Do yourself a favour

And watch this video.



As film director Spike Jones explains:

"The other day, I was lucky enough to be at an event to bring the arts back into schools and got to see an amazing collaboration between Yo-Yo Ma and a young dancer in LA, Lil Buck. Someone who knows Yo-Yo Ma had seen Lil Buck on YouTube and put them together. The dancing is Lil Buck's own creation and unlike anything I've seen. Hope you enjoy"

It really is amazing.

C x

I needed this track yesterday!

I love when you hear a song for the first time while you're out driving, but you arrive at your destination before it finishes... so you sit in the car for a couple of minutes after you park your car just to enjoy the moment. This happened to me a couple of weeks back with this track from New York City's 'Hooray For Earth'. Apparently they've been around since 2006 but I'm just catching wind of them now as they gear up to release a new album on May 10th titled 'True Loves'. You can check out the title track that piqued my interest below via Soundcloud... Enjoy

Hooray For Earth - True Loves
Hooray For Earth - True Loves by Dovecote Records

R. Hunter

Coachella: The wrap up

Before I start this wrap up of one of the best weekends I've had in a long time I must set up a short disclaimer: I realise that a lot of people attended Coachella, and many will have a tonne of great stories and opinions about bands that I didn't even get to see. What I say is by no means 'how it was', more like 'how it was for me'... and in case you were wondering it was pretty sweet.

Wednesday, April 13th, 2pm
I leave work early to jump on a shuttle to Denver International. Excited doesn't really do it justice.

Thursday, April 14th, 4pm
Arrive in Palm Springs on a Greyhound from LA after spending the night in West Hollywood. Not quite sure what to make of Palm Springs...

Rich retirement village meets mountains and deserts... and lots of Palms (who would have thought). Check in to hotel in town and immediately reduce the average guest age drastically. Romy and Ashleigh arrive from New York City later in the evening and the shenanigans begin.

Friday, April 15th. Coachella Day 1
Hungover but beside myself with excitement. A few drinks to start the day and then off on the 45 minute bus trip to the Empire Polo Club in Indio for day 1.

Bands I saw (in order):

1. Titus Andronicus - Great way to start the festival. One of my favourite bands of 2010. Arm-swinging pub rock at it's best, and one of the best beards in music today.
2. Cee Lo Green - What a disappointment. Waited 20 mins for him to start. Listened to 2 average songs... then left.
3. A-Trak - Rocked it. Played all the hits, including some Duck Sauce jams.
4. Cold War Kids - Watched from the beer garden. Solid.
5. Sleigh Bells - Great show. The music was press-button stuff so pretty similar to the CD but she really made it entertainment. Special mention to her outfit
6. Black Keys - Solid, but they sounded like the volume was at about 70%.
7. Kings of Leon - Played too many songs that sounded too similar, but entertained nonetheless.
8. The Chemical Brothers - Classic. Great tunes, amazing visuals. Made me high without drugs.

Bands I regret missing: Odd Future, Cut Copy, Robyn, Crystal Castles, Boys Noize, Gayngs
Band I'm glad I missed: Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti... I feel very vindicated though. Read this.

Saturday, April 16th. Coachella Day 2:
Decided to drink a little more than on day 1 which resulted in two things: A more entertaining afternoon, and Romy packing it in early overcome by the alcohol and heat combination. I still feel bad for her...

Bands I Saw:

1. Erykah Badu - Amazing despite some microphone issues. She's a real performer.
2. Laidback Luke - Maybe the surprise of the festival... or maybe it was the alcohol? Either way it was a ripping good time.
3. Mumford and Sons - Heard them from the beer garden... probably the best way to hear them I guess, not worth jumping around in the crowd for.
4. The Swell Season - Kinda what was needed after a rather hectic day. Great performance.
5. Empire of the Sun - Honestly, not my favourite band, but they held their own and entertained.
6. Arcade Fire - It seemed like the whole day was just building up to this. One of the best live music experiences I've had. I'm sure most of you have hear about or seen the video of 'Wake Up' with the giant glowing balls... gives me goosebumps just thinking about it (sorry Romy).

Bands I regret missing: The Tallest Man on Earth, Foals, Elbow

Sunday, April 17th. Coachella Day 3:
An amazing BLT and mimosas fueld us up (shout out to Sherman's Deli), ready for a big day, and it didn't disappoint.

Bands I Saw:

1. Wiz Khalifa - Lots of talk about weed, and lots of weed smoked in the crowd. Solid set, really established himself as something more than just 'that guy that raps Black and Yellow'.
2. Nas & Damien Marley - Rocked it together, then took turns displaying their individual talents.
3. Best Coast - Was kind of reluctant to watch this one as I still believe their CD was the most overrated of 2010. I got what I expected.
4. The National - Amazing performance. In the top 3 of the weekend for sure. They rocked much harder than their CDs would suggest.
5. The Strokes - Surprisingly great show, despite the fact that Julian Casablancas probably topped Kanye as the arsehole of the festival.
6. Kanye West - Over the top dramatic from start to finish. Whether it was the gigantic religious monument, the 3 Acts that didn't really make sense, the fireworks that erupted every time he said the word 'power', or maybe the fact that he seemed to play nearly every song he'd ever written (even that song he features on with Katy Perry)... it was all a little too much, but I have to say that he sure knows how to perform. You also can't deny that this guy has made some amazing music. I just wish he'd left out the tracks from 808s and Heartbreaks. 

