If you're catching your breath after reading that title then spare a thought for my RSI riddled fingers. And as my birthday was over two months ago, you'd be right if you thought my fingers hadn't quite healed to normal typing speeds yet. It took me three hours to write that last sentence.
It was my 20th birthday and Fingers Crossed's 2nd birthday a little while ago. Put simply, I've been too busy for this space. I've still been buying plenty of music and stuff, so rest assured I'll have a bunch of new stuff coming soon. I've also been working on a mix series which you can find on Mixcloud for those who are so inclined.
It's mainly slo-mo disco and house, with a little bit of cosmic balearic in there as well. I'm back at university in a week but it won't slow me down too much.
You can find the mixes here
Vitamin C will be coming sometime this weekend or the next - in the meantime, enjoy this:
Satin Jackets - Everywhere I Go EP [.rar 320kb/s]
later (hopefully not too much),
Friday, August 5, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
SUGAR MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL
Tickets are on sale now from the usual outlets (y'all can google, right?)
SUGAR MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL 2011
An interview with Hazel Brown from Otouto and Two Bright Lakes by my dear friend Jalen can be found HERE
And for coverage of the visual artists involved in the festival, go HERE
THE MUSIC:
CANYONS [HOLE IN THE SKY/DFA/MODULAR]
Regulars at eclectic Melbourne nightspot New Guernica and signed on with a couple of the downright coolest labels in the world, The Canyons make left of centre dance music. They've been remixed by such luminaries as Jacques Renault and their DJ sets are always chock full of unexpected cuts that traverse the distance between chicago house, funky disco, afrobeat, and other space-faring psychedelics that are guaranteed to induce motion in your feet.
Canyons - Dancing On Silk [.mp3 /// MF]
Canyons - Fire Eyes [.mp3 /// MF]
Canyons - Fire Eyes (Jacques Renault's Living In The Jungle Mix) [.mp3 /// MF]
Canyons - More Champagne [.mp3 /// MF]
Tame Impala - Skeleton Tiger (Retamed By Canyons) [.mp3 /// MF]
GALAPAGOOSE [INDEPENDENT/MELBOURNE]
Melbourne based multi-media performer/artist Trent Gill is Galapagoose, creating dense and murky instrumental hip hop/beats. Samples slither around and over each other while the bass ties everything together. He's featured on a number of recent compilations and put out a couple of EP's which you can grab for free from his tumblr HERE, and also a quick mix he's put together for the festival, which you can stream or grab for free HERE
AA [SENSORY PROJECTS/BROOKLYN, NY]
Aa are from Brooklyn, NY. They make gloriously fuzzy and distorted noise, tempered by a tangle of synths and 3 drum-kits, frantic shouts and sometimes whispers. If you like the 2-3 minute sections of Sonic Youth songs where the band abandons song structure and melody in favour of raw, unadulterated racket, or the works of fellow avant-garde experimentalists Health, then you'll dig this. The only info i could find on this little piece is that it was recorded live at a show in Brooklyn. It's 18 minutes long, and is a bit rough on the ears no doubt. Dig it.
Aa - Side A [.mp3 /// MF]
OSCAR + MARTIN [TWO BRIGHT LAKES/MELBOURNE]
I remember seeing these guys opening at the Caribou and Four Tet shows earlier in the year and thinking they were something pretty cool. They make summery electronica tinged with just the right amount of sadness to make indie girls hearts melt and congeal on the floor. They've got a new single coming out called 'Do The Right Thing', which hasn't been released yet but has been doing the rounds on local radio - it's all hand-claps and beautiful damaged harmonies, a great pop song. This version is just a promo copy, couldn't find a 320 for now. When it's out, look for it here.
