count Sara Lund as one of my favorite drummers of all time. Their discography should be everyone's iTunes.

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Previous '5 Songs with'.

Click Me Click Me Click Me

Mercy Arms

2008-08-12T12:45:00.004+10:00

So, I was going to post another '5 Songs with' list today (and by god was it a good one) but Mercy Arms just had to come along and let everyone know that their soon to be released debut self-titled album was now streaming on their Myspace. This had me excited, much like a lot of releases this year it would seem. You don't have to guess twice to figure out just how much I love everything this band does; you can go through the archives just for further proof, but I have to say that this album is definitely something else. One thing I immediately love was the non-inclusion of previous EP tracks and instead opting for 10 brand new songs. The album is what most have come to love about the group. It's spontaneous in the right spots, it's atmospheric whilst sticking to a familiar grunge/rock/distorted sound that is absolutely irresistible. Mercy Arms can't put a foot wrong in my eyes and it's with so much pleasure that I offer you all a few select favorites. Album of the year contender? I think so.

Mercy Arms Shine A Light Down
Mercy Arms Down Here, So Long
Mercy Arms Speed

The band will be hitting the road very shortly to promote the absolute hell out of this new record. So if the above tracks grab your fancy and the gigs just so happen to be local to you, I can't see any reason as you why you wouldn't attend. I know I will be.

Aug 28: Lucky Country, Newcastle
Aug 29: Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
Aug 30: Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Sep 04: Oxford Tavern, Wollongong
Sep 05: Green Room, Canberra
Sep 11: Ed Castle, Adelaide
Sep 12: Bakery Artrage, Perth
Sep 13: Globe Theatre, Brisbane

The Grates

2008-08-10T16:23:00.003+10:00

It was only a month ago that I was raving and harping about The Grates new single Burn Bridges and how much this band continues to delight it's fans again and again with everything they do. Well, now they have just dropped their new album upon Australian audiences, entitled 'Teeth Lost, Hearts Won', and after giving it a few listens their is so much single potential behind all their songs. God knows how they do it, but they do it well. The new album will be what you'll expect from a Grates record but with a few little changes and surprises *cough* Tom Fite guest vocals *cough*. It's hard not to like these guys and with this new release under the arms I'm sensing another Grates take-over.

The Grates Carve Your Name
The Grates Milk Eyes
The Grates Earthquake

and just because I feel like it, here's some old hard to find songs.

The Grates Good Day
The Grates Spoke In The Eye

Purchase Teeth Lost, Hearts Won and watch the video for Burn Bridges.

5 Songs with Animal Collective

2008-08-09T18:10:00.005+10:00

I've been doing interviews and the such for about two and a half years now, and in that time I have the greatest opportunities to meet and greet some of my idols. From meeting Sarah Blasko, to talking with The Grates (my first ever interview mind you), I feel pretty good with where my writing career has taken me. It got even more sweeter a few weeks ago when I had the pleasure of speaking to Noah (aka Panda Bear) from Animal Collective on the phone about solo projects, the new AC record, and when they would be making their way back to Australia. He is possibly the kindest person to talk to, and doesn't give one sentence responses. It was a conversation that only went for a half an hour, but it felt longer. Noah was kind enough to compile a playlist for Off The Record of his 5 favorite songs, as many artists have done so far (and there's plenty more to come).

Animal Collective Water Curses
Animal Collective Street Flash

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NOAH LENNOX (AKA PANDA BEAR) OF ANIMAL COLLECTIVE'S 5 FAVORITE SONGS.

Mary J. Blige Real Love
This song maybe more than any other I can think of identifies a period of my life and instantly recalls my mental makeup and dreams and hopes and loves and those kinds of things. I would listen to the radio a lot in late middle school and high school and this song was real popular. These days its sort of a totem for an era of music that I get excited about. The rhythms and particularly the production techniques and processes for the rhythms from the time of this song are getting me really psyched recently; they're all so chunky and rugged.

The Idle Race Days Of Broken Arrows
I heard this song first in Richie Jacksons part in a Death skateboards video and I kind of can't disassociate the song from the part if you know what I mean. I really like to watch skateboarding videos and I like to skateboard even though I'm no good and don't often do it and I guess I'm a poser. But the movement involved and the process of capturing brave and impossible tricks hits home very hard for me.

Cocteau Twins Know Who You Are At Every Age
We (Animal Collective) heard this song maybe 5 times while we were in Athens, Georgia and I spent a little bit identifying who it was because I don't think I'd heard it before. I know the treasure record well but not much else I should say. I really like her voice and the way she sings and all the trilly and warped things she does although not so much on this jam.

The Dovers About Me
I don't know that they put out a full record or not and I think I've got just a collection of their singles or something like that but it really rips. I really like the repeated guitar thing in this song and I like how its kind of implied in your head the whole song even though it only kind of comes in every now and then. I like songs that have subliminal features I should say.

Blues Control Call Collect
I like the mellower side of their music the most even though I like the rockers too. They use some simple keyboard sounds almost like new age sounds and I really like that. I've been really into korg synth sounds and the korg 0/1 pro was the first thing I ever composed songs and sounds on so maybe it's kind of a memory connection. These dudes have a very casual and easy going way of playing and recording and I find that very pleasing and refreshing.

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Dr. Dog

2008-08-08T23:16:00.004+10:00

2008 has proven with each passing week that it really is the year for music. We all think that each can't get better and better but it does just that, and we all end up eating our words. This year has been a phenomenal year for releases, there have been some excellent debuts, perfect follow ups and returns from some greats. One album that has really impressed me is that of Dr. Dog's latest, and in my opinion, their most solid release and brilliant follow up to last years effort, We All Belong. Fate is the name of the new album, and it's a complete wake up and a smack in the face for me. Prior to listening to this album I wasn't much of a fan of the group, and pretty much snobbed them off but what this band has produced is something a completely new direction. It's the perfect blend of The Beatles, Cold War Kids (if they were just that little bit better), and old-folk country records. Fate is something unique to this era of music, and going just by their hectic tour schedule and countless plays both here in Australia and overseas, people seem to be getting behind this record as well. Indulge into this album, it's one well worthy of a listen.

Dr. Dog ~~Army Of Ancients~~ Removed by request.
Dr. Dog ~~The Beach~~ Removed by request.
Dr. Dog The Old Days
Dr. Dog The Ark

Purchase Fate.

Chaingang

2008-08-07T23:41:00.002+10:00

Chaingang are a band that have always been in my sights ever since the formation of the group about a year ago. Whilst going through countless spam mail and other assorted junk everday I would occassionally stumble across an email from the group stating that they have a new song available or their touring or just any news in general. This was enough to keep me interested, and watching the four-piece transform from the very beginning to where they are now has me a full-fledged fan and somewhat a stalker. The band has seen it's bumps, mainly that of the sudden drop out of their drummer (only to be replaced by the divine Skarlett Saramore), but have most definitely seen their fair amount of highs. Most notably that of their competition win to support Panic! At The Disco, who hand-picked the group (Yes, you read that correctly), for their Sydney concert at the end of the month. I have posted about the band previously stating that they was no doubting whatsoever that the group would create some sort of a stir amongst the Sydney music scene, and they have done just that. The band's combination of 70' punk hooks, franticness only known to few bands, and charisma that is impossible to ignore, Chaingang are only going to continue with succession. I couldn't recommend a band more than these guys at the moment. Seriously, get on board now.

Chaingang Cut Here
Chaingang Get Off My Stage
Chaingang Holiday

5 Songs with Howling Bells

2008-07-28T10:02:00.005+10:00

Howling Bells seem to be on the rise once again. I had the pleasure of interviewing the lovely and divine, and surprisingly bouncy, Juanita Stein a few weeks back. It seems the group, back then, where doing the final touches to their new album and things we're "looking good". Being a big fan of their debut release which was two years ago now - time flies - I immediately was looking forward to this. No date has been set yet for the as-yet-titled second album, but surely it can't be too far away. So, for the time being enjoy some b-sides from the group, and like with every artist I interview here's a playlist she has lovingly compiled for everyone on the spot.

Howling Bells Cities Burning Down
Howling Bells Setting Sun

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JUANITA STEIN OF HOWLING BELLS 5 FAVORITE SONGS.

Crystal Castles Magic Spells
I saw these guys not long ago at Oxford Arts Club in Sydney and thought it was a super energetic and uplifting show. This is the track I'm loving most on their album right now, of course it changes every day though!

Caribou Melody Day
I've been aware of Caribou for a while, but never really indulged until I heard this track faintly on some station recently, it's so wonderfully 60's and melodic. Reminds me of The Turtles 'Happy Together'.

Buddy Holly Dearest
It's on the Juno soundtrack, but cause my beloved played it to me first, it means something extra, extra special. It's really perfect!

Edith Piaf Padam, Padam
La Vie En Rose is surely my favourite film for forever! I adored every second of it and this song imparticular was just such a joyous moment. Her voice on the original recording is astounding!!!

Zombie Zombie A Land Of Renegades
They opened this new Rough Trade store in East London and it really kiks ass. This was one of the albums they had on display everywhere and I'd already heard that their live show is amazing. Anyways, it reminds me of Neu!!! which i luuurrrve. So, this is the track for me.

(James - exaggeration on words and exclamation marks were necessary)

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Children Collide

2008-07-21T17:08:00.005+10:00

So, Children Collide are back. And what does this mean? It means right about now I'm pretty much frozen in excitement over what my ears have been witnessing on repeat for the last half an hour. There are multiple reasons as to why I love this band. I completely ignore the fact that people seem to jump on their bandwagon then off again (seriously kids, make up your mind), their as cool as cool comes, their unbelievable live (I don't think I have copped so much of an ear bashing as I have at their concerts), and on top of all this they have a catalogue of music that's exceeds so much past amazing that it's bewildering. The guys can't put a foot wrong in my books, and with their latest single 'Social Currency' being premiered on their Myspace and already clogging up the play count, I don't think they can do wrong with anyone else either. Hopefully people wont forget about these guys now. On top of all this excitement behind a new single, and an album hopefully in the not to distant future, how can one band possibly do better? A tour with the Hoodoo Gurus of course (it's so obvious!). For tour dates check the band's Myspace, below is the single and a b-side to enjoy.

Children Collide Social Currency
Children Collide Hail Good Fellow

'Left Behind' by Cansei De Ser Sexy

2008-07-15T11:23:00.007+10:00

For a band whose name says they're tired of being sexy, those crazy kids from São Paulo, Brazil are non stop party and we can't help but join along, whether they sing in English, Portugese or absolute gibberish, it'll do, so long as the music keeps running. Wearing shiny bodysuits or covered in fake blood, Cansei De Ser Sexy have a thing or two about expressing their frivolous madness in the most entertaining ways and their upcoming album "Donkey" (released next week, July 21st through Subpop Records and you can pre-order it here) proves that nonetheless. The second single "Left Behind" sees the band lessen their pop side and go more at it, with edgy guitar riffs and feisty vocals. With lyrics like "Full of things I wanna set on fire / I'm gonna get on to the table / And dance my ass off 'til I die / I'm gonna hopefully forget you / And quit those nightmares I've been having", you kind of get the idea that Cansei De Ser Sexy are getting down and serious, leaving behind their playful satircal approach on all things pop culture. But I'm not seeing it, somehow I see they're more manic and eccentric than before. Left Behind video is self made by the band themselves and absolutely absurd and hilarious.

Cansei De Ser Sexy Left Behind

Left Behind single is out now

Nice And Nicely Done

2008-07-14T22:48:00.012+10:00

Since the last time I wrote about London-based band Semifinalists on this blog (or let alone a post at all), they released their second record "2" last month. And morphed from a trio into a duo. That's not to say at least, how awesome their latest album is. Sticking to their spaced-out electronic art pop, this one's more funk and synths; mixed tastes of experimental flavours that make you want to...uh watch 80's films about teenage love and do a cheesy dance.

Semifinalists X Song
Semifinalists Odd Situation
Semifinalists Makeout Club

Young and precocious, Laura Marling is an extraordinary singer - songwriter. The austerity and honesty of her lyrics and resonate soft vocals are at the heart of what sounds much so simple, that can be yet so complex and timeless, that of children's nursery rhymes. Without moral lessons, her album Alas I Cannot Swim oversees stories of romance, condemnation of parents and dissillusion of god. Laura Marling will be in Australia very soon playing sold out shows at Splendour In The Grass and her a couple of her own shows.

Laura Marling Crawled Out Of The Sea (Interlude)
Laura Marling You're No God

My most anticipated record release of this year has to be undoubtedly Mystery Jets' Twenty One. Produced by Erol Alkan, the sophomore record is all things fresh and youthful. Inspired by 80's sounds of Aztec Camera, Mystery Jets have adopted for a pop approach. Keeping in joyous harmonies and boundless fun of their music, I couldn't love this band and record any more than I do, other than the fact it has just been released today in Australia and I cannot wait any longer to go down to the record shop and get it.

Mystery Jets Young Love (Featuring Laura Marling)
Mystery Jets Somewhere In My Heart (Aztec Camera cover)

Tap dancing crazed Omaha quintet Tilly And The Wall are back feistier than rather their usual childish sweetness. And whilst there may be this sudden punch of angst to the new songs like their latest single Pot Kettle Black and Blood Flowers, its adds to the new rhythm and upbeat burst of energy through its harsh stomping and shouting. If you're a Tilly And The Wall fan of the previous two albums, then the third record, "O" may come as a surprise. What ever way you interpret that, I'll let you find out for yourselves.

Tilly And The Wall Dust Me Off
Tilly And The Wall Falling Without Knowing

Also linked with Laura Marling and one of my current picks is Londoners and self confessed Wes Anderson fans, Noah And The Whale, who are soon to release their very first record, titled "Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down" next month. A little cute folk twee pop number, full of songs of love and sunshine. Nothing short of singalongs, handclaps and whatever else is fun fun fun, I suppose. Expecting bigger things in future from this band.

Noah And The Whale 5 Years Time
Noah And The Whale 2 Atoms In A Molecule
Noah And The Whale Rocks And Daggers

I'm not sure why I haven't posted anything about POBPAH yet, partly because I'd like to keep them a secret, hold and cuddle them at night in the Winter cold, wishing I was running down rocky jetties at the beach instead. But enough about my woes. It's about jangly guitars, noisy patterned beats and blissful melodies. All sounds familiar? You're not straying too far from post-punk shoegaze bands of The Jesus And Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine.

Tha Pains Of Being Pure At Heart A Teenager In Love
Tha Pains Of Being Pure At Heart This Love Is Fucking Right!
Tha Pains Of Being Pure At Heart Gothenberg Handshake

Tipped to one of the best albums of this year, I couldn't agree further on Fleet Foxes' self titled album, it is superb in its lush instrumentation and vocal harmonies, with tracks like White Winter Hymnal, you just cannot past by without listening. Gospel scores and country folk entwined together to create a realm of musical paradise. Stuck in fields of tall grass beside a flowing river, listening to Fleet Foxes? Sounds rather nice.

