Boy-Girl band dynamics can be brilliant… or totally cringe-worthy. On the one hand, X-Factor dropouts Same Difference. On the other, the XX.

Romy and Oliver should watch their backs, for My Gold Mask, aka Gretta Rochelle and Jack Armando, are on the scene. I haven’t seen them live (that pleasure awaits me at SXSW) but bootleg Youtube videos show off their totally unorthodox live setup. Gretta takes care of percussion and vocals, stomping away at a kick drum, whilst Jack takes guitar duties and provides backing vocals. Friends have described the experience as “having your face blown off, but in the raddest way”. Ace.

The simple description of “two people who like to make music together” belies the quality of their music; from “Bitches” to “Violet Eyes”, people in the right places are going to hear about this band (if they haven’t already). Their releases have been top notch, already being offered the holy grail of remix treatment, courtesy of Chicago duo The Hood Internet.

“Leave your bitches, at the door/Save your stitches, for the war”. Indeed.

My Gold Mask’s debut EP is available on BandCamp. Photo courtesy of HipSmart.

My Gold Mask – Bitches (The Hood Internet Remix) by botheyesclosed

Most blogs out there are fairly content to keep things simple (Both Eyes Closed included), posting mp3s, the occasional video and maybe an interview or two.

Sometimes, however, someone comes along to mix up the ‘norm’; Willis from Vinyl And Vodka has made that step with his new e-zine. The second issue has just arrived, and carries across the strong editorial features, eye-catching design and even a feature from yours truly. At 111 pages, it’s a considerable undertaking!

For the 5 bloggers + 5 musicians = 2010 feature, Willis chose 5 blogs to write a short feature on their favourite act to watch out for in 2010. Both Eyes Closed contributed a feature on Chew Lips, Kitsuné’s electro-pop wunder-kinds, who will be making some serious noise in 2010 with their debut album, Unicorn.

We could talk about it for ages but ultimately there is no substitute to reading the thing; check it out over on Issuu.

Operator Please have grown up. I’ve been hard on them in the past, but they’ve happily sapped up all the negativity over their respective ages and kitsch pop music, holing up to record their second album. Everybody could see that underneath all the hype around “…Ping Pong…” and their debut album lay a potentially incredible band, and their latest single “Logic” goes a long way in proving that point.

For starters, it opens with a crunching bassline and sassy vocals, with no day-glo outfits in sight. Their new direction might smack of being run through the PR mill but you can sense that this is a natural progression for the band, as they grow from being young teens into adults. The ‘tats on bassist Ashley McConnell prove that point…

“Logic” is a simplistic song, but the execution is perfect. Whilst recording their second album Operator Please have clearly taken the time slow down and streamline their act (losing some members in the process); 2010 is going to be a big year for them. Watch out for Gloves, out 26th April.

Operator Please – Logic by botheyesclosed

OPERATOR PLEASE – LOGIC from BRILLE RECORDS on Vimeo.

Big Stereo, aka blog buddy, has entered the unsteady world of releasing records. It’s a pleasure to see any independent raising their head above the parapet in these times, but the fact that a blog in the driving seat sends further signals: blogs can make a difference.

For their first foray, Big Stereo founder Travis wisely selected a new cut from Oregon duo Baby Monster. Straddling the line between indie and dance, “She Comes” alive is the first release from Big Stereo Records’ new single series. Such an undertaking would usually warrant questions: “Will it sell?”.

We would be worried, where the first song not such an obvious hit. A steady jaunt with well-placed synths and a memorable hook, “She Comes Alive” has rightly received a lot of blog-love. Enjoy the free download, and pre-order the 7″ release (out March 29th) over at Big Stereo.

Baby Monster – She Comes Alive by botheyesclosed

M.I.A. is dynamic, right? Her arrival on the music scene was really fresh, with day-glo colour, off the wall beats and a message.

I loved how she brought something new to the table, but I don’t condone the fact that anyone coming out with a bit of pizazz or a similar message is instantly labeled as a copy-cat. Life moves in sequences, and modern music is generally derivative, so we might as well get used to seeing influences… which leads us to the point of this post; why worry about what has been, when we can focus on the brilliance of Rihanna’s latest single, “Rude Boy”? The video moves away from the dark, introspective and bloody well brilliant marketing campaign that has consumed Rated-R since it arrived out of the blue last year, instead going back to the sun of Riri’s native Barbados.

