Is Tropical ...Specially in Sydney right now, but I actually wanted to refer to London three piece Is Tropical , comprising of Gary Barber (Vocals/Guitars/Keys), Simon Milner (Vocals/Guitars/Keys) and Dominic Apa (Drums/Programming). Their upcoming debut single 'When O'When' (to be released on newbie Hitclub Records on the 18th of January 2010) initially struck me as intriguingly odd, manga-ish kinda cowboy be-bop cruising music. And then, in my head, the track formed the shape of something like a ruggedly handsome and [...]
Filthy 'Ducks' Those Filthy Dukes (or Filthy Ducks as Raphael likes to pronounce them) have turned out a mix of the most important tracks of the last six years at Kill Em All. They're partying at Fabric in London on the 11th of December with a hot hot line-up including The Chemical Brothers , Hercules & Love Affair , Riton and The Juan Maclean amongst others as well as the Dukes themselves - not to even mention We Have Band and [...]
Kip and Peggy in London all photographs by Liz Clough from our interview with the band One of the greatest discoveries of 2009, the adorably noisy rockers of The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart , are releasing a new EP to promote the new single, the hazy 'Higher Than The Stars'. Kip The song, that isn't featured on their debut album, is a gorgeously layered ballad that [...]
Some months ago, I described the new Golden Filter single, 'Thunderbird', as "a five minute-long jam that starts with pulsating drums and poetic lines sensually proclaimed by Penelope." And now they finally have a video for it and it was shot again by the amazing Australian crew of Moop Jaw . You may remember that the song is about "a bird of Native American mythology used in chant ceremonies symbolizing purification and healing" and the video shows a ritual to evoke this bird. It's as mysterious as you know this New York duo [...]
L'Amour Et La Violence The final track to be squeezed out of Sebastien Tellier 's Sexuality is 'L'Amour et La Violence', which is coming out via Lucky Number Music and being sold at good ol' Rough Trade. Accompanied by new versions of the track by Floating Points and the recently uber bloggable Penguin Prison , this split release is also aptly named Fingers of Steel. Here we've got for you the Floating Points arrangement, taking [...]
I've been working like a slave lately and it made me miss the last two monthly mixes from Aeroplane - but not this month. Because this month I'm finally learning how to be more organized and, of course, (here it goes, my most commonly used line in this blog) this month's is the best one so far. Seriously, I don't know if it's because I didn't know most of the good tracks on there and couldn't think of ways to combine them or something; but they all go really well with each other in a way only Aeroplane [...]
Now, label Firetrap isn't normally something that I would wear. Or even look at. But when one of the fiercest betches in London town, i-D magazine stylist Matthew Josephs werks that shit up, it just can't help but look good. Oh and did you spot Gabriella Marina Gonzalez 's OMG SHOES in the pics shot by photographer Paul Wetherell ? They're kinda hard to miss... Go check this all out in life size at the Firetrap [...]
According to the press release, 'German Heart' by Dead Kids is "a love song narrating the agony of falling in love with a girl who has a cold and stubborn heart". Apparently a cold and stubborn heart means it's German? The 90210 Face Yes I GIFfed it myself...can you smell the stinky sweat of photoshop pride? Just teasing Dead Kids, we know you probably love Germany, just like we do (BIG LOVE to BERLIN). Anyhooz, 'German Heart' is being dropped [...]
Primary 1 photoraphs by Racheal Crowther By Primary 1 that is! And what a ploy it is. I don't actually want to say too much about this track called 'Ploy (First Burn With Polly Brown)'; cause it has so much to say for itself in the first place, so, I'll just leave you with that it's SO GREAT and I've had it on repeat all niiight and I love it. Innit. Check out Racheal Crowther 's pics of Primary 1 himself instead, then [...]
L'Amour Et La Violence The final track to be squeezed out of Sebastien Tellier 's Sexuality is 'L'Amour et La Violence', which is coming out via Lucky Number Music and being sold at good ol' Rough Trade. Accompanied by new versions of the track by Floating Points and the recently uber bloggable Penguin Prison , this split release is also aptly named Fingers of Steel. Here we've got for you the Floating Points arrangement, taking [...]
Gang signs - Lady Gaga goes Illuminati The world is a-gog with Gaga right now, what with the whole Beyoncé collabo thing finally being released (did you manage to catch it before it went all restricted on youtube et al?) and the 'Bad Romance' video phenomenon elevating her from making DIY Haus of Gags tribute attire to being a bona fide high end fashion goodie bagger. I read on the internetz today, a breakdown and analysis of the signs and symbolism that 'Bad Romance' is full [...]