Fleet Foxes White Winter Hymnal
Fleet Foxes Ragged Wood
Fleet Foxes Quiet Houses

Another prediction into top albums of the year (I know its only half way), has to be "Visiter" by Californian duo, The Dodos. Intriguied by their pitter patter, clackety clack, frantic finger picking, guitar strumming psych-folk sound; this record fits in perfectly into a year of tribal evocations by Vampire Weekend and Fleet Foxes refreshing sounds. Though can be a little continuous and repetitive at times, I enjoy this album very much.

The Dodos Red And Purple
The Dodos Walking
The Dodos Ashley

Off The Record (July 14th 08).zip
(All MP3s zipped in a file.)

'Mercury' by Bloc Party

2008-07-11T15:41:00.004+10:00

I've been away from a computer for last week or so, and to come back from a long disappearance to discover Bloc Party are somewhat back with a brand new single which had me a little gob smacked. I'll come out and say it now, I'm not much of a fan of these guys but in saying that I do own both albums, have seen them live, and on odd occasions maybe found humming, whistling, or in fact singing one of their songs. It's weird relationship I have them; I guess their a guilty pleasure perhaps? Whatever, this is starting to head off track. Mercury is the name of the new single, and it looks like it will be hitting shelves mid-August. From all accounts so far this track has received a lot of mixed reviews, some calling it the worst thing they have ever produced, others calling it masterpiece, and a few claiming it to be a nice step forward in the right direction. I myself would have to agree with the last comment; it is a nice step forward. It's nothing too out there, and still has that signature Bloc Party feel about it. They've stuck to their routine with exuberant instrumentation, catchyness, and the memorable hook. Let me put it harshly, the new Bloc Party is ten times better than that new side-band the guitarist (whose name has completely escaped me) has going.

Bloc Party Mercury

Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning

2008-06-22T12:16:00.004+10:00

This whole 'Broken Social Scene Presents' project had me really excited from the get-go. Not just because we would all see a Broken Social Scene release pretty much every year, but because each member of the band will be taking it in turns to create their ideal record with the band they already play in. It's so simple, yet genius. With Kevin Drew's 'Presents' record done and dusted (and a huge success), it's now time for Brendan Canning's turn. Personally, this is one I was excited about most because I don't think this man has had much time in spotlight with Broken Social Scene, and is well deserving of it. Much like the last 'Presents' album, they album features pretty much all members of Broken Social Scene and even a few guests, mainly that of Land Of Talk front-woman, Elizabeth Powell. The album itself is somewhat a continuance on from Kevin Drew's psychedelic-indie blast but with that little bit more experimentation. It's one of those records that's not going to absolutely blow you away, but it will impress you.

Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning All The Best Wooden Toys Come From Germany
Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning Churches Under The Stairs
Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning Love Is New

Purchase Something For All Of Us.

Van She 'Strangers' Tour

2008-06-20T12:36:00.002+10:00

This could very well be one of the best electronic/dance/techno tour to ever grace Australia, in my eyes anyway. With the release of Van She's debut album 'V' coming out very very soon, and the lead single 'Strangers' doing wonders already, this tour, in support of the single, is shaping up to be something quite special. And what makes it even more exciting? The band are planning on playing more rural towns and travelling just about everywhere in Australia with some of the best up-and-coming dance acts and bands. Here's a message from the band:

"Yo friends! Since our record is finally gonna come out in August we wanted to get our friends together to celebrate it and play at one big banging VAN SHE and friends party around Australia for 3 weeks to celebrate. So come and put your best Nikes or flouro chuck taylors on and get jiggy with AJAX, DAngerous DAn, HOOPS, Modular DJs, Dirty Secrets, Panther DLX, BMX, Like Woah, Health CLub DJs, Gay Bash Djs, OOHEE, Andee Van Damage, Gloves, Valentino Djs, Virgo Rising, Scientists of modern music, Neon Love, Shazam, Clouds ... and other special guests"

The dates are as follows:

VAN SHE 'STRANGERS' TOUR
July 4: The Empire Hotel, Brisbane
July 5: The Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
July 6: Elsewhere, Gold Coast
July 10: Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale
July 11: Caringbah Bizzos, Caringbah
July 12: Spanish Club, Sydney
July 18: Prince Bandroom, Melbourne
July 19: Peninsula Lounge, Mooroduc
July 24: The Bakery, Perth
July 25: Mojos, Fremantle
July 26: Eds Castle, Adelaide

Van She Strangers
Van She Strangers (Van She Tech Remix)

'One To The Other (Bumblebeez Remix)' by Wolf & Cub

2008-06-19T20:17:00.003+10:00

For the last year or two Adelaide's Wolf & Cub have been pretty quiet, only popping out on a few occasions to do some support shows here and there, but it's now reached that time where some are questioning the whereabouts of the band and wondering what exactly are they going to do next. Well, I can safely say that the band are back and are planning on doing a headline tour across most of Australia in support of their soon to be release single 'One To The Other'. The single will be featured on a soon to be released follow up to the highly acclaimed debut album 'Vessels'. There is no news currently on what the album may be called or even when it will be released. One thing the band have managed to drop though is that the album was produced by Bumblebeez main-man Christopher Colonna, which in it's own causes all kinds of great sensations within myself. So, with this excellent news in mind and eyes peeled for further news I know leave you a remix in which Mr. Colonna has provided for the world to listen and adore.

Wolf & Cub One To The Other (Bumblebeez Remix)

'Burn Bridges' by The Grates

2008-06-18T19:10:00.008+10:00

The Grates are the sort of band that you really - no matter how unbelievably hard you may in fact try - cannot ignore. Their unbelievably infectious, as all us writers have pointed out countless times throughout Off The Record's starting. The three piece have come a long way since their days of just messing about in their garage, and have now risen to become one of Australia's top artist's as well as becoming very well known around the world. The trio don't seem to take a break from the life of music, and in what seems only days ago they were wrapping up their tour in support of their live DVD, their just about to drop their second long-player and follow-up to the Aria nominated 'Gravity Wont Get You High'. 'Burn Bridges' is the first single of the new album 'Teeth Lost, Hearts Won' which will see the light of day on August 2nd here in Australia. For now though, get acquainted with this hand-clapping, chanting and enthusiastic little number that is the band's single 'Burn Bridges' and wait for tour dates to be confirmed.

The Grates Burn Bridges
The Grates Lies Are Much More Fun
The Grates Inside/Outside

5 Songs with The Concretes

2008-06-16T13:09:00.004+10:00

If there's one thing that I love when getting the artists I interview to compile a 5 song playlist for Off Tne Record, it's the songs that they choose. Some are very left-field and unexpected, other's I could see coming from a mile away but Lisa Milberg's list was a bit of a surprise. She really knows her music and to hear her talk about it was bewildering. She's a pure delight to talk to and casually sweet. It's been a few whole months now since the release of The Concretes (Victoria Bergsman-less) record 'Hey Trouble' and to my knowledge it has been received exceptionally well down here in Australia. It's got my dumb-founded why they haven't been asked to come back to our shores, maybe in the not to distant future? I still love The Concretes and will always love them, for even when times had them down they were able to get back on track and come back twice as grand. If you haven't yet (which is truthfully stupid if you haven't) five The Concretes the listen they much deserve.

The Concretes Keep Yours
The Concretes Keep Yours (Pacific! Remix)

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LISA MILBERG OF THE CONCRETES 5 FAVORITE SONGS

Friendly Fires Paris
It's a lovely summery tune that makes you feel like life is just one long night. We danced to this in Paris the other week, I really didn't feel I had anything to complain about at that moment.

Let's Wrestle I Won't Lie To You
I love songs that aren't too polished (I also enjoy some Hall & Oates so I'm keeping most doors open) and this is such a beautiful example of that. It just makes me very happy. They're also a very charming band to see live.

Håkan Hellström Kärlek Är Ett Brev Skickat Tusen Gånger
This is reason enough for the whole planet to learn Swedish. It's a heartbreakingly pretty song regardless but the lyrics are very special. Sign up for summer courses now... (Lesson one: the title means Love Is A Letter Sent A Million Times)

Bon Iver Creature Fear
It's actually not a very good idea to pick one song from this album as it should be listened to in its entirety. It's one of those albums you step into, and for the duration of the record it's just the two of you in the whole world and no one can do you any harm.

The Rah Band Clouds Across The Moon
I'm not really a fan of music (or anything else for that matter) that has a kitsch element to it, but I guess this would have to be my exception. Everyone in the band loves this, it's just something very romantic and sad about it, in all it's sci fi-glitz.

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Purchase Hey Trouble and watch the video for Keep Yours.

Are you Australian? Are you keen on writing? Are you even keener on attending gigs, reviewing, and posting your thoughts? Then you're in luck, because Off The Record is looking for writers. If you think you have what it takes to make frequent posts and keep readers up to date with what's new and exciting in the world of music, or even just what's getting you going at the moment, then please email me with your details and we'll discuss further. Remember though, must be Australian. Sorry to International readers.

!!!

2008-06-07T14:44:00.006+10:00

Last Thursday I got to see !!! play a really intimate live show at Rocket bar. It was swell to say the least. These guys were amazing. There were about 8 of them crammed onto one of Adelaide's smallest stage with so much awesome gear. Almost every conceivable space was filled with percussion instruments, guitar pedals, samplers and synthesizers. You should really go out and see them for yourself. They are everything you would want in an electronic band, with the types of grooves and beats that get the floor shaking with dancing feet as well as having a penchant for spaced out, dub infused jams.

They are playing the We Love Sound festivals in both Sydney and Melbourne as well as a bunch of other clubs and festivals around the Northern Hemisphere. They are also playing the Metro in Sydney with Lost Valentinos and Teenagersintokyo, a line up to die for in my opinion.

Their touring company Civil Society have a couple of choice remixes on offer.

!!! Heart of Hearts (Scottie B remix)
!!! Must Be the Moon (Hot Chip remix)

Scottie B's remix of my favourite track off Myth Takes and gives it a sort of synthetic four to the floor beat with more hand claps, which are definitely loveable additions. Hot Chip's remix of Must be The Moon if probably my favourite remix of theirs. Going with a less is more approach they subtly add more synths to an already stand out track.

Action Biker

2008-06-03T22:10:00.003+10:00

Under the project "Action Biker" named after the C64/Atari game, Swedish electro pop chanteuse Sarah Nyberg Pergament makes lustrous music self described as "baroque on synths". Raised by both classical schooled musicians as parents, her musical interests hampered and flourished along with her notable influences and musical similarities to Young Marble Giants, Broadcast, Francoise Hardy, Saint Etienne, Stereolab and The Human League; for creating the basis of her textured synths, tapping drum machines and lush vocals in assembling this dreamy, wistful analogue drone. Her debut album titled Hesperian Puisto, takes its name after a park in Helsinki, Finland; as it coos and echoes the disperse of Spring with its gleaming, indolent, soft but soaring and rippling casio beats enveloped in its lonely dreams and sweet self indulgence of warmth and comfort. One my favourites of this year so far, the album was released a little over a month ago through Friendly Noise Records.

Action Biker Love For Sure
Action Biker By Myself
Action Biker Refridgerator

Purchase Hesperian Puisto and watch Be Myself/Love For Sure/A Fight (Digfi Session)

5 Songs with Cryptacize

2008-06-02T16:06:00.004+10:00

As some of Off The Record's regular readers may well be aware of, I'm a big fan of Nedelle and will lap up just about everything she becomes involved with. So when she first told me news of her side-project from her solo work, Cryptacize, I was of course intrigued. Disappointed I was not, and to find out they their debut album, Dig That Treasure, has been doing wonders has me feeling silly. Nevertheless, I should not let that stop me from continuing on. If you were a fan of Nedelle Torrisi's work by her lonesome, then there's no doubting whatsoever that you can't pass up the opportunity of listening to Cryptacize. It's fun, it's catchy but most of all of it's extremely happy, and there doesn't seem to be enough of this these days. The band is signed to Asthmatic Kitty, and it shouldn't be too long until this trio gets their name about (check out the tour dates on their Myspace for further proof).

Cryptacise Cosmic Sing-A-Long

Nedelle was kind enough to take some time out to lend a hand in Off The Record's latest feature '5 Songs with...' and compiled some nice little diddy's for us all.

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NEDELLE TORRISI OF CRYPTACIZE 5 FAVORITE SONGS.

Why? Simeon's Dilemma
We just finished touring with Why? and I still wake up every morning with one of their songs in my head. Too damn catchy! The melody of this song is really beautiful, I think, and the structure is odd. It just builds and builds and near the end the bassline moves and the drums intensify and it's really powerful! Then it just sorta ends. Strange song.

Cass McCombs Pregnant Pause
This song also has a gorgeous melody, I guess I'm just a sucker for them. I really like how perfectly the beat is executed, and since it's continuous throughout the song it sort of hypnotizes you and makes you focus on the chord changes and rad melody. I also love Cass's voice.

Howlin' Wolf - 'I Asked for Water and She Gave Me Gasoline'
That's such a great line! I love these lyrics.. The drums on this song sound so so good, too. My favorite part about this song is the dissonant guitar riff that repeats over and over, but he never plays it the same way twice. The piano is really out of tune too, giving the song a bizzare quality.

Dion And The Belmonts Where Or When
This is the perfect song for me because I love songs from musicals, which this is (Rodgers and Hart) and I also love doo wop. A great combo! The song sounds kind of demented- i think it's the combination of the slow and plodding rhythm and the harmonies.. Dion's voice is so sweet sounding too. I love it.

Ariel Pink Interesting Results
He takes a subject that could be mundane in someone else's hands, like writing a song, and it turns out profound! This song could be his manifesto about making music... or a manifesto about creativity in general. It has a lot of parts but they fit together in this perfect way, like a classic song. Chris likes to listen to this song while driving, it makes him happy.

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Purchase Dig That Treasure and watch the video for Cosmic Sing-A-Long.

They'll Suck You Dry Until You Bleed.

2008-05-31T20:28:00.008+10:00

Please do not assume the length or the manner of this post reflects the purpose or the brilliance of the artists mentioned. If anything, the collection of these songs I am sharing with you, dear readers, are the most beautiful, creative, and amazing songs that make you think "wow.. music can make everything alright". You know when you get that tingly feeling that doesn't subside until you have listened to the track, about .. 50 times? Well I know these tracks do it for me.

These songs leave me speechless, please also check out the artist's websites for info. Enjoy.

