1 (kanye), 2 (jeezy), 3 (lauren hill) amazing!

This great song now has a great video!


Champion from videos222 on Vimeo.

The verse about Lauren Hill really resonates with me - I miss her. After Estelle revisioned That Thing (if you don't remember, I posted both back here), I revisited Miseducation and maaaaannnnn.... she was amazing. She is amazing. Hopefully Estelle can lead the way for a new sincerity... I think she can.

It/s also rumoured that he is producing all of Blueprint 3, not just Jockin (click the link to listen)

++++++

Last night I went to watch These New Puritans, who put on a really tight and impressive show. Although. I found it strange that they didn't say hello or engage with the audience at all, but the lead singer found the time to shout "peace in the middle east." While I agree with the sentiment (obvs), a "Hello" or "G'day" would have been nice too!

Anyway, while I was there a friend of mine said that she liked this blog. I have a reader! Hi Vivian! Now for anyone other than Catherine, Phillipe and Ragde, my only other readers, who stumbles upon this grey garden, Vivian is in a band called 123 Amazing.




There is a wonderful energy for live music in Sydney at the moment, with more venues opening up and new bands forming daily. People are collaborating, reforming, starting new, and there is a general camaraderie which is really fun and exciting. 123 Amazing are friends with Van She, Lost Valentinos, and Teenagersintokyo and all are hanging out, drinking at Oxford Art Factory and generally just making good music.

Automatic mp3 [z share]

buried no more

It made me sad to read this morning that UK producer Burial had 'come out'

He'd released two albums and managed to keep his identity a secret, but after nominated for the Mercury Music Prize the UK tabloids made it their mission to discover the 'truth 'about the artist, The Sun going as far to launch a nation-wide search complete with a SMS number for alerts and reports after an article titled Help Me Dig Up The Real Burial.

I think it is unfortunate that the world is as obsessed with celebrity as it is, as often the 'personality' of a performer clouds their creative output. Just look at Amy Winehouse (although, she is probably not the best example.) Why does it matter who they are? Poor guy just wanted to anonymously produce music so as to avoid this sort of attention, but couldn't be left alone. I have to admit I'm guilty of logging on to The Superficial and Gawker for my celeb fix, and I do occasionally buy NW and WHO magazines... but this is too much.

If you want to read the bulletin he posted on Myspace this morning, it's here

I wasn't fussed earlier, but I really hope he wins now. Fingers crossed.

good bye pirates

Sometime in the past two weeks London-based Peggy Sue and The Pirates changed their name to Peggy Sue.

I never understand why bands change their name, aside from legal complications of course (eg. Ghostwood, formerly The Ghosts, and Cut Off Your Hands, formerly Shaky Hands). I always find it unnecessarily complicates things. Well, Peggy Sue seem to disagree, as they went ahead and made the switch. Now, just in case we weren't already confused enough, they've released a collaborative E.P with fellow UK group Left With Pictures called Peggy Sue and The Pictures. Way confusing.

If you're in London they are playing tonight at the The Enterprise in Camden with Liz Green, and again tomorrow night at The Windmill in Brixton with Scoobius Pip. August 8 they are performing with Left With Pictures at The Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon. If you go to the gig, please ask them why they gotta make things so confusing for us.

I interviewed Rosa and Katy when they were still Peggy Sue and The Pirates (so retro) for a feature on female indie bands in Groupie Magazine. Groupie is a great free online music mag, though I admit I am a little biased as I am assistant editor of the mag.

To check out the Peggy Sue piece, along with interviews with Ebony Bones, Little Boots, Jo Mistinguett, Beaches, Vivian Girls and Emmy The Great check out the latest issue of Groupie Magazine out today

Tobacco

I've decided to officially stop smoking (not that I do much anyway as it is but its bad and I have to stop 'weekend smoking' - I mean, please!) and I've decided this will be my replacement.



Tobacco hails from rural Pennsylvania. He does not desire contact with the public at large.

So says his label Anticon.

Tobacco (also of Black Moth Super Rainbow) is releasing a solo album through Anticon called Fucked Up Friends, out October 14.

