Merry Christmas everyone, and if your Jewish, happy Hanukkah. I found a great oldies playlist over at Guilt Free Pleasures in case you're looking for some Christmas classics to play at the party, or just by the yule log. If you're Jewish, well, there's always Adam Sandler.
Before the New Year, I'll be back with part one of The List. Until then, if you're not looking for some Bing Crosby, Banjo or Freakout recently released a Christmas album for free download on his blog. And it's fantastic.
On Thursday night, I was fortunate enough to see Arctic Monkeys at Terminal 5 in NYC. The actual concert experience was fairly unsatisfying, but that didn’t detract from the fact that they were absolutely brilliant. The opening act was Screaming Females. As openers go, they were OK, but that’s the last time I’m listening to them. The three of them really know the way around their instruments, and the vocalist/guitarist made the most noise I’ve ever heard (both vocally and instrumentally), but, they were a tad too loud (which got obnoxious) and after three songs, they all started sounding the same. That fact would’ve been fine, except their set was 40 minutes.
After they were done and the roadies came on to fix up everything, I noticed the music they were playing: Black Sabbath and George Harrison. The fact that I heard "Art of Dying" by George Harrison really got me so psyched. Then, not a moment too soon, Arctic Monkeys ambled onto the stage and dove right into “Jeweller’s Hands”. Before the show, I hated “Jeweller’s Hands”, but that performance won me over. After the mind-numbingly awesome “Brianstorm” and about half-way through “This House is a Circus”, the crowd really started to get irritating and the whole floor turned into a mosh-pit. It was intense, but not for me. As expected with there earlier stuff, the audience beyond freaked out when they launched through “Still Take You Home”, “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor”, and “A View From the Afternoon”. The energy pulsed through you like nothing else. The latter was very well performed, except for the fact that Alex messed up the verse pretty badly.
I really don’t understand why, I mean I like the song a lot, but the audience had the heaviest reaction to “Cornerstone”. It was performed even better than the album, but I mean, the audience were less into it than they were for “Pretty Visitors”. All this brings us to the best, and utter highlight of the show: “Fluorescent Adolescent”. The bass for some reason sounded a little weird, like it had an odd poppy sound, but it added to the nice mellow take on it. To the audiences shock and glee, during the “where did you go?” part, Matt left his drums and began to sing “Last Christmas”. That alone was seriously worth the price of admission and the pain in my back.
I mean, everyone was cheering and singing very loudly: it was just fantastic moment! They ended the concert with a short two song encore, which they really could have made longer. As a whole, the concert was worth it. The music was great and very well performed. What I found was that Alex Turner is no longer the ‘star’-Matt Helders out shone them all. On the drums, it says “agile beast”: In describing Matt Helders, that is a serious understatement. He is a complete animal and the sickest drummer I’ve seen live so far!
My only problem with the concert is that Terminal 5 was not built for this kind of show. When I went there to see The Shins, it too was sold out, but it was not nearly as crowded. They completely overbooked the place, and the over-extended/massive amount of space dedicated for VIP’s was completely stupid (if you didn’t want to mosh, you had no good place to go). I still loved the concert and I’d firmly suggest seeing Arctic Monkeys when you get the chance for you’ll see one of the best live acts around-just steer clear of the floor.
SET LIST: Jeweller’s Hands Brianstorm This House is a Circus Still Take You Home Potion Approaching Red Right Hand (Nick Cave Cover) My Propeller Crying Lightning Sketchead I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor The View From the Afternoon Cornerstone If You Were There Beware Pretty Visitors Do Me a Favour Fluorescent Adolescent w/ Matt singing Last Christmas
ENCORE: Secret Door 505
"Fluorescent Adolescent" with Matt Helders singing "Last Christmas."
This review was written by Double Hawk, a fellow indie enthusiast and founder of the music blog Lines Of Oration, who writes the occassional album or concert review for Danish Poet. If you are also interested in becoming a guest writer, email me at danishpoet@mail.com with "Guest Writer" as the subject.
