Friday night at home with my suitcase and laptop

I'm packing. And eating chocolates and drinking red wine (relaxed, much?) while listening to this.

Tea leaf dancers Flying Lotus (deep range jackin remix) Mp3 [z hare]

I forgot how good it was. A lovely friend just sent me a selection of tracks for my trip and this was among them. Thank fully. Los Angeles was one of the best albums of this year, and I fucking forgot about it when I posted my yearly wrap up. I knew I'd forget something!

And also, my Facebook was hacked - taken over by strangers asking my friends for money - so my girl Catcall made me a twitter. I'm not really sure how it works yet, but if you're on there head here and we can tweet at each other. I am so bummed. I lost all my photos and all the details of people I was supposed to meet up with in New York. If you live in NYC and wanna hang, I'll be there in two weeks. After I hang with some Sphinx and Pyramids.

lend a hand

Downtown Records are auctioning off a whole bunch of limited edition, exclusive, and signed memorabilia from Cold War Kids, Justice, Santogold, Gnarls Barkley, Kid Sister, Carla Bruni, Brett Dennen, Eagles of Death Metal, Art Brut, Spank Rock for the Food Back For New York City.

From their RCRDLBL blog, the charity serves
more than three million New Yorkers who have difficulty affording food, working to end food poverty and increasing access to affordable, nutritious food for low-income city residents. The food bank has been in operation for over 25 years, and uses 96 cents of every dollar donation to go towards food programs.

You can make a direct donation to a Virtual Food Drive, which will then be matched by the Robin Hood Foundation 2-1, or you can bid in the Ebay Auction. 100% of the proceeds are going directly to the charity.

Downtown's Benefit Food Bank EBay Bonanza!

I can't call this a best of, but it is a summation of sorts

I started 2008 at a warehouse party with friends in Melbourne with a boy who changed my view of music forever; he introduced me to a world I’d not yet been invited into and I was awed, and inspired. Because of him, 2008 has been full. He nudged me towards the decision to quit my job and try out some other stuff, which I did, and wouldn’t have had he not convinced me I was capable of more than I thought I was. It wasn't the greatest relationship, it was very short lived and we didn't work, but he was good for me regardless, I guess.

A lot happened this year, but they were all small things that you don’t quantify at the time.

I don’t wake up at 4am everyday for work anymore, I get up around 8am instead. But when my office was a radio studio, I now work at desks with groups of people, which is really different. That’s strange; I’m still not yet used to that. I started 7 jobs, writing, editing, producing, scouting, publicising, and more. I had to give up 2 of them because I couldn't find the time. That upset me a little. I lost weight, I gained weight. I doubted myself, and continue to do so, but I’m trying not to. I searched for a smart and cute Jewish boy to take me to the movies, but I didn’t find him. Instead I briefly dated or slept with a few boys, but they’re not really worth mentioning. Is that sad? I don't mean it to be, they just weren't amazing.

I fell out with a girlfriend - my oldest and best friend. I miss her and I didn’t call her on her birthday last month. I really regret that. Maybe we grew apart, or maybe I became someone I shouldn’t have. I still have two weeks before the year is over to work that out.

I interviewed more bands and musicians than I can remember, everyone from Vampire Weekend to Animal Collective to No Age to Telepathe to Vivian Girls to Kid Cudi to Air France to Santogold to Ebony Bones to Weird Tapes to Brian Jonestown Massacre to… oh I can’t remember. I went to one funeral. It was for my great, great grandmother Hazel who was 102. I have her watch now, but I have to get a new battery for it because it's stopped working. That was just last week. I spent a lot of time with parents, and even more time with my younger brother which is amazing. I love spending time with him. I didn't spend enough time with my extended family I don't think. I drank wine and ate salad, cheese and chocolate with my best friends. I think they have been my favourite moments of 2008 - I spent much more time with my friends. Maybe because I’ve been single.

I dreamt of getting the tattoo I’ve planned to get every year since I left high school but typically didn't go through with it. I listened to M83 heaps, while sitting on my balcony reading magazines by candlelight and drinking peppermint tea. I drank a lot of peppermint tea this year.

I didn’t have a holiday, but I did have three sick days. I’m ending the year in Egypt on a big overseas trip, which I am so excited about. I need to not work for a month. I’m not very good at that though, and I’m taking my computer so I can write while I am overseas.

