P R I M A R Y C O L O U R S

NOTHING WILL GROW

2012-01-16T16:30:00.000+11:00

A gem of a tune that landed in my inbox today. This guy's from Canada and has put out a few releases. His older stuff is kinda like a cross between Girls and Panda Bear. He's putting out a full length in March, and if this hypnotic tune is anything to go by, I'd pay some attention.

Little Jungles - Nothing Will Grow from MKN on Vimeo.

LITTLE JUNGLES FACEBOOK

BANDCAMP

'OBLITERATION ROOM'

2012-01-03T18:15:00.001+11:00

From the same lady who brought you 'BIG ROOM WITH MULTIPLE COLOURED DOTS' (see here and here) comes another installation of....BIG ROOM WITH MULTIPLE COLOURED DOTS. Although not plush ones, just 2D dots this time. I've had a strange penchant for stickers since I was a kid. I still have a box with my 'well done' stars lying in a box in my room with all my old stuff (life of a hoarder). Saw photos from this installation below today and did get a little excited though.  I guess it's only natural to ask, WHY WASN'T I A PART OF THIS?!! 

The installation was completed for the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane during December. Yayoi Kusama invited kids visiting the museum to cover the large white space in coloured dot stickers. The installation, entitled The Obliteration Room, is part of Kusama’s Look Now, See Forever exhibition that runs until March 12. 

GRATITUDE

2011-12-05T11:43:00.000+11:00

VESSEL

2011-11-08T18:01:00.000+11:00

2011-11-01T12:22:00.000+11:00

H E C T I C running around yesterday doing a shoot with the gorgeous Amaya Laucirica for a little project of mine. Which will be out eventually...if everyone sends in their submissions on time.

Forgot to take any snaps of the clothes before we did the shoot - but I did remember to take a snap of some very cool custom made shoes Owen Holloway lent us. Here's me taking a photo of Jack taking a photo.

VIDEO GAMES

2011-09-27T23:55:00.120+10:00

There’s the rise and fall chords, the nostalgic orchestral upsurge (with a bit of harp thrown in for good measure) and the bedroom rasp. Then there’s the vintage montage with all your favourite snippets of italian scooters, papparazo, slow-mo floral innuendo and enough collagen to make Priscilla Presley to barf up on her mink throw rug collection. I think I forgot the preying horse in the Blue Jeans vid at 1:51 (WHERE IS MICHAEL BOLTON ?!).

Lana Del Ray is probably as original as the carnation offcuts all the chicks are donning on their heads these days (music festival, not Machevellian wedding).

You don’t need to be some cultural critic to point out that every carefully constructed element of melancholy here is slowly, but surely unleashing it’s film grain fury and latching its lomo filter unto your soul. Macbooth pout overkill, and here’s me trying to stick my fingers down my throat.

So after listening to all this most of it with my eyes closed...I’ve come to the conclusion that her music is bearable. In fact, I think I like it. Not because there’s enough stock footage to put Metro Goldwyn Mayer into administration, or because I have a niggling penchant for text-book pop but probably because somewhere, deep down in my temporal lobes...I’ve heard this shit before. It also happens to be a real good pop song...but more about that later.

Video Games might be her one hit wonder (1.6 mil views can't be wrong) but take Yayo which is essentially Cat Power, Blue Jeans which could have been a Britney ballad 9 years ago and Diet Mountain Dew which is strangely Jewel - and you have a four tune rundown of LDR's versatile repertoire. I might be doing lazy pigeonhole labelling, but she's the one who's described herself as a 'modern day, gangsta Nancy Sinatra'. However, these comparisons do add some kind of credibility to the lookatmoi banner most hype artists flail about. I guess you could call it deja vu.

Call Steph Germanotta the first of her kind, but like every other muso, Gaga's spent a lot of time borrowing, preening, crafting and perfecting ‘her’ art. (And for the record, bovine garnments aren’t original...they’re just gross and rather unhygienic).

Like anything, inspiration is imitation. And although it builds and evolves and plucks pieces from the ether until it subsides into one big melting pot, perhaps all these ideas don't go anywhere at all.

We're stuck in a continuum of trying to move forward in our ideas, but most of the people I know are still fiddling with their Diana cams. I went to a gig last week for a band that was launching their record on tape. As in that double-sided-10x4 rectangular-thing you spent your childhood recording radio shows on.

It's not to doubt the people out there who are doing other fantastic things in the world though. It just seems that all this gen is latching onto is a bunch of regurgitated ideas. Call it an appreciation for history, but to be frank, we're all just a bunch of nostalgic wimps.

People are ready to feed off something ‘new’, but usually what we’re reciprocated with is a montage of recycled junk anyway (sort of like Lana Del Ray’s clips). Original doesn’t exist. It’s not to say the success of disposable hype-stars only thrives off the idols they’re priding themselves against, but comparisons certainly help.

Maybe I’m pointing out the obvious....but what I’m trying to say is that whether LDR’s trying to make a Nancy Sinatra of herself, contend her place as a semi-serious songwriter... or just wants to plaster her DIY vid aesthetic across the interwebs to plug her 5 minutes of fame, people ‘get' it. Why? Because we’ve seen it all before. While she’s borrowing and stealing, but she’s certainly not begging.

www.lanadelrey.com

INKLING

2011-08-31T23:12:00.000+10:00

FINALLY. a means to justify my adobe illustrator incompetence. woo!

WITHIN / WITHOUT

2011-08-25T15:03:00.001+10:00

A few photos from monday's shoot. Prepped with multiple suitcases of make-up, props and junk....until our stylist realises he's left the clothes (an hour away). Blessed with the emergence of the Melbourne S-U-N deciding to show itself for the first time this year. We all left in good spirits, although I'm still picking out thistleweeds from my stockings.

Stylist: Iyan Difuntorum
Hair/Makeup: Rhiannon Rogers
Model: Kahrynn

Real Estate - It's Real

FEIST

2011-08-20T22:20:00.002+10:00

So perhaps it's not the big hit with poppy hooks, piano chimes and 'hum-ability' tipping the richter like we expected - but hearing new material from everybody's favourite fringed Canadian is like finally getting that long awaited phone call from a familiar friend. It's been labelled a 'downer', but rightfully so.

I am surprised this was released as a first single - it doesn't explode with the confetti, travelator moves and magical flying toast as I was anticipating. However, it finds a good place between the moments of respite and more upbeat numbers where the last album left off. Rather than a 'bruising ballad', it's more of a conversational stroll in the park. Definitely wouldn't have qualms about arguing with Feist if every accusatory came out sounding as leisurely as this...

How Come You Never Go There by Feist

www.listentofeist.com

E A T , M O V E , L E A R N .

2011-08-06T00:56:00.001+10:00

Basement pal + all 'round nice guy RICK MEREKI directed this INCREDIBLE short series of films. The three shorts based on the themes 'EAT', 'MOVE' & 'LEARN' make all the pitfalls of travelling (mugged, backpacking + chiropractor fees + delhi belly + squat toilets) seem completely insignificant.

To sum up these videos: LIFE RULZ.

______

Rick Mereki : Director, producer, additional camera and editing
Tim White : DOP, producer, primary editing, sound
Andrew Lees : Actor, mover, groover

All Music composed and performed by Kelsey James
Music Recorded and mixed by Jake Phillips

______

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo

TAURUS CHORUS

2011-07-18T23:33:00.000+10:00

Third single from Abbe May's third album 'DESIGN DESIRE'.

Director / Editor -- Zena Loxton  

cargocollective.com/zenaloxton

Girls -- Rose Pilkington & Harmony Boucher
Director Of Photography -- Marcus Domelo
Steadicam -- Paul Hill
Focus Puller -- Matt Lynton
Animation-- Tom Tennant
Colorist -- Edwin Metternich @ Framestore
3D -- Passion Pictures.

* * *

www.abbemay.com

2011-07-13T15:11:00.000+10:00

George is doing funeral plan ads, Simon's doing broadway, Collin has made a few Sunday School albums and Noni ...well, this.

Sorry guys, childhood is well and truly over.

ZEMIRO'S REAL MUM

YARD PARTY

2011-06-28T23:31:00.004+10:00

Photos from the 'soiree' of sorts in Kate's yard on Sunday night. Apart from a slight drizzle of rain, thankfully we managed to dodge the bolt of zeus just before set time.

Many thanks to the Pattisons who opened up their home + provided the pumpkin soup/hot chocolate/blankets that made braving a chilly Sunday night much more bearable.

