"Been a lot to the movies lately, the last one ruined my heart" Whata-hunk-a-spunk! His name is Jonas and like the only other person I know by that name he comes from the land called Norway. I have a huge place in my heart for Scando's...so any food, clothes, art, literature or music that comes from this area of the world will always have a pretty big head start in finding their way into my list of preferences. But in this case, the music feels less like its from the place of all year [...]
Who is Husky ? No idea. But this track is epic and beautiful and just generally my new favourite song. The influence of Jose Gonzalez is pretty strong and I also have no doubt that these guys have the Boy and Bear bandwagon clearly in sight. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to push play fifteen times today.
The Heavenly States have been making music out of Oakland, California for almost ten years, but this is my first little taste and it may just be the perfect first introduction. Model Son has a unique structure: a slowly increasing tempo and more and more layers being coming in throughout the four minutes, giving a real sense of a story being told through the music. Check out their EP Oui Camera Oui coming out in April. The Heavenly States-Model Son (mp3)
Return to form for this Melbourne five piece. ..in my opinion...with our first taste of their fifth album Moment Bends that's due out in April with Modular. This track is less the erratic and aggressive sounds that found their way onto Places Like This through tracks like Debbie and Lazy (Lazy) and so much more the relaxed but still very kookie vibe of the earlier releases. And oh what a key shift! Architecture in Helsinki-Contact High [...]
Fisherking have been swimming around the Sydney music scene since before 2008, but its taken until now to produce a debut long player. Islands gives a good indication of what these guys are all about: the brush of the snare, measured guitar, brooding vocals, a soothing tempo. And if you can find your way through all of this, you'll also be rewarded with some pretty beautiful lyrics. This album WILL be the talk of the town come November 5. Fisherking-Islands (mp3)
"All the best things fall to pieces, there's not point stopping now" A few years ago I made myself a mix tape called "Driving Sing-a-Longs" and this new tune from Philadelphia Grand Jury would definitely feel right at home on this CD. The Philly Jays are going from strength to strength. After delivering us their debut album Hope is For Hopers earlier this year, they're back for a second dip of the guacamole with a split 7" featuring [...]
I had a truly lovely day today. Didn't do anything remarkable or particularly enjoyable, but it was just a nice day. The only thing that potentially marred this was hearing the start of this track whilst driving but not having the time to stick around and hear who was responsible! I knooow its not anything new but I'm slightly out of touch at the moment. Turns out Little Red have moved on from the burger and fries 1950's diner pop that was their debut Listen to Little Red and have [...]
Jenny Lewis + Johnathon Rice = cute girl friend/ boy friend duo that is going by the name of Jenny and Johnny . It's happy pop music with a driving guitar and sing-along lyrics. Can't you just feel the love? Jenny and Johnny-Scissor Runner (mp3)
Breath shortened. Heart beating faster. Massive cliche I know, but this is literally what happened the second I saw Cut Copy had released a track from their upcoming third album. Obviously I was excited, but also prepared for the new stuff to fall maybe a little short of the greatness that has been the past two albums. Nup! This track is amazing. The harmonies immediately make me think of Animal Collective so totally not surprised to see the boys are working with the same producer Ben Allen . The [...]
"It seemed like a good idea at the time...make like a tree and please go away" One Happy Island 's debut release is 15 pretty different tracks. Some are sorta sad, some are manically happy, but all are kooky and cute with lyrics that make you want to smile. Although the electric ukulele goes a long way, it is most definitely the switches between boy and girl vocals and the harmonies that come between that make these guys so much fun. [...]
The second album from School of Seven Bells is out, it's called Disconnect From Desire and it's a lovely listen. Some tracks are more upbeat than others, but with the soft and sorta eerie harmonies of the Deheza twins each of the 10 tracks is relaxing enough to send you into a blissful summery dreampop sleep. The lead single Windstorm is pretty representative of the whole album. Very very catchy melody, give it three listens and you probs won't be able to get it out of your head. [...]