Here's a sample thanks to XLR8R

Tobacco Truck Sweat mp3 [z share]

If you head to his myspace you can also listen to a few more gems, including the gorgeous shimmer and drum-driven Hairy Candy, and grimy fuzz of Dirt featuring Aesop Rock

It is so good. If you like Black Moth Super Rainbow you'll like this. I might even like it more because it is more beatsy. So good. Not much else to say. Apart of course, from "I can't wait for the record to drop".

I cant wait for the record to drop.

shoot em

Yesterday Shoot The Player filmed Dev Hynes along Oxford Street at Celebrity Wigs and inside a porn shop. The latter was his idea but at his show last night he seemed pretty embarrassed about the whole episode and I felt a little guilty... It made for an amazing video though, so hopefully he's happy with the final results! I'll post a link when available, but for now here's a sneak preview



His live show really impressed me and while I loved his record I thought the songs translated much better when played live. Lately I've found myself a little distracted at a gigs but I really enjoyed his entire show, and I was also hugely thankful that it was an early gig, on stage at 9:30! I know I'm only 23 and should be out paaaaaartin' but who wants to wait around until 11pm for a show to start? Wouldn't the performers get tired after all that waiting around? I do! Another wonderful thing was he didn't have an encore! I hate encores, I think to plan one is so pretentious, and predictable, and completely unnecessary. Dev just played his full set and that was it. It was really wonderful!

On a side note, the girl drumming in his band looked really familiar... Is she in another band? Does she play with Florence and The Machine live? I thought that could be it. Anyway, she was amazing! If you're heading up to Splendour keep an eye on her during Lightspeed's show


ALSO while talking Shoot The Player, Lykke Li released a new video overnight for Breaking It Up and it reminded me she filmed some great acoustic vids with our Paris contingent The Take Away Show

SPLIT SERIES LYKKE LI & EL PERRO DEL MAR- DANCE DANCE DANCE
by lablogotheque

So gorgeous. But I've raved about her plenty, you don't need to hear it again.

Here's the link to the other videos from that series.

U.S Girls

(drawing credit: James Nascent from U.S Girls myspace)

I saw that last week Siltbreeze released a vinyl by U.S Girls. I'd never heard anything by U.S Girls before, and I was intrigued because there seems to be a trend at the moment with using 'Girl' or 'Girls' for names of band.

U.S Girls is Megan Remy from Chicago. Her sound is muggy, distorted and psychedelic. Sort of. I don't actually know how to accurately describe the sound. I think what is more important though, is the experience of listening to it. Initially the recordings confused me, as I wasn't sure what I was listening to. I couldn't pick the instruments and couldn't decipher what Remy was singing, and I found that really difficult. But when I surrendered to the songs, and just went with the muggy, confused hysteria I began to really enjoy them. They are strange, but I really like it. She sounds a little like High Places to me, but a much more punk version, or something.

I think you just have to hear it for yourself! Listen via Myspace, and then buy yourself a copy of the release if you like what you hear through her Siltbreeze page, where you can also get yourself a free download of 'Prove It All Night'

I have a headache after listening to all the songs. But it is a good headache.

Not Nickelback

I've just been listening to two months' worth of Authentic Shit podcasts I've downloaded but not yet listened to, and was struck by this amazing bass-driven pop song by a band called Nickel Eye.



I googled them because I wanted to hear more, and realised that Nickle Eye was a new side project for Nikolai Fraiture from The Strokes. I didn't care when Julian teamed up with Santi and Pharrell for Converse, and I've had a copy of Albert's album on my desk for weeks and still haven't bothered to listen to it, but this I am interested by! Strangely he hasn't made any music available through his Myspace page, but does link to Ronson's EVR show for a webstream of two songs and an interview. His myspace also says the Nickel Eye debut record will be out soon, and titled The Time Of The Assassins. I wonder if the remaining two will start side projects of their own also? It also makes me wonder whether The Strokes are planning a fourth album, or quietly calling it quits?

Just because I'm feeling a little nostalgic: Strokes You Tube Channel

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In other news, last night Slick Rick and Laurie Anderson had shows in NYC. Sometimes living in Australia is great (being so far removed and all) but when you see the lists of incredible performers who gig at small venues for next to nothing, it breaks your heart.

