+ 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)