Graffiti outside of Terminal Five.
*Note: As Double Hawk mentioned in the above review, the crowd went wild (WILD) when Alex Turner walked on stage to the tune of an old 1940s slow song. I was going to uploaded a video of me nearly getting knocked to the ground in the middle of "Jewel's Hands" as a human tsunami came right my way, but the sound quality was complete [insert curse word here]. Though I personally enjoyed Screaming Females more than Hawk did, the concert overall was fantastic. Thank you, my favorite polar primates.
It's the holiday season, and you know what that means! Waiting for the old, obese sketch in a red suit to climb down your chimney and "stuff your stockings." Introducing... Sketchy Santas.
In 2008, an unfinished version of “Logos” leaked onto the Internet. So disheartened by the ordeal, Bradford Cox (of Deerhunter) almost canned the idea. Thankfully, he did not. Now, back under the name Atlas Sound, Bradford returns with his well-anticipated (and finished) 3rd album “Logos”.
The album starts with the very Sung Tongs/Feels-y ‘The Light That Failed’. It sounds like it is going to get nice and weird, but then after the first few seconds, it saunters into an incoherent drone. It does, however, set you up for a nice mellow trip through the brilliant and the tedious. Songs like ‘Criminals’ and ‘An Orchid’ take you to a bright, but calming place. ‘An Orchid’ especially gives you visual of walking through the woods with ‘Criminals’ providing the sunlight shining through.
On the opposite end, ‘Attic Lights’ and ‘My Halo’ just go on and on and on.... They don't enlighten you because the intense calm just lulls you into a doze. There are some absolutely fantastic points like ‘Shelia’ and ‘Walkabout’. ‘Shelia’ sounds like an early 60’s pop song due to it’s simple guitar melodies and surreal lyrics with little experimental break downs.
When I first heard ‘Walkabout’, I got filled with such an overt feeling of pure joy. It’s by far the perfect summer song. Bradford bringing Noah Lennox (Panda Bear) in for vocals was such a brilliant decision. With him, they were able to craft absolute magic. Unlike that collaboration, ‘Quick Canal’, with guest vocals by Stereolab’s Lætitia Sadier, doesn’t do it for me. First off, it’s too long. It is 8 minutes of ultimately the same thing that would have benefited by cutting off a few minutes. Second off, I’m not a big fan of how she used her voice: it sounds very pretentious and over done with too much creepy.
‘Washington School’ and ‘Logos’ finish off the album on a very trippy fantastical note. ‘Washington School’ puts you in a little trance with it’s oh-so-catchy bassline and dreamy vocals, but kicks you out of it with ‘Logos’’s Julian Casablancas vocal impersonation.
Bradford Cox shows some serious potential with ‘Logos’. It creates a wonderfully calming atmosphere, while, for the most part, constantly keeping your attention with it’s weird pop melodies. Every song gives you something different while still sounding flawlessly cohesive. He will probably never escape the Animal Collective comparisons (for all I care he toured with them and now he has Noah Lennox as a guest), but I feel they’ll help him to branch out even further and create even weirder records.
This review was written by Double Hawk, a fellow indie enthusiast and author of the music blog Lines Of Oration, who writes the occassional album or concert review for Danish Poet. If you are also interested in becoming a guest writer for Danish Poet, email me at danishpoet@mail.com with the subject "Guest Writer."
It's 2009. That means pretty soon, it'll have been just another decade that passed right before our very eyes. Many blogs will be making lists, I'm sure, of some of their favorite music videos, albums, artists, and songs from the past decade. I'll be doing the same, because frankly, I'm not very original. Sometime before the end of the year (December, possibly January) I'll post three lists of, what I consider to be, the top ten best albums of the decade, the top ten best music videos of the decade, and the top ten best songs of the decade.