Sparkadia
The Last Thing You Need

Clatter Clatter
Just To Say

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
Buriedfed

Isaac De Heer
Visiting Hours

You little ones in Melbourne are most certainly lucky, you can catch Isaac de Heer, tomorrow, and on the 18th June;

1st June Edinburgh Castle: Brunswick, Melbourne
18th June 'The Spot': Brunswick, Melbourne

Lacrosse

2008-05-26T13:38:00.005+10:00

One of the bands I forgot to mention about last year was Swedish sextet indie pop band Lacrosse from Stockholm, when I discovered them on Skatterbrain's top 15 albums of 2007. From looking at the album cover art for This New Year Will Be For You And Me, I had to love this album and it gave me a little inspiration for the current design of the layout of Off The Record. I guess this is a relapse on Swedish pop love; the quirky, oh-so-adorable boy/girl vocals, delightful sounds of jangly guitars and catchy shakes and handclaps. Sharing the sounds of native bands such as The Concretes, I'm From Barcelona and Acid House Kings; Lacrosse, along with their animal hand puppets bring as much joy, charm, awe and enchant to keep you mindlessly dancing when nobody's watching. Young but precocious, their debut album This New Year Will Be For You And Me is all things sweet and bliss you can expect from Scandanavia's revisit of the 60's vocal harmonies and surf pop.

Lacrosse No More Lovesongs

Purchase This New Year Will Be For You And Me and watch You Can't Say No Forever

Peppertones

2008-05-25T20:09:00.005+10:00

Apart from Japan, I didn’t really cultivate an active interest in what the continent of Asia had to offer, in terms of music, up until only recently. I feel like such a fool for admitting that because I’ve been missing out on a lot of absolute gems. One of these diamonds happens to be Peppertones – a Korean duo who have been rocking it since 2004. Upon first listen to their debut album Colourful Express, I instantly relived old travelling memories of Disneyland. It’s all carefree lightheartedness with occasional shifts to sparks of orchestral enlightenment. It's like Tullycraft and of Montreal had a love child – cute and cheerful electro pop where the optimism never stops to rest. The amount of sanguinity that Peppertones create is pretty hefty - it is perplexing and it incites a rather large amount of curiosity. I would think that this much happiness in a record would obviously veer onto the road of perpetual irritation but I’m always, unabashedly, ready to accept it - it’s an instant pick me up that stays affable. Their new LP New Standard, is out now on Lo-Fi Cavare Sound.

Peppertones Ready, Get Set, Go! [Radio Edit] (Feat. Deb)
Peppertones Ready, Get Set, Go! [Full Version] (Feat. Deb)
Peppertones Heavy Sun Heavy Moon
Peppertones Superfantastic (Feat. Westwind)
Peppertones Bike (Feat. Westwind)

Purchase New Standard

123 Amazing

2008-05-21T13:54:00.003+10:00

Every now and then I like to make a post giving mention to a local talent who I think will cause a fuss in the not-to-distant future, and from looking back through the archives it's been a while since I've done so. Allow me to introduce Sydney based band 123 Amazing. Now, before you go ahead and make a judgment about the band just from reading their name, hear me out. I too was hesitant, but am now thankful for stumbling across this little band. Immediate reactions was that this four piece was just going to be a complete copy of another fellow Sydney act, Teenagersintokyo, but it wasn't the case at all. Sure, the image may look the same, but as the saying goes you can't judge a book by it's cover. It still has that dance appeal like many new acts before them, and yes okay their sound may not be completely unique, but can you name another band at the moment (or ever for that matter) that is producing beats to perfection the way this is? The two female vocalists, Trish and Vivian, have incredibly, perfected blended voices that accompanies the band's post-punk sort of sound. 123 Amazing is haunted, but in a good way. This is something that's easily enjoyable. At the current stage the group only has a handful of demo's which you can take advantage of over at their Myspace, or you can download my two favorite's 'Automatic' and 'Pressure'.

123 Amazing Automatic
123 Amazing Pressure

5 Songs with Mercy Arms

2008-05-15T18:45:00.006+10:00

It was late last year that I made a post about Mercy Arms and exclaiming with so much excitement that these guys were the real deal and a band that everyone must love and adore. Not sure if too many jumped on the bandwagon with me after that post, but you can't blame me for trying. It's now several months later, and although we haven't seen a new release from the guys yet, a couple of brand new song's have appeared on their Myspace as teasers for the album's release. These guys have it all; the look, the live show, and the songs that just capture everything that music means to me (and I'm sure a lot of people). I recently conducted an interview with Julian from the band, and he was was also kind enough to compile a playlist for everyone to love and enjoy. I know I did.

Mercy Arms Quit Your Fooling
Mercy Arms Sacred Heart
Mercy Arms Kept Low
Mercy Arms Kept Low (Cut Copy Remix)

Also, make sure to catch the group on their remaining dates around the East Coast in support of their new songs and limited edition single (which can only be picked up, for free might I add, at their shows).

May 15: Pogo, Melbourne (w/ The Protectors, and Foxx On Fire)
May 21: Club 77, Sydney
May 22: Pogo, Melbourne (w/ The Process)
May 23: The Empire, Brisbane (w/ STA, The Knife Machine, and The Muderettes)
May 24: The Club, Brisbane
May 28: Club 77, Sydney
May 29: Pogo, Melbourne (w/ Worlds End Press)

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JULIAN SUDEK OF MERCY ARMS 5 SONGS FOR THE MOMENT.

Portishead Small
One of what could have been just about any track off their new record 'Third'. Awesome sounding album, it's almost like Portishead's attempt at doing a Kid A; being the experimental record follow-up.

The Velvet Underground Foggy Notion
My favorite of the B-Sides.

My Disco Number Three
Heaps of energy, good to see an Australian band trying to push boundries. Track comes off the record 'Paradise' that came out in february this year. Produced by Steve Albini who did Nirvana's 'In Utero'. Rad.

The Kinks Harry Rag
It's not that it's my absolute favorite Kinks song, but this shuffley tale of nicotine addiction sounds as if it could easily pass as a primary school song. An amazing example of Ray Davies' wit.

Slowdive Alison
It's epic yet hazey, melodic wash makes it the perfect song to finish something off with. Even a list...

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Purchase Kept Low and watch the video for Kept Low.

Molly's Tracks

2008-05-11T09:50:00.012+10:00

What…? Is it 10PM on a Saturday night? Why yes it is. And I, Molly Frances Blain, am home. Maybe I am just a grumpy ol’ woman (I'm only 20! Haha). I just find going out these days to be a total let down. I don’t even begin with hopes to crash. Rather end with an early cab ride home with frivolous conversation with the cab driver. They are always so friendly. "Left here please, right here thank you". You’d be surprised how many cab drivers DON’T have GPS Navigational Systems.

Yes I am blabbering. Sorry, sorry. I will stop now.. Or not. I may insert absolutely hilarious commentary every now and then.

As you may have realised I have not posted in a while. Yes, I slap my hand for you. Naughty Molly. However I do have a bunch of tracks that I KNOW you will love. Today I have found some great tracks in the midst of procrastinating from university projects, studies, yadda yadda. It kept my day moving (however this leather jacket I found today was another ingredient in my ploughing forward through my academic studies, strange huh?).

Gnarls Barkley Going On
Alright, so as you may have noticed I am not one who will say “_____ is releasing their debut album late May”. I’m not one for informative, uhh information? I may do a little search-er-oo occasionally for the pleasure of my readers – not today, not tonight. This track has been doing the rounds on the blogs worldwide. I am not AT ALL a past Gnarls Barkley fan. This song has made me think otherwise. I very much look forward to hearing the album. From what I’ve heard you can actually listen to the FULL-LENGTH album on Barkley’s MySpace. Guess what fool, it’s BACKWARDS. Haha.

Primary One Hold Me Down (Shoes Remix)
So this track has been flogged across FBi, and I am sure a few of you have heard it. Despite the almost “saturation of the market” (a marketing term, I am applying my university knowledge into this post, wow), I am still going to share it with you all. It’s an upbeat track that will enable some foot tapping, head bopping movements. Again, a good Gym Playlist track. It gets you going, and KEEPS you going.

Patrick Watson Drifters
Ok, we are going to slow it down ladies and gentlemen. This track is simply orchestrated in harmony with itself, and the lyrics. I received Watson’s album “Close To Paradise”, and instantly fell in love with this track, and “Luscious Life”. The build up in presence and tempo really allows for a powerful song, paired with such a subtle and comforting voice – it really is special. The only thing bad about this song, I can think of; is that I have listened to it far too many times. Those little parts in the track get me every time, right at 3:00 minutes – the effect of his voice through a distorted, almost megaphone like contraption. Purely superb!

The Notwist Boneless
I just found this track, within about 30 minutes. I have heard it floating about, yet now I have my little hands … Well, ears, on it. It’s rawness and honesty really allows for the friendliness twanged with sadness to flow through. The traditional instruments of percussion are intertwined with more electronic and technical insertions, which rid this track of any predictability. Pity it only goes for 2:55 minutes.

Bad Veins Fake Baby
This track is amazing. It’s so great, and much like FBi’s Dan Zilber explained, this is definitely going to be seen in some episode of Grey’s Anatomy, or perhaps even home-grown Underbelly (wait that’s over.. right?). This song is so wonderful. “I know you would run away with me, you know you can count on me completely. No matter how.. I got you fake baby”. Not much into analysing lyrics too much, nor am I going to start now, however this track really is so almost painfully slow, but this simply adds to the intensity of the tracks. Do enjoy!

Also just a quick note: Check out this Website. It’s amazing, it’s basically an online record label (as the name suggests!), with a whole bunch of great artists: RCRDLBL.COM. Some of the tracks I have posted actually direct you to this website, a few tracks I have myself are from this website – I don’t like to re-host them on my own accord, given it’s their handywork that enabled me to have them!

Until next time...

P.S. Scarlet Johansson’s Tom Waits’ covers aren’t too bad. A little dry and sad, but perhaps she’s channelling Tom Waits?

Port O'Brien

2008-05-10T20:54:00.004+10:00

When Port O'Brien's Van Pierszalowski isn't seafaring on his fishing boat and counterpart Cambria Goodwin isn't baking away sweet cakes, they're sparing some time making music together, combined with the collaborative efforts of Caleb Nichols, Joshua Barnhart and Zebedee Zaitz. Reeling in folk and pop, their sophomore album release "All We Could Do Was Sing" opens with the sing-along anthem and first single "I Woke Up Today". Reworked, it captures joyous celebration of the refreshing feel of the morning rise which then leaves the rest of the album subsiding quickly over to a lonely dark sunset. The record varies from upbeat pop melodies, folk meanderings and raucous rock; and as the band first studio album, its pulled in its effort to formulate this stunning record, which is already on the favourite lists of M. Ward and Tegan & Sara. All We Could Do Was Sing is out in Australia through Dew Process today and the rest of the world on May 13th, whilst at the moment the band are touring North America with another favourite of mine, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.

Port O'Brien I Woke Up Today / (Daytrotter Session Version)
Port O'Brien My Eyes Won't Shut
Port O'Brien Stuck On A Boat

Purchase All We Could Do Was Sing and watch I Woke Up Today

Bearsuit

2008-05-09T23:08:00.005+10:00

Bearsuit, sounds like a cute name, they look pretty harmless, but add some raging kids with knives and you've got sound of this six piece band from Norwich, England. Sounds more frightening really. Enter the intergalactic space odyssey of their latest album "OH:IO", where a laser shooter is nothing more than a flute, violin, cornet, keyboard or accordian and aliens are crazy humans in ridiculous costumes. "OH:IO" bursts into stars with its too-cute twee pop, dispersed by electro beats and further imploded by screaming noise. It'd be a black hole of Talulah Gosh, Belle & Sebastian, Deerhoof and Melt Banana; every second vying for a breath of air, competing with each other to take the lead. Quite claustrophobic. With a carousel full of hyperactive dizzy kids, its enough to create a frenzy for this hypnotic noise pop playground adventure. Messy, unconventional and impulsive; Bearsuit's album OH:IO is more inviting than it appears to be. The record is out through Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records.

Bearsuit ~~More Soul Than Wigan Casino~~ Removed by request.
Bearsuit ~~Dinosaur Heart~~ Removed by request.
Bearsuit ~~Foxy Boxer~~ Removed by request.
Bearsuit ~~Shh Get Out~~ Removed by request.

Purchase OH:IO and watch More Soul Than Wigan Casino

Cut Off Your Hands

2008-05-05T12:24:00.004+10:00

Over the last three weeks some might have been aware that Speak 'n Spell Records, which is home to Cut Off Your Hands, has been giving away a tracks by the aforementioned band. These aren't exactly sneak peaks for their new album, which apparently is very close to being finished and hopefully released soon-ish, but they are in fact cover versions. I'm a bit half-and-half with covers, for me it really depends on whose doing it and the artist they are covering, but with these three gems that Cut Off Your Hands have put together they turned out to be absolute winners. From the guitar crazy Split Enz cover of 'Shark Attack' to the joyous and fast paced Buzzcocks cover 'I Don't Mind' to the freakishly brilliant Sonic's cover, and live favorite, 'The Witch'. These three covers further prove that Cut Off Your Hands are a unqiue band of our time, and I cannot wait for their debut album to finally hit the shelves.

Cut Off Your Hands Shark Attack (Split Enz Cover)
Cut Off Your Hands I Don't Mind (Buzzcocks Cover)
Cut Off Your Hands The Witch (The Sonics Cover)

An Horse

2008-04-22T20:39:00.005+10:00

Firstly, yes the band's name is in fact An Horse, and I am well aware of the frustrations behind the name and when you try to pronounce it out loud, believe me. But that aside this Brisbane duo have been creating quite a stir at the moment, from what I've witnessed anyway. They seem to have just literally come out of nowhere and within a short period of time have people talking around the world. This of course is from the help of American sister duo Tegan And Sara and their generosity of giving the band the support slot as the girls tour America. An Horse are most definitely something unique, comparing to other Australian acts that is. Their sound is exuberant, out of place, but delivered incredibly well. There are hints of familiarities within various songs on the band's debut EP, 'Not Really Scared', with influences ranging from Sleater-Kinney to Rilo Kiley, and even Australian long-time running acts like Magic Dirt and Something For Kate shining through here and there. This doesn't make the listening to the band less enjoyable, it actually turns it into curiosity for the strides they take in getting their sound is something to envy. They blend everything really well and they resurrect the old grunge sound to much delight. This is a band well worth keeping an eye on because there's no doubting that they will only continue to rise.

An Horse Postcards
An Horse Scared As Fuck

Purchase Not Really Scared.

