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

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.

it's the start of the end

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.

feels like I've been buried yet i'm still alive

As most would know, the 52nd Grammy's is over and blah blah blah (read: you can find the winners by googling them, who won the most awards, who was in extreme outfits, Oh not GaGa really, who was naked etc etc). Also, whether the Grammy's a farce, it's a debate that I'm inclined to set aside since what I want to talk about is Phoenix, YES, Phoenix of WOLFGANG AMADEUS PHOENIX. They won the Best Alternative Music Album award. Now what perplexed me initially was they were classified as alternative? I had much gripes because I thought their album was more pop than alt (rock). But upon checking wiki (I deem wiki as a reliable source), alternative music is defined as such.

Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. Alternative rock consists of various subgenres that have emerged from the independent music scene since the 1980s, such as grunge, Britpop, gothic rock, and indie pop. These genres are unified by their collective debt to the style and/or ethos of punk rock, which laid the groundwork for alternative music in the 1970s.[1] At times alternative rock has been used as a catch-all phrase for rock music from underground artists in the 1980s, and all music descended from punk rock (including punk itself, New Wave, and post-punk).

So there, can't fault them much I say. I guess it was pretty much a shoo-in, they came up with one of the most infectious, unassuming and possibly one of the most brilliant albums of 2009. It was a light-hearted romp, with instant über-catchy hits 1901 and Lisztomania, boppy and intense-need-to-hum-along Fences to the synth-heavy love ballad Rome, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is chockful of delightful tunes, that I'd be confident enough to say there is definitely at least one track that anyone would like. Phoenix may not be as famous as their French counterparts Daft Punk, but with WAP, they've certainly put themselves under the radar and for time to come. Lisztomania? Maybe, but having lived through the noughties, I'd say Phoenixomania seems more apt.

Phoenix - Lasso

Phoenix - Countdown (Sick For The Big Sun)


Their older stuff which are just as good, if not even better.
Phoenix - Everything Is Everything

Phoenix - Long Distance Call

Phoenix - If I Ever Feel Better

The Saturday Mix #34

The Temper Trap - Fader
Third single of their album "Conditions", and riding on the success of Sweet Disposition and Science of Fear, I think they decided to release this. Personally, it's not bad, good rock stuff with pretty solid riffs, but nothing spectacular - the previous two were definitely better.

The Temper Trap - Fader (Adam Freeland Remix)
Nice electro twist to this song, but at certain points, it becomes a bit of an overkill.

Phoenix - Fences (Delphic Remix)
Danceable remix by Mancunians Delphic, but a tad too long don't you think? But I doubt that when you're high on booze (and maybe drugs), you'd really be nitpicking about the length of the song.

The Raveonettes - Last Dance (Kap10kurt Dream Mix)
Nice and groovvvvy. This remix is tight, and adds more bounce to an already bouncey track. There's a Sound of Arrows feel don't you think so? Collab please!

Delphic - Doubt (MXWL Remix)
Pretty decent dubstep remix, but not the rock-your-socks-and-clothes-off-and-I-need-to-get-moving-right-now kind.

Wolf Gang - The King and All His Men (Joe Goddard Remix)

Miike Snow - Silvia (Sinden Remix)
Wow, finally Silvia gets it's turn at a remix. From total electro-ballad to dance-floor dope.

10 Favourite Albums of 2009

well since there's one more day left before the new year, more like less than 6 hours to go. I'm gonna cobble up a list of my favourite albums this year. 10 albums. Here goes. Alright, enjoy your new year folks!


Kings of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence



The xx - xx



The Black Atlantic - Reverence for Fallen Trees



Miike Snow - Miike Snow



Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix



Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion



The Antlers - Hospice


Atlas Sound - Logos



Fever Ray - Fever Ray


Florence + the Machine - Lungs

50 Favourite Songs of 2009: Part III

Asobi Seksu - Thursday (Acoustic)
For those familiar with Asobi Seksu, Thursday was a track of their 2006 album "Citrus". This is an acoustic reinterpretation of that wonderful track cut at famed Olympic Studios in London, amongst other reimaginations of their best work which makes up "Rewolf". Much more sparse and their sonic layers stripped, leaving Yuki's warbling to power the song. It's more affecting but not as strong musically as the original. However, the warm feeling one gets from James' guitar and beauty derived from the emphasis placed on her vocals in this sparer version makes this an enjoyable and repeatable listen.

Listen to the original here.

official, myspace, last.fm


Miike Snow - Black & Blue
This totally slow-groove ballad makes me go ape SMD style. Plus, there's a totally wicked official video. A very old man with pretty old school music instruments and stuff, with his weird contraptions playing them (which appears to play accordingly to the beats/sounds of the song, like the mechanical hand tapping the piano at the appropriate moments). Seems to me he's all trapped up in his house (of his own volition), and all of a sudden he decides to make it out that door. And as he does so, he hugs a stunned teen, walks down the street, tosses his seemingly permanently on headphones and then sheds his robe, embracing the sunlight. All while the trio that is Miike Snow are in the car staring after him.