And yes, there was fake snow.

As for the tunes, I'm sure the neighbours won't be complaining.

45 AND RISING

2011-06-17T15:08:00.000+10:00

Among the worst of my odd inclinations is my tolerance for plane food. Don't get me wrong, being forcefully wedged in a tupperware sized corner is never a good thing.

I always end up mounted between the serial wallet photo flogging nan and the fat guy with the bowels of a three year old who needs to make the whole row stand up everytime last night's rogan josh needs to be emptied out of his gastrointestinal system.

Strangers in high altitude zones don't appeal to me in the least. But plane food, it's okay.

Growing up in a fairly conservative protestant household, dinner was to be eaten on the table, and on the table only. I envied Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman having such a hoot in Matilda eating their frozen corn cobs and watching naked chicks roll around in money. It was the 90's, and my family didn't even own a fucking stable table.

And so stems my affinity for eating meals off my lap. I don't do it as often as I should, but in all it's foil tucked, strategically placed glory, TV dinners at 2670ft are alright by me.

Here's the new one from Friendly Fires.

JONTI - FIREWORK SPRAYING MOON

2011-06-15T15:56:00.000+10:00

VAUDEVILLE FOR THE MASSES.

2011-05-22T20:57:00.006+10:00

Oh the dazzling world of Burlesque! A refined spectator sport at best. After sold out shows in Melbourne and Sydney, The Hoodoo Emporium's Jitterbug Club is bringing the circus to 2011’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival this month.

Can't promise the lady rolling around in the giant glass of champagne, but if you've got retrograde tendencies, dig carnival paraphernalia, or have a general thing for men in suspenders (hands up) - then this my friend, is utopia. Party like it’s 1933 people!

Leading the troupe of talented females performing at the event is Mojo Juju who fronts the ever enigmatic Mojo Juju & The Snakeoil Merchants. Listen to some stuff and you'll figure that the Waits reincarnate call isn't a far fetched call.

Juju kindly answered some of my prying questions about nostalgia, nipple tassles and other stuff.

* * *

You said in another interview that you’re a ‘pan-Australian’ band?

I think that comment was made jokingly, as it’s quite a large ensemble we have scattered around the place. There are 8 members in the band, 16 in the show, and we live in at least 3 different cities. Which often makes rehearsals a logistical nightmare. It does, however, make for a good time on the road.
There’s a certain amount of crazy in any good show I’d say. At least I hope that there is.

Were you always interested in musical theatre?

No, for a long time I believed that I didn’t really like it. Until I realized that everything I was pouring my heart and soul into… was actually musical theatre. Now I have committed to loving it.
And in fact I pray that music everywhere will adopt a little more theatre - Just enough to mean the difference between, putting on a show & entertaining people or just playing music in the background.

Favourite Mojo Juju moment?

Oh so many… But the Jitterbug Club has most definitely been a highlight. Particularly the Sydney shows.

A lot of people try to politicize the whole burlesque revival, making it about feminism or sexual politics. What’s your take on that?

I think unfortunately the burlesque scene is a little oversaturated right now. And there’s a lot that I don’t particularly like. But I DO LOVE burlesque. And yes, I think it is intrinsically political. But there are certainly some performers who are more aware of the politics involved.

I prefer to work with performers like Lillian Starr, Frankie Valentine, who I’ve been working with for years now - they both have strong political views on what they do. But just as importantly they have a sense of humour, sharp wit and a lot of good fun. Their shows are skillful perversions of traditional burlesque.

Although, the shows in the Jitterbug Club will in fact be a leaning a little more toward the traditional side of things, less burlesque and more chorus line and dance routines.

Most liberating thing about putting on a performance?

Creating an atmosphere, an environment, where people lose their inhibitions. Where performers and the audience alike, can get completely immersed in the moment.

Would you call yourself nostalgic?

Yes, I’m sure a few others might call me that also. But having said that, I’m not out to recreate something from the past. I’m more interested in evolving ideas from the past and keeping the spirit of them alive by interpreting them in new ways.

Most of what we try to create is nostalgic in its aesthetic, but progressive in concept.

How do you make something like music theatre/burlesque accessible to new audiences?

Hopefully because what we do is genuine, it’s chaotic but crafted. I pay a lot of attention to detail, but there is an energy of excitement. It’s very much alive. And people can relate to that. I think that’s the most important thing.

Do you think there’s an ‘expiry date’ for women in burlesque? (Can you ever be too old to wear nipple tassels?)

Hahahaha! Perhaps in a broader sense, but it depends on who the audience is and why they’re going to see burlesque. So in my opinion, no! It’s not only about strip tease.

And even if it were, who is to say some one stops being interesting to look at just because they reach a certain age...

Are you working on any other projects?

Yes, very much so. I’ve been in the studio working on a new album.
I’ll be releasing a single in July and launching it in Adelaide on August 4th at the Grace Emily.

* * * * *

THE HOODOO EMPORIUM

presents

THE JITTERBUG CLUB

* * * * *

Featuring Frankie Valentine, Papillon, Mojo Juju and the Snake Oil Merchants (FINAL SHOW!) , MC James Grim, plus guest vocalists and burlesque pin-up Lillian Starr.

OYW

2011-05-09T00:57:00.000+10:00

Creative people are nice dudes. They just know how to make the rest of us feel like shit. Continuing yer fetish for playdoh well into well into adulthood is just what some people call their job. I am one of those who regret failing to capitalize on the potential of those disfigured terracotta blobs berthed out of the kiln in primary school. Who knows, we all could've been sticking googly eyes onto clay and dancing around making cute shit out of glowsticks for six months too. I've spent the last hour scoping out this Darcy Prendergast character's youtube channel and it seems this kid dethroned Adam Harvey a while ago. This one's doing the viral rounds...

www.ohyeahwow.com

TERMINALLY CHILL PT. 2

2011-04-26T11:59:00.001+10:00

Late last year, after barraging through a substantial number of shitty foreign phone card operators/several voice mailbox deposits, finally had a chat to Alan Palomo AKA. Neon Indian in between re-decorating, ordering mex and packing up his bags for Helsinki to record the newie. By the looks of this vid, sounds like Helsinki has rubbed off a literal chill on this this one. Spring awaits!

SEE YOU HURRY

2011-04-20T23:13:00.000+10:00

Models tend to be more gracious than garrulous in their approach to catering, but if you're stuck on a diet of granola and cigarettes, I'd get pretty snappy too. In this case, it’s all peaceful mountain fernery and alabaster buttocks until an unfortunate unicorn/pegasus/thing becomes subject to Louise Van Der Vorst’s snack attack. Still, major props to Daniel Askill from Collider and the guys behind this clip. The visual aesthetics are pretty mindblowing. You'd be forgiven for thinking that Sam Worthington and his league of blue merry men would burst out of the amazonian fog at any given moment. Really loving this tune, the whole driving indie-folk rhetoric reminds me a lot of the gems off Midlake’s second record.

www.wimtheband.com

THE REPAIRER

2011-04-20T22:40:00.000+10:00

MESITA

2011-04-04T21:34:00.003+10:00

HAPPY CHOONS ARE
FREE CHOONS

FULL LP

FREE LP

DIVE INTO PILLOWPILE

NOW.

link:

http://www.mediafire.com/?5azwnzazxwes07x

COLD FEET

2011-03-21T15:08:00.000+11:00

SPIKE + 'BURBS

2011-03-16T15:35:00.002+11:00

ANNA CALVI

2011-03-14T01:42:00.002+11:00

Brian Eno said she's the 'best thing since Patti Smith'.

I say (for lack of a better word)... e-p-i-c.

2011-03-13T20:50:00.002+11:00

MORNIN'

2011-02-26T11:08:00.000+11:00

TALES FROM THE ISLAND

2011-02-23T20:37:00.002+11:00

Interviewed ex casting guru Ned Ambler the other week. When I mentioned I had only two days left in town, he suggested that I venture out to Coney Island. And so I did. Took the F train down to the end of the line on Friday. Five years later, I arrived. An old Asian couple at the end of the carriage having a noisy domestic kept me occupied for most of the trip. Perms, grocery trolleys and an ignorant spouse are inevitable parts of my future, so I'll quit the jibes.

Getting off the train was weird. Apart from the McDonald's on the main st and a dude on the sidewalk trying to flag a flier for a mexican restaurant, the main street had patron numbers of a scientology bookstore. Midday friday afternoon, and the place was pretty dead.

