Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Dog Is Dead


Hopefully the name Dog Is Dead is from a movie. If it's a quote that lives within a special part of the band's heart and has emotional significance then it's potentially excusable. This blog should be called 'Good Bands, Bad Names'. Every post seems to feature my initial apology for the bands name followed by my endorsement of their songs. If you've got a good thing going though, right? guys?

Dog Is Dead have a saxophonist! None of us thought we'd see the sax coming back in to popular music for a quite a while yet. I won't mind if this is a one off. It's used well though. The two tracks that I'll stream (Two! Gift upon gift!) have pretty obvious sax melodies which work in tandem with keyboard to give them a smooth sound. Above all that though, the gang vocals make for some cool crescendos.

You may remember that in the last paragraph I promised two songs. I'm here, hat in hand, letting you know that I'm sorry, there's just one. It's great though. To hear a second song (and a third even!), visit their myspace. Bonus: The Zoo is a free download from The Culture of Me.

Dog Is Dead - The Zoo








The new single Young will be out on September 20th through Your Childhood Records

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Valar

This is my second "review" of Valar's We Have A Home Among the Trees EP. I write twice because I've somehow contrived to delete the last and because the EP has grown on me like a fungus. A wonderful fungus. Here is the EP streamed in full. Start track 2, Wolf I playing as you read on.

<a href="http://valar.bandcamp.com/album/we-have-a-home-among-the-trees">We So Need To Talk by Valar</a>

Buy this EP. It costs AUD$10. That's just under £6! That's nothing. I challenge you to think of 7 whole numbers smaller than 6. It can't be done! That's the sort of value we're talking about here. It's barely £1 per track. 1 is the smallest whole number there is! I know!!

With or without my clever numberwork this EP will sell itself. The falsetto can't help but draw attention. It soars between guitar effects like an eagle through ravines. But it's wilder than an eagle. It's a tiger. A haunting, post-rock tiger. Like them on facebook to find out when their next show will be.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Jens Lekman - The End of the World Is Bigger Than Love


A great man once told me that a great lyricist will write what they know. For example:

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life


When I hear these lyrics from Snow Patrol I don't feel like they've been months or years in the making. They were probably knocked out over ten minutes in front of a keyboard. They're just so broad and wishy washy. By contrast, Jens Lekman sings about beautifully discrete situations. They're so specific that it's near impossible that they're not based on the real experiences of our friend Jens. He has a new song out (it's been three years Jens, how about a new album big guy?). The melody and the lyrics are worthy of high praise.


Jens Lekman - The End of the World Is Bigger Than Love







The track's available as a free download by clicking the below button.








Thursday, July 29, 2010

Zack Hemsey - Mind Heist


Stylistically distant from my last post, this track is the theme from the 3rd trailer for the blockbuster Inception (which was excellent). If I were in a band that played hardcore and I were headlining a show I would walk out to this theme. Actually, I'd enjoy it if this track played any time I arrived at a party. Obviously I'd no longer be able to bring vodka cruisers as my beverage of choice, it wouldn't fit my vibe.

Zack Hemsey has never done feature film soundtracks before so for a first bite at the cherry this 'goes alright'. He's even set up a band camp to publicise this track. I would use my normal player but the band camp player always has the highest quality sound. Turn your volume up before listening.

<a href="http://music.zackhemsey.com/track/mind-heist">Mind Heist by Zack Hemsey</a>

Sunday, July 25, 2010

March of the Real Fly

The Blue Mountains are not just a hotspot for Christian engagements and budding teenage photographers, they're also home to some swell musicians. Some of those musicians are in a band called March of the Real Fly. We may never know what they could do with a decent budget and quality gear. What we do know though, is that with a $50 recording program and $2 mics they can make some pretty, simple (not to be confused with pretty simple) tunes. Here's one such.


March of the Real Fly - Morning Man








I find the production endearing but I've always had a crush on lo-fi recording. If you want to download their live EP or the Morning Man single (for free) then click this link. For a little more info scope out their myspace.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Darwin Deez

In 2009 Darwin Deez was the man/band of the hour. He dropped an album called Constellations and everyone went wild! Of course I told myself I wouldn't post about him because he doesn't need the exposure and there's a thousand other blogs where you could read about Darwin Deez but his tracks have been reverberating through my dome since their release. I recently read an article about the problem with music blogs that touched on this exact idea.



