when you appear i know i won't be here

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

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.

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

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.

that was us for the last five years

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.