there are two colours in my head

Kina Grannis - Valentine
Friend highlighted this song to me. Said it made her smile and brightened up her day. And well, it IS a sweet, poppy and fun love song all rolled into one. Pretty voice and such lovely lyrics, how's anyone to resist? Listen to this, she's American, BUT she's of Japanese, English, Irish, French, Dutch, Welsh and Scottish descent. What a mouthful and 7 ancestry lines? Oddly, I thought she was Greek when I first saw her name.

Pantha du Prince - The Splendour
Splendid indeed. Magic woven into the fabric of this song, with a touch of mystery. The subtle lines of minimality dotted with plinks make this a song to be savoured.

Lifelike - So Electric
Another song that describes itself. Hmms, coincidental or not?

Radiohead - Everything In Its Right Place
It's Radiohead, I don't think I'll do justice by trying to describe the song.

The Saturday Mix #37 - i'm obsessed with the mess that's america

Marina & the Diamonds - Hollywood
Fresh song and tongue in cheek on what Hollywood is in the eyes Marina Lambrini Diamandis. Sweeet stuff.

Marina & the Diamonds - Hollywood (Monarchy 'Gliese' Remix)

Miike Snow - Silvia (Hook N Sling & Goodwill Remix)
Silvia was always there for the picking. Glad to see more remixes on this fantastic dance ballad. Extended remix which is hell sleek. It plays up the tempo at right moments, inducing involuntary body movement; and down tempo at nice smooth chunks where you just wanna soak that beat in.

The xx - Basic Space (diskJokke Remix)
An injection of scratchy and out of this world beats make this one fine remix.

Delphic - Halcyon
More Delphic with rock infused electro this time round. I like this touch that veers off the track beaten out by their electronic music.

Delphic - Halcyon (L-Vis 1990 Remix)
This is threatening to make a riot out of my mind.

Massive Attack - Paradise Circus (Breakage's Tight Rope Remix)
I swear that Hope Sandoval's vocals can wipe armies in an instant. Captivating, murmur at times, sensual at others, but whatever it is, it's like a massive magnet.

i'll be the one to show you the way

Holiday for Strings - particles
Hello, I'm Alice and welcome to woozy wooonderland. That's exactly what I feel about this song. HfS is a quintet with Pony who also drums for Thieves Like Us. Also on board is John from Swedish band Peter, Bjorn and John. The remaining 3 guys are from professions you'd least expect. All 3 are professional chefs! How funky is that? How's that for good food on the road while touring.

Chew Lips - Karen
Check out the latest drop from Chew Lips. I don't understand what's all the bashing and hate going on, while the video isn't spectacular or outstanding, one has to realise the strength of Chew Lips lies in Tig's voice. Gee, music is all about expression. But I don't think expression of hate is the way to go. I read that they just blow you away live, while I prolly don't have the chance to hear them live just yet, but if they are anything like The xx, I'm pretty sure they're damn good.

Lovvers - OCD GO GO Girls
Buzzy voice which brings to mind those scratchy tapes from the 40s or 50s, and the jumpy mood brought about by rabid drumming and bouncy riffs. The first few seconds into the song sounded uncannily like Kings of Leon's Sex on Fire but all similarity ends there.

Kings of Leon - The Bucket
Old stuff is gold.

they tried to stay in from the cold and wind

Photo courtesy of clumsybird


My cat does not know me when we meet a block away from home, and I gather from his expression that I’m not supposed to know him, either.

- Guy Davenport in The Geography of the Imagination


Feist - Gatekeeper
Read a book by the fireside, drinking a nice warm cuppa while a light snow's going on outside. That's what this song is.

French Horn Rebellion - Broken Heart
Extremely cute and fun song/video which sees them doing random dance stuff, not helped by another random guy "jacking off" a mustard sauce bottle and subsequently with an extra tomato sauce bottle. Totally in the vein of the other video for the song Up All Night. Very preppish pop fun. I like the bandana, makes him look like some old school comic character.

Feist and Ben Gibbard - Train Song
Brilliant cover of Vashti Bunyan's classic. Ben Gibbard is frontman of The Postal Service and husband of Zooey Deschanel.

study the signs of age

This will be a short post. Gonna plug this local band named Humpback Oak. Interesting name and a few listens reveal quite a mellow quartet at their best with slow folk-ish rock.

Humpback Oak - Deep Door Down

Humpback Oak - Ghostfather
Gotta give them credit for not dishing out simple tried and tested rock with lyrics for the sake of having lyrics. They've clearly put heart and thought into their lyrics which are affecting. Like their solos too. However, one minor thing is that I find they are a little too repetitive in their songs.

but your random ways swept me along

Sometimes I felt I would never
come out of the woods, I thought
its deeper darkness might absorb me
or feed me to the black turkeys
and I would cry out for the dog
and the dog would not answer.

- TURKEYS by Galway Kinnell


Wax Tailor - Seize The Day

Little Dragon - Twice

Midlake - Young Bride

Fredrik - Vinterbarn

Helplessness; that feeling. Emptiness; engulfing you. Wandering aimlessly in that shroud of white on what used to be green. A lone wrapper on the table. A gust of wind taking it in a swish.

The Saturday Mix #36

Massive Attack - Paradise Circus (Gui Boratto Remix)

Yeasayer - Ambling Alp (Memory Tapes Remix)
I like the remix, except for that odd bit starting around 2:20, it kinda spoiled the whole shizzle. Damn it.

Broken Social Scene - World Sick
Anomaly here, but just in from here, Broken Social Scene's releasing their new album "Forgiveness Rock Record" on May 4. Say what? What's music without BSS and their motley crew of talented musicians? Oh have we been waiting for this day. Get a listen on the free track they've provided, World Sick. It's one massive track and let's hear a collective O-M-G please. Gradual build up of the intro built around country-ish strumming that is an indication of how wonderful this song could/would/will be. You think that the song title is about how the world is "sick", still on the road to recovery from all the what nots that have happened in 2009? Smooth pace and strong vocals with prerequisite rock stuff and precise orchestration from BSS ensure that hype for their upcoming album will build. Will it be a climatic explosion like around 4:00 or lukewarm like around 5:05? I sure hope it's the former and will be waiting for May 4 with eager anticipation.

Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed
Pop at it's boppy best. A few remixes here and there and it's all primed for the sweaty grinding of the dance floor. Pretty fanciful video.

Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed (Monarchy Remix)
Slowed down remix suited for closing the night but it totally belies the fact that it's two hot new acts in one song, cue supernova. Spacey feel tendered by Monarchy that makes you feel all doozy and Ellie Goulding's vocals messing with your mind. Lovely.

Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed (Penguin Prison feat. Theophilus London Remix)
Solid and power packed, Theophilus London gives it his treatment with some additional vocals for that R&B touch and Penguin Prison runs it through the works. Voila, let's roll people.

Monarchy - Gold In The Fire (Flak Attack Remix)
Got your order! One dope remix coming right up. I don't know who Flak Attack is, but one thing for sure this is a fucking sick remix. It definitely can stop a raging bear right in it's tracks, much less me. Beam me up Scotty! Maybe a new autoKratz + Delphic. Don't bet against it, but Monarchy's gonna be huge.