ola podrida - self titled (plug research, 2007)
actually there's none of that singing at top of any lungs, instead it's all hushed vocals and occasionally yearning but still soft, cries. i like the more ambient stuff like the gorgeous track 'instead', more textural on an otherwise alt-country/folkpop record. a band of many former texans i think, now based in brooklyn and lead by a film composer. also notable (for me at least) for having ken from the analog set playing bass in the band (but not on the record though).
also for some reason, despite the fact that plug research is distributed by inertia, this one never got released here. hmpf.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
+ i can hear your voice in my head
The Accidental - There Were Wolves
today's new favourite record: English folk pop of the modern kind, yet still sounding rather timeless. Beautiful stuff, especially if you like Tuung (though this is not at all electronic) or The Memory Band (since the Accidental is made up of members of the aforementioned bands). I only wish it were summer and i was sitting in a meadow full of tall grass to fully enjoy the experience, instead of sitting in a grey office looking out the window to an even greyer day. *sigh*
today's new favourite record: English folk pop of the modern kind, yet still sounding rather timeless. Beautiful stuff, especially if you like Tuung (though this is not at all electronic) or The Memory Band (since the Accidental is made up of members of the aforementioned bands). I only wish it were summer and i was sitting in a meadow full of tall grass to fully enjoy the experience, instead of sitting in a grey office looking out the window to an even greyer day. *sigh*
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
+ notes and errata
it sometimes feel like i save all my best opinions for mess and noise! so here's me quoting myself, instead of rehashing it all anyways...
- the new notwist is actually quite lovely, and not as disappointing as the early single might have you believe. (it works well in context though, as the opening track). and i'm sneakily enjoying the synth pop delights of neon neon (boom bip meets super furry's gruff rhys, with occasional input from spank rock and fat lip)
- really coming around to this dodos' album 'visiter'. wasn't particularly sold on their sxsw show, but i don't think seeing them at a noisy outdoor environment, surrounded by industry hacks, TELLING me that they were hot shit, was the best way to see them for the first time and before hearing them on record.
but the album is solid. folk pop essentially, i still think *pfft* at this supposed drone - it's less so than say, rand and holland (who is the closest i can think of for drone-meets-folkpop), but ignoring misplaced hype, i think it's a pretty good record.
also the cryptacize album 'dig that treasure' is worth checking out. minimal art-pop, which reminds me of fog's '10th avenue freakout'. with the ex-deerhoof fella at the helm, it's has a similar angular vibe to it.
- on don caballero: i frequently have the urge to listen to american don as i have done in the past hour, but then by the last track, somewhere about 2 mins in, and only 3 minutes to go, i conclude that the noise is driving me crazy, i've had enough and i just can't make it all through to the end. this has happened the last 8 times i've listened to this album.
but then a sufficient amount of time passes, i forget and then i start all over again. weird.
''you drink a lot of a coffee for a teenager'' it must be a noted is a damn fine piece. 2:41 of math rock awesomeness. it's what sold me on the band in the first place.
- the new notwist is actually quite lovely, and not as disappointing as the early single might have you believe. (it works well in context though, as the opening track). and i'm sneakily enjoying the synth pop delights of neon neon (boom bip meets super furry's gruff rhys, with occasional input from spank rock and fat lip)
- really coming around to this dodos' album 'visiter'. wasn't particularly sold on their sxsw show, but i don't think seeing them at a noisy outdoor environment, surrounded by industry hacks, TELLING me that they were hot shit, was the best way to see them for the first time and before hearing them on record.
but the album is solid. folk pop essentially, i still think *pfft* at this supposed drone - it's less so than say, rand and holland (who is the closest i can think of for drone-meets-folkpop), but ignoring misplaced hype, i think it's a pretty good record.
also the cryptacize album 'dig that treasure' is worth checking out. minimal art-pop, which reminds me of fog's '10th avenue freakout'. with the ex-deerhoof fella at the helm, it's has a similar angular vibe to it.
- on don caballero: i frequently have the urge to listen to american don as i have done in the past hour, but then by the last track, somewhere about 2 mins in, and only 3 minutes to go, i conclude that the noise is driving me crazy, i've had enough and i just can't make it all through to the end. this has happened the last 8 times i've listened to this album.
but then a sufficient amount of time passes, i forget and then i start all over again. weird.
''you drink a lot of a coffee for a teenager'' it must be a noted is a damn fine piece. 2:41 of math rock awesomeness. it's what sold me on the band in the first place.
+ updates
Tape Relay in addition to broadcasting live in Sydney on 2SER 107.3 and streaming live at 2ser.com, is now archived at taperelay.podomatic.com. well the pre-produced packages are anyway - stuff like the interviews, regular segments and other random bits i might come across. i've even uploaded a whole show in it's 90 minute entirety - the Austin, TX special of music from the area. it's a show i really enjoyed recording, which i had to pre-record as it went to air (and a couple others) during the time i was away in the states.
which brings me to...
my trip to the US. first timer to texas, first timer to sxsw. fuckn hell! brilliant! although about half way through the week in tx, it did occur to me that i'm not really a festival goer (i hate crowds, i really do) so i'm not sure why i was so gung-ho on the festival aspect of south by, but it was still fun. a lot of it had to do with hanging out with my friends who are locals... my friend lee is quite possibly my favourite person in the whole of america at this point in time. big call right. he is a very smart and perceptive bloke, knowledgable as they say, friendly too and took me to some off-site shows which were awesome. i saw something like 22 bands in 4 days, so i think i will need to post a separate update later.
