Knives At Noon - Violins & Violence

Knives At Noon are one of those rare finds - a radiant gemstone among the piles of musical garbage that litter the bustling streets of the inter-web. They reside in the depths of Dunedin churning out what they call 'Doom Pop' - an ever so slightly darker interpretation of conventional pop with an indie / post-rock twist. They inevitably draw comparisons with fellow South Island dance-punk maestro's Bang Bang Eche!, with their synth heavy riffs, infectious melodies and white-boy aggression.

Their latest single 'Violins & Violence' off the forthcoming debut EP Glitter Guts is a hooky dance track driven by a 4-to-the-floor beat, raw lo-fi guitars, burping synth and tongue-twisting vocals. And despite my failure to adequately encapsulate the song in words, it is one of the best New Zealand releases I've heard in a good wee while... The breakdown towards the end is undeniably 'Doom Pop'!

Keep an eye on these guys, they opened for Vampire Weekend a few months back and are slowly stamping their mark on the NZ music scene... I foresee a prosperous future for these Dunedin doom-poppers!

Glitter Guts, the debut EP from 'Knives At Noon' is due out in September.

knivesatnoon.com

facebook.com/knivesatnoon

BOYS NOIZE - NEW TRACKS!

Literally 8 minutes ago on Facebook BOYS NOIZE announced the release of two new 'preview' tracks to his soundcloud. While they are obviously still works in progress they are nonetheless brilliant as Alex Ridha effortlessly flaunts his electro wizardry. Although the two sneak peeks are trademark 'Noize' they thump with more authority than anything off the more experimental 'Power!' Perhaps a bangin' 12" in the making?

Let's hope we get a taste of the new stuff live @ Rhythm & Vines 2010/2011!

Boys Noize "1010" Preview by Boys Noize

Boys Noize "YEAH" Preview by Boys Noize

Miami Horror - I Look To You MUSIC VIDEO

I only posted on Illumination, the debut album from Miami Horror a few days ago, but today the they released the music video for the disco-funk album favourite 'I Look To You' featuring our most enchanting New Zealand lass Kimbra.

LexiconDon - Pink + Blue

LexiconDon unleash their debut album, 'Pink + Blue' today on Binary - a feat that has been two years in the making. These guys caught my attention a few months back with their first single 'December Sunset', a no frills disco track that magically envelops emotion in a singular revolving chord progression. There is a sense of less is more with LexiconDon as they strip back to the bare essentials serving up infectious, unadulterated synth-pop. Admittedly, they are a slightly guilty pleasure with tracks like pop-heavy 'Student Body' that wouldn't sound astray on any 'top 40' countdown, but it's not worth holding it against them - pop is great. However, Pink + Blue is not a one trick pony. LexiconDon delve into banging electro, sexy R&B, and 70's inspired nu-disco creating an eclectic, well rounded album that will be enjoyed by an extensive audience.

Check out the tunes below, and if you like what you hear pick up a copy of 'Pink + Blue' on iTunes today - they even encourage you to burn copies for all your friends!

LexiconDon - December Sunset

LexiconDon - Student Body





LexiconDon - December Sunset (U-Tern Remix) - DOWNLOAD

The Earlybirds - Favourite Fears

New Zealand indie-pop young guns, The Earlybirds, released their debut album 'Favourite Fears' yesterday. Their first three singles 'Runaway', 'I Killed the DJ', and 'I Can't Live Without You' generated significant TV and radio exposure due to their accessible 'can't-get-you-out-of-my-head' melodies, and have propelled The Earlybirds onto the centre stage of the New Zealand music scene.

The Earlybirds take the raw rock & roll attitude of The Strokes and early KOL and sprinkle a spoonful of sugar in the mix to help the medicine go down for a more mainstream audience. The songs are well crafted and breathe originality due in part to lead singer, Filip Kostovich' suave European tinged vocals. It's hard not to like The Earlybirds... even the most pretentious 'alt-buff' is likely to catch themselves humming along to their infectious indie-pop anthems. The debut album, 'Favourite Fears', is a top-notch release boasting a musical maturity well beyond their years, so at the risk of my plug sounding like a closet 'uber-fan' outburst - runaway now, runaway now, runaway and grab yourself a copy today.

myspace.com/earlybirds

facebook.com/theearlybirds

theearlybirds.co.nz (download a free acoustic track here!)

