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

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

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

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

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.

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.