+++

And also.

What do you think of Katy Perry? I honestly can't make up my mind. I think she has quite a captivating voice and every time I hear 'I Kissed A Girl' I can't stop my foot from tapping in time. But then I hear what has to be the most ridiculous lyric of the year ("I kissed a girl and I liked it, the taste of her Cheery Chapstick") and am reminded of the many reasons I really can't stand her at all. But my foot is still tapping along in time.

dazed and confused

Do you get it?



I don't.

Tussle

Night of the Hunter is one of my favourite films, so naturally when I came across a song named after the classic, I took notice.

San Fran band Tussle have been together since 2001 and are currently recording their 3rd album Cream Cuts. Last year after they toured with Hot Chip and Yacht and I remember reading reviews of their live show but never looked further into their stuff. My mistake!

Their sound is progressive electronic rock, similar to Battles and Pivot I guess, and older examples Can and Cluster (they have actually just finished a support slot for Cluster in San Fransisco which must have been phenomenal.) Their sound is hugely varied and fabulously re workable too - Yacht, Hot Chip and others having transformed some of their original tracks into true dance floor fillers, some of which you can download free at their website tussle.org (I recommend 'elephant', the build is great!) The thing I love about their sound is that with a bass, two drums and a synthesizer, it can be twisted to fit any genre, and when you look at the varied support slots they've had over the past few years, having played with Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Erase Errata, Trevor Jackson, Arial Pink, and Deerhoof, it's obvious that this flexibility does them well.

Through Geographic North they have just issued a 7" with two singles exclusive to that release, while their new album Cream Cuts is scheduled for release August 25 through Smalltown Supersound. Smalltown is a wonderful label, also home to Lindstrom, Nisennenmondai (whose Australian re-release earlier this year blew me away) and 120 Days. Worth checking out.

Night Of The Hunter mp3 [z share]

no excuses

What were they thinking?



This is horrible. Everything about it is horrible. I had to stop halfway through.

Abe Vigoda

LA California band Abe Vigoda combine my two favourite genres: punk and tropicalia. They totally don't sound like they'd fit, but mash together calypso drums and heavy guitar riffs and I'm bouncing off the walls with excitement (if you were at El Guincho's first solo Sydney show 4 months ago you can testify to that!)

Drowned In Sound interviewed them a while back and asked about a community of downtown LA acts (No Age, Mika Miko, Barr, HEALTH) they associated with all-ages venue The Smell, DiS wondering whether this grouping together was just an outsiders romantic ideas of community and camaraderie, to which guitarist Michael Vidal's response was: “It’s such an important place to all of us and it’s really inspiring to see it get recognised for what it’s brought to the community. I seriously doubt that anyone would have resistance to being associated with the Smell; in fact I’d say we’re personally proud of it and are glad that people make those associations.”

I was trying to decide if Sydney had any venues that nurtured new talent and a sense of a collective purpose. I cant think of one, but am open to any suggestions?

For more Abe Vigoda:

read what they have to say here
listen to their songs here
buy their second (and recently released) album Skeleton from insound here

cocknbullkid

I'm listening to my friend Levins on the radio and he just played thecocknbullkid, which reminded me I had begun a post about her a few weeks back... and never actually finished it.



tCnBK is 22 year old Londoner Anita Blay. She struck gold last year, somehow managing to align herself with Joseph Mount (Metronomy) who co-wrote and produced her debut single On My Own [z share], and is now working with her on a full length album.

If you live in London, head to some place called Proud Galleries Horse Hospital Stables Markets in Camden tonight. There from 7:30 Vice are throwing a party tonight celebrating the release of her singles On My Own/Shake.

Also, if you like what you hear above- buy yourself a copy on itunes (if you live outside Australia) or from Rough Trade (for us Aussies)

You can also hear more at her myspace. She reminds me of Kelis, when Kelis uses her lower register and gets broody and husky and fulla'attitude (before that I Don't Think So crap obvs), and also has the sweet-with-attitude appeal of Keyshia Cole, which I really like. The simple electronic production of her sound is a little too similar to many Metronomy tracks to me, but I think she'll really carve out her own sound the longer she sticks around and grow into a fabulous performer. Plus, I am 23 and can never walk away from relationships when I know they are bad news, regardless how hard I try. She is far more mature than I am!



