These New Puritans

These New Puritans are another band out of the UK who are making sizeable blips on my music radar. The small collection of tracks so far circulating on the cyberweb have me screaming for more. Taking references from seminal Manchester post-punkers The Fall, but infusing with art-rock and experimental influences, TNP are creating buzz and set to release debut album, Beat Pyramid, in January 2008.

Undoubtedly in the cool camp, and already known for pushing a hybrid of art/music/fashion, a style-over-substance tag could easily be attached (erm, they recorded a set for Christian Dior's runway show...). But, unlike their contemporaries and Southend neighbours, The Horrors (for instance), These New Puritans have artistic merit to match their uber-haircuts and will hopefully be propelled globally so us here in Sydney can see the live version some time soon.

"Elvis" Video Clip

These New Puritans - Numbers
These New Puritans - Elvis
These New Puritans - Swords of Truth

Myspace
Website
Buy Colours/Numbers 7" Single and Pre-order Beat Pyramid

Foals

Admitted in to buzz band territory this year has been Oxford, UK's Foals; who, in 2007 have gone from bedroom parties to Bloc Party support. Formed 17 months ago, this 6 piece brandish an eclectic form of sometimes post-punk, sometimes electronic-minded-but-guitar-driven indie-pop, and sometimes contemplative but dance-infused rock. Confused? Well, that's how they like it. Originally setting out to blend "clinical techno with raucous rock", Foals are a forward-thinking act with a wish to breakdown sonic barriers while ticking off their creative goals (working with TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek for first their album) and winning over legions of fans in the process. Oh, and they released "Hummer" on uber-cool French record label Kitsune (part-time home to Digitalism, Klaxons, et al, and complete with remixes from French scene-stars Surkin and Passions). (But, to be honest, screw the remixes, it's all about the original).

Their above mentioned debut full-length will be based around an afrobeat sound, and true to their genre-melting attitude, will feature less of the abrasive, synth-filled, strobe-fulled dance-able live show (displayed in "Hummer") and more, as a whole, fixed on generating a progressive, sparse and memorable body of work. In their words, "we don't want to keep repeating ourselves". Maybe not repeated, but, *fingers crossed*, as exciting and truly invigorating as the three tracks featured below.

For now, feast your ears on Hummer and Balloons (two of their singles), and Big Big Love (an impressive b-side to another single "Mathletics").

Foals - Hummer (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
Foals - Balloons
Foals - Big Big Love

Foals Myspace

BUY BUY BUY

Stricken City

I caught Stricken City at Bloomsbury Ballroom in London when I was in the city for a work trip last week. I had been drawn to see Friendly Fires (we posted them here) who were amazing.amazing.amazing....But, appearing first on stage were Stricken City, who, before the night, were unknown to me. Lucky I was punctual.

Fronted by future pin-up Rebekah Raa, Stricken City were all melodic, pretty indie pop and were in ownership of a charm that had us early arrivers engaged. OK fine, drooling.

At one point, bouncing from indie scattered hi hats to ska and back again they were immediately catchy but kept things interesting. Rebekah's vocals at times verged on Bjork-esque and held nothing back on stage creating a live show that incited humming and hearts fluttering.

Perhaps the full live effect isn't quite captured on these demos so get your mits on their proper release on label Adventures Close to Home

Stricken City - Five Metres Apart
Stricken City - Better as a Girl

Stricken City Myspace

Last Night's Party

Photo: The Cobrasnake taken from his recent Aussie tour

After 2 weeks absence from the Nude DJs starting line-up for myself (I was in London, but more from that later), Lach & I were back playing Sydney's best Friday bash !MUM! at Woooorrrlllld Bar last night. We also ventured next door to Candys and played an impromptu set for the 6am stragglers before straggling home ourselves and dutifully passing out on the sofa with half full beer in hand.

Here's some new cuts that featured in the set(s).

First up, a nice funked-up disco groover recently released on DFA by New Yorkers, Holy Ghost! This one cuts deep.

Holy Ghost! - Hold On

Next, a french electro take on the new one from Glasgow's indie outfit, Shitdisco (the video for the original is a must-see too with it's genius kiddie pop-up book ripoff). Try to stop yelling ooooooookkkkkaaaayyyyyyyyyyy!!! in the middle when this one takes off.

