Everything At Once

Pavement reformation ist rad

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:14:00 +0000

I should have posted this last week (well, i did but on Twitter, not here). It seems that my favourite band ever - PAVEMENT - is reforming for a world-wide tour in 2010. Their tour begins on September 21st, the first of four shows at Rumsey Playfield in New York's Central Park. On how the reunion came about Spiral Stairs (aka Scott Kannberg) told Prefix Mag:

"Steve and I just had a conversation on the phone, and we'd never talked about it before at all,” he said. “We've talked over the years, but the subject never came up. Then our agent asked us about these New York shows, so we went around to everybody in the band, and they said, 'Yeah, the time is right. If everybody's ready to do it, then we'll do it and see what happens'. There was no real impetus – it just kind of happened naturally."

More awesome details at matador.com and crookedrain.com

Fingers crossed for Australian dates, although it is tempting to buy tickets and a plane fare for NYC! VERY tempting...

Stephen Malkmus is in Australia this week anyway. I'll be seeing him on Wednesday at the Prince of Wales... AND Spiral Stairs is also in town too... coincidence? Hmm.

Kinky Afro and Handsome Furs

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:24:00 +0000

I'm presenting Kinky Afro on Triple R this week, playing a range of new music - new Wilco, Black Cab, Lightening Dust, Crocodiles, Yo La Tengo, Dick Diver, Cass McCombs, Mount Eerie and more... plus an interview with Handsome Furs from Montreal. They're a duo, a husband and wife combo - Alexei Perry and Dan Boeckner (pictured above). Here's an online interview in The Vine with Dan, a great review of their live show in Berlin and a live performance below:

Handsome Furs play Australia this week"

Thursday 27th - The Corner Hotel, MELBOURNE VIC
Saturday 28th - Oxford Art Factory SYDNEY NSW
Sunday 30th - Amplifier, PERTH WA

Tune in to hear them on Kinky Afro, 102.7FM... Thursday afternoon, August 27th from 4pm. Oh, and you can still subscribe for radiothon to be in the running for all the prizes too.

Phoenix in Melbourne

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:39:00 +0000

Tonight-ah! SO EXCITED. The last time the great French band PHOENIX were in town they played with Jarvis Cocker at the Forum on the night before our early morning flight to the UK so we missed them (we being me and the squeeze). Boo! Now, at last, and with a great new album in tow they arrive in town for two sold out shows at The Palace... the first in less than 2 hours time. Did i mention i'm excited?

3RRR Queen's Birthday breakfast on Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:57:00 +0000

I'm filling in for the usual Breakfasters with Jacinta Parsons on Triple R 102.7FM this coming Monday June 8th from 0600-0900 Melbourne time. That's from 9pm Sunday night in London or 4pm Sunday afternoon in NYC streaming at http://www.rrr.org.au

Major Lazer

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:29:00 +0000

In start contrast to my week's obsession with David Crosby (see previous post) is the weird buzzy hot-flush I'm getting from Major Lazer. Its the latest project for Diplo and features a cast of famous and soon-to-be-famous ringins. Major Lazer's new album "Gunz Don't Kill People Lazers Do" is released on June 16 and you can hear the tunes on myspace or check the 'off the tap' video below.

Major Lazer - "Hold The Line" ft. Mr. Lexx and Santigold
Uploaded by DowntownMusic. - Explore more music videos.

And this little gem...

David Crosby

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:08:00 +0000

I think i'm getting a little obsessed by David Crosby. Yep, that's him above. He was in CSNY and The Byrds. He was also on the TV show Roseanne. You knew that. Anyway, I've spent the week listening to his debut solo album from '71 which is called "If I Could Only Remember My Name". Its smooth, and hippy, and groovy, and spiritual and 'far out'. A bunch of famous people play on it and its worth owning. iTunes have it for under ten bucks. Its left me back to one of the best concert albums of all time, Crosby Stills Nash and Young's "4 Way Street". Two of the key highlights of the acoustic set is Crosby's tunes Triad (my favourite never-released Byrds song) and the haunting Lee Shore. So amazing. I have no idea what David Crosby is up to now, although i vaguely remember hearing about a recent CSNY concert film... anyone seen it?

