Grizzly Bear gets the a cappella treatment

An old video, but one I just discovered, of Grizzly Bear's 'The Knife' performed a cappella by The Carleton Singing Knights of Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.

Not the most riveting of videos, but great to listen to nonetheless.

New St. Vincent - "Actor Out Of Work"

St. Vincent's debut album, "Marry Me" was one of my album highlights of 2007/08, if only because the title was a reference to one of my favourite TV comedies, Arrested Development.

Obscure references notwithstanding, "Marry Me" was a beautiful and outstanding album; I've found that the more albums I listen to, the more seemingly fleeting moments in a song make or break it in my mind. St. Vincent's use of an old microphone to give that radio sound is something I hope I never get tired of.

Her new album, "Actor", is due out in May, and the first single, Actor out of Work seems to indicate a decided turn towards a bigger, rockier sound. I'm a fan - it's a short, sharp and sweet tune. And I don't mind the fact that the accompanying video clip disturbs me.

MP3: St. Vincent - Marry Me

Hiatus Over

Sorry for the downtime folks, real life got in the way.

I hope that if I set myself a bi-weekly obligation to post on this site, and publish it for all to read, I'll be forced to stick to it out of fear of disappointing anyone who reads this place.

Regular music stuff to follow.

Last Radiohead Mashup, I Promise....

...in which "Overdub" mixes Radiohead's 15 Step with that other famous song in 5/4 time, Dave Brubeck's Take Five.

New Here We Go Magic Video: "Tunnelvision"

Tunnelvision is my favourite track off one of my favourite releases of the year. It's not often that a video so perfectly matches the music, but I think that Team Peking have done an amazing job directing this.

New Phoenix Single Available Free

The facts:

Phoenix have made the first single from their upcoming LP, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, available for free.

It's called "1901".

Phoenix have added more synthesiser this time around, but it's still that Phoenix sound.

Grab it here.

BEST OF SXSW A-Z: "O"

The Oaks' bio is an interesting one; back in 2003 lead singer/guitarist Ryan Costello worked and lived for a humanitarian organisation in Afghanistan. The result is some impressionistic rock and roll that has a very subtle Middle Eastern influence. As the airy folk gives way to a two minute instrumental breakdown, it almost captures some of the anguish and joy of his experiences - even if you don't know the backstory

MP3: The Oaks - Masood

Okay so it looks and sounds Emo but bare with us. Supposedly rising from the debris of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans-based Oh, Juliet! are still very much an underground concern, and their sound is remarkably structured and polished considering their apparent inexperience.

MP3: Oh, Juliet! - Hunting The Canyon

Oliver Future will sound comfortably familiar to fans of acts like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! and Clem Snide. Well it might have something do with the fact that they're all produced by Adam Lasus, but the Brookly five piece are quickly garnering acclaim for their own brand of left-field indie.

MP3: Oliver Future - Signing Off

Best Of SXSW A-Z: "N"

A famous dead person once said "You can tell a lot about one by the company one keeps". Or something like that. Jason Chung, otherwise known as Nosaj Thing, has shared the stage with Flying Lotus, Daedelus, Architecture in Helsinki, DJ Krush, and many others. He recently won Turntable Lab's remix competition featuring MF DOOM. If you like any or all of the above mentioned bands, you're likely to enjoy Nosaj Thing's thing - squelchy electronica, with beats and blips.

MP3: Nosaj Thing - 1685


The Nouvellas are a new-soul group fronted by Jaime Kozyra and Leah Fishman, backed by a three-piece band, and all five are from the recently broken-up band Dansettes. Those with a keener ear will have heard Jaime & Leah contributing vocals to recordings of that other new-soul band of the year, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings. If you like them, you'll be sure to like this.

MP3: The Nouvellas - Satisfied


Personally, I'm really glad that the music world seems past the infatuation it once had with acoustic singer/songwriters - I never got onto the Ben Harper/Jack Johnson bandwagon; at times, it seemed to me they were essentially one and the same. That said, Toronto's Justin Nozuka takes acoustic pop, adds soulful vocals and a catchy chorus, and comes up with something palatable. I guess that's a backhanded compliment, but it's a compliment nonetheless.

MP3: Justin Nozuka - Golden Train

BEST OF SXSW A-Z: "M"

Well "M" was littered with great singer-songwriters, but the props really have to go to My Brightest Diamond, the alias for Shara Worden. Previously she honed her craft as a member of Sufjan Stevens' band, and if this ethereal cut is anything to go by, he's had a positive influence. Hers is a music of dreamy haze and layered harmonies given an edge by her lyrics and potent voice.

MP3: My Brightest Diamond - Disappear (String Quartet Version)

The band's moniker is a deceptive one, you'd hardly call this pop 'mini', dreamy perhaps, but it doesn't sound small. Minipop create wide-eyed vistas on which Tricia Kanne's airy vocals can waft and shine against, they sound a little Aussie to these ears - Ladyhawke comes to mind - which is no bad thing in our book.

MP3: Minipop - Like I Do

Noting that The Most Serene Republic are signed to Canadian indie label Arts & Crafts, home to Stars & Broken Social Scene, is a good place to start. They contain the same textured sound and rock orchestra elements of their label-mates: boy-girl vocals, wordy lyrics and an intriguing sound that rewards on repeat listens.

MP3: The Most Serene Republic - Present Of Future End

Best Of SXSW A-Z: "L"

Elizabeth Powell, founder of Land Of Talk, is yet another story of the classically trained musician who found the world of Bach & Vivaldi constricting their creativity. With echoes of PJ Harvey and Dinosaur Jnr, Land Of Talk make a good mix of punk, pop and rock.

MP3: Land Of Talk - Speak To Me Bones


Le Loup are a band from Washington DC with a French name, and their album is titled "The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millenium General Assembly". Honestly, I don't blame you if the hipster-isms haven't turned you off already. But have a listen to the infectious chorus and wonderful layering of sounds on We Are Gods! We Are Wolves!, and you might have just found an indie hipster band you don't feel guilty for liking.

MP3: Le Loup - We Are Gods! We Are Wolves!


Sounding as if it was recorded in someone's bedroom, The Lovely Sparrows' Chemicals Change is an example of a beautiful song created through simplicity, with singer/songwriter Shawn Jones' vocals barely audible above the haunting guitar.

MP3: The Lovely Sparrows - Chemicals Change