Electro-Ska

David E Sugar - Just Like Heaven
Let's kick off with David E. Sugar's cover of The Cure's classic 'Just Like Heaven'. This track is bizarre. Nice bleepy intro, all looking promising, then WHOAAA! 40 seconds in, it drops into a weird electro-ska beat - which is not a genre I ever envisioned existing. The delivery isn't perfect - it doesn't come anywhere near close to the original - but full marks for innovation.
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Here's a couple of interrelated new remixes that I've collected during the week from the blogosphere.

CSS - Let's Make Love (RAC Remix)
The remix of CSS's monster hit adds vocoders, glitchy percussion and dissonant synths to their already-potent vocal track. At the end of the day. it's more of an enhancement of the original than a radical re-working - not much has changed in the structure - but the enhancement is absolutely spot-on.

Lily Allen - Alfie (CSS Remix)
I always forget that CSS are great remixers. While never having been utterly 100% convinced of their original tracks, the love they've shown Lily Allen here is far more than she deserves. The whole Lily Allen phenomenon confuses me. In America she seems hyper-cool, but in Britain she's more seen as just some mouthy popstar. Maybe it's an accent thing. Anyway - this mix pours a big jug of awesome on the original - perfectly placing it square on the dancefloor.

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The Polyphonic Spree - Fragile Army Album Sampler Mashup
Lastly, here's something a little more indie. Stereogum posted a very spangly mashup sampler of the forthcoming Polyphonic Spree album 'The Fragile Army'. It sounds very promising for those who loved their other work, but it's not a radical departure, so if you're not that big a fan you won't go away converted or anything. I like the album mashup concept very much, and it works very well for the the Polyphonic Spree, though I can imagine it wouldn't work as well for indie bands like the Arctic Monkeys. If the Kaiser Chiefs did it, it would be one long 'Ohhhhh! Ohhhhhhhhh! OHHHHHHHHH!'.

Anyway, that's it from me for the week. Cheers for all the comment love, keep it coming. I like this to be a two-way dialogue :)

- Duncan

"Anti Folk Basement Rock"

Oh my gosh, look at the time. already... Staring into space all attentive to some new music I have discovered of late has become a bit too regular the last few days...
Lack of sleep and temporary insomnia and having an Israeli landlord that is a) evading tax, and b) taking me, my brother and recently ex-housemates ('cause of it) for the proverbial ride, does have a certain effect on an already weary soul... And this in turn does cater for quite a weird schizophrenic playlist...



It just so happens that recently, it was the Montreal trio Land of Talk that took a turn on my wee stage-like little speakers that finally got hoisted onto some ill-laboured efforts for platforms. Their debut EP Applause Cheer Boo Hiss, is the perfect length as an introduction to their updated post-pop punk sound. Something like a younger PJ Harvey dressed up in a big plushy Dinosaur Jr costume... but with some definite teeth as sharp as a kittens.

Where Rock meets Rock. Fronted by the daughter of North America's first female alligator wrestler. Backed by Montreal's skinniest drummer and fattest bass player. Land of Talk are a very good band to listen to. Ha.

That's from their MYSPACE.
It reads like what should be a caption underneath a photo of the band, Bucky Wheaton, Chris McCarron and Elizabeth Powell.

Her voice is so arresting...
Her rhythm duo her perfect knights in shining angularity.
Keeping her safe while she pours out melodies with a hope, urgency and solace...
Every part of each songs melody perfect chemistry, perfect sense.

I would recommend you check them out if you are into bands like Pretty Girls Make Graves, Denali and Giant Drag even. I LOVE the guitar in Street Wheels and her voice is so strong yet vulnerable here... It's my favourite though Speak to me Bones is definitely the standout track.

Speak to me Bones
Street Wheels
MYSPACE

Sir Salvatore

Sir Salvatore is a new band from San Fransisco and they are here to delivere yet another piece of eminent indie rock. Consisting of four men, the music they are making is classic indie with twanging guitas and lo-fi sound, a fact which becomes exceptionally explicit in "Hooray This Projector".

Their first EP was released at April 23rd, and it has generated some well deserved attention in the blogosphere. In the six-song EP you will be able to here epic songs with notes hanging in the air as in the lukewarm Public Key provided below and also songs that sounds like something which just as well might have been a demo from the Strokes á 2000 (and this is not a bad thing).