The Black Keys

2008-04-20T17:00:00.005+10:00

I know here at Off The Record we do like to keep our main focus on up-and-coming artists, but I think once in a while it's ok to take a trip back to veteran band (of this modern era anyway), and who better than The Black Keys. I've been a fan of the band now ever since the 'Thickfreakness' days, but I don't think I became a real solid hardcore fan up until my ears first took in the band's break-in single '10AM Automatic', which of course appeared on the critically acclaimed album, 'Rubber Factory'. It's now many years later and The Black Keys have returned with their fifth album, 'Attack And Release'. I think by now everyone knows the back-story to this release and how Dangermouse became involved, but god he didn't just have a minor involvement in this project. Dangermouse managed to transform the band without actually transforming them at all, if that makes sense at all. The whole album is covered with the familiar soundings of the band, but there are inklings just here and there that signify the groups eagerness to explore their abilities and play at a whole new level, which is absolutely brilliant to listen too. First single, 'Strange Times', is a gem of a song and probably the most upbeat the band has been in their career. There are plenty of stunning tracks to choose from in this release, and if anything, 'Attack And Release' further establishes the band has one of the most unique garage-rock bands around.

The Black Keys Strange Times
The Black Keys I Got Mine

Purchase Attack And Release.

5 Songs with Teenagersintokyo

2008-04-19T14:19:00.006+10:00

By now, I'm sure most Australian's would be familiar with Sydney based act, Teenagersintokyo, and would be well aware that what they do and make is something to admire and envy. The group are about to descend into unknown territories as they embark on a mini world tour, taking in places like Germany and the UK. I think it's brilliant that they are getting the well-deserved attention from overseas, and they are now another Australian act to take the world on. Like many recent Australian acts before them, there's no doubting whatsoever that this won't be a once off thing for the group. With their debut self-titled EP being released overseas, the group managed to take some time out and compile some recent loved songs.

Teenagersintokyo Very Vampyr
Teenagersintokyo End It Tonight

You can catch Teenagersintokyo at the following dates and venues. Don't think twice, just do it.

April 19: Stealth, Nottingham, UK
April 25: Sous Le Point, Paris, France (w/ Trevor Jackson, Tronik Youth, and Gil)
April 26: Coopclub, Berlin, Germany
April 28: Camden Barfly, London, UK

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ALL MEMBERS OF TEENAGERSINTOKYO'S 5 LOVED SONGS AT THE MOMENT.

RUDY'S TRACK:
Ben Frost Theory Of Machines
Ben is an Aussie living in Iceland. He has this amazing ability to create these strong slow constant changes, to the point where before you notice, the song has gone from warming your heart to making you ears bleed. This song knocks me flat. I had the honour of watching him work while he co-produced the 2nd Gelbison record 'See The World'.

SAM'S TRACK:
Ebony Bones We Know All About You
This track is off the chain. She used to be a British soap star and now writes, produces and plays all the instruments on her tracks. Someone told me this was co-produced with the dude for Liquid Liquid, but that could be made up. In any case I love it.

SOPHIE'S TRACK:
Gang Of Four What We All Want
It's just one of those songs that drives along and as soon as it finishes you feel like you haven't heard everything in it and you want more so you put it back on again and again and again.

MISKA'S TRACK
Kano Another Life
A long time ago a friend gave me a mixed cd with this song on it. Kano is made up of Italian-based musicians who kinda ushered in Italo-disco back in the late 1970s. One of my favourite synth lines ever and such a ridiculously infectious song. Listening to it always brings back lovely memories.

LINDA'S TRACK
By The Fireside Moon Lake
By The Fireside AKA Daniel Lea, a solo London artist. This song is from the album 'The Great Hartford Fire', and the whole record is about this mysterious fire that happened at a huge circus in Hartford, Connecticut in 1944. So the whole album is telling this horrible, colourful story. ''Moon Lake' is told from the perspective of the guy that supposedly started the fire, after having dreams that an Indian man riding a flaming horse told him to. I love the husky voice and the dark guitars.

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Purchase the self-titled EP and watch the video for 'Very Vampyr'.

Kes Band

2008-04-17T20:40:00.001+10:00

As much as I really, really, honest to god don't want to say this, Kes Band is Australia's very own version of Destroyer. I didn't want to say it, but I can't escape it and I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this. But! This is not a bad thing, in fact it's something quite warm and welcoming. It's excellent to hear an Australian artist taking a bit of a different approach to that of other's at the moment. So, when receiving the band's latest self-titled album I was a little overcome and in a very joyous emotion for I was very familiar with the single 'Owner Has Control' and I guess in some anticipation to hear what else the group had up their sleeves. It's not a disappointment either; although there are only nine tracks featured on the cd, it's the lengthy factor that each song has that makes this release such a happy listen. It's an emotion player, it sort of messes with your mind. It leaves me confused for Ii have no idea how I'm suppose to react to these songs. Their tragic, but there adorable and I know that seems wrong, but this just happens. It really is something worthwhile, just for the enjoyment pleasure alone. I couldn't recommend a local talent more at the moment.

Kes Band Owner Has Control
Kes Band Gentle Elf
Kes Band Don't Wear Too Many Hats

Purchase the self-title release.

The Presets

2008-04-14T16:10:00.005+10:00

Everybody knows them. Everybody loves them. They are of course one of Australia's best grown talent, The Presets. Their back, for those of you who have been living under a rock, and boy are they just that. It's been three long excruciating years since the release of the band's debut album, Beams, and I'm sure I'm not the only one in saying that it was a wait well worth it. Apocalypso is the name of the new album, and it picks up from where Beams left off. Kicking And Screaming is possibly one of the best album opener's since, well since Steamworks. It just has everything that Presets fans will be familiar, but that little bit more. This time around Jules and Kim have gone more melodic and less sing-along, which is really quite something to hear. It's great to see the band are looking to explore their sound and push their boundaries a little. It's worked off a charm, My People sounds just like an anthem should sound, This Boy's In Love couldn't be more of a perfect second single, and the filmclip that accompanies it is really something else, but I think one of the stand-outs, and mainly for it's obscurity and out of place-ness (and the cheesy lyrics), would have to be Yippiyo Ay. This album is phenomenal, there's really no other way to put it. Not only have the band pleased just about everyone of their hardcore, but there's no doubting whatsoever that their going to attract a whole new audience. Whether or not that's a good thing, only time will tell.

The Presets Kicking And Screaming
The Presets This Boy's In Love
The Presets Yippiyo Ay

Purchase Apocalypso and watch the video for This Boy's In Love.

5 Songs with These New Puritans

2008-04-12T11:10:00.007+10:00

I'm really loving this band at the moment, just everything about them I'm really drawn too. Their whole style, attitude, and their way of going about things is such a rare thing to see these days. And what makes it better, they make some of the most unique and interesting music my ears have laid upon. I think what these guys are doing is as close to the true definition of "nu-rave" as the Klaxons or any others will ever get too. Recently the band's debut album, 'Beat Pyramid', saw it's release down here in Australia and from all accounts it's been receiving some really great reviews. If there's one album from this year that I would have to recommend listening too, this album would come close. Oh! And do I smell a Splendour In The Grass rumour?

These New Puritans Elvis
These New Puritans Swords Of Truth

I spoke to lead-singer, and all round crazy guy Jack Barnett last week and he was more then happy to compile a list of his 5 favorite songs right then and there for the website, which was extremely generous of him. There's some real crackers in this playlist.

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JACK BARNETT of THESE NEW PURITANS 5 SONGS ON ROTATION.

Movado On The Rock
His birthday party last year got raided by the Jamaican police and soldiers in helicopters. So he made this song; sort of angelic neo-classical dancehall. Light and I always like cheesy MIDI brass sounds in dancehall.

Crystal Castles Tell Me What To Swallow
The last song on their album. It sounds like My Bloody Valentine put through an SU-10.

Brian Wilson Smart Girls
In the late 80's the demented Brian Wilson started making a hip-hop album. You can get this song on the internet everywhere.

RZA Handwriting On The Wall
RZA's solo albums are really good. I don't know if it's his limitations that make his piano playing so good. He also made a song for a Nike advert that was good and operatic.

Captain Beefheart And The Magical Band Making Love To A Vampire With A Monkey On My Knee
Van Vliet says: "Death be damned. Life". The best end to an album.

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Purchase 'Beat Pyramid' and watch the video for 'Elvis'.

The Mess Hall

2008-04-11T10:13:00.001+10:00

I recently had the enjoyable pleasure of witnessing one of Australia's finest two piece act, The Mess Hall, for the first time in action on stage a few nights ago. I have to admit I went into the show without a lot of expectations for the band, mainly because I was more excited about catching their support act (and one of my favorite bands), The Scare, but that's moving off topic now. They surprised me, they really had me from start to finish, opening up with with possibly the best opening track known to mankind, 'Diddley', and closing with 'Disco 2'. Watching the band in full flight was amazing, with Cec Condon going hammer and tongs at his drum-kit and Jed Kurzel swaying and moving about with the music, and just going off into his own little world, it was really something that has to be witnessed. I think what made the show that little more enjoyable was the fact that there was maybe 20 or 30 people there, and it gave me the opportunity to meet and greet all the bands who were playing and see some familiar faces.

I think The Mess Hall really had me from the very beginning of their career. I remember hearing 'Lock And Load' for the first time and absolutely loving that (and still do). It was then their debut album, 'Notes From The Ceiling', that was just the sealer. It did everything for me, and I'm a real sucker for a good drummer, and the beats they manage to wangle within their music has me incredibly jealous. Last years follow up release, 'Devils Elbow', saw the band rack up awards, win over new fans, and prove that their definitely not going to stick to the one sound. The band are still on tour supporting their new single 'The Pulse' and have a handful of dates remaining for that. Those who are seeing the Foo Fighters at the end of the month will gain an extra treat, for The Mess Hall will be supporting on all dates.

The Mess Hall The Pulse
The Mess Hall Diddley
The Mess Hall Pills

Purchase 'Notes From A Ceiling' and/or 'Devil's Elbow' and watch the video for 'The Pulse'

Cut Copy

2008-04-07T20:35:00.000+10:00

There's just something about Cut Copy that causes this great diversion between people, you're either very much in love with with this Melbourne band is doing or you just completely despise it and don't care much for it at all. Me? I'm a fan, I wouldn't say a die-hard fan like some people I've met over the years, but I do appreciate the work that their masterful minds can conjure up. The anticipation leading up to the release of 'In Ghost Colours' was intense, for me anyway. I went and bought the album on the day of it's release, and it came with the sleek slip case and a nice library bag to go with it (maybe I am a die-hard fan?) and I must say, the 6 month wait was well worth it. The album is like a major event, you go into it with high expectations when you know you shouldn't be thinking, but then you come out having realised that the show reached your expectations, but doubled it. There's not a single bad track on this release, and I really have to hand it to the guys. They just can't seem to put a foot wrong and I think the world couldn't agree more.

Cut Copy Feel The Love
Cut Copy Unforgettable Season

Watch the video for Lights And Music and purchase In Ghost Colours.

El Guincho

2008-03-31T15:57:00.004+11:00

I don't know how to explain my feelings right at this very moment, for I have found out the best news I've heard since...probably ever, and that's saying a lot. El Guincho will be bringing he's fine self down Australia's way in May to promote his debut album 'Alegranza' and taking in the support slot of Architecture In Helsinki's 'Like It Or Not' Tour. This is incredible news, and I really have to hand it to AIH, they always bring some really good acts along for their tours (YACHT, Muscles, Glass Candy, Panther, etc.). Enough praise and applause for AIH (they've had more than enough in the last year), it's El Guincho I'm more focussed on. The music this man creates is stunningly beautiful and intelligent. It's a bit of a shame that Panda Bear came beforehand otherwise El Guincho would be crowned the king of this unique genre. This is music at it's most obscure, and I couldn't be anymore in love with it at the moment. Please, do listen if you have not already.

ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI 'LIKE IT OR NOT' TOUR
May 08: Prince Bandroom, Melbourne (w/ El Guincho)
May 09: Canberra University, Canberra (w/ El Guincho)
May 11: Metro Theatre, Sydney (w/ El Guincho)
May 13: The Tivoli, Brisbane (w/ El Guincho)

El Guincho Antillas
El Guincho Kalise
El Guincho Cuando Maavilla Fui

Watch 'Kalise' and purchase 'Alegranza'.

The Catch Up

2008-03-16T15:09:00.022+11:00

There's excuses upon excuses as to why I have been unintentionally avoiding Off The Record. I think it goes without explaining that the last year of schooling is one of the most critical years in any teenager's life, and one where a fatal era (such as ignoring work) could be disastrous. But in saying that, I've only just recently turned 18 and have been enjoying "adult" life to it's fullest. With school and social life aside though, I have found time today to put together a non-stop blabber-a-thon and music for all.

GIG PREVIEW: The beauty of being 18, is not having to worry about bouncers or security at shows, and getting in without a single hassle. It's been exactly one month since the day and I have managed to see some pretty extraordinary shows in that time (Ween, CocoRosie, The Dirtbombs, and The Nation Blue) and will hopefully continue doing so for a long while. New Buffalo, or Sally Seltman to friends, is next in line and will be playing two shows at the recently-new and loved Melbourne venue Toff In Town for some "unique performances". I've been looking forward to the day that I would witness Sally in the flesh on stage, and these upcoming shows couldn't be more of a great opportunity for she'll be in hidding straight afterwards writing and recording the follow up to last year's stunningly perfected album (and #5 on my 2007 Top 15 Albums list) 'Somewhere, Anywhere'. Hopefully (and this goes for international readers) you've all had the pleasure of taking in the delight that is New Buffalo and haven't put off seeing her live.

NEW BUFFALO MARCH TOUR
Mar 19: The Toff In Town, Melbourne (w/ Guy Blackman)
Mar 20: The Toff In Town, Melbourne (w/ Jane Badler and Sir)
Mar 22: The Factory Theatre (w/ Fergus Brown and Cloud Control)

(MP3) New Buffalo Cheer Me Up Thank You
(MP3) New Buffalo It's True
(MP3) New Buffalo Four Seasons In One Day (Crowded House Cover)

UNKNOWN TALENT: Taking things now into a completely different direction, we have Sydney's Chaingang. A reasonably new band on the block that will surely create a stir in the very near future. Starting off somewhat slowly but effectively, the band has dropped two demo tracks amongst the blogging world and have been praised for their tireless efforts nationally and internationally. The band blends together the undeniably catchy 70's punk hooks most have come to know and get familiar with, as well the throwing in a franticness likened to Melbourne-siders Young And Restless. There's no doubting whatsoever that these guys have talent and will explore it. I'm just counting down the days until they take over.

(MP3) Chaingang Get Off My Stage
(MP3) Chaingang Cut Here

She & Him - 'Volume One'

ALBUM REVIEW: I have to admit right up front, Zooey Deschanel has always been a love of mine, and always has been ever since my first viewing of the once cult classic Almost Famous. To hear that she was going to be recording music professionally was a blessing, for being a "hardcore" fan I was well aware of her unique voice and talent. But to hear it was with everybody's favorite indie-folk artist M. Ward (are Zooey and Ward a couple or what?) sort of put a damper on it all for me. It's nothing against him or his music, it's that I just haven't ever been able to get a grasp on his styling as much as other's. With all that aside, I have to say that this little album, cleverly titled 'Volume One', is adorable. It's got charm, it's got emotion, and above all it's cute. There are some brilliant familiarities within this record, mostly that of olden day AM radio and folk. Zooey has this child-like voice that's irresistibly brilliant, and it's good to see her dominate most of this album and leave the production work up to Ward. It was only through M. Ward's request that Zooey opened up her writing abilities and for that, I guess I have to thank him.