lee also loaded up my mp3 player with heaps of new music, but even since then, i'm coming across something like 20 new albums a week. so quite simply, i'm overwhelmed with new music. this is both good and bad. a little suffocating but also exciting, and i can't ever say i've got nothing to listen to. and it's making tape relay varied at least.
new records to the fold, that i don't even feel i can make a judgement call on, let alone write a paragraph review, but does at least warrant an initial yay (as opposed to nay) includes:
no kids - come into my house (08, actually have had this one for a while now, but haven't written about it yet. it's classy y'know? i rate it up there as one of my faves for the year already)
the notwist - the devil, you and me (08, yes. it's the notwist though, very similar to neon golden)
the dodos - visiter (08, too much hype but i find myself drawn to it anyway. folk meets only the SLIGHTEST bit of ambient drone, like you would say the same for rand and holland)
borko - celebrating life (08, earnest sure)
a weather - cove (08, slowcore. pretty)
windsor the derby - how we lost (08, new one. goes shoegaze pop. if you like their other records though, just be prepared for something a bit different)
this will destroy you - self titled (08, if you don't like mogwai or explosions in the sky, you probably won't like this. or might like it more than said band. coz that's me, in the latter camp)
glowworm - coachlight woods (08, portland post rock. pretty but)
crypaticize - dig that treasure (08, sleeper this one!)
the black angels - directions to see a ghost (08)
ghost in the water - tooth (08)
diskjokke - staying in (08, norwegian folk techno, have my listening tastes progressed or regressed back to my youth of 1998? it's a fine line)
old news but new to this old dog:
talkdemonic - beat romantic (06, folktronic)
maserati - inventions for the new season (i think it's an 07 release. post-rock, post-metal drones)
a place to bury strangers - self titled (07, noisy as hell, some ok, some really great. it's true though, they really do sound like JAMC meets joy division with a nice bit of metal thrown in for good measure)
kim hiorthoy - my last day (07, oh my god brilliant at sxsw. was so excited to order this cd, and then as soon as it arrived, i forgot about to listening to it. the urgency was lost i'm afraid because it's so last year!)
hmmm...
subtle - exitingARM (08, intially disappointing. doseone, why sing? it's not like yr yoni wolf. but i need to give this more time probably)
islands - arm's way (08, it's ok for now but i suspect i might really hate it in a few months time)
french kicks - swimming (08, starts off well, 'abandon' is a gorgeous opening song but like all french kicks records, just gets annoying by half time)
which brings me to...
my trip to the US. first timer to texas, first timer to sxsw. fuckn hell! brilliant! although about half way through the week in tx, it did occur to me that i'm not really a festival goer (i hate crowds, i really do) so i'm not sure why i was so gung-ho on the festival aspect of south by, but it was still fun. a lot of it had to do with hanging out with my friends who are locals... my friend lee is quite possibly my favourite person in the whole of america at this point in time. big call right. he is a very smart and perceptive bloke, knowledgable as they say, friendly too and took me to some off-site shows which were awesome. i saw something like 22 bands in 4 days, so i think i will need to post a separate update later.
lee also loaded up my mp3 player with heaps of new music, but even since then, i'm coming across something like 20 new albums a week. so quite simply, i'm overwhelmed with new music. this is both good and bad. a little suffocating but also exciting, and i can't ever say i've got nothing to listen to. and it's making tape relay varied at least.
new records to the fold, that i don't even feel i can make a judgement call on, let alone write a paragraph review, but does at least warrant an initial yay (as opposed to nay) includes:
no kids - come into my house (08, actually have had this one for a while now, but haven't written about it yet. it's classy y'know? i rate it up there as one of my faves for the year already)
the notwist - the devil, you and me (08, yes. it's the notwist though, very similar to neon golden)
the dodos - visiter (08, too much hype but i find myself drawn to it anyway. folk meets only the SLIGHTEST bit of ambient drone, like you would say the same for rand and holland)
borko - celebrating life (08, earnest sure)
a weather - cove (08, slowcore. pretty)
windsor the derby - how we lost (08, new one. goes shoegaze pop. if you like their other records though, just be prepared for something a bit different)
this will destroy you - self titled (08, if you don't like mogwai or explosions in the sky, you probably won't like this. or might like it more than said band. coz that's me, in the latter camp)
glowworm - coachlight woods (08, portland post rock. pretty but)
crypaticize - dig that treasure (08, sleeper this one!)
the black angels - directions to see a ghost (08)
ghost in the water - tooth (08)
diskjokke - staying in (08, norwegian folk techno, have my listening tastes progressed or regressed back to my youth of 1998? it's a fine line)
old news but new to this old dog:
talkdemonic - beat romantic (06, folktronic)
maserati - inventions for the new season (i think it's an 07 release. post-rock, post-metal drones)
a place to bury strangers - self titled (07, noisy as hell, some ok, some really great. it's true though, they really do sound like JAMC meets joy division with a nice bit of metal thrown in for good measure)
kim hiorthoy - my last day (07, oh my god brilliant at sxsw. was so excited to order this cd, and then as soon as it arrived, i forgot about to listening to it. the urgency was lost i'm afraid because it's so last year!)
hmmm...
subtle - exitingARM (08, intially disappointing. doseone, why sing? it's not like yr yoni wolf. but i need to give this more time probably)
islands - arm's way (08, it's ok for now but i suspect i might really hate it in a few months time)
french kicks - swimming (08, starts off well, 'abandon' is a gorgeous opening song but like all french kicks records, just gets annoying by half time)
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