You know that feeling you get when you look at someone at an open casket funeral? Then again, there's a high possibility you probably don't stare at dead people in your spare time. Unless you're Anthony Hopkins. Although Coney Island has all the makings of a ghost town, it's still peaceful. A lonely kind of peaceful. Litter strewn across rusted iron and steel poles lining the empty parking lot next to the main boardwalk, you'd be forgiven for thinking this was once a major beachside resort in the late 1800's. In it's heyday it was the biggest amusement park amusement area in the United States up until WWII, attracting several million visitors per year.

Coney Island became a major resort destination after the Civil War when the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company electrified the steam railroads and connected Brooklyn to Manhattan via the Brooklyn Bridge. After World War II, with cars and air conditioning in movie theaters and then in homes bringing entertainment closer and more convenient to families, the area lost popularity. For many years, the place was subject to neglect. The old cyclone roller coaster (1927) still stands though.

If anything, you could almost feel the breeze of the wooden rollercoasters going, make out the sound of faint carnival music among squeals of young kids and weary mothers and seeing gelati being kicked around in the sand. Rather than ageing gracefully, Coney Island felt like it'd been spat on, punched in the gut and robbed of life right in the middle of it's youth.

It was still a peaceful place to go to after being in the Manhattan push-and-shove for so long. Walked the shoreline stuffing my coat pockets with shells and shiny things. Thought about the whole trip. And being far away from home. Why I came here anyway. And the thought of going home, back to uni and folding jeans. And whether I should eat tacos for dinner. And whether Sufjan Stevens understands the meaning of life (debatable).Wandered myself into a contemplative daze until some twat jogging along blasting Benny Benassi kicked some sand up into my retinas. Cheers.

MNDR

2011-02-22T00:21:00.002+11:00

2011-02-17T16:14:00.001+11:00

One thing I'll credit Americans for, is their enthusiasm. No half-arsed business here. Big cars, big portion sizes, big people, yanks are competent at taking stuff and amplifying it outside the threshold of justifiable means. Nine storey Christmas ornaments and annual turkey genocide aside, there's that day in February where society pummels to remind you that you're not getting laid.

I don't think I could get used to 6 foot V-Day stalls at Woolies back home, but this is the land of the free after all. When you avoid things, they tend to follow you around. Take the nan on her fixie bike pimped out in red tinsel, who chased me down 17th trying to barter off some dehydrated stems.

This chick was wandering on the corner of 14th & 6th in suitable Valentine's Day attire. Bonus points for enthusiasm. 

HECTIC

2011-02-15T02:31:00.000+11:00

You bet I am attending this tomorrow.

2011-02-06T04:53:00.000+11:00

DAY OLD BLUES

2011-02-02T16:42:00.005+11:00

I'm eating too much meat like a New Yorker. Cussing like a New Yorker. Pacing fast when I don't really have anywhere to be. Waiting in long queues, paying  a 16 dollar bill for water at dinner. Tipping subway buskers like a New  Yorker. Having Madonna's daughters classmate convince me that she's  normal because she digs Snooki. "Mhmms' instead of thank yous, soaked in  gravel slush by trucks driving too close to the kerb. Getting lost on  purpose. 

At the foot of the Statue of Liberty, there's a small tablet engraving that reads


'Give me your tired, your poor,  
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,  
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.  
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me'.  

Seems like I came to this city looking for something, but doesn't everyone? It's been a few weeks, but it feels like much more. Manhattan's arms reach right down the river for miles. Staying on Roosevelt Island, apparently Spidey rescued a bunch of kids off the bridge next door back in installment one. Although the industrial smoke and snow fog often obscures the view of the skyline, it's better than being woken up by the path shoveler attempting to clear three feet of snow on occasional mornings.

There are certain parts of the city and people I've met who remind me a lot of home.

Still, not quite homesick just yet. It's nice here.

FALLS DAY 3

2011-01-19T09:09:00.000+11:00

W O R L D ' S E N D P R E S S

C L O U D   C O N T R O L 

FALLS DAY 2.

2011-01-19T09:07:00.002+11:00

 B I G  S C A R Y

A S H   G R U N W A L D

click 'read more' to see full set

B O Y  & B E A R

C H I L D R E N   C O L L I D E

T H E   J E Z A B E L S

J U N I P

A N G U S & J U L I A S T O N E

FALLS DAY 1.

2011-01-19T09:05:00.003+11:00

 L A S T  D I N O S A U R S

 T I M   A N D   J E A N

J O N A T H A N   B O U L E T

 T H E   L I V I N G   E N D

ALWAYS WANT

2011-01-17T00:06:00.003+11:00

Still haven't found an article on this young lady that doesn't include 'Ledger' or 'Harper' in the first line. Name dropping really doesn't do any credibility, tunes often speak for themselves. Someone told Grace Woodroofe was Ledger's sister. Someone else told me she they were bangin'. Someone else was saying that she was half decent live. Decided to check out what all the fuss was about when she supported Boulet a few weeks ago. Came in a skeptic, went out like a Tennessee conversion. While songs with heavier accompaniments like 'Bear' seemed to drown out her voice, it was the slower paced, blues ballads like 'Always Want' and 'H.' that really struck a chord. She reminds me of a more 'mellow' version of Mia Dyson. Apart from the obvious husky vocal tones that both share, the basis of Woodroofe's delivery packs the same sort of guts and honesty. While the occassional dose of overpolished indie pop-folk that seems to be saturating the airwaves does cheer up the general consensus, it's refreshing to hear something like this that's a little rough around the edges, but still sincere. Don't bother trying to google Grace (there's a few bad quality youtube vids and a meagre myspace). For the time being, really recommend giving 'Always Want' a spin. Clocks in at about 31 min, it's a gutsy, but simple well crafted debut.

BOULET SHOOT

2011-01-08T23:38:00.002+11:00

A few behind the scenes photos from a shoot the nice dudes from the jono boulet collective did for a little project myself and a few others are working on. Shooting six at a time isn't easy, but thanks to nick and will for shooting/keeping everyone amused. Progress is slow but steady, keep yer eyes peeled.

BTSU

2010-12-15T12:54:00.000+11:00

Still one of the best tracks to come out of 2010. Been beating everyone over the head religiously with this tune for a while. Not a new tune, but still sounds fresh. There's not much about Jai Paul or his tunes on the interwebs, but I think everyone in the blogosphere is hinging on a release from the Londoner ASAP.

WASHED OUT/EL GUINCHO @ ROOFTOP

2010-12-15T12:42:00.000+11:00

Meredith visitors Washed Out and El Guincho played to a packed rooftop on a balmy Monday night melbourne. Greene left everyone in a cloud of coastal fuzz. Considering this guy played his first live show just little over a year ago, I think he's done alright. Far off from that library career anyway. Dropped 'Belong' to open with. 'Feel it all around' was received with equal enthusiasm from the crowd. A brief set, but tunes translated as well live as they did on the record. Technical fuck-ups left everyone waiting for a while. Nothing like frustrated foreign dialogue coming over the mics, but Pablo got on with the show. 'Pop Negro' is a predictable record, but one that still shits sun rays when you're having a bad day. Good vibes from El Guincho, sans the twerps yelling 'ti amo' at the poor Spaniard. Happy vibes at rooftop.

Back for Neon Indian in Jan.

MINOR DOMESTIC

2010-12-13T16:14:00.000+11:00

Erykah Badu possessed the body of Amy Winehouse, and it sounds hella good.

www.myspace.com/lanielanemusic

BEATS TO BURGERS

2010-12-09T14:15:00.000+11:00

Loose Joints Presents: Beatbox Kitchen from Loose Joints on Vimeo.

NEW TUNE FROM JONATHAN BOULET.

2010-12-03T11:44:00.000+11:00

New tune 'You're A Animal' from wunderkind Jonathan Boulet. This guy just keeps going from strength to strength.

Jonathan Boulet - 'You're A Animal' by modularpeople

TERMINALLY CHILL

2010-11-16T19:28:00.000+11:00

N E O N I N D I A N

Polaroid pastiche, kids speaking in loop tongue and names like Toro Y Moi; this genre is a hipsters' wet dream. With it's  DIY aesthetics and it's recorded-it-on-tape vibe, the proverbial ‘Chillwave’ moniker has been thrown around music circles over the past year  with the nonchalance of one of Connie Hamzy's weekend pursuits.