I won't waste your time with my revelation/Hello my friend, I see you're back again/Hello mystery, don't bother to explain

Embrace this number (like the old dude) along with it's plethora of remixes and hold on while I leave this on repeat.

official, myspace, last.fm


Vitalic - Poison Lips
Sensual dance song, with the synths working overtime. The song is tight and not overdone, coming in at nearly 4 minutes - so it doesn't give you that overdose of synths and heavy beats that if not done well (think steak) leaves a bad aftertaste. It swirls and loops and infuses you with all that psychedelia that I'm not sure I want to make the trip back. Enjoy this song, and the video for dessert.

official, myspace, last.fm


Camera Obscura - French Navy
First single from awesome album "My Maudlin Career" does not fail to delight with it's lightness and comfortable beat and rhythm. French Navy is an upbeat story of meeting a new lover in a dusty library “by a trick of fate”. Tracyanne Campbell croons "You make me go, "Oooh"/With the things that you do, you do, you do" before chorus kicks in. It may sound like yet another love song, but this is a Camera Obscura love song, besides it's not all weepy and heartbreak. There's some happiness amid all that gloom which makes this a pretty neat musing that still manages to sound fresh.

official, myspace, last.fm


Passion Pit - Little Secrets
These guys would prolly remind everyone else of MGMT. Enjoy this electro-funk coupled with falsetto vocals plus wonderful production of a gem called Little Secrets which ironically wasn't that little, seeing how it was blogged about by nearly every another blog when it was leaked prior to it's official release.

official, myspace, last.fm


Franz Ferdinand - No You Girls
BBC: "...this is a very typical Franz Ferdinand song. It's slinky, it's a bit disco, it's a bit guitary, it's anti-macho, but also quite blokey in the chorus. The lyrics point toward sexual politics, and the lack of understanding between boys and girls..."

It nearly sounds like Take Me Out but manages to stand out on it's own with sleeker productions.

official, myspace, last.fm


Phoenix - Rome
Well, if you're wondering what's another Phoenix track doing here, it's because they damn well deserve it. This track is also just as awesome, it starts off upbeat and rampant, going all out to have their fun singing about "Who's the boy you like the most/Is he teasing you with underage?" The signature pop hooks and catchy lyrics that make you want to sing along is present, as is the word silhouette which seems to appear in a couple of the tracks in "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix". Almost midway, the
track drops tempo and eases you into muses of heartbreak before breaking out into it's glorious final chorus.

official, myspace, last.fm


Beat Radio - Stranger Flowers(mp3)
This is an mp3 link from their official site. A melancholic love song that sounds every bit like a lovelorn boy singing his heart out to... no one. It's really emotive (and the lyrics are hackneyed to some extent) and it's just Brian Sendowitz pouring his heart out in this acoustic track, which more than makes up for the "hackneyed" lyrics. Really sweet and lovely song and watch out for Beat Radio, they've certainly got more beckoning for them.

official, myspace, last.fm


fun. - Be Calm
Fun is the name of the game and it's also in their name. This track is full of carnival-esque joy and showmanship and lyrical genius. It's a joy to listen to this track on it's own and it's a wonder how he manages to cram all those whopper of lyrics into all of a little over 4 minutes.

official, myspace, last.fm


Memory Tapes - Green Knight
This is pretty much their website and it's where you can find a download of their fantastic track Green Knight. I'm not putting up their own mediafire link, because the previous time I did, I gotta into a shitload of trouble and I'm not keen on getting that all over. Hint hint: It's the October post.

official, myspace, last.fm

50 Favourite Songs of 2009: Part II

Phoenix - Lisztomania
The term "Lisztomania" was coined by the German romantic literary figure Heinrich Heine to describe the massive public response to Franz Liszt's virtuosic piano performances. There were allegedly screaming women at these performances, and the audience was sometimes limited to standing room only. In this case, the same could be said of Phoenix - the legions of fans they're gained from the release of "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix", and subsequently the release of Lisztomania as a single. The catchy pop tunes reverberate as with the effervescent killer hooks this French outfit are making theirs. The ebbs and flows characterise this feel good indie pop number that makes us wanna dance on air.

official, myspace, last.fm


Delorean - Seasun
Tight, beach side dance song, groovy have been used to describe this track from Delorean, hailing from Barcelona. Not as frenzied as one would like to call it, nor as frenetic, it's more apt to call this house(?) track exuberant. The deep bass beats coupled with the synths, builds this song up, as it bides it's time to bloom into full glory. It doesn't throw you headlong into the vortex and let you stand on your own - it nurtures and ensures that once the awesomeness that this song is engulfs you, you would be standing and dancing to and basking in this gorgeous thing called Seasun.