From the bands website it doesn't seem like they are launching any tour just yet, which I think is a pity because I'm sure they are a riot to catch live. This kind of music that is as far from over-produced as can be usually becomes much much more alive when seen live.

But here are two songs from Sir Salvatore to you, try them out!

Sir Salvatore - Hooray This Projector
Sir Salvatore - Public Key

In addition to these songs, you can find more songs and info at their Myspace.

--
Eric

Let it percolate!

Hey guys, thanks for all the lovely feedback on my last couple of posts. Some of you seem to love the electro remixes and stuff, others of you prefer the more indie songs. Me? I'm split down the middle, so what I'll try and do from now on is post something from both sides, each week. You're lucky - three tracks this week! It's great to get feedback from people, so if you get a song off us and you think it's amazing, please pop back and let us know. Conversely, if you absolutely hate it, then you should tell us too - we're out to please you guys!


Okay. The Indie track for this week is by a band delightfully called Oh No Ono.

Oh No Ono - Practical Money Skills For Life

This is a wonderful bit of synthpop, sounding like Of Montreal if Kevin Barnes had never left Norway, or the Junior Senior covering Bowie. It also sounds vaguely like something a friend of mine wrote on Fruityloops the other day, but as you've never met him, that's a bit of a useless comparison. It's all 'lalala's and falsetto vocals, over synthlines and guitars which sound like they're being squeezed through a cheesegrater against their will.


Kid Sister - Damn Girl

On the more danceable side, we've got Kid Sister. This has a great hook - right at the end we're they're going 'let it percolate! let it percolate!'. I really hope that was just an outtake in the studio where someone tried to get at the coffee too early. On top of that you've got a brilliant synth stab that sounds like you're dropping something off a very tall building.


Late Of The Pier - Space The Woods (C90s Remix)

Finally, and if you're not really into the hippety-hop stuff, you should check this last track out. It's a bit glitchy and occasionally sounds like someone leant on the keyboards by accident and thought 'ooh, that sounds good'. It oscillates from awful - the 'done done done done done' bit - to awesome - the bit right after that - very fast, and suffers from having far far too long an intro, but stick with it and you'll get some rewards. It's the kind of thing I like playing in clubs, because it's easy to mix and I can chill out and have a beer, and let the dancefloor do the same.

Some Gifts To Your Summertime Playlists

It's been awhile friends. Sorry for my marked absence in posting as of late, an awards show and a surgery got in the way of my blogging career, thanks to all those myspace keeners who flipped me notes while I was out of WNR commission.

This week I wanted to tell you a little about two bands from my native of Canada that make my music palate salivate, they're hot shit mark my words and if you have yet to check them out I sincerely suggest rectifying that situation.

First on the docket is a band called Knock Knock Ginger.


I think the best way to introduce you to the Waterloo, Ontario five-piece is by thieving the tagline from their myspace page which says, "You guys could be the band at an awesome prom." It's true. You can picture a bunch of suburban hipster teens from a fictionally cool high school breaking into a Fame-like choreographed pogo to these poppy, pleasing tunes. If John Hughes were ever to resurrect the Brat Pack, a song or two from either of their releases, Hurry! (2005) or Based on a True Story (2006) would certainly be soundtrack bound.

Singer Milosz Sikora anchors a tight outfit, he's got an undeniable Morrissey-esque quality to his voice, crooning over lighthearted melody. Picture the infectious pop of The Hopefuls then teach them to play the trumpet, and you've pretty much got the gist of Knock Knock Ginger.

The selection of songs below are a soon to be summer staple for me now that the winter hath passed, and the warm weather is on it's way.

Love Renee
Virginia Black
You Could've Been My Johnny Marr
+ Myspace

Next up...From London, Ontario (not London as in England as drummer Thom Drew so cleverly pointed out to me) is the four-man band called The Knaves.


They take their name from a poem by John Wilmot titled "A Satyr Against Mankind", by definition the word can also mean a deliberate scoundrel or be a synonym for a the Jack; the one face card in the deck that always keeps you on your toes. My best bet after checking out the 8 tracks that make up their debut, they're easily described as all of the above.

