BIG DAY OUT 2011 - OFFICIAL FIRST LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT

The first announcement for the Big Day Out 2011 was released today via a melodramatic video blog by eccentric party hard king Andrew W.K (who also happens to be playing the festival). While the headliners don't appeal to my tastes tooooo much, I am quite impressed by the variety and calibre of artists they've hoarded so far. And remember... this is just the first announcement - still two more to go!

Andrew W.K Video Announcement

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT:

TOOL, RAMMSTEIN, IGGY AND THE STOOGES, M.I.A, JOHN BUTLER TRIO, GRINDERMAN, WOLFMOTHER, LCD SOUNDSYSTEM, BLOODY BEETROOTS DEATH CREW 77, CRYSTAL CASTLES, LUPE FIASCO, PRIMAL SCREAM SCREAMADELICA LIVE, THE BLACK KEYS, DEFTONES, BLISS N ESO, ANGUS & JULIA STONE, PLAN B, PNAU, DIE ANTWOORD, EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS, BOOKA SHADE DJs, ANDREW W.K., THE JIM JONES REVUE, BIRDS OF TOKYO, LITTLE RED, GYROSCOPE, VITALIC, CSS, RATATAT, AIRBOURNE, DEAD LETTER CIRCUS, BLUE KING BROWN, THE NAKED & FAMOUS, OPERATOR PLEASE, CHILDREN COLLIDE, GYPSY AND THE CAT, WILL STYLES, LOWRIDER, SAMPOLOGY, KIDS OF 88, KID KENOBI & MC SHURESHOCK. 

(the ones in bold get me excited)

Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 77 LIVE

Crystal Castles  - Baptism LIVE @ Glastonbury

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 8TH OF OCTOBER

WWW.BIGDAYOUT.COM

LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls - DOWNLOAD (Removed By Request)

Andrew W.K - Party Hard - DOWNLOAD (Removed By Request)

Kids Of 88 - Sugarpills

When the kids seductively flirted - "I wanna take you back to my house" last year, who would have thought this one-night-stand would blossom into a scandalous, polygamous relationship?

The response to their debut single 'My House' - a song written in their bedroom with no serious intentions - was so overwhelming that their fate (or destiny?) as Kids Of 88 was sealed. Now with a Sony international record deal, a trifecta of top 40 singles, and a swanky new album, the duo look poised to venture forth from their bedroom studio and take on the world.

Kids Of 88 released their debut album 'Sugarpills' in August - a highly addictive dose of bubblegum pop and electro-dance wizardry. The album kicks off with UK-single 'Ribbons Of Lights', a dreamy new-wave track that works well as an intro. What follows is an 80's school disco playlist of Kids Of 88 pop-hits. Second single 'Just A Little Bit', the bop-a-long 'Cotton Mouth', marching chant 'Everybody Knows', the sexy super-hit 'My House', and the slightly darker 'Apart Of You' should keep any sweet-toothed fan moaning with sugary fulfillment.





The flow is temporarily interrupted by my personal favourite track 'San Fran' - a more toned down, mature track providing a tasteful reprieve from the pop onslaught. The reference to 80's TV Show 'Full House' also provides some heartwarming nostalgia - "I can play uncle Jesse, you can play Mary-Kate." The latest single 'Downtown' dethrones Black Eyed Peas 'I Got a Feeling' as the new 'going out, getting messy, hitting town' anthem with the catchphrase "We're getting dressed up from the waist down" - the KO88 guide to partying on a budget. The album is rounded off nicely with another personal favourite 'Feed The Birds' and the evolving lullaby to club-banger 'SQRL.'

Sugarpills lives up to its name as a candy-coated indulgence of infectious electro-pop. Sam McCarthy and Jordan Arts have cemented themselves as the leading whiz-kids of the New Zealand music scene and have plenty of libido left to thrust their pelvises at an unsuspecting international audience.

