all these sounds - your (almost) daily fix of music

yesterday i had the longest ever dream that the world was endless with possibilities

2011-07-19T15:55:00.010+08:00

The Sound Of Arrows - Magic
For those who've heard this song before, and wondering why the name is slightly different, it's because the band has renamed it from M.A.G.I.C to Magic for it's new release as a single. It also comes with one of the most amazing music videos I've ever seen.

A real sugary electropop ditty, it's catchy with all the prerequisite hooks and lyrics you can easily sing along to. Cue a video about 2 kids who wake up to realise they are the only ones left in their town; the adults are all gone. They go about their deserted town doing various things kids would do. The childlike innocence makes you smile inside, and it explodes into full blown fuzzy warmth when you see them packing for a road trip on their own. They meet other kids and "Where The Wild Things Are" type creatures. Pure pop bliss at its best from, you've got it right, a Swedish duo.

Yes Giantess - You Were Young
Bright synths and and a melody that just screams fun.

The Radio Dept. - Domestic Scene

we are under control from forces impossibly remote

2011-07-15T22:11:00.005+08:00

Apparat - Black Water(mp3)
Definitely something very different from his trance/techno roots. Vocals bordering on ethereal along with a thick goosebump-inducing electronic soundscape, it's a magnificent and subtle song at the same time. It's got me hooked.

Mates of State - Maracas
A quirky infectious sample of their new album "Mountaintops" which will be released in September. The husband and wife duo seem to have taken a time machine back in time, what with bouncy synths lending a bubblegum vibe, reminding me of colourful 2D cartoons of yesteryear.

Handsome Furs - What About Us
Again, a new track from yet other husband and wife duo, from their soon to drop album "Sound Kapital". Yes, you saw that right, with a kapital K. Taking inspiration from the electronic and industrial music of 1980s Eastern Europe (pitchfork), it pulls no punches with the bass and it's got the gritty punk feel right down to a T.

all that you want from me you can take it away

2011-07-08T23:35:00.007+08:00

Lusine - Double Vision
With a track so ridiculously chill, I just might get double vision once I get high on this drug called good music. A distant beat that palpitates in the quiet of the night, lingering for a while and drifting away just as you think it has settled. Fantastic for a late night jaunt.

André Obin - Soft Rain
It has a intro very similar to another song but I just can't put my finger to it. Whatever it is, sparkling lux synths dominate this outstanding track, along with whispered lyrics that you can't quite decipher its meaning. Multi-layered electronic sounds draw you magnetically into its glorious procession, providing a sort of secret warmth that you'd like to embrace.

Susumu Yokota - Tobiume
This is like dope from the land of the rising sun. I think one can vaguely sense the progression towards the end amidst the constant repetition of hollow synths.

we become tired of hearing people lie

2011-07-06T19:37:00.001+08:00

Maybeshewill - Ixnay On The Autoplay
Short but nevertheless sweet instrumental song from Maybeshewill. Hailing from Leicester, the band was formed by Robin Southby and John Helps from when they first met at university.

Maybeshewill - Co-Conspirators
As most instrumental rock songs go, they like to add vocal samples from movies and whatnot, to add atmosphere and meaning to the song, and this song is no different. Taking the closing speech of Frank Galvin, played by giant of a man Paul Newman, in the movie "The Verdict", it adds a sort of gritty undercurrent to the song.

65daysofstatic - Weak4
Distancing themselves from their post-rock label, they throw in more electronic elements and actually don't sound too shabby. This urgent pounding track gives me the vibes of a post apocalyptic world where half of the world is in ruins and where most of the people of this world inhabit, dealing with daily struggles and it's a fight to survive. On the other end of the spectrum, there's the futuristic advanced half of the world where the rich minority live, with advanced technology and nary a concern in their day to day living.

As The Stars Fall - As Far As The Eye Can See

i will hold on to you like a fool till my hands go blue

2011-07-05T17:35:00.007+08:00

Think I'm just gonna do a Monarchy post. They've released tons of songs without actually releasing a full album, but they've finally decided to do so. Their debut album "Around The Sun" which will drop in about 6 days is a chockful of goodness, almost all of which has been released or floating around the interweb already. Pardon my excessive posting of Monarchy stuff (I've posted almost everything they have I think), but I really love their music. Don't think I'll ever tire of it.

Monarchy - You Don't Want to Dance With Me
This track has actually been around for quite some time, I'm surprised I didn't listen to it before. Big fat drumbeats invite you into this council of sound, curated by none other than the two kings of spacey electronic sounds behind their masks. Toss in some snazzy electrowork and scratching, with some cheesy (well, it works all the same) lyrics, you've got a sure fire hit among Monarchy fans.

Monarchy - Call
Heady mix of twinkly samples, fat beats and casual vocals in a part downtempo, part trance-ish dance track.

Monarchy - Floating Cars
I would hazard to say that Monarchy are synonymous with atmospheric spacey sounds incorporated into very catchy dance tracks. They do it with such panache and as much as some might say it gets boring, I'm sure they're getting themselves heard.

the way you move is a mystery

2011-07-03T14:54:00.001+08:00

Benny Benassi - Spaceship (feat. Kelis, apl.de.ap, & Jean-Baptiste)
Really lush and sexy vocals from Kelis here, with fantastic electro work by Benny Benassi. I would like to avoid using this, but it's quite out of this world.

Breakbot - Fantasy (feat. Ruckazoid)
I actually thought the girl in orange was as pretty as the "model". Loving this retro disco number, totally sensual and hip-swaying inducing.

Justice - D.A.N.C.E
As huge fans of the King of Pop, they did this as a tribute to him, sampling various songs such as P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing), Black or White, Workin' Day and Night, and Whatever Happens along with the Jackson Five song ABC (from wiki).

i'm too busy keeping track of all the things that could go wrong

2011-06-28T23:46:00.007+08:00

Tessa & The Typecast - Straight On 'Til Morning
Hailing from Aussie, Tessa and her merry band make boisterous music that showcase her strong vocals, not least supported by urgent catchy melodies.

The One AM Radio - Credible Threats
Here's Hrishikesh Hirway as the centrepiece of a quirky video that's kooky as well as creative. Pairing twee melodies with synths and instrumentation sure seems like a recipe for instant love.

Bon Iver - Calgary
The same haunting vocals from Justin Vernon. Affecting lyrics which take a while to decipher, and then you're still not sure whether you're right. But as you listen to the song again and again, you realise it's not so much the meaning of the lyrics, but the utter craft that goes into the song. Anyhow, I feel that the song is about a couple growing old and going through all that together regardless of what may happen.

The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build A Home
Somehow, the song title reminds me of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes' Home (other than the fact that there's the same word in it). Whatever the case, this is an extremely enchanting song that buries its way deep into your bones, fills the atmosphere and sweeps you off your feet.

i've been listening to your music for a while

2011-06-27T21:07:00.007+08:00

Non Tiq - Quiet
Real name Nora Lindqvist and hailing from Stockholm, she brings about the usual fresh poppiness of Swedish music with her in this number. With lyrics that hint of relationship issues, she sings with melancholy, in contrast with the bounciness of the song's melody. On a side note, I think it's a perfect waste of a nice tee in the otherwise random video.

Priscilla Ahn - Vibe So Hot
My call has been answered! In this post, I made a wish that she would come to Singapore, and now she is! On her facebook page, she asked for song requests for Singapore. How awesome! Front row seats please.

Anyway, it's a neat little song about her insane want for a guy. A little contrasting with the tender melody and warm vocals. If I recall correctly, this album was written around the period she was going to be married so this song might be about her husband.

Priscilla Ahn - City Lights (Pretty Lights)

Hauschka - Cube
I love his music and this new piece from his latest album "Salon des Amateurs" is no different. Like a new person to a foreign land, wandering about and gleefully discovering the boisterous local market fair, the cobbled streets lined with quaint shops, the castle over yonder as well as the forest with verdant trees and beautiful flowers just on the outskirts of town.

The Saturday Mix #47

2011-05-21T14:01:00.006+08:00

And it is back, after a long hiatus.

Monarchy - I Won't Let Go (Bag Raiders Remix)
Really digging this nice tweak by Bag Raiders.

Bag Raiders - Sunlight (GLOVES Remix)
Sexy as hell.

Bag Raiders - Sunlight (Armand Van Helden Remix)

Jamie Woon - Lady Luck (Royce Wood Junior Remix)
Some oomph and funk in a sensual soulful original.

Metronomy - The Look

Metronomy - The Look (Fred Falke Remix)

silence speaks for you

2011-05-19T18:31:00.012+08:00

A post of curious listens that would definitely polarise opinions.

James Blake - Lindisfarne
Eerily poetic and thought provoking.

Austra - Beat and the Pulse
Dark macabre beats with operatic singing makes for goosebumps. Feels ritualistic and gives me the feeling of a cross between Fever Ray and White Lies.

Austra - Shoot The Water
The quirky staccato piano lends a noir movie vibe, not least helped by her good vocal control.

jj - No One Can Touch Us Tonight

i could stick around and get along with you

2011-05-12T22:45:00.001+08:00

Feeling really sluggish today so the post will be short.

Austra - Lose It

Martin Solveig - Hello (feat. Dragonette)
Main characters of video: Martin Solveig and Bob Sinclair
Cameo: Novak Djokovic

Martin Solveig - Ready 2 Go (feat. Kele)

the city glimmers underneath the fading light

2011-05-11T19:29:00.008+08:00

Monarchy - Gold In The Eternal Fire (mp3)
Having grown up in the time when bubblegum pop ruled the airwaves, by the likes of Westlife, Backstreet Boys, N Sync, Britney Spears etc, so it's natural that I remember Eternal Flame as it is - sung by Atomic Kitten. So, when Monarchy called it a classic, I was perplexed. So a quick google told me it was originally by The Bangles, an all female band harking from the 80s. Fastfoward 31 years later, Monarchy has taken it and meshed it with parts from Gold In The Fire to come up with something really amazing. And apparently they did it to commemorate the royal wedding between a young man and his fiancée (The Economist with not so subtle humour). Anyhow, really flowing piano that ripples gently through like a silent murmur; the duo evoking everything they can with such elegance.

The One AM Radio - Witness
I'm totally digging Hirway and gang. First introduced to me by the show Chuck (it's really got awesome music selections), their latest album has more production - like more elaborate synths, bass and whatnot, but this one from his sophomore album leans towards intimate and personal. It's as if he's singing to a small group of friends gathered around the porch of his house. Very tender vocals that remind me of Kings of Convenience along with a chill vibe that makes you all relaxed, quite apt considering how it helps you enjoy the song even more.

The National - Exile Vilify
The song that was created specially for the computer game Portal 2 reflects how music transcends boundaries. Another piano based song, but grander in scale and complements Berninger's signature baritone very nicely. Somehow it feels very pensive, as if reflecting on something, what with giving up, feeling like a trial and being like marbles on glass.

i put a spell on you because you're mine

2011-05-10T22:02:00.006+08:00

A girl at the young tender age of 14 and drawing comparisons to Adele and Florence Welch covering king of stripped down and vulnerable songs; a New York threesome taking on a dreampop favourite; an indie darling showing her vocal prowess via a classic.

Enjoy folks.

Birdy - Skinny Love (Bon Iver Cover)

Yellow Ostrich - Zebra (Beach House Cover)

She & Him - I Put A Spell On You (Screamin' Jay Hawkins Cover)

drawing pictures with some chalk

2011-05-06T14:20:00.006+08:00

Priscilla Ahn - When You Grow Up (mp3)
One of my favouritest artists, Priscilla Ahn, has released her new album just a few days ago, and she has given a free download to all on her bandcamp page. Click the link to sample the song first, then you can download it for free after.

Ahn's same effortless style we heard in "A Good Day" is back. Delicate dulcet vocals that seem perfectly tailored for singing, added to really carefree lyrics has already made this into a song that has been played more than 5 times as I'm about to be done with this short part on her song. I wish she would come to Singapore.

The One AM Radio - In A City Without Seasons
Total bedroom pop you'd make with friends. The twinning of guy (Hrishikesh Hirway) and girl vocals just add to that whole making-music-is-fun-with-friends vibe. The keyboard is used to great effect here, providing delightful backing rhythms that hook you in immediately.

The One AM Radio - Ticking Heart
Saccharine vocals take centre stage in this bass heavy song which utilises deep trumpet samples; somehow the song reminds me of Au Revoir Simone with more oomph. The frazzled background sounds seem to be by design - as if trying to make it sound like it's played out of the cassette.

we gonna celebrate one more time

2011-05-05T16:50:00.006+08:00

Here's to a trip down memory lane.

Benjamin Diamond - In Your Arms
Good ol' house music from 2000. I have heard this song quite a number of times when I was younger, but didn't know what the title was. Really love this.

Daft Punk - One More Time
One of the many Daft Punk classics.

Modjo - Lady (Hear Me Tonight)
No need for introductions I think.

when i see your face it's like sunlight dripping

2011-05-04T21:39:00.009+08:00

Tricky - Murder Weapon
Super funky song by Tricky. Interesting to know that he was part of Massive Attack back in the 90s for a while. Somehow the entire gloom and doom is given an upbeat twist; and the beat and lyrics unconsciously catch on.

Eskmo - Cloudlight
I featured this on my tumblr sometime back but somehow forgot to mention it here. I mean this is one psychedelic trip that way is off the charts, so how could I forgot? That aside, hair-raising tribal-esque beats, vocals that seem to have been run through a vocoder and random samples adding to the soundscape, all add up to one hell of a wicked song.

Eskmo - We Got More
Yet another one by Brendan Angelides, replete with an even trippier video. This Cyriak dude, the guy who does the video animation, is super ace. Big bass beats that match to the changing of animation plus the same glitchy sound makes for a delectable listen.

Bag Raiders - Sunlight
They are a house duo from Sydney that my friend asked me to give a listen to. Gotta say it's a good recommendation. Really love the freshness of the pop imbued into this club number. And we have yet another interesting albeit quirky video today, which a youtube user sums it up quite aptly as "act like monkey = get hot chick". Super groove-worthy.

you want the moon but you've got the sun

2011-05-02T00:32:00.006+08:00

I miss HK, it was a blast over there.

Pulseprogramming - First They Fire
Loving the synthy beats and vocals awash in 80s nostalgia. The song just latches onto your subconscious, be it the gentle cooing or how it invokes foggy memories of yesteryear.

Jatoma - Little Houseboat
Fancy little song here that's quite trippy, a generous helping of electronic bleeps and bloops before evolving into gorgeous deep bass beats. Sexyyyyy.

Digitalism - 2 Hearts
Electronic married to pop-bliss.

she got me in a trance just by the way she danced

2011-05-01T02:17:00.005+08:00

Alteria Percepsyne - All You See Is A Ghost
Deep brooding dubscape. Just appreciate this magnificent one.

Hauschka - Early In The Morning
Beautiful photos and beautiful music, nuff said.

Hauschka - Children
The previous song by Volker Bertelmann (aka Hauschka) was beautiful, understated elegance if you'd like. Contrasted against that, this is glorious and full of pomp, well, just utterly brilliant. And a fucking ingenious video too. Like a director conducting a virtuoso orchestra, he makes the music come alive; dancing and twirling along to the ebb and flow. I'm enamoured and words really don't do this piece justice.

Modjo - Chillin'
Don't know why I felt like listening to this. But it's a good late night song.

you think you'll find yourself out there

2011-04-25T12:30:00.007+08:00

Photo from Brian Ferry.

My Morning Jacket - Circuital
Delicious song from old boys MMJ. The first 2 minutes is dedicated to a very delectable synthy bop with an intermittent yet affecting Jim James. Right after, the whole song is caressed into a fine country-rock number. Of course, which rock song is without it's own mad solo riff - cue 5:16. And it rounds up just like how it started, the staccato beat like jumping little elves on your heart.

Monarchy - I Won't Let Go
I wonder if the 8-bit intro that totally reminds you of the games of old is for the video only, or it comes with the studio track. They rocked Coachella (love youtube for that), and now they've released another solid dance number, with the usual starry out-of-this-world beats, toned down here to fit nicely into the background. I'm loving the whole song, and again reaffirms my opinion that Monarchy seems to have the magic touch. Btw, raining cupcakes?

Edwin van Cleef - Lisztomania (feat. Jane Elizabeth Hanley) (Phoenix Cover)
This dance cover, which borders on a total remake, of Phoenix's hot song of 2009 is a heady mix of swirly sexy down-tempo beats and woozy vocals from Ms Hanley. Seems like there's some solid gold here from Edwin van Cleef, an upcoming House DJ based in London.

do i choose to be weighed down by gravity

2011-04-19T12:02:00.007+08:00

Mr Jamie Woon is absolutely phenomenal. Just released two days ago, the album consists a spectrum of soulful sounds influenced by the dub production of Burial, the R&B vocals of John Legend and the like. Throw in a little house beats and synths into the mix, some computer mixes which play second fiddle no doubt, and you get "Mirrorwriting". We've had a preview of a few of the songs previously, which were a definite indication of his excellent vocal talent.

Jamie Woon - Spirals
A very down-tempo number that borders on chill if not for the amplified guitar strumming, very soothing vocals.

Jamie Woon - Shoulda
A very tight mix of R&B and electronic plus deep bass beats. Sensual and slick.

Jamie Woon - Gravity
He lets loose his John Legend-ish vocals here. Lovely.

Jamie Woon - Night Air (Normski Remix)
Thrown in a new remix of Night Air for good measure.

Coachella

2011-04-16T14:06:00.004+08:00

For all those people who can't make it to Coachella this year, FRET NOT. YOUTUBE (who'd expect that) saves the day with fantastic almost lag-free live streaming. So don't hesitate further and just camp yourself in front of your computer for 3 WHOLE DAYS!
Live streaming of Coachella!