myspace, last.fm


Bibio - Lover's Carvings
Pretty obscure track for the year which I feel deserved more. The lovely instrumental intro could stand on it's own. However, the song abruptly ends one third of it's way through. For a split second, one couldn't be faulted for thinking something's wrong. But as abruptly as it stops, it suddenly breaks into a upbeat musing of love and carvings on the wall. The folks-y feel blends seamlessly with the electronica employed by Stephen Wilkinson. Go ahead and feel totally at ease listening to Lover's Carvings for I too, am doing so.

maybe they're telling us
that the end
never was
never will

myspace, last.fm


Bon Iver - Blood Bank
This is what Jagjaguwar has said the following about the content of the EP: "As much as Emma is about the cold, the Blood Bank collection(or if you'd like to think, just the track) is about the warmth that gets you through it. You can feel the air move. Like a fire you've been stoking for hours and finally got to sustain itself, the heat blisters your face while your back is frozen solid." Sentimental and deeply intimate, it's almost as if Justin Vernon is baring his soul. Gentle and melodic, it's like wine. Tasted and drunk slowly, so that you can savour every bit, the nuances and the subtlety. Enjoy.

official, myspace, last.fm


Fever Ray - When I Grow Up
When I Grow Up evokes a certain rawness, coupled with measured insanity, "i put my soul in what i do/last night i drew a funny man/with dark eyes and a hanging tongue" You would give your all say, in your favourite sport, or maybe in rigorous academia, or even drawing. Yet all her soul was put into what she did, drawing a funny man with dark eyes and a hanging tongue. In the video, the tribal feel to her songs are nearly reproduced in most songs from her debut album "Fever Ray", and is clearly evidenced by her in the video. The almost manic, demented and catatonic air to the song is supplemented by an eerie soundscape which in my opinion is excellent experimentation.

official, myspace, last.fm


The xx - VCR
The xx have managed to squeezed something so delightful and wondrous into under 3 minutes. The intro piques your interest as it's almost as if the cutesy beats skim the surface of the water, begging you to catch them. They break into minimalist lo-fi instrumentation that has been the main stay of quite a number of bands, only that they exemplify this. Melancholic Romy Madley Croft has her turn, before the laidback droll of Oliver Sim takes over, and they merge together with all that samples going "I think we're superstars, you say you think we are the best thing". True to that, they're (one of) the best thing(s).

official, myspace, last.fm


The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Young Adult Friction
The lyrical content of the song starkly contrasts with their band name. Young Adult Friction muses in catchy pop hooks and frantic beats of a romp in the library "among the dust and the microfiche", but one realises it's only a girl using the guy as she probably is trying to get over an ex in "you're taking toffee with your vicodin/something sweet to forget about him". Lastly, she realises it's not working and they "go your own way i will go my own way". While Kip's vocals almost borders on twee, their fetching, whimsical pop that never fails to delight the listener seem so effortless on their part and I love it, other than their ridiculously long band name which is a hassle to type.

official, myspace, last.fm


Röyksopp - Happy Up Here
The bleeps and bloops dot this funky upbeat soundscape by Norwegian duo Röyksopp. Short of being cutesy, Happy Up Here is like an opus on how to have fun. (As you can see, I'm getting tired and lazy. Gee. )

official, myspace, last.fm


The Antlers - Kettering
A brilliant song about a guy who's hired to look after this patient in a hospital, it is littered with vivid descriptions - which evokes desolation right to the very bone. The video is just a collation of photos. But that's where I'm wrong. It is not JUST a collation of photos, but a very elegant and masterful one. A lot of thought must have been put into choosing the photos (the person who uploaded the video is not the person who took the photos). That said, most of the credit must be given to the photographer for the beautiful photos. The song and video doesn't just tug at your heart strings, it resonates deep within your soul, making you wonder how and what could have sparked such loneliness, devoid of hope as the songs tails off with "and i didn't believe them when they told me that there was no saving you."

official, myspace, last.fm


Aeroplane Pageant - Stars Still Pretty
Aeroplane Pageant have come up with a lovely track in Stars Still Pretty which goes on about what exactly I'm not sure. Amid all the cheeky playfulness as they seem to have fun, Brian Kelly's vocals stand out as unique along with that nice bass.

Things and people, things with wings
Things that scream, things that won’t

official, myspace, last.fm

the elegant present comes at dawn

Here's a poll for what you think is the top album for this year. Please vote once only and it's closing a week later. (Not that I expect many voters.) However, that said, there's prolly tonnes of good albums out there but I have to make a top 10 list to vote from so inevitably a lot get the cut, so you could just drop a comment with your favourite albums if they aren't in the list.





