enter a world special made for kings

Washed Out - Feel It All Around
Slow mesmerising beat. Just nice.

Vitalic - Poison Lips
oh my god, you have to listen to this. absolutely. this is really dope stuff by Vitalic. but i need to get this out first, the asian girl that first appears in the video looks like a porcelain doll, right out of a production line. ok, the synths are working overtime with intense pulsating beats that thump away. it's like a jackhammer, but it feels like heaven. very nice video to boot - the drawing of the word V with smeared lipstick takes one back to "V for Vendetta". poison indeed.

Little Dragon - My Step
the singing is very stripped down (mostly), but is accompanied by an electronic rhythm that is reminiscent of.. damn, can't remember what it's called but if i do, i'll make sure i let you guys know.

today's songs have just wormed their way into my system, the beats are just going off in my head like sirens, and anymore intense i could probably see the lights pulsating to it. i totally love it. if this was facebook, i'd prolly like this post a million times.

constant conversations with myself

A brief update on X Factor UK since it's about to end. Next week would conclude the end of Season 6 (I think) with the finals, with Stacey Solomon, Joe McElderry and Olly Murs slugging it out. Alright, I wouldnt call it slugging out, the 3 of them are prolly the nicest people you'll ever meet. For those who might not have been following, Danyl Johnson was only just eliminated this week, i.e. the last contestant to be booted before the finals. I don't know and don't support any particular final contestant - cos they're all good, and worth supporting. Stacey is the most humble person one could ever meet, and the sweetest thing there'll ever be, plus quite good vocals to boot. Joe is the young chap (he's 18) trying his luck with his Irish charm and solid vocal range (most of the judges say he's the best vocally), but more suited to a Josh Groban like audience, and lastly Olly, with his slick dance moves and the right image to capture the hearts of all young women in UK. And I must give some props to Danyl who pretty much exited the show on a high, singing MJ's Man in the Mirror, which was pretty damn good. He was gracious in his exit and certainly pulled all stops to sing Man in the Mirror after his exit was announced - to which all 4 judges gave a standing ovation, his second in the entire competition. Fitting I say. That said, I hope the 3 finalists give awesome performances that would make it difficult to decide who to vote for.

The Futureheads - Struck Dumb
I like how the guitars drive this song.

Deerhunter - It Never Stops
Typical vocals that barely make it out above the cacophony of instruments, is the mainstay of various bands right now, and Deerhunter is no exception. They do it well with appropriate hooks and a lovely intro.

Telekinesis! - Coast of Carolina
Not bad a song, considering Telekinesis! is only Michael Benjamin Lerner on the drums, guitar and vocals. But he's joined by Chris Staples, David and Jonie Broecker for live shows.

HEARTSREVOLUTION - Dance Till Dawn
Nice and groovy. I WANNA DANCE TILL DAWNNNNN!

you wear your every last disguise

All Wrong and The Plans Change - Hey, Hey
This is a free download offered on their site. A very lovely down-tempo song, suited for a good day to listen to whilst reading at home or just chilling.

Annie - I Don't Like Your Band
Yet another solo electropop singer, but she's been around much longer than the likes of Lykke Li, Ladyhawke, Little Boots etc. So funky, she's prolly dissing somebody (in a particular band, or even the band itself) she knows.

Gregory & The Hawk - Boats and Birds
Gregory & The Hawk is mainly Meredith Godreau's solo project, collaborating quite often with her many musician friends. Very very very beautiful song, just like Grey Weather which I featured quite a while back. This song is basically her vocals plus guitar plucking and some bass - very stripped down.

"But you can set sail to the west if you want to
And past the horizon till I can't even see you"

Erin McCarley - Love, Save The Empty

BTW: Inch Chua's Christmas EP titled "Peace, Love & Mistletoe" is out on her site. Go get your hands on it right now! Lovely 4 track to listen to leading up to everybody's favourite holiday! And anyhow, congrats to Inch, she was invited to SXSW '10 at Austin, Texas.

The Saturday Mix #27

Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire (Aeroplane Remix)
This Belgian duo would be coming down for ZoukOut 2009.

The Big Pink - Too Young To Love (Delorean Remix)

Ellie Goulding - Under The Sheets (Jakwob Remix)

Crystal Fighters - I Love London (Qoso Remix)
There've been quite a number of remixes floating around on this awesome dance number and here's one by Qoso.

