IM // UR | Is Tropical, innit...

This is probably the most exciting album we've heard in a while. Can you imagine a metal band not made by (and for) teenagers who worship Iron Maiden like their sisters worship Miley Cyrus? Invasion's The Master Alchemist is a compilation of 12 songs created with noisy guitars and fearless female vocals that will teach future generations about the emerging punk attitude; all with a metal sound and new rave style that might actually be the future of hairy metal. And we all thought heavy metal had no future...

WE // R \\ WEARING

No matter what part of the world you live in, you really can't ever have enough tees. Specially white ones. And black ones. With cool graphic prints on them. Meanwhile, in hipster-dom, crystals are still an ever popular theme, but in this case, we prefer this one in particular from Canadian based operation Handsome Clothing, christened the 'Lunar Crystal' (//Christel) tee. 'Handsome', despite being a kind of old school, highly civilised type of word, does describe this tastefully hip label justly. They also have a darn good-looking blog too, so go check that out while you're at it.

WE // R \\ WATCHING

Burn Notice is a USA Network series about a spy who got burned - which they remind you of in every scene. Although following the
basic style of American television, the series will catch all you dudes out there (sorry, girls won't like this) who like watching things explode in the most diverse ways. And like any good spy show, it teaches you how to make homemade bombs with boring things (a modern version of MacGyver). Plus Bruce Campbell is a lead character. And he's looking all Morrissey like.

WE // R \\ GOING

Imagine a youth house transformed into a club. Now charge 4 reais for a (long neck) beer and from 10 to 15 reais to get in. If you did it all right this would be called Neu (read in German) and actually already exists in São Paulo. My favorite night there is Friday, when they host Explode, a party where they basically play third world inspired songs (from Vampire Weekend to the whole club rap scene from Baltimore). Some great underrated DJs play there from time to time, and when you least expect it, you might find yourself laying on the dancefloor busting out some drunky town moves.

WE // R \\ READING

So yes, we've been wayyyy slack in updating the We//R\\Stuffs, which is why I'm going to say now that we began and finished Oscar Wilde's A Picture of Dorian Gray well before we knew it was a film. This is a classic novel about art, vanity, beauty and the consequences of such. 'A Picture of Dorian Gray' is brilliant; exploring and exploiting the potentially corrosive characters of beauty and what beauty can do to a character. Navigating through the deeply dark and light sides of human nature, Wilde's novel is a wickedly good study of society, and echoes with a cackling delight (and despair) at humanity's foibles.

Is Tropical, innit...

Friday // November 20, 2009 at 12:15 // filed under Music

Is Tropical

...Specially in Sydney right now, but I actually wanted to refer to London three piece Is Tropical, comprising of Gary Barber (Vocals/Guitars/Keys), Simon Milner (Vocals/Guitars/Keys) and Dominic Apa (Drums/Programming). Their upcoming debut single 'When O'When' (to be released on newbie Hitclub Records on the 18th of January 2010) initially struck me as intriguingly odd, manga-ish kinda cowboy be-bop cruising music.

And then, in my head, the track formed the shape of something like a ruggedly handsome and virile young Scotsman in a kilt, with a pair of hairy, yet nimble legs coming out of a skirt as it begins. Okay, what I'm trying to say it's kinda secure in it's own soft side. And then the electric guitar and drums kick in and the track lifts it's kilt and shows us its bollocks. Dynamic, strong and effortless, 'When O'When' has been produced and mixed by Al O'Connell (who's also done Klaxons and The Big Pink).

I absolutely cannot wait to hear more from these guys, definitely an exciting prospect for 2010. I'm itching to give you the wicked B-side from the single, but in the meantime, check the video for 'When O'When' below. No kilted boys flashing their balls though, sorry if I led you on.

IS TROPICAL - When O' When

POSTED BY CHRISTEL ESCOSA

TAGS: Is Tropical // LINKS: Is Tropical