Vicarious enjoyment of such an epic festival is the next best thing. Pity it had to be during my exams.

Interview: Two Door Cinema Club

2011-04-10T22:11:00.004+08:00

Their promo guy replied long ago actually, but it got lost in the multiple threads of email with him. Oops, anyway here's an interview with Irish indie bangers, Two Door Cinema Club. Quite restrained in their answers, but maybe it's because I asked lousy questions. Oh well, I learn. So here goes.

You guys met at university but subsequently dropped out to work on your music. Any regrets?

We never made it that far with education. We met at high school and then didn't go to university. It would be nice to have a degree in something but I don't think we would have been able to do both and I think we made the right choice.

Ok, this was kinda stupid. I misinterpreted them giving up their places for university as dropping out while they were in university. What a stupid waste of a question.

What other pursuits do you guys have outside of music?

We love watching movies and tv shows. Follow a bit of football. Recently we have started to get involved with a local charity which is exciting.

You guys are signed to Kitsune and they're well known for identifying bands. What's it like being signed to them and why did they sign you? Any pressure being under their umbrella, to produce good music for instance?

We have never felt pressured being with them. It is great to have been picked up by such an exciting new label who have been keeping up to date with new music and releasing singles of anyone they think is good. To have been signed for albums I guess means they really liked us.

Tourist History has been very well received by the blogosphere for it's insanely catchy lyrics and hooks which delight listeners. Any particular influences and what was it like getting the whole album together?

Nothing in particular. We all listen to lots of different stuff to each other. We all have an appreciation for melody though and love a good hook.

You're performing at Laneway but you've missed Singapore. You have many fans over here in Singapore, many lamenting the fact that you guys did not make this stopover. Have you heard of Singapore and any chance you'll be performing here?

I know. It is very hard to play everywhere. There are so many places still left for us to go. We may gave some exciting news coming soon for Singapore! They are on our mind....

Well, clearly we were since they're coming down on 11 August so get psyched up for it in the meantime!

Your 5 best albums of 2010?
Les Savy Fav - Root For Ruin
Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record.
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Mew - No More Stories...
The National - High Violet

I thought "No More Stories" was released in 2009. No biggie though. Good stuff though, the list.

you look like you've been for breakfast at the heartbreak hotel

2011-04-02T00:40:00.005+08:00

Photo from s909109.

Alex Turner - Piledriver Waltz
Part of a 6 track EP entitled "Submarine", which was done for a movie of the same name. A really gorgeous song with a curious title. An earnest, tender and heartfelt serenade, it's a completely pared down acoustic number compared to the rahrah of Arctic Monkeys. Very genteel and affecting, the wispy feel of nostalgia definitely makes its mark on the song. It's really hard to believe it's Alex Turner, but damn right it is.

Cults - You Know What I Mean
Sigh, what a beautiful piece. Whatever cut the song is set to is very apt, B&W love. Mixing wistful and intimate vocals with the larger than life chorus. Alas, sweet things last only this long.

James Blake - Limit To Your Love
I was wondering why it sounded so damn familiar, took me a while to recall that it was a track from Feist's "The Reminder". Both versions are fantastic; while Blake's version is pensive and brooding, Feist's original seems more personal and of course her vocals bring life to the song. But anyway, I love the soulful ponderous instrumentation, and of course, that deep pounding piano.

how your fire grows hermosa caldera glistening

2011-03-28T18:59:00.007+08:00

The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness
The Strokes are back with another album "Angles", with the last one in 2006. And they herald their return with much aplomb, spilling delightful riffs in the gleeful intro. And Mr Casablancas seems like he never left, partly due to his solo outing in 2009. Utterly infectious and bouncy, this is one tight number that's bound to keep you on your feet.

TV on the Radio - Will Do
Fancy video about virtual reality. Really like how the melody plays second fiddle to Adebimpe's strong vocals. The arrangements are pretty sweet, but it's the lyrics that are clearly about love that stand out. There's a particular verse that even verges on poetic. Beautiful.

Niva - Boy From The Sun
This is a really affecting beauty. Christian Niva from Stockholm wields his wand and in a flourish, conjures a wonderful foggy dreamscape where we'd like to nestle ourselves in. Supremely exquisite dreampop that really swept me off my feet on first listen; more people should be listening to his stuff. Check out the rest of his entire brilliant EP here.

we will sink and be quiet as mice

2011-02-25T15:51:00.011+08:00

Been neglecting the blog yet again due to school, but here's a post I managed to squeeze in during this break week.

Radiohead - Lotus Flower
Geniuses at work. It's been a while since Radiohead's last opus "In Rainbows" in 2007, and now they've finally released another album, "The King of Limbs", which clocks in at just over 37 minutes. This particular track features Thom Yorke dancing/moving awkwardly/spasming/insert-what-you-think-is-appropriate. It's nothing overt, a really ordinary beat in the background, such that you won't think much of it. However, Thom's almost permanent falsetto brings a sort of emotive counterbalance to the normalcy of the backing rhythm. Don't expect something massive that would blow you away when listening to this track, more a gentle prod in between ebbs and flows, against your conscious. The first listen is good, but give it a few more listens, it'll warrant infinite repeats.

Peter Bjorn and John - Second Chance
Really fetching track from the guys most famous for their iconic tune Young Folks. Some elements of pop catchy-ness as well as rock riffs abound, it seems right up their alley. And as many have said, the cowbell is a neat touch.

Jamie Woon - Lady Luck
Dedicated an entire post on him a while back, and he's just released a single of his debut album which drops in April. Lady Luck is a downright wicked tune - slick and sensual. Echo-ed and on a loop as the words 'lady luck' rolls of his tongue, the bass beats intertwined with his extremely soulful voice, this is one tune that will make people go all over each other on the dancefloor. I expect some remixes to roll in soon. Pity he didn't win BBC's Sound of 2011 poll. Check out his Al Fresco version here. It's basically him and his vocals while he's on a sampan in a swamp in Cambodia. Exquisite.

Interview: The Temper Trap

2011-02-05T05:01:00.006+08:00

Managed to nail this email interview with Temper Trap after speaking to their drummer, Toby Dundas at the media tent during Laneway. Here's the interview, word for word. It's pretty short though so don't expect much. Italics are my comments after getting a reply.

How did you feel about performing at the debut Laneway Festival in Singapore?

It was a great honour for us to headline the first Laneway Festival in Singapore. Our first festival gig was at Laneway, we were first band on and it was that gig that really kickstarted things for us back in 2006, so we have a lot of love for the festival. The Singapore audience was fantastic, to stand in the rain all day and go crazy for every band takes a lot of dedication so i know all the bands just wanted to get onstage and give the crowd a great show.

Was this your first time in Singapore? If yes, how did you find it here?

We came for a couple of nights last year for the media launch of the festival, so this was our second time. We came in a few days early to rehearse and work on some new songs and i had an awesome time again. Ate some amazing food, caught up with a few friends and had some fun nights out (thanks butter factory!) and it was all topped off with the festival.
We really wanted it to be a special gig as it was the last show after 2 years of touring and we weren't disappointed.

Oh yeahh! Thanks guys, it was an awesome way to round off the night!

How did you guys meet?

Jonny and Dougy were longtime friends and Lorenzo and I were friends since we were 12 or so. Dougy and I met through work and stared practising together with another guitarist and then Jonny. Loz joined after a year or so and we brought in joseph about 2 years ago.

What was it like initially when you guys first started out and were trying to get Conditions together? How does it compare with the immense popularity you guys have now?

Back then we were just rehearsing a lot. We had a little room where we could keep our stuff set up so we would go out there 3-4 nights a week and write songs and work on the set.
We did a lot of demo recording so we could work on adding more electronic textures and beats and stuff with computers and samplers. Back then if we played a gig to 400 people we thought it was going great so we really had no idea that the album would connect with so many people around the world.

There's an increasing number of bands from Down Under that are getting more well known (or are already known), such as yourself, Tame Impala, Architecture in Helsinki, Empire of the Sun, The Presets and Cut Copy. So what's it like for the Australian music scene in the years to come?

I think Australia's always had a great music scene and it's cool that a lot of the bands around at the moment are getting noticed overseas as well.
Tame Impala are amazing and bands like the Midnight Juggernauts and The Drones have been putting out great albums for years.
In the new crop of artists i really like Cloud Control and an electronic act from Sydney called Seekae.

Certainly gotta check Cloud Control and Seekae out. Certainly have a thing for electronic bands.

Lastly, what are your 5 favourite albums of 2010?

in no particular order

Gil Scot-Heron I'm New Here
Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Menomena Mines
Arcade Fire The Suburbs
Gareth Liddiard Strange Tourist

Thanks a bunch Temper Trap, especially Toby!

in the parking lots of these endless nights

2011-01-27T12:19:00.002+08:00

TWO MORE FUCKING DAYS! I'M GOING CRAZY WAITING FOR SATURDAY! I never dreamed I'd see them in Singapore, much less in the same day.

Beach House - Silver Soul
Their brand of hazy dreampop already imprinted in us as their signature, they deliver it with the usual panache. Pouring their entire soul into this one, the syncopated keyboards dovetailing nicely with Legrand's ethereal vocals.

Lotus Plaza - A Threaded Needle
With a persistent rhythm and tinkly sounds, how can I not be hooked into the song? The rhythm subsequently forms the backing of the song, over and above the barely heard vocals. Elegiac in a rough way, the entire song feels hazy amidst a microcosm of intimate sounds, and it runs out amidst a dishevelled blast of intense repetitive sounds.

Deerhunter - Agoraphobia
A thoroughly enjoyable listen; comforting and warm. A slow tender piece that takes delight in its measured pace, preferring to let the music speak for itself.

Deerhunter - Desire Lines
Accompanied by a fat reverby guitar line, Cox reminisces about the nostalgia of youth, awash in careless freedom. And just when you thought what could get better than the first 2 minutes of awesomeness, a good 4 minutes of instrumental takes over. It's ponderous yet urgent, slowly seeping into your consciousness. Going on and on, you're sinking deeper and deeper, only for you to be jostled out as it gradually ends.

when i look around i can feel it spinning

2011-01-15T18:53:00.005+08:00

Simon Hinter - Take Care
What a myriad of sounds this track presents - a certain eye, or ear-opener for that matter. A winding road, tall firs looming. Blinding white light. Streets of nowhere, a dull thud. Mesmerising blinking light, in the distance.

Deerhunter - Fountain Stairs
Super swell and loving it. Warm fuzzy guitar lines and warbly vocals from Lockett Pundt.

each day takes you some place i can't find

2011-01-12T14:55:00.004+08:00

Ducktails - Killin' The Vibe
Oh so chill. A sweet laconic vibe with a backing piano? that sounds a little like Bibio's Lover's Carvings. I totally agree with the comments on the video that it's a great driving song. I can picture myself in a old Dodge, just clunking and cruising down the countryside roads.

Azure Ray - Don't Leave My Mind
Damn, I missed out on this release last year, which would have definitely made my 2010 list. A seven year hiatus as a duo clearly did nothing to diminish their fantastic chemistry. Testament to their craft, the two best friends have given us an exquisitely gorgeous song to savour. The electronic beat and lush melody provide a lovely complement to Orenda's? spectral vocals - stunning.

no pockets full of grain and crumbs

2011-01-06T19:58:00.004+08:00

Flying Lotus - MmmHmm (feat. Thundercat)
Aural pleasure with a soundscape put together with such panache. Flying Lotus is Steven Ellison, and he has carefully arranged a wonderfully crafted piece with influences I can't put a finger to. Almost balladic, the electronic nature of this tune does not really settle in entirely as the vocals serve as an elegant distraction.

Flying Lotus - Zodiac Shit
Trippy stuff filled with psychedelic imagery that would just blow your mind into the stratosphere in the first half, before abruptly going into electro-funk stuff that juxtapose nicely against the first half. Amazing shit.

Jenny Wilson - Like A Fading Rainbow

together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail

2011-01-05T23:46:00.007+08:00

Broken Social Scene - All to All
Exquisite gem led by Lisa Lobsinger. It lost to Sweetest Kill by just a handful of listens. The intro is a soft delight, with a short and deft touch of trance. Led by the wonderful Lisa Lobsinger, her lush voice graces our ears, complemented by a back drop of electronic elements which seem in an urgent rush to somewhere. The strings are a neat touch as well. Very similar to RSR's stuff, but it's prolly due to her voice.

Broken Social Scene - Puff, the Magic Dragon
I've known the original version by Peter, Paul & Mary for quite a while, but only chanced upon this version by BSS recently. What an awesome find. Heavily slowed down, with more purposeful enunciation of the words, they infuse a whole lot more mood here, no doubt trying to elicit a reference to the "subtle drug referencing" many people speculate that is present in the original.

Tennis - Marathon
What summer bliss. A little hazy nostalgia here, a bit of hooky hooky there, a perfect recipe for a fabulous song. Don't count out the soft oooohs as well. As she coos so wistfully, I wonder if I could be the one on that yacht out yonder on the sapphire sea instead of being buried in my books.

i only go where you won't be

2011-01-01T15:14:00.001+08:00

A short post to welcome the new year!

Plasticines - Pas Avec Toi
It's a pretty straightforward fist-pumping song that gets you going. From what I surmise, it's about a guy chasing after a girl after she decides to leave him, and the chorus basically just means "time passes but not with you".

Plasticines - I Am Down
Quite a down-tempo song good for an evening listen. These girls are not half as bad as many people say actually. I really like this song, very simple and listenable(?) on repeat.

Those Dancing Days - Fuckarias
Check out those insane drums - machine guns gone berserk; the orangey lips too, sweet. The chorus jams come a close second as well. All these from a quintet of girls from Stockholm. Absolutely catchy rampant feisty garage pop that will knock the socks off anyone, maybe a teeth or two as well. Free grab from the band here.

20 Favourite Albums of 2010: Part II

2010-12-31T18:17:00.009+08:00

It's the last day of 2010 and it's been one eventful year. I hope the musical offerings in Singapore get better and better, like it is now, and cheaper too! Go easy on my pocket, you know.

All the best to whoever's reading this and have a rockin' and awesome 2011.

The Morning Benders "Big Echo"

Toro Y Moi "Causers of This"

The National "High Violet"

Sufjan Stevens "The Age of Adz"

Spoon "Transference"

Pantha du Prince "Black Noise"

Delphic "Acolyte"

Delorean "Subiza"

Deerhunter "Halcyon Digest"

Broken Social Scene "Forgiveness Rock Record"

Drop a comment about what YOUR favourite albums are!

20 Favourite Albums of 2010: Part I

2010-12-30T12:05:00.005+08:00

Now, here's the list of my 20 favourite albums for this year in 2 parts.

Twin Sister "Color Your Life"

Fear of Tigers "Cossus Snufsigalonica"

Beach House "Teen Dream"

Crystal Castles "Crystal Castles"

Arcade Fire "The Suburbs"

Local Natives "Gorilla Manor"

LCD Soundsystem "This Is Happening"

Röyksopp "Senior"

Warpaint "The Fool"

Tame Impala "Innerspeaker"

100 Favourite Tracks of 2010: Part X

2010-12-26T15:23:00.006+08:00

"It's not their fault," she said, "if others love them for the wrong reasons."

"No, it's not their fault. And what are 'the wrong possible reasons'? I think you can love people for the wrongest possible reasons, I don't think that's got anything to do with it."

"But if you don't like people whose lives are exceptional, why do you want to hear about them?"

"Because those are the sort of stories I like best."

"Untrue ones?"

"No, interminable ones, if you like. Bottomless pits."

- Marguerite Duras' The Sailor from Gibraltar

Delorean - Grow
Somehow I felt a little of Friendly Fires' in the song. Nonetheless, they channel all their Basque-ness into this free spirited number that is as much a celebration as it is a journey of discovery. One might also be inclined to reply their question of "will you ever understand this decision i've made?" With Delorean, you can be assured of being in good hands, and just keep dancing under all that glitter and remind yourself you're on the beaches of Ibiza.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Menomena - INTIL
What a stunner. Immediately diving into a tender piano ballad, conveying vulnerability before smoothly graduating to sort of a soft post-rockish mood. The lines in the song "I never thought I'd lie" is abbreviated as the song title. Interesting huh.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Delphic - Remain
They revel in electronic spheres and this Mancunian trio slowly creep up on you with a soft balladic piece that works its way into your system with those keyboards, lulling vocals and pop magik.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Twin Sister - Lady Daydream (mp3)
By now, one should be acquainted with Twin Sister (having featured another of their song earlier). The dreamy atmosphere and ethereal vocals are to be expected. With seeming lassitude, the lyrics convey a certain sort of romanticism amidst the lushness, as Andrea sighs whimisically "if you can't find the sea, i'll take you there". I absolutely adore them.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yrself Clean
Clocking in just under 9 minutes, just like many other lengthy songs in the album (i think it's bordering on insane), James Murphy slowly but not painstakingly (this man revels in his craft) builds layers upon layers in this song. An extended and almost repetitive intro that could have been a song unto it's own, I say almost because it has slight twists of lyrics that make it different in each verse. His easy speak-sing along with that regular tock totally doesn't prepare one for the ear-bliteration that occurs at 3:09. Here you see the legacy, of marrying new wave, 80s synths, electro-funk and what not artistically, that James has built.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

The New Pornographers - Crash Years
Catchy indie rock is definitely my cup of tea. A wonderful showcase of Neko Case's voice accompanied by fun whistling, uber poppiness and chugging chords.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - The Mighty Sparrow
Oh those intense riffs and whispery vocals. Blistering with tight hooks that similar punk rock bands might envy, these guys sure know how to dish out their rock - taut and ripping.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Glass Vaults - They Will Grow
Expansive ambient piece with haunting plaintive sounds and that extremely sporadic guitar strumming cutting that equanimity, sending ripples through the soundscape.
[bandcamp] [last.fm]

Robyn - Hang With Me
She does this synthpop thing with such finesse. Really catchy song, especially the beats and lyrics.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Drink drank drunk
They engage in a little fun, with reverby repetitive words, before waddling deep in the throes of miasmatic haze. Delicate utterances abound, I feel firmly ensconced within the wonders of shoegaze as I struggle with wisps of fond memories. Treat yourselves nicely and head over here for a free grab of the entire album, courtesy of the band themselves.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

well, this marks the end of the list of my favourite tracks for this year. it was tough omitting some because i didn't want some bands to be significantly more represented. so capping it at 2 was what i felt was best. i'd really like to hear some of yours in the comments or emails. watch out for my favourite albums coming your way soon! meanwhile, enjoy what's rest of the year and the list as well.