Kids Of 88 - San Fran (Personal Favourite)

 
Kids Of 88 - Ribbons Of Light - DOWNLOAD (Removed By Request)

Swedish House Mafia + Pharrell + Foals

Swedish House Mafia's 'One' has been given new life thanks to the smooth grooving vocal addition courtesy of N*E*R*D front-man Pharrell Williams. What is considered one of the biggest house tracks of 2010 has now been made-over for a pop audience, but fans of the original should appreciate it's reincarnation. It's more sonically stimulating with the vocal "I wanna know your name" building the track and increasing the tension before the anthemic climax that has been sending dance festivals across the world into uncontrollable spasms. It's also one of the most incredible videos I have seen for a while... This track is gonna blow up... again!

Swedish House Mafia feat. Pharrell Williams - One (Your Name) - DOWNLOAD (Removed)

And for something a little different - UK indie maestro's Foals have performed a cover of the song introducing guitars, a more frantic drum beat and an overall more raw interpretation of the original. It's surprisingly fun to hear a blatant club banger transformed by five guys using real instruments.

Foals - One (Cover)

ZOWIE - Broken Machine

The music video for ZOWIE's cutesy debut single 'Broken Machine' has been released for the masses and it is quite fantastic. The video is full of stimulating candy colours that make me want to reach inside my computer screen and gobble it up. It also incites nostalgia of those 'I SPY' books I trawled over as a kid... all those pretty pictures. 

ZOWIE - Broken Machine

'I SPY' book...

Surf City - Kudos

I have yet to jump aboard the 'surf pop' band wagon. I never really got it... A sport inspired genre played by skinny white boys with a nostalgic affection for the Beach Boys. I do like the style though. It's refreshing and relaxed like a hot summers day on the coast, and New Zealand surf-poppers Surf City are riding the sickest swell from Mt. Roskill to well... everywhere really with the release of their debut album 'Kudos.'

To be fair Surf City (originally called Kill Surf City) shouldn't be pigeon-holed as 'surf pop' as this is merely a label given to a recent extension of indie music attributed to the likes of The Drums and Surfer Blood. Surf City have been around since 2004 and define themselves as 'shoewave' (shoe-gaze / dream wave?). They play what I would describe as sometimes dreamy, sometimes frantic, sometimes buoyant, sometimes gloomy guitar pop. Like the wind blowing sand into your sunburned face as you walk hand in hand with your beach-bronzed summer lover... It's bittersweet, but mostly sweet.

 Surf City - Dickshakers Union (From Debut EP)

'Kudos' is the soundtrack for summer. Eleven tracks of feel-good, soul fulfilling pop that make you want to buy a combi van, a surfboard and an acoustic guitar and road-trip down the coast making love and peace with mother nature herself. Saturated in reverb and hooky guitar licks, 'Kudos' has that vintage feel so absent on studio embellished recordings. It sounds like four guys jamming their hearts out in an echoing beach house with a 4-track and a couple of mics.

You can buy 'Kudos' here or head over to Arch Hill Recordings to order a hard copy of the album.

Surf City - See How The Sun - DOWNLOAD

Chromeo feat. Ezra Koenig

The iTunes version of the latest Chromeo album 'Business Casual' features a quirky collaboration with Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig.

Ezra's charming vocals weave a tasteful melody through the retro electro resulting in an unlikely, but likable pop track.

Chromeo feat. Ezra Koenig - I Could Be Wrong - DOWNLOAD

It's not the first time Chromeo and Vampire Weekend have worked together. Chromeo did a remix of 'The Kids Don't Stand A Chance' last year, and the two groups performed a re-interpretation of the track together at the MTVU Woodie Awards.

Vampire Weekend & Chromeo - The Kids Don't Stand A Chance LIVE

Vampire Weekend - The Kids Don't Stand A Chance (Chromeo Remix) - DOWNLOAD

The Mould

So, The Proxy has started a record label - Mako Records - and yes, you would be right to assume they are releasing some morbid shit! 

The Mould is a young Russian producer creating tunes that sound like a 'Revenge of the Power Tools' b-grade horror, where everything from your garage - drills, chainsaws, lawnmowers - become possessed by evil forces and reign murderous terror upon their owners. It's raw, nasty, fist-pumping electro quite similar to... well, The Proxy really. 

