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

This is WHACK!

...and I'm not talking about the image above.

I don't understand how they did this, it blows my mind. But, somehow you can control what you see in this video by clicking and dragging the camera to the angle you want. Check it out and be mesmerized!..

360 Degree Festival Experience

Kids Of 88 - Just A Little Bit

Kids Of 88 have a new single and it's just a little bit sexy, a little bit clever, and a whole lot amazing. 'Just A Little Bit' deviates ever so slightly from unashamed pop hit 'My House' and swings the door ajar for Kids Of 88 to pursue different avenues both musically and stylistically. McCarthy's vocal delivery and melody work exerts the quirky confidence of a Karen-O meets Justin Timberlake indie-pop hit making machine - moody, clever, and catchy as hell. Electronic programming and production has also improved sounding as slick as a multi-million dollar Gaga record rather than a bedroom D.I.Y affair. Already at #13 on the NZ Charts, 'Just A Little Bit' looks set to propel Kids Of 88 to the top with even more swagger and swoon than before.

Kids Of 88 - Just A Little Bit

Grind Your Bones To Make My Beats

I made my first mini-mix this week, and thought I'd share it here. It doesn't feature anything overly 'new' or 'exclusive' - it's just ten tracks that I've been digging lately. 

Track List:

1. Crookers feat. Soulwax & Mixhell - We Love Animals

2. Noob & Brodinski - Peanuts Club (BeatauCue Remix)

3. D.I.M & TAI - Lyposuct (Original Mix)

4. Diplo feat. Afrojack - How I Like It / Pon De Floor (Laidback Luke vs. Auri Ps)

5. Congorock & Crookers - Sbombers (Original Mix)

6. Djedjotronic - Gum Attack (Original Mix)

7. Sound Of Stereo - Zipper (Original Mix)

8. Wolfgang Gartner - Undertaker (Original Mix)

9. Afrojack & The Partysquad - Check Die Beat (Original Mix)

10. Gorillaz - Stylo (Alex Metric Remix)

Grind Your Bones To Make My Beats  by  killmecurious