100 Favourite Tracks of 2010: Part IX

2010-12-25T16:51:00.003+08:00

He has too much good sense to be affronted at insults, he is too well employed to remember injuries, and too indolent to bear malice. He is patient, forbearing, and resigned, on philosophical principles; he submits to pain, because it is inevitable, to bereavement, because it is irreparable, and to death, because it is his destiny. If he engages in controversy of any kind, his disciplined intellect preserves him from the blunder.

- John Henry Newman on The Definition of a Gentleman, by Xu Ci En in AugustMAN

Merry Christmas to all readers!

Crystal Castles - Baptism
Wicked 8-bit beat with really warped vocals (or maybe a spoilt microphone, haha) and crazy electronics. Revel and dance away.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

The Morning Benders - Promises (mp3)
The Morning Benders have been quite the revelation this year, and Promises is another stand out track from "Big Echo". A light and wistful number that oozes nostalgia, its sing-along feel could be attributed to Chris Chu's pop sensibilities or Chris Taylor's touch (credited as a co-producer). Either way, it's fabulous.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Broken Social Scene - World Sick
This is like the opus of "Forgiveness Rock Record". It takes a good intro to get things rolling, and a sweet folksy tune seems pretty damn right for this one. Then it rolls right into a good ol' BSS song. The song seems like it's about being gay and standing up for it, especially in the context of religion. Insights anyone?
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Chief - Night & Day
That's a lot of hair guys and 100 marks for trying to look like vagrants. Traces of Fanfarlo in them? Somehow, the lyrics have an uncanny resemblance to the happenings in Vladimir Nabokov's Laughter in the Dark. The mellow sound and slight folksy lilt to the song makes this a delightful listen. Check out this more stripped down version here.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

of Montreal - Coquet Coquette
Smooth vocals and fun lyrics contribute to a rollickin' good time with this track by of Montreal. Don't forget the pacey drum beats and deep bass.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Arcade Fire - We Used To Wait
Petulant and urgent, the song opens with a piano led intro that progresses into a similar anthemic style Arcade Fire are known for. Win Butler's vocals shine through in particular, as he intones about how they used to have to wait for letters from their loved ones and is liberal with his falsetto. Just as how the song starts, the song ends similarly in a staccato of piano played keys.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

She & Him - In The Sun
Vocally led by everybody's favourite indie pop darling, Ms Deschanel and accompanied with a jaunty swagger provided by Mr Ward, this is one breezy tune.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Wild Nothing - Chinatown
I'm really a sucker for such foggy dreamy music. Maybe it's a throwback to the past of sorts, where everybody wants to hold on to something from yesteryears. Like analog cameras.
[myspace] [last.fm]

The Black Keys - Howlin' For You
Don't normally listen to blues-rock, but chanced upon this via Chuck and it is way too awesome. The fuzzywuzzy guitaring with that constant pounding beat gives you a silent adrenaline rush, to the ears.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Charlotte Gainsbourg - Heaven Can Wait (feat. Beck)
At 0:50, where the dude bats an incoming orange totally reminds me of years back, we had a friendly match with out seniors, they pitched a coconut and my friend smashed it clean. HAHAHA, what memories. I totally love this song just for that. Ok, that's not just all about it. There's definitely a kooky vibe, as if something is gonna spring from nowhere. I like the contrast between Beck and her vocals.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

100 Favourite Tracks of 2010: Part VIII

2010-12-24T20:35:00.005+08:00

In the past I’ve used lemons for juicing. I make fresh juices with kale, carrots, apples, lemons, and you can put the whole thing in the juicer, with the rind and everything. I also make lemonade. In our English lessons in Sweden, they were talking about lemonade a lot. I was maybe nine. I’d never had it, but I pictured it as being sparkly and tangy. It took 10 years before I tasted some, but it was a dream come true. No one knew how to make lemonade back home. My mom tried to squeeze some oranges one time and put sugar in it.

- Elsa Hahne

Mackintosh Braun - Made For Us
I think Mackintosh Braun is to slow-dance electronic music where Monarchy is to all-out dance floor magic. Fine lounge vibe that's good for a slow dance with a partner. Enchanted.
[official] [last.fm]

Tokyo Police Club - Bambi
Try this for lyrical pop sensibilities with neat rock riffs and hooks. With a song title like that, and from an album entitled "Champs", it's hard not to be a favourite.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Tame Impala - Lucidity
"Lucidity,come back to me, put all five senses back to where they're meant to be"

Sounds like a pretty damn tall order after listening to this amazing eargasm of a song. Maybe they were being sarcastic, but I couldn't sense it through all that fuzzed out bliss.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Röyksopp - The Alcoholic
There's nothing to fault Röyksopp with, crafting such a brilliant instrumental song. The staccato tik-tak-tak and tik-tak, backing melody getting louder and louder. The plucking guitar strings(?), calming. Bird chirps, strange but beautiful.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Perfume Genius - Learning (mp3)
Piano + fuzzy vocals? Doesn't sound like a good combination. But Mike Hadreas makes it work as Perfume Genius, with an intoxicating but jarring truthfulness to the lyrics.
[myspace] [last.fm]

Massive Attack - Paradise Circus (feat. Hope Sandoval)
Just listen and enjoy. Massive Attack's masterful wielding of sounds and Hope Sandoval's enchanting and sensual voice a wonderful confluence.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

HEALTH - USA Boys
The only track on their almost-remix album to be a non remix, and a new song at that. It's got a amazing killer beat that led in the song, urgent and commanding your attention, specifically your feet. The vocals here lend a laconic vibe, unclear and prolly there for the sake of it. But it does not take the sheen off it's ripping bassline and the fact that this song would make you go crazy in a mushroom induced haze.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Parlour Steps - Little Pieces
They call this thought rock, I'm inclined to agree. Driven by guitar solos and riffs, it's quite the tender rock number.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Gorillaz - Empire Ants (feat. Little Dragon)
I feel like a kid who's being coaxed to sleep by fairy tales. I'm so taken in with this, never knew Damon could sing like that. Then comes the part where I'm dreaming, about being an adult who's at a ball, dancing with this sensual faceless lady. Gliding across the floor in tandem. But it's just a dream.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Emeralds - Candy Shoppe
Electronic with an old school vibe. Very 80s. Very delish.
[last.fm]

100 Favourite Tracks of 2010: Part VII

2010-12-23T21:07:00.003+08:00

Moreover, Mr. Chirico, 26, discovered what other young men in New York have begun to notice in recent months: In the city’s more style-conscious ZIP codes, there has been a renaissance of that much-loved old neighborhood standby, the barbershop.

Proving Fran Lebowitz’s oft-cited dictum that “you’re only as good as your last haircut,” authentic-looking barbershops have popped up all over lower Manhattan. Done up with, say, vintage lighting fixtures, antique barber chairs and, of course, a big glass jar of blue Barbicide on the counter, they are offering good, solid haircuts and shaves for less than half the price of a fancy salon cut. And in a kind of tonsorial version of chicken-or-the-egg, their arrival is perfectly timed, coinciding with the twin desires among urbane young men to tame their unruly locks and look neater and sharper from the neck up, and do it in all-American, gentlemanly, modestly priced fashion, far from the salon smells of peroxide and perfume.

- The Barbershop Renaissance in NYT

The Mystery Jets - Dreaming of Another World (mp3)
Kooky and catchy, very driven indie rock laced with lazy dreams and another you.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Sufjan Stevens - Futile Devices
This song could play right out of a movie by Sofia Coppola and it would be so so right. The lyrics tumble out affectingly about a best friend, in that words are rendered useless in expressing the platonic love because it seems trite. The song just seems way too short though, beauty could be extended and appreciated. That said, I'm still in awe of his talent and would really want to see him perform live.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

jj - Let Go
Exquisite and serene, the initial electronic samples glossing over you like a constant warm breeze of air. It alternates with more pertinent drums and the entire time, you feel at peace, almost zen-like. Also, the harmonica sample starting and ending the song just seems... so right.
[myspace] [last.fm]

Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti - Round and Round
Ariel Pink's drone might put some off this song, but it seems very much in character with this freak folk song. He seems to have amalgamated distinct parts - monotonous drone, choir-like singing, muted beats, upbeat chorus - of the song into one cohesive package that somehow ticks.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Aska - There Are Many of Us
Such a beautiful song that tugs at your heart ever so gently.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Deerhunter - Earthquake
The creation of an ambience in this song is eerily effective. Fuzzy vocals like one out of a cranky tv, spooky lyrics that speak of waking up on a dirty couch in a grey fog, the short intermittent scratch. A slow and steady build up before it reaches a miasma of sounds like heckling of ghosts before settling down suddenly, and drifting to an end, leaving you in it's wake wondering what just happened.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Fear of Tigers - Cossus Snufsigalonica
Euphoric dance beat that would make your feet smile. One of the few tracks that was on heavy repeat during my long vacation in europe.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Puro Instinct - Luv Goon
These sisters used to be called Pearl Harbor, and with the name change, it seems more suited to their kind of music.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Hot Chip - Thieves In The Night
Fantastic synth dance number in full glory.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Toro Y Moi - Talamak
Comfort music, really.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

100 Favourite Tracks of 2010: Part VI

2010-12-22T20:41:00.008+08:00

A great painter one day, high up on the scaffold, began moving backward to view better his finished fresco. The next receding step would have taken him over, and, as a warning cry might be fatal, his apprentice had the presence of mind to sling the contents of a pail at the masterpiece. Very funny! But how much funnier still, had the rapt master been left to walk back into nothing - with, incidentally, the spectators expecting the pail. The art of caricature, as Rex understood it, was thus based (apart from its synthetic, fooled-again nature) on the contrast between cruelty on one side and credulity on the other.

- Vladimir Nabokov's Laughter in the Dark

The Walkmen - Stranded
You look at the small puddles formed on the cobbled streets of somewhere in Europe, a gentle drizzle falling on your overcoat as you're trudging aimlessly. The evening sun casts a deep amber hue over the low rooftops around you while you ponder with a listless look on your face. Suddenly you hear horns so warm and regal in the distance, Hamilton Leithauser's vocals rising above the orchestration, seemingly coaxing you that everything is alright, and suddenly you know where you should be walking to.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

The Radio Dept. - Heaven's on Fire (mp3)
It really reminds me of The Honeydrip's Fall From a Height, but less use of vocal samples. Notably, they both are from Sweden. And where Fall From a Height was more pensive and romantic, Heaven's on Fire is vague-ish and seems to be indirectly criticising the music industry. The entire layered arrangement fleshes out the song as Johan Duncanson muffles hazily throughout the song. Love them swedes.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Spoon - The Mystery Zone
The feel good beat, well, feels good as you just bop to the song. Undeniably catchy in a reserved way, it kinda worms it's way into your consciousness and as the song ends abruptly, it still continues in your head "mystery zone, ooh! the mystery zone. maybe all he wants, maybe all he needs"
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Avi Buffalo - Remember Last Time (mp3)
With the spread of the memory-dulled hazy shoegaze/dreampop that has been going around, it's a nice reprieve from all that with one that actually recalls something - a past love. Excellent extended guitar jam preceded by a gentle solo strum accompanied by softly spoken words around the one third mark of the song.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Local Natives - World News
Oh yeah, it's Local Natives again, this time with World News. These guys are awesome I tell you, the lyricism present in the song is ingenious. An entire song about being inside a car, which is the most mundane thing one can sing about, yet made so meaningful, catchy and most of all, interesting. I adore the first stanza the most, thinking about where you first started. Of course, how can I miss out the do-do-do-do-do?
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

MGMT - Flash Delirium
Delving into the world of all things weird and mindblowing, they deliver a punchy pop rendition that graduates into delirious punk rock(?), with the video ending in a flash.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Basia Bulat - Once More For The Dollhouse
Folk-inspired and heart-achingly bittersweet.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Chew Lips - Karen
Groovy and catchy with slick guitars and bouncy drumbeats that give due weight to the song.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Teen Daze - Let's Fall Asleep Together
Sigh, it's songs like this that make a bland day seem blander than it should be. Life should be like the sunny carefree depiction in this swell number. He says, "I really came to fall in love with the whole lo-fi pop scene this summer, and I wanted to see what I could come up with. After writing “Let’s Fall Asleep Together”, the last three just sort of happened in the span of a few days." From an aptly titled EP "Beach Dreams", it makes me wanna return to the sprawling beach of Nice with fine sand between your toes and sunlight sparkling in the sea like diamonds.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Cults - Go Outside
The glockenspiel works up a delight in this charming cut from Brooklyn duo Cults. Semi-chanting, semi singing, it's a swell to be listening to this on a nice spring day. So, refrain from going outside until you've finished this song. That said, I'm pretty sure you'd be wanting to take this along your jaunt.
[bandcamp] [last.fm]

100 Favourite Tracks of 2010: Part V

2010-12-21T22:51:00.005+08:00

Everything’s a compromise. For instance, you’re not going to get Marlon Brando to do your script, you’re going to get someone lesser. The room you see in your mind’s eye is not the room you’re filming in. It’s always a question of high aims, grandiose dreams, great bravado and confidence, and great courage at the typewriter; and then, when I’m in the midst of finishing a picture and everything’s gone horribly wrong and I’ve reedited it and reshot it and tried to fix it, then it’s merely a struggle for survival. You’re happy only to be alive. Gone are all the exalted goals and aims, all the uncompromising notions of a perfect work of art, and you’re just fighting so people won’t storm up the aisles with tar and feathers. With many of my films—almost all—if I’d been able to get on screen what I conceived, they would have been much better pictures. Fortunately, the public doesn’t know about how great the picture played in my head was, so I get away with it.

- Woody Allen in an interview with the Paris Review

The National - Conversation 16
Another great track from "High Violet" set to a literal depiction of the song. Oh what gloom and doom, so sweetly done by The National. I love the chorus in particular as Berninger says matter-of-factly "I was afraid I'd eat your brains".
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Beach House - Zebra (mp3)
I'm surprised that Beach House opened for Vampire Weekend, as said in the top rated comment on the youtube video for this song. I would think Beach House is almost as popular and many would have been clamouring for a full set from Beach House as well. Can't get enough from this prodigious duo and can't wait for Laneway!
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

GROUPLOVE - Colours (mp3)
Good old rockin', just having fun together and making music as a group, GROUPLOVE indeed! This song is such a ball of fun.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Ooh, I love this song. Régine Chassagne, who is also Win Butler's wife as well provides vocals for this outstanding track. Taking a more experimental approach, they dip into the electronic pool and come out with Sprawl II to a beautiful outcome. Their rock roots are still very much present, which makes this song even better, even nicer a listen.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Yeasayer - O.N.E
Experimental rock group dishes out what's notably missing this year, experimental random stuff. It's catchy, quirky and tribal-ish, it's fun. Wonder what their performance at Laneway is gonna be like, hope it's gonna be raving!
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Villagers - Becoming a Jackal
Becoming a Jackal is a heart-wrenching, melodic piece full of lyrical finesse; its the sort of song you want to play on repeat until every last note is engrained in your mind. - Domino Records

They're coming down to Singapore on Jan 31. Try this lovely brilliant acoustic version here.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Caribou - Leave House
Good stuff from Caribou, still remember what got me listening to him was Hello Hammerheads, which is very different from his deeper electronic stuff now, like Leave House for instance.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes His Shirt Off
Sweet and tender with a conspicuous trombone(?) sound, Pallett is such a delight here. It always seems as if he's teetering on a tightrope, but singing his heart out at the same time.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Stars - Wasted Daylight
A lot of Canadian magic this year. Stars, Owen Pallett, Broken Social Scene, Basia Bulat, Caribou, Arcade Fire and Crystal Castles just to name a few. I just realised in this post alone, there're already 4 of them! Amy Millan's silky vocals shine here, dancing unabashedly amidst the twinkly electronic beats.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

White Hinterland - Icarus
Big booming bass that rattles at the start, toned down subsequently to provide a neat toe-tapping back drop as Dienel's swooning vocals charm the socks of me. Sounds like magic.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

100 Favourite Tracks of 2010: Part IV

2010-12-20T23:38:00.003+08:00

In the morning Brûlé (as in crème) will be off again—he’ll check in someplace else similarly well-lit—but for the moment, he is focused as can be on the topic at hand: old media. He loves it. Can’t get enough. “I don’t want to sound like a Luddite about it,” he says, “but …” But Brûlé sort of is. Not a Luddite, exactly, but a hard-core devotee of old-fashioned media: of magazines that are printed on paper, of news programs that dedicate hours to single topics, and of well-modulated, unhysterical coverage of things other than, as he puts it, missing white women. As the media conglomerates of the world attempt to figure out their plans for the future, Brûlé is hatching a tiny and very specific media empire from a lovely part of Central London called Marylebone.