Bands I regret missing: Twin Shadow, Ellie Goulding, Joy Orbison, Phantogram, The Presets

I don't think I need to say it again but it was an amazing weekend. Thanks to Romy and Ash for making it even more fun that it should have been. If you only take anything out of this post let it be this: save up your money and go next year, you won't be disappointed.

R. Hunter

New: The National

The National were a big winner at Coachella last weekend, surprisingly energetic and uplifting on stage. I love their music but wasn't expecting to be blown away by their live show... I was wrong. You can imagine my excitement when I discover that they have released a new track for a computer game soundtrack, of all things. It's a slow building piano/string combo that suits lead singer Matt Berninger's baritone perfectly. It's pretty cinematic... Enjoy

The National - Exile-Vilify

"You've got suckers luck"

R.Hunter

New: Clams Casino

The DJ behind some of California's Bay Area rapper's more unique and deeper beats has been compiling some instrumental tracks and is set to release an EP of his works. I love this type of down-tempo, chill, shoe-gazing, hip hop... but not too sure about his name. Anyway, you can check out one my favourite tracks of his below, and if you like that check out more of his stuff and also the tracks he produced for Lil' B... enjoy

Clams Casino - Numb


R. Hunter

A classic for Tuesday

'Cos one step ahead is a step too far away from you 

C x

Jhameel

Rad new artist alert - Jhameel, hailing from San Francisco. I stumbled across him whilst browsing mindlessly on the blogosphere, and ever since I can't really get enough of his tune, 'The Human Condition'. Plus, his name is really fun to say. Jhameeeeeeeeel.

Check out 'The Human Condition' below :



And I don't know about you, but I love free shit, so if you feel similarly inclined, get yourself to Jhameel's website and download his album, 'The Human Condition', FOR FREE. Yeoww.

Official website
Myspace 

C x

I made a playlist for : April

While my lucky son-of-a-*&%^# brother soaks up the sun & the out-of-this-WORLD line-up of artists at Coachella this weekend (asshole), I'm going to distract myself from my all consuming jealousy by making a wee little playlist of some tunes I have been enjoying this month.

It's a random mix.. in no particular order, but all particularly wonderful. Enjoy.

Tracklist:

California Sunrise - Dirty Gold

Mammalian Locomotion - Abbe May

Abused & Amused - New Mexico

You're Already Gone - The Dig

Think You Can Wait - The National

Half Full Glass Of Wine (Canyons Rmx) - Tame Impala 

I'll Try Anything Once (You Only Live Once Demo) - The Strokes

Truth - Alexander

God Only Knows - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. 

Marathon - Tennis

Greenleaf - Generationals

Where Is My Mind - Pixies

Cathode Ray - Blonde Summer

I Wrote The Book - Beth Ditto 

And Reubs, I hate you

C x

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis

This post is dedicated to my coffee guy. He has some mean tattoos, a cool haircut, and evidently some bloody great taste in music. The other week I was waiting for my coffee and overheard some kinda swing, jump blues, country & western rockabilly tunes coming out of the speakers. I was intrigued to say the least, mainly because I was confused as to how I had never heard it before. Surely it was straight outta the 1950's? No siree bob. Upon enquiring as to who the artist was, I was informed by coffee guy (as he shall be known) that it was in fact a band called Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, and no, it wasn't recorded 60 years ago, it was produced in 2008 in a little home studio in London.

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis are made up of three siblings - Kitty, Daisy & Lewis Durham. Their sound is made authentic by the use of 40's & 50's recording equipment - the band does not use any computers or any digital format during the recording process. But these guys aren't mere hipsters worshipping at the alter of retro, like a few of their UK contemporaries - their sound manages to be both nostalgic & fresh, evocative of yesteryear but also youthful, fun & undeniably genuine.

These are some of my favourite tracks from their self-titled record from 2008. Their new album, 'Smoking in Heaven', is due to be released on May 30th of this year.

Enjoy!

Going Up The Country


Polly Put The Kettle On


I Got My Mojo Working


C x

Classic Funk: The Go! Team

A 'classic' from 2004... don't know why I only just heard this, but pretty sure it's been sampled a billion times. Whichever way you look at it, it's a funky jam... Enjoy

The Go! Team - Ladyflash

R. Hunter

New: The Weeknd

Do you like sexy album covers?  Do you like sexy, flawlessly smooth music production? Do you like great vocals with lots of uneccessary and unexpected bad language? Do you like a whole CD dedicated to parties, girls, alcohol, sex etc.? Do you like young artists with so much  confidence and self-belief that you automatically start to believe them? Do you like chilling out and vibing along to a great, themed mixtape? Well then you might like this one... did I mention it was sexy?... Enjoy

The Weeknd - The Party & The Afterparty


The Weeknd - Wicked Games


The Weeknd - Loft Music

*the last 3 minutes of this track is like putting your head in a whirlpool of relaxation, I love it


R. Hunter

New: Fleet Foxes

The Fleet Foxes released their first album since back in 2008 last month. Never fear, it's more of the same, great wistful, warm, folk ballads, complete with sweeping string instrumentals and well-placed background harmonies, that you have come to expect from the band out of Seattle. Their title track is an apt reflection of the rest of the album, and also one of the standouts. Check it out below... Enjoy

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues


R. Hunter

New: Bibio

Bibio was responsible for one of my favourite albums of 2009 with his 'Ambivalence Avenue' so I'm pretty excited that he has just released a new CD after a couple of years hiatus. He's definitely back to what he does best (funky stuff), and you can see that in my favourite track off the album below... Enjoy

Bibio - Anything New


R. Hunter