Bloggers do love pulling things from thin air with the hope that some uncultured moron will pass it off as legit. And with that adamantine authority to give names for everything, shit gets heavy. While the blogger from Hipster Runoff who supposedly coined the 'chillwave' term by may feel slightly special for getting a few ripples out in the water; to the artists lumped on the bandwagon, it's all one massive joke. 

Last week I had a rad chat with Alan Palomo of Austin’s Neon Indian while he was busy deciding what to eat for dinner and redecorating his room (before the line got cut off). 

We talked nostalgia, drooling peers and his DJ alter-ego.

How are you?

I’m doin’ really good, how about yourself?

Good thanks. What time is it over there?

About 6:30pm.

Have you had dinner yet?

Not yet. I think tonight for dinner...I’m gonna have tacos.

There’s a place in Williamsburg called La Superior that’s has the best mexican food I’ve had here since I moved to NY. I’m really picky, I couldn’t see myself living somewhere that didn’t have good mexican food. Maybe it’s a weird comfort thing. Being in Europe for a couple of months I was genuinely feeling like I was gonna throw up.

So you’re in NY at the moment?

Yeah! I’m pretty much here for the week, and then Monday I leave to go to Helsinki to write the new record.

So you’re coming over to Australia to play the Pyramid Rock festival over New Years Eve and do a few other shows...

I’m feeling fantastic about that, really excited!

Usually when we go to Australia it’s right in the middle of summer. So it’s good to relax for a few days. Mainly just catching the vibe there.

You collaborated with Ben from Miami Horror a few months ago, how did that happen?

We met a few years ago here in New York, he happened to be in town for touring. We happened to have a bit of correspondence through Ghosthustler which was my first project. Eventually we figured out that the best way to work would be to set up and to try and get as much done in a month. So I went to Australia for a month down in Melbourne.

Where in Melbourne did you stay?

It was actually near the bush, a little bit out of the city, can’t remember exactly where. But I remember getting to Australia and staying up with heaps of jetlag. The first thing I remember when I woke up the next morning was that I opened my window and I saw like nine kangaroos just lounging around...

Just chillin’.

Just like a turkish bath of kangaroos lying around non chalantly.

There’s a recurring iconology associated with chillwave and the beach - and memories where things were a little more simple. Do you think nostalgia is a product of progress?

Well yeah, I think what it means to be a kid is rapidly changing - really every five or so years. And I had that realisation the other day when I saw this high school comedy that was really centered around facebooking. Like I was in high school four or five years ago. I’m think people are more so interested in this style of music because memories become a bit of a psychedelic concept where people in the 60’s were concerned with more visual aesthetics. I like to ponder what memories are buried, and I think it’s becoming that way for a lot of people. As things are changing, people find solace or comfort in the same pop culture references, or movies or TV shows, or music you’d listen to when you were growing up. So it is interesting to touch on those things.

On the topic of nostalgia, was there a childhood memory that influenced the record?

For Psychic Chasms it was really more of a contemplation of the last four or five years coming out of high school and my first and second year of college. I think it was more rooted around that.

You’re from Texas?

Yeah, I was born in Mexico and grew up in Texas from the age of 6. And one of my first memories of being in the US was being in class and learning English, I was in one of those bilingual programs. And this one kid accidentally drooled on me, so I kept going ‘MOUTHWATERRR!’, so my catchphrase became that.

Most of the ideas I look back upon aren’t just from childhood, but from the idea of moving around so much from social circle to social circle, and it’s interesting to watch your friendships and relationships evolve. Some of them decay, some of them get amplified, some of them get pushed to the vantage point and other things become the main focus. And I think that’s where my musical inspiration comes from.

How do you detach yourself or have down time from everything?

Haha...well I haven’t exactly had much down time in the last year. I’d say thats why I’m going to somewhere like Helsinki where I don’t know anybody, and staying there for 6 weeks to write music. New York in some way would have been a distraction, I definitely have a lot of friends here. It sounds impractical, but the only way I could do something would be to get away from it all.

I find it interesting that bloggers have found a way to give a label to something that isn’t really new at all. Do you think that chillwave is short lived?

Yeah, I don’t think that it existed in the first place. Like I’d never heard so many questions about chillwave. To me, low-fi electronic music has been around since the 60’s. But I think that’s the way the internet works with all these micro genres that are constantly expanding and exploding. I don’t think it will necessarily evolve because it was nothing new to begin with in the first place, as it is with artists doing things in different places of the world doing things independently of each other.

Do you think the rapid turnover of music with the internet makes it harder to develop as an artist in the long term?

Yes of course. I think the way people look at music now anyway is very expendable, or disposable; the internet being one big vending machine with a few snippets of content before they move onto the next thing. In one way it’s very scary, but on the other, it means you have to work harder to create a long term trajectory and focus for your projects.

Who would you take acid with?

I would probably take acid with Elvis Huxley or Todd Rungren.

I saw on your twitter that you recently DJ-ed a houseparty at Ithaca under the name of ‘DJ Butt Blowjob'...

(laughs)

Please explain....

We had an inside joke, we’d read this music review that used the term ‘butt blowjob’ and everyone became curious as to what a ‘butt blowjob’ actually entailed. So it came the time to play the show in Ithaca and we went to this afterparty to DJ at this random house...and the only surname I could really think at the moment was ...'butt blowjob’.

Neon Indian plays the Pyramid Rock Festival over NYE.

Psychic Chasms (2009) is out through Lesfe Records.

WORLD ACCORDING TO AMERICA

2010-11-11T21:51:00.001+11:00

AGE OF ADZ

2010-11-02T23:24:00.001+11:00

I've been busy (lazy) as of late and have been neglecting this space for quite some time. Been thinking about starting this blog again from scratch. Reading some posts from the past I forget I wrote, had a few WTF moments, but all in good measure. This blog has been somewhat of a diary of stuff I like, and I intend on keeping it that way without inflicting too many of my personal naggings on everyone (to some extent).

Wordpress seems okay- better layouts and tune embedding options, but computer illiteracy doesn't help on my part so generic layouts are as far as my web design skills allow.

Anyway, working on a new project at the moment that will hopefully translate all these digs into hard copy form.

Getting acquainted with the pencil and pen, trying to finish some incomplete sketches I've left half done since the start of the year.

I've also been hammered by mother dearest to purchase thermal underwear for sub zero temps in NY. Thermal underwear. Heralding from South East Asian regions where the climate is warm, my extended family seems to have a fascination for it. Frostbite ain't no way to charm NY babes, so after browsing a plethora of stores in the camping category and putting on my bravest I-dig-the-outdoors facade, I've decided that looking like a giant kabana sausage in a kathmandu one piece probably isnt' a viable option at this stage.

Collabs, summer festivals, figuring out whether Jackie Frank will judge my outfit when I see her and finalising deets for a month in the Big Apple soon (yay!) If any down time swings by and someone can teach me wordpress properly, I'll probs give in.

NEBRASKA JONES

2010-10-19T13:19:00.001+11:00

(VIA Midori Adores - November)

Kaleidoscope editing effects, vintage tones, getting all posy-posy, and a hot chick frolicking through a field with some native american get up on her face. And while I’m not amused by Sportsgirl catologues or Ke$ha video clips or belong to the General Pants crowd, I the clip for Miami Horrors' 'I Look to To You' did get my attention in the form of this fine talent.

Kimbra Johnson has a lot more under her belt than being a token featurette. She’s been shaking things up in NZ for a long while before her cameo here. If you haven’t seen her Settle Down video already, its probably about time you did.

If you’re a Mad Men afficionado, then the video will probably temper to your likings - there’s a lot of comb overs, stoic gazes, talk about domesticity and a few fourteen year olds who look way too much like the creepy porcelain dolls from all your nightmares. It may be tightly produced but has nothing in the way of overshadowing that incredible voicebox. You can tell she’s been listening to a lot of Ella and Nina, but she reminds me of a classier version of Estelle.

I also suggest typing her in on youtube, I’ve spent the last three hours watching her covers of Justin Timberlake, Crowded House, Gotye, NERD and trying to plot out marriage proposals. If you would like to compete with me for a proposal, probably best to watch the vid below of her Nina Simone cover. HOT DAYUM.

WARPAINT - UNDERTOW

2010-10-12T09:51:00.001+11:00

New Warpaint clip released today for 'Undertow'. The vid was directed by Jenny's sister Shannyn (Sossamyn), who you might know better as the babe from A Knights Tale who succumbed to distasteful crimping and fluro veils from the wardrobe department. It sounds like they have taken a step away from the bar that 'Elephants' and 'Krimson' set on the EP. I'm not swayed too much by this new one, but it's still a nice tune for chillin.