If you're the type that likes to head-bang on the dance floor and have a fetish for filth then The Mould is essential listening. Fans of The Proxy, Bloody Beetroots and Housemeister will feel right at home with this heavy hitter.

The deubt EP aptly titled 'Mad Soldier Take A Rifle' is out now - Get it here.

The Mould - Ghetto - DOWNLOAD

Over The Atlantic

Over The Atlantic is the collaborative entity of New Zealand musicians Nik Brinkman and Bevan Smith. It began as a solo-project of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Brinkman, before Smith, who has previously performed under the Aspen, Signer, and Skallander monikers was invited on board to assist with production. 

They play graceful dream-pop... the kind where you can close your eyes and melt into your surroundings. It's subtle, yet engaging - a soothing blend of instrumental storytelling that gently strokes the heartstrings. The latest single 'Drama' sounds like a slow dance at an early 80's high school prom. It took me literally 8 seconds before I knew I loved it... The retro synth bells and lethargic vocals are so hypnotic that that one has to suspect the use of subliminal messages embedded within the recording. When you play 'Drama' in reverse I would not be surprised to hear the devil groan - "This is your new favourite song."

Over The Atlantic - Drama 

Over The Atlantic  are signed to international label 'Carpark Records' (Beach House, Toro Y Moi) and New Zealand label 'A Low Hum' (Diasteradio, Mount Pleasant), through which they have successfully released two albums - 'Junica' in 2006, and 'Dimensions' in 2008. You can purchase all or any of their tracks here.

Over The Atlantic - Celia

Houses - Soak It Up

Houses are a 'bliss-pop' group from Chicago and 'Soak It Up' is the second track from their forthcoming debut album All Night.

It is the perfect chill track for those early mornings or lazy evenings - so delicate and ethereal you can literally soak your soul in its peaceful embrace.

Houses - Soak It Up

The first track these guys released was 'Endless Spring' - a spacious dreamscape of wafty vocals and echoing percussion. So fitting for the season... being 'spring' and all.

Houses - Endless Spring - DOWNLOAD

All Night is due out October 16.

Leno Lovecraft September Mix

Leno Lovecraft has just released his latest mix - a 12-track voyage through obscure weird-pop and sexy electro. It is an utterly delicious selection of tracks that will transport your mind to mysterious worlds without the aid of any superfluous substances.

He has also just completed an up-tempo space disco remix for Golden Axe, which features in the mix - a sure hit for any retro-junkie.

Check out the mix here (it's totally worth indulging in the entire 40 minute experience), and grab a couple of free tracks for ze iTunes.

Tracklist:

Aeroplane - We Can't Fly
Chris & Cosey - Exotica
Jimmy Edgar - Hot Raw Sex
Housse De Racket - Dan's La Avion (Leno Lovecraft remix) - DOWNLOAD
Lio - Sage Comme Une Image (Bottin Remix)
Gorgio Moroder - Chase
Donovans - Sharkness
Leno Lovecraft - Alien Sex Juice
Casco - Cybernetic Love
Alexander Robotnick - Problems D'Amour (Leno Lovecraft Edit)
Golden Axe - Freetime (Leno Lovecraft remix) - DOWNLOAD
Frank Zappa - Peaches En Regalia

Leno Lovecraft - September mix by lenolovecraft

Kimbra live @ 'Sing Sing'

I can't get enough Kimbra right now. She just released two live videos recorded at 'Sing Sing Studios' in Melbourne and they are completely captivating. From her impassioned hand flailing, to her effortless vocal improvisation - a near perfect performance. Jaws will drop.

Kimbra - Settle Down Live @ 'Sing Sing Studios'

Kimbra - Plain Gold Ring (Nina Simone Cover) Live @ 'Sing Sing Studios'

You can download 'Settle Down' for FREE over at Perez Hilton's blog - Click here.

ZOWIE

ZOWIE is the reincarnation of gritty thrash-pop fem-bot Bionic Pixie.

I, for one, mourned the hiatus of Bionic Pixie and assumed that she had accomplished her mission on earth and embarked on an intergalactic adventure in search of a new, extra-terrestrial audience to enrapture. Needless to say, I was rather excited when I noticed ZOWIE popping up all over the place looking and sounding hotter than ever.