In the liner notes of Constellations we read that all songs were performed, produced, arranged, engineered and mixed by Darwin Deez. D.I.Y at it's finest. I like that. Here is a video of his major single, Radar Detector. If you didn't hear this on Triple J in the last 6 months then you weren't listening properly. Or maybe you were listening to FBi or 2ser in which case you just indie one upped me. Ouch.

Monday, July 12, 2010

The Smiles


Summer anthems in the mid-winter, that's appears to be the way of things. Los Angeles band The Smiles released their debut EP Hermosa in May this year (yep, I know that's not American winter but I'm wearing thermals right now. Don't argue with me.) and it's a pretty solid six tracks of surf pop. I can't stop listening to Cala Cola which is the best of the six. It's available as a free download from The Smiles' bandcamp. If you're not ready to take a risk on this free download then you can stream Cala Cola below.

The Smiles - Cala Cola






Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Hotspa - Kiola Beach

Hotspa are probably going to be a big deal. Remember that time I told you Jinja Safari were going to be big and now they're bigger than U2? ACT LIKE YOU KNOW IT! It'll happen again. I'm making this call on the back of a single song with a film clip. It's a nice film clip though. It's a compilation of clips of people that (I assume) are the band's family and friends doing all sorts of Aussie, summery things. The song rules though. Here is that song.

Hotspa - Kiola Beach








It's available as a free download from Triple J Unearthed. Thanks Triple J, you are a swell guy.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Gypsy and the Cat - Free Download



Gypsy and the Cat's new single 'Time to Wander' has been made available as a free download from the Triple J Website. Get amongst it!

Supergroups are IN.

There's been a swathe of supergroups popping up over the past 6 months so here is a completely inconclusive and subjective guide to a few of them. - Retrospectively, after rereading what I'd written here, I've realised that this is neither subjective nor a guide.

GAYNGS

Noteworthy members:
Justin Vernon (Bon Iver)
Joe Westerlund (Megafaun)
Phil Cook (Megafaun)
Brad Cook (Megafaun)
Michael Lewis (Andrew Bird)

Gayngs - The Gaudy side of Town








MT DESOLATION

Noteworthy members:
Tim Rice-Oxley (Keane)
Jesse Quin (Keane)
John Roderick (The Long Winters)
Tom Fiddle Hobden (Noah and the Whale)
Ronnie Vannucci (The Killers)
Country Winston Marshall (Mumford & Sons)

Mt Desolation - State of Our Affairs



TIRED PONY

Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol)
Richard Colburn (Belle & Sebastian)
Peter Buck (R.E.M.)

Tired Pony - Point Me at Lost Islands








MONSTERS OF FOLK

Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band)
Jim James (My Morning Jacket)
Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes)
M. Ward (M. Ward)

Monsters Of Folk - Dear God

Friday, July 2, 2010

Cee-Lo Green - No One's Gonna Love You

Cee-Lo Green (of Gnarls Barkley fame) very recently released this cover of Band of Horses 'No One's Gonna Love You'. I don't love this version but it's always interesting to hear a track I love done by another artist. Also, I'm no film critic but whoever directed this must have pitched it a little like this: "Look, this is what I'm thinking for the video. We have a really nice American road trip style thing. You know, diners, swimming, car scenes, all that crap. But here's our angle. Amid all these scenes we'll make sure we slot in some unnecessary boob action! Guys will love it. They'll be enjoying the scenery when BAM! Breasts! This is going to work. Bigtime."



Just in case you've not heard the original, here it is.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Radical Face

I'll share with you an old favourite of mine. His name is Ben Cooper but in musical circles he is known as Radical Face. I won't write a description of his music. Not a letter of it. His sound speaks for itself. According to the Radical Face blog a new EP will be available on July 6th (within the week!). I'm keen. You can get ahold of his first full length Ghost (which absolutely rules) on iTunes or from CD Universe (which is quite literally a universe worth of CDs. What a selection!) Here's the most well known track from Ghost, called Welcome Home.

Radical Face - Welcome Home






Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Valar

Valar were pitched to me as a combo between Radiohead and... I guess it was suggested that they just sound like Radiohead. I don't like Radiohead. I must be one of a kind if the Last.FM charts are to be believed. While older material may have somewhat, slightly, a little bit, maybe resembled Radiohead barely, the new tracks don't really have that vibe.