Great clip too, huh

dreaming of london summertime

Compare the pair

Doo Woop Lauren Hill



No Substitute For Love Estelle



I adore Estelle.

Her breezy mowtown-style contribution to The In Crowd by Kids In The Hall Love Hangover [z share] was on constant rotation earlier in the year and her reggae-tinged Magnificent [z share] floats me away on clouds of Bondi Beach BBQ memories, helping me forget it is 10 degrees outside and I am wearing a denim mini and cotton jumper.

human after all

I live in a typical share house. So typical, in fact, Lonely Planet featured it a few months ago as illustrative of classic Surry Hills share house accommodation and applauded my flat-mates and my coordinated outdoor lounges. You can check it out if you like, the author totally trashed my incredible neighbours claiming their more disheveled porch decor was somewhat representative of the inhabitants within (I am sure they don't ever read this blog. In fact, no one does, according to Google analytics. But that is another issue entirely.)

Living in a share house often distracts you from the loneliness it is easy to feel as a single girl in a big busy city - people are always coming and going, cooking, smoking on the porch, stealing wireless broadband... but not tonight. Tonight my house was eerily still. I cooked risotto, had a glass of red wine, watched some TV... and still nothing. No one. It was really weird.

Rather than endure an episode of Good News Week and the awfully tiring Paul McDermott I brushed my teeth, tucked myself into bed, put on the new Sigur Ros album and picked up my laptop.

Days will pass where most of my communication is through a computer or over the phone. Do you think there will be a point at which all communication dismisses the directness of touch and is entirely based on viral, virtual connectedness? That worries me. Yet, here I am, currently perpetuating the system I am so wary of. I'm not saying it's an entirely bad thing, most of my work is web based and many of my relationships are enriched and maintained through the instantaneousness of online social networking. But if people stop actually meeting and touching one another, that would be really sad.

I don't mean to attempt rhetoric or claim any enlightened position, I actually get quite muddled and uncharacteristically self-conscious when I try and discuss the anxieties I have surrounding online social interaction and modern loneliness. But when people can create personalities for themselves and write autobiographical chronicles online to exist without question, when days go by when people don't actually touch anyone else, when you shop/eat/chat/watch/listen/live online, and when the most emotive experience you get all day comes from a mainstream Hollywood'esque television program... I don't know... you just gotta wonder...

Good things come in three's

If three is the magic number, here are my three favourite tunes from today. I hope you like them

An oldie I've just discovered by accapella Baltimore babe band Lexie Mountain Boys called Longdog Energy Drink mp3 [z share]


A new single from Parisian boys Minitel Rose available on their debut release The French Machine Business Woman mp3 [z share]


And lastly a friend (hello ragde!) pointed me in the direction of Salem today. They're pressing their debut vinyl EP Yes I Smoke Crack as I type and it is full of gothic disco jems including an awesome hazy cover of a Bruce Springsteen classic. The slow thumping bass drum, muffled melody, 80s style synth and capliso drums are intoxicating. It would have fit perfectly as the soundtrack to any/all of the John Waters movies from my primary school years. Can't you just see Molly Ringwald sitting in her bedroom, clinging her home-made dress, wishing she could just "be like everyone else" while this tune hums away in the background?

The release is one of the first for new label Acephale. You can pre-order copies online, and download a few samples from their myspace in the meantime.

Mistletone

It is late afternoon on Tuesday, which is never close enough to the end of the week to excite me, but far enough from Friday and Saturday nights to have made me forget the revelry of the weekend. While I mourn Tuesday, I thought I could shoot you a quick heads up on some recent news from Mistletone records.