TAME IMPALA - 'LUCIDITY' VIDEO

2010-10-05T23:44:00.000+11:00

Shot outside the country town of Mildura, 500 odd kilometres from Melbourne, the "Lucidity" video was a leap into the unknown, a series of experiments and blind faith launches into the final frontier, involving cameras being launched into space inside weather balloons, tracking all that went on below.

Director: Robert Hales

SILVERSUN PICKUPS INTERVIEW

2010-10-05T23:15:00.003+11:00

Sara Ricupito and I hung out with Brian Aubert and Nikki Monninger from Silversun Pickups when they were in Melbourne last week. We talked the Grammys, social media woes and hitting on your idols in the catering line.

So Eric (tour manager) was just telling us that you guys spent a few days in Adelaide, how was that? 

Brian: Yeah, we did. It was fun, really. This time we got to see Adelaide a bit more... 

Nikki: We did the Botanical Gardens, it was really nice, the weather was just beautiful.  

Brian: We actually went to Sydney one night and got to see Peter Hook do this Joy Division thing.

Unknown Pleasures?

Brian: YES!  I'm a huge Joy Division fan. So it was so weird to hear him singing or trying to be like Ian Curtis. He's like, (snarls) "RAAAAADDIOOOO!!! TRAAANSMMISSSSION!!". Dude, that’s not your voice. And plus, the other guys are still around, so it would have been so much cooler if they all played together.

This is like Peter Hook going "Fuck you!" 

HITTING ON YOUR IDOLS:

Brian: Nikki doesn't talk that much, really she doesn't. She just went off on Doug Marsch.

Nikki: I cornered him in catering. 

Brian: (high pitched squeal) "OH!! Remember you played that show! And oh my god! And then remember you did that! Oh my god! Oh and remember you played that song! Oh MAAAH! Oh and remember that, and then you did this! ARGH! And then you did that! Oh my god!.... And then! And then! And then! - " 

WOW! That was just incredible. So funny, you could see them two talking from the side, and you could see, and Doug Martsch is just like "....Yeah man... cool.....yeah"....

Nikki: (laughs)

Brian: Yeah and poor Doug's like... (pulls blank expression and stares into space).

ON TOURING WITH BIRDS OF TOKYO:

Brian: So far so good! Yeah they're really nice guys, we finally got to hang out with them properly in, umm...  

Nikki: Hobart! 

Brian: Yeah, we had a pretty debaucherous night with them there. Oh man (shakes head)

Aussies just love to drink.

 Brian: You do. You actually really do... Ah Nikki, what was the name of that roof-top bar we went to last night?

 Nikki: Oh um...    um, someplace, was it Cookie? 

Rooftop bar?

Brian: Yeah! It was so cold, but man is that place just so nice! A friend of ours who lives here took us there, really great place.  

ON GAGA & THE GRAMMYS:

 Brian: Oh yeah, right right, well you know, I still wonder who won that thing...

  Just quietly... Zac Brown Band?

Brian: Haha! That show is just so long, and we were just sitting there like...

  Eating and drinking? 

Nikki: No! You can't! 

Brian: No, the place is dry! Everybody has flasks! Did you see Lady Gaga's hat? It was filled with alcohol! With a straw coming down!

Sara and I were discussing her before and we were wondering what she sleeps in at night...a robotic suit?...or a glass coffin...

 Brian: I guarantee you Lady Gaga is SO normal. You know what I mean. She won't let you see it!

But when she disrobes, she is Lady Gaga no more! She is Stephanie...wearing meat.  

But yeah, out of all the artists, we were the only ones that stayed there!

Nikki: Yeah all the other bands are coming in just before their award is announced and then leaving but we just sat there the whole time ....

Brian: Yeah we were at a Kings Of Leon party after and they came up to me and said (lowers tone) ... "Heeey maaan. Like sorry you didn't win thaat thing..."

I'm like, "No man! Thats good!" and hes like "Maaan, did you, did you guys like watch the WHOOOLE thing?" and I said,"Yeah!" and hes like..... "Pssht... Idiot."  

We had no idea. We were dying!

  Next time.

Brian: Yeah 'next time', sure, next time... The funniest part of the Grammys is the red carpet, we were prepared by our publicist that it was just going to be ridiculous and that we were going to be asked some really stupid questions. But my favourite one, my favourite stupid question was "Silversun Pickups! So you've been nominated for Best New Artist! Is this your first time being nominated?"

How do you answer that...

Brian: C'mon man. No one cares who wins anymore... Just gotta go to the bar.

Nikki: We should have won Best Waiting Band or like Most Time Spent at The Grammys. 

Brian: More time than Elton John.  

ON SILVERLAKE:

Brian: Well yeah in that area (Silverlake), it's just sort of conducive to musicians, or just the kind of left-of-centre, after all its where all the interesting clubs are in Los Angeles, you know there are so many areas and neighborhoods in Los Angeles its just massive, massive, massive, massive place with tons of little circles!  

So everyone is in their own little pockets? 

Brian: Well yeah, I mean we get culture shock probably in more places in Los Angeles than we do when we come down to Melbourne, theres places here where its like 'Oh! This reminds me of Silverlake'. That area in Los Angeles is just really, really conducive in trying something new, its not really about a scene or a style, you know, its more of a scene of appreciation.

It;s not that there are just a lot of bands there, the people in the neighbourhood just love going out to see shows. At the time it was great, because you got to play infront of people all the time, not just like that ridiculous idea of a band having to 'Pay to Play'. Urgh... It's like "Bring 400 people or you're not playing!" and its like, "Hey man! We just started out, we don't even have a tape, how we supposed to do that?!"   

15 years ago a band here could probably book 3 to 5 gigs in one night and venue hop, because there was that sort of culture, now its struggling a little bit.

With all this new-media stuff, I spose everyone is their own publicist...

Brian: I know! Its crazy. My head is like... I mean, wow, I'm so glad that we were a band before all of that. I literally just stare at that shit.

Do you think things would have been different, if you were starting out today?

Brian: No, no I think we definitely would not have done any of that, we would have just done the same shit, I mean theres always someone whos like "Wow! So like you should do... THIS!" and we're like.. "Okay. (Smiles) Now fuck off." Its like why do Bandcamp? Its not going to change anything...  

Well back in the day, oh I don't know, I spose the Lo-fi scene, like Daniel Johnston would just record on 8-track with cassette tapes and they would just send them out...

 Brian: Daniel Johnston! Ah! Daniel Johnston.

Yeah, he wouldn't do the logical thing and make a master recording and then reproduce it, he would record the song again for each tape! Each was different... 

Brian: Did you see that movie?

The Devil & Daniel Johnston! Yes. Only 10 times. 

Brian: My God. I knew he was like pretty insane. But to the point of taking the keys out of the plane!  

And its diving to Earth and his poor Dad! 

Brian: Oh my God, I was just like that is so sad! That is just so, so, so sad! And his poor parents. they are just so sweet. He's incredible too, Daniel Johnston is just incredible.

Does it get annoying being compared to the Smashing Pumpkins?

Brian: Not really, I guess its a compliment, its alright. Actually a really good friend, a great, great friend of mine is their bass player now! Yeah Nicole (Fiorentino), actually she just texted me, because I think they're coming here. 

MUSIC DIGS:

 Nikki: Yeah there are a lot of upcoming bands we like  -

Brian: In fact, one of them is from Brisbane, oh well actually they live in Melbourne, their name is An Horse. 

Nikki: We love them, we've toured with them. 

Brian: Yeah we took them with us to the UK and to the US. There's tons of bands in Los Angeles; The Happy Hollows...

 Nikki: Sea Wolf is another great one! 

Brian: Sea Wolf are good friends, they're great!

Autolux have a new record out - they're great, they might even come down here soon.  

(check out autolux's awesome cover of helter skelter here)

QUICKIE CHALLENGE:

Nikki's task - 'If Silversun pickups was a mutant, what would it look like?'

 Brian: Yeah and I love that when you say draw Silversun Pickups as a mutant the first thing she draws without thinking is a Giraffe.  

A higher-power is about to smite your house and you can only save one record, one book and one object from the flames. What do you take? 

Brian: Argh! Well first I'd take my iPod!  

That's cheating!

Brian: Yes! Haha, uhh what book would I take? I would take ahh, 'Middlesex' and what was the other thing?

Record, but you've got your iPod. What film would you take?

 Brian: Ooh! Thats a very hard question, I would try and take two... the Night Of The Hunter, and Once Upon A Time In The West!  