Check out this performance of Lee Shore with Graham Nash for the BBC:

And with CSNY doing Neil Young's Down By The River:

Wilco

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:09:00 +0000

Former Wilco member Jay Bennett (above, second from right) died in his sleep overnight at the age of 45. Details are trickling in slowly but Pitchfork have more. Jay was with the band from 1994 to 2001 as a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, and was fired after a falling out during the making of their Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album. According to reports earlier this month Bennett had been suing Wilco for money owed from his work with the band. He also released several of his own albums after leaving Wilco. His Jay Bennett myspace page mentions his recent hip replacement and has links to his recently released album, but of course no mention yet of his death. RIP Jay.

In Jay's honour I've been listening to Summerteeth as I write this, which I reckon is the high-water mark of Wilco's Jay-era records. But I started the day listening to the new Wilco album. Yes I know, its not out until late June or early July, but I know people, OK!? I have contacts in the right places... ahem... Anyway, its called, somewhat cheekily Wilco (The Album) and the opening cut is "Wilco (The Song)". Jeff even sings the word "Wilco" in the chorus... weird. The rest of the tracks, on first listen, don't quite stack up against the set on Sky Blue Sky which has quickly become one of my favourite Wilco records. A lot of people just didn't dig it, but songs like "Impossible Germany" and "On and On and On" are as good as anything else they've ever done. So anyway, the new album doesn't quite soar as high, but is still a well crafted collection of intelligent adult-pop tunes.

I've also got my winter mittens on Ashes of American Flags, their new tour/live movie. Check the trailer:

And guess what!? You can also get a Wilco iPhone app! I'm going to download it now...

Mum Smokes

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Sun, 24 May 2009 06:51:00 +0000

I'm spending my Sunday with the incredible new double album from Melbourne indie quartet Mum Smokes. Easy/House Music is as close to perfect as anything else released this year, overflowing with brainy-pop and smooth jazzy-indie. Artist Mark Rodda also created the cover art and the band is Jonathan Michell from The Ancients, Karl Scullin of KES, Julian Patterson of Minimum Chips and Justin Fuller of ZOND are Mum Smokes and they launch their double CD in Melbourne on June 26 at The John Curtin Bandroom in Carlton with supports Fabulous Diamonds & White Woods. More dates and tunes on their myspace page and they release through Sensory Projects. Check out their video below which was also created by Mark Rodda.

Dark Night of the Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Wed, 20 May 2009 04:05:00 +0000

NPR are streaming tracks from the awesome"Dark Night of the Soul" collaboration between Sparklehorse and Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley and creator of the Grey Album). You can listen to the collaborations with Iggy Pop, Jason Lytle, James Mercer and DAVID LYNCH!!!! from NPR 'Exclusive First Listen'. The Guardian, among others, reports that the album was leaked to file sharing websites and has since been held up by Danger Mouse's label EMI so he plans to sell an accompanying book with a blank CD-R (so you can download illegally and burn to a physical format i presume)...

Unable to purchase the music, fans are encouraged to buy the project's accompanying book, with photographs by filmmaker David Lynch, which comes with a blank recordable CD-R. "All [CD-Rs] will be clearly labelled: 'For Legal Reasons, enclosed CD-R contains no music. Link

Link to official site for Dark Night of the Soul.

The Wooden Birds

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:47:00 +0000

Fans of classic mellow Texan band American Analog Set can rejoice with a new project from lead chap Andrew Kenny. The Wooden Birds picks up where the sadly departed 'amanset' left off - familiar understated, slow-moving indie-pop for the lost in love - but with fresh new-folk muscle under AK's gentle boyish croon. I'm loving their album Magnolia and its really worth owning. Like really worth it. Listen on myspace or buy it straight from their label Barsuk.