Shitdisco - OK (Yuksek Remix)

And lastly, Sydney's darlings The Presets give us a sneak preview of what's to come from their soon to be released second album (much of the same??). While this newbie doesn't deviate greatly from some of their storming first album's highpoints, you can't help but go spastic to this one and there has been flying limbs whenever this has been dropped.

The Presets - My People

Holy Ghost! Myspace
Shitdisco Myspace
Yuksek Myspace
The Presets Myspace

CRYSTAL CASTLES HIT OZ

Crystal Castles have been around the electro scene for a few years now and the duo, Ethan and Alice, have finally decided to make their first trek to Australia to play a few shows round the country. They will be playing a gig in Sydney this Sat December 15 at the Oxford Art Factory, as well as shows in Melbourne and Brisvegas. Tickets are still available through moshtix

I've posted one of their newish tracks which is... well when asked what their music sounds like their reply was , "It's like snakes fucking"... and yeah, i guess it has a certain reptile fornicating zing to it...... this complete randomness of Crystal Castles is why I'm pretty pumped to see what they pull out of the bag in a live setting, that and the fact they are named after She-Ra the Princess of Power's fortress in the sky. I've also included a couple of remixes; a recent Bloc Party one and an old favourite from The Little Ones that everyone should have in their collection.

Crystal Castles - Crimewave (Crystal Castles vs Health remix)

Bloc Party - Hunting for Witches (Crystal Castles remix)

The Little Ones - Lovers Who Uncover (Crystal Castles remix)

Crystal Castles songs are available through iTunes

It's attached to ya rod mutha-licka

THE BLOODY BEETROOTS

The Bloody Beetroots are two Italian DJ/Producers who are taking over the electro world at the moment. They recently completed a very successful tour of Australia, and I'm spewing I didn't catch any of their shows, because they apparently went off the fuckin chart. I did, however, catch a live set they did for a local radio station and the amazing synthy, dirty sound they were able to produce throughout the whole set gave me a colossal reccy.

They have also been hard at work in the studio, churning out an abundance of remixes for a number of big names including Timbaland, Goose and Etienne De Crecy to name a few. But they are also starting to release a few of their own carpet-tearing tracks, all with the BB's hard, trashy electro sound. I have included some of these below, along with my favvy Timbaland remix, which is a bonafied dance floor filler in any club. Fingers crossed these two will be back in Australia soon...

The Bloody Beetroots - Ill To Destroy

The Bloody Beetroots - Ezekial Eats Red Hoodie

The Bloody Beetroots - Butter

The Bloody Beetroots - I Love The Bloody Beetroots

Timbaland - Miscommunication (Bloody Beetroots Remix)

The Bloody Beetroots tracks are available for purchase on iTunes


choze for thote

THE GOSSIP REMIXED

The Gossip are currently touring the country, playing in Sydney at the Metro on Tuesday Dec 11, and then on to headline Meredith Music Fest in a couple of weeks... They are also the product of some fuckin awesome remixing by some of the world's best producers. I've posted some of these special treats below...

The first and newest, YR MANGLED HEART, is by LA duo Guns N Bombs and has an awesome French-electro-daftpunkdiscovery-guitar sound to it. I've also included a couple of LISTEN UP remixes, the first by Canadians MSTRKRFT, which is about as funkalicious as Bootsy Collins playing slap bass. The second is by Punks Jump Up and is a little more up-tempo, but still involves a fair bit of funk. The Soulwax Nite Versions remix of STANDING IN THE WAY OF CONTROL is also here for anyone who hasn't been to a club or listened to the radio in the last two years.

The Gossip - Yr Mangled Heart (Guns N Bombs Trashbags Remix)

The Gossip - Listen Up (MSTRKRFT Remix)

The Gossip - Listen Up (Punks Jump Up Remix)

The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (Soulwax Nite Versions Remix)

The Gossip tracks are available for purchase on itunes

sankyoo vewy marsh

PNAU, PNAU

Nick Littlemore and partner Peter Mayes, otherwise known as PNAU, have just released their latest, self-titled album after a 3 year "busy doing other shit" wait from their last album AGAIN (Nick of course was tied up with his other two-piece TEENAGER).