I listened to more surf punk, and more disco than ever before. A documentary on Arthur Russell made me cry. I decided I hated remixes, and then decided they weren’t so bad. But I still think a remix won’t make an average song anything more than average. Except if it's an Eli Escobar remix, he is amazing. You know what else, after the warehouse party in Melbourne I didn’t do drugs this year. I just didn’t feel like it I guess.

albums released this year I listened to on repeat

Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
High Places – 03/07 – 09/07
Lucky Dragons - Widows
James Pants - Welcome
Brightback Morning Light – Motion To Rejoin
School Of Seven Bells – Alpinisms
M83 – Saturdays = Youth
Vivian Girls - Vivian Girls
Liquid Liquid – Slip In And Out Of Phenomenon
Lykke Li – Youth Novels
Tobacco – Fucked Up Friends
College - Secret Diary
Chromatics - Night Drive
Abe Vigoda – Skeleton
Gang Gang Dance – Saint Dymphna
Yeasayer – All Hour Cymbols
Beach House – Devotion
Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
MGMT - Orucular Spectacular
Dirty Projectors - Rise Above
Santogold - Santogold

songs released this year I listened to on repeat that aren't on the albums above
Passion Pit - Sleepyhead
Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
Friendly Fires - Jump In The Pool
Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane remix feat Au Revoir Simone)
Mi Ami – African Rhythms
Invisible Conga People – Cable Dazed
Trouble Andrew – Run Hide
Aeroplane - Whispers
Soft Circle - Shimmer
Telepathe - Chromes On It
Teyana Taylor - Google Me
Lemonade – Big Weekend (Delorean edit)
Ebony Bones – We Know All About You
Minitel Rose – Magic Powder
We Have Band – Oh!
Busy Signal – Tic Tic Toc
Teki Latex – Go Go Go
Glass Candy – Beatific
Air France – Collapsing At Your Doorstep
Megapuss – Adam and Steve
Estelle – No Substitute Lover
Beaches - Sandy
Ryan Lesile feat. Cassie- Addicted
Firekites - Last Ships
Daedelus - Fair Weather Friends
Memory Cassette - Asleep At A Party

(I tried to make top 10. I tried to make a top 20. I tried, I really did. But this was an amazing year for music, and so many releases completely rocked my world. That's a culled list already!)

people I want to hear heaps more of/see heaps more from in 2009
Charles Hamilton
Mi Ami
Pacific
Seekae
Bridezilla
Dan Black
Cocknbullkid
Friend
Florence and the Machine
Ebony Bones
Ninjasonik
Soft Circle
La Roux
Pegase
Weird Tapes
The Big Pink

Merry Hanukkah and happy Christmas. I really hope you had a wonderful 2008, or you at least learnt and experienced something you didn't know in 2007. I think I did.

x Michaella

Loin Brothers

Sydney's Loin Brothers from Paradise Lost are the first released in the new Future Classic Aprés vinyl series.

After running the Aprés parties Sundays at the Tilbury (the only reason to ever venture to the Woolloomooloo Wharf district aside from Harry's Cafe but I don't eat pies so really, the only reason) for the past year or so, Nathan McLay from Future Classic decided he could further collaborate with some of the artists who've performed at the arvo BBQ/Beer sessions and launched Aprés 12inches yesterday. Joakim, Mock & Toof, Aeroplane, and Padded Cell have all spun records at Aprés, often under aliases to avoid large crowds and thus giving them the freedom to play whatever they feel like.

If you head to the Future Classic website you can download free Mp3s of the 12inch, and order yourself a copy of the vinyl.

I am really digging it, especially the Mock & Toof remix:

'Heavy Helmet' Loin Brothers - Mock & Toof remix Mp3 [z share]

So Summer it hurts (makes me a little sad I'm going to be in the Northern Hemmisphere during dec/jan in Sydney...)

Future Classic commissioned original artwork by Gemma Smith for the series (see above image), whose geometric and abstract pieces are currently showing in Primavera at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, and in Contemporary Australia: Optimism at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane.

official boy

The way to a woman's heart

I'm listening to the CFCF remix of Cassie right now and it's perfect for my current mood. Feeling quite pensive after going to a funeral today and wonderously tired after not sleeping at all last night. I needed sweet r&b pop vocals and a smooth disco jam with an Apache flavour to carry me to bed, and this is perfect.