Oh, and thanks to Leigh Tran for the tipoff. She knows I'm an American Analog Set tragic. And her radio program Tape Relay on 2SER in Sydney is amazing.

Grizzly Bear

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:14:00 +0000

It is no secret Grizzly Bear have a new album. But following up a slow burning treasure like Yellow House was always going to be a difficult task. Have the Brooklyn outfit succeeded? So far I'm not sure, but my guts say... maybe not. After 2-3 listens I am in love with its warm romantic swooning and chiming energy. It is just as mystical and evocative. I can't get beneath the lyrics yet, but then they usually sink in late for me anyway. And 'Tha Grizzlz' are about texture and tone, aren't they?

But the new album "Veckatimest" doesn't soar, on initial listens, quite as high... or beat with the same vigor as Yellow House. I'm hoping (and I'm sure) it will dig in under my skin soon and I can then stop being so passive aggressive. Its certainly one of the better releases of 2009 so far. Inertia are carrying "Veckatimest" (on Warp Records) in Australia. It is named after an island and comes out on the 23rd of May. Tunes and dates on Grizzly Bear's myspace page, and below is a performance of new track Two Weeks from the BBC's Later... with Jools Holland.

Dick Diver

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:40:00 +0000

I saw this band, Dick Diver, play a few weeks ago at the Curtin Bandroom in Carlton. The bassplayer danced around and wore a wifebeater and a cowboy hat. Steph, who shares Home and Hosed presenting duties on Triple J is their drummer. She used to drum for Screamfeeder and Children Collide. The two young dudes out front share vocals and trade slippery guitar lines. They are pretty much fantastic.

They describe their sound as Tropical German-Pop Soul. Are they being funny for their myspace page? No. Its true. I can imagine them playing behind the wall, with nice trousers and boatshoes, near a wading pool, with an ice-cream van nearby, and sunscreen on, in 1965, supporting The Beatles but kicking their ass. To be fair they actually owe a debt to The Go-Betweens from Brisbane and their peers more than anything. There's also little bits of Pavement and Crow in the mix too.

They are finishing a recording so the best I can offer you to hear is the ace music on Dick Diver's myspace and try to see them when they play with The Middle East and Grand Salvo at the Northcote Social Club on June 13th.

High Highs

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Sat, 09 May 2009 06:03:00 +0000

I'm going to Sydney next week for work, and then a weekend of play. One of the things we're doing is heading to the bi-annual Finders Keepers Market which is on Friday May 15th and Saturday May 16th at the Carriage Works. Playing on Saturday at around 6pm is a duo called High Highs. I've fallen for the gentle, otherworldly acoustic folk/pop tunes on their myspace page. They even try their hand at a cover of Dan Auerbach's "Trouble Weighs a Ton". There's no official release or label or any more details but the full list of artists appearing at the markets is here.

Custom Axes for The Beatles: Rock Band

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:13:00 +0000

Engadget posted these photos above of the custom guitars available for The Beatles: Rock Band game which is coming out this year. At a retail price of US$99 the Gretsch above is only $10 cheaper than the equivalent REAL guitar purchased by George Harrison in 1961. Which would you prefer? I had been thinking of getting a REAL Gretsch (yes, i can actually PLAY) but am having second thoughts now that it is associated with a GAME. Am i over-reacting, being over sensitive? Hmm.

Firekites

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Mon, 04 May 2009 04:42:00 +0000

Thanks to Zan at Triple J for the tipoff with the video below from Newcaste group Firekites:

Firekites AUTUMN STORY - chalk animation from Yanni Kronenberg on Vimeo.

Firekites full length debut album, The Bowery, is worth owning too and makes for perfect rainy Sunday listening.