The album was actually released about 3 weeks ago, but I've only just listened to the whole thing so I thought I'd do a post on it now. It's pretty much like their other two albums, in that they have a few songs which are really fun and dance-floorable, but the rest are very self-indulgent - A lot of the tracks have a bit of a 90s dance-rave feel to them, which granted is very "funny" and "ironic", but I'm not sure if it's actually that "good"... I've posted some of the goodies below. The first was produced with the help of Michael Van She, and you can really hear that come out in the track.

Pnau - Come Together

Pnau - Wild Strawberries

Pnau - Embrace



Fanks

THE VILLAINS REMIX AROUND THE WORLD

Everyone loves a good Daft Punk remix. However, there are hundreds of songs in the Daft Punk Remix category which resemble a marmot farting, and they have to be endured in the search for a splendid one. So when a good electro remix comes along, and of AROUND THE WORLD no less, it gives me a bit of a reccy.

The Villains are a trio from LA, who started out in the industry as audio engineers and are now having a punt at the odd track themselves. They have also completed a remix of Bloc Party's HUNTING FOR WITCHES which I've posted below. It isn't quite as good as the Daft Punk remix, but they gave it a red-hot go.

Daft Punk - Around the World (Villains more cowbell DJ edit)

Bloc Party - Hunting for Witches (Villains electro-banger remix)


Thanks, and goodnight

MUM TURNS ONE

Everyone loves their Mum... So what better way to reward her constant care on a Friday night, than with the gift of your attendance at her Birthday Party!
Mum's First Birthday will take place on December 7th, at the always brilliant World Bar, except she will be expanding up the stairs into the poolroom and the bordello room with twice the DJs and twice the bands! The line-up includes The Dardanelles, Grafton Primary and The Cassette Kids, and on the decks Sleater Brockman, the always lovely Anna Lunoe, and of course yours truly. Below, I've posted some Mum dance floor favourites from the past year to bring back those epic memories spent sweating it out in Bayswater Road's best.

Dashboard - Modest Mouse

B.E.A.T. - Justice

Around The World - Daft Punk

Pogo - Digitalism

Consolation Prizes - Phoenix


See You Theeeeeerrrrreeeeeee!!!!!

Mobius Band release "Heaven"

So, tonight I can't sleep. I'm watching the ceiling and letting thoughts spin around with no direction. I turned for my ibook and threw on recently released album "Heaven" by Brooklyn, USA group Mobius Band. Appropriate sounds for such contemplative moments. Full of off-kilter but friendly songs of hooky vocals, immaculate structures that change-and-add-and take away just at the right moment (listen and you might know what I mean). They're supplemented with interesting and quirky electronic bits and pieces.

MB's last album "The Sound of Static" was a household staple for summer afternoons with beers and friends or lemonade and ice creams. This new release on Ghostly, has similarly feel-good and introspective offerings. Loving it. Maybe I can sleep now.

Mobius Band Myspace

Mobius Band - Friends Like These
Mobius Band - Hallie

VAN SHE - CAT & THE EYE VIDEO

Above is a video of Van She's new single, Cat & The Eye. Not sure about the song yet... I'm not immediately in love with it, but I'll give it a couple more listens and see how it goes... To me, new Van She songs tend to stand like new Cut Copy songs; when I first hear them, I'm like "meh", but then the more I listen, the more I love...

The video is pretty fuckin special too. It reminds me of the combat training room in The Matrix, but with a kind of Return to Oz theme. There is a really clear, vibrant look to the visuals too. I'm not sure who directed it, but I'm a fan.

Appreciative.

Damn Arms releases "The Live Artex"

Since the demise of half of the band's incarnation as Snap!Crakk!, Damn Arms have steadily risen to be a force amongst the wave of post-punk dance-indie bands of the past few years.

Their debut full length, The Live Artex, released last week through Timberyard Records and produced by Nick Littlemore of Pnau & Teenager fame, proves their worth with a collection of tracks brimming with progressive, epic, danceable and fiercely scuzzy, synth-punk.