(MP3) She & Him Got Me
(MP3) She & Him Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?

PARADES

2008-03-15T14:15:00.003+11:00

Hello strangers, haven’t seen you all in a while! I must apologise for my lack of presence in Off The Record, however I will make a conscious effort to post a mix every fortnight, Molly’s Sunday Mix will be back!

I have a little something special for you all today. PARADES are a testament to what beautiful Sydney has to offer. Hailing from Sydney’s North-West, PARADES provoke a sense of vividness through their combination of Guitars, keys, computers, glockenspiels, drums, and other assorted household items. Their explosive material is concocted in their “stately garage”, adding to the presence and adventure of listening to their beautiful music.

They are getting a fair bit of airplay through Sydney’s FBi radio, after they dropped in their demo to the station’s open day! PARADES are also playing a set at the Annandale for the Jager Uprising. This band is very promising, very promising indeed.

You can check PARADES out at these upcoming gigs:
Sunday 6th April at SPECTRUM, Sydney
Tuesday 15th April at Annandale for Jager Uprising
Friday 16th May for MUM at World Bar in Sydney’s Kings Cross

PARADES Shut Up & Be Young
PARADES Invaders

PARADES MySpace

The Long Blondes

2008-03-05T21:39:00.007+11:00

When it comes to the most anticipated releases for 2008, The Long Blondes next effort, "Couples" would be extremely high on that list. Within the first 10 seconds we get an immediate hit of a change in their sound from upbeat pop-diddy's to this synthetic 80's dance-floor fillers. It's pleasurable more than anything to hear this direction the band look like heading in and upon further listening it's almost a certainty that they have mastered, where some have failed, the "difficult second album". Lead single, Century is smothered with familiarities (Blondie, Kate Bush, etc.) but performed with such brilliance and beauty. The Long Blondes have really outdone themselves, I don't think anyone could've asked for a better follow-up album. They've managed to slip in a bit of punk, a bit of ska, and have left me (and I'm sure others) in complete awe. I know it's early in the year to make a quick judgment, but this album will very well appear in a lot of end of the year lists.

The Long Blondes Century
The Long Blondes I Liked The Boys
The Long Blondes Erin O'Connor

Purchase "Couples".

Panther

2008-02-23T10:58:00.002+11:00

It's been almost a year since I last posted about Panther and since then his done some amazing changes. Having toured around America non-stop with artists such as Glass Candy and Melbourne-proud Architecture In Helsinki, officially adding a second member to the band (Joe Kelly on drums), and has still manage to find time to record a new album. '14kt God' is the name of the new album and much like the debut 'Secret Lawns', it's daunting but consisting of these sudden urges of feeling incompatible and letting loose. There's something about Panther's music that makes you come back for more, there's nothing really unique happening but I think it's Charlie's presence that brings that extra little bit. Second time round, Panther's put together a well structured album that's only going to succeed further than his debut.

Panther Puerto Rican Jukebox
Panther Total Sexy Church

Purchase '14kt God'.

The Bird And The Bee

2008-02-20T20:47:00.004+11:00

If there's one band I know all of us here at Off The Record are keen to follow, it's most definitely The Bird And The Bee. I think if you make a visit to our last.fm pages, you'll know doubt find this collective sitting somewhere pretty amongst out charts. I think they have an obsession with recording, it seems their releasing something every six months, which is great (I'm not complaining). As of last Thursday (Valentine's Day, for those playing at home), The Bird And The Bee secretly dropped a special EP amongst the cyber world. Titled 'One Too Many Hearts', this EP packs some real gems and, fitting in with the occasion, some soothing straight-up love songs. I honestly can't see this band putting a foot wrong, sure there's only so much a band can do in their genre, but Greg and Inara aren't afraid with exploring just that little bit more to get exactly what the want. Hopefully album #2 is on the cards in the near future.

The Bird And The Bee Birthday
The Bird And The Bee Come As You Were
The Bird And The Bee How Deep Is Your Love

Purchase 'One Too Many Hearts'.

There's Old Curiosity in the Air

2008-02-19T22:05:00.004+11:00

Arrah and the Ferns forming is a happy accident. Their debut album, Evan is a Vegan, is a candy store full of Wurlitzer organs, banjos and sunshine filled guitars. While the whimsical, sweet melodies and convivial moments remind me of Play School, the lyrics spew vitriol about emo kids and ways to kill someone. Apart from the amusingly malevolent words, I also love the Arcadian atmosphere imbued within each song.

Arrah and the Ferns Problems
Arrah and the Ferns Southern Comfort
Arrah and the Ferns Skylark

Constantly changing homeroots even up to the point when she graduated from Berklee School of Music in Boston in 2003, Caroline Lufkin is more than just your normal musician. She’s a wondrous duet of pleasures, composer of romantic and starry eyed minimal arrangements and a master at finesse. Lufkin, who was recently in Australia as part of Mice Parade’s band, has the most illuminatingly sweet voice ever.

Caroline Where's My Love
Caroline Sunrise
Caroline All I Need (Owen Vallis Mix)

Bring on the bubblegum! Hey Willpower, the brainchild of Will Schwartz (part of pop group Imperial Teen) with the addition of Tomo Yasuda and a rotation of collaborators inject their helping of slick sunshine and candies of synth pop, queercore, and contemporary R&B. The addition of choreographed dances and matching outfits at live shows make this rightly unabashed pop troupe even sweeter.

Hey Willpower Chewing Gum
Hey Willpower Not Trippin'
Hey Willpower Silent Ring

The Kills’ new one is a softer record, to say the least. They’ve chosen to take a refined route with their new record but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ve abandoned anything great. While I do proclaim my love for their No Wow regularly, Midnight Boom is pleasantly surprising. There are catchy hooks littered everywhere. My particular favourite, Cheap and Cheerful, is at the same time a fervent and serenely calm track, complete with drum rolls and comical samples. Midnight Boom is out in March.

The Kills Cheap and Cheerful
The Kills ~~Tape Song~~

Crystal Skulls is a collection of bookmarked pages of a history book. They flourish with warm, intelligent pop and read pages from jazz and soft rock, as well. There’s a proclivity on all their records to appeal to everyone on the sound spectrum. The compositions are intricate, yet very romantic. The words out of Christian Wargo’s mouth are eloquent and ready to incite zealous discourse between listeners but inversely, have diaphanous and even quixotic tendencies. And, best of all, it’s excellent music for the lazy lounge.

Crystal Skulls The Cosmic Door
Crystal Skulls Baby Boy

Lykke Li

2008-02-18T19:15:00.005+11:00

Lykke Li came to me as a recommendation for from a friend of mine last year. Two things struck me at first; 1. Why hadn't I heard of this artist before my friend and 2. Lykke Li packs an amazing voice with the most soulful and balanced tunes created in a long time. There are slight familiarities upon listens (ie. El Perro Del Mar, Taken By Trees, etc.), but it's easily ignorable when stumbling across tracks as 'Little Bit', 'Breaking It Up' and 'This Trumpet In My Head'. Her tracks are as unique as they get, blending the likes of jazz, folk and a sort of Ennio Morricone-esque instrumentation. Put quite simply and plainly, I can see this lady taking off quite fast and making an impressionable effect amongst critics. She made a quick jump on the scene last year with her brilliant song (and video, might I add) for 'Little Bit' and now with her debut album 'Youth Novels' and her next single 'I'm Good, I'm Gone' around the corner, we wont be waiting long for this sudden take over.

Lykke Li I'm Good. I'm Gone
Lykke Li My Love
Lykke Li Little Bit
Lykke Li This Trumpet In My Head

Purchase 'Youth Novels' and watch the video for 'Little Bit'.

Bag Raiders

2008-02-16T12:32:00.005+11:00

The Bag Raiders are Gus da Hoodrat, Jack Sabbath and Chris Brave. Sydney buddies who make dance music. They have remixed the likes of The Valentinos and Midnight Juggernauts. This remix of their latest single by knightlife is pretty impressive.
It alters an initial blatant rip off of Justice, though super catchy, nil by mouth into a shimmering italo disco inspired masterpiece.

Bag Raiders Nil By Mouth (Knightlife Remix)

Letting You Down Again

2008-02-09T10:51:00.000+11:00

"The bands, when you think honestly about it, are the ones that ever really mattered. It may not be Depeche Mode, but the bands the bands you loved in high school you will love forever" and convincing the girls to fall for him over their lyrics, Matthew Baringer of Asaurus Records (formerly home to a favourite here, Pants Yell!), has created a little project to rekindle the love of old favourites (previously done with The Smashing Pumpkins, titled "The Hiss That We Have Missed: Lo-Fi Vs. Smashing Pumpkins"), with the latest instalment on Depeche Mode, taking little over 3 years to put together. With lo-fi bands and artists taking Depeche Mode lyrics and recreating the songs, it's more of a teaser than a tribute compilation. The record contains these little in between epigraphs of past time reminiscence. Depeche Mode fan or not, I find this record really surprisingly intriguing and warming. Plus, who here doesn't enjoy some indie pop (covering 80's classics)?! The handmade and little neat packaged compilation is out now through Asaurus Records.

Curtains Afire Just Can't Get Enough
H Bird But Not Tonite
Grumpy Bear World Full Of Nothing
The Mathletes Never Let Me Down Again
Manipulator Alligator Blasphemous Rumors
The French Toasts People Are People
Maven Steeples Never Let Me Down Again

Purchase Letting You Down Again: Lo-Fi vs Depeche Mode and watch People Are People by Depeche Mode

I'd also like to note that we have a new domain. If you could update your links, it'd be very much appreciative, otherwise the old link still remains active as the new link redirects to it. I figured the new one would be much easier to remember. Thank you!

The Dirty Secrets

2008-02-08T12:23:00.000+11:00

It seems every provincial capital city in Australia has its post punk inspired band. They have a fanatic local following and seems to support every other indie band that visits the lonely outpost.

I don't live in Perth, but I suspect that The Dirty Secrets are that city's "band".
Lighthouse is a great track that sounds like what most of the tracks from Bloc Party's latest album should have been.

The Dirty Secrets Lighthouse

Say Goodbye To That Little Tree Boy.

2008-01-25T23:20:00.000+11:00

So, with Sandra's big Summer-break comeback post creating havoc internet wide, I thought it might be time for me to join in on the fun. Having had, I think, a well deserved break from anything internet related, it was now a good time (considering I'm back at school next week) to get back in the swing of things as a whole new swag of releases are beginning to pop up and tickle my fancy. Let's begin shall we.

Welcome to Dev Hynes (Test Icicles fame) latest project, Lightspeed Champion. Dev has been at this undertaking for some time and it's only now, with the release of his debut album 'Falling Off The Lavender Bridge', that his getting the well deserved attention he very much deserves. Taking a complete different path to that of his last band, Test Icicles, Lightspeed Champion has dropped some tunes of wit and emotion filled folk. This puts a smile on my face with every listen and no doubting it would with you too.

Lightspeed Champion Tell Me What It's Worth
Lightspeed Champion Dry Lips

Blood Red Shoes are back in the limelight once again, but with them this time a debut album. The album, titled 'Box Of Secrets', isn't due to next month (February 6th to be exact), but I couldn't help myself with these guys. The duo have produced an absolute stunner of gritty modern era rock and roll, with sweet but dirty vocals coming from one Laura-Mary Carter.

Blood Red Shoes It Doesn't Matter Much
Blood Red Shoes ADHD
Blood Red Shoes Forgive Nothing
Blood Red Shoes You Bring Me Down

This band I have followed from the very beginning and now with their fourth release, I think they've finally reached a place their comfortable at. I am talking of course about The Mars Volta, a band that's not afraid to push the boundaries and continuously do so with each release. 'The Bedlam In Goliath' is a far more aggressive and right in your face masterpiece that exceeds far past anyone's expectations.

The Mars Volta Goliath
The Mars Volta Wax Simulacra
The Mars Volta Cavalettas

Jason Collett is a real quiet achiever, his music is simple, but intelligently written and performed, with veins of early Neil Young mixed with the modern day Dylan. Jason's new album, 'Here's To Being Here', is a well spaced album with familiar likings and tunes of delight that'll even bring the most snobbish towards this genre coming back for more.

Jason Collett Roll On Oblivion
Jason Collett Somehow
Jason Collett Through The Nights These Days
Jason Collett Out Of Time

Hot Chip had a lot of pressure on their shoulders after their well-acclaimed and everybody favorite album, 'The Warning', and I think now with their next release just around the corner their going to once again stun critics worldwide. 'In The Dark' is something we really couldn't expect more from these guys, it's brilliant in every way shape or form. It craves repeated listens and is completely mind-bending.

Hot Chip Out At The Picture
Hot Chip Ready For The Floor
Hot Chip Touch Too Much

Black Mountain have risen right up there as one of my favorite artist. After being introduced to their debut way too late, I was quick to grab a hold of a leaked version (I know, naughty) of their latest album 'In The Future' a couple of months back. I have to say right now, this album is going to be huge, just absolutely huge. It's going to put these guys a place that they've never been before and it's going to blow minds everywhere. Bridging together influences from all directions, this is an absolute sublime record.

Black Mountain Tyrants
Black Mountain Queens Will Play

I do know why people say this, but apparently if you like of Montreal well then you must like Xiu Xiu. With me, that's not that case at all. To be honest, of Montreal scare me whereas Xiu Xiu (for some reason) don't. Now back with, soon, with their new release 'Women As Lovers' this duo are going to further confuse their listeners with their experimental pop. Hands up, who didn't see the cover of 'Under Pressure' coming? Seriously, that came from no where, but a damn fine cover it is indeed.

Xiu Xiu I Do What I Want When I Want
Xiu Xiu Under Pressure (feat. Michael Gira)

There's something about Cat Power that makes me keep coming back. With every release she's maturing and it's noticable, and to some people that seems to be a real put off and I can see why, but there's just too much to love about Chan that makes me want to stay. With 'Jukebox' now out an about and creating mix raves, Cat Power is back to dominant the music world and turn heads once again.

Cat Power ~~Silver Stallion~~
Cat Power ~~Aretha, Sing Be In~~
Cat Power ~~Blue~~

I think everyone's favorite EP of last year was delivered by latest blog favorites Beach House, and now, having been quiet for the last half of 2007, are about to drop their debut album 'Devotion'. It's very much what you might come to suspect of the band, but you really can't dismiss this record, it's something quite spectacular and worth indulging into. There's a lot of hype surrounding the band at the moment and I think they have released something that will exceed expectations.