Jonathan Boulet

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:22:00 +0000

Got the hot tip about this guy, Jonathan Boulet, from Steph at Triple J's Home and Hosed. I can hear why she's a fan - lovely tropical pop-folk in a way similar to something like Vampire Weekend but less preppy, or Ruby Suns but less 'way-out'. Why doesn't everyone know about this guy!? He's from Castle Hill in NSW and has a full debut album available online too. Check his myspace for the tunes and details of the record. You can also download the excellent tune "Community Service Announcement" from RCRDLBL.

No Through Road

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:54:00 +0000

Can any indie band in the land lay a hand on No Through Road? Their skinny white asses may not win in a headbutt fight, but in the shouty guitar slingery grudgematch they'd kick yours and your mothers. And they're from Adelaide too, my hometown, so i'm rooting for them. In the American sense yo.

The group, led by self proclaimed 'Slacker King' Matt Banham, have mutated into quite the shock-and-awe rock force, some miles away from the Oberst-esque folk wrangling of his early recordings. Now there's more of a Bob Pollard swagger and punch, with the spit and bile of early Constantines or fellow convicts The Drones. Its party music. For thoughtful tough guys and hard drinkin' geeks.

Winner, the new album from No Through Road, is released through Melbourne label Low Transit Industries on April 25th, with a corker hometown show in Adelaide is planned for May 9th at The Metro featuring Wagons, Sea Thieves and Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! Check their websites for more details, free music and links to their myspace and stuff. Below is the video for the latest single from the new album "Party to Survive" but there's even better songs on the album. Truly.

Sleepy Sun

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:38:00 +0000

I'm digging this San Francisco psych-band Sleepy Suns. They tread some similar Rock 'n' Roll paths to Black Mountain, Tame Impala, Wolf and Cub and in their quieter moments most obviously Brightback Morning Light. ATP Recordings do that stuff they need done and are putting out their record Embrace on May 11th. Listen to them on Hype Machine or myspace.

Wolf and Cub

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:07:00 +0000

The first album for Adelaide outfit Wolf and Cub was one of the more satisfying local debuts of recent times. Vessels, released around two years ago, had an urgent energy and a widescreen sheen that is still present on the followup Science and Sorcery. But with help from Chris Colonna (Bumblebeez) and after some member reshuffling the 'cub seem up for some groovy lo-fi experimentation and deconstruction. "One to The Other" and "The Loosest of Gooses" are the chugging boogie-rockers but opening cut "Seven Sevens" and the closer "Blood" say the most about the overall tone and vibe. There's more space this time, its more open texturally, sometimes more pop corners are explored... and its more vocally adventurous but just as lyrically obtuse. I'm going to stick with it. Remote Control are handling the Wolf and Cub release which sees the album drop into stores this Saturday 18th of April.

Telepathe

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 06:01:00 +0000

Pretty much my favourite song at the moment is "So Fine" by Telepathe...

Their album - Dance Mother - comes out in America tomorrow on IAMSOUND Records. I'm not sure who will release it in Australia. Maybe Remote Control? It is produced by TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek. They're a duo from Brooklyn: Melissa Livaudis and Busy Gangnes. Drowned In Sound went in depth with them recently so that's where to go for more info. And more of their tunes are on Myspace.

*sigh*

Easter tunes - Tilman and Cymbals

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 06:51:00 +0000

I've been neglecting this blog somewhat, and for that, apologies dear brethren, but my music radar has been in mothballs for some weeks now. I've had little time or inclination for discovering new tunage, besides just a couple of albums added to the collection last week and the odd aural dip into All Songs Considered podcasts while on the treadly at the gym. In terms of the latter you could do worse than check out their recent post-SXSW analysis and the sterling interview/special with Mr Bonnie Prince Billy. His new album - Beware - sounds like it could be a corker, so I reckon I'll get the greedy mits on it quick smart once it hits stores...

In the meantime I'm trying to emerse myself in a couple of great new albums from the US of A which i procured from eMusic...