Their sound has a CBGBs heyday era quality, it's simple, with succinct & to the point guitars. Their songs are thus ridiculously catchy, and where some would draw comparisons to The Strokes, and while I do hear it, I'm hesitant to make the comparison myself. When I think The Stokes I think overproduced hits, whereas The Knaves tracks have a raw, off the studio floor quality which I love.

Check out these yummy tracks...
Knaves Theme
Gainful Employment
Midnight Action
Je Ne Sais Pas
To download more go to their website

I hate to end this happy post on a Debbie Downer note, but a good friend of ours here at WNR, whom I wrote about awhile back, named Patrick Krief (of The Dears) had to break some pretty brutal news recently... That his rehearsal space in Montreal had been broken into and had everything thieved from it. Everything was taken. This is such a shame. I know it's a long shot, but please go check out his blog to see if you can help him get any of his stuff back. At the very least, show him some love.

CA

I Believe in the Way You Move

Recently firing your one and only employee tends to leave you rather behind schedule, but that's not really a valid excuse since I've been a bit late with my postings the last few weeks anyway... It's just been quite hectic...

So I'm a day late and maybe a bit late with only finding out about Jeremy Warmsley now.

I stumbled across his name when I read up on the new Shins single Australia getting released in the UK with some covers for b-sides, one of which is Girl Inform Me reinterpreted by my young half-Frenchman of the hour, Mr. Warmsley.


24 Years of age, a singer and songwriter and producer from London, way ahead of many of his peers I might add, released his debut album The Art of Fiction in the UK & Ireland in 2006 on Transgressive Records and now this month on Rykodisc for the rest of Europe.

Most of his stuff sounds like the creation of some weird mythic being with the heads of The Decemberists' Colin Meloy and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's Alec Ounsworth up in the clouds all aloof with thoughts of love no more and relationships.

Songs like the splendid (well I presume single) Dirty Blue Jeans sounds exactly like that but adds in some Final Fantasy strings and changes face like he was the puppet master behind The Unicorns' damn catchy quirkiness. All of that yes, is rather much to take in, and I Promise pretty much embodies the same but for some reason reminds me of Suburban Kids with Biblical Names as well... If they were in actual fact recording and producing their music in the States, with two heads that luckily fit through the doorway leading to the booth.

A Matter of Principle on the other hand is terribly misleading... Though it did stand out a little when I first heard it... It starts off with beautiful 15 seconds of Do Make Say Think maybe Mice Parade guitar before picking it's way over some beautifully produced beats. There's a lot of screwing around with pretty much every single track and sound in the mix. It's something that either one of the collective minds behind Pinback might conceive of in some other side project... And the little synth-meets-harpsichord-under-water sounding bridge-a-ma-jig is just way cool. The chorus if you can call it that, well lyrically at least, focuses on the line I made you a gift of the sea and it's a summary of a sad yet sweet lament of promises not met or kept. The lyrics paint the pretty pictures in your head to fill in the gaps that I can't avoid right now... Well 'cept for the You pinned your hopes on my donkey's back line... That kinda messed with my head in it's fragile state.

Get it, play it, like it:

Dirty Blue Jeans
I Promise
A Matter of Principle
+ MYSPACE

Note: When you play track 1 and 2 make sure you have no gaps between them k?

My mind is in the gutter
But I'm looking up the skirts of the stars
You wouldn't get it

- Ri.

Boy Omega

Hopefully most you you people are not totally unfamiliar with Boy Omega. After realesing his critically acclaimed debut album in november last year he has been touring around Europe (and still is) spreading his fragile voice and great acoustic sound.

With lyrics that probably would have made the young Werther even more depressesed there is no doubt what Martin Gustafsson is aiming for. He wants to make epic music for the young romantics who still find some beauty in longing and despair.

This is much like Bright Eyes, just with an underlying tone that is much more sad. I think you can maybe outgrow this kind of music. It plays a much bigger part in your life when you are younger and, you know, act all teenagy exaggerating every mood you are in and maybe just haven't really had your first heartbreak and still find it a bit romantic. It must be, mustn't it? Think of all the great culture heartbreak has inspired to. Well, that is up for discussion but anyway, if think you can always return to what you have felt before and hopefully remember why you once enjoyed it. Anyways here are some songs for you to enjoy.