Guy Connelly's aptly named project Clock Opera is just that - Guy being the maestro conducting a symphony of samples, cuts and percussion. And whilst here in Sydney the air is smelling sweet and the sun shining bright enough to burn you to a fluorescent crisp, if you happen to be in grey London, seek some - metaphorical - sunshine in the Levi's Ones to Watch program; where Clock Opera happens to be one of the acts hitting the stage. I keep getting the urge to say Clopera. [...]
Crystal Fighters live/love London Crystal Fighters have been one of my faves lately with both their own tracks and remix capacity. Their latest single 'I Love London' has been minimally and rather classily remixed by Zombie Disco Squad . This re-touch immediately gave me Fruit Salad feelings in the intro, then gets down to cutting the vocals up and throwing in a steady finger snap sample. I do enjoy that almost organic sound that Zombie Disco Squad have; that comes alongside their Afro and baile [...]
Say hey to Tim Crompton (lead vocals, guitar), Stuart Peck (guitar, vocals) and Alexia Hagen (keys, vocals). This trio are called The High Wire from London (I don't think they sound very London - props). They're coming out with an album called The Sleep Tape due out in early 2010; produced by the band with additional production and mixing by Rik Simpson (Blur, Portishead, Coldplay and PJ Harvey)...I'm eager to hear the rest of the stirring lullabies that come from these guys. In the meantime, cop 'Leave Me In Love' below. 'Leave [...]
Miami Horror is finishing up the latest details from his long waited debut album Illumination , which will hit us in the first trimester of 2010. And to get us all wet with excitement he just released the first single from the album. 'Sometimes' is that type of song you knew Miami Horror would release at some point. Melodic synthpop that sounds like Jupiter covering Bag Raider 's 'Shooting Stars' with Daft Punk co-producing it (ok, this description is far better than the actual song). Miami Horror - [...]
Vampire Weekend is massive. But this sweet new song 'Horchata' won't make them bigger, just more loved. And this is what all the bands should be aiming for, right? I know I haven't heard a sweet early night song like this since I last watched Disney's 'Lion King' . Hopefully, their second album, Contra (which will be released on January 11 th ), will follow 'Horchata' and leave aside the guitars to focus on the melodies. And according to the interview that Stereogum had with Rostam Batmanglij , who [...]
Pony Pony Run Run In the tumult of bands that always seem to emerge at the same time with similarities in their name (maybe because Google will throw up all of them when one is searched), I have a bad tendency to pass over bands that have any kind of lupine or equine references in their name. It's the only thing I can think of that would explain how I missed this little gem of a track. Only now with recent favourites Crystal Fighters ' remix of 'Hey You' have [...]
I can't tell how many times Yeah Yeah Yeahs are being remixed with their latest album, but frankly after this remix I think you can put all the others to retirement. The hyperactive DJ A-trak gives a hip-house treatment to 'Heads Will Roll' and the result sounds so fresh and danceable that I think people should start playing this song right now - and this is only a rip from Annie Mac 's show. Speaking of which, I have to agree with Annie Mac on this one, [...]
In London tonight are Kap Bambino back at the Old Blue Last where I first met them, to stir up some froth and foam in the apathetic generation that we mostly are, and to perhaps again ruin some furniture in the process. Here we've got for you Hello Sunshine 's grunge laden, dirty and distorted cover of the track, complete with tinny drums and the furiously exuberant spirit of Kap Bambino, as well as the heavy in gravity but lithe in dynamic remix by Jackson - which I think is superb. [...]
Hiya Ben Hiya Alex Hiya Callan photographs by yours truly The boys from Lemonade are dropping their single 'Bliss Out' and have also given birth to a Summer Splash mixtape alongside the release. This is a super smoothly moving mixtape, showcasing Lemonade's roots whilst effortlessly travelling from track to track with a shoulder shimmying panache that's a little bit gangsta. It'll warm up even the coldest [...]
Vampire Weekend - Cousins
WKND PLYLST!! This has nothing to do with NEW MOON!
Bobby B's Top 50 Albums Of The Decade (#25-21)
Tila Tequila NSFW UStream Freak Out (Video)
HOT CHIP TAKE another crack at IT and I’m IN