Late Of The Pier - Best In The Class

Late Of The Pier released a double A-side single, Best In The Class / Blueberry, in March on limited edition vinyl and digital download on Erol Alkan's Phantasy Sound label. It is their first release since the full-length 'Fantasy Black Channel' in 2008, which set an unprecedented standard for indie / electro crossover bands by defying era and genre with the help of visionary producer Erol Alkan.

Best In Class / Blueberry expands on the experimental tendency of Late Of The Pier. 'Best In Class' is definitely the 'pop-ier' of the two, but you couldn't exactly classify it as conventional pop. The melody is hooky, but the modulated vocals after the first chorus and the unexpected thrashy breakdown outro is on a par with 'weird-rock' maestros The Mars Volta. 'Blueberry' tilts even further into the experimental beginning with a noisy, frantic intro before dropping into an MGMT-meets-Beatles strum-a-long and once again evolving into a spastic distorted guitar finale. What some will consider genius, others will label noise-pollution - whatever you're opinion, everyone should agree that Late Of The Pier are relentlessly innovative.

The Naked & Famous - The Sun

I saw this video a while ago and had every intention of posting it, but for reasons unknown, it slipped my mind.

I stumbled across it again today during a routine youtube click-a-thon and was once again enthralled by its magnificence. 'The Sun' is a song from the forthcoming debut album by The Naked & Famous, which was filmed for the C4 Live Sessions and recorded at York Street Studios.

It's not likely to be a single, but it's such an intelligently executed track. The gradually building female / male vocals over a melancholy Radiohead-esque chord progression, scattered with distorted guitar feed-back builds the tension to the brink of climax... and then leaves you hanging, thrusting for more, but still - strangely satisfied by the overall experience.

The debut album, Passive Me, Aggressive You, is due out September 6.

The Chemical Brothers - Swoon

The Chemical Brothers catapulted dance music into the mainstream with the anthemic 'Hey Boy, Hey Girl' in 1999 and changed the world forever. While today they may be overshadowed by some more 'popular' pioneers of the dance music renaissance, they remain the champions of consistency, endurance and quality having produced seven cutting-edge albums since 1995.

Their latest album, Further, is no exception - sonically superb - building, dropping and guiding you through an experience of no bullshit 'do-it-for-the-love-of-it' electro. I'll spare you an extensive review, but check out the first single, and standout track from Further - 'Swoon' - then indulge yourself in some classic Chemical Brothers and pay homage to the ones who paved the way for the popularisation of modern electronic music.

The Chemical Brothers - Swoon

Miami Horror - Illumination

'Illumination', the much anticipated debut album from Australian dance-floor killers 'Miami Horror' is out today!

Illumination is everything we've come to expect from Miami Horror only amplified and improved. The soundscape's are expansive and each arrangement is dynamically stimulating leaving no purpose for the 'skip' button on your iPod. Unlike many single-oriented full-lengths, the hits 'Sometimes' and 'Moon Theory' are not the only nuggets of Miami Horror gold - in fact, to abuse the metaphor, Illumination is a gold-miners wet dream. Songs such as 'I Look To You' (the forthcoming single) featuring Kimbra, feel-good summer jam 'Holidays' (chorus melody magic!), and the "Justice goes to disco" title track 'Illumination' all ooze with the charming disco-funk spirit Miami Horror are renowned for.




Illumination will transport your mind to the road trips, the romance, the beauty and the festivities of summer - it is the soundtrack for the season.

Don't forget you can catch Miami Horror live this summer at Rhythm & Vines 2010/2011!

