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.
Thursday // January 28, 2010 at 17:16 // filed under Music // Lifestyle
The xx & These New Puritans on tour
For all those outside - as well as inside - of Europe crying blood
tears about not being able to catch this most heartbreakingly amazing
double header of both The xx and These New Puritans
TOGETHER on their absolutely gruelling tour schedule around Europe, the
best consolation we can offer you right now is that Domino are giving
away 'Orion' as a tissue to dab your eyes with.
Thursday // January 07, 2010 at 15:01 // filed under Music
Woozy and underwatery, a little groggy and rather whimsical as it goes is the latest remix of These New Puritan's lead single 'We Want War' from their hotly anticipated second album, Hidden. IT'S COMING OUT ON THE 18th PEOPLE!
And so, to the remix. A late night chiller, Ghost Hunter totally removes the drive that originally came with this brilliant TNP track. Instead of being a call to arms, 'We Want War' has turned into something more of a pacifier; softly swerving and padding about and even putting a buoyant little skip in it's step in the closing minute. Check it:
Tuesday // December 15, 2009 at 13:39 // filed under Music
They Want War
photograph by Harley Weir
These New Puritan's lead single 'We Want War', from forthcoming album Hidden has got it's first remix in; with the vehemently whispered declaration of "We want war" pushed to the forefront - the remixed track being just as full of tension and suspense as the original. But unlike the original - which I feel is like a soldier marching towards the battle field with guns and bombs blazing nearby - the remix as interpreted by SBTRKT seems to find the track in the midst of crawling through the underbrush, guerilla styles, with the war blazing on overhead. It's a little more intense, being propelled forward by beeping synths, but keeping the super dark and ominous undertones of the original. Brilliant.
Friday // December 04, 2009 at 13:05 // filed under Music
We Want War
I LOVE THESE NEW PURITANS. I cannot say this enough. I am still addicted to Beat Pyramid; I think it was wayyy ahead of it's time, so the anticipation that I'd harboured for their forthcoming album Hidden was absolutely immense. I'd been sending weekly emails for about a month checking for it, and when I finally had a listen, I felt supremely elated/smug/vindicated that the wait was justified: These New Puritans surpassed my hopes and expectations.
The lead single from the album is 'We Want War' and it is POWERFUL and EPIC - and so is the beautiful video, directed in all it's surreal and cinematic drama by Daniel Askill.
Honestly, the dynamic journey that a TNP track will take you on, starting with 'We Want War', is as close to a religious experience as I get.
WE WANT WAR - These New Puritans
Turn it the fuck UP and IMMERSE yourself. If anyone could stir up some kind of feeling in this our (generally) apathetic generation, it's These New Puritans...and I'm also giving more than a nod - more like a body slam salute - to HEALTH in that statement (and yes I'm thinking of you superfan James Penycakes as I type this).
TNP have cobbled together snippets from Hidden to give you a preview in the mp3 below, but I'm warning you, download that shit at your peril because it's a total tease, and will leave you with the musical equivalent of blue balls.