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.

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

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

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

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


here

i've heard voices through the floor

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

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

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!