- Planet Monocle by Amy Larocca in NY Mag

Tame Impala - Solitude Is Bliss
Ah, Solitude is bliss. I kinda subscribe to that. And such music to listen to while you're flying solo is way awesome. Rock on, guys from Down Under.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Röyksopp - Senior Living
I think this is a very sick tune from the revered (in some quarters) Norwegian duo. Brooding and poignant, listen to that wicked bassline take control.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man
Nice and folksy, with good ol' midwestern charm to boot. The banjo is a wonderful little instrument.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Efterklang - Modern Drift
A dose of piano-backed rock is always a good listen, especially one that feels tentative, like they're on a cusp of something bigger, but still not sure of themselves. Grand orchestration is more than welcome too. Call me old but it's a personal favourite of mine.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Ra Ra Riot - Boy
Hot off his Discovery release last year, Wes Miles is back with Boy from "The Orchard with Ra Ra Riot. Definitely a riotous number. Like I mentioned above, I always like strings or chamber instruments in my music. It brings a different sort of layering to the music. Refreshing.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Freelance Whales - Generator ^ Second Floor
Saccharine pop number.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Joanna Newsom - '81
Keep a lookout for this awesome singer, she's coming down to Singapore too, for the Mosaic Music Festival. Elegant song where Newsom easily soars to the higher ends of her vocal range. This song however, presents a peculiarity with regard to the lyrics. While on the surface, it seems to tread a little on hallowed ground, I still don't really understand it.
[myspace] [last.fm]

Deerhunter - Helicopter
This song is just fantastic. Bradford Cox says that he's a fan of the transgressive author Dennis Cooper, whose account of the shocking death of a teenage gay prostitute in Russia inspired Helicopter. The lyrics are meaningful once you know the context, and coupled with shimmery synths and fuzzy ambience, this is a stunner.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Twin Sister - All Around and Away We Go (mp3)
Super trippy and super 80s, All Around and Away We Go presents a dreamy world of neverending rainbows, nice puffy clouds and beautiful rays of light that warmly caress the fields and everything else. Andrea Estella's charming and sometimes purposely muffled vocals are superb.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Blackbird Blackbird - Happy High
Oh how literal the song title is. A euphoric journey that knows no bounds. But my only grouse, it's a tad too short!
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

100 Favourite Tracks of 2010: Part III

2010-12-19T21:05:00.005+08:00

Ray: You wanna get deep on this shit? All them Catholic scholars say, Everything that we do depends on the free choice. But at the same time, they say we need the grace of God to do what's right and follow that Jeannie. If I do something wrong, it's because God didn't gave me the grace to do what's right. If this world stinks, it's His fault. I am only working with what I've been given.

Jean: So, that way, the people they found with bullet holes in their skulls, they're God's fault? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

Ray: I'm ashamed of nothin'. I didn't make the world.

Jean: But you aren't doing anything to make it better.

Ray: Yeah, then I'll roast in hell

- vocal sample from The Funeral, (1996) between Ray (Christopher Walken) and Jean (his wife), in No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

ceo - Come With Me
Delightful uplifting synthy bliss. Mama-mia indeed.
[official] [last.fm]

Gayngs - The Gaudy Side of Town (mp3)
Amayzing. Supergroup Gayngs released this as the first single from the album "Relayted". This supergroup started by Ryan Olson features Justin Vernon of Bon Iver fame (he seems to be everywhere these days), members from Megafaun and Solid Gold, as well as psych-rockers Leisure Birds. See the entire roster here. Delicious music and it is incredible how all 23 people can coalesce into such a wall of sound - beautifully layered, resulting in a melting pot of rap-inspiration, falsetto highs, breathy ethereal vocals (seems to be a mainstay these days too) and R&B influences.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Crystal Castles - Vietnam
Needs no introduction. It's Crystal Castles, what more can I say?
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Delorean - Real Love
Balearic dance beats provided by Catalans Delorean, so awash in the bright rays of the sun it might make the sun retreat in favour of letting this song shine.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Sufjan Stevens - I Walked
What is Sufjan Stevens not capable of, one might wonder? I have no answer to that. Even more variety added to his increasing repetoire. A brooding electronic beat with reverby vocals.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

As The Stars Fall - No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
I love the sample used in this song, probably the inspiration for the title as well. Well used vocal samples are always appreciated by me. Evocative instrumental piece that conveys the sadness of the entire situation they are in, the sadness of Ray's and his family's warped view of Catholic grace (Waddell, 2003).
[official] [bandcamp] [last.fm]

Broken Bells - The High Road
Calm and collected guitar strumming that belies the seeming urgency as Mercer urges "Come on and get the minimum, before you open up your eyes." Danger Mouse aka Brian Burton makes up the other half of this illustrious duo.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

The Drums - Best Friend
Quirky indie pop.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work
Count on Kitsuné to identify an awesome band when they see one. Super catchy synthpop with upbeat hooks and rapidfire vocals.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Inch Chua - Hurt
Local dynamo gives us a treat with her first full length release "Wallflower" which you can get for free at her bandcamp site. Her heart on her sleeve, right there for all to see once again as she sings with such panache and as if she's trying to prevent all her emotions from spilling out of her diminutive body.
[official] [bandcamp] [last.fm]

100 Favourite Tracks of 2010: Part II

2010-12-18T17:47:00.000+08:00

Indeed, when I would ask a tenant if they called 311, I would hear either a Daniel response — “I called 311 until I was blue in the face” — or a response that mirrors the behavior of Justin’s family — “I don’t call 311 anymore. Because I gave up.” In a certain way, both responses are saying the same thing. They are expressions of the demoralization and resignation that people carry with them. In the social universe I inhabit, there’s such a strong belief that you can change things, you can make things happen. But in the Bronx, behind too many of the doors I knocked on, people’s faces are bereft of that sense.

- Elizabeth Dwoskin in NYT

Kisses - Bermuda
Bright and uplifting toetapper, with soaring synths and warm vocals. There's a little balearic beat as well, similar to Delorean. Brilliant stuff from Jesse Kivel and Zinzi Edmundson.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Warpaint - Undertow (mp3)
Lovely post-punk beat, it helps that they are all girls, shrouded by hazy vocals. I love the lead in guitar particularly. The song alternates between a slow dreamy atmosphere with hollow vocals and splendid psych rock replete with guitar riffs. Check out the music video here which is directed by Shannyn Sossamon, who was previously with the band. Nice reunion eh.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Class Actress - Careful What You Say (mp3)
Lush 80s disco and 8-bit beats definitely a plus point in this song. With sultry vocals as well, that certainly scores with me too.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Local Natives - Airplanes
I've got a weak spot for folk rock, which explains Local Natives and Airplanes from "Gorilla Manor" along with the likes of Great Lake Swimmers, Fanfarlo and The Low Anthem. Stringing meaningful lyrics along with a mellow rhythm that soars and dips, it's a heartwarming rendition of a love for a grandfather.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Band of Horses - Blue Beard
This is Band of Horses, every album surely has hits that resonate deep and this is one of them, from "Infinite Arms". Very affecting midwestern-ish, with a grand backing rhythm that anchors this song.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Foals - Spanish Sahara
This is one epic track. It starts of with a tender melody that reeks of desolation and emptiness, and Philippakis milks that even further with raw and emotional vocals. The song builds, slowly, drawing you further into the vast expanse of desolation it portrays, then plateauing. It's joined by a dotty urgent synth beat audible in the background, matched by an increasing urgency in the song as well and the boiling pot of emotion spills at around 4:15. Enjoy.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

School of Seven Bells - I L U
Peculiar video set to less ethereal (read: clearer) vocals that was the hallmark of their debut album, I L U draws out it's atmospheric rhythm, playing up on that, letting it expand and fill the room.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Monarchy - Love Get Out Of My Way
Uber groovey dance floor anthem along with others that has marked Monarchy's arrival on the electronic scene under their new name, previously known as Milke.

Listening Directions: Press play and get moving, if movement is restricted, start bopping your head. Repeat.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Frightened Rabbit - The Loneliness & The Scream
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Best Coast - When I'm With You
A hazy miasma of jangly guitar drives this sun-drenched surf pop from the loveable Ms Cosentino and sidekick Bobb Bruno.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

100 Favourite Tracks of 2010: Part I

2010-12-17T21:56:00.003+08:00

So the year is coming to a close again, and it's almost ritualistic that one has to consider his/her favourite songs in the past year. 2010 was quite a bumper year, different from 2009 though in the type of music that were released. 2009 saw it's fair share of experimental stuff and folk-inspired rock. Also, indie pop reigned while there was the usual electronic/electropop stuff. Contrastingly, 2010 would likely go down as a bumper year for a particular subgenre called chillwave/dreampop/shoegaze/hypnagogic/psychedelic/you-name-it, and this list clearly reflects that since I so happen to take to this genre. A lot. This year also saw the likes of The National, Spoon, Arcade Fire releasing solid follow ups while there's the same old indie pop and electronic stuff. Without further ado, I present to you my list of 100 tracks, in 10 parts and in no particular order, of 2010.

Note (i): These are my favourite tracks for the year, i.e. I checked my most played on itunes and sorted out those that were released this year. So they might not be the best songs around, but they sure were my most listened to. And I self-imposed a cap of 2 songs max per band/singer.

Note (ii): I was just musing over the fact that Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus can attain such fame from the general populace of the world, while honest to goodness awesome, fantastic, fabulous, you get what I'm saying, music can remain untouched and unappreciated. It's not to say indie music is better then mainstream music, it's just a little sad that only those who are signed to major record labels and are exposed to mainstream media that get such recognition, and many of them might not even write their own music. It's a very interesting phenomenon, that on Youtube, Bieber's highly watched videos, numbering up to hundreds of millions of views, have more dislikes then likes, obviously a concerted effort/campaign by detractors and haters. In a similar vein, many music videos that have garnered dislikes would be met with "x number of justin bieber fans?" So anyway, I have no idea why I have such an intense dislike for Bieber or Cyrus, maybe it just stems from the fact that indie music is definitely not inferior to their music, and yet they are not getting as much attention or regard. And to what end? Cyrus is spotted smoking salvia. Though legal, it does not set a good example to the young kids who idolise her, young American kids and kids everywhere else that the American culture has propagated to. Smoking is legal too, but is it encouraged or healthy? No, definitely not. But then again, if I think about it, quite a lot of indie artists engage in all sorts of raucous stuff which they would have to cut down or do without if they were in the spotlight. That way, they'd prolly rather stay indie, which renders my thoughts moot.

Tell me about your favourite songs or just drop some comments!

The Morning Benders - Excuses
This song really makes you feel warm inside. A wonderfully crafted indiepop gem that is beautiful as it is touching. And this Yours Truly session really shows how tightly knit the indie community is, surely eliciting a smile or two.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Spoon - Out Go The Lights
I love this stand out track from "Transference", very soft rock and tender vocals from Britt Daniel.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Beach House - Norway (mp3)
I still remember when Norway was dropped as a lead in to the album, definitely a huge teaser for the new album. I was extremely stoked too because the same dreamy evocative melodies were still there, better in fact, coupled by Alex taking the vocal lead in this song. Beautiful.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
Matt's baritone is definitely one of the reasons why I listen to The National. And this mellow tune is deeply affecting. Maybe that's why it's often on repeat.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Broken Social Scene - Sweetest Kill
Soft with a little reverb, it's one of the awesome tracks in a fantastic follow up to well, Broken Social Scene.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Sun Airway - Put The Days Away
When this bliss pop outfit put out their little 4 track EP, "Oh, Naoko", I was pleasantly surprised by what they had in them. Their debut album, which features the entire EP, "Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier" definitely doesn't let down. The whole song feels very orchestral-ish with the strong backing which culminates in spectacular fashion at the end. It starts around the 3:15 mark, the strings? and everything else building up steadily to a crescendo and suddenly dips to a murmur after a minute plus. Mmhm.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Vampire Weekend - White Sky
What's Vampire Weekend without preppy catchy uber fun pop hits? White Sky doesn't detract much from their recipe and turns out to be a delightful sing-along song. The high pitch ows and oohs that punctuate a quirky twist in the song.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

The Pass - Colors
Delectable synthpop with catchy beats display dance music sensibilities that make The Pass an awesome boppy listen.
[myspace] [last.fm]

Small Black - Despicable Dogs (mp3)
One of the many in this whole chillwave movement, Despicable Dogs presents a trippy psychedelic journey to a fantasy land of huge mushrooms and fancy little elves that populate said land. They say, "Take a bite of them mushrooms." "Go on," as you hesistate. And then you realise these mushrooms are exactly what the song does, different means, same end.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Toro Y Moi - Low Shoulder
Less dense than the above, featuring heavily on a strong bass that rattles my CPU instead, along with squeaky loops that might egg you into a dance. There's reason why these chillwave-y songs hit home with me. Much love.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

i've acquired a taste for silence

2010-12-16T11:09:00.006+08:00

Jamie Woon - Wayfaring Stranger
I'm pleased to have chanced upon him as I was clicking through on youtube. Then as I was looking at Warpaint and checking them up on BBC's Sound of 2011, I find out he is longlisted as well! Coincidence or not, I'm beating myself up over finding out about him now. He's got a damn fine voice - so soulful and exuding such strong emotions, some say angelic even. But no quibbles here, he deserves the Sound of 2011 nomination.

Jamie Woon - Wayfaring Stranger (Burial Remix)
I had no idea you could remix such a song. And I had no idea you could make such an excellent song sound as good, or even better, which I thought was gonna be hard to top. It's not over the top dubstep, more appropriate dubs to convey a suitable brooding mood. Unbelievable stuff.

Jamie Woon - Spirits
Check this out. You've really got to. He beatboxes and gets it down on the loop. Man, he sure is a box of surprises. As he croons "Watching our spirits dance on the
on the backs of our lives", you might just be convinced that our spirits are literally dancing. It feels nice watching and hearing art at it's best. With his debut album in the 2011 horizon, it just makes us want more.

Jamie Woon - Night Air
Oh my, marrying subtle electronic with soul, he surprises us yet again. The deep bassline is ponderous and contrasting - it lends a strong powerful stroke to this painting, versus fluidity conveyed by Jamie's vocals. Breathtaking music from this South Londoner and we expect much much more.

Jamie Woon - Night Air (Ramadanman Refix)
Oh yes, it's Ramadanman with his refixes. Sweet.

you arrest my heart, but i knew this from the start

2010-12-15T03:46:00.002+08:00

Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension
In a very Tron-ish outfit, frontman of The Strokes reels off some uber power packed electronic bingbang that strikes home. Btw, for all Strokes fans out there, they are releasing a new album sometime next March if you already didn't know.

Monarchy - Maybe I'm Crazy
I don't know how these guys do it, but they churn out dance hit after dance hit, impeccable ones at that. I've not found a single song that has let me down yet, and this clearly is no exception. Lush and deep bass that oozes sexiness with a touch of synths that sparkle - proclaiming their place among the stars. It's extremely delectable and remix worthy. I love the groove and of course, catchy lyrics.

Monarchy - Travelling By Ambulance
A more balladic piece which stands out against the rest in that it's a different approach, with decidedly more focus on the lyrics and letting the beats take backstage just for once. I mean, I never expected lines like "you're the sweetest curse" from them. Taking the analogy further, this is definitely more down to earth, more human. If I were an astronaut, I'd definitely take their new album which drops in Jan 2011 with me. Also, I hope their broadcast of their live performance to space gets picked up by extraterrestrials and maybe, just maybe, they start grooving to it.

the distant hum that blooms as we run

2010-12-14T15:45:00.001+08:00

Memoryhouse - Caregiver
Deeply affecting piano-based song, at once full of grandeur and excruciatingly intimate with surrealistic vocals that speak of ghosts and cracked spools. It is because of songs like that that I ache to be able to create such amazing music, yet I know I have no talent for such. I'm pretty sure even the most undiscerning ear can appreciate this precious gem.

Wolf Gang - Lions in Cages
~~Good song but I don't feel it as much as The King and All of His Men.~~ I think it's really awesome and super catchy now, it's grown on me!

Wolf Gang - Back to Back
Curiously different from the kooky catchy The King and All of His Men, it presents a more mellow and emotional side of Mr McElligott, who seems to wear his heart on his sleeve in this number, as he hits an extended falsetto crooning "sleeping with my back to yours, back to back, back to back were strung out". Interesting stuff, keep a look out for his new album next year - "Suego Faults".

Click through the banner below the video for a download offered by the man himself.

The Vaccines - Blow It Up
Oh my, what awesome guitar skimming riffs that just ooze 80s rock.

Blow, blow, blow it up - this might just be the birth of a new rock band. Warbly guitars and hazy reverbs abound, they are certainly making known their arrival.

i've known never known what's good for me

2010-12-13T16:34:00.008+08:00

Kele - Everything You Wanted
Seems like a love song through and through. Might refer to a break up he had, which he channeled the feelings into this very personal solo debut album of his, "The Boxer". Also, I think his solo album draws a lot of similar comparisons to "Intimacy" with its electronic elements and maybe lyrics wise as well.

Bloc Party - This Modern Love
Never really did listen to the stuff from "Silent Alarm", not sure why. It's never too late but I'm appreciating it. Kele's vocals sound much rawer here, unpolished, which suits this song to a T. The lyrics reflect something many of us can prolly relate to. And for all acoustic lovers, take a gander at this awesome up close and personal performance by Kele and Russell outside what I think is a pub.