Chilly Gonzales - Ivory Tower

If you haven't heard of Chilly Gonzales - you have a lot of catching up to do. An extensive wikipedia session should get you up to date, but here's a few fast facts. Chilly Gonzales is an eccentric Canadian musician who has dipped his finger in the pie of pop, electro, rap, piano, music production and songwriting. He has collaborated with Peaches and Feist, broken the world record for the longest solo-artist performance (27 hours, 3 minutes & 44 seconds), but is perhaps most renowned for challenging "party hard" rockstar Andrew W.K to a piano battle, which he questionably 'won'. He is a master of his craft and has recently been garnered with attention for his piano re-works of contemporary artists such as Boys Noize & Erol Alkan, Daft Punk, Marina & The Diamonds and 50 Cent.

Gonzales most recently signed to Boys Noize Records and his new album Ivory Tower is produced by Boys Noize himself. The first two singles from Ivory Tower 'I am Europe' and 'Bittersuite' are what you'd expect from this unusual collaboration - engrossing piano arrangements decorated with Alex Ridha's electronic pizazz. 'I am Europe' - a quirky dance-floor filler, which parodies stereotypical European culture is a stark contrast to the sombre, revolving refrains of 'Bittersuite'.

The Gonzales-Noize combo is a refreshing reprieve for those who are a little queasy from riding the band-wagon too long. Ivory Tower looks set to be one of the most genre-defying, intriguing releases of the year.

Ivory Tower is out in Germany today! The rest of the world will have to wait a few days.








Erol Alkan & Boys Noize - Waves (Chilly Gonzales Piano Remake) - DOWNLOAD

The Naked & Famous - Punching In A Dream

Hot on the heels of their chart-topping anthem 'Young Blood' New Zealand indie-pop virtuoso's The Naked & Famous have released their follow up single 'Punching In A Dream'.

'Punching In A Dream' uses the same essential ingredients as 'Young Blood' - big reverberated drums, excessively distorted guitar, tasteful synth licks and a charming mix of male / female vocals. However, upon first listen it doesn't capture you the same as its predecessor. It doesn't incite instant desires to run free through a meadow chanting "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!" . But, give it time. After three or four listens - letting the melodies marinate through your mind - the song really comes to life as you uncover the delicate intricacies that make The Naked & Famous so enchanting. I'm going to go as far as saying 'Punching In A Dream' is more dynamically stimulating than 'Young Blood' - it's a grower, but those are always the best kind. Now excuse me as I go skipping barefoot through the snow singing "Way-ay-ay-ay-aye!"

thenakedandfamous.com

myspace.com/thenakedandfamous

facebook.com/tnafofficial

Azari & III

Azari & III caught my attention in the latest edition of MixMag with the caption 'All about retro disco and house beats'. I was hooked.

'Azari & Third' are a production duo from Toronto conjuring up an eclectic concoction of nu-disco with roots in old-school Chicago and Detroit house. Their latest 12" 'Reckless With Your Love' is a fluid house track with minimal musical variation. 'Reckless' is given life by the sexy gliding vocals courtesy of Cedric Gasaida who does for this track what Ms. Dynamite did for Zinc's 'Blunt Edge'. These guys are blowing up right now - get on the buzz!

Azari & III - Reckless With Your Love

RUBY FRÖST & LENO LOVECRAFT

*Exclusive*

RUBY FRÖST is the rather mysterious, sequin loving, space exploring songstress from New Zealand. Relatively under-the-radar still, Ruby (and band) have been building a reputation on the Auckland scene as the emerging 'it' group of 2010. Ruby Frost play unconventional pop - that quirky, cute kind, enhanced by Ruby's exotic voice and her atypical approach to melody.

It was only fitting for her track 'Moonlight' to be taken for a joyride by emerging electro whiz Leno Lovecraft. As the original is yet to be released I can't really draw comparisons with the remix. But, if Leno's previous works are anything to go by I can assume he sexed it up with his smooth grooving extra terrestrial love juice. Needless to say, it is sexy. Staying true to Lovecraft's signature futuristic space sound the rework tastefully compliments Ruby's melodies in a pop hit / dance-floor crossover of an international calibre.


Download 'Ruby Frost - Moonlight (Leno Lovecraft Remix)' *Exclusively* HERE


Check out this extra treat from Leno Lovecraft off his debut album.