Oscar + Martin - Do The Right Thing [.mp3/// MF]
RAT VS POSSUM [SENSORY PROJECTS/MELBOURNE]
Rat Vs Possum have gigged around Melbourne and Australia for a little while, and put out a record on Sensory Projects called Daughter Of Sunshine in early 2010 - it's raucous, densely packed summery tropical psychedelia and pop which showcases the band's aptitude for great hooks and memorable lyrics like 'I think I love you but it might just be the pills'. Their live shows are full of life and usually involve some rather raucous antics, so I definitely recommend catching these guys in the near future.
Rat Vs Possum - Temple [.mp3 /// MF]
Rat Vs Possum - Binti Jua (Faux Pas Remix) [.mp3 /// MF]
That's all from me for today, seeya there.
later,
PRINS THOMAS - LANG TUNG TING [2011]
Prins Thomas - Lang Tung Ting (2011) [.zip /// MF]
later,
Friday, March 11, 2011
HOLY GHOST! - (S.T.) [2011]
Holy Ghost! have to be one of my favourite artists on the DFA roster, so you can understand that I was miiiighty excited when I heard they were putting out their debut album. Holy Ghost! have always been renowned for their unique take on modern house and disco styles, blended with tongue-in-cheek references to 80's and 90's electronic pop music - just listen to 'Say My Name' off their Static In The Wire EP - and their love for analog bass lines have always helped them settle well in DFA's catalog. Although they'd only put out a few singles on DFA since getting their start in 2007, they absolutely crashed onto the scene with 2008's single 'Hold On' which was a glorious slice of synthy, disco-pop-throwback.
This new album has them sounding a little bit like Cut-Copy's latest effort, another favourite synth-pop/future disco LP of mine, although I'd have to say that the production is more straightforward and less lush than Cut Copy's. It definitely feels more tailored to the dancefloor, which is where Holy Ghost! have always won the most hearts. - look no further than final track 'Some Children' for evidence of that.
A few previously released tracks make appearances on the full-length, which as a long-time fan I was a little disappointed about, but there's no doubt they're good songs and including them on the album is a smart move to introduce new fans to some of the duo's stronger previous work. As for the other tracks, they generally conform to the trail that the duo have been following thus far in their careers. Along with obvious first single 'Do It Again', 'Jam For Jerry' is probably the strongest new track on the release in my mind; it's a propulsive and danceable future-disco number which will probably be picked up by Triple J.
All in all I'm quite impressed by the release, but then, I probably wouldn't post anything I didn't like a lot on this blog. I'm probably going to start another blog where I just rip on stuff like Ke$ha and still take the time to provide a download. /joke. On a side note, didja hear about all the mothers dragging their tweens out of Ke$ha's run of concerts 'round Australia? You'd think they would have realized that they needed to do a bit more parenting (and/or research) before they took their kids along in the first place, IMO.
With any luck Holy Ghost! will tour down-under sometime soon off the back of this - looking forward to it immensely.
Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost! (2011) [.zip /// MF]
later,
Monday, February 21, 2011
ISOLEE - WELL SPENT YOUTH [2011]
Hate to begin a review with a cliché like this, but, well, Well Spent Youth, Isolée's third full length album has been a long time coming. 6 years since 2005's We Are Monster came out on Playhouse Records, and a few intermittent remixes and singles have been all fans of Rajko Müller's particular blend of micro-house and techno have had to hold them over. But no longer! Drenched deeply with jazzy chords and clicks, pops and other squelchy noises, Well Spent Youth is a record which precisely describes the track of modern techno. The album art is a soft and ethereal piece of photography, and perhaps this is a good way to describe the musical content.
The bass sits comfortably below the waterline and adds a beautiful warm buzz and thump to the accompanying keys and sizzling hats and drums, and musical elements float in and out of frame as quickly and as subtly as they arrive. It's not as warm and poppy as We Are Monster. The arrangements have a real sense of space, certainly not hurrying anywhere but still telling a story regardless; with nary a venture below the 5 minute mark, the length of the tracks reflect this.
Definitely vibing this release and I'm sure if you're inclined to attend nights of the deeper variety this will become mandatory listening.
Isolée - Well Spent Youth (2011) [.zip /// MF]
later,
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