Boy Omega - Explode
Boy Omega - By Midnight We'll Give It A Go
Boy Omega If Only

I addition to these songs you can find more songs and infor at his myspace

--
Eric

...and she would darken the memory

The Twilight Sad are perhaps one of the most Scottish bands I know, second only to Arab Strap. They sound like an eagle soaring over the Highlands. Singer James Graham delivers mournful lines in a thick Glasgow accent, while the other band members add layers and layers and layers to the sound.

The Twilight Sad - And She Would Darken The Memory

For a while, I thought the lyrical hook in this was 'putting the button', which didn't really make any sense to me. A Scottish friend of mine corrected me - it's actually 'putting the boot in'. Just after he delivers the line for the first time, you're plunged into a sea of chiming guitars and strings - and as you sink through the layers of sound, James Graham gets more and more insistent - ranting about 'friendly faces with put-on smiles' and 'putting up with your constant whine' until he can do nothing but scream.

The Twilight Sad - That Summer At Home I Had Become The Invisible Boy

This track opens with James Graham mournfully intoning '14... and you know...' and you do know - you know exactly what he's talking about. He sarcastically refers to his 'loving mother', 'strong father figure' and 'lovely home', all while the teenage angst overwhelms him until he screams 'they're sitting around the table talking behind your back'. Again, the backing feels less like a song and more like a wide, deep ocean of sound - it's shoegaze with a point - music to lose yourself in.

- Duncan

Asleep on a train...

Ben Cooper is a sooper talented guy!

The first thing that I heard of involving him was the Electric President song - Label My Mind: Blown - off the You have the Right to Remain Awesome EP from 2004. That song is still a favourite of mine. After that, being an avid follower of Berlin based label Morr Music (Lali Puna), I kept my eyes out for a full length and in the end was a bit disappointed when the self-titled release came out.

Now where Electric President had a sound similar to the Notwist, mixing live instrumentation with electronic backing and programming, Radical Face has its roots in the more organic side. Mixing Americana with subtle yet dense layers of electronica, his pretty compositions definitely bares a resemblance to Electric President stuff.

Full of atmospherics and beautiful melodies... there's a a bit of a dark edge to his music, but that's mostly 'cause of the lyrics and his soothing vocals add a serene balance. With organ, piano, lots of strings and accordian, banjo, hand claps, whistling and an abundance of other traditional american roots instruments... there's a delicate balance between that and what modern technology can contribute.

If you are a fan of Sufjan Stevens and Clue to Kalo you will find plenty to enjoy! It's really all really pretty!


And yes ladies and gentleman floating in space, his talent does not stop here, he is also an artist as you can see above. You can check more of it out here.


Go buy Ghost now, and yes it's available on vinyl too... Morr Music knows best.

Glory
+ Myspace

I see the airplanes
They're pouring from the chest
They fill the air
And burn and bury just like the rest

- Ri

Come with me, we'll travel to infinity

Continuing last weeks trend of posting wonderful remixes, here's another couple that are currently blowing me away.

CSS - Let's Make Love & Listen Death From Above (Simian Mobile Disco Mix)

The original is a song that a lot of people are making a lot of fuss about but I personally couldn't see a tremendous appeal in it. It's okay, it's a bit novelty, why has it been such an enormous hit? Then a couple of weeks ago I downloaded Simian Mobile Disco's remix. It's superb - blowing away the weak original in favour of a stompier, sizzlier, and far sexier approach.

Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow (Soulwax Mix)

In a similar vein, this remix also rips the original to shreds in favour of something far more danceable. Again, I wasn't an enormous fan of the original track, and this really makes it for me. Those of you who are DJs will adore this one, particularly at around 3'45" when perhaps the dirtiest synths in the world drop from the skies and blow your dancefloor away.

Enjoy, till next week!
- Duncan

Sugar Assualt Me Now!

Pop Levi is the 21st century boy who looks like he could be Captain Beefheart's long lost cousin. He should just start writing his autobiography already... I am certain it would make for quite an exciting read!


Having founded the post-rock experimental band Super Numeri with Victorian housemates Snap Ant and Karl Webb (Loka on Ninja Tunes), getting signed to Ninja Tunes, being the tour and studio bassist for Ladytron since 2003 and then finally embarking on quite the cosmic solo career, Pop Levi is turning into a rather prolific indie-vidual.