Florence & The Machine - You've Got The Love
Damn it, I totally missed out this song from her album "Lungs", very nice powerful sounding rock song. She's really got that voice don't you think? It stands out. Hmms, a bit like Beth Ditto. Only found out about it after hearing the remix, which is just as awesome.

Florence & The Machine - You've Got The Love (The xx Remix)
A remix by one of the most under-rated/understated acts of the year. But thing is, it sounds more like The xx covering this song, because throughout the remix, I can't seem to find traces of the original. If anyone can clarify if it's a remix or cover, please do get back to me.

Gossip - Heavy Cross (Siriusmo Dub)
This is a wicked Siriusmo putting his own spin on a Gossip song.

chance and sow, nothing changing

Delphic - Doubt
Remember Delphic? Yes, and they are back. More epic, more intense, more futuristic. As the lyrics come spilling out, an intense gaze burns into your soul, as if etching the lyrics into you. Bullets, bubbles, crystalline shapes and whatnot, slithering over taut beautiful bodies, the various "metallic lifeforms" vibrating to the wicked beat. One is almost reminded of Michael Jackson's metallic glove as the bullet like objects cover one woman's hand. This is definitely gonna be an uber dance floor anthem, taking us humans by storm. The monotone and expressionless faces adds to the allure, and everything culminates in the explosion of these things flying off the bodies.

Missing the life gone by that I have lost/I'm missing the better times that I had lost

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."

Sia - You've Changed
Here's some dance from Sia. Not the usual goods from her, but fresh and dancey. It's free too! Click here.

Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader
Damn it, I always have this problem, the last few songs don't get any write up at all cos i always get lazy. It's definitely not because the song isn't good or what, i'm just LAZY. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

what you want is just outside your reach

Neon Neon - I Lust U (feat. Cat Le Bon)
Neon Neon is a collaboration between Boom Bip aka Bryan Charles Hollon and Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals. This is apparently a one-off, since Rhys says "I don't know about making another Neon Neon album because it was quite a specific record about (John) DeLorean's life story. If we did something in the future it would have to be something different. But it's nice that it did well and we get to play it live."

John DeLorean is the founder of the DeLorean Motor Company and the album "Stainless Style" is a loose concept album based on the tumultuous life of him. And according to Rhys, I Lust U is about a dark period in DeLorean's life when he was having lots of affairs. And true to this album, the song is every bit the frivolous electro-pop. Cat Le Bon's voice in this song is a bit deadpan, but it somehow adds to the robotic laid-back attitude and intended stripped down feel.

Tiësto - I Am Strong (feat. Priscilla Ahn)
Hah, I never expected Priscilla Ahn's voice in a dance song. But to say I'm not pleased with this outcome is wrong. Her voice is magnetic and melds with the deep solid beats nicely. The whole house feel to this song - I love it.

I can't recall where I heard/read this, but Tiësto's collaborations with so many different artists such as Nelly Furtado, Emily Haines of Metric/Broken Social Scene, Tegan and Sara, Jónsi of Sigur Rós, Kele Okereke of Bloc Party, and Calvin Harris amongst others, is due to him wanting to break into various markets (of other countries) and such collabs may increase the exposure to these markets.

Tiësto (with Sneaky Sound System) - I Will Be Here
cool video. How can anyone actually walk like that? Must be lots and lots of training, or maybe just talent. It's like popping, which I think is my favouritest street style of dancing. Speaking of Japanese and walking, I was at the Uniqlo fashion show yesterday and I was taken in after seeing the female models and their unique way of walking. The model strut is so powerful and striking.

Real Estate - Beach Comber
What a nice summer song. Maybe if you'd replace the guitar with the banjo, wonder what it'd sound like.

i like songs about drifters, books about the same

Modest Mouse - The World At Large

Lissy Trullie - Boy Boy
She did a cover of Hot Chip's Ready For The Floor.
I see some comments saying it's definitely better than the original. I think it's quite a good cover, you've gotta give her some credit, but no way is it better than the original. Take a damn good listen to the original, and compare. The original just takes the cake. I mean, even the video was sick.

Deastro - Light Powered
Totally out of an MS-DOS game (the start that is). Brings back those memories of Duke Nukem, Hocus Pocus, Keen, Lost Vikings, Sonic the Hedgehog and millions more.