The fashion is typically insane, with body-suits, skimpy skirts and some baller sunglasses. Let’s not mince words; Rihanna looks incredible, animated effects popping off around her. Whilst the concept is straightforward, the different sequences all fit together relatively well. And who really gives a shit about any of that when you have a 22 year old uttering suggestive lyrics, whilst straddling a lion in a bodysuit (infographic over on Popjustice)?

Rihanna- Rude Boy (Trickbabies Remix) by botheyesclosed

Phonat, aka Michele Balduzzi, dropped his self-titled debut in September 2009 to instant industry approval and the unofficial title of ‘dance album of 2009′. His latest single “Love Hits The Fan” is musically entertaining, but works far better when coupled with the loopy animated video (courtesy of the “Savants Collective”).

The visuals are spot-on, with So-Me style flash cuts and beautiful animation teeing up the unpredictable track. The radio cut is a sub 3 minute version, but musical purists should make a beeline straight for the full edit:
Love Hits The Fan by Phonat

Their Grammy win has only served to emphasise how much of a hot topic Phoenix are. Whether their next release will reach such heights as Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix remains to be seen, but it was a serious win for the Versaille band.

Delphic have unwittingly jumped on the bandwagon, issuing this truly excellent remix of “Fences”. With a commercially successful debut album (Acolyte) under their belt and the hype justified, they have the freedom to experiment. This track proves a point; as well as being talented musicians in their own right, Delphic are excellent producers, extending the track to 7 minutes and layering the vocals over orchestral pads.

Delphic’s US EP is out on March 2nd on Modular Records.

We’re going to test out the new SoundCloud integration with Hype Machine, so bear with us!

Fences (Delphic Remix) by delphic

How many versions of this song will see the light of day?

Apparently, Marina And The Diamonds teamed up with musical supremo Gonzales to perform this one-off rework of “Hollywood” for Pop!, the premier Estonian musical revue program. It’s full of delicious Disney-esque flute trills and tinker-bells, and whilst we might lose man points by admitting this, it makes us go all gooey inside. Know someone with a stoney heart? Problem solved.

We weren’t initially sold on “Hollywood” but it has proven a massive grower. Intelligent lyrics, a frame that lends itself exceptionally well to different arrangements and that undeniably sexy video. All these add up to a hit; be sure buy it when it comes out on February 1st.

Marina And The Diamonds & Gonzales- Hollywood (Gonzales Version) (alt)

On October 31st, 2009, Bloc Party publicly announced their hiatus. Three albums into their career and with intensifying rumours of discord, some critics say that was the end. Why couldn’t it just be a break?

Guitarist Russell Lissack was first to emerge with a side project, Pin Me Down, and uploaded two demos to Myspace. The two songs in  question- “Cryptic” and “Pretty In Pink”- were fervent pop tracks, chock full of intricate guitar work and crashing beats. Crucially, it immediately spirals in a new creative direction.

As side-projects go, this is a perfect showcase of Lissack’s talents, collaborating with vocalist Milena Mepris to explore the boundaries of pop and electronica. Mepris (formerly of Black Moustache) ably carries off the pop vocals. To celebrate the launch of their new site, the band have offered up a free download, “Time Crisis (sign up to download below).

Bloc Party still displays every intention to reform… rest assured, they will be back. If their hiatus results in more music of this calibre, however, it can only be a good thing.

A quiet, orchestral opener, followed up by an apocalyptic 7 minute epic. Something here just doesn’t wash.

With Hidden, These New Puritans have completely ignored the unwritten rules of music. On paper, there should be no cohesion, but this album is simply outstanding, linking expansive instrumental tracks to nervy spoken word interludes. Album standout “We Have War” raises the bar with it’s huge beats and repeated chant “We. Want. War.”.

It sounds like the soundtrack to the next Final Fantasy, full of huge overblown brass, backing choirs and off the wall beats. “We Want War” is a ride. Let’s not kid ourselves, we listen to music for originality, to find things that we have never heard before. “We Want War” ticks all those boxes. Mind = Blown.

These New Puritans- We Want War