Along the line of music videos I'll be looking at stuffasgoodasthis. If you have any ideas as to artists, albums, or music vids you'd like me to consider for The List, just email me. Until then, here's some mellow So Cow:
And even though this has absolutely nothing to do with the theme of this article, I've been itching to post this truly fantastic song by Beach House. Making good use of an untuned guitar:
Oh dearest, dearest Sweden. I love you. I've never been within your borders, but I have experienced you through the sense of sound, listening to the many artists who have flourished and spread like a vine across the Atlantic Ocean and into my heart.
From Love Is All, to Teddybears. From Shout Out Louds to Peter Bjorn and John. Sweden, if you're reading this, this post is for you. Mainly because I had no idea what else to write about, but also because I love you and the creativity you've spurred.
So, instead of posting music by the fabulous Swedish bands I just listed above (and which I highly recommend), I'm going to post a song by The Stranglers that I wouldn't be surprised to hear on the next Wes Anderson movie. A punk's ode to Sweden.
Alas, November is finally here. The air has a certain crisp chill to it that is uncharacteristic of October, and on Sundays the streets are dead and quiet. Coming soon this month will be a review of Atlas Sound's Logos by Double Hawk, a guest writer on Danish Poet who also writes for the music blog Lines Of Oration.
Happy Halloween ghosts and ghouls! I put together this latest micromix in honor of the hallowed holiday, crafting it with a pocketful of creepy whispers and hardcore cries. I've also just discovered the haunting City Center, so I made sure to include multiple tracks by the lo-fi Brooklyn solo project.
Here it is. This is your last chance to watch "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," carve that round, orange squash you bought at the beginning of the month, and buy a bag of Hershey's.
In a matter of days you will have a bowl of candy by your door, and wait as the smallest ghouls and goblins you've ever laid eyes on hold out their pumpkin-shaped pales and plead "Trick or treat!" in unison. Hopefully you do this, but if not, that is alright too.
On Saturday morning I'll post a new Halloween-themed micromix in celebration of the holiday. Until then, here's a cute tune by The Evangelicals.
When I was very young I remember dancing in the kitchen with my mother while The Beatles played on our stereo. I didn't care what I looked like when I danced, whether it was around the kitchen table or at a sweet sixteen.
To this very day, though I have grown more reserved, I will occasionally break out into a groove that cannot be stopped for a good five minutes. First, it starts with my foot tapping. I'll lift up my arms and form fists with my hands, slowly shaking them in front of my torso to the beat of the music. Then, my whole body will begin to twist and turn, and soon, my hands are waving themselves in front of my face with my legs spread out further then my height. If it is gangsta rap, I will often act like I am from "da hood" and in the end embarrass myself and friends.
Sometimes however, acting like a clown serves me well. To be frank, girls are more inclined to notice someone having a seizure on the dance floor then a more controled gentleman.
One move that I actually consider myself relatively decent at is the classic "Robot." When I was in the eighth grade I would often go to parties with my friends, and the second a techno song came on, the crowd of dancers would part as I turned into a mechanical slave to the beat. I must say though, I was nowhere near as good as MJ.
Recommended listening that relates to the subject matter of this post:
I've put down my first Micromix for free download with some of the songs that have dictated my repeat button for the past month. It features music from Atlas Sound, Coconut Records, and an exclusive R.E.M. cover by Dr. Dog. Just click on the link above to download, I think you'll really like this one.
It's easy to forget that Manhattan is an island. Just a couple of minutes under ground and a few dozen ears popped per subway car leads you to a metropolis so totally different, it is in its own state of being. Some will look at it and grasp it by the horns while others will be overwhelmed, yet often in awe and fascination.
As I said before it is easy to forget that New York is an island, for it is so serene in its constant bustle, and yet manages to stay stable and forever present.
