To say that Local Natives are this year's Fleet Foxes isn't wrong, but not that right either. Local Natives are softer, brighter and lighter than their widely critiqued sort-of-counterparts. Gorilla Manor is a delicious debut that should be listened and loved for its own merits and there are 12 of them here; from the beautiful single 'Airplanes' to the epic journey of 'Stranger Things'. For fans of harmonic vocals, delicate guitars and gorgeous layers (and I bet there'll be a lot of you).
You know about FAJ right? That's Fanny and Jessy as they are also known, and this duo have one of the coolest young labels coming straight out of London. They debuted their first range last year entitled 'I Hope You Die Soon' and they're also responsible for the infamous tee of the same name (and it's sibling, 'Suck It You Fuck') which I actually often find gets quite a warm reaction despite it's sentiment. This month they're showing their hotly anticipated sophomore collection for AW 2010 which no doubt will be full of their trademark wicked humor and edge. Definitely ones to watch.
Honestly, who isn’t? The sixth and final season of Lost, one of the best series ever created, just started and we are sure spending more time talking, reading and thinking about it than watching it. Well, from what we read some mysteries won’t be answered (the real meaning of the numbers, anyone?), but if there's something we've learned from accompanying Locke’s island friends (and enemies) is that the travel is always more enjoyable than the actual place it’s taking you to. Well, not if the smoke monster is trying to kill you.
The latest station on the Drunky Town train line is in Sydney, Australia at a little club in the Spanish Quarter (actually it's just two Spanish shops next to each other on the same street or something like that in the CBD) called GoodGod, which plays host to soirée of the moment, Slow Blow. Word has it that in January, Karen O crashed Sydney's current cool kids party, but to be honest by that time everyone was too busy dancing and cutting loose in D-Town to care. And that's the true mark of a good time - when you find yourself twirling about without a care in the world. Or it could just mean you're trashed. Heh.
You know those films where there are all these supposedly 'intertwined' stories and lives? Quite a cliché concept for both books and movies I suppose, but rarely does it really resonate in either medium. David Mitchell though (not the Peep Show one) manages to spin tales into tightly woven rugs that are quite fantastical yet believable, moving without being overly sentimental, eclectic and incredibly entertaining. He also writes straight narratives too, with just as much panache and verve. I just (re)read Number9Dream though any and all of David Mitchell's books are highly recommended...and he's got a newie coming out this year. EXCITEMENT.
Wednesday // August 12, 2009 at 18:25 // filed under Music
Before you read this I'm going to come clean and say that I'm close
friends with the members of Our Gang, but that doesn't affect a word of my "OMG
THE BEST BAND IN BRAZIL AT THE MOMENT" judgement. That's because they are the
best band of Brazil at the moment, of course. Do you need a proof? Check the
b-side (I said freaking B-SIDE) from their upcoming single 'Eddie Murphy'.
The song is called 'Lili
Girl' and its going to warm your heart with it's velvet touch. The late
night 70's blues/funky feel is beyond lovely. This song is so pretty that it makes me wanna
have somebody to love. Spread this song like its influenza H1N1 and help create a
better world to live in.
EDIT: We just got the final version of the song. MP3 Updated!
Monday // May 25, 2009 at 20:33 // filed under Music
After months and months of emails, Database's Ugly Edits is
finally on their Myspace. The second volume unites almost every single checkworthy
band or producer from the Brazilian scene along with new edits from Database themselves. After
some days of love, we ranked our Top 5 collaborations. There are The Twelves,
Copacabana Club, Daft Punk, Berlinda Carlisle and more.
1.We've seen many live sets that's nothing more than
some dude pressing play on Ableton Live. Fortunately there are producers
like The Twelves who bring synths to the dancefloor in a way that sounds much
better than any home recorded song will ever sound. So when they decided to
cover Daft Punk's 'NightVision' you know it will be a synth homage version.
2. "I wanna be your lover and not just be your friend" begs Caca V, the pretty singer from Copacabana Club in this cover her band did with the help of another Curitiba band, the great Our Gang. Some disco low-fi bass and guitar lines, some colorful and some dry synths makes it an irresistible version.
3. Sometimes all a good song needs to reborn is a good
dancefloor edit. Roots Rock Revolution (RRR) understand that and made Nu Shooz's 'I
Can't Wait' faster, better and stronger. Should be going down nicely in groovy
sets and oldschool playlists.
4. This edit starts
with the worst synth ever. But don't be afraid, it goes away really fast and
then you're left with a very enjoyable track to listen to. Atmospheric country music
for electronic kids. Well done, Superpose.
5. Who doesn't enjoy a cheesy song? I do - and so does
Discobot. 'Heaven is a Place on Earth', yes that song that gets played at every
wedding and graduation by Belinda Carlisle, gets some electro synths and
some chopped vocals. Seriously, it works!
You can listen and download all the songs for free at
Database's Myspace. Word!
Monday // May 18, 2009 at 12:50 // filed under Music
Inside every modern production duo, there's one that's a better
producer and the other who's the better PR. Let's just say that Database is at the moment exploring
both sides to the maximum with the second edition of their Uglyedits
compilation. Almost every single band or producer who is checkworthy on the Brazilian
scene - and also the American duo French
Horn Rebellion - have reinterpreted old songs using elements extracted from
the original MP3s alongside lots of editing to make the track their own; or have simply just covered it
oldschool.
Highlights come from the clash of Copacabana Club versus Our
Gang in the cover of La Bionda's
'I Wanna Be Your Lover', The Twelves covering Daft Punk's 'Nightvision', Roots Rock Revolution accelerating the forgotten anthem
of Nu Shooz, 'I Can't Wait', and many
many many more - as the list of the features continues with Edu k,
Superpose, Dada attack, Killer on the Dancefloor, Allan Falkyn, Nando Feitosa,
Midnight Martyn, Pelussje & Blood Shake, The Random, Terrorduo, Sexistalk,
Dubstrong (2Crazy Deadman), Mono-4, Discobot, Mottorama, Fisk, Digitaria and
Chernobyl. Oh, and let's not forget Database with 13 (!) Uglyedits!
From where the Brazilian scene stands now, this release is
going to be much better than the first volume. If you like to rock the party,
Database is inviting everyone to the release party tomorrow (19th of
May) at São Paulo's D-Edge and, of course, urge you to check their Myspace
on the 25th of May to listen to all the songs and download them for
free.
Meanwhile check the awesome teaser that the boys prepared
below and two exclusivity Uglyedits. Database's edit of Dc Larue's 'Cathedrals'
is like making love to your ears and as everybody knows you can't go wrong with
The Jackson Five, the French Horn Rebellioncontribute their groovy lines to the
compilation. There is nothing ugly about these edits.