ZOWIE says, "Bionic Pixie is the toaster, and ZOWIE is the terminator", oozing confidence that her transformation is a vast improvement. Embracing her musical evolution ZOWIE has adapted into a new species, while still retaining the dominant traits of Bionic Pixie. It's still raw pop music infused with a post-punk attitude, it's still futuristic and sonically diverse, and her style is still tilted towards wearable art, if not slightly more sexy. But, ZOWIE is undefinably different.

Her latest track 'Broken Machine' tiptoes a thin line between bubblegum pop and well... conventional pop. It's like nothing we've heard from her work as Pixie, and transports you back to when Cyndi Lauper was the disco queen. It's not an insult - I love pop! But, fans of the old may not be so down with new. However, don't base your judgment on 'Broken Machine' alone. The teaser video below features ZOWIE's forthcoming single and it is f.r.e.s.h.




RAC (Remix Artist Collective) did quite a delicious remix of 'Broken Machine' morphing it into a club-ready nu-disco time machine.

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Pikachunes

Pikachunes is the solo project of ex Tiny Paper Daggers, new Tiger Tones member - Miles McDougall. Currently residing in quake-shaken Christchurch, Pikachunes has been shaking booties across the country with his minimal, moody concoction of electro-pop for close to a year now playing some of New Zealand's top venues, and hottest club nights.

There's something charming about a weedy white guy occupying a stage with nothing more than his drum-machine and a synthesizer, but Pikachunes more than compensates for his physical presence (or lack thereof) with the grooving hypnotism of his music. Stripped back to bare essentials a typical track features one or two synths, a 70's analog bass line and a reverberated, sometimes auto-tuned, vocal track - no unnecessary frills.

It's this honest simplicity that makes Pikachunes so appealing. Tracks like 'Just a Boy' tells the story of a blossoming romance, and 'Nervous' describes the fear of a musician rising to fame and fading into obscurity. McDougall's Brandon Flowers/Bernard Sumner-esque vocals make Pikachunes all the more easy on the ears and glide tastefully amongst their new-wave surroundings.

You can download the debut Pikachunes EP for FREE right here.

Pikachunes - Shout It Out (Music Video)

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Invisible Light Boys Noize Remix

If it's not already obvious, Boys Noize is one of my favourite producers. I lap his shit up like a fat chick at an ice-cream store.

He recently did an epic remix for 'Invisible Light' by the Scissor Sisters who are now signed to Boys Noize Records. The original track is actually quite decent, reminiscent of over-dramatic 70's synth gods Depeche Mode. However, Noize squeezes out any leftover camp-juice creating a darker interpretation that sounds like the theme music to an inter-galactic, apocalyptic battle. You half expect Rammstein to start growling 'Du - Du Hast - Du Hast Mich' over the top. Despite its other-worldly qualities at 3:52 you are shaken back to earth as the relentless build escalates into a trademark Boys Noize drop. Get a hold of a tasty 320 below.

Scissor Sisters - Invisible Light (Boys Noize Remix) - DOWNLOAD

Tiiiggggaaa

The illustrious and eloquent Tiga has been getting stuck into remixing following the release of his sophomore album 'Ciao!' last year. This year we have seen remixes for Boys Noize, Jamie Lidell, LCD Soundsystem, and most recently The XX - all of which magically deconstruct and revive the original into a perplexing avant-garde / dance-floor machine. Tiga has always been somewhat experimental in his approach to production and his latest works are tilting further into the realm of weird-pop. It's definitely not a bad thing... it's actually quite amazing. His more minimal anti-banger approach is mind stimulating and soul searching, teasing your body into motion... But, not the 'hands-in-the-air' all out rave... more of an individual groove... your own, slightly off-kilter rhythm amidst the bleeps and *doof doof's* of Tiga magic.

Check out a selection of his latest remixes.

Jamie Lidell - Telephone (Tiga Party Like It's 19909 Remix) - DOWNLOAD



LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change (Tiga Remix)



The XX - Shelter (Tiga Remix)