You're given $15 to get wasted, where do you go? 

Brian: Definitely NOT Melbourne, cos it would cost you too much.

Who will win the AFL Grand Final replay? St. Kilda Saints or Collingwood Magpies?

Brian: Eric...?

Eric: Uh........ St Kilda?  Brian: I think they should just share! If they're not gonna -

 Nikki: - They should tie again!

Brian: Look they haven't changed the rule since like what, 1977? Both teams are just gonna have to share that darn thing.

silversun pickups as a 'mutant', drawn the lovely nikki monninger.

ONASSIS MINOR

2010-09-25T02:30:00.000+10:00

From a shoot for a recent assignment.

THINKFIT

2010-09-19T22:24:00.001+10:00

Today I threw out the granny pants surfacing my lingerie drawer. Realised that Frida Khalo chic went out a while ago. Shaved my legs for the first time since May. No spontaneous dates or sudden man action here. Just September. And the realisation that if I want to get a booty like this:

by the time December rolls around, I can't be sitting on facebook, tweezing my eyebrows with one hand with a Magnum in the other. The only form of exercise/amusement I get on a weekly basis is letting my dog crap on Premier Brumby's lawn when I take him out for a walk. Gym = virgin territory. Zumba sounds fun but I'm aware that I'll be requesting for ventolin inhaler breaks at five minute intervals. Someone once told me that labour felt like 'pushing a desk out of your vagine'. After forty crippling minutes in a Myer cubicle dislocating and relocating my shouder in order to escape from a dress today; give me labour, impale a stiletto through my foot, I am prepared for anything.

So the point. The thought of getting active is easier than the task itself. So what's the easiest way to think-yourself-fit? Whack on some Spanish beats. Tracks taken below are from from EL GUINCHO's new record 'Pop Negro'.

It's easier than change room cubicle cortontionism and makes attempting zumba 101 more bearable.

WALLS

2010-09-07T11:10:00.000+10:00

Slick production vals on the new Oh Ye Denver Birds clip for 'WALLS'.

PRACTISING MY LISTENING FACE

2010-08-25T20:28:00.001+10:00

I've become accustomed to doing phoners in a particular pair of grey sweatpants. The crotch of which, hangs quite low, and I've tripped over myself several times during nervous pre-interview pacing. Unfortunately, tomorrow I won't have the warm, fleecy assurance of my trackies. What I do have, is the quaint reassurance of a massive zit. This isn't a whack-a-dollop-of-clearasil-overnight job. It's aggressive, looks like Mount Vesvius and yells expletives at everyone who happens to cast a wandering eye over my forehead. When I'm venturing out to prod questions at a dude whos career has spanned 13 years, a few ARIA gongs, this is not by all means, convenient. Heck, I even bought his CD three years back to aid mother dearest cross the bridge from Hillsong compilations to something a bit more mild. I'm as awkward as hell over the phone, so doing my first in-person gush tomorrow will be interesting. I'll be sweating all over my voice recorder tomorrow and I'm gonna need all the help of acne camp to push me over the line. Yandelay, yeeeba.

CRITICAL HIT!

2010-08-24T13:07:00.000+10:00

It wasn't easy trying to choose between the backstabbing bitch from Altona (Western subs, represent) or the middle aged man who won't refrain from stripping off in public. Neither of their policies convicted me in the slightest - so come Saturday, I stood at the ballot like a wavering moron playing hopscotch with my pen. Not many kids my age are Liberal backers. Needless to say, walking into work Sunday morning into the arms of agitated Labour vigilantes was like dipping my bare bottom in a piranha feeding pool. Labour kids have been good at stirring people up this week, but I suppose someone else has to do all the hard yards when your leader is too busy governing Narnia. Each to their own view I say. Whoever ends up governing this country is going to be a dick, and I suppose I'd enjoy more of Abbott's comic relief than I would anyone else.

IDEA IDEA - 'SET SAIL'

2010-08-14T16:06:00.001+10:00

Idea Idea is a fresh collaboration between Sydney soulstress Lanie Lanie and producer/muso Antonio Roselli (MoB). Sounding a lot like Corrine Bailey Rae layered against glitch-pop quirks, their single ‘Set Sail’ feels like diving into a giant pool filled with confetti and pink lemonade. The video for the single features a lot of floating tulle and bubbly, molar eroding goodness all around.

Download 'Set Sail' for free here.

TEXAN FARE

2010-08-09T20:38:00.000+10:00

ERIN WASSON. And all the chicks say, amen.

Disdain to the generic fashion blogs that reek of stale, stylized and stationed high fashion.

Here, Wasson returns to her hometown to hang with the locals for a bit of fun 'n' Texan camaraderie. Heaps o' fun, you can hear the Van Morisson and smell the bourbon and BBQ sauce from here. 

Shot by David Mushegain for Elle Italia August 2010.

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS '10

2010-08-03T19:52:00.001+10:00

After the brute force of four days of beer, binging and being thrown around like a battered piece of flake in a deep frier, I have returned to the cold, depressing anti-climax that is Melbourne town.
While a clean pile of clothes, my own pillow and a nice shower is far cry from sunny Brisbane, bogans and the smell of stale coopers and feet - I am quite happy to relive all the wonderful memories from the weekend here.

I could spend the next few paragraphs rambling on about how awful Splendour was to sympathise with those who got left behind. How unfortunate for you! Now stop reading.

GETTING THERE. Friday morning, 4am start, a lot of waiting around. Our flight was delayed due to a big puff of fog covering brisbane so we spent another hour and a half circling the city before landing. After catching a plane, a train, another train and being directed to our motel by a Caboolture teen with a stroller, a kid and a black tooth (which in her words, was on the 'rough end of town'), then spending the next hour and a half on a packed out bus, we were drained before we even arrived.

SITE. If I have one bone to pick with the Splendour peeps, it's deciding to conveniently whack the main stage on a different continent. This meant that on Saturday night, trekking to the main ampitheatre from the rest of the stages was more like dodging bodies passed out in the dirt and mud at Gallipoli. Also saw many yobs roll down the hilly slopes to their deaths. Sounds like a well planned measure, but please splendour organisers, safety first.

WEATHER. Lush Woodford greenery, minimal cloud cover and constant 26C temps meant that I didn't have to get my gumboots or poncho out once. However, when the temperature dropped below 10C on Sunday night, wearing shorts and a singlet ain't so fun.

TRANSPORT. We made friends with a very comical Samoan security dude looking after the bus from Caboolture to the festival site, which made the long waits and rickety buses somewhat easier. After waiting for two hours in the queue to get back to Caboolture after Saturday's set, we were welcomed by one of those bendy accordion buses. All is forgiven!

ATTIRE. If I see one more ass cheek or one more tacky cherry printed gumboot or one more bloody blonde17 year old Penny Lane wannabe doing the whole warpaint/ fur coat with no pants/i'm totally eco friendly for the weekend thang, I will punch someone in the face.

Commendable costume efforts go out to the guy who took cues from Mr Bean and put a giant rubber turkey on his head. Props also to Naked Gold Man who seems to make a cameo at every major festival here and who doesn't seem to be fussed that his manhood (not shown in the image above) has the bravura of a kid's sized frankfurt from the ikea foodcourt.

FOOD STALLS. Overall, a decent range of stalls. Potato spirals, FTW! While I made the bad decision to buy 6dolla sewerage waste in soggy pastry parading as a Curried Lentil pie, I was also served a slurpee at the slurpee stall that was not a slurpee but indeed a plastic cup of warm cordial. But do you remember that ice cream shop that sold icecream made of what looked like mini polystyrene balls? They had a stall. Bonus points!

GOLDEN VIEW PLATFORM. Go on, shun the people standing up in that weird tent thing. Sharing the platform with a few derros really makes you feel 'special'.

GOLD BAR. The only thing that made breathing the same air as industry wankers, triple j twats, drugged up visiting musicians and annoying groupies somewhat tolerable - was skipping the bar and toilet lines at the rest of the festival. Anyone else would have probably been stoked to be sharing the same toilet seat as Florence Welch, but I was just happy to be jumping the queue.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

WATCHING THE STROKES FROM SIDE OF STAGE. Incredible. Just one metre and one gin and tonic away from lunging out and jumping on Nick Valensi cowboy style, and I'm quite disappointed in my stoic levels of self restraint. The Strokes delivered most tracks from their first two albums, before coming back for an encore with 'Juicebox'. It was as amazing as you could imagine it to be. AMAZING I tell you.

