Little Dragon

My dear friend Emily recommended this band to me a couple of months ago, after hearing the lead singer Yukimi had featured on the new (awsome) Gorillaz album 'Plastic Beach' (you can hear her and the band on the tracks 'Empire Ants' and 'To Binge'). It's taken me a while to get into them but I have to say I am realllyyy feeling it now. Their 2009 album, 'Machine Dreams', is a seriously good blend of 80's inspired synth/electro pop. I can't quite find the right adjectives to describe their sound... But of course they're Swedish, which means they just have to be cool. Has anybody noticed how many amazing musicians come out of Sweden? Is it something in the water over there? Jose Gonzales, jj, Shout Out Louds, The Knife, Peter Bjorn and John... Fuck, even ABBA had something going on. Anway, these damn cool Swedes are...well... damn cool. Like I said, I'm not great on the adjectives today. Time to shut up and listen.

Little Dragon - A New

Little Dragon - Looking Glass

Little Dragon - Feather

"rather be a bandit than a lover..."

This video is pretty rad too...

How unreal is Yukimi's voice?

C x

And My Head Just Exploded...

The new album from Crystal Castles is serious! Released back in May this year and sharing the same name as their first CD (go figure, I can't tell if that's some sort of 'cool hipster' way to name a new CD, or maybe they put all their creativity into their music so that they are left with unoriginal titles...) this album will knock you around, you will want to stop what you are doing and jump up and down, and you will start to wonder how simple lo-fi music could feel so engaging. Just look at these guys; they are so damn hipster/indie/punk cool with their short cropped hair, mustache, taxidermy owl and mannequin head... they're music MUST be some sort of cool... and it is. Check out my favourite track from the album below.

Crystal Castles - Baptism


R. Hunter

Cut, Copy, Paste

I realise that I probably should have left this one to my Melbourne sibling to blog, for all I know this has been playing on Triple J for months now, but just thought I'd put it out there. Melbourne's own Cut Copy have recently released a track off their new album that is due out around January of 2011, and it seems like they aren't straying far from their tried-and-true formula for creating music. The synths, harmonies, and catchy drumbeats are all there (including some 'woo hoo' and 'yeh yeh yehs' for good measure). Check it out below and stay tuned for more from these guys.

Cut Copy - Where I'm Going


R. Hunter

Those Crazy Japanese

Those crazy, creative folks from Japan have done it again. I'm sure there is a good chance you have seen this already as it has probably already been 'viral' judging by it's near 3,000,000 hits on youtube. But if you haven't seen it then please take the next 3 mins and 51 seconds to be amazed by this awesome display of music video creation. Forget about the fact that you don't understand the lyrics and maybe even dislike the song, I think this is pretty genius. Apparently it won the Best Music Video Award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in 2009. Nice one.



R. Hunter

High Fidelity

High Rotation - July

Some tunes that have been burning a hole this month..

Modern Man - Arcade Fire

No One's Gonna Love You (Band Of Horses cover) - Cee Lo Green

Gettin' Up - Q Tip

I Was Thinking - Gauntlet Hair

Total Life Forever - Foals

Let's Get Lost - Beck & Bat For Lashes

The Co-Dependent - Sia

Against The Wall - Young Empires

Turns Me On - Big Boi

Short And Entertaining - Jamaica

Genius Next Door - Regina Spektor

This Is What I Said - Cloud Control

Bermuda - Kisses

Dilly - Band Of Horses

Something Good Can Work (Ted & Francis Remix) - Two Door Cinema Club

C x

I hope I'm the first to tell you about...

Tanya Morgan

To be honest, not too big on the name, but I am big on the music. I went to see these guys play a show at the Mercury Lounge in NYC on Saturday night and despite the fact that it was only Don Will and Von Pea (two thirds of Tanya Morgan), and they didn't have a DJ, they killed it. They had great stage presence, their rhymes were crisp and they were able to energize a rather lacklustre crowd. The venue wasn't packed out by any means and it got me to thinking that these guys were being unappreciated... but I guess that's how New York is sometimes; there's just too much good shit happening every night for people to make it to each gig.

I may not be the first to tell you about Tanya Morgan as their members have been releasing various tracks and mixtapes since 2006, however their 2009 album "Brooklynati" (reflecting their hometowns of Cincinnati and Brooklyn) is the one that's really getting everyone, including myself, interested. Critics are giving rave reviews and even going so far as to liken them to De La Soul... you can check out the tracks below and make up your own minds.

Tanya Morgan - Bang & Boogie

And this one is just Don Will (1/3 of Tanya Morgan) off a Mick Boogie mixtape called 'Changemakers' that my friend Teddy put me on to. A nice summertime jam.