Valar pride themself on a cracking live show and an attention to production detail so it's worth taking the time to appreciate the solid ambience of their music. It's staggering that a three piece can produce music with this sort of weight. Listen, then go see them play. They're a Sydney band so chances are friends of friends are friends with them.

Here is the full five track EP for your aural pleasure. I recommend track two, Wolf I.

<a href="http://valar.bandcamp.com/album/we-have-a-home-among-the-trees">We So Need To Talk by Valar</a>

You can catch them on the 3rd of July at the Excelsior or on the 5th of July at the Annandale.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Francis and the Lights


Francis and the Lights should probably just be called Francis. It's all about Francis. Full name Francis Farewell Starlite, he sounds like a dreamer. I suppose it's also a fair bit about the Lights. Wikipedia tells me that there are two drummers who play in conjunction with sequenced percussion. That sounds pretty cool.

I think the most interesting thing about them is that instead of signing a record deal they became a small business and received a $100,000 investment from Normative Music. With 100,000 big ones in the pocket you'd hope they could create something brilliant. They did. I mean, it sounds a lot like Phil Collins so it's not hugely groundbreaking but I think it's pretty poignant music.

Francis and the Lights - For Days








I know right? It rules. That song is available as a free download from RCRDLBL. It's from there upcoming release It'll Be Better which comes out on July 20 through Cantora Records.

Appreciate this clip of Francis being a sweet dude. The song is from his 2008 record A Modern Promise (which isn't great) so don't judge his future music by this. Make sure you watch on, up until the point where he takes a solid run up into an epileptic fit around the 2 minute mark. I like this guy. He reminds me of a white, male, Janelle Monáe.

Geographer

Geographer are a three piece outfit that balance pretty vocals with nintendoesque beeps. The vocals remind me a little of The Whitest Boy Alive/Kings of Convenience. It's pretty chill, you'll like it. Remember when I first played you Kings of Convenience in my car and you were all, "it's straight-up chillfest 07 up in here!". Of course not. You were so drunk that night, you spewed all down the side of my car and didn't even clean it off. I used a whole can of Armourall to get that goop off. So I think that sums up why you'll like Geographer. Enjoy.

Geographer - Kites








Animal Shapes EP is available from eMusic and iTunes. It's probably available elsewhere too but those are the only two anyone should ever use.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Gypsy and the Cat

This Melbourne duo is yet another quality group that's benefited from the exposure that Triple J Unearthed can provide. They exploded onto the scene late last year with a simultaneously awesome sound and woeful name. "Gypsy and the Cat"? Yuck. Despite the terrible name, Sony picked them up and they're now based in London so you know they're a big deal. They have a new single available which sounds pretty good. It's called Time to Wander.

Gypsy and the Cat - Time to Wander


Trust me when I say this (because I'm yet to steer you wrong) but the other songs on their myspace are actually better than Time to Wander, particularly The Piper's Song and Jona Vark. Jona Vark is available as a free download by clicking here.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Shugo Tokumaru - Rum Hee

Shugo Tokumaru takes the idea of the multi-instrumentalist to another level. Exit, his most recent full length release, features over 50 different instruments, most played by Shugo himself. He even records it all himself. His music is a little left of center though Exit will appeal to Western audiences more than his earlier work. It reminds me a little of Jonsi's solo album Go.

He has a new three track single out, though apparently in Japan they call that a 'mini album', but I'm not fooled, I know value for money when I see it. The three track 'mini album' doesn't seem to be available here but a single can be streamed on his myspace or you can watch the video immediately below.

Shugo Tokumaru - Rum Hee

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Jinja Safari - Peter Pan

One of the merits of my internship is that I get to spend hours looking through the artists on Triple J Unearthed. As a result of this, I came across an artist called Jinja Safari who seem to have come out of nowhere. They Created their myspace on the 28th of February this year, so they probably only formed as a band in the month or two prior. Now watch as they explode. They have a solidly defined sound for a band of such recent beginnings. I'm pretty sure there's a sitar somewhere in the chorus of Peter Pan (their only recording) and that's an inclusion I don't think anyone can take lightly. You can never overestimate the importance of a sitar. One time I failed to recognise the presence of a sitar and developed a pretty serious fungal infection. Friends have tried to tell me that the sitar had no bearing on my infection but I think the evidence is pretty compelling.