Beach House Gila
Beach House D.A.R.L.I.N.G.

Probably the most talked about British band of 2007, Los Campesinos! are releasing their debut release and boy are they going to make a big impression with it. A lot of people have already become familiar with half the tracklisting through previous single releases, but a majority of the new tunes featured are seriously going to put a big fat smile on all those indie-pop fans out there, I know it did on mine.

Los Campesinos! Knee Deep At ATP
Los Campesinos! Drop It Doe Eyes
Los Campesinos! Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks

Between Hello And Goodbye

2008-01-23T12:50:00.000+11:00

This is a big comeback post for the big break from me, not to mention another layout change (unfortunately the temporary previous one that lasted for less than two weeks failed to maintain interest with its overall busy-ness). So, I'm sure we're all gearing up for another big year which has got me excited for the upcoming gigs, festivals and albums in the making. This post is filled with a mixture of what I left out last year and new music to look out for this year, I guess a little transition to and fro to help kick off January and 2008.

(Version 1: October 2006 - December 2007) & (Version 2: January 2008)
It's been on repeat for me as one of my current picks and what a fantastic time to crawl into the mid-summer. Black Kids sound like that band who should be on the playlist of every party; equally big and fun. Bridging between Arcade Fire, The Go! Team, Love Is All, The Cure and My Bloody Valentine, which has been mentioned by pretty much everywhere on this blogosphere and music magazines. You can get your ears around the debut self released EP "Wizard Of Ahhhs" for free on their website (blackkidsmusic.com) or HERE.

Black Kids Love Me Already
Black Kids I've Underestimated My Charm (Again)

Performing in Australia for the Big Day Out festival this week, Kate Nash is the adorable singer-songwriter from London, UK, whose done herself well into a number one album for her début titled "Made Of Bricks". It's comparable to Lily Allen's humorous story telling lyrics and thick British accent along with Regina Spektor's musical talent. I can't help include these covers of Arctic Monkeys and Black Kids below, they're really good!

Kate Nash Foundations
Kate Nash Fluorescent Adolescent (Arctic Monkeys Cover)
Kate Nash I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend... (Black Kids Cover)

A colourful fusion power-pop and thrashy art rock on a small theatrical stage with as many props is how this young Canadian band from Toronto perform, which is more like a musical circus than any sort of gig really. With folk musicians as parents, these kids draw from a range of influences from folk, punk, grunge, motown to hip hop. I'm not sure where its going with that but they sure have an interesting blend. More people should know about Spiral Beach! Their sophomore album "Ball" is available through Amazon.

Spiral Beach Made Of Stone
Spiral Beach Kind Of Beast

I've already put their album at number 2 for my top list last month and its another current pick but the whole world needs more of Vampire Weekend! Tropical afro-pop from New York, catchy as they are delightful and intelligent, the self titled album swings by XL Recordings through Remote Control Records in Australia this Saturday (Australia Day), 26th January. I hope to see more of this band, perhaps a tour sometime.

Vampire Weekend Mansard Roof
Vampire Weekend Oxford Comma
Vampire Weekend Daytrotter Sessions

One of bands I never to got to mention last year was My Teenage Stride from New York, similar to The Smiths, New Order, Orange Juice and The Go-Betweens; its melancholic shoegaze C86-like lo-fi indie pop with resemblance to those jangly guitars of the 80's new wave sounds that retain persistent rhythm and melody. Provoking nostalgia found now only in old films and records, the band capture its perfect scenes and moments.

My Teenage Stride To Live And Die In The Airport Lounge
My Teenage Stride Ears Like Golden Bats
My Teenage Stride Heartless & Cruel

Sir Salvatore are a four piece band from the sunny shores of San Francisco, California who've just released their second EP "Continental Breakfast", an enjoyable and upbeat indie rock record that reminds me of Pavement and Apples In Stereo, which is always a good thing bringing warmth and familiarity.

Sir Salvatore Ambalina
Sir Salvatore Townies
Sir Salvatore Hooray For This Projector
Sir Salvatore Public Key

Fresh from the mail box (thanks to the people at Sydney label Private Practice Records and distribution by Inertia) is Peregrine, who are quite a catch, their music is "emotionally intense" rockabilly blues with strong nods to Gomez, You Am I and The Pictures. Equally combining soul sensitivity and pop sensibility for subtle tenderness towards displeasures making it exquisite as it is carefully refined likeable to commercial easy listening.

Peregrine The Good Ship
Peregrine Dear John Letter
Peregrine Close Your Eyes

Yes, be your own PET are back and no, they haven't grown up (just yet). "Get Awkward", its called and by the sounds of it so far, its all mess and young fun as we all remembered it to be, where adventures have turned into food fights, its all about causing damage and getting awkward(?) Second album is due out mid (17/18) March.

be your own PET Black Hole
be your own PET Food Fight
be your own PET The Kelley Affair
be your own PET Super Soaked

Knife Machine

2008-01-22T19:05:00.000+11:00

Knife Machine is DJ and production duo of Jono Ma and Pat Santamaria, of Sydney indie electronic band the Lost Valentinos. Recently they have been quite prolific with their work. with recent remixes of Bloc Party,Soft Tigers, Teenagersintokyo and their own band, the Lost Valentinos.

Their remix of Bloc Party's Prayer is pretty impressive. Turning the worst Bloc Party song to date into an Ed Banger inspired dark maelstrom of techno infused post punk.

Bloc Party Prayer (Knife Machine Remix)

PS How cool is the new look?

MGMT

2008-01-12T17:29:00.000+11:00

First off, I think I should mention, on behalf of everyone else writing for Off The Record, we are deeply sorry for the lack of posts as of recent. I don't think neither of us expected to just stop over the summer break, but I think we all needed it for one reason or another. One thing has changed over the three week leave and that is the template, which you can all thank Sandra for once again. Now, let's get back to it.

If you had of come up to me a week ago and asked me if I'd heard of MGMT I probably would have laughed at you and ask "MG who?", but like most musical acts I question nowadays it comes back and bites me in the backside. A couple of nights ago, and I can't believe I'm about to admit this, I was watching David Letterman and he had this Brooklyn based band on at the end of his show (which featured some stella comedic genius from everybody's favourite human being, Tom Hanks) performing their brand new single 'Time To Pretend'. At first I was contemplating whether or not I should somehow force my body to get up and leave, but when MGMT took that tiny stage, in capes might I add, and started performing their song, that was it. It took maybe 5 seconds for me to slap myself across the face and abusive myself from inside.

'Oracular Spectacular' is the name of MGMT's debut album and not only does it stand and deliver some of the most experimental pop music ever heard to mankind, it's a psychedelic party starter. I don't know where their influences are drawn from, but they like a love-child of Wayne Coyne and Kevin Barnes. What these guys are trying to do remains a mystery, I just hope and pray that this "nu-rave" scene doesn't take this band whole like many bands before them.

MGMT 'Time To Pretend
MGMT Electric Feel
MGMT The Handshake

Purchase Oracular Spectacular and watch Time To Pretend (Live On Letterman)

Coming soon, songs that kept me sane during my three week break.

Grace's Top 15 Albums of 2007

2007-12-19T15:09:00.000+11:00

2007 has been a tumultuous and grand year in music for myself. I've discovered a lot of new artists and bands, so I'd say this year's list is notably different from the last 'year of' post I wrote for OTR. Dizzying highs and new lows seemed to be the general consensus of this year. I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have. So long, farewell! Now, enough sappy hubbub, here are my top fifteen albums of 2007. I hope you enjoy.

15. !!! - Myth Takes

!!! are the ultimate dorky dancing, no holds barred musical collective, and have proved themselves to be reigning with their third album Myth Takes. With the most excellent dance moves courtesy of lead vocalist Nic Offer (who reminds me of black cats and outcasts prowling the late night streets in search of mischievous, random fun), !!! pounds all their energy into efforts of punk and dance to create a bloody stadium of electric dance, funk and groove.

!!! Must Be the Moon
!!! Heart of Hearts

14. Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity

Deerhoof have crafted a precious gem in the jewel box album. Friend Opportunity still has those inherent Deerhoof qualities with the explosive deception of noise duelling with seemingly incongruous vocals, but they’ve leaned towards a more poppy sensibility. Oddly danceable in all contexts, Friend Opportunity is a full blown will contest of catchy melodies, erratic rhythm and copious additions of tone due to the pedals and loops. Distorted, yet elegant, it’s a bouncing ball of unbridled creativity.

Deerhoof The Perfect Me
Deerhoof Kidz Are So Small

13. I Heart Hiroshima - Tuff Teef

Angular Brisbane rockers I Heart Hiroshima released their début album earlier this year, and I say, ‘tis a very strong début. It’s got that lo-fi sensibility attached to it; raw edges and sound and all. The slightly pessimistic but still funny lyricism gives the album a blunt charm. The detached vocals, tight execution, bassless, energetic sound and equally shared vocal duties yield great opportunities to expand their possibilities, which I believe is a road in the very near future.

I Heart Hiroshima Punks
I Heart Hiroshima Crime

12. Immaculate Machine - Immaculate Machine's Fables

Musical ability runs in one of the vocalists, Kathryn Calder, family tree. Her uncle is the eminent all around star A.C. Newman. Calder and her fellow bandmates have been gifted themselves with the ability to create vivifying tunes complimented with vocal harmonies, profuse enthusiasm and cryptic lyrics. Fables is also secretly musician packed – Alex Kapranos from Franz Ferdinand and The Cribs contributed vocals while Owen Pallett lent his violin skills as the icing and cherry on top of the cake.

Immaculate Machine Jarhand
Immaculate Machine Nothing Ever Happens

11. A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Scribble Mural Comic Journal

A relative newbie on the ethereal pop scene, A Sunny Day In Glasgow’s eerie emanation that coincides with the delirious background sounds like a match made in heaven. The whole album is a mindtrip to a slow descent of ominous possibilities. Whimsical in nature, the striking musical arrangements are simple, yet alluring daydreams radiating innocence. The buoyant, gauzy whispers illuminate the luxuriant electronic layers.

A Sunny Day In Glasgow Wake Up Pretty
A Sunny Day in Glasgow Ghost In The Graveyard

10. Pants Yell! - Alison Statton

I only recently started listening to the new Pants Yell! album but it truly is a rich, textured album. The mellifluous melodies, humble vocals, exciting brass instruments and quick bursts of energy deviating from the usual quietly warm melody always get me smiling. Expressing reverence towards the vocalist of post-punk band Young Marble Giants, Pants Yell! have created elegant compositions with intent to discourse their honest, solemn sentiments to the listener with an almost fragile beauty.

Pants Yell! Reject, Reject
Pants Yell! A New City Life

09. Caribou - Andorra

Caribou falls into the unique and highly perplexing bundle of experimental electronic artists. There’s no definite way to pinpoint any aspect of these artists, but with Andorra, his latest album, it seems he’s flown out a bit. Andorra, for lack of better words, reminds me of spring. It’s a spectrum of lush sounds, wistful vocals and a throw in of summery pops. The sweeping strings, guitars and keyboard serve as the ground for an expansion of his already broad musical palette. Andorra really is a whole new language.

Caribou Melody Day
Caribou Desiree

08. Marnie Stern - In Advance of the Broken Arm

Marnie Stern's proficient guitar work has captured my applause. Everyone’s always blabbing on about how girls can do things just as good as boys, and Stern proves that without a doubt. She leaves her trail of destruction one song at a time with crazed impetuousness, procuring a greatly opulent energy all the while teaming it with her nearly nonsensical, strange vocals. She masters something not many people can achieve – an elaborate, all guns a-blazing album. Hurrah!

Marnie Stern Grapefruit
Marnie Stern Precious Metal

07. Do Make Say Think - You, You're a History in Rust

Do Make Say Think records have a penchant of being gossamer until I listened to You, You’re a History in Rust. Of course, I expected the same technical skill and interplay between each song, but You has captured more than my attention. There’s no need for eloquent discourse when you’re talking about Do Make Say Think. My favourite, The Universe!, is shift from normal counterparts with harsh guitars that explode into an almost discordant mash of noise and emotion.

Do Make Say Think The Universe!
Do Make Say Think Executioner Blues

06. Bonde do Rolê - With Lasers

A listen to this record is a dance across the line from puritan to raucous, sex permeated fun of the decadent kind. They rattle on about sex after school and metal fans in the most indubitably brusque and offensive manner, which is quite entertaining. The album has that certain quality to strike up camaraderie, which is rare. Bonde do Rolê were supposed to tour the country in January but unfortunately cancelled due to friction in the band.

Bonde do Rolê Bondallica
Bonde do Rolê James Bonde

05. Yelle - Pop-Up

"Cuizinier avec ton petit sexe entoure de poils roux" is the first line that Yelle sings with a sense of satisfaction from the song Je Veux te Noir, a ferocious criticism about a man and his words. I can see how she garners comparisons with Uffie. They also both have that electro pop French related girl persona. She really did pop up out of nowhere with her brand of electro pop being of the infectiously catchy kind. I recently saw her life at Parklife, and it was voice losing, crazy dancing fun. Always a plus!

Yelle A Cause Des Garçons
Yelle Je Veux te Voir

04. Gutevolk - Tiny People Singing Over the Rainbow

Japan is really a land of everything – the pure pop purveyors, the noise rockers and then there are the experimenting, electronic crafters to name a few. Gutevolk, or Hirono Nishiyama, is the perfect cast of the third. Nishiyama adds a bit of everything in the pot from cloudfuls of bedroom pop, lashings of ambient leanings and decent sprinklings of folk aesthetics. Her heavenly vocals make for a very delightful listen and the animated, perspicuous arrangements is a child’s dream come true.

Gutevolk Portable Rain
Gutevolk The Door to Everywhere

03. Shugo Tokumaru - Exit

Do you remember that scene from Amélie where he watches the tape with the many different scenes in it? Exit is like that; like a demented dragonfly whizzing through the perilous soundscapes, finding a new experience in each one. Tokumaru is a provisioner of blithe guitar pop and he created Exit, a feast for the ears. Each track paints their part of a sweet sounding anecdote for the lazy Saturday afternoon.

Shugo Tokumaru Parachute
Shugo Tokumaru D.P.O.

02. The Most Serene Republic - Population

My first post about TMSR hoped that they would hone their youthful enthusiasm into their second album and the result is something I would have never imagined of – a complex, rousing collection of unblemished perfection that opens up to one amazing record. It combines the best aspects of their previous album with a more refined outlook to create a daring album of monolithic proportions. It's got the compelling flourishes and the pensive moment then and now.

The Most Serene Republic Compliance
The Most Serene Republic Neurasthenia

01. To My Boy - Messages

Messages seems to be the typical cold new rave record from first glance. In actuality, it’s more like a carnival ride overflowing with exuberant fantasticality. Eccentric beats accompanied by grand vocals seems like a sure-fire road to a pretentious disaster but To My Boy can basically pull off anything. The lyrical goodness resembles the Jetsons - the image of the information age with hovercars and computers. Messages is an exhilarating ride through binary codes that never fails to hit the right beat.