Don Will feat. The Park - Love Junkie (Wallpaper Remix)

www.myspace.com/tanyamorgan

R. Hunter

How To Make It In America

"C'mon share your dollar with me"

This blog entry isn't exactly an advertisment for HBO's new show in it's summer line up, also named 'How To Make It In America', that aired it's final episode of season 1 in early April this year... however it is an entry dedicated to the theme song. Going hand-in-hand with the American Dream the song is titled 'I need a dollar' and truly reflects the sentiments of many people living in New York City.

The tv show itself is a bit of harmless fun from the same team that brought you Entourage, so you should know what to roughly expect. And the opening tune from soul singer/hip hop artist Aloe Blacc is guaranteed to make your head nod. Aloe's debut album was released in 2006 on the reputable Stone's Throw Records, based in California and he is apparently working on an album titled 'Good Things' set to be released in September of 2010 so stay tuned. For now, check out his track below and Mr Blacc's myspace site for more.

Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar

www.myspace.com/aloeblaccmusic

R. Hunter

I have a confession to make..

.......... I'm completely in love with The National. Damnnnn it feels good to get that off my chest.

Now, I'm not quite sure how this happened. I mean, I've been hearing for months and months from friends and blogs alike how amazing they are, but after listening to a few tracks off 'High Violet' I was not convinced. In fact, Matt's voice annoyed the hell out of me. I think I went so far as to say to Reuben a couple of months ago, 'Uhh, they're like, sooo depressing I hate them'. And so, assured by the fact that I had given them a couple of listens and more than chance to impress me, I happily shoved them aside into the pile of music I'd be content never to hear again.

And now here is where I have to formally thank my Ipod's 'Shuffle' mode for forcing me to re-listen to the songs in that pile. When 'Lemonworld' popped up on my car stereo one foggy winter's morning, I motioned to do the mandatory skip-to-the-next-song-to-find-a-good-one (which I so often have to do these days to shuffle through the odd 14,000 songs my Ipod has accumulated, some of them questionable), but something stopped me in my tracks. I don't know if it was lush, opening chords, or the rolling drums, or Matt's pining vocal's, or what.. but something made me want to listen. And heck, I'm glad I did.

Because their album High Violet is incredible. It's pure, understated, lush, poetic, challenging - and ultimately, for me anyway - utterly rewarding.

The National have been described as all sorts of things; 'Dad rock', 'adult angst', 'grown-up pop'. Well hell, I'm only 18 years old and I can relate to everything these guys are putting out there. Which goes to show, although they are singing about kids, money, wives, uninteresting sex on Tuesdays and all the other shit that comes with middle age, the imagery in their lyricism is completely relatable and universal. And the instrumentation the whole way through 'High Violet' is absolutely gorgeous - the arrangements are lush and complicated without being distracting or cluttered. In short, I can't get enough. Songs like 'Runaway', 'Conversation 16', and 'England' only begin to show how amazing this band is.

So, if you haven't already listened to these guys, or if you have and hate them, I implore you to try again. And again. And again. And if you're not yet converted, sit down and listen again. Listen to them enough times to let this album creep up on you. Listen to them enough times and I assure you you won't regret it.

Damn you The National, I think I'm brainwashed.

'Conversation 16'

live on coffee and flowers,

try not to worry what the weather will be

'Runaway'

'Lemonworld'

C x

Get Funked...

"I'm Rick James Bitch"

Some funk for your friday. Since I've started bartending at the 169 Bar in NYC I have been privileged enough to be exposed to a whole heap of funk, jazz, swing and other golden-oldie gems, and I would now like to begin sharing these timeless classics with you... enjoy:

Rick James - Give It To Me Baby

Young-Holt Unlimited - Soulful Strut

The Temptations - Papa Was A Rollin Stone

R. Hunter

M.I.A. - Space

My favourite track off M.I.A.'s new album (and no I'm not going to even attempt to spell the name, it's stupid). This track is wicked, kinda like Paper Planes... but on valium.... I love it.

For you on your Monday. Enjoy 'Space'.

C x

I hope I'm the first to tell you about...

Phantogram

I was flicking through the gig guide for NYC this week and I saw that tonight Caribou (a group that I like) was playing a free concert with Phantogram (a group that I didn't know anything about). I thought that there was a good chance that any group that would co-headline with a quality group like Caribou must be worth a look, and I wasn't disappointed.

This male/female duo that hail from northern New York State immediately drew parallels with The xx, which could never be a bad thing. There seems to be a new push towards moulding genres together, as well as doubling up on vocalists representing both sexes which often results in this new indie/electronic rock/pop/hip hop sound that appeals to both males and females, and Phantogram hits the nail on the head. Their debut album titled 'Eyelid Movies', released in February this year, covers all of these genres and probably a little bit more. So check out their head-nodding, funky single 'When I'm Small' below and if you like that then you should definitely pick up their CD and try see them live... As I listen to their CD from start to finish on the bus heading for a weekend in DC I can only regret leaving New York as I pass up an opportunity to see these guys live (and for free no less!)