Tales like getting randomly attacked and permanently scarred whilst doing an early rendition of Skip Ghetto, you know, stuff to inspire you to cover a Little Richard song (Directly From My Heart To You) that the man himself bestowed upon him. Busking the streets of Liverpool till he knew every song off by heart before taking to the stage with an electric live performance channeling the purveyors of 60's retro and classic rock.

The Return To Form Black Magick Party is a psych-tinged glam-pop masterpiece. An astral collection of sugar coated hooks that is one of the most fun albums I have heard this year so far. Lester Bangs would've probably been too enthralled by it to find an inkling of a flaw in it. This is Neo-hippie Wave informed by T. Rex (Marc Bolan), Ziggy Stardust-era Bowie, Led Zeppelin (vocals are very Robert Plan at times eh), Doors and even Prince. The old school leanings towards the recording process was strong too, with layers and layers of old home recordings being used to complete his 3rd eye's vision.

Just go buy this album, seriously! Even better, get it on vinyl and put him with his friends that are long gone.

There's the dance floor rocker Pick-me-up uppercut, the glockenspiel led ode of Flirting and the hazy backward tape looped Skip Ghetto, a soundtrack to those summer days of reminiscing of the good ol' times past.

Enjoy!

Pick-Me-Up Uppercut
Skip Ghetto
Flirting
+ Myspace

Dial up my heartbeat, babe
Nothing but a dead line
But I'm up on my pony
Riding right out of time

- Ri

Regina

Regina (sorry, no photo) is the third artist i have written about from the small but truly excellent swedish record lable Songs I Wish I Had Written, from where you can also order CDs and stuff.

Regina has been around for a while and they first caught my eye (ears) at the now late music festival Popaganda in Stockholm last spring. Singing in their native language (finnish), the lyrics sounds completely like gibberish to me which surely is not the case with the wonderful electronic music emerging from my speakers at this very moment. Finnish is a very harsh language and this goes for the beats as well. The only thing in it to smooth your ears are the wonderful melodies.

Lisa, who is the front singer, has got a great deal of charm when she is standing on stage. Don't get fooled by her neat size and appearance, she's got energy for the lot and knows how to get the crowd in gear. Listening to them live is a great experience, and if you get the chance you should really not miss out on it. Unfortunately it seems like it will be a while before they will venture out from the borders of Finland, but keep the name Regina in mind.

I addition to these songs you can find more songs and info at their Myspace.

Regina - Katso Maisemaa
Regina - Minua Ollaan Vastassa
Regina - Minua Ollaan Vastassa (Tiger baby remix)

--
Eric

I Can Get Along With Myself

Hear ye, hear ye... it's time for my weekly contribution. This week I decided to showcase some of my recent loves and addictions. That doesn't mean they're necessarily new, just that they're on repeat for me lately. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.


Finland's Cats On Fire sound eerily like The Smiths at times, with the songwriting style paying a great tribute to Johnny Marr and Morrissey. Apparently these guys have been around since 2001, but just released their first album last year.
+ Myspace

From The Province Complains (buy @ Indiepages):

Born Again Christian

From Draw In The Reins EP (buy @ Tonevendor):

Higher Grounds

More free Cats On Fire MP3s can be found here.


Mahogany are playing a show this Thursday at Mercury Lounge, and you better bet that I'm damn sad I won't be able to make it since I'm DJing that night. This Brooklyn octet, with the help of Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins), put together one of the most wonderfully indescribable dream-pop albums I've heard in quite some time. I definitely recommend you buy this one, as it's one you'll never tire of.
+ Myspace

From Connectivity! (buy @ Darla):

Supervitesse


My Bed Is My Castle



You may remember The Dead 60s from their Clash and Jam influenced Riot Radio, but did you know these guys also did a dub album? I'm not exactly a dubhead, but I can appreciate good dub when I hear it. I guess it shouldn't be that shocking that a ska influenced band also did a dub counterpart, but I was still impressed. I'm curious as to what the next album these guys put out is going to sound like.
+ Myspace

From Space Invader Dub (buy @ Amazon):

Too Much TV


No Control

BONUS: This remix has definitely given more "umph" to what should be THE theme song for half of my dating experiences. If you've recently been through a bad fling or relationship gone sour, I recommend you put this on and dance the frustration away:

Peter Bjorn and John - Let's Call It Off (Girl Talk Remix)

Love,
Lady Byrd