We bring you the sounds that crash to shore, to wash over you at night
After just stepping off the stage with These New Puritans, Bachelor Of Arts have just unleashed their debut album on our asses and play a handfull of shows all around Australia, probably in your home town, so theres no excuse to miss them. These guys are extremely tight live and wont disappoint. The albums called Infinite Jest and is out now on EXO Records, home to Japanther, Houlette, The Emergency, etc.
Melbourne: $10, this Thursday 21st, the Toff.
Right, I find myself waiting here at the computer with 20 minutes to go til I can buy MGMT tickets online, so I thought Id share with you the songs that have really been rotating with me lately. First up is an absolutely gorgeous, euphoric dream pop track from an equally as fantastic album. They just have very unfortunate titles. The track, ‘Souvlaki Space Station’ comes from the classic 1993 album ‘Souvlaki’ by British band Slowdive. Dont be put off by thoughts of greasy garlic sauce, because it couldnt sound any further from that. Label mates with My Bloody Valentine, these guys impressed the fuck out of me the first time I heard them.
MP3: Slowdive - Souvlaki Space Station
Second is a great 1982 New Romantic track by another British band, Visage. I hear so much of Cut Copy in this its not funny. The same little bleepy synth sequences, and Steve Strange sounds so similar to Dan.
Well Im listening to the new Friendly Fires album, and Im really in two minds about it. As soon as I think Im starting to like it, Ed Macfarlane’s voice bursts into the chorus and it sounds like some emo/hardcore band rocking out with synths. He hits some quite emotional tones throughout the album.
Jurys still out on this one, though I do quite like Jump In The Pool.
Im quite liking the noise that German label Permanent Vacation has been producing lately. Definitely has a very classic feel to it. Their latest release is a straight up classic disco compilation by two French DJ’s Alexis Le-Tan and Jess called Space Oddities. A compilation of rare European library grooves from 1975-1984.
Its good listening but personally I think it has dated quite a bit. But you can hear alot of sounds that have influenced some bands today like Glass Candy and Mirage.
MP3: Jean-Pierre Decerf & Gerard Zajd - Reaching The Infinite
MP3: Sauveur Mallia - Stone Roller
BONUS: From the head honchos of Permanent Vacation
MP3: Only Fools And Horses - Spectacle Wins
I dont know about you guys out there, but the first time I listened to MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular, I fell head over heels for it. It had a sound so fresh that everyone seemed to connect with it. I have a feeling we wont be getting any new material any time too soon, but the next best thing I have to offer is Passion Pit. Sleepyhead makes me feel anything but sleepy. Its a crazy, sharp, electronic-pop track that Im sure will soon be sending legs crazy this year. Most definitely a big recommendation from me.
Dinowalrus I know next to nothing about except for the fact that they come from Brooklyn and make music that I find hard to categorize. Too tired to bother. Just listen. (Zac, you’ll probably like these guys.)
Ive posted about A Town In The City before but Im pretty sure that was a while ago now. For a band thats still finishing highschool, these guys sound damn good. I really hope some industry guy occasionally flicks through this blog, cos I’d love it if they got picked up early. Life For A Little Ghost is a little synth-infused, post punk number, definitely a high recommendation. Mr. K’s Arcade Invertables is a track from last year and just as good, with a bit of a TV On The Radio feel to it.
MP3: A Town In The City - Life For A Little Ghost
MP3: A Town In The City - Mr. K’s Arcade Invertables.mp3
We also have another exclusive here at waves. Bachelor Of Arts, from right here in Melbourne, have been playing for a while now and are just about to release their debut album. A.M.P.M. is the new single off said album. If you like what you hear, theyre playing for the next few Wednesdays (FOR FREE) at the Old Bar on Johnston St and with some amazing bands. On the 16th its Breaker Morant and The Diamond Sea (go seeee), and supporting These New Puritans on the 14th of August.
MP3: Bachelor Of Arts - A.M.P.M
MP3: Bachelor Of Arts - Myopia
Last up is a band I only recently got onto called Crystal Stilts, from Brooklyn. Id say they sound a bit like Joy Division but Im getting too much more of an upbeat sound out of the guitars. Maybe if Ian Curtis wasn’t quite so glum, this might be what they’d sound like. A dash of harmonica really lightens them up, in a good way.