To My Boy Eliminate
To My Boy In the Zone

Sandra's Top 15 Albums of 2007

2007-12-12T23:25:00.000+11:00

Here we go, fifteen of my top albums of this year. It's a strange mixture but the usual to expect from me. This year was overwhelming with music, maybe not so much as finding it sometimes hard to keep up to, without having some to creep up on me at the last moments and some I'm still yet to discover and listen to. As I said last year, numbers are never good to me so disregard them and just enjoy them as they are. So long 2007!

15. GoodBooks - Control

We all have a guilty pleasure, mine is GoodBooks. It can be random and make partial sense sometimes but it sounds good that you can't stop listening and dancing. Apart from the wordiness of the lyrics resembling that of an old history teacher, the album is a young endeavour of the band's curiosity of the world (war & politics, without raising any agendas). The music, however is like a smooth textured crème brûlée (how that works, I'm not sure), ignited by its 80's influenced electronic beats and fine melodies.

GoodBooks The Curse Of Saul
GoodBooks Passchendaele

14. Art Brut - It's A Bit Complicated

They've proved themselves more than just forming a band of irony (apart from the fact, they are still funny as before), which has made us grown accustomed to Argos' familiar outpourings from strange relationships and ex-girlfriends, drinking Hennessey with Morrissey to punk rock music. A bit heavier and messier than the début, it nonetheless pulls out some witty anthems we're expected from them. Touring at the moment for the Meredith Festival, I look forward to Saturday's show at the Factory Theatre.

Art Brut St. Pauli
Art Brut People In Love

13. The Brunettes - Structures And Cosmetics

Filled with dreamy pop ballads, boy/girl duets and influences from 60's girl groups, The Brunettes have recreated its (cringey) atmosphere of pop culture. Notably darker and longer than the usual short bubble gum pop of their previous records, Structure & Cosmetics leaves me a little puzzled. Nevertheless, their shows are adoring and lovely and they'll be back to play in Australia for the Laneway Festival 2008.

The Brunettes If You Were Alien
The Brunettes Obligatory Road Song

12. Die! Die! Die! - Promises, Promises

Dear Andrew, Lachlan and Mike of Die! Die! Die! you are the sweetest band despite your noisy loud thundering sonic punk music and masquerading yourself in fake blood, but then you bring out this record and changed the perception of the way my ears react, quite like metal grinding upon metal delivering a high pitched resonant screech transformed into a rhythmic driven synchronising flow of drum and bass. At times it recalls bands like At The Drive-In, The Blood Brothers and even a little of Les Savy Fav.

Die! Die! Die! Sideways, Here We Come
Die! Die! Die! Promises, Promises

11. Shocking Pinks - Shocking Pinks

Released by DFA Records, this self titled record is a compilation of selected tracks from previously released albums. Picking up music as a young child and been in many bands before, (such as The Brunettes, Pig Out, The Incisions and others) Nick Harte, interestingly incorporates many of these styles of lo-fi noisy dream pop, electronica, funk, jazz and rock to make up what is of the Shocking Pinks. The songs speak emotional recollections, bitter relationships and turns them into warm melodies of exquisiteness.

Shocking Pinks End Of The World
Shocking Pinks Second Hand Girl

10. Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends

After a long awaited return, they're back! Their sense of rawness, party mess and antics of their performances still make their fans love them and share the aim of what the band hoped to make this album appear to be. Defying their career span as a whole from rediscovery, the band have come to sum what is of their twelve years of music making. To me, that sounds like the final chapter, but as enigmatic as they sometimes are, I hope that's not the case, but rather another opening. Yes, let's stay friends.

Les Savy Fav Pots & Pans
Les Savy Fav What Would Wolves Do?

09. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?

Mysterious and ever changing, HIssing Fauna, Are The Destroyer? is a concept album about Kevin Barnes' exploration of his alter ego "Georgie Fruit"; we uncover the glam rocker behind the depression, drugs and emotional instability, but what we get is this dispersion of colours, scattered in the sky, sparking all sorts of frantic behaviours and feelings. It's like suffering from a psychedelic head trip and not being able to recover. It's hard to know where things will end up next for Of Montreal.

Of Montreal A Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvinger
Of Montreal Bunny Ain't No Kind Of Rider

08. Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala

Swedish crooner, Jens Lekman never fails to make hands clap, feet tap and mouths whistle. It's a swoonful album that makes you fall in love easily. With guest appearances from his friends and fellow musicians Frida Hyvönen and El Perro Del Mar, Night Falls Over Kortedala is a journey through Jen's neighbourhood in Kortedala, venturing out into its heart of countless lonely nights and a side of him which opens him to escapism. His song writing fits well with his style of silly pop music, witty and amiable.

Jens Lekman Kanske Ar Jag Kar I Dig
Jens Lekman Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo

07. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Another return from an old love, Spoon's new one is more upbeat, confident, swayful and smooth. They deserve the praise they've been receiving with more than twelve years and six albums under their belt. Spoon have continued to make enjoyable music by reformulating what they do best and tuning it (even if that does mean towards a "commercial appeal") but they've managed to pull it off and craft this experimental piece finely with these catchy hooks, repetitive at times but consistent.

Spoon Finer Feelings
Spoon Don't You Evah

06. So So Modern - Friendly Fires

Ok, this is an EP, more so a mini LP. You were warned, this is crazy dance punk gone absolutely mental in matching jump suits with asthma attacks, complete panic and drowning in sweaty synths and sharp guitar hooks. Provoking their live audience as much as this record has, revisiting some sci-fi movie characters in terms of interpreting into musical expression, So So Modern are more than just a band, they are revolution of creativity. This is the sound of the future; a cataclysmic chaotic confusion combo.

So So Modern Synthgasm
So So Modern Vulture Kisses

05. Taken By Trees - Open Field

Victoria, you take us into your world and we are instantly wrapped within its splendour, making us feel warm and fuzzy by the glow of the sun shining upon the skin. This is an amazing solo debut showcasing minimal arrangements and compositions with her wiskful enchanting coy vocals. A beautiful combination of folk and pop, Open Field is personal, poignant and bittersweet as much of her lyrics confess: "I don't want to be standing alone without a hold to hold".

Taken By Trees Hours Pass Like Centuries
Taken By Trees Tell Me

04. White Rabbits - Fort Nightly

Intrigued by the uniqueness their sound, I wasn't sure what it was, but it sounded like an odd mixture of Latin dancing music and rock. Having two drummers it packs quite a energetic and rhythmic punch along with its thumping keys and three singers, but it doesn't sound as cluttered as the six piece from New York presume to be, instead rather joyous fun for everyone with music tastes of different kinds. White Rabbits deliver a refreshing new sound, self described by the band themselves as "honky-tonk calypso".

White Rabbits While We Go Dancing
White Rabbits Navy Wives

03. Bishop Allen - The Broken String

The words can't really pin point this record, put it into an expression and it becomes a smile. Reworked from the songs of the ten tracks from last year's twelve month ep project, including two previously unreleased tracks, The Broken String is a sparkling treasure chest of timeless cinematic songs in addition to its grandiose orchestration. It's two core members Justin Rice and Christian Rudder (also actors) write effortless likeable tunes which just as internet/blog friendly and a soundtrack to this summer.

Bishop Allen Click, Click, Click, Click
Bishop Allen Like Castanets

02. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

On the same note as White Rabbits, is Vampire Weekend's début self titled record with their cultural tinge of tropical afro-beats and ska. Not the norm I would delve into but this is absolutely wonderful and incredibly infectious. But what? The album isn't technically released until late next month (which so happens to be next year) and this is just a (Blue CD-R) demo cd! Well, I'll let this slip under "demo album LP" and hopefully you'll all forgive me with all the music, because this really is an album to be put into its place.

Vampire Weekend Campus
Vampire Weekend Walcott

01. Pants Yell! - Alison Statton

Named after the singer of Young Marble Giants, the album not only did it initially make my day, but my whole year. It's become an album to unwind to after a long day. Nothing more than falling short of words to say, Pants Yell! are an earnest indie pop band assembling sweet melodies, jangly guitars and bells chimes to accompany its lyrical melancholy; very much something to hold on to at night. Yet still, this is to be released in Australia in February 2008 by Popfrenzy with the addition of a bonus track.

Pants Yell! Two French Sisters
Pants Yell! Alison Statton

Off The Record - Sandra's Top 15 Albums Of 2007.zip
(All MP3s zipped in a file.)

new tunes

James' Top 15 Albums of 2007

2007-12-11T08:51:00.000+11:00

Well, it's that time of the year where all bloggers spend countless hours and hard-thinking into making a list of their favourites records of the year. For me, I have been planning this list since early this year and it has seen at least 50 changes. I'm at the point now where I've just learned to live with the list I have and be happy with it, which after looking at it constantly for the last few days, I am happy with my list. Enough chitter chatter from me, let's get into it shall we?

15. Pop Levi - Return To Form Black Magick Party

There's no doubt about it, Pop Levi is this generation's equivalent musical saviour to that of Prince back in the hey-day. He's music screams psychedelic pop but smothered with this flirtatious charisma that could sooth even the least feminine person in existence. With tracks like Sugar Assault Me Now, Dollar Bill Rock and lead single Pick-Me-Up Uppercut, this album is a win-win for both indie obscurists and older men with tastes that have yet to evolve from that of the 60's.

Pop Levi Pick-Me-Up Uppercut
Pop Levi Sugar Assault Me Now

14. Battles - Mirrored

To be completely honest with everyone, I did not see this record coming at all. It appeared out of nowhere and after reading up about these guys on numerous blogs, I thought I would give into the hype and give these guys the much deserved listen. Half a year later, Mirrored still continue to be played on high rotation. Friends and work colleagues won't have a bite of them (I played them all Atlas and thought it was extremely "pretentious") and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Battles Atlas
Battles Tonto

13. Panda Bear - Person Pitch

An album that didn't take too much time to grow on me. I first posted about Panda Bear earlier this year in the short-lived feature "You Keep An Eye On That Artist" and stated that Noah Lennox's side-project would receive some very high recognition, and judging by a lot of end of the year lists, I was on the right track. If I had a category for Album Artwork of the Year, Person Pitch would be up there.

Panda Bear Bro's
Panda Bear I'm Not

12. Damn Arms - The Live Artex

I'm not going to go ahead and place these guys in any sort of genre because from reading promotional interviews for the album, it's their number one pet hate. This year has been massive for the Melbourne band, after doing tour stints across Australia with Klaxons and Cut Copy their status as a band has increased dramatically and it's almost at the stage where the band is too cool to be cool. The Live Artex was a well worthy wait and features the frantic fast-paced styling most fans have come accustomed too since the beginning, plus some added freshness.

Damn Arms The Not So Progressive Punks
Damn Arms 4 For 10

11. Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil

I said it a couple of weeks ago and I'll say it again, jump on the Black Lips bandwagon before it's too late. Their live album released earlier in the year has appeared in a lot of end of the year charts and surprisingly this album has not, which has me stumped. Both albums are definitely worthy and both capture a different sense of the band, but I couldn't go pass the studio album.

Black Lips Cold Hands
Black Lips O Katrina!

10. Taken By Trees - Open Field

There's something so complex about Victoria Bergsman's solo alias. After leaving The Concretes last year, she didn't waste time being picked up by a label, lending her vocals to Peter Bjorn & John, and before long, dropping this bombshell of a record. Besides Lost And Found (which was written by Traceyanne Campbell of Camera Obscura fame), Victoria has this strange way of going about her lyrics and manages to create these slow and delicate story-telling songs that grab interest within the first word.

Taken By Trees Lost And Found
Taken By Trees Julia

09. M.I.A. - Kala

When I first purchased this album I had extremely high expectations of Miss Maya and surely after a few listens, those expectations were met. But there's one problem I have with most, if not all, hip-hop albums and that's that I get bored of them way too easily and that's exactly what happened with Kala. Although I still love it, it doesn't have the same feel to it as those first listens. Paper Planes and Boyz I could never get sick of and are on it's own worthy of making this album in the top 10.

M.I.A. Boyz
M.I.A. Paper Planes

08. Love Of Diagrams - Mosaic

You'd think being signed to prestigious American label Matador Records would perhaps boost the fan base of this Melbourne, but that hasn't been the case at all which I love. These guys are so completely different and doing their own unique thing that people are afraid to go near them. As I said when I posted about these guys earlier in the year, Love Of Diagrams is a band Melbourne should be proud and it's better late then never to get on board.

Love Of Diagrams Foam Or Function
Love Of Diagrams The Pyramid

07. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup

Beirut is such a hard character to describe, musically he's this array of diverse intellect but personality wise, his just like one of us. Which isn't a bad thing at all, it just makes us think if what we're doing with our lives is worthy. Having recorded The Flying Club Cup in France, it's blatantly obvious where the influences have been drawn from, but the way he goes about constructing it together and getting a mess of instruments to accompany his incredible vocals is a mystery to me.

Beirut Nantes
Beirut The Penalty

06. Architecture In Helsinki - Places Like This

I loved this record from day-dot. Having seen the band live twice this year it only further sealed the deal that Places Like This is the start of new era for Architecture In Helsinki. Everybody lapped up lead single Heart It Races and follow up Hold Music, but has anyone seen the film clip for Debbie? Now that's an entertaining clip. What Architecture In Helsinki are doing at the moment is what music needs and if it weren't for these guys there would be this massive whole within in music that would be impossible to fill.

Architecture In Helsinki Debbie
Architecture In Helsinki Hold Music

New Buffalo - Somewhere, Anywhere

I didn't mention a lot about New Buffalo this year, but on the quiet side this was one of those records that I would always turn to. If there's one female, besides Sarah Blasko, that has this captivating voice and appeal it's most definitely Sally Seltmann and it's featured so perfectly within Somewhere, Anywhere. Brilliant songs such as Cheer Me Up Thank You and It's True send shivers up your back.

New Buffalo Cheer Me Up Thank You
New Buffalo It's True

04. Bat For Lashes - Fur And Gold

I have no idea why I put off listening to this girl for so long, but succame to the pressures of a few friends and took a stab. Fur And Gold is a surprise package that could be enjoyed by anyone. It has that sort of effect on people to either bring them down or build them up. If we were doing a Top 10 Songs of 2007 What's A Girl To Do would be right up there as one of my favourites for the year. One track that people can't go past though, besides the aforementioned track, is Prescilla, I won't give much away but it could just be the best pop song to be released.

Bat For Lashes What's A Girl To Do
Bat For Lashes Prescilla

03. Midnight Juggernauts - Dystopia

Frequent visitors to my last.fm or myspace would be well aware that it's no secret I love Midnight Juggernauts and I think that's something to not be ashamed of. There's a lot to be thankful for with this band, they've awaken and stolen the spirits, that of late ELO and transformed it into make dance floor fillers and story-telling anthems. I only hope that this band gets better and better, which they have proven with every release.

