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September 2008

Wacko Jacko Jacko

Submitted by Matt on Mon, 09/29/2008 - 10:26

Jackson Jackson: Canaries singing through the gas.Jackson Jackson: Canaries singing through the gas.
Harry Angus is co-lead vocalist and trumpeter from The Cat Empire, a 6-piece from Melbourne who, any fortunate enough to witness live would agree, have some seriously elite musical abilities. Harry is also ½ of Jackson Jackson along with fellow musical explorer, Jan Skubiszewski. A very, very different affair from TCE, Jackson Jackson fuse their big, fat, bass-blown electrobeats with latin grooves, nutty percussion, the deepest blues and a good helping of Aussie hip-hop. Their 2007 debut, The Fire is on the Bird, is an awe-inspiring glimpse of the distant future. A proper concept album, I consider The Fire is on the Bird to be a loose re-interpretation of H.G. Wells' classic, The Time Machine featuring a race of bass-sensitive proto-humans that emerge from a massive hole dug by Harry in his garden... Fuck yeah.

The new single is called All Alone, the album is called Tools for Survival and will be released on October 11. It appears to be another concept album, this time exploring love; the only thing left after an apocalypse brought about by hordes of angry, bi-pedal subterranean beasts.

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Jackson Jackson - All Alone
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I Love to Watch Good Dancers Talk

Submitted by Matt on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 10:16

Time to release a new remix...

Luke Steele: High priest of The Church of HarmonologyLuke Steele: High priest of The Church of Harmonology

Luke Steele, frontman of The Sleepy Jackson and ½ of electropopsters Empire of the Sun (you can now grab the second track from their forthcoming album at their website, BTW) is one of the more interesting characters in the Australian music scene. In addition to producing some of the more bizarre promo shots around, he also has a knack for writing some seriously mind-melting lyrics;

Don't always dream for what you want
But I love to watch good dancers talk
My heart is stronger than you all
But I love to watch good dancers talk

The war's good and I'm so tired

When you think with your mind you've got a place to go now

Okay... I'm stumped. Maybe 'watching good dancers talk' is a bit like 'looking a gift horse in the mouth' or something... hmmm, anyway. My remix attempts to release the darkness lurking in this sickly sweet song. I reckon it pretty much fails in that respect but something intriguing rose from the ashes. I like it. Have a listen.

The Sleepy Jackson - Good Dancers (Vivada remix)

Brand New Vampire Weekend Track

Submitted by Matt on Tue, 09/23/2008 - 13:22

Nice. A brand new Vampire Weekend track, it's called Ottoman and it's an original studio recording this time. Stereogum got the premiere, kudos to them.
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist: That's impossible!Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist: That