Jinja Safari - Peter Pan







(CLICK HERE to visit Jinja Safari's Triple J Unearthed page to download Peter Pan for free)

Afro-pop. Is it cool if I say afro-pop? I hope so. I think this is afro-pop. I couldn't list the features of afro-pop but it's popularized by artists like Paul Simon and Vampire Weekend. That's the kind of vibe Jinja Safari give me. Their artistic output seems to be centered around ideas of youth and adventure. Spec a few of their photoshoot images if their sound alone doesn't convince you:


"So what if I'm wearing a monkey hat? It's only weird to you because you don't understand what it really means to be a musician"



























"I don't know how we ended up with this camera effect. I swear we didn't photoshop it. I think my dad's SLR must have had dirt on the lens"


"Dude, I think she's seen us"


If you're keen to find out more, check out their myspace or facebook page. They have their debut show coming up soon in support of Miami Horror at Manning Bar on the 12th of June. A pretty big slot for an artist who have never done a live show if you ask me. They must have some serious connections.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Isbells


Isbells is definitely angling for a Bon Iver-esque mythology. Their artist bio reads as follows,

After 15 years of playing, making and recording music with several rockbands (Soon, Ellroy,...) Gaëtan Vandewoude felt the time was right to start creating his very own songs. Mostly writing & recording during nighttime, in a shabby old stable, this resulted in a collection of introspective yet observing songs, inspired by his immediate surroundings. Somewhere in that proces a band was formed with Naima Joris, Bart Borremans and Gianni Marzo, allowing each one of them to give their own colour & contribution to the music. Zeal records came to notice Isbells and got them on board. So, Isbells now presents their debut album. We hope you will enjoy our music

What made Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago such a celebrated record was Justin Vernon's extended period of isolation in a rural setting. Did Isbells really write and record the album in a stable? Probably not, but I'm going to pretend that they did.
The songs are very simple. A few layered harmonies, some acoustic guitar and you've got any song on the album. Maybe some hand drums. I really like it.

Listen to a track from Isbell's self titled debut album and let me know if you're won over as I am.

Isbells - Reunite








Isbells on Myspace
Buy the album on on Emusic
Buy the album on itunes

Friday, May 21, 2010

Sleepyhands

I've been racking my brain to think of current, quality Western Suburbs bands. I was going to push, as the thesis for this post, the idea that the western suburbs are the new breeding grounds for quality music but it just doesn't seem to be the case. Jonathan Boulet and Parades were all I could think of, off the top of my head. Feel free to let me know any glaringly obvious artists that I'm missing. The reason I raise this is because there is an emerging band from the west that, well, quite honestly rule. They're called Sleepyhands.


Despite having a name with self-sexual connotations (or so I'm told), Sleepyhands have received a lot of attention. They've even been contacted by bigwigs from some decent labels. I know right!? The EP isn't out yet but this guy right here has a copy and it's got me buzzing (more than the new Band of Horses AND the new National COMBINED). Yowzer!

I'll let you pause here so that you can appreciate one of their tracks as you read on. The second track from the soon to be released EP, it's called We Being Humans. It's the least produced and simplest of the five songs on the EP.

Sleepyhands - We Being Humans








The record will be released mid June and I'm unsure about its distribution currently. What I will say though, is that if you want me to get a copy for you and give it to you when I see you then just say so, unless you're one of my many international readers. I'll tell you again right now, it's brilliant. The production (aided by Jonathan Boulet) is cracking and the harmonies are out of sight.

If you want to see them play they've got a show on
Thursday the 3rd of June at the Brass Monkey.
I'll be there. If you go we can carpool! You drive though, I did my part by just letting you know about the show. Sweet deal.

Hear more at www.sleepyhands.com or follow their facebook page

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Band of Horses - Infinite Arms

Hell, it's a good day for streaming. Infinite Arms, the new record from Band of Horses is available now in its entirety. A few of the songs will already be familiar to you if you've been following the staggered releases of a few tracks over the past month or so. I can't confirm that this link actually works since I'm on a uni pc but if you want to check it out and get back to me you can stream the whole guy here

"Factory" from Infinite Arms is available as a free download here
"Compliments", the first single from Infinite Arms was also made available as a free download. Not the mp3 though, the music video. It's an mp4 I think. That was downloadable at the Band of Horses website. I'm not sure if it still is but I hope so, because I care for you, reader.