Bloc Party - Biko

Bloc Party - So Here We Are
So tender; the soft rock + jangly guitar just gets at the odd nooks inside your body so wonderfully. I definitely must give "Silent Alarm" the proper many over.

i promise it's easy you'll fade to black

2010-12-10T10:16:00.008+08:00

Simian Mobile Disco - Aspic
From their latest drop "Delicacies", as the name implies, all their song titles are of food. But in this case, the songs take the name of an exotic, and often bizarre, delicacy from around the world. So what's Aspic? It is a savoury jelly made from meat stock and sometimes supplemented with gelatin to ensure that it sets. Don't know what the hell that is, but I'm having mixed feelings about it.

The same can't be said for this uber dancey number. The heavy beat comes right through, thick and fast, doowop-y and slick. Crank up the bass and let it rip for this one is one to be savoured.

Simian Mobile Disco - Sweetbread
Initially, I was like, what!? The video was not anything like what the titled might have suggested. And so, Wiki to the rescue. Sweetbreads or ris are culinary names for the thymus (throat, gullet, or neck sweetbread) or the pancreas (heart, stomach, or belly sweetbread) especially of the calf and lamb. Now I get it.

But seriously, I was laughing at the utter inanity of the video. It served practically no purpose unless you're a meat/butcher voyeur of some sort. And the man didn't even look like a proper butcher (where's the gloves!!!), save for his huge tummy. Anyway, the song's good stuff, sounds loungey yet sombre, yet with very heavy techno influences. And I'm pretty sure that whenever I listen to this song in the future, I shall be marred by this video.

Blackbird Blackbird - Pure
Right off the bat, the moment the twinkly sounds sprinkled itself all over my room, I knew I would love this song. It feels like what goes on in your brain when you have an epiphany - the sudden whirl of realisation. Or maybe, it's what it sounds like in space if sound can be heard in space. A cosmic revelation eh? Check out the entire Summer Heart LP here. It's absolutely wonderful.

Blackbird Blackbird - Fade To White (feat. Emily Reo) (mp3)
Another awesome track. Download provided by Blackbird Blackbird on his bandcamp. I'm such a major sucker for chillwave/dreampop/psychedelic/hypnagogic/whatever you call it.

your brown eyes are my blue skies

2010-12-09T16:01:00.010+08:00

Beach House - Zebra (mp3)

Beach House - Heart of Chambers (mp3)
In light of Beach House coming down to Singapore to perform at the Laneway Festival, here are two of my favourite songs, which happen to be available for download as well, from their own website.

The undulating voice of Victoria Legrand never fails to draw me into any one of their songs. It's like a giant magnet, compelling you to listen to the song in order to put you into a dreamlike haze that you'll be glad never to lift. The passive synths seem so insignificant when you consider the hold her voice has over you, but you realise, it is a complement that serves to empower that ethereal voice.

Warpaint - Undertow (mp3)
I guess i'll just make this a Laneway post. Not sure whether by intention, Warpaint is a gorgeous all girl quartet that doles out exquisite rock with an undercurrent of psychedelia and haziness provided by hypnotic vocals, and not least a deep resonating beat. Put it this way, listening to this song is like being in a state of bliss. In some ways, they do sound like Beach House, just with the post-rock element. And you wonder what were they doing since 2004, only releasing their EP only in 2009 and debut album in 2010. Oh and I think they're anything but Warpaint, so don't take the name too literally.

Warpaint - Billie Holiday
Initially I thought this might be a Miike Snow cover, but just listening to the song and you know it's not. So I googled Billie Holiday and it turns out she is a famous jazz singer and songwriter. And this song is so damn exquisite and wonderfully crafted that it's like fine bone china. I could rave on and on about this song, but this song is one you just have to listen for yourself and be utterly transfixed by these girls. Amazing. Check out an acoustic version here which is just as beautifully done.

like a shotgun needs an outcome

2010-12-08T15:46:00.007+08:00

The Hundred In The Hands - Pigeons
The Hundred In The Hands is Eleanore Everdell and Jason Friedman (I think by no means related to Milton or even Thomas Friedman). Lovely electropop, or what some would term indietronica. Buzzy hooks and a catchy chorus are a prerequisite, so it's no surprise there. It'll definitely be glued into your head and you might inevitably find yourself bopping to the thumping backbeat as you walk down the street at night, wondering if you'd start spewing out fire. Love the video, both the videography and editing.

The Hundred In The Hands - Commotion
They've got another video for yet another of their song. I think some remixes of their songs are due to make it ripe for the dancefloor.

Lykke Li - Get Some
Oh, Swedish indie darling Lykke Li seems to be channeling some of her inner Fever Ray in this uber not-so-indirect track. It seems to be about a lover taking control of her man. This stuff is different from Youth Novels and while it's good, I'm gonna expect much much more from her.

Röyksopp - The Drug
Following "Junior", fellow swedish Röyksopp have dropped "Senior", filled with atmospheric and expansive sounds. How they make everything work in tandem, I don't know, all I know, is to appreciate the good stuff. And with a name like The Drug, it's no wonder I'm kinda hooked on it.

Röyksopp - The Alcoholic
More "senile" stuff.

when you appear i know i won't be here

2010-12-07T19:38:00.009+08:00

BACK!!! Like finally.

Tame Impala - Expectation
Totally wall of sound-esque, Tame Impala literally gives us a kaleidoscopic performance that seems like it's going to tear everything apart, yet in a weird sort of way, come across as cool, calm and collected. I think it's partly due to Kevin Parker's vocals which are eerily drug inducing.

Cut Copy - Take Me Over
I don't know what's more exciting, TRON which is soon to be released, next week in fact or that Cut Copy, fellow label mates of Tame Impala and Aussies dropping their first single for their new album "Zonoscope" in February 2011. As Whitford croons "Take me over, take me out, to the jungle through the night in paradise, paradise", it personifies this synthy pop funk that Cut Copy is reeling us in with. The synths are typical of Cut Copy, but this almost saccharine pop number less so. Nonetheless, you'll still love Cut Copy. I still do. Stay tuned for their new album!

Gorillaz - Crystalised (The xx Cover)
Check this out! It's dope as hell, Damon Albarn and co covering an XX favourite. So affecting and showing on his face, it contrasts a little with the minimalist emotionless style of The xx. Anyone's gotta love BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge for giving us music lovers all sorts of amazing covers, some of which I've featured before.

Chief - Night & Day
Utterly a-fucken-mazing. Succinctly summed up by Paul Lester from Guardian as "Masters of mellow, this LA four-piece specialise in pretty melodies evocative of 1970s America". Sounding similar to Fanfarlo, Midlake and by extension any 70s band, certainly not "smacking of originality" in Mr Lester's words, their arresting earnestness and lyricism sure is a breath of fresh air.

everything we do depends on the free choice

2010-11-16T12:03:00.007+08:00

Picture from an awesome blog by stefany.

I stumbled upon them, but busy as I am, I've gotta share this with everyone. They're ridiculously incredible - like a cross between explosions in the sky with m83, and that something more.

As The Stars Fall - Revolt
Somehow they manage to blend ambient instrumentals with a post-rock sounds, yet incorporating a largely electronica rhythm. Awesome stuff.

As The Stars Fall - No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Like many of their other songs, they make good use of samples to set the tone for the song.

As The Stars Fall - Artificial Sun
Lo-fi and ambient at the same time, and more post-rock again, I love how they totally marry these together.

I've been noticing a couple of comments about how they resemble m83 a lot, but my take is that their major influence is m83. even if they did really copy their stuff, m83 is still m83, no one can take it away from them. At worst, all As The Stars Fall will sound like is pretenders but for the moment, let's just embrace the good music.

i'll be the one to say you know it's true

2010-11-10T03:38:00.005+08:00

Escapism.

Chanced upon this awesome singer/songwriter called Jess Penner. Really poppy but it seems to strike a chord with me. Her vivacity seems to spill right out of her voice, maybe it's her overflowing love for life. Backed by neat rhythms, more often than not electronic-based, she comes across as really spunky and seems to wear her heart on her sleeve, in a good way. You know, I think she'd make fast friends with Inch Chua.

Jess Penner - In The Stars

myspace

they forgot what they lost but they know it was good

2010-11-08T19:28:00.007+08:00

Stars - Dead Hearts
They worked with BSS on the release of "World Sick" and yet managed to drop a fantastic new album that's more introspective than before. Lovely melodious piece that belies the melancholy evocated by lines like "It's hard to know they're out there, it's hard to know that you still care".

Stars - I Died So I Could Haunt You
They don't disappoint do they? Glorious synths take its place in the background, and soon complemented by driving beats. A cascade of sounds that's seemingly fitting for a song that has its roots in rock.

Wang Chung - Space Junk
Wang Chung - what a cool name. And equally matched by laidback vocals and dallying backing rhythms.

you've gotta try to wear a smile no matter how hard it can be to do

2010-10-25T22:58:00.005+08:00

A new playlist to whet some music appetite, especially whoever still bothers to read.

here

i've heard voices through the floor

2010-10-18T22:00:00.003+08:00

It's been so long.

I miss writing.
I miss expressing how much I love a song.
I miss catching up on all the awesome music.
I miss the thumping beats.
I miss the hazy synths.
I miss the melodious pop hooks.
I miss the freedom of not going to school.

Here's a playlist I cooked up couple weeks back, when I was getting the feeling and well, I just had to do it. Check it out here!

your skin defiantly silver and so sure

2010-09-24T22:24:00.005+08:00

It's been raining a lot recently, it's not supposed to be the rainy season! Not that I don't like rain, I love it, especially when I'm in bed and don't have commitments for the day. But be damned if I have.

Anyway, here's a playlist I created on a neat little site called 8tracks. It's something similar to what most people are more familiar with - last.fm - but it's solely a playlist making site, what they dub as internet radio of sorts. Anyhow, check it out! and my very first playlist too!

looking into your eyes for a sign

2010-09-19T12:30:00.008+08:00

I think this will be my last post in quite a while. Don't have much time to do regular postings since school started, and I miss writing about fantastic songs. I would appreciate if anyone would like to fill in for me as a guest writer, maybe with me chipping in every now and then. I still love this sweet labour of mine and would still very much like to spread the goodness of indie music around.

Isbells - Reunite
Thanks to the anonymous reader who told me about this song. I was thoroughly enchanted by Gaëtan Vandewoude's crisp yet introspective vocals. He sounds like a cross between the folksiness of Fleet Foxes and the pensiveness of Little Dragon, in particular Twice. Gorgeous music with an equally stunning video. They managed to make music sound like an art piece, with subtle yet affecting strokes of the brush on a sparse canvas.

School of Seven Bells - I L U
Straying quite a bit from the dream pop that fueled most of their debut album "Alpinisms", this particular track plays up the expansive soundscape and clearer vocals from Alejandra Deheza.

Sarah Blasko - All I Want
All personal and straightforward, coupled with her smoky vocals, Sarah Blasko hits home with this folksy-acoustic number. She's from Down Under, and for those who don't know yet, she'll be performing a cosy set at the Esplanade Recital Studio on 8 Nov.

With this, I'm taking an unfortunate and indefinite hiatus, until I've figured how to squeeze time for posts. Unless of course, someone who can guest write turns up and offers his/her services. Till then!

The Saturday Mix #47

2010-08-28T17:43:00.001+08:00

The xx - Shelter (Tiga Remix)
I think this is single-handedly one of the best The xx remixes out there. Tiga (who by the way will be in Singapore for the Singapore F1 GP entertainment lineup) has run this classic through the dub machine and what's come out is pure aural pleasure. 101% satisfaction guaranteed. The heavy dub beat contrasts starkly with Croft's languid minimalist vocals and it feels spectral as it feels sensual. The bpm remains untempered, and prolly for good reason. It's at a really sweet pace, and now coupled with an out of this world dub beat, it would bring out the sexy of everybody on the dancefloor.

While I'm a bit busy here, hence only posting one song, I honestly think this remix itself could hold it's own. Anywhere.

we'll still be best friends when all turns to dust

2010-08-24T12:14:00.007+08:00

Free Energy - Bang Pop
Fluffy whimsical indie pop with the grooves of the electric guitar. You're at a carnival wondering where this awesome melody is emanating from. Digging into a entire cauldron of candy floss, you search and find their beats amidst all that sugary sweet stuff. Surely a feel good song suitable for any summer house party in the garden. And hell, I have to agree with youtube user dickynights, they certainly do sound like early Weezer here. Influence much?

The Morning Benders - Excuses
It's one of my favourite songs for the year so far - a hazy blend of youthful innocence and lost naivete. This is an instrumental/orchestra version of the original where they roped in their friends and San Francisco music found-abouts, trying to recreate the wall of sound. The strings bring about a melancholy that they otherwise couldn't convey, and seems to suit this instrumental take very well. Also at the start and end, listen to what Chris Chu says about the song. Check out the studio version right here.

The Morning Benders - Boarded Doors
What a kitschy and cute video to go with this jaunty song. Singing as if he's skipping along, prodded along by that staccato of a melody, he sings of lost/unreciprocated love and how he doesn't know where else to go, like a lost little boy. Clearly, they were already of lovely music even before "Big Echo", which gave sorta gave them their big break.

stopping you would stifle your enchanting ghost

2010-08-22T18:47:00.009+08:00

The Golden Filter - Memorial Day
This was put up by the band themselves on youtube, stating that it was written and recorded in summer '07, pre golden filter. It's chockful of dreamy hazy vibes reminiscent of dreampop, quite unlike the electronic dance stuff they're known for currently. It's interesting to note that they've dabbled a bit in other genres, but I think they might have done just as well if they dove into dreampop. Maybe they might surprise us and release such an album after "Voluspa".

Dent May - Eastover Wives (mp3)
I absolutely love this song. Incorporating that oldies charm into Eastover Wives along with a lovely mix of emotive vocals and jazz elements. It's just like being in front of the warm comfort of the fireplace as the snow plunders everything outside the house, reducing all to just a pristine white.

Sufjan Stevens - Enchanting Ghost
A mercurial singer/songwriter of our time, he's suddenly dropped an entire EP of songs. Coming in just under 60 minutes, this is an EP of epic proportions since it is uncommon to have such lengthy EPs. Additionally, he's priced the EP at USD5 on bandcamp which is supremely value for money considering it's almost 60 minutes of awesome stuff. This is what's said on bandcamp, "All Delighted People is built around two different versions of Sufjan’s long-form epic ballad "All Delighted People," a dramatic homage to the Apocalypse, existential ennui, and Paul Simon’s "Sounds of Silence." Sounds delightful, yes! The song was originally workshopped on Sufjan’s previous tour in the fall of 2009."

Enchanting and pleasant, at times one would also feel for him as his heart-rending delivery on matters of the heart strikes a chord within. The simple plucking of the guitar drives this song, backed occasionally by the sweet staccato of the piano, he delivers us nothing but the best that one can expect from him.

The Saturday Mix #46

2010-08-21T12:34:00.000+08:00

Delorean - Real Love (LightsoverLA Remix)

Tame Impala - Solitude Is Bliss (Canyons Remix)

Massive Attack - Pray For Rain (Tim Goldsworthy Remix)

Massive Attack - Paradise Circus (Zeds Dead Remix)
Fucking epic.

Passion Pit - The Reeling (Sammy Bananas Big Choon Mix)
It's rare that a remix can make one feel so euphoric. Above the clouds and high on oxygen.

Au Revoir Simone - Only You Can Make You Happy (PUNCHES Remix)

Annie - Songs Remind Me Of You (The Swiss & Donnie Sloan Remix)

i tell you miserable things after you are asleep

2010-08-20T21:45:00.006+08:00

In the wild land around the farm, there is constant change, yet it feels timeless. The beeches and hemlocks along the creek look the same. The ship-rock that always seems to be sinking in the middle pasture hasn’t sunk an inch in all this time. This is a rabbit year, but these look like the identical rabbits I saw a few years ago.

None of this is true in the garden. You can plant for shape, color, scent, whatever you like. But unless you confine yourself completely to annuals, you’re cultivating your consciousness of time. Every garden leaves the traces of its origin in the gardener, which means that it’s hard to look at even the maturest beds and borders without remembering the digging and planting and waiting it took to bring them to this point.

- Garden Time by Verlyn Klinkenborg

Ra Ra Riot - Boy
Ra Ra Riot having laid low for a little, except for Wes Miles who was active with Rostam Batmanglij as Discovery, are back with a new offering simply titled "The Orchard". Apparently the tracks have been out for a little more than a couple of weeks. A real nippy number, it's perky and Wes Miles' vocals drip with earnestness and longing. The hooks are definitely present but their signature strings are pretty much non existent here. Obviously, these guys are back and ready to roll.

Ra Ra Riot - Too Dramatic
You know what they say about the apple not falling too far from it's tree. Well, it's analogous to some extent. It's real rambunctious pop, with lovely interplay between their strings and drums/guitar. It segues real neatly as he croons about over-dramatic girlfriends that is beyond his comprehension.

Yeasayer - Madder Red
Yeasayer are up with their usual unusual stuff. The tribal melodies that permeate is part of the overall package that is an experimental yet folk-ish sound balanced with some slightly vague lyricism. The might seem pretentious and thought of as trying too hard initially, but I actually warmed up to the song after 2 listens. If you strip away the heavy sounds, the song might actually appeal to even more, but this is Yeasayer for you. Here's the official video. But it is really queer and disturbing (in a non gory/grisly manner). Check it out if you want, but it's highly likely to put one off.