Cymbals Eat Guitars (above) make classic indie rock. Not the bland stadium-indie peddled by so many lego-haired british silver spooners. But the down-home yankee-college indie rock that drips forth from albums like Crooked Rain Crooked Rain or Lonesome Crowded West or more aptly Perfect From Now On. Slack guitars ring out like cymbals and cymbals crash like guitars. I guess the name works on that level. Sometimes its shouty too, and sometimes shuffly, broody or urgent while still being loose. They love Pavement and I love them. It's an easy, no frills equation.

In all honesty I don't know much else about the band though so thats all i have to share. The album is called "Why There are Mountains" and they are from Staten Island, NYC. Like the Wu Tang Clan. You can hear Cymbals Eat Guitars on their myspace page, as if you didn't know you could, hey?

photo by kjten22 from flickr

J. Tillman (above) has also been in my stereo (aka the iPod) with his new album "Vacilando Territory Blues". You should listen online. I have blogged about him before. He drums for Fleet Foxes but is a capable, inventive songwriter and performer in his own right. His ragged, intimate vocals sit across strummy acoustic folk-ballads and occasional lush rushes of strings, steel and brushy drums. The songs weave a kind of magic that isn't completely full of surprises but still offers solace from the other nonsense offered up by modern noisemakers or the half-rate songsmiths that radio cling to and champion.

I wish he'd played shows in Australia when the Foxes toured recently. I think people would have reacted well. Nevermind. Its Easter Saturday and I have him and the cymbals to keep me company as the sun casts treacle across the trees and through my dusty window.

Music journalism in Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:02:00 +0000

Mess and Noise have a well considered and passionate article online from Andrew Ramadge on the state of music journalism and music criticism in Australia. It takes as its stepping off point an article in Rolling Stone by Everett True (which I'm yet to read) and dissects the predicaments facing street press and the value of cultivating and supporting online music sites/blogs with an Australian bent:

"...the web has, or will very soon, become the major source of news for Australians. This month the Communications and Media Authority reported that the internet had surpassed newspapers, TV and radio as the nation's most trusted source of information. One of the biggest challenges that Australian music journalists face is ensuring that local music history doesn't get lost online – but it isn't the street press, or Rolling Stone, who are going to tackle it."

Read the full article and the ensuing discussion on Mess and Noise.

New music for a Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:26:00 +0000

I slipped into Polyester this morning with CD buying on my mind. I've been using my eMusic subscription lately to get my ears into new music, but I'm getting a hankering to return to the land of tactile purchases. So I bought three great new albums to enjoy in the warm sunshine streaming into our loungeroom on this glorious sunday in Melbourne.

First up the debut from Melbourne duo Kid Sam. Cousins Kierin and Kishore Ryan make lovely, otherworldly indie folk tunes full of looped industrial percussion and skittery guitars which are sometimes fuzzed out, and other times gentle and acoustic. The self titled album is RRR's album of the week and they're playing a free instore at Polyester's city store on April 24th. I reckon I might be there.

I also picked up the new album for NZ's Lawrence Arabia (pictured above). Its a joyful pop-soaked affair... dripping with Beatle-esque tones and a wistful boyish charm. The album - Chant Darling - is out through Mistletone.

And lastly I got the new album for Deerhunter guitarist Lockett Pundt. I'm pretty much obsessed with his band and the album he's produced - The Floodlight Collective - is a sweet, multi-layered and dreamy adventure into similar pastures to the 'hunter. Recorded under the name Lotus Plaza, the record is out through Kranky.

God's Children of Golden Men

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:37:00 +0000

Paste Magazine has audited the bands playing at SXSW next week and come up with some interesting trends in their names. Where we previously had Wolf, The and Crystal we now have names that refer to dudes, religion and bling. Read the full article at Paste.

Incoming

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Egan) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:48:00 +0000

I'll be presenting the Incoming program on Melbourne radio Triple R this afternoon from 4pm AEDT. Tune in on 102.7 FM or stream online and hear interviews from Fearless Vampire Killers, The Little Stevies and also an interview with The Herd about the Elefant Traks' 10th birthday celebrations.