IM // UR | Twin Shadow's 'Changes'

We swear this isn't an ironic listening. We love Beyoncé and 4. OK, we might unironically skip straight to track 5, 'Party', produced by Kanye West and with rap by Andre3000, because we ain't no stay-home-mums that need all those ballads about being broken hearted and finding the right person. But, after that, the album turns into a beautiful compilation of classic r'n'b, soul and a bit of sweat-inducing booty tracks - not too many though - that sound surprisingly courageous considering the actual state of pop music. And for that, we bow down and hail Queen B. P.S. Get the deluxe version, for those extra couple of amazing tracks.

WE // R \\ WEARING

The name of this label has been interpreted in many ways; from 'bass-seekey' to 'base-ike', but the correct way describes exactly what this label is about: BASIC. Bassike delivers easily breezily cut staples with an interesting little twist that keeps them from being your run of the mill. For those that live in climates like that of Australia (where Bassike hails from) or Brazil, you'll know how easy it is to make fashion faux pas when the weather gets hot and the prospect of wearing anything but a bathing suit becomes slightly unappealing; Bassike is all and everything you need.

WE // R \\ WATCHING

Before watching HBO's Game of Thrones, I assumed the series would tend a bit more towards the blood-dripping Danish movie Valhalla Rising rather than fairy-tale stories a lá 'Lord of the Rings'; and for that I didn't really like the series at the beginning. But slowly, I found myself submitting to tales of bad kings, midget juggernauts, savage warriors and... dragons. And that happened probably because there aren't exactly good guys and bad guys here, like there are in Tolkien stories - and that is, of course, a simplification of his work. Another reason I relented to this series is because of the intriguing political backstage element that leads to the ever-happening dance of thrones. Oh, and did I mention the gratuitous nekkid-ness?

WE // R \\ GOING

Of the slew of new spots having opened up in Sydney in the last six months, The Norfolk on Cleveland St in Surry Hills has been one fated with success. Owned by some of the same kids that have brought The Flinders back to life (and currently, it's incredibly quick onset of 'The Norms'), you'll undoubtedly find The Norfolk rammed with all kinds, vying for a bite, a beer and a spot in the garden out back. The aim of the game is to cultivate Aussie pub culture at it's best; and it's doing a pretty decent job so far - if only you could get a table!

WE // R \\ READING

Super Sad True Love Story is the third book from the writer of the best selling Absurdistan, Gary Shteyngart. Incidentally, I read him name dropped in Flavorpill's Ultimate Hipster Reading list and in the same sentence as James Franco (they're buds, apaprently) just before I finished his latest offering. Don't let any of that put you off, or take away any of the sad scary brilliance of Super Sad True Love Story; written from the perspective of one 39 year old Lenny Abramov, son of Russian immigrants and in love with the impossibly cute and cruel Eunice Park. A satire that cuts to the bone, Super Sad True Love Story is exactly it's title. And it's good.

Twin Shadow's 'Changes'

Tuesday // September 20, 2011 at 15:53 // filed under Music

If you missed Twin Shadow debut his new track, 'Changes' on KCRW this week, have no fear, here it is. A re-make of a track originally by 80s group Baggare and entitled 'Circus Is Gone', George Lewis Jr managed to bang this one off single out in between his relentless tour dates.

[Six Degrees of Blipster Separation Note: Twin Shadow also helped Chris Taylor from Grizzly Bear on his solo project CANT, who is about to go on tour with Blood Orange in support as well as on bass guitar duties, who also gets his hands dirty producing Theophilus London whose interview we will have for you this week sometime!]

George, with the help of his keyboardist Wynne Bennet, not only injects 'Circus Is Gone' with energy, heart and verve; but also a truly authentic vibe, renaming it worthily as 'Changes'. This is (yet another) brilliant track. Twin Shadow has never loped with such pop swag. This is encroaching on George Michael territory (read: awesome man-pop. I explain fully what I mean by that, HERE).

So, let's check out the original by Baggare first:

Circus is Gone by Baggare

This is what George had to say about 'Changes', cop the track below that:

“Close to a year ago I discovered one of my favorite bands. Like most of my favorite bands I stumble on them accidentally while looking for rare music on youtube. The band was called Bagarre, some weird italo disco stuff with an asian/english singer, I was immediately drawn to a song called “Circus Is Gone” and for fun the band started covering it while on tour.

We were on our way out to play dates with Florence & The Machine in LA and I thought I would take two days with Twin Shadow keyboardist Wynne Bennett, to lock ourselves up in a studio, eat lots of good Mexican food and experiment with updating this great song. This is what we came up with.

After working on the song I wanted someone with some pop chops to touch it, so we reached out to mixer Michael Brauer, who really took what we had done and instead of doing any major changes, just pumped life into it, and made it jump. They call it 'Circus Is Gone', I call it 'Changes'.''

Flash Content

Twin Shadow - Changes [mp3]

If you haven't already, check the interview we did with Twin Shadow this time last year HERE.

POSTED BY CHRISTEL ESCOSA

TAGS: Twin Shadow // LINKS: Twin Shadow