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