BANDS WHO SOUNDED BETTER ON CD/LOOKED BETTER IN THE LYRICS BOOKLET: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

STILL GOT IT: Pixies, Ben Harper

LOST IT: Richard Ashcroft

PULL OUT YOUR WIFEBEATER AND WAVE YOUR STUBBY CAN IN THE AIR: Mumford & Sons, Bluejuice, Art Vs. Science

HOLY MOMENT: Laura Marling

CAN HOLD A DECENT NOTE: Florence & The Machine

YEEEEH: Hot Chip, K-Os

YAWN: Whitley

DON'T PLAY THAT SONG AGAIN: Yolanda Be Cool

NAPOLEON PERDIS' ON KEYS: Gypsy & The Cat (see below.)

SILVER FOX: Keith Murray (We Are Scientists) = clooney with a strat

CROWD BANTER AWARD: Chris Cain (We Are Scientists)

GOOD LOCAL PRODUCE: Ernest Ellis, Yacht Club, Jinja Safari, Mess Hall

STALE LOCAL PRODUCE: Little Red, Washington, Operator Please

MENTAL AS EVER: Craig Nichols

BAND I HATE TO LOVE: Wolfmother

SPOTTED: Florence getting cosy with The Drums lead, Mumford & Sons guys getting emotional, model daughter of a well known Aussie muso falling over at Gold Bar toilets

WEAR SOME GOD DAMN SHOES: Surfer Blood, Tame Impala

SEX ME WITH YOUR ACCENT: Two Door Cinema Club, Band of Skulls

SEX ME IN GENERAL: Strokes, Vines

Overall, Splendour '10 was a success - beautiful weather, a stellar lineup and wonderful company. I'll be back next year.

GOIN' UP THE COUNTRY

2010-07-29T19:53:00.001+10:00

The countdown has drawn to a neigh, and hate mail and requests for cardboard cut outs from friends have now closed.

I am one of many who are making the trip up to Splendour In The Grass tomorrow, and frankly, I'm just a little excited. Just a tad.

I also happen to have a reserved camping ticket, so if you hear any news about someone trying to rape collective members of a visiting irish band, I take full responsibility.

KLAXONS PRE-SALE NEWS

2010-07-28T00:16:00.000+10:00

KLAXONS presale deets. Thank me.

Heres the link.
http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=KLAXONS10
Password : Modular

MY TICKETEK INTERNET PRE-SALE
Pre-sale starts : NOW
Pre-sale ends* : Wed 28 Jul, 5pm
General public on sale : Thu 29 Jul, 9am

GYPSY & THE CAT

2010-07-23T21:06:00.001+10:00

There’s no need for me to dish out accolades for this Melbourne duo. The Times, Guardian, NME, Popjustice and a whole back catalogue have already flooded them with love. Gypsy and the Cat are Lionel Towers & Xavier Bacash. Barely past 21. It's almost hard to believe that just a year ago, they were making music in a humble Melbourne garage.
You may recall their track ‘Jona Vark’ on the airwaves last year, and it was this track that caught the attention of many including support from Mark Ronson on his East Village radio show. These guys have swapped a modest Melbourne home studio for the shores of foggy London town, and are in the process of mixing their debut with David Fridmann (MGMT, Flaming Lips, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) and Rich Costey (Mew, Muse, Franz Ferdinand, Glasvegas).
They constantly get compared to Empire of the Sun, but Gypsy and the Cats’ sound has somewhat more of an endearing quality than the former’s over-slicked production values.
It’s part electro-pop euphoria, part Avatar-porno. If those palpitating beats and phantasmagorical harmonies don’t fling you over to a vivd cosmic-utopia filled with babes, blissful sounds and other organic substances, not much else will.

Gypsy & The Cat have just announced two shows in Sydney and Melbourne along with slots supporting FOALS & THE STROKES. They're playing 4th of Aug at the The Toff (w/Clubfeet) and 5th of Aug (w/Jinja Safari & Step Panther) at Oxford Arts.

If you're heading up to SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS, catch them playing at 11am on Saturday at the main Ampitheatre.

www.myspace.com/gypsyandthecat

EXHBIT A: LCD SOUNDSYSTEM OPENING PARTY

2010-07-22T16:36:00.000+10:00

I get a lot of crap* in my inbox (crap = uni emails, press releases, band bios, life stories, e-cards from middle aged relatives who don't have much else to do with their time etc.) but this was worth pulling out. It is in Sydney, so save my sorry ass and check it out if you're in the surrounds.

NEW CUT COPY TRACK

2010-07-16T11:35:00.000+10:00

Following In Ghost Colours, Cut Copy have been working away on their as-yet-untitled third album (due early 2011) and will mix the much-awaited opus with Ben Allen (Gnarls Barkley, Animal Collective) this coming August.

The new single 'Where I'm Going' is still very 'cut copy', but with less synths and more galloping percussion and dreamy melody lines in tow. The band have described the track as “the kind of track Brian Wilson would've written if he took ecstasy and hung out in 60's London instead of California".

To hear the new single, head over to WWW.CUTCOPY.NET where the track is up for free download.

THE SUBWAY HUSTLER

2010-07-10T22:39:00.001+10:00

Randy Kearse, who served more than 13 years in federal prison, has used the business skills he honed as a drug dealer to sell thousands of his self-published books in the streets and in the subway.

Randy Kearse stepped onto a southbound No. 2 train in Harlem and scanned the crowd, trying to figure out who might be in a buying mood. He strode across the car, pressed his back against the steel doors and cleared his throat: Showtime.

“Excuse me, ladies and gentleman,” he called out.

“I am not begging, borrowing or asking for your food. I don’t represent the homeless, I’m not selling candy or selling bootleg DVDs,” he said, then paused. “I write books.”

With little or no marketing muscle behind him, Mr. Kearse said he had sold some 14,000 copies of his self-published books in the last three years, at $10 each, mostly through hand-to-hand sales. He has also sold about 4,000 copies of a 750-page, 10,000-entry dictionary of urban slang terms, “Street Talk,” through Barricade Books of Fort Lee, N.J., the publisher said.

Mr. Kearse, 45, went from hustling crack cocaine as head of a multistate crew, to federal prison, to author and urban self-help guru who not only writes books about his experiences but also mentors children, crooks, prisoners and their families on the perils of the criminal life. Or as one of his titles suggests, he has gone from “Incarceration to Incorporation.”

Plenty of authors have emerged from prison with manuscripts. Some even get them published. But instead of fictional tales of sex, money and murder — the stuff of the booming “street lit” genre — Mr. Kearse has assembled step-by-step guides to going legit, or “Changin’ Your Game Plan: How to Use Incarceration as a Stepping Stone for Success” — another of his titles.

Mr. Kearse said the sales provided him with enough income to cover his bills and pay the rent on his apartment in the Bronx, as well as to help out his five children, ages 20 to 23.

But he said what really motivated him to roll his bag of books around every day was the chance to influence lives.

“A guy wrote me a while back and asked, in respect to all the damage that I’ve done, that I’ve left behind, if I think doing good things now changes any of that,” Mr. Kearse said. “You know, I don’t know if I have an answer for that.”

One afternoon, arms stretched wide and a book in each hand, he waited for at least a few passengers on a No. 2 train to smile and nod, buying into what he was trying to sell. Thirteen down, 22 books to go.

from NY Times article 'Author Whose Bookstore Is the No. 2 (or 4, or 5)'

09/07/10

Watch a short video about Randy here.

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/07/09/nyregion/1247468025831/harlem-journal.html

FRANCOIS NIELLY

2010-07-05T13:37:00.000+10:00

F R A N C O I S

N I E L L Y .COM

2010-07-04T22:24:00.000+10:00

Somebody turn these ideas of tidal-rise warfare into pieces of Ikea kids furniture.

TWO EXCERPTS.

2010-07-03T18:36:00.001+10:00

GLASS TO MY LIPS, I taste sugar, lemon pulp, distant metal in the tap water and ice cubes. Sky the colour of dead flies, an unbroken sheet of clouds carried on a warm wind that smells of electricity and flowers.

Sweat on my face, my back, I'm sweltering beneath my Sunday best with a cold glass in my hands.

Your hand is small and warm with rough fingertips and soft creases in your palm, dissolving the ache in my chest I didn't know existed until it stopped. An ache I've carried for days, maybe my whole life, and it's gone now.

Your sleeping breath brushes my face and blows the ashes from my memory.