Firstly, Beach House are prepping to leave Baltimore for Australia for the first time ever, and tickets are selling super quick. Supported by Bachelorette, Fabulous Diamonds, Rand and Holland and loads of others, and with extra special guest percussionist Dave Bergander of Celebration (omg!) behind the drums, you should buy tickets asap here



Secondly, because it is winter and nothing beats staying indoors with hot chocolate and listening to your favourite albums by the heater, Mistletone are holding a sale of all current stock. If you haven't yet grabbed copies of their latest releases (or like me you've lent them to friends and never seen them again) you can grab Kes Band, Panda Bear, Lucky Dragons (who've confirmed an October tour), El Guincho, Black Dice, Evangelicals and more through their online shop

Reminds you what an incredible label Mistletone is.

Little Pictures

Wellington duo Little Pictures are bringing their shiny Little Chief pop to Sydney next week, playing with Melbourne band Popolice at La Campagna.

I wanna watch this over and over and over until I learn every lyric so I can sing along in time


Little Pictures - This House Can Fit Us All from eep! productions on Vimeo.


The gig is a new weekly Wednesday night called Consolador De Dos Caras. I'm excited! A new weekly with interesting indie tunes in a great venue (that doesn't sell Coke!) near really yum Tapas bars. My smile is pretty big right now and my tummy is grumbling damn loudly.

FBi

i returned to radio on FBi on Friday arvo. Here's a list of the songs I played:

3:00 whispers AEROPLANE
3:05 bad move baby MAILER DEAMON, CATCALL AND PEACH
3:15 battlelines THE SHIPWRECKED
3:20 soldiers gun WOLF PARADE
3:26 letter from god to man DAN LE SAC V SCROOBIUS PIP
3:30 who wan test NFA
3:30 I like giants KIMYA DAWSON
3:38 everything fits WONS FREELY
3:43 titos way THE JUAN MCLEAN (LINDSTROM AND PRINS REMIX)
3:48 day n night KID CUDI
3:53 the green sun RICHARD IN YOUR MIND
3:56 this aching deal SHOCKING PINKS
4:00 the lake MUSCLES
4:04 the king is dead THE HERD
4:10 magic powder MINITEL ROSE
4:16 fair weather friends DEADELUS
4:18 we are the plague SNOWMAN
4:20 monsters under the bed EUGENE MCGUINESS
4:27 she ra MISTINGUETT
4:31 chromes on it TELEPATHE
4:42 lights go down TELEPATHE
4:51 fresh CATCALL
4:57 air war CRYSTAL CASTLES
5:02 im good im gone LYKKE LI
5:07 same suburb different park FIREKITES
5:11 groupmegroup LIQUID LIQUID
5:17 break your social system PACIFIC!
5:20 givers LUCKY DRAGONS
5:28 so he wont break BLACK KEYS
5:32 eye of the storm BLISS AND ESSO
5:36 collapsing on your doorstep AIR FRANCE
5:40 morning light SPARKADIA
5:45 more champagne? CANYONS
5:50 the re-arranger MATES OF STATE
5:54 KC's in trouble SONGS
5:58 we know all about you EBONY BONES

Was weird but great. I used to host Breakfast 6-9am daily, so it was a nice change to be in the studio in the afternoon!

FBi is amazing. If you haven't had a listen, you don't know what all the fuss is about! Head to fbiradio.com and hear for yourself (webstreaming is available for international listeners)

Sexual Sportswear

Sebastian Tellier always makes me smile. I'm sure its a combination of his sugar pop disco, his wonderfully long blonde locks and his french 70s bistro attire


I really liked the Steak compilation/soundtrack he did last year, and when Divine dropped couldn't get enough! It seems my fave store (tees please) has jumped on board the love train and thinks Tellier has a certain je ne se qoi they believe they can market!

Last night they began broadcasting Sexuality through their stores to promote an upcoming fashion range he's designed called Sexual: IT! Think the world's hipsters will lose the skinny jeans and ray bans for thin scarves, chinos and aviators?

Divine (ZShare)

fabby ds

Fabulous Diamonds were featured on the Pitchfork forkcast today! Awesome Stuff. Siltbreeze have just released Seven Songs, which is probably how they've come to Pitchfork's attention. They are so amazing. Love them. Love Pitchfork for loving them. Just having a big old love, really.

They're touring America at the moment, but they'll be back in Australia to support Beach House. You can buy tickets from Mistletone