Finally, they're coming out for Splendour. We can't all afford that thousand dollar adventure so I plan to attend the sideshow at Enmore Theater on Thursday the 29th of July. Tickets are $61.50, go on sale on Wednesday the 13th of May and are available here.

Sleigh Bells - Treats

Yesterday, the debut record from Brooklyn's Sleigh Bells came out. I've been loving Crown on the Ground and Tell 'Em so I'm pretty psyched on listening to this thing through. Luckily that's well within my reach. The entire album is streaming for the rest of the week on NPR.

LISTEN HERE

Friday, May 7, 2010

Dan Wythoff


I'm normally antagonistic when it comes to the whispy singer songwriter. This guy, Dan Wythoff, I like. I can't really say why. I don't have time for the Joshua Radins, Eric Hitchinsons and the William Fitzimmons' of this world. There's something that's almost too easy about them. Dan Wythoff has slightly more upbeat, more "fun" rythyms. Often you can't tell whether he is guy or girl and that really resonates with me in this ambivalent, gender confused time that we live. All guys go through periods here they can't figure out if they're truly male and need to take a peek to make sure. Right...? I'm pretty sure that's the case.

Listen to this track. If you're a girl then you'll probably like him. If you're a liberal guy you might too. Hell I do, and I'm all man.

Dan Wythoff - Making Room








Dan Wythoff - Soft Breeze








Great news! His EP is out now. Better still, it's free! Download it here.
On a similar note, I've added a couple of links to the side of the page. One of the is which is a pretty awesome page. Scope it.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Mt Desolation

I can't be bothered retyping what's already been suitably typed so here it is, in someone else's words.

There’s a new supergroup brewing that includes members of The Killers, Keane, Mumford and Sons and Noah And The Whale. Known as Mt Desolation, the collaborative effort will release an as-yet untitled album later this year. So far, two song names have sprung up from home-brew demos, ‘Departure’ and ‘Annie Ford’.

The album will apparently have a distinct country sound, although the writing duo behind it admit that “two English men trying to sing like Hank Williams [is] definitely a recipe for disaster”. It sounds interesting, at least.

The project is spearhead by Keane keyboardist Tim Rice-Oxley and occasional Keane bassist Jesse Quin, but will also feature The Killers’ drummer Ronnie Vannucci, Noah And The Whale fiddle player Tom Hobden, Mumford And Sons banjo player Winston Marshall and the Long Winters’ guitarist John Roderick, among others.

- Musicfeeds


Here's hoping they'll be half as good as their collective cult following would suggest.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Local Natives

Three part harmonies are crazy in right now so take this opportunity to get involved. You may have missed the boat with Mumford and Sons and now they're too popular for you to buy their album but it doesn't have to happen twice.

In truth Local Natives don't really sound anything like Mumford. Pitchfork says they have a bit of Dodos, a little Fleet Foxes and even some Grizzly Bear and I think that's all fair. They don't do anything staggeringly new, but hell, it sounds good.

They also have one of the best Daytrotter sessions I've heard so give that a spin too.

Wide Eyes is the first track from Gorilla Manor which came out in November last year so it's not a new release but it's something worth listening to if you haven't already.

Local Natives - Wide Eyes








Local Natives on Daytrotter
Local Natives on Myspace
Buy this album on iTunes

Monday, April 19, 2010

Sleigh Bells - Crown on the Ground


No preamble, no extended introduction and no off-topic tangeants. Just me (Tommy) telling you (my four man strong readership) that this track is worth a listen.

It's called 'Crown on the Ground' by an artist called Sleigh Bells. I wouldn't know where to start trying to genre this beast so I just won't. There's any number websites where you read the comments of pedantic elitists arguing about it. I will say that it features Derek (formerly of Metalcore giants Poison the Well) and Alexis Krauss who you might know as a school teacher from Brooklyn. It's a departure from the easy listening/folk I've posted so far. A huge, over-amplified, distorted bass line and vocals reminiscent of MIA, Crown on the Ground would make for a gigantic club track.

Anyway, get onto it while you can still score some indie-cred and they're not a household name. They've not got a CD out or even an EP yet the Internet is still frothing at the mouth over them. I guess I can't disassociate myself from that since I'm writing about them this very second.

Enjoy.