Having a swelling fanbase in the UK, a recent support slot with Midnight Juggernauts and playing opener to Cut Copy on their approaching "SO HAUNTED" tour – not to mention their own album tour at the end of the month, Damn Arms possess the right qualities to be the latest Aussie “it” band.

And their latest promo shots of the group in fencing attire (see front cover of The Brag this week) might just wrap up the album; potentially fatal but meticulously executed to slice you and your dancing shoes in to p.i.e.c.e.s.

Here’s the first single, Home Wrecker, plus personal fave, Wooden Leg, Evil Claw.

Damn Arms - Home Wrecker
Damn Arms - Wooden Leg, Evil Claw

CUTTERS TOUR HITS SYDNEY!

Woooot!! We'll be going to enjoy the fantastic-ness of Cut Copy this Thursday at The Metro in Sydney, which is giving me a slight reccy. I'm so excited, in fact, that I thought I would post a couple of their newer songs which will be on their sophomore album, IN GHOST COLOURS, due out in Feb next year. The three lads from Melbourne will also be playing shows at the Parramatta Roxy on Friday, and up in Newcastle at Panthers on Saturday. All shows will be supported by other Melbourne favvys Damn Arms and Knightlife.

Cut Copy - So Haunted

Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire


mmm, it's quart narce.

THE WOMBATS

These three lads from Liverpool are a bit of a new treat to the ears of Indie-lovin Aussies, but have been carving it up for a while in the UK indie scene. They're kind of like what you'd get if you threw Bloc Party, The Kaiser Chiefs and The Futureheads in a blender... like blending their sound, cos otherwise you'd just get blood and guts and guitars and snare drums and stuff... They have released a debut album A GUIDE TO LOVE, LOSS AND DESPERATION, which is a bit hit and miss with some of the tracks. But there are a couple which certainly get the feet moving. I've posted some of the goodens below, along with a remix by the Brilliant Brazilians, Cansei de Ser Sexy.

The Wombats - Let's Dance to Joy Division

The Wombats - Moving to New York

The Wombats - Kill the Director

The Wombats - Kill the Director (CSS Remix)


awe, fanks vewy much.

BIGFACE

Photo: RJ

From Glasgow, come BIGFACE. They blend a 5-piece band set-up with an electro aesthetic, resulting in a sound that has a capacity for structure and depth as well as dance floor fun. The combination of live instrumentation and electro cross-over allows stark variation within one song and the vocals come forth with equal parts punk and robotic delivery. "My Eyeball" features on Kitsune's latest remix release and is more straight-up electro than their other material with almost trance-like synths and carefully building bass, while other tracks start innocently enough before adding a more faster, sinister edge with aggressive guitar hooks, clattering percussion and sharp, spitting electronic arpeggio.

BIGFACE - My Eyeball
BIGFACE - Drink Juice Like
BIGFACE - My Body Moves Faster

Friendly Fires

With a punk-funk groove, falsetto vocals, off-beat guitar stabs and electronic bleeps bubbling beneath, Friendly Fires make indie sounds with a disco tinge and dancefloor-friendly groove. Out of the UK, They have released three EPs, one of all remixed material. They draw irrefutable comparisons to The Rapture and DFA releases without replicating them and have a distinct sound across of their material while varying in tempo and mood. With an ability to create DF-killers-to-be alongside brief contemplative moments, they're quickly climbing up my iTunes most-played list. "Photobooth" is going to become a set fixture in our sets for the next few months no doubt.

Friendly Fires Myspace

Friendly Fires - Photobooth
Friendly Fires - Paris

NEW VIDEO FOR BLOC PARTY - FLUX

Above is the film clip for the new Bloc Party song, FLUX. It's pretty awesome. It kind of reminds me of an episode of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

I'm pretty into this new song. It's a lot more electro influenced than their past songs, which might be an indication of where they are trying to take the band.

Fanks

DAFT PUNK ALIVE VIDEO

Daft Punk Alive 2007 - Harder Better Faster Stronger - Clip


Above is a clip of Daft Punk playing a mash-up of Around the World and Harder Better Faster Stronger taken off their upcoming live album DAFT PUNK ALIVE 2007. It has been edited from the footage of 250 cameras in the crowd, pretty amazing.