Leno Lovecraft - Amulet Princess

It is exciting to see collaborations of this quality coming out of New Zealand and needless to say, I am eagerly anticipating any future releases from these two rising talents. *Watch this space!*

myspace.com/rubyfrost

facebook.com/rubyfrost

myspace.com/lenolovecraft

facebook.com/lenolovecraft

Kimbra - Settle Down

Kimbra, the delightful New Zealand (now based in Melbourne) songstress, has released her debut single 'Settle Down', a cutesy soul-pop track about a clucky young chick yearning to get knocked up and well... settle down - "I wanna raise a child / Won't you raise a child with me? / Raise a child / We'll call her Nebraska / Nebraska Jones / She'll have your nose".

The theme is remarkably mature compared with bubblegum top 40 love ballads that whine on about superficial teenage (... even pre-pubescent) romance. This is the real deal - let's get married, buy a house, have a family, and happiness shall ensue. However, the quirky instrumentation (primarily drums, hand claps and "boom buh boom bah's") contrast with the serious nature of the lyrics. The music is playful, almost child-like - genre-defying to say the least.

Kimbra - Settle Down

One thing that strikes you about 'Settle Down', and Kimbra's unique style is the use of voice as an instrument. Vocal 'ooo's and aaa's', 'boom's and bah's' and 'hey, oh ohh's' are layered throughout; clever little intricacies that showcase Kimbra's natural flair for melody, harmony and dynamics.

Kimbra - Settle Down (Live @ The Workers Club)
Note the looping vocals and improvisation.

www.myspace.com/kimbramusic

www.facebook.com/kimbramusic

www.twitter.com/kimbramusic

forum5.com.au/artist/4/kimbra

Hans Zimmer is Inceptional!

This deviates slightly from what I would usually post on, but this video sent sexy little shivers all over my skin. Hans Zimmer is the master of film music having composed soundtracks for Rain Man, The Lion King, Gladiator, Pirates Of The Caribbean, The Dark Knight, and most recently - Inception. His work integrates modern electronic sounds with classical orchestration and this track 'Time' (from the tension building "what the f*** is happening" final scene of Inception) demonstrates this with Zimmer on piano and Johnny Marr (The Smiths, The Cribs, Modest Mouse) on the electric guitar accompanied by a heart smoldering orchestra. This score compliments the film to perfection.

Hans Zimmer - Time (Live at the Inception Premiere)

Rhythm & Vines 2010 / 2011

Massive MASSIVE news! The first line-up for Rhythm & Vines 2010 / 2011 has just been announced and it is huuuuuggggeeee! This is definitely the #1 new years party in New Zealand... Hands down! Mad respect to the R&V crew for securing artists of this calibre while managing to keep hip hop, electro, dnb/dubstep and indie fans happy. Justice in New Zealand... phwoar!

International Artists:

N*E*R*D

JUSTICE

BOYS NOIZE

CHROMEO

TINIE TEMPAH

MYSTERY JETS

HIGH CONTRAST

MIAMI HORROR

New Zealand Artists:

SHIHAD
HOLLIE SMITH

OPTIMUS GRYME

BARB

ELECTRIC WIRE HUSTLE

OUR:HOUSE

N*E*R*D - Hot N Fun ft. Nelly Furtado







JUSTICE LIVE @ Rock Werchter

Needless to say, I am quite excited. Don't miss out, get your tickets early. Head to www.rhythmandvines.co.nz for all the details.

I Am Alive.

After a six month hiatus I have decided to kick this self-indulgent, prejudiced propaganda machine back into action. During my time off I have moved to a new city, held down a job for a good four weeks, completed some Uni papers and spent far too much money. I have far too much spare time and so to appease my guilty conscience I am returning to the 'blogosphere' in an effort to do something... anything... productive.

I have saturated myself in music over the last six months to the point that my appreciation for it is hanging by a string. However, here are a few tracks that have restored my faith of late.



Flight Facilities - Crave You ft. Giselle





LexiconDon - December Sunset (Download)





Washed Out - New Theory