If every link in the chain of life is this beautiful, then I'll die of beauty if I ever see the whole chain at once, joining the chain with my link in its place and the chain stretching from one end of eternity to the next. I'll spend forever staring God in the eye with God staring back.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MAN ON PAROLE AND THE MAN ON DEATH ROW is sometimes two inches of locked bathroom door or a single moment's hesitation. The difference between those men is two percent of their genes and the difference between a man's healthy tissue and his tumor is even less.

Every man and every insect are made from the same six molecules of DNA, the same five atoms. One of these atoms makes the difference between speed and cold medicine, between paint thinner and TNT. Every identical act is distinguished by it's intent, and every intent is judged by it's action.

Doomed but to forever want the closest thing beyond our grasp, we fled the trees and stood on our hind legs. We were hardwired for desire. More food, more fire, more offspring. More gods. Gods for harvest, fire and fertility. One day, one God said no more. No more other gods, no more of More. A million years of More were flushed away cesspooling nine circles below the earth, a million years too late. Mans nature has been set to be unsatisfied.

Everyone craves the same grand version of every fortune teller's surefire, shotgun guess list - money or love, and there's never enough. The richest men in the world scheme to become richer. Anyone serving time in a beige office cubicle knows this. Anyone paying mortgage on a beige house, spending what they dont have at beige strip malls on amusements for their beige children with beige futures, knows this.

Every drink, roll of the dice or second glance at a woman whispers MORE into a man's ear when he's not listening to that one God, when he's looking where, or thinking what, he should not.

I've spent my life giving people their more. I'm a chemist.

A woman carries a torch for a lost love and her husband never knows. A man looses a child, a wife or a brother. Maybe it's his fault or maybe it isn't. People carry losses their whole lives, loss of a job, a friendshhip, a marriage, a reputation, a fortune or the life of a loved one. Some have regrets they feel every waking second, and some they feel in their sleep.

Imagine knowing knowing the bone-deep truth that whatever impossibility would make you truly happy has been granted. Imagine knowing you can once again hold your lost lover or your newborn child.

Imagine what you feel during those first seconds of knowing.

Now imagine those first seconds last for days on end.

If you could buy that seventy two hour moment for the price of a tank of gas, would you? Go on, give it a try. Like I said, I'm a chemist.

It's all coming back to me.

Beautiful, is all I can think. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
A small eternity passes and the word sounds distant and dry, incapable of matching it's own meaning.

After my heart has bloomed to the size of the universe and all the love from the big bang to the last whisper has been cycloning through my chest for what feels like days on end, the world is one giant prison when the storm dies, at last.

The galaxies shrink back to the lump of muscle behind my ribs, the snipers target to the left of my spine.

I thought I missed you. I had no idea how much.

excerpt from DERMAPHORIA - Craig Clevenger.

DID SOMEBODY SAY PARTY?

2010-07-02T23:08:00.000+10:00

Calling all general shenanigans tripping it up to the glory that is SPLENDOUR (SQUEAL!)

Come and support the obviously the best Australian music blog around (and one our team puts a lot of effort into). BYO costumes, general debauchery and have your best party face on. See you there!

The WHO THE HELL House Party becomes the last fiery beacon of bounce on the closing night of SPLENDOUR 2010 - hosted by whothehell.net (Australia's best music blog) & spiking the punch is HELLO PAVEMENT (music & artist management based in Sydney)... and you are invited to join the single greatest house-party nook that Splendour has ever experienced.

Taking some leaflets from the local crop of tunes and winding up the house party wheel is WHOTHEHELL DJs, followed by the Australian pop-maestros Meg Washington (WASHINGTON) & Michael Tomlinson (of YVES KLEIN BLUE), who are stepping away from the mics and onto the decks for a one-night only versus battle to showcase a slice of their record collections.

Hip-hop / gritty-pop producer & Ex-'Bumblebeez' member KARUNA will be nutting out the vinyl collection in the ramp up to his debut EP release in October, and bringing the Crystal Axis into alignment is the heaving dancefloor selections of MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS DJs. As the clock strikes midnight and the main festival closes, our international guests MIIKE SNOW will be bestowing their DJ form upon the Jagercube, and showing us why they are known world-wide as pure dance-floor gold.

Bridging the last hours of the festival is the tropical and tech house slam-rally of Sydney's UNITED COLOURS DJs, and with the pedigrees of KATO, WAX MOTIF, BAD EZZY & CHUX, there's a probably slim chance that you're making any sense of anything at this point, as you've been dancing for 3 days straight and these kids won't let up. Whoever is left standing will be the HOUSE PARTY APOCALYPSE DJs (HPA DJs)... Don't forget to swing off chandeliers, break open the liquor cabinet, dive bomb into the pool & put the cat in the dryer at the whothehell House Party.

RSVP TO THE EVENT ON FACEBOOK.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112688188778867

HEEEECK YES.

PS22 CHORUS

2010-07-01T16:13:00.001+10:00

So I've been slow on the boat with this one, but when one of my friends posted one of these videos on facebook, I cried. I prefer to keep my emotional dealings away from this blog most of the time, but for the sake of this post - yes, I wept all over my shiny mac book.

God damn, all we got in fifth grade choral practice were Lion King tracks, Abba anthems and the odd Bachelor Girl medley ('walked under a bus, hit by a train' and 'permission to shine' - you know the ones). There was also one time when Ms Dahl attempted to give all 90 of us a 'scat' lesson. Needless to say, it was a disaster. Don't let the tomfoolery of sub par shows like Glee and HSM detract from your love for a little bit of school song and dance. Press play and prepare to have your heartstrings battered and pounded and turned into potato mush.

ps22chorus.blogspot.com

RISK, LOOSE

2010-06-26T02:23:00.002+10:00

 Although considering I usually steer clear of that scene, I thought The Getaway Plan's final album Other Voices, Other Rooms was damn  amazing. Brilliant production, song structure had a wonderful story element and the melodics had the capacity to shake me until I was one hell of a dramatic wreck. 

As you may know, TGP disbanded not too long ago, and now frontman Matt Wright is doing his own thang with half sister (often mistaken for lover) Kitty Hart. I met these dudes once at a hotel party and they seem like incredibly lovely, fun people. However, I'm still left questioning why Wright's taken a left turn (excuse the pun) with new duo Young Heretics.

I saw these guys live when I was incredibly drunk last year, but it didn't do any favours. If anything, being yelled at through a piercing megaphone at 2am is enough to drive anyone out of a venue.

Who The Hell got  an exclusive peek at the band's new clip for their single 'Risk/Loss'  which you can view here.

Yes, both voices are competent in their thespian performance and emotive glory. However, apart from the occasional moments of harmonic accord in their choruses, I am left with more questions than answers. 

I gave it a bit of a whopping, but I hope you understand. Watching the clip is the musical equivalent of consuming a poorly constructed burrito; too much cheese, not enough dough.

Of course I am slightly disappointed in these new ventures, but I'm sure that there is a market out there for it. But side project aficionados, please for my sake - stick to what you know. 

TRACK LISTING FOR NEW ARCADE FIRE RECORD REVEALED

2010-06-21T13:18:00.003+10:00

The mid-point of 2010 is about to slap us on the face with a barrage of new albums (Klaxons, Mystery Jets) but out of all of the impending releases so far and yet to come, this is the one I'm most psyched for. I got incredibly teary watching them play 'Wake Up' when they came to australia at the beginning of '08. Before you dismiss me as some gobsmacked loser, it'd be worth flying your cynical ass half way across the globe to see them play live. It's the best thing I've seen in my meagre 19 year lifespan. I won't be playing Mozart and Chopin concertos to wield my babies' intellectual and emotional capacities, they're going to be swaying to this.

The third studio album by THE ARCADE FIRE titled ‘The Suburbs’ has been produced by the Arcade Fire and co-produced by Markus Dravs.

The album is due for release in Australia on August 2nd and the first official single Ready To Start is loitering around the airwaves right now.

Having recently played a number of surprise shows in Canada, Arcade Fire are set to return to the UK this summer, headlining Reading and Leeds Festival at the end of August.

Here is the tracklist:

01 The Suburbs
02 Ready to Start
03 Modern Man
04 Rococo
05 Empty Room
06 City With No Children
07 Half Light I
08 Half Light II (No Celebration)
09 Suburban War
10 Month of May
11 Wasted Hours
12 Deep Blue
13 We Used to Wait
14 Sprawl I (Flatland)
15 Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
16 The Suburbs (continued)