The National - Conversation 16
I'm not exactly sure why I'm only posting this song now. Somehow, their new album "High Violet" didn't register with me. I don't know why. But the odd listens here and there, and suddenly I'm taking to most of this album, particularly Conversation 16. I think it's understated brilliance. Introspective and mellow; sombre yet glorious, the drums fill out the very little space left by Matt Berninger's deep and curiously affecting baritone. It resonates within you, and singing about zombies, be it metaphorical or literal, makes you wonder what is going through his mind. It could be an epiphany, but whatever it is, this is utter satisfaction.

make a little room for me tonight

2010-08-17T15:23:00.009+08:00

That's because I just made it up. Even you are - maybe not - yes, you are probably a hypervillain. Yojiro, of course, is an extreme example. And you know... ...an interesting variation in her own way. The only hypervillains we needed in the old days were feudal lords and fathers. Now, with equal rights, everyone wants to be one. Not that it's a bad thing, of course. We all know - take the lid off something that stinks and you find a manure bucket. Tear away the pretty formalities and the bad is out in the open. Formalities are just a bother, so everyone economizes and makes do with all the plain stuff. It's actually quite exhilarating, natural ugliness in all it's glory. Of course, when there's too much glory, the hypervillains get a little annoyed with each other. When their discomfort reaches a peak, altruism is resurrected. And when that becomes a mere formality and turns sour, egoism comes back. And so on, ad infinitum. That's how we go on living, you might say. That's how we progress. Look at England. Egoism and altruism have been in perfect balance for centuries. That's why she doesn't move. That's why she doesn't progress. The English are a pitiful lot - they have no Ibsen, no Nietzsche. They're all puffed up like that, but look at them from the outside and you can see them hardening, turning into fossils.

- Professor Hirato in Natsume Sōseki's Sanshirō

Mystery Jets - Flash A Hungry Smile
Serotonin (pronounced /ˌsɛrəˈtəʊnɪn/) or 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter, biochemically derived from tryptophan, that is primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract, platelets, and central nervous system of humans and animals. It is a well-known contributor to feelings of well-being. (wiki)

I like this gem from their album "Serotonin". It really does make one feel happy. Light and breezy melodies abound, cheeky whistling coupled with awesome rhyming lyrics make this a joy to listen to.

The Drums - Let's Go Surfing
In the same vein as the the indie poppiness of Flash A Hungry Smile, this quartet comprising of Jonathan Pierce, Jacob Graham, Adam Kessler and Connor Hanwick show they know how to have tonnes of fun. Catchy hooks and beautifully flippant lyrics (one wouldn't be faulted for thinking Jonathan Pierce was singing obama instead of oh mama), it is a real delight and a good wake up song. Oh, and who could forget the beach?

The Drums - Book of Stories
Filled with more hooks yet again, The Drums seem to have perfected their recipe of indie pop. But contrasted to Let's Go Surfing, Book of Stories is eminently about heartbreak as he wails "i thought my life would get easier, instead it's getting harder". He has no qualms about wearing his heart on his sleeve amidst that echo laden guitaring.

don't i know you better than the rest

2010-08-16T18:19:00.004+08:00

Simian Mobile Disco - Nerve Salad
A sobering beat that conceals a certain frothing excitement that slowly spills over. SMD are back with a purely electronic piece devoid of vocals; some might say back to their roots as DJs. A delectable delight of snazzy synths and increasingly urgent beats, they suddenly revert back to spacious sounds that fill the space, and then back to those pacey doowops. It's nice to see some action from SMD after their last release, "Temporary Pleasure".

Crystal Castles - Knights
Set to Japanese teens imbibing alcohol and taking drugs, it's pretty much a neat metaphor for this spell-binding song by CC. This would definitely rock the dance floor with its bouncy synths and undulating beats that wouldn't seem out of place amongst a host of grinding bodies.

Beach House - Zebra
Significantly deviating from their dreampop signature as they lean towards a regular indie sound, they nevertheless can depend on Alex Scaly's drawn out mellifluous vocals to give that tinge of haziness I so desire. Again, I like this stripped down version of their usual stuff, banking on the drawing power of Scaly's vocals and thoughtful arrangements that never fail to charm.

The Saturday Mix #45

2010-08-14T13:28:00.000+08:00

I've decided to give LightsoverLA a little love for this issue of The Saturday Mix. The first of their remixes I heard was Crystal Castles' Vietnam and I thought it was mind blowing. So I checked out their youtube page and here we are.

Crystal Castles - Suffocation (Memory Tapes Remix)
Haunting.

Wave Machines - Keep The Lights On (Artwork Remix)
Sublimal.

Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know (LightsoverLA Remix)
Thumping!

Crystal Castles - Vietnam (LightsoverLA Remix)
Wickeddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd.

Miike Snow - Billie Holiday (LightsoverLA Remix)
Magnificent.

Local Natives - Wide Eyes (Suckers Remix)
Subdued.

Midnight Juggernauts - Into the Galaxy (Danger Remix)
Over-revved.

playing in the park until the sun goes down

2010-08-13T13:04:00.007+08:00

Recently, I was at Ritual Cafe in San Francisco’s Mission District downing quad lattes with my old friend Angus. At one point, he noticed an acquaintance who entered the cafe. Within three seconds of him standing up to greet her, I had pulled out my iPhone and was hitting refresh on my incoming tweets and email. I had nothing important to check. The entire encounter took fewer than two minutes. When the woman looked over to introduce herself, there I was with my sweaty hands gripped around my phone. I suddenly realized, I’ve become that guy.

Of course, I’m not the only one. Everyone alone at a table at Ritual was either typing on a laptop or thumbing a smart phone. When I see a guy alone at a cafe without a device open, I assume that he’s either got the iPhone antenna problem or that he’s a serial killer.

- Dave Pell, Tweetagewasteland

Broken Bells - October
Set to an amorphous world of 3D, this trippy journey into the unknown was realised by Flash developer Richard Lehmann and illustrator Matthew Hollister. The group’s 3-D project allows surfers to navigate, save and share a strange universe of mathematical equations, geometric shapes and evocative illustrations. (wired.com)

In a similar vein to their first single, The High Road, October is atmospheric as it is affecting. The content of the 3D journey is befuddling, what with all the random stuff, but overall, it contributes to the trippiness of this song. The two precocious talents in music making straddle the fine line between insanity and brilliance to produce mellow trip rock. A fine track this is.

Mystery Jets - Dreaming of Another World
From their latest offering "Serotonin", they introduce some pop sensibilities to their rockin' and rollin' stuff that is totally feel good. It's true when I say a smile would break across your face in no time once you start listening to the song.

time shoots on by

2010-08-12T21:16:00.000+08:00

Apologies much for the unintentional hiatus. Busy with stuff regarding school, couldn't wait to get back to share some awesome stuff here.

Rue du Soleil - Troya
Loosely translated as Sun Road, this quartet of D. Jakovljevic, Y. Uslu, A. Bianco and C. Montuoriis produce some stunning music. Seemingly, I like ambient stuff with jazz influences.

Morcheeba - The Sea
Lush vocals bloom as a liquid rhythm slides in your eardrum.

Another Fine Day - Lazy Daisy

Passengers - Beach Sequence
Not sure why it's entitled as such but it certainly brooks no images of sand, sea and sun. Nonetheless, lovely stuff by U2 and Brian Eno.

Sunlight squeezing it's way through the fluffy clouds carelessly pasted on blue canvas. Ensconced in the grubby couch. The whir of the fan; the drone of passing trains. The clouds inch east; the chirp of a sparrow. Nestled in the tree. Glass of ice water. A droplet trickles slowly down the glass; without direction. The glare of sunlight. The ring of the postman - breaks the tranquility like a drop of water on the stillness of the lake. Ripples.

it's never quite as it seems

2010-08-02T23:04:00.008+08:00

Passion Pit - Dreams (The Cranberries Cover)
A lovely cover by Passion Pit in my opinion. Bringing their trademark synths into play, a spacey and ethereal rendition of the delicate original. Check out the original here.

Trentemøller - Sycamore Feeling
As per the video description, "Sycamore Feeling is a beautifully melancholic downtempo song with haunting vocals courtesy of singer Marie Fisker. Fiskers sensual, intoxicating performance, framed by a lush instrumentation with lots of ambience, make this another great Trentemøller-track." (sic)

Frightened Rabbit - Not Miserable
Quaint ole Scottish indie rock.

Fanfarlo - Comets
Like a streak of comet across the midnight sky, it blazes a trail with it's fantastic orchestral arrangements and slowly disappears into oblivion, but not before impressing itself upon onlookers.

The Saturday Mix #44

2010-07-31T21:27:00.008+08:00

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - Home (RAC Remix)

Local Natives - Wide Eyes (Fool's Gold Remix)
Some R&B elements incorporated by tropical indie band Fool's Gold.

Sunday Girl - Four Floors
Ms Jade Williams Broxbourne, hereby also known as Sunday Girl is super gorgeous. And fittingly, she makes equally awesome music, so liquid and sensuous.

Sunday Girl - Four Floors (Diplo Remix)

Sunday Girl - Self Control

Sunday Girl - Self Control (Fenech-Soler Remix)

Tesla Boy - Electric Lady (Baxter Remix)

you're the piece of gold that flushes all my soul

2010-07-29T17:50:00.009+08:00

But the iniquity of oblivion blindly scattereth her poppy, and deals with the memory of men without distinction to merit of perpetuity. Who can but pity the founder of the pyramids? Herostratus lives that burnt the temple of Diana, he is almost lost that built it. Time hath spared the epitaph of Adrian's horse, confounded that of himself. In vain we compute our felicities by the advantage of our good names, since bad have equal durations, and Thersites is like to live as long as Agamemnon without the favour of the everlasting register. Who knows whether the best of men be known, or whether there be not more remarkable persons forgot, than any that stand remembered in the known account of time? The first man had been as unknown as the last, and Methuselah's long life had been his only chronicle.

- Hydriotaphia by Sir Thomas Browne

Kidstreet - X (mp3)
Go to their myspace for a free download of new song X. Exciting and full of electrofunk, dotty synths twinkle off as vocodered vocals sing of "wanting you so bad". Midway, sensual vocals take over and mesmerise you. Further emphasis on "I want you so bad it's wrong" clearly shows it should take it's rightful place on the dance floor.

Air - Playground Love
You can trust the French to come up with such affecting music, and for a film adaptation of the splendid book "The Virgin Suicides". Gently stirring up an ambient mood, Thomas Mars' (of Phoenix) drawl and the slow pace combine fluidly to evoke a dreamy yet lustrous sheen to the song. Jazz samples punctuate the chorus, amplifying the underlying romantic theme of the song. Sensual at best, perfunctory at worst, this song is a definite treat for your senses.

Phoenix - Playground Love (Air Cover)
Check out the acoustic cover by Phoenix. It just serves to reinforce the stereotype that French are romantic and sentimental, and are capable of awesome music.

Air - Alone in Kyoto
No wonder I thought this song was familiar. It was part of the soundtrack for another fantabulous movie, Lost in Translation. And if anyone notices, both Lost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides were directed by Sofia Coppola. And she's in a relationship with Thomas Mars. Extremely soothing and calming, if not retrospectively caused by the title of the song, I could imagine walking through the bamboo groves in Kyoto, chancing upon a quaint shrine by a stream. Brilliant composition.

you know these dreams can never stay right

2010-07-27T22:14:00.010+08:00

Him: Jade
Her: Alexander
Him: Do you remember that day you fell out of my window?
Her: I sure do, you came jumping out after me
Him: Well, you fell on the concrete, nearly broke your ass, you were bleeding all over the place and I rushed you out to the hospital, you remember that?
Her: Yes, I do
Him: Well, there's something I never told you about that night
Her: What didn't you tell me?
Him: While you were sitting in the backseat smoking a cigarette you thought was going to be your last, I was falling deep, deeply in love with you, and I never told you until just now

- Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros in Home

Villa Nah - Daylight
There's a plethora of bands out there such as Tesla Boy, The Polyamorous Affair to name some off the top of my head, influenced by the sounds of the 80s. I'm not too sure what it sounds like since I was the last of the 80s, but if it's anything to go by, I'm sure it must have been a rollin' good time. Probably trying to recapture the halcyon days and lost youth, the Finnish duo that is Juho Paalosmaa and Tomi Hyyppä employ retro disco beats reminiscent of OMD, Depeche Mode and New Order. You feel the longing amidst the effects-laden vocals and the twinkling synths provide warmth that you're more than glad to retreat in to. There's no hurrying to speak off, where instead, more precise composition reflects the thought they have put into it.

Villa Nah - Emerald Hills
They waste no time and open with 8 bit synths that are a throwback to the 80s yet again, before mellifluous synths take over seamlessly. Akin to a joyous journey of self-discovery, measured intonations are sparse yet provide a curious sense of reality amidst the zen like soundscape they portray. A brilliant ode to the past which ends all too quickly.

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - Home
This ragtag bunch almost seem like an American version of BSS. Alex Ebert and Jade Castrinos' vocals intertwine to good effect here; the entire entourage of musical instruments make this a work of unabashed joy, a mix of wonderful romanticism and perky fun. How can anyone not feel unlimited happiness with such whistling and the earnestness that flows free from their voices?

My vote to this video for best use of a song. Triple thumbs up.

On a side note, I would appreciate comments, both good and bad, on the new banner picture.

i would rather be wrong than live in the shadows of your song

2010-07-26T19:19:00.004+08:00

Arcade Fire - We Used To Wait
Arcade Fire are releasing their third album in August. Entitled "The Suburbs", one might think it staid and prosaic, however, it's anything but. Take We Used To Wait for instance. Petulant and urgent, the song opens with a piano led intro that progresses into a similar anthemic style Arcade Fire are known for. Win Butler's vocals shine through in particular, as he intones about how they used to have to wait for letters from their loved ones and is liberal with his falsetto. Just as how the song starts, the song ends similarly in a staccato of piano played keys.

Arcade Fire - Ready To Start
In a similar vein, there's a rush of pounding drums and clanging guitars as he goes on about grappling with fame. Finely treading the line between pensiveness and all out ranting, Arcade Fire deal a good dose of smashing indie rock that is telling of how good this album could be.

oh, go and tell the king that the sky is falling in

2010-07-24T17:21:00.010+08:00

In parallel with Jeff Buckley, Radiohead's Thom Yorke popularised the angst-laden falsetto, a thoughtful opposite to the chest-beating lad-rock personified by Oasis's Liam Gallagher. Sounding girly to a backdrop of churning guitars became a much-copied idea, however, one which eventually coalesced into an entire decade of sound.

Without this ... Coldplay would not exist, nor Keane, nor James Blunt.

- about Radiohead's "The Bends" as on Guardian

A while ago, I was into the whole ambient chill out music thing. I just ran them on loops, playing non stop and I was just looking for more and more of the same stuff. Then, all of a sudden, I revisited Radiohead and now I'm having this Radiohead renaissance. Their songs are just massive. Larger than life. At some point, you feel gripped by what they're trying to do and express with their music. It might be retrospective, after you hear what people have said, stripping down the album and analysing it's parts, but really, Radiohead is more than the sum of it's parts.

Here's two songs from each of their seven albums. Enjoy.

Pablo Honey
Radiohead - Creep
A Radiohead classic that is just plain alt rock, which belies what people often associate them with. Anyone knows the movie that this clip is from? Stars Johnny Depp quite clearly.
Radiohead - You

The Bends
Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees
Radiohead - Black Star

OK Computer
Radiohead - The Tourist
Radiohead - No Surprises

Kid A
Radiohead - Idioteque
Radiohead - In Limbo

Amnesiac
Radiohead - Knives Out
Radiohead - Life in a Glasshouse

Hail to the Thief
Radiohead - 2+2=5
Radiohead - Scatterbrain

In Rainbows
Radiohead - House of Cards
Radiohead - Nude

something in you makes me want to try

2010-07-23T17:34:00.006+08:00

Clare & the Reasons - Ooh You Hurt Me So
I love a jaunty song anytime. Expressive vocals by Clare Manchon is underlied by a subtle vulnerability which she seems more than happy to conceal from us. Melodious whistling and slow taps on the guitar complete this absolutely lovely song.

Fyfe Dangerfield - She's Always A Woman
Fyfe Dangerfield covers this original by Billy Joel so brilliantly. Such a woman seems more than a handful, yielding that emotional bedlam that Mr Dangerfield struggles to contain. Inevitably, it brings comparison to the legend that is Billy Joel. While his cover certainly cannot match the grandiosity of BJ, he evokes a certain rawness, that could largely be attributed by his scruffy look, and brings about a contemporary twist.

Fanfarlo - Ghosts
When you listen to their brand of chamber pop, you get a feeling of uniqueness they try to make their own as they marry pop sensibilities with grand orchestral proceedings. Effervescence spills through as a myriad of instruments used by this 5 man band strive to make themselves heard, and everything dovetails nicely as Bathalzar leads the way with mellow vocals that swoon and bears an uncanny resemblance to David Bryne.

pretty girls don't just park where they want to

2010-07-21T14:00:00.001+08:00

When romance is great, fine yes, there is no say there is no masochism to it. But love, can be terribly sadistic if it doesn't work out right. It can be one of the worst things that you can go through. It can be some of the biggest pain you'll ever feel in your life. So I do think there's a correlation between the two - we don't live in this kind of tactile sanctuous culture anymore where we feel things. Everything is digitised, including our love lives, including how we hook up with people, how we listen to music, read books, get our information. We end up creating a society full of narcissists who then adapt to the culture of narcissism and it's no longer cultural narcissism. It becomes the norm.

- Bret Easton Ellis in a Guardian interview

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Sink/Let It Sway

Discovery - Swing Tree

Pantha du Prince - The Splendour (mp3)

Crystal Fighters - Xtatic Truth

you're tangled in those dreams

2010-07-19T14:40:00.005+08:00

Feeling a little lazy today.