'Official Girl' Cassie CFCF remix free download
(courtesy of The Fader blog)

Last night Seekae launched their debut album at the Hopetoun Hotel in Surry Hills Sydney and entirely sold out the venue, which is so fabulous! I interviewed them a while back for Lost At E Minor at talked about them here too. The album is great, and if you tune in to FBi this week you'll hear it featured as their Album of the Week, and you can listen at their myspace too.

Also, last week the new issue of NO. (issue #4) was published. It was the Family Issue and for it, I interviewed The Fiery Furnaces and Courtney Taylor Taylor. Check it out here and grab it from their website or by emailing subscriptions@nomagazine.co.nz. A yearly subscription is $40 and you get one of 3 limited Edition NO. Tees designed by either Cobrasnake, Lonely hearts or DMOTE.





And hey guess what this time next week I'll be in Cairo. Wow!! I am so excited.

Good night x

Wolfy Vs Projections Vs Invisible Conga People Vs Mi Ami

Sorry for taking so long, life has been busy. I am currently busier than I have ever been before. Which is really great, I'm occupying myself with engaging and challenging things and working with wonderful people... I just said "yes" to one (or three) too many things. Nonetheless, Hi! I missed you! I've thought about Grey Gardens often the past week! I've been continuously logging things thinking to myself "Oh! Mustn't forget to post this on Grey Gardens I love it" and then, predictably, forgetting...


Wolfy is DJ Simon James, and Projections is James' project with Dan (D-Hastie) from Breakestra, and together they recently released The Astral Project Of Starlight LP through Permanent Vacation (and just while on the subject - if you haven't yet heard it please go to the website and stream the Hercules And Love Affair remix of 'Falls' by Bostro Pesopeo. Amazing!)

The Astral Project of Starlight is full of lovely funky dub disco moments but can be a little lounge-bar at times, which is why I was blown away by this remix, which smooths it out so nicely.

Wolfy Vs Projections 'Return Of Starlight' Invisible Conga People remix Mp3 [z share]

Huge thanks to (awing, intimidating, outstanding) 20jazzfunkgreats for bringing this remix to my attention. I'd heard the 12" and enjoyed it, but this remix is sublime.

And, funnily enough, I'd been wondering about Invisible Conga People, as the past six months they'd been very quiet. This remix makes me think they're preparing some new material of their own. Or maybe it was just a favour for a friend? I hope they're gearing up for some new stuff, as 'Cable Dazed' is my favourite tracks of this year. Their Myspace does say "new tracks 2009" but should I believe that?

'Cable Dazed' Invisible Conga People Mp3 [z share]


While talking favourites, I was super excited to read last week that Mi Ami are releasing their debut album February 17! After months of silence, they remixed 'Devils Trident' by Telepathy, so I started poking around to see what I could uncover.

The album will be titled Watersports, first single 'Echonoecho' is due out January 27, then they're playing shows all over the US and in London - go see them for me if you live in America or London and buy me a 12" as a belated Hanukkah present.

Dan Black

Also, while we're talking Biggie (kinda)...
Despite the fact that he reminds me a little too much of Calvin Harris, I am nonetheless really liking this tune from the UK's fave new pop/dance/wooooonderkiddd Dan Black

Radio-friendly pop/dance cross-over acts aren't usually my thing, but I can't help myself with this tune! My shoulders start shaking, I start lip syncing the chorus, I open up blogger...

Blaqstarr just remixed his first single Yours - listen out for the Rye Rye yelp at the track's beginning!

'Yours' Dan Black (Blaqstarr remix) Mp3 [z share]

Head to his Myspace to hear the original, and while you're there hang around for his cover of Biggie's HPNTZ which was released earlier this year as a limited edition 7"

Yours was released today on A&M/Interscope, and you can buy it now on iTunes

Jay Z + Kanye + Santi

We've heard Jockin Jay Z and History... now Jay Z has just leaked his latest single due for release on Blueprint 3, which is also scheduled to feature in the upcoming Biggie biopic.



His version of the Santogold hometown anthem, the track was produced by Kanye (and borrows from/samples/features Santi White guesting too)

'Booklyn Go Hard' Jay Z (feat Santogold) Mp3 [z share]

Seemed the announcement de jour this year was "retirement" but I'm glad jeezy decided to step back into the limelight. I really like he and Kanye's looped Santi sampled chorus, and I can't wait to hear more of the album! And at this rate, we might get to hear the entire thing play out online before it's officially released...