Phantogram - When I'm Small

www.myspace/phantogram

R. Hunter

I hope I'm the first to tell you about...

Stornoway

I've learnt two new things today:

1. Stornoway is an important port and the major town and administrative centre of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.
2. Stornoway is a nifty little British 4 piece (sometimes 6 piece with the brass section) alternative indie pop band who have released a great debut album titled: Beachcomber's Windowsill.

This could, in fact, be old news to some (despite their debut album only being released in May this year) due to the release of their single 'Zorbing' back in July 2009. 'Zorbing' is where I first got a taste for the group's music and it is a delightful track that seems to take you on a journey as it continues to add layers of vocals, brass and harmonies throughout the song. When the monk-like chanting kicks in at the 36 second mark it'll make your hairs stand on end.

For almost a year now I have been waiting to hear a full serve of Stornoway's musical treats after that 2009 teaser and now here it is. 'Beachcomber's Windowsill' is a solid first-up offering from a group that was earmarked on BBC's Sound of 2010 list back in December last year.

Please take a moment to check out their music on myspace, watch the clip from when they played on Later... with Jools Holland (below), and purchase their CD. Definitely one to watch in 2010.

www.myspace/stornoway

R. Hunter

The Jury Is Still Out On This One...

The Cataracs

I first came across these Californian club/pop/rap duo on a mixtape a friend referred me to called 'changemakers'. I immediately warmed to their track 'Club Love' which contains an infectious looped chorus, a simple-yet-effective beat, some club-friendly vocoder and some nice rhymes. I didn't hear about these guys again until I took a weekend trip to Washington DC where another friend could not stop playing a track that they feature on:

The Far East Movement feat. The Cataracs - Like a G6

'Like a G6' became a semi-anthem for the party weekend, and I must say it contains all the features of an infectious club track. With these two positive musical experiences under my belt I decided to explore a little bit more about The Cataracs... but I didn't exactly like everything that I found. I found it hard to take them seriously for many reasons:

• Song names such as: 'Chang-a-lang', 'Bad Boys With Money', and 'Malibu Pimpin'
• Lyrics such as: 'Hit all three hos like a binder, yes I'm a minor, but not when it comes to vagina'
• The way that they are marketing themselves i.e. their appearance (see their photo on myspace), and the naming of their mixtape "I thought they were black".
• Their excessive use of the vocoder... like T-Pain and Kanye had some white babies.

I may be taking them too seriously... and if so then the joke is obviously on me. I'm still going to play 'Like a G6' in my room before I head out on a Saturday night, and I'm still going to bop along to 'Club Love' on the subway. Check these guys out for yourselves and make your own judgements, but it's safe to say that they're most likely going to be very big on the club scene.

http://www.myspace.com/thecataracs

R. Hunter

One day in a hallway in Paris...

Just imagine.

C x

I was sinking and now I've sunk

It's truly a testament to how amazing a debut 'Lungs' was that this track was relegated to being only a b-side...

Enjoy 'Swimming' by Florence & The Machine below.

And happy Monday!

C x

Good Chemistry

I just realised something... I'm a massive fan of The Chemical Brothers. I'm actually ashamed to say that it's taken me 15 years and countless numbers of big-hitting tracks, but I now can truthfully say that they've got me. Since 1995 The Chemical Brothers have created quite an impressive back catalogue of studio albums, live shows and collaborations... however it's their latest offering, their 7th studio album, entitled 'Further' that has caused me to get all nostalgic. Since their debut album in 1995 I could go back and pick out at least one song from each CD released that had a big impact on my musical life... and so I will:

• Exit Planet Dusk (1995) - Leave Home
• Dig Your Own Hole (1997) - Where Do I Begin (with an honourable mention to Block Rockin' Beats)
• Surrender (1999) - Hey Boy, Hey Girl
• Come With Us (2002) - Star Guitar
• Push The Button (2005) - Galvanize
• We Are The Night (2007) - Saturate (with an honourable mention to The Salmon Dance)
• Further (2010) - Swoon

From start to finish 'Further' is a solid album and one that fits perfectly into the Chemical Bros. signature 'headphones on whilst walking down dark streets' style. And to add to the coolness this CD brings, all 8 tracks are accompanied by corresponding videos (a la Daft Punk's Interstella 5555 video) and can be purchased on iTunes along with the complete album plus a special unreleased bonus track available to iTunes Pass customers only.

For now, here is a link to the Boys Noize remix of my favourite track 'Swoon'. Boys Noize sure knows how to touch up a track, and he doesn't dissapoint on this one:

Chemical Brothers - Swoon (Boys Noize Remix)

R. Hunter

Song of the moment

Slash artist of the moment..... Patrick Watson - Luscious Life.

Celebrate your dreams when you are awake

Doesn't it taste so sweet

C x