Beach Fossils - Youth
Superb opening riff worthy of these beach bummers. Will the lo-fi dreampop genre ever be saturated? Me thinks it is, but I love them all the same. The sweet tangy smell of youth - I don't want to lose it.

Beach Fossils - Daydream
More summer love. Their song titles are so laidback you'd actually wonder if they composed wrote and did almost everything save for recording on the beach. Maybe the recording studio's by the beach. Sweet.

Pantha du Prince - Lay In a Shimmer
A sparkling stunner more than worthy of it's title. Basking in the beauty of green towering trees, huge leaves with dew drops scattered all over, as the warmth of the sunlight filters through the leaves and a kaleidoscope of colours abound in the air as the light refracts. Elves dance. Butterflies flit. We revel.

Pantha du Prince - The Splendour
Well, the song is full of well... splendour.

The Saturday Mix #43

2010-07-17T11:03:00.000+08:00

And "The Saturday Mix" is back and ready to throw out some fine rerubs of the latest songs out there.

Feist - Sea Lion (Chromeo Remix)

Marina and the Diamonds - Oh No!

Marina and the Diamonds - Oh No! (Grum Remix)
Less grrl power and rahrah than the original, but way more oomph.

Cullen - Easily Impressed (Calling In Sick Remix)
That's some wicked, ditty, deep in the deep bass intro.

HURTS - Wonderful Life (Mantronix Remix)

The xx - Shelter (Flinch Dubstep Remix)

The xx - Crystalised (Andy Murphy remix)
Said to be one of the best DJs Down Under, he runs his fingers through ATS favourites The xx's Crystalised. Awesome ear-pounding solid beat that stamps it's mark on the song.

i just wanna read your mind

2010-07-15T21:46:00.006+08:00

It’s hard to imagine a more fundamental and ubiquitous aspect of life on the Earth than gravity, from the moment you first took a step and fell on your diapered bottom to the slow terminal sagging of flesh and dreams.

But what if it’s all an illusion, a sort of cosmic frill, or a side effect of something else going on at deeper levels of reality?

So says Erik Verlinde, 48, a respected string theorist and professor of physics at the University of Amsterdam, whose contention that gravity is indeed an illusion has caused a continuing ruckus among physicists, or at least among those who profess to understand it. Reversing the logic of 300 years of science, he argued in a recent paper, titled “On the Origin of Gravity and the Laws of Newton,” that gravity is a consequence of the venerable laws of thermodynamics, which describe the behavior of heat and gases.

...

What is new, he said, is the idea that differences in entropy can be the driving mechanism behind gravity, that gravity is, as he puts it an “entropic force.”

- A Scientist Takes on Gravity on The New York Times

Glass Vaults - Set Sail (mp3)
This is what is said on the band's label "Richard and Rowan have taken their guitars, voices, drums and dream-triggering gadgetry, drenched them in the vapour of clouds and given birth to an intimate and sentimental sonic experience. It sounds like nature is patient and melodious on the farm where this here EP was recorded! Five beautiful pop delights with the added bonus of lost-in-the-ocean vibes, all freely downloadable and soon to take physical form.". So all we know is that they are Richard Larsen and Rowan Pierce. And hail from Wellington, NZ. NZ was the last place I'd expect such music to come from, but boy, their precocious affecting music sure struck a chord with me. I see them deriving inspiration from the awesome scenery they have throughout their entire huge-ass country. Sounds like perfect music for a drive through South and North Island. Epic soundscape at best, haunting at it's worst, Set Sail soars through the clouds, untethered and unencumbered. Utterly spectacular, they meld the different layers with panache to deliver a song so beautiful and enchanting. Oh the pleasant shivers it sends up my spine.

Glass Vaults - They Will Grow (mp3)
An ambient instrumental piece that is sentimental and achingly affecting, the occasional plucks of the guitar reaching out and tugging at your soul. A muffled underlying hum is weaved into the fabric of the song, as the reverb of the guitar string echoes into oblivion with each tentative pluck, they display deftness of touch in creating this endless space that we yearn to reside in.

Get the 5 track EP here for free.

put all five senses back to where they're meant to be

2010-07-13T14:18:00.005+08:00

Tame Impala - Lucidity
Psych rock quartet Tame Impala from Perth dazzle with a rockin' good track off their debut album "Innerspeaker". Blissful trippy beats and fuzzy guitars make this quite the treat. Signed to Modular Records, the people who brought you Cut Copy, Tame Impala is definitely set to start rocking our ears.

Tame Impala - It Is Not Meant To Be
Guitars take centrestage in this mindblowingly amazing song. Underneath all the new wavey comfy rhythm is a simple straightforward song about a guy who wants this girl, but she doesn't like the laid back life of weed and bumming that he leads. Although he knows he can't get her and she'd prolly just remain his friend, he's more than happy just to watch her.

LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yrself Clean
What a long song. Clocking in just under 9 minutes like many other songs in the album (i think it's bordering on insane), James Murphy slowly but not painstakingly (this man revels in his craft) builds layers upon layers in this song. An extended and almost repetitive intro that could have been a song unto it's own, I say almost because it has slight twists of lyrics that make it different in each verse. His easy speak-sing along with that regular tock totally doesn't prepare one for the ear-bliteration that occurs at 3:09. Here you see the legacy, of marrying new wave, 80s synths, electro-funk and what not artistically, that James has built. And as fitting a lead-in track for "This Is Happening", it also more than suitably marks the end of LCD Soundsystem, at least for quite some time to come, according to Mr Best-creator-of-dance-music. Meanwhile, just soak in the vibes and dance yourself clean.

you love me like a bull in a china shop

2010-07-12T18:47:00.007+08:00

Famous Italian designer Luciano Barbera and British designer best known for being the dress designer for HM Queen Elizabeth II and their take on men's fashion. Timeless advice indeed.

A man should own as many shirts as he wishes - the more the better. I personally have so many shirts that I sometimes walk into my closet, pull one out, and think to myself, “Now where did that come from?” Having lots of shirts will allow you to surprise yourself with your own good taste.

- Luciano Barbera

Approach to dressing is a delicate subject. A preoccupation with dress is unpleasant in a woman and repellent in a man; but both sexes should pay each other the compliment of giving the appearance that trouble has been taken if no more. A man should look as if he had bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care, and then forgotten all about them.

- Hardy Amies

Tesla Boy - Synthetic Prince
Tesla Boy is a trio of Russians, Anton Sevidov, Dima Midborn and Boris Lifshits, and for starters, they call themselves mind-blowingly good. Synthetic Prince is resonant with the 80s disco groove of yesteryears, reminding one of Giorgio Moroder and the subtle nostalgia of Tears for Fears. Despite this, they throw in a modern blend of electronic like The Golden Filter and Cut Copy. Epic and full of its own identity, it slowly takes root in your consciousness and demands your complete attention.

Dragonette - Easy
Hard as it might be to think, this is Martina Sorbara in a stripped down electronic ditty about a woman's simple love for a man. There's ample space for Martina to express her surprisingly lush vocals, without being overwhelmed by super synths and millions of layers of sounds. What's not to like about this electronic ballad?

jj - Ceo Birthday
Initially I thought it was their dedication to labelmate's ceo. But further listening yielded their own take of Jeremih's Birthday Sex. It was dropped on their label with an odd and mysterious message "here's to those moments when the illusions of separation collapse and we are one, we are life. here's to bonds stronger than blood. cin cin." A quick search shows that cin cin could be an italian way of toasting or saying cheers. (urbandictionary)

The song is astonishingly beautiful and ethereal if you ask me. Very simple yet larger than life, it is played out on the piano to an exquisite rhythm. Wonder why it wasn't released with "jj n° 3". Cin cin.

Get it from their label right here right now.

come and sing along with me

2010-07-11T16:04:00.004+08:00

Plej - You
Well, like a user who said it's perfect for a sunday morning, i have to differ (personal opinion of course). I like my loungey chillout tracks on a solid lazy late sunday afternoon. Uber perfect. Sax samples? Oh boy, this just shot up my list of favourite tracks. Subtle trace of jazz-funk that makes this liquid track oh so delicious.

Phonique - For The Time Being (feat. Erlend Øye)
Mr Awesome-Half-of-KOC lends his vocal prowess to this song. One fine lush track with electronic beats contrasted by Erlend's languid vocals. It's like rushing to work because you're late, yet taking time to savour the awesome baguette you're eating on the way.

Astrolabe - Atlantic Surf
Love the house vibe, seemingly downtempo yet with an urgent beat that does send adrenaline rushing into your head and resonating synths that go swimmingly well together. Maybe if someone did a remix, tuning it down by 2 or 3 notches plus more spacious sounds, it could well be an awesome ambient track.

Hird (feat. Yukimi Nagano) - Love Again
Ms Nagano here has featured in many songs and this is among them. Lush vocals suited to jazz beats to a T. Awesome stuff that makes me want to open a jazz lounge too!

even loneliness is full of life

2010-07-10T23:30:00.009+08:00

Photo from Alexandre Buisse.

Exhausted, ranting at your inane colleague at work, or maybe the world at large. oil spill, lebron james defecting, germany's loss to spain. fan's not working and neither is the TV. sweet and lush but nothing overwhelming. soothing and lulling rhythms, start pondering maybe. lie down and fall back into your subconscious.

Blank & Jones - Loneliness
The sensuality Bobo exudes when she breathe-sings adds a totally different dimension to this extremely chill out song. It's like you're floating on the clear sparkling blue expanse of the ocean. Slowly without warning, the water absorbs you gently, but not before creating a magical air pocket. You just lay back, still able to float for some reason, close your eyes, and hear the shoals of fishes swim by. Her repeating of "loneliness is full of life" makes it echo in your head as well but strikes you as an oxymoron, but really, you don't give much thought to that.

Blank & Jones - Summer Sun

Tycho - Dictaphone's Lament
Exquisitely shot with such beautiful artistic direction. It just makes the already awesome song even more awesome.

Tycho - The Daydream

you hear the day beckoning

2010-07-09T12:57:00.005+08:00

Two Door Cinema Club - Poker Face (Lady GaGa Cover)
These geeky dudes sure know how to work up a cover. Kevin Baird and his kooky "muhm muhm muhm", ginger haired Alex Trimble with awesome vocals and Sam Halliday with his straight-laced rendition of the chorus. These guys are dope.

Two Door Cinema Club - Come Back Home
Irish electropop group TDCC certainly knows how to work the beats and hooks. And they've got a really mind-boggling split reality music video. The insane pop hooks littered all over the song are extremely infectious and really gets you going. I think being signed to Kitsune Music certainly helps, for they've got the cred and ability to spot brilliant potential acts - just look at what they have in their barn and you know TDCC are in good stead.

Playing up the mystery and certainly no less hype surrounding them, enigmatic and still faceless duo that is Monarchy became the first band to perform a live broadcast into space. Fitting for a band who've built their music on space-like synths and hypnotic grooves.

Monarchy - Love Get Out Of My Way
And next up is a super dope video to accompany a Michael Jackson moonwalk-ish song. Slick pop ditty with sleek synths that while may not be as good as their previous singles, is still pretty damn good. That said, it's got the pace that was lacking in the more cool and collected tracks released earlier. These guys are as good at concealing their identities (word has it that they're actually Milke, not too sure though) as they are at fanning the flames of hype surrounding them. With singles such as Phoenix Alive and Gold in the Fire, and numerous remixes of hot tracks, they deserve mad props for making everyone want to know who's behind such fantastic music. And I need to get this off my head, the popping moves and choreography of the video is fucking sick.

Monarchy - Love Get Out Of My Way (Benny Benassi Remix)
This is like a steroid-pumped version of the original. Decidedly more dancey and featuring deeper bass, plus it's own music video to boot. Hot stuff.

they tell their lives through sunken eyes

2010-07-07T20:17:00.008+08:00

When I was a young boy, my parents bought me a set of The World Book Encyclopaedia. On any day I would reach for a book and lose myself for hours in its endless pages of maps, photographs and texts. Even when I had a purpose in mind - for instance, a homework assignment on salamanders - I would invariably find myself reading, instead of Salem and its witchhunts or of Salamis, where the Greeks routed the Persians in the fifth century BC. Like all encyclopaedias, it was arranged alphabetically, based on sound and without regard to subject. As a child, I saw it wondrously whimsical and exquisitely inefficient. Perfect for exploration. The "S" volume alone could lead me down 10,000 unconnected highways.

- Ken Robinson in "The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything"

ceo - Prologue
Aptly titled Prologue, this track is shrouded in mystery, takes a pop at the unknown and gives us a little insight into what "White Magic", the debut album of ceo, might be like. A teaser of sorts. Vague and unfathomable. ceo is Eric Berglund, one half of electropop group The Tough Alliance, who founded Sincerely Yours which has the likes of jj, Memory Tapes, Air France and The Honeydrips under it's umbrella.

ceo - Come With Me
A euphoric journey through Eric's vivid imagination, the sweet melody of said song and the not so subtle chanting of "mamma mia" in the background takes you beyond the clouds, but not before putting a smile on your face or your soul. Definitely contrasted with that bad ass mask devoid of expression that Eric puts on in the video. Hurry and get the mp3 from RCRD LBL here.

jj - Things Will Never Be The Same Again
I thought, since I was already at it, I might as well feature stuff from the Sincerely Yours label. Curiously, the bands under them sound similar. Anyhow, going by a multiple thumbs up-ed post on youtube that goes "this song makes me feel like i am on my morning jog, which i loathe, and suddenly without warning a beneficent parrot swoops down and snatches me up by the shoulders. his claws r soft and velvety, however, so i am unharmed. the beauteous parrot takes me up, up, and up into the sky, where the clouds roam. i grab a piece of cloud and taste it, blueberry cotton candy, wonderful. the parrot and i continue our ascent, and we approach the blue ceiling. we gain speed, and pass through the ceiling. love", I guess one could really get high and super duper happy on their songs. I think it's got something to do with that empty yet ethereal sounding voice.

Memory Tapes - Easy Pert Mom
Memory Tapes has been oft cited as chill wave (there's that thing about genre classification) along with Washed Out, Neon Indian. Whatever the case, the new wavey synths, blips and bloops, vague and spacey rhythm never fails to blow my mind. It's spectacular and imperious, and you get the idea Dayve Hawk actually knows what magick he's conjuring. I like.

it's the start of the end

2010-07-06T18:29:00.008+08:00

Cullen - Easily Impressed
Mr Cullen here, who hails from Melbourne, cites Phoenix, Daft Punk, The Beatles and Weezer amongst others as his influences. Debut single Easily Impressed has an intro with Daft Punk-ish synths for a solid backing rhythm. His sweet boppy voice fits the confession of a song to a T, especially in the repeated chorus. A sweet package all in all, his off kilter pop sensibilities in the vein of Phoenix would definitely appeal to the masses.

Grizzly Bear - Foreground (Phoenix Remix)
This has got to be either the smartest or the laziest idea Phoenix has come up with. I think I'd go with the former. Just follow the instructions as said. Personally, I liked what I tried on my first try. I started Foreground when Canon in D Major reached 1:00. Canon in D Major is a slow and classical piece which totally melds into the piano backed masterpiece, where Daniel Rossen holds fort. Brilliant idea, really.

Crystal Castles - Baptism
Permission to go ape over this song please. Been quite a while since we've heard from CC. It's mind blowingly catchy with 8bit synths, warpy vocals that can't be deciphered, deep bass beat that goes thump thump in your head. Delish.

Kinema - My Girls (Animal Collective Cover)
I'm loving this cover by Kinema, and according to themselves, they sound like "really good". I've got to agree with them, though it seems to have polarised opinion on youtube. Uber dancey rendition of AC favourite, My Girls.

Kinema - Let's Get To It
Groovy downtempo electronica (of sorts), this trio quote Giorgio Moroder, Aeroplane, Erlend Oye as influences. Also imbued are certain poppy hooks that are so damn infectious, they seem to be destined for bigger things.

all the time, we get by, trying to figure our lives

2010-07-05T12:20:00.007+08:00

Allez Allez - Weird Science
Apocalyptic sounds that signal the end of time kick this rah-rah song off. It melds woozy synths that undulate like nobody's business. Quirky and fun, this song is one to slow bop to.

Broken Social Scene - Texico Bitches
The lyrics are ridiculously funny, what with "i wanna be fair like a wannabe fag" and "texico bitches the air you breathe is real". So catchy and so awesome, that's the least one can expect from BSS.

Broken Social Scene - Sweetest Kill
Beautiful elegant slow song with vocals that soar beyond all heights. Emotive with a wonder of an arrangement, underneath it all, is an earnestness that makes it a tender song that moves hearts and souls.

that was us for the last five years

2010-07-04T21:19:00.004+08:00

My friend Marc creates ambient and instrumental music, amongst others, under the moniker Carrion. Absolutely wonderful stuff - thoughtful arrangements, glacial synths, melancholic with traces of moodiness and expansive soundscapes.

Click on the links below and you'll be redirected to the download pages.

Carrion - For You (mp3)

Carrion - Passing Time (mp3)

Toro Y Moi - Low Shoulder
Mr Chazwick Bundick seems to be rolling along just fine with his brand of chillwave. Incorporating a little of those hip-hop rhythms, he glides along with a simple blend of washy synths and quirky doo-wops. It just lifts your spirits when you listen to the song, and makes you feel all warm and good inside. At times, you can hear a little of Passion Pit and their pop-ish ditties, but deep down, it's still Chazwick.

Toro Y Moi - Talamak
Talamak is more mashy, like everything being thrown into a centrifuge and various sounds coming out together as one. Maybe the layering of sounds and vocals was blurred on purpose, giving a slinky feel to the song.

memory tells me that these times are worth working for

2010-07-03T11:32:00.005+08:00

Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong.