Atlas Sound - Shelia
Oh sweet, RCRDLBL has dropped a free download of this fantastic track off "Logos". Go get it!

Music Go Music - Warm In The Shadows
Oooh, it makes me feel so good. And swanky guitar riff 2/3s through the song, interesting! I like the voice, that hollowness present in it. This is what is said of them, "Music Go Music have the simple syrup of pop extravagance running through their veins. These arena-sized songs are composed with such savage efficiency that you find yourself humming along before two bars have gone by."

Yeasayer - Ambling Alp
I think this song is damn awesome. Looking forward to "Odd Blood". Dips on it to be a best album of 2010.

Phoenix - Girlfriend
This is Phoenix, nuff' said.

some lovers know it ain't gonna wear out

Phoenix - Armistice
ar·mi·stice
Pronunciation: \ˈär-mə-stəs\
Function: noun
Etymology: French or New Latin; French, from New Latin armistitium, from Latin arma + -stitium (as in solstitium solstice)
Date: circa 1707
: temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement between the opponents

just for fun. i totally love their song titles. i think they could be having a top 10 album of the year in their hands. nice.


Air France - June Evenings
Air France is a band from Gothenburg, Sweden. Their music has been described as post-rave bliss, beach foam pop, and Balearic disco. I certainly can identify with the post-rave bliss. It's like you're moving to the beat while floating in the clouds.

Air France - No Excuses
no more excuses left/waiting to fail, but not quite yet

you turn around and life's passed you by

Little Boots - Stuck on Repeat
Little Boots isn't all that "little". She's got massive songs, such as this.

Phoenix - Fences
I ever thought of doing a Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix review, but then again, it's so damn bloody good, nearly everyone has probably done one one way or another, so forget the review. It's just like "Merriweather Post Pavillion". So much hype and coverage, even just purely by word of mouth, everyone knew how good they were. So, just enjoy the awesome song!

Doves - There Goes The Fear

the noons are hot with heartache aplenty

Phoenix - Run Run Run
Slow and sweet. Thomas Mars provides them awesome vocals. He sings "I should be drifting/Far enough to reach the shore/It's a clear view/Don't you underestimate me"

about running and falling. (obviously) and clearly, these guys have a knack for making catchy fantabulous pop songs. BUT with their own unique elements, such as the keyboard. and man, if they were making such music in 2004, it's not a wonder Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is such a blast. Which brings me to the next song, from said album.

Phoenix - 1901

Brooke Waggoner - Heal For The Honey
Such soothing piano accompaniment. Very talented young lady here.

Thievery Corporation - Sweet Tides
Plucked from their fifth album "Radio Retaliation". They are DJ duo Rob Garza and Eric Hilton. Having varied and wide influences ranging from dub, acid jazz, reggae, Indian classical, Middle Eastern and Brazilian allows for their expression of music without restriction. And they sound unique too.

The Saturday Mix #18 - when the sun is drowned in a deathly sea

Phoenix - Lisztomania (Classixx Mix)
Classixx doing a mix on an awesome track from a fantastic album. Sweet stuff.

Shiny Toy Guns - You Are The One

Shiny Toy Guns - You Are The One (Gabriel & Dresden Mix)

White Lies - Death (Chase & Status Remix)
Very very interesting remix. Slightly slower beat than the actual song and there's a plucking instrument in the background of sorts.

Au Revoir Simone - Another Likely Story (Aeroplane Remix)

The xx - Basic Space
A really up and coming English dream pop/electronic group.

The xx - Basic Space (Pariah Remix)
The video it plays to is really fetching. It fits it pretty well. It's the movie "Vivre Sa Vie" by Jean-Luc Godard.

maybe one day I could be one of them

Phoenix - Lisztomania
I'm thinking that they actually got the track name from Lisztomania, which is a 1975 film by Ken Russell, drawn from a biography of Franz Liszt. Apparently, the term "Lisztomania" was coined by the German romantic literary figure Heinrich Heine to describe the massive public response to Liszt's virtuosic piano performances. At these performances, there were allegedly screaming women, and the audience was sometimes limited to standing room only. Must have been quite the charmer, this Franz Liszt.

M83 - Couleurs

M83 - Graveyard Girl
These were the first and second singles released for their(his) 5th album, "Saturdays = Youth", respectively. Why his, it's because all that's left is Anthony Gonzalez, as former member Nicolas Fromageau parted ways around 2005.

there's no other witnesses, just us two

The Antlers - Two

The Golden Filter - Solid Gold

Phoenix - Rome
Taken from their latest album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. And yes, that's Wolfgang Amadeus from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. More on this french outfit soon.

Deastro - The Shaded Forests