Who are you Sticky Fingers ? I'm out of the country right now so maybe I've missed the buzz you've been creating. And if there hasn't been buzz then there's something seriously wrong. I've been trying real hard to like most stuff that is coming my way, which isn't necessarily a bad thing...but with Juicy Ones there was no effort needed. None at all. I love this track and cannot wait to get back to Sydney and see their much hyped live shows. Sticky Fingers-Juicy Ones (mp3)
Mathew and Kitty from Melbourne self produced and self funded an album they called We Are The Lost Loves and put it up for free grabs on their website way back in April. But it took four more months for their polished set of 11 tracks to make their way to my ears. I keep reading that these guys are twins, and for a while I even convinced myself that you could see the genetic similarities. But apparently there is no blood shared, as they are simply step siblings. Embarrassing. Their music is [...]
Adelaide four piece Steering By Stars have just put out their independent debut album Cables. The lead single, Closer took my liking right away (hectic intro, eerie vocals and some really beautiful keys) but the rest of the tracks are so diverse that its taken me a little while to take it all in. The album seems to start of with large stadium drums and an almost progressive feel but then quickly becomes more and more driven by the strong melody of the piano and it's sorta nice to get [...]
"Oh it's the last time I'll fall in love, yeah its the last try to break apart" Keith, Tim and Dan are Good Old War . Like most folk, it took me a few listens to get into their self titled sophomore album. But now that it's gotten into--I'm never getting out. Some have likened them to Simon and Garfunkel and with their subtle harmonies, heartbreaking melodies and a gift for story telling this is no surprise. Stand out tracks are My Sinking Ship, Making My Life and [...]
"Started living in each others world, I took to you like no other girl" You may have come across a Sydney based band called Tennis . It was full of brothers and cousins and put on some pretty fun filled and whacky shows. I saw them open for Lost Valentinos at the Annandale early last year. Unfortunately, Tennis is no longer (possibly due to hype surrounding Denver based husband/wife due by the same name). So instead we have the same line up going by the name of [...]
I wanted so bad for Yacht to be the one. After falling for them big time after they opened for LCD Soundsystem in Berlin, I wanted their remix of Miami Horror's new piece of pop to be the bestest. But unfortunately, for me that honour goes to Sam La More . But I'm pretty sure this preference is just cos it takes me so heavily back to the sweaty clubs of 2006. Whichever version takes your fancy, this track is fun. The Melbourne [...]
There was a time when seeing a new M.I.A track pop up on the blogosphere was enough to send my heart racing. But now it just makes me laugh as I anticipate how totally below average it's gonna be. Scrap that. How bad it's going to be. I even began to believe that maybe these were fake tracks as part of a dramatic ploy to make the eventual REAL release of third album Maya look mindblowingly amazing next to the crap that is Stepping Up and [...]
Yourstru.ly Presents: Tame Impala (1 of 2) from Yours Truly on Vimeo . If Innerspeaker is your grand introduction to Perth's Tame Impala (i.e. you don't know where Perth is because you're not Australian), then your favourite track will be Track 2. Because even with the now slightly clearer vocals Desire Be, Desire Go is still the strongest delivery from the trio/quartet after more than two years. The melody. The build. The pause. The messy free-for-all jam session. This is a great great song. [...]
Is this the greatest LCD Soundsystem tune of all time? Yes. Is that a big call? Yes. The show in Berlin was nothing short of what you would expect from James Murphy and crew: both wildly entertaining and musically brilliant. Listening all at once to a mash of old and new it becomes so startling clear how diverse their stuff is. It reminds me of way back when and trying to find LCD at the record store, and being genuinely confused about which genre I needed to look in (NB: Dance apparently). But of [...]
Sounds They Left Behind
Stop Shaming, Start Being Responsible
Small Black | Only A Shadow