The album is due out on 19th November and includes a live set of the Robots mashing up all of their past songs. It will also include a bonus disk with a huge mash-up of Human After All, One More Time, Together and The Music Sounds Better With You and also the above video.

You will find the full track-listing at daftalive.com along with links to the album's facebook and myspace sites.

I'm so fuckin excited about seeing them in December I can hardly breathe.


choze

FRIDAY NIGHT TREATS

Here are a few new treats which we splattered across the World Bar dance floor last night. The first is a mash-up of The Gossip Standing in the Way of Control and the Around the World cover by Dangerous Dan and Van She Nick

The Gossip vs Dangerous Dan and Van She Nick - Standing in the Way of The World

This one is a remix of Daft Punk's Technologic by the German duo Digitalism. It has a fucking awesome breakdown which gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.

Daft Punk - Technologic (Digitalism remix)

Then there's this one... this is a remix of Rage Against the Machine Killing in the Name by eccentric French producer Mr Oizo, which tends to send young males into a bit of a hectic mess on the dance floor

Rage Against the Machine - Killing In The Name (Mr Oizo Remix)

Finally here's the Pilotpriest remix of Boyz by M.I.A. This is the best remix I've heard of this track, and there's been a few...

M.I.A. - Boyz (Pilotpriest Remix)



thonx for thot

KLAXONS @ MTVs THE LAIR

The Klaxons are headlining tomorrow night's edition of The Lair on MTV. I unfortunately missed out on tickets for their gig at The Enmore, and wasn't able to catch them at Splendour due to their stage-diving injuries, so it was a bit of a treat when I was able to nab tickets to the filming of the show at The Metro. If you weren't lucky enough, it will still be showing live @ 7pm on MTV. Below is a remix-nicey of one of their tunes from the ever wonderful French lads, Justice.

Klaxons - As Above, So Below (Justice remix)


tes fe det

DARDANELLES @ SPECTRUM, SAT OCT 27

The Dardanelles will be playing a gig this Saturday October 27 at The Spectrum. I've seen the Dards a few times over the past year or so, and every gig I see they seem to get better and better, so I'm pretty keen to catch this one on Sat. They will be supported by Darren from Gerling as E.L.F. and also The Amazing Phillips Sisters and The Reptiles. Below is a track off their debut album MIRROR MIRROR.

Dardanelles - Footsteps


fanks heaps

PURPLE SNEAKERS NYE: AT THE MANNING BAR?

Purple Sneakers have announced their line-up for NYE this year; except this year it will be taking place at The Manning Bar. Possibly the move is due to the need for more space, or that they have had too much trouble with holiday parties at the Abercrombie in the past (see Good Friday), in any case, a party at the Manning Bar is always pretty fun. And mixed with a NYE sneakers crowd it could be a bit of a treat. The line-up is as follows:

DAPPLED CITIES
YOUNG & RESTLESS
THE TONGUE
THE HOLIDAYS
WONS PHREELY
S.Y.L.K.
PhDJ & THE PURPLE SNEAKERS DJS

Plus apparently heaps more TBA... I know last year was awes, from what I can remember, so if nothing else pops up which is too inviting, this might be a good option. Tickets are a bit cheaper at $35 this year too, and go on sale Wed Oct 31st.

choze

DAFT DECADE + 2

A little surprise came for me in the mail today. My tickets to fuckin Never Ever Land! Woooot! But besides confirming that the greatest day of my life will take place on December 22nd, there was also an extra treat enclosed in the postage pack; a best of Daft Punk album titled DAFT PUNK - MUSIQUE VOL 1 1993-2005, which includes a few remixes too. I've posted the best remix below.

Scott Grooves - Mothership Reconnection (Daft Punk Remix)

choze fe det

NEW MYSPACE FOR NUDE DEEJAYS

We have just updated ourspace and will be trying to add photos and info of upcoming stuff as much a possible. Check it out and become our friend and stuff

www.myspace.com/nudedeejays

cheers for that one