- Oscar Wilde

Violens - Already Over
Psychedelic pop running riot.

Super Desserts - Ibiza
Kooky mid-western charm.

Stars - Fixed
The bliss of synth.

Local Natives - Camera Talk
Pure infectious hooks.

he told there was a part of him missing

2010-06-25T23:03:00.006+08:00

We Have Band - Oh!
Hot on the heels of their video for Divisive comes something similar for another track Oh!. Featuring the band members clad in all white, similar to the various colour schemes in the former track, they engage in some sort of contemporary arty-farty dance set to clean crisp lyrics and coloured smoke. It's pretty catchy if you ask me, but sounds all too similar to Divisive.

Perfume Genius - Mr Petersen
I'm not sure how Mike Hadreas came up with a moniker for himself like Perfume Genius, but I sure ain't scratching my head over that. I'm just wondering why he seems to be bruised in many of his pictures. Maybe it's to match his frail vulnerable music, which for this song, I really had to crank up the volume to hear the lyrics. Yet, above all, it's the lyrics itself that strike me the most, barely heard above the elegant pounding of the piano. It's about a paedophile the central character in the song has for a teacher, who uses him in exchange for drugs. But despite all that, Mike Genius somehow manages to make the paedophile sound human and yes, fragile. That's an eccentric but(or and?) brilliant mind at work.

White Hinterland - Amsterdam
Very slow song in which Casey Dienel uses her vocals to steer the song. Subtle layers of synths provide a calming rhythm whilst projecting a very visual soundscape of white trees amidst a slowly rising water level while the moonlight casts a soft glow all over.

will we ever paint the walls

2010-06-23T22:12:00.008+08:00

Basia Bulat - Once More, For The Dollhouse
Folksy feel, yet it belies the deep vulnerability that seems to emanate from the lyrics - almost like howls of desperation crying to be heard. Her strong emotive vocals drive this song with panache, along with the bare guitar accompaniment, contributing to the emotional bedlam.

Pearl Harbor - Luv Goon
Sweet shimmery vocals surf on dreamy hazy sounds with washed out synths as one of them coos the chorus. Pearl Harbor is made up of 2 sister, Piper and Skyler, 22 and 15 respectively. Amazing isn't it? They make absolutely harmonious dream pop that dazzle the heart.

Pretty & Nice - Tora Tora Tora (mp3)
You get a bit lost for a moment as the song opens with "the japanese and singing 'tora tora tora' but i don't understand". But as soon as you right your bearings, you realise the upbeat song is flippant and fun. Snappy drumbeats with random lyrics amidst the motley instruments ringing out in the background definitely contribute to the springy mood.

Trentemoller - Always Something Better
First, there's this really bad-ass bassline. Secondly, the haunting sound prolly from the pads. Thirdly, sleek sounding 8 bit synths. I could go on and on, but whatever Mr Trentemoller is doing, he's doing a fantastic job of marrying the vastly different layers in the song into one entity. The ebb and flow is doing the very job of pulling you into the world he has created and pushing you out abruptly, only to bring you back in again.

will you ever understand this decision i've made

2010-06-21T23:05:00.004+08:00

Delorean - Grow
A revelation of sorts, this song is definitely a dance of triumph. Candy synths along with a simple yet hypnotic beat plug this song as the music flows like a clear stream, sparkling under the sun. Staying true to their Balearic roots, they deliver a song well-suited for both the ears and the dance floor.

Delorean - Come Wander
Literally, come wander through this melange of synths presented to you by awesome dance pop band Delorean. I notice tthat the first time I listen to most of their songs, the word hypnotic invariably pops up. It's as if you could be induced into moving your legs if you're standing and if you're sitting, to just stand up and move your legs. It's a delirious beat, fresh and bright, capturing the essence of the word bliss.

Midnight Juggernauts - Shadows
A cosmic exploration into the unknown as instruments seem to have powers of their own. A deep bassline coupled with miasmic synths, as Vincent Vendetta coos in this almost instrumental song amidst barely there vocals. It takes you on a journey alluded to "David Bowie if his Berlin Trilogy was a collaboration with Kraftwerk and Faust" (as said by Rolling Stone).

Midnight Juggernauts - Vital Signs
With this video, these guys make weird look cool. (There are some slight resemblances to Muse's Undisclosed Desires video though.) Mystery is the backdrop to which gloom is the driving beat of this song, they talk about closing hearts and shutting down worlds as if there's an agenda for the day at this tribunal. Very interesting song which would pique interest in the more intrepid of ears.

we're bound to wait all night

2010-06-18T00:26:00.009+08:00

I was sitting across from the rotating sign
For the Liberty Brass Turning Company

Automatic Screw Machine Products

And brooding about our fathers
Always on the make to make more money

Screw Machine Products Automatic

Tender wounded brassy unsystematic
Free American men obsessing about margins

Machine Products Automatic Screw

Selling every day of their God-damned lives
To some Liberty Brass Turning Company

Products Automatic Screw Machine

Until they were screwed into boxes
And planted in plots paid and unpaid

Automatic Screw Machine Products

- LIBERTY BRASS by Edward Hirsch

Menew - Don't Give Up On Us Now
I've got to give much props to the music supervisor, a certain Alexandra Patsavas, of Chuck. She makes the most awesome song choices, totally apt for the situation, emotions, amplifying everything that the scene is trying to portray many times over. Take this song for instance, it cues at the instance when Chuck is tossed into the van after getting caught. He was utterly distraught at seeing his dad being shot by Shaw and everything seems bleak for Team Bartowski, as he says "There's no one left to save us." A glimmer of hope beckons as Devon asks Ellie if she's ready to do this (to save Team Bartowski), to which she firmly agrees. It's very apt in that while Chuck has all but given up, a glimmer of hope came from Ellie, Devon and Morgan, who haven't given up on saving them.

Miike Snow - Billie Holiday
Here's some Miike Snow who seem incapable of doing anything wrong in their eponymous album. Said track was supposedly exclusively available only on the CD release in Japan. It's got Miike Snow stamped all over it, the electro-reverbs with groovy synths coupled with really poppy hooks.

Broken Bells - The High Road
Broken Bells is a collab between Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley fame and James Mercer of The Shins. Beautiful soulful indie rock song, marrying obscure(?) lyrics about drugs with a touch of electronica to produce a charming song that speaks volumes about the prodigious talent these two have.

School of Seven Bells - Babelonia
Definitely a different direction as compared to Alpinisms. While still featuring the hushed lustre of the twins' vocals, it feels more textured and less dreamy, the expansive soundscape serves as a wonderful medium for their vocals to express themselves.

you’ve always been the soundtrack to my life

2010-06-16T14:34:00.000+08:00

"I was in the midst of becoming something new. Standing in front of the mirror, I could see the changes in my body. At night, in the stillness, I swore I could hear the sound of my flesh growing. I was about to be clothed in a new self, about to step into a place where I'd never been... Inside that darkness, I saw rain falling on the sea. Rain falling softly on a vast sea, with no one there to see it. The rain strikes the surface of the sea, yet even the fish don't know it's raining.

Until someone came and lightly rested a hand on my shoulder, my thoughts were of the sea."

- South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami

Stars - Wasted Daylight
Extremely liquid vocals, silky and smooth, like hot butter sliding down a butter knife. Courtesy of Amy Millan, also of Canadian mega-collective BSS. Indie pop at it's best, an aural delight.

Telegraph Avenue - Lauralie
With such a quaint name like Telegraph Avenue, which by the way is a street in Oakland, California, and a song name like Lauralie, how can one not fall in love with the song even without needing to listen to it?

A languid intro that immediately soothes one's senses, putting you at such ease you'd start thinking if you were in the clouds. Thereafter, they go all bossa like with a light beat that could put smiles even on the straightest of faces.

Ian McGlynn & The Dead Radio - Digital Killed the Record Store (mp3)
New Jersey-ian Ian McGlynn has a new project titled Ian McGlynn & The Dead Radio. Check out their boppy beats yet sombre lyrics about the death of the record store, infused with a little love lost. Underlying jangly guitars supply the song with an old school vibe and as the ohh-ohh-ohhs make you ponder about the progression of life, for the progression of technology has almost rendered the record store obsolete. Almost.

now look back see how far you've come

2010-06-15T10:24:00.006+08:00

Oh dear god, I just fucked up something so serious as my university admissions. Ok more music to calm my nerves.

With a sound partly inspired by New York avant garde noise maker Glenn Branca, West African Highlife Band guitars and Talking Heads funk, Foals are a fresh blast across the indie rock landscape. But success could take the Oxford band away from the house party scene that bred them, a prospect Yannis views as a mixed blessing.

“There’s a massive difference between gigs and house parties,” say Yannis. “At house parties we just arrive and play – there’s no rigmarole, there’s no barrier. They’re definitely different. I like the way you get to connect and meet people at house parties – I don’t like the idea of the hierarchy of the performer and the crowd.”

- mirror.co.uk

Foals - Miami
An extremely interesting and disconcerting video by Dave Ma, whatwith bodybuilders and women(are they women?) fighting, a bodybuilder and a chihuahua, set to a driving beat and hip-hop-ish funk. The bouncing reminds me of Herbie, if anyone actually ever watched that movie.

Foals - This Orient
Dave Ma has worked closely with Foals on their new album, producing the videos for Miami, This Orient and Spanish Sahara. The artistic direction is very apparent and suits the songs to a T. Kudos to him. Also of note is that he worked with Delphic on their songs This Momentary and Halcyon. On to the song, with a looped melody, this seems like a rock ballad to me which belies the springy intro that goes on to form the underlying rhythm for the song. Not sure if the lyrics "that gives me this western feeling" is meant as a direct contrast to the title.

I wanted lyrics that were more direct in their meaning or if they weren't, they would be more easily capable of instilling meaning and you know, more disciplined lyric writing, cause I think before, I was easy on myself in terms of... it was more of a treasure hunt.

There are themes like heroism, ancestry, the future, heartbreak, drugs and Mike Tyson.

- Yannis Philippakis on "Total Life Forever" via nme.com

Foals - Spanish Sahara
I've reserved the best for the last, and once you hear the song and see the video, it is understandably so. The haunting vocals and enchanting melody imbues this desolation in you, aptly portrayed by the lone man trudging across the vast whiteness, like a white sahara. The subtle 8 bit synths which intensify to a fury in the later half of the song reflects the progression of the song, from quiet and intensely sparse to rock-ish riffs and overwhelming desire.

Brilliant stuff by Foals really, awesome follow up to "Antidotes".

love hides in narrow corners

2010-06-14T16:31:00.010+08:00

Oh drats! I missed my blog's first birthday!! %*&£^$*&£^&*"$(&%"^&(*"^$. Well, while I could console myself on the fact that I was actually still in Europe during the actual first birthday, but to think it slipped my mind even after coming back.

Anyhow, on to what has been procrastinated on for too long. Wonderful folks from Holiday for Strings, particularly Pony, dropped an email with a promo of their entire album. Here's what's said about them on their site, "The group's music is a subtle mixture - post rock, kraut rock, pop, disco, and dub music all turn up in their experimental recipes.".

On to the music itself, I have to admit only two songs really caught on to me initially, kinda like instant gratification. With the number of songs available out there, songs that fail to hook you in say the first minute is just tossed out. That's the world we live in - instant gratification. Nevertheless, I'm glad I gave "Favourite Flavor" a listening chance based on how much I liked Two of You and Particles. Their songs are worth the listen as it grows on you.

Particles has that bouncy playful vibe at the start, as they make use of various sounds to provide an almost systematic feel to the song. The rapid beat almost seeming like it needs to etch itself within one's memory, providing a solid foundation upon which the song builds upon. Past that bouncy playful feel, the song develops more into one shrouded in mystery, as if a plan, maybe sinister, is in the works.

Particles is one of the three instrumental tracks, taking it's place as the 5th track on the album, while Shelter Island and I Cry take 7th and 9th respectively. Shelter Island reminds me a little of The xx with the minimalist approach (and coincidentally, Shelter and Island(s) are two individual tracks on The xx's eponymous album). And if I wasn't really paying attention, the tang-ing sound would have really made me think of a certain chinese instrument. Very soothing and pleasant down tempo song, short of being ambient, that I could really listen to over and over. In a similar vein, I Cry is pretty down tempo too and enjoyable, but with it's roots seemingly of the electronic sort.

Unwilling/Not Able has a slow twinkly build up for all of 3 and a half minutes before Magnusson's baritone vocals appear, a solid contrast to the lightness of the build up. But it doesn't last, giving way to yet more repeated synths. Cue complementary female vocals courtesy of Titiyo which seems to add a different dimension to the song. A song which many may not be able to appreciate due to the song clocking out at 8:33, many mainstream songs last 4 plus minutes tops. The whole building up and evolution of the song in that 8:33 is actually a beauty, like an exploration in process, searching for the unlimited end, the horizon. Maybe it's similar to HFS as a band, searching for the identity that best represents them.

Love feels purposeful and yet when singing about something as unfathomable as love as Magnusson intones "love comes when you least expect it", he seems lost and almost like a little boy. But that's the truth of the matter, and the entire song conveys it perfectly. New wave influences are present in Light Years Ahead as the spacious song fills the emptiness around you. Finally, the titular song is almost as much an experimentation as it is an ode to the prog-rock gods.

Go on this exploratory cosmic journey with Holiday For Strings, and let "Favourite Flavor" grow on you. So what's your flavor?

Holiday For Strings - Two of You

Holiday For Strings - Unwilling/Not Able Dance Mix (mp3)

Holiday For Strings - Shelter Island (mp3)

every house not a home but dare do i roam

2010-06-09T20:32:00.006+08:00

It's a pretty fine day, and for me a fine day is where the weather isn't sweltering, hot and humid. A layer of stickiness and ickiness all over isn't my idea of fine. So anyhow, I'm just sitting here now wondering how come I never did mention Band of Horses' first single for "Cease to Begin". And where from comes the impetus, but an episode of Fringe?

Band of Horses - Is There A Ghost
It's an awfully lovely song, melancholic and melodramatic all at once. And just how do they do it with two simple lines "I could sleep when I lived alone/Is there a ghost in my house?" - beats me. Nevertheless, I love the eerily random yet curiously funny video where it's an almost literal explanation of the lyrics, and the video slowly evolves to quite the hilarious ending, but amidst all, the female protagonist provides the best of turns.

Band of Horses - Blue Beard
Good ol' slow rock. Grand orchestration with such meaningful lyrics, it makes me feel warm and secretly good on the inside. Ben singing as the song chugs along slowly, allows the lyrics to sink in and come alive in your mind. The white snow outside the house, a blanket of soft whiteness. Neon glow of the bar sign hanging lazily on the outside.

Band of Horses - Neighbor
I've got this attachment to their new songs for some reason. It's like on first listen, you feel as if you've heard the song a million times, and it's buried deep inside your head. Or maybe it's the strong imagery their lyrics evoke. I really love it.

i'm caught up in a storm that i don't need no shelter from

2010-06-06T15:50:00.005+08:00

Oh dear me.

During my trip, I was listening almost incessantly to songs from 2009, and listening through my 50 Favourites of 2009 list, I suddenly noticed a band and their songs conspicuously missing. For some reason, I had failed to include DP - astonishing. And as I played their songs, it hit me like a train as I realised my folly. So the more I listen, the more I'm thinking, "Just how did it slip through the cracks?"Useful Chamber was already fantastic, but it certainly got better with time, like wine. I hereby dedicate this song to be my favourite of 2009, extremely belatedly.

Dirty Projectors - Useful Chamber

Deep sonorous thumps resonate while being punctuated by the high hat, almost like a sense of foreboding. However, you're greeted with measured vocals, as the lyrics roll off like rivulets of water sliding down the window on a drizzly spring day. You sit by the window, staring out as the occasional patter hits the window, cup of hot tea in hand, utterly mesmerised by the song as you are with the dance on the window.

You ponder as he hits the highs in the song, and as he speak-sings, the album title being chanted hits you. Subsequently, melodious ahhs and ohhs that feel like honey to the ears permeate the still air, you drown yourself further in the slow but purposeful beats - almost hypnotic.

The random outburst of guitar strumming and drums again causes a small smile to break across the pensive face, just as clouds give way to the glorious sun, warm rays showering the earth.

This is Useful Chamber for you.

it's yours to find

2010-04-27T21:48:00.005+08:00

Delorean - Stay Close
Brilliant and brilliant all at the same time. Their creativity with Balearic pop with breezy riffs and hooks, light and fluffy that it is extremely enjoyable, yet not too light such that they aren't taken seriously. The chants of get up, get up almost serve as a calling, beckoning you to get up and groove to their brand of narcotic dance pop that's all so effortless and well, brilliant, like the summer sun.

Delorean - Real Love
More basque love, soak it up.

Washed Out - New Theory
Literally sounds like the name of this one man show, run by a certain Ernest Greene. Washed out synths with subtle echoing percolate as his voice provides a sense of warm hazy nostalgia over layered and soft textures. You start to reminisce and recall fond memories, only to find the song tailing off pretty abruptly - which cuts your train of thought. The only recourse, is to start playing the song again.

Toro Y Moi - Blessa
Amongst the purveyors of "chill wave", Toro Y Moi and the ilk (like Memory Tapes, Washed Out, Neon Indian, Small Black to name a few) milk the haziness of yesteryears, when music played out on cassettes and vinyls, and dreamy distorted synths upon loops and samples. A word of advice, don't try to figure out the lyrics. Half the time, their obscured vocals barely above a murmur, all that's required of you is to relax and embark on this journey of discovery.