Sleigh Bells - Crown on the Ground







(Best listened to loudly)

Sleigh Bells on Myspace

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Luke Webb

It struck me this afternoon that I'd not written about a local artist yet. Sure, my first post was about the middle east but they're a band that hardly need a nudge towards success. They are all over it despite a complete disregard for self promotion. They may well have seen success much earlier than they did and probably wouldn't have had to break up to blow up if they'd given even the slightest thought to marketing their music. Anyway, this isn't about the middle east even though they've just done a live set full of new tracks for KCRW while at SXSW (segway be my name).

This is about Luke Webb. Luke is from the [Blue] Mountains and is like the Middle East in that he rules but didn't strike while the iron is hot. His album has been out for about 6 months now though it took him a solid three years to get it written and recorded.

"If he's so great, how come I've never heard of him?"

Good question. You haven't heard of him because you've been sitting way too tight waiting for the next Shins album to come out. Far out, you love those guys a lot. I guess he's had some small level of exposure. He's played blackstump festival years ago and he recently won the Telstra National Songwriter's competition. I bet you feel like an idiot now, getting all up in my face with your questions. Luke writes songs that can safely be called folk. Or country, maybe. I'm not sure. More clearcut country folk than alternative country/folk though. He writes pretty, simple, easy to listen to songs and he's a stand up guy so if you want to get his new record it's available from his myspace

Listen to Luke Webb's Keep This Fire:






Thursday, April 8, 2010

New Slang (Cover)

New Slang was a song by The Shins that was made famous in the film Garden State in this scene. Anyway, that's the original version as sung by The Shins. There exists on youtube a cover of this song that may well be better than the original. Spliced in with it is a little bit of Coldplay's Don't Panic so make sure you watch until the end. They get some amazing sound, especially for a one take recording. Here it is:

Friday, April 2, 2010

Tunng - Don't Look down or Back


I liked the first Tunng album. I mean, I bought the Tunng album and I listened to it a little bit. I guess I liked it the way I like lawn bowls; you'll play it for a birthday party or at a bible study social and it's heaps more fun barefoot on grass but once every few months is enough. You'll tell your friends how much you enjoyed it but inside you know it was kind of boring. Maybe I'm being too hard on them. It was a pretty good album. Itunes tells me I gave it about 6 plays through. The single bullets though, well, that got a solid 19 listens.

About a month ago they released a new record called '...And Then We Saw Land' (horrible name? horrible name.) They've two singles from this album released so far Hustle and Don't Look Down or Back. I'll stream Don't Look Down or Back for you because I think it's the better of the two, but go to their myspace and have a listen to Hustle before you inevitably buy the full CD.

Tunng - Don't Look Down or Back:










Monday, March 29, 2010

The Tallest Man On Earth - Where I Thought I Met The Angels


The Tallest Man on Earth can do no wrong. When once I would have said it was impossible for an acoustic song at sunset to come off as anything but horribly contrived I now know better. Swedish Kristian Matsson sings simple, acoustic (and ocassionally banjo) centric folk songs laced with lyrical genius. I guess he's a little bit like Dylan but a more accessible Dylan.

The Wild Hunt is the title of Tallest Man's second album and it's due out on April 13. If I had actually heard it then I could give you a better assessment but I haven't so this will be all guesswork. It's the single best album to have come out ever, including all albums, since always and I say this without the use of hyperbole. And even if that's not a true judgement, it's still a blazing good record. Like Shallow Grave there's not a song on their that isn't a quality 3 minutes unto itself. As they say it's 'all killer, no filler'

Funnily enough I'm not going to stream a song from the album itself but a B-side that was released on the King of Spain single (the first single from the Wild Hunt). It's called Where I Thought I Met The Angels. It's would be the gentlest song by the TMOE were it not for the Daytrotter Session he recorded (which is also excellent).

The Tallest Man On Earth - Where I Thought I Met The Angels:








You can find this song on:
emusic - here
itunes - here

Saturday, March 27, 2010

The Middle East - Dirty Looks


If the Middle East aren't already on your radar then heaven knows where you've been the past five years. They've got an ever tightening strangehold on the Australian folk scene and with an impending full-length release in 2010 it's probably a case of the up and up. Anyway, this isn't just a 'heads up' for an artists that's been 'making waves' for 'ages'. I write this to bring to light a new song they've released as part of a special edition release of 'The Recordings of the Middle East' on itunes. If it sounds familiar it's probably because they've been playing it live for the past year or so. I had thought it would surface on the forthcoming released yet here I stand, dead wrong but pleased.

The song can be downloaded here

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/visitthemiddleeast