Midnight Juggernauts Into The Galaxy
Midnight Juggernauts Twenty Thousand Leagues

02. Liars - Liars

No doubting whatsoever that these guys were going to be high up in my charts. They've really gone way out with this self-titled release and bought upon us songs to completely mess with our minds, but still want to show some sort of expression towards it. The changes these guys have made with their sound since their first release is phenomenal. Liars are a mystery, no one knows what goes through their minds or just where their songs are pulled from, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Liars Freak Out
Liars Houseclouds

01. Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position

I said it earlier this year, Patrick Wolf was going to be my album of the year. Six months later, no record was able to pass the greatness that was this record. Honestly, prior to even hearing this record I was completely unaware of just who Patrick was and after hearing and watching the single The Magic Position I soon went out and bought all his stuff, saw him twice, and announced I was a fully fledged fan. Everything about this album is bewildering; put simply just intoxicatingly brilliant. I wouldn't recommended any other album in the world more than this one.

Patrick Wolf Accident And Emergency
Patrick Wolf The Magic Position

The Octopus Project

2007-12-10T22:53:00.000+11:00

One of the more surprising albums and bands I've come across this year, is The Octopus Project and their album Hello, Avalanche released by Peek-a-Boo Records. They're a band of four from Austin, Texas and play rather, manic noisy electronic pop and rock in a sonic field of bliss. Entirely of instrumentals apart from the last track Queen, it kind of pin points the message of the songs without having any lyrical content, other than interpretation provided by the title of the track and its instrumentation and tempo. Co-produced by Ryan Hadlock, whose worked with the likes of Blonde Redhead and The Gossip; The Octopus Project aimed at undermining the balance between lo-fi experimentation and studio polished sound to make Hello, Avalanche. This album captures the aestheticism of art within music; both aurally astonishing and intriguingly illusional.

The Octopus Project Truck
The Octopus Project Bees Bein' Strugglin'
The Octopus Project An Evening With Rthrtha

Purchase Hello, Avalanche and watch Truck

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Black Lips

2007-12-04T08:51:00.000+11:00

Now, I could sit here and type up a whole paragraph of excuses for my absence as of late, but I think it's best to just stick with the music and I'm sure you'll all find it in your hearts to forgive me one way or another. Ah, the Black Lips, how did you become so perfect? If there's one band I'm absolutely loving to the bones at the moment, it's these guys. Their so bad, it's good. All members contain this real attitude about them that would start bar fights but sooth ladies over. I believe their the most ugliest sexy people in existance. They play garage music, but add this feel and sensation that causes people to create chaos but show off on dancefloor's. Their a boozy slobs dream, and although I'm neither a boozer or a slob I feel I can relate to them.

Black Lips Cold Hands
Black Lips O Katrina!

Purchase Good Bad Not Evil and watch the video Cold Hands.

Múm

2007-11-26T23:53:00.000+11:00

Rather peculiar sounds from Iceland, Múm have ventured towards another path of experimentation after losing one of its members Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir (she also appears as one of the twins in Belle And Sebastian's 2000 album art for Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant). The title of the new piece in three years by Múm, is: Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy, and bizarre but beautiful as their music goes, they smoothly and strikingly integrate orchestral and electronic sounds together in the sense of audacious clatter of noise and childish lullabies. Sounding sometimes like the soundtrack to a video game, it draws the elements of fantasy. Just by noticing the image of the band above, concludes their wide use of instruments, big or small, reflects their music in extending the possibilities and endless venture of music and sound. This album is moving and beguiling in many ways of provoking surrealistic escapades through its experimental and electronic endeavor.

Múm Dancing Behind My Eyelids

Purchase Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy and watch They Made Frogs Smoke 'Til They Exploded

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Metronomy

2007-11-24T20:35:00.000+11:00

When I first encountered the word 'Metronomy' I came up with many absurd and awkwardly devious connotations – the Citroën robot car breakdancing ad (or at least I think it was Citroën), robots actually doing the robot dance, the sound of a clock and a scene from a Spiderman cartoon. But they don’t actually mean or having relation to Metronomy. Metronomy is the brainchild of Joseph Mount. In between the dissolution of bands he played drums for, Mount started to create electrical arrangements and soon after, Oscar Cash and Gabriel Stebbing were integrated into Metronomy after being his back up band, The Food Groups, for a while. Metronomy fits into a little niche of music – an amazing cacophony of bleeps, highly addictive bass lines and oddly danceable beats. From time to time, there are subtle hooks which make it even more awesome. I see some of Goldfrapp’s aesthetic thrown in there somewhere, as well. Metronomy are currently rocking the UK with the likes of Bloc Party, CSS and Justice. They are definitely a band to look out for in the forthcoming years. It also makes me wants to dance like either a robot, or someone who has consumed too much sugar. I mean, wouldn’t you like to see someone dance like that? I would.

Metronomy You Could Easily Have Me
Metronomy Trick or Treatz
Metronomy 1 String Strung

Purchase Pip Paine (Pay Back The £5000 You Owe)

Catcall

2007-11-22T10:36:00.000+11:00

I have been waiting for months to make a post about Catcall, but, and this is true, there were no press photos of her going around that could accompany what I'm about to write. That's all changed now as this morning I happened to make another frequent visit to her Myspace page to check out when exactly I could see her live and was gob-smacked by the new flirtatious, but very cool photos taken by none-other Cybele Malinowski. Moving on from all the excitement of new press photos, it's Catcall's music that really grabs people's attention. Her style is in similar likes of fellow Australian hip-hoper Macromantics, but casted in a very frantic way of popular Sri-Lankan M.I.A.. Catcall beats come from specialist Sleater Brockman, who on the side helps out Gameboy/Gamegirl as well. Get familiar with Catcall because she will be touring non-stop for the next few months supporting the likes of Buck 65, The Gossip, Crystal Castles and one of my favorites, Dan Deacon. Catcall's debut EP should arrive early next year.

Catcall August
Catcall Drama And Games

Sky Larkin

2007-11-19T22:55:00.000+11:00

Sky Larkin from Leeds, UK have been slowly emerging into the spotlight for their playful attraction and delightful but unrefined temperament. Having recently played a list of live shows alongside You Say Party! We Say Die! and Los Campesinos!, they're picking up the pace and making their way...to your ears, that is. You could throw in the mixture of comparative influences like Sleater-Kinney and Rilo Kiley along with a bunch colourful balloons, kite flying, tree climbing, cat scratching youths on a dreary British sky and you pretty much sum up what is of this three piece band. They have so far only released two singles this year: One of Two and their latest, Molten, released last month in the UK. So really this is just the start of what's to come in future.

Sky Larkin Summit
Sky Larkin Sommersault Notes

Watch Summit

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Devendra Banhart

2007-11-13T16:47:00.000+11:00

I think I have come to a conclusion that Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon is possibly Devendra Banhart's best release to date. It's musically and lyrically eye opening and it shows a huge growth maturely to the way Devendra looks at life. The ever continuous of genre experimenting is always a highlight when listening to a Devendra record and Smokey... is no exception. There's an extremely contagious somba piece (Samba Vexillographica), a flirtatious reggae gem (The Other Woman), reoccurring spanish beats (mainly Carmencita), and an absolute semi prop-rock masterpiece (Seahorse). As well as his infatuation with indulging into other genre's, there's always the acoustic folk familiarity still in existence. Devendra's vocals as a whole are ever evolving and it seems with each release he puts a new spin to what he is capable of reaching and the whaling and emotion behind his voice this time around is captivating and infectious. I think it's safe to say that without Devendra Banhart's existence, their would not be this revolutionary freak folk extravaganza and we'd be stuck with the painfully slow evolving indie rock.

Devendra Banhart Seahorse
Devendra Banhart So Long Old Bean
Devendra Banhart Saved

Purchase Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon.

Pants Yell!

2007-11-12T23:22:00.000+11:00

One of the things that make my day is a sweet new record, very much so like Pants Yell!'s fourth and latest album, Alison Statton. It cries out young love turning cold but nevertheless introduces the band to a new uplifting and confident craft work of trumpets and saxophones along with their established luxuriant melancholy appeal. It's entirely charming, enjoyable and subtle indie pop with a few kicks. For me, its the lyrics that provoke some intrigue when I first heard Pants Yell! a few years back, it brought a little grin, giddy with glee. Alison Statton, is no more than bringing that feeling back into life of chasing and popping fly away bubbles. Don't miss it, it drops shelves December 4. I'm also happy to announce that the folks at Popfrenzy label have just signed the band and will release the album in Australia and New Zealand early February in 2008.

Pants Yell! Magenta And Green
Pants Yell! Alison Statton
Pants Yell! Shoreham Kent

Pre-order Alison Statton

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Liars

2007-11-06T10:29:00.000+11:00

You have to hand it too these guys, they really know how to mess with their fans minds. Since the release of their debut album we have seen the band evolve from being a funk punk masterpiece, to freak-folk missionaries, to story tellers (their last album Drum's Not Dead was based on two made-up mythological characters named Mt Heart Attack and Drum), to now becoming this frantic white noise avant garde irresistible band. With every release, they lose fans but also gain a whole new audience. I jumped on board with these guys pretty much immediately after hearing their aforementioned album, Drum's Not Dead, and with their newly released self-titled album there was much anticipation. With the band's fourth album their not afraid of letting their influences show throughout their songs. Lead single, Plaster Casts Of Everything, is just a reworked Stooges Raw Power era song that sounds like it was produced by a man with no hands. It seems with every release lead vocalist, Andrew Angus, is losing his voice more and more, but still managing to get this quiet falsetto that makes you quiver. Stand-out track has to be the garage-shuffle meets Klaxon's Nu Rave sounding Houseclouds, it's something that everyone can lap up and it's something completely them, but sounds familiar. The most enjoyable and pleasing thing about this record is that, although it was released just after a year of Drum's Not Dead, it doesn't sound hurried or just something they've pulled out from their backsides. I don't know what the world of music would be like without this band's existence.

Liars Plaster Casts Of Everything
Liars Houseclouds
Liars Freak Out

Purchase Liars and watch the video for Houseclouds.

Siberian

2007-10-29T23:53:00.000+11:00

Caught between shoegaze and rock, Seattle, Washington's band Siberian fall under the category of music that leaces you floating amongst the fields of its euphoric tunefulness and lyrical tenderness. For a band who's been around since 2004, With Me, is their first full length, displaying this common rise and fall between each of its 11 tracks. It's melodramatic dreamy pop, swayful and sonically-ambitious motives make open to rendering interpretations. Comparative to The Walkmen, Siberian are an eye opener. The album dropped last week and has been aimlessly wandering around my ears since then.

Siberian Belgian Beer And Catholic Girls
Siberian Islands Forever

Purchase With Me

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Cassette Kids

2007-10-26T23:30:00.000+10:00

Cassette Kids are from Sydney. They are really attractive and play dancey post-punk. I haven't been this infatuated with a band from just one track since Teenagersintokyo. They have played with Riot In Belgium, Van She and White Rose Movement.

Cassette Kids Acrobats

We're Catching Bullets In Our Teeth...

2007-10-24T18:34:00.000+10:00

Hello all. Another lengthy absence from me. Again, duty calls with what is known to us as life – however, here is a lovely mixture of what I fill my existence with. The sounds that accompany the movements of my body through minutes, hours, days and weeks.

Liam Finn Second Chance
This boy has been causing a slight ruckus amongst forums and blogs. Whether being Neil Finn’s son is a blessing or a curse – is beside the point, despite past criticism. Finn’s Kiwi accent lingers through out various songs and you can hear that twang of Neil Finn in there in the undercurrent of beautiful music – however what do you expect, like father like son. In this case, we have a very talented and almost magical musician on our hands.

Shout Out Louds Tonight I Have To Leave It (Kleerup Remix)
Now to get things a little more … uhh exciting? Here is a great track; you all know I love my remixes. The SOL’s always give me this ‘the cure’-esque feeling to them. The intensity of the vocals at some points are very Robert Smith-ish (2:48 mins) – to be precise! This song will keep you moving, I guarantee you – if it can have me running on the treadmill for ten minutes – I can’t imagine the future possibilities for all of you!

Scott Matthews Elusive
Back to another dreamy slow song that I can’t seem to stray away from. Such a great track, Elusive will have you just sitting still in the beauty of the subtle and simple sounds. This song requires no additional notes. Download, listen, and merely enjoy!

Tunng Bullets
Another UK artist, you’ll hear Tunng all over the airwaves these days, & why the hell not? This track is the second single from ‘Good Arrows’. Tunng play a mesmerising mix of folky acoustics and busy electronica, overlaying electronic crackles, gorgeous harmonies, bewitching mantras and synthetic beats.

The Panics Don’t Fight It
A few days ago I purchased Aussie band, ‘The Panics’, latest album; Cruel Guards – and what the album! It came as a double CD set, with the second CD, ‘Join the Dots’, compiled of 5 tracks of cover songs. Covers include ‘Just Like a Woman’, a great track from Bob Dylan and a few other treasures. This song, however is their first single from the album, again you might hear this little jewel floating amongst the airwaves!

Black Kids I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You
Ok so I have gone all AWOL and decided to give you a whole bunch of tracks to keep you moving through the rest of the week! I know which tracks to give you – based on the response my body gives while listening to them at the gym. This song is a sure hit with my muscles! A slinky, sleek and almost amusing track to talk with, dream with, or to even get on the cross-trainer with!

I hope you enjoyed this instalment of my fabulous – or not so fabulous – mix! I have mashed this one up a little bit with ups & downs and arounds! Right, that doesn’t make sense but what the hell. A mix to match the weather, a girls mood, or even how a day can be so bad, but then oh so good!

Bridezilla

2007-10-22T23:31:00.000+10:00

Sydney's band Bridezilla, are more than surprising in many ways. With most of them still in school and half of them currently undergoing their HSCs, they've managed to fit time to tour and record. Mustering dark sounds of the violin and saxophone, along with sultry vocals and sharp guitar and drums, Bridezilla create an interesting blend of folk, jazz and art rock, with influences from Cat Power, The Dirty Three and The Velvet Underground. Matching their musical abilities to their stage performance with confidence and flair, making it an incredible experience for the audience to watch them as they drive their instruments with so much power and style as witnessed the first time I saw them back in January this year at the "Future Is Now" gig with other bands also blogged about here (Ghostwood & teenagersintokyo). You can't really underestimate them despite their age, they're probably cooler than you. Last month they were signed by Ivy League Records which will see them releasing an EP sometime soon, by the end of the year. Next year will be bigger for this bunch; guaranteed!

Bridezilla Brown Paper Bag
Bridezilla Saint Francine

Watch Saint Francine video

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