Some will walk past its less prominent treasures without a second glance, while others will stand back and experience. What makes New York what it is is not the island itself, but the people and hot canteen of soup that is its culture; a pocket full of odds and ends accumulated on the east end of a massive country. Five burrows connected by bridges, land masses, and character, not available any where else in the world
It is often easy to forget that Manhattan is an island - because it is not the island that makes New York what it is, but the presence, the feeling, the people, the endless bustle and the self serenity that at times to the common New Yorker will often seem nonexistent.
I love Manhattan.
Recommended listening that relates to the subject matter of this post:
Every time I see the trailer for Where The Wild Things Are I cry. Every time, guaranteed. And I am not the cry-whenever-I-see-a-remotely-sad-and/or-touching-scene-in-a-movie-type. The only other movie I'm ever really guaranteed to cry whilst watching is Cast Away. Every time Tom Hanks loses Wilson in the ocean I start to tear up.
But that being said, by the time the little kid is announcing "Starts October 16th" at the end of the WTWTA trailer I am blindly reaching for a tissue. I think it's the sentimental mixture of childhood memories and Arcade Fire that sends my heart in a whirl, and because of this mind-numbing effect I am now desperate to go see said movie. Desperate.
Saint-Claude is the capital of the pipe. Magon is happy to visit it.
One century ago, a lot of factories of pipes were running the city (now only 2 remain), also the polishing of diamonds. Facing hard life of work and strong winters, the workers were meeting in this "House of the People", La Fraternelle (name that I can roughly translate by "The Fraternal"), to make their life better : common food, reunions, art, brotherhood...
Their heads were on coal
Grandaddy Jean-Jaurès still looking after the people in the court
The gig was really nice, in this beautiful grand room with the mountains as a background.
We felt at home, and the people there received us like close friends, linked by this belief in music and art (and good food) as true ways of upgrading humanity. Winters stay hard, so does the feeling of fraternity.
We believe in signs. This time in this factory mountainous city is totally connected with our new ideas and themes of the songs we are composing nowadays. As I often say, making Magon laugh a lot, everything is connected...
Every week I come up with a new story. A new idea. A new movie plot. The theme to a tale I've been mulling over in my head for weeks on end. An ending scene to a movie I remember first imagining a year ago. Characters are often loosely based on actors I enjoy like Jason Schwartzman or Joel McHale. The plots range from alienated families to Jewish violinists.
A nerdy but incredibly smart boy who becomes student council president at his local high school. Eventually he becomes corrupt with power and is expelled, while subplots carry on throughout the story until its end, where the boy reflects on all of his mistakes. A man who's nightmares intertwine with reality, to the point where the line is blurred beyond belief. He is eventually restrained at a mental hospital, which serves to only worsen his nightmares, and completely wash away the imaginary line between reality, and dream. These are just a few.
Nonetheless, there is still the every present Writer's Block. I will capitalize it because I believe it is an illness that can be treated. By treatment I mean a walk, a shower, a vacation, a nap. Something that will help the mind stray out of the hole it fell into. I often get Writer's Block when I've toasted two slices of theoretical bread, possibly spread on some mayonaisse, but can't find the tuna. By tuna I mean the theoretical meat of the story: dialogues, meeting places, filler-uppers. What would the main character do in this situation? What would the love interest say to comfort him or make him feel like crap? What would the Mexican sidekick do when shot in the arm at a bodega? Let's think.
Recommended listening that relates to the subject matter of this post:
I have a great fear of needles. When I was younger, however, I used to be fine. Fearless, per say. I was as nonchalant about blood tests and vaccines as I was going about my daily business, which didn't consist of much, being that I was five years old.
After a painful doctor's visit when I was around seven years old, I have since strongly feared needles. It was a blood test gone wrong - though the red fluid was eventually extracted, it's cost was greater than expected. The doctor missed my vein several times, arguing that I would not stop moving, though I had sat still the entire time.
Since that day the fear of needles and blood, especially mixed, has sent a chill down my spine. "I have a great fear of needles" may be exaggerating, being that I have mostly conquered my fears by now, but I still have trouble taking vaccines, and squirm in my seat when I see that needle filling up with blood. The worst part is the build up - possibly having to squeeze a ball tightly or having a rubber band wrapped around my arm - because that is when my heart rate rises considerably.
Fortunately, I have not had to take a blood test or a vaccination in a while, and after years of putting up with the needles and blood and maturing all the way, my fear has greatly lessened. I can now watch a gory horror movie without flinching! My favorite part in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" is still that scene where the Black Knight is chopped to pieces by King Arthur and his blood spurts in fountains as he proudly proclaims "It's just a flesh wound!"
Acupuncture's still something I will never put myself through though. I don't care how many Chinese people say it works wonders, there isn't a snowball in hell's chance I'll become this guy at any point in my life.
Recommended listening that relates to the subject matter of this post:
Greetings blogging community. All you little guys that know how to work the "interweb." I am back and have had possibly the best summer in a very long time. After taking a long vacation from Danish Poet, I thought now would be the best time to get back into the swing of things.
I have an immense amount of emails to check and read and reply to, being I haven't taken a look at my inbox in a month. As I was sifting through the countless messages today I found a lovely video described best as:
"... a Brooklyn band's attempt to promote for a residency at Piano's in a unique way...pretty sweet (literally sweet, as in will make you smile and want to eat cake)."
I think it is safe to say that this video, made by the Brooklyn indie boys Akudama, did put a smile on my face, as well as give me quite a craving for cake.
When you listen to KiD A, it feels as if you haven't seen the sun in days, and Anni T's voice is pulling apart the clouds. From beautiful string masterpieces to cycling electronic choruses, KiD A experiment in every last frontier while always seeming to make the genre their own.
Between the Turbo P's ingenious melodies and Anni T's gorgeous vocals, KiD A are already making classics when it appears they've just started.
Emil & Friends, a Massachusetts disco group returning from a hiatus of original releases, just spun a new track filled with distorted strings, funky bass, and Emil Hirsch's cool, calm, collected voice. A perfect track for long weekend nights. In space.
The Italian pop fivesome My Awesome Mixtape just released their Other Houses EP for free on the website Pronti Al Peggio. They also performed live in Bologna to promote their upcoming album How Could A Village Turn Into A Town, and had people videotape it while driving in a car around them. Watch the vid, check the tracklist, and enjoy the EP... FO FREE!
Tracklist: 1 Me & the Washing Machine 2 Brotherhood (feat. Jonathan Clancy, Settlefish) 2 Everwood 4 Me & the Washing Machine (Congorock Remix) 5 Washing My T-Shirt! (Peluche Remix)
Neon Indian, a psychathetic sunburned side project between Alan Palomo of VEGA and Manhattan video artist Alicia Scardetta, is coming out with their full-length debut, Psychic Chasms (album art above), onOctober 13th. It'll be released via Lefse Records, who best described the upcoming album:
"Neon Indian delivers equal parts synthetic nostalgia, Dreampop lullabies, and grinding guitar noise to create something eerier than the sum of its parts. Forged after a hazy winter gathering in Texas, this initial batch of tracks were the result of field recordings, record samples, a collection of bizarre synth sounds... Orbiting around the themes of drug induced heartbreak, weary afternoons, and lost chances, this music provides a lush soundtrack to the deadbeat exploits of teenage ennui."
So far, I already posted a track by the psychelectric duo a month or two ago, but their most recently leaked tune, "Terminally Chill," can't be missed. A hazy, drug-induced trek through a hot summer's day, Neon Indian dance for the sky, because the sun is their disco ball.
Tracklist:
1 (AM)r†
2 Deadbeat Summer 3 Laughing Gas 4 Terminally Chill 5 (If I knew, I’d tell you) 6 6669 (i dont know if you know) 7 Should have taken acid with you 8 Mind, Drips 9 Psychic Chasms 10 Local Joke 11 Ephemeral Artery 12 7000 (reprise)
Relentless is like viewing a large expanse of land with the eye of an eagle. You see every little detail while still being able to view the whole picture. The sun is setting, casting a golden shadow against the puffy, white, cumulus clouds. You inhale and you exhale. Pretty poetic, right? Well, Relentless are basically electronic poets.
Hailing from San Francisco, California, the duo blend dramatic House with experimental techno in a seemingly "relentless" (excuse the pun) array of beats, synths, and melodies, all whilst hurling a barrage of disco at the dancefloor. I put together a little .zip file that will allow you to fully experience Relentless. enjoy:
So tomorrow's the fourth of July, and to celebrate I'm laying down a couple of mixtapes. I won't be posting again until Monday, but to hold you over I have an especially special mix from Adam Freeland, and another from Drums of Death. Turn up the stereo and drown out the fireworks ;)
Thought this music vid was pretty punkin'. The Heavy pack a some more soul into "Sixteen" (which happens to be produced by Jim Abbiss, best known for his work with Arctic Monkeys) than I usually post about on this blog, but it's a solid track that's worth a good listen. And maybe a tap of the foot. Kudos to We like it.indie.
I did a post a while back on Discovery, an electronic side project between Vampire Weekend's pianist and Ra Ra Riot's lead singer, and decided to do another being that they'll be releasing their debut album LP, on July 7th. The 10-track will include a Jackson 5 cover "I Want You Back," which seems strangely appropriate for MJ's passing.
Michael Jackson never seemed like he really grew up. He was always a kid at heart, and Discovery's tone of child-like innocence seems to convey that perfectly. It's kind of crazy, but just enough to work.
All I know about Norby is that he's a Hungarian DJ. That's it. But the fact that he delivers such perfect remixes makes up for that. His work defies gravity, and kisses the stars.
"Freak-A-Zoid Robotz," a ridiculously robotic song (hence the name) by Bobby Evans, sounds probably what Daft Punk would sound like if they made arcade music while on acid. It's a call to robot rebellion, and the Them Jeans remix, a synth-core take on the freshly oiled classic, is nothing to be soon forgotten itself. Download the remix below, and watch the arcadian music vid for "Freak-A-Zoid Robotz" here. ♫
Sparkletone's haunting new instrumental, "Metamorphosis," lays down a star-spun melody that twinkles, sparkles, then soars. Carried aloft by distant piano chords and luminescent bells, the beat provides foundation to this eerily beautiful masterpiece.
This is a flippin' great music vid I found over at Change The Thought for the Dan Black track, "Symphonies." Combining a mixture of different film styles ranging from the 40s to the future, the film brilliantly comes together in a sweeping "The End," going to the beat of the chorus.
Not only is it a good track, but Chic & Artistic did a fantastic job designing the vid. I tip my hat in wonderment.
Sorry guys, but blogger just removed my post concerning the Phoenix remix competition I was holding. The contest is now officially over, with no winners :(
If you still want to grab the parts to the remix though, just email me and I'll send them to you.
Pogo lives in his own little word focused on childhood memories, distinctive beats, and magical rhythms. He uses the soundtracks of children's movies and the voices of their characters to weave a world reminiscent of long rainy days, spent cuddled up on the couch watching Alice In Wonderland, or Mary Poppins. It seems that Pogo has matured in the manner of music making, but kept his imagination like that of a child.
Pogo also creates music videos for his tracks, made by piecing together scenes from the movie which is sampled in the given song. I highly recommend you jump on over to Pogo's YouTube account as well, where you can find many more music videos, including my personal favorite "Expialidocious." In the mean time, hold yourself over with Pogo's "Alice," an electronic trip through the looking glass using samples from Alice In Wonderland.
So I had the chance to shoot over a few questions to Drums of Death, and took advantage. You can read my previous post on DOD here, and download a truly insane disco track by the voodoo hoody after the interview.
1. So you've made some pretty sick techno music, but I was reading that you were originally in metal bands when growing up in Scotland. When did you first decide to start making electronic music?
I was always interested in electronic music of some type or another but it all goes back to my childhood. I remember the strange, almost alien sounds in government warning adverts and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop work in old TV repeats of 1970's Doctor Who episodes. Those strange tones and textures mixed with my immediate excitement for 80s pop like Tears For Fears and Michael Jackson started me off. However, my teenage years and need for screaming noise propelled me into grunge and metal bands and so . It finally took a friend taking me to raves that changed the course of my life.
2. What is your favorite part about making music? The finishing..? I love the playing piano part at the start, the ideas stage.... swirling possibilities and the potential for anything... and I also love the feeling of finishing a piece of music but almost everything in between is slightly irritating. I dearly want the sounds and music in my head to be realised faster than they currently do so there's a constant feeling of annoyance with myself and the whole process. I'm trying to work through such self-involved, narcissistic attitudes by occasionally leaving my apartment and seeing friends.
3. What people or bands ultimately inspired you to make music your career?
For my sound, no. I try to make a broad type of music. This is, however, definitely pop music. My pop music. There's particular artists that have in their own way inspired me and at various times of my life really altered my idea of music-making. These range from DJ Pierre & Green Velvet, Tom Waits, Michael Jackson (and Quincy Jones), Captain Beefheart, Radiohead, Betty Davis, Chilly Gonzales and Peaches.
4. What groups do you currently enjoy? Starkey from Philadelphia, Debruit and Fulgeance from Paris. Two guys who make crazy sick hiphop. TV On The Radio, Queens Of The Stone Age. Joe played me 2 new Hot Chip songs... One of them is totally awesome.
5. What song that you've made best describes you as an artist? Voodoo Lovers hits the broken Bacharach running through my veins, it's what I finish all my shows with.... but Work Yr Neck is the party alarm call at full volume. Both are equal sides to my music. As you will hear on my album. Love songs and rave horns.
6. What is the latest tune that has made you tap your feet? My remix for Mondo Diao - Trance hiphop. They're a band from Sweden and I've been playing the instrumental of my remix for them in these USA tour shows... massive reaction. On the tour bus I've been listening to old Tool, BBC Radio spoken word theatre and new Animal Collective and Health.
7. What was the greatest live experience you ever had? My debut live show at Glastonbury with Greco-Roman last year or Chigago on this USA tour with Peaches just last week. All I can remember is flashes, snapshots of some moments... I just remember after the show all the people screaming, I felt utterly ruined and couldnt give anymore and the atmosphere... I've never felt anything like it, not even close. I feel with these shows I'm getting closer to the live performances I want everytime. Raw and honest, punkrock energy and love song raves.
8. What are your plans for your debut album? Generation Hexed is pop music from your new favourite voodoo hoodlum and will be released on Greco-Roman in September 2009. It was at first to feature lots of my friends...other artists and musicians. But through the writing process it became alot more personal. There's string quartets on it, there's crunchy 8-bit rave freakouts, ballads and breakdowns.
9. Other than that, what's next? Travelling the world... Drums Of Death is eager to start work on his second album and the birth of the live band is near. Returning to the States in Winter then to Australia for Big Day Out with Peaches, Japan, Mars... Saturn. Onwards and inwards, downwards and under...
The electronic, time-traveling, sword-bearing astronauts Heartsrevolution, who were first introduced to us on Kitsune Maison 6 with their hit "Ultraviolence" are coming back full speed on Kitsune Maison 7, with "薔薇と彼女の王子 (The Rose And Her Prince)", a psychedelic, child-like wonderworld of bells and beats, perfectly illustrated by the above music video for the track.
***
Check out the tracklist for the highly anticipated Kitsune Maison 7here, and download a free minimix for the complitation here.
A 16 year-old LA slice of the greatest thing to come - a beastly electro artist - a modern-day Napoleon, destined to conquer clubs and pack dancefloors. Brutal beats striking harder than Godzilla's footsteps and radioactive synths that will take you back to another dimension, all in slow motion.
So far, Napolian only has one original track up on the internet - an ill piece of dance music that best gets its point across with large speakers, strobe lights, and a dance floor full of people.
Two nights ago, I was fortunate enough to get to see The Shins at Terminal 5 in NYC. I’ll tell you, it was everything I’d hoped it to be.
The opening act was Delta Spirit, and I can honestly say I’ve never heard of them before. The five of them were all very clearly and thoroughly passionate about their work, and they very easily won over the audience very quickly. They were very enjoyable, but I was thrilled to know that when they were done, The Shins were just moments away, and that kept me motivated through the pain developing in my legs.
The lights dimmed and everyone lurched forward, starting to freak out as if it were The Beatles at Shea Stadium. When I saw Dave Hernandez come out first I was beyond ecstatic and seeing James Mercer really made it set in that they were here and only a few feet away.
They launched off with ‘Australia’ which is one of my favorites and I couldn’t help but get giddy. They then proceeded through the next two songs on Wincing the Night Away without stopping. After a song or two, they introduced a special guest joining them on violin, and when I saw her, I was visibly the only person flipping out: It was Rebecca Zeller, the violinist of Ra Ra Riot!
A few songs come and go, equipped with some new songs (that they didn’t have the decency to tell us the titles of), and a cover from, and I quote “One of the best f*cking bands in the world”, also known in James Mercer’s mind as The Beach Boys, all leading up to the best performance of the night: ‘Caring is Creepy’. Every one in the room was singing their lungs out to this song, so much so that even though I was very close to James Mercer I couldn’t hear him! When everyone is that connected and ‘into’ a song like that, how can that not affect you?
After three more, they play the second best performance of ‘Sleeping Lessons’. It was another one where not only were the band happy and seemingly into playing it, but the audience was immensely enthusiastic about their choice as well. Even if they ended it right then and there, I can guarantee everyone would’ve been satisfied with the quality of their performance.
For the encore, they play a Neil Young cover and the immensely popular ‘Know Your Onion!’. Throughout the whole show, in between songs, people would shout ‘New Slang’ prompting the band to reply with either a ‘We’ll get to all that” or James Mercer looking visibly miffed and then saying “That f*cking song…”, so the time had come for them to fulfill their promise. Everyone sang in unison and not frantically like the others. It was really very cool hearing "New Slang", the song that got me into The Shins, performed live.
When the show ended, I can honestly say I didn’t want it to end. I loved every minute of it, and would easily do it again. I couldn’t stop smiling and I get filled with joy when I think of think of it! I still can’t get over that a Ra Ra Rioter was there either!
As with every concert, there were a couple of disappointments. As you know, The Shins are a new Shins, with Marty Crandall and Jesse Sandoval out of the band, so they didn’t sound as immense or full like The Shins I’ve come to know and love. If they didn’t get rid of them weeks before the show, I probably wouldn’t have been as angry. And the only other turn-off was that they didn’t play ‘So Says I’ or ‘Turn On Me’.
I would thoroughly recommend going to see them however, even if you only like them a little bit. They are a quality band and live act and it was well worth the wait!
///SET LIST\\\ Australia Pam Berry Phantom Limb Girl Inform Me Saint Simon Red Rabbits Sealegs "New Song" Mines Not a High Horse Girl Don’t Tell Me (Beach Boys Cover) "New Song" Caring is Creepy Girl On a Wing Dry The Rain (Beta Band Cover) Those to Come Sleeping Lessons
///ENCORE\\\ Helpless (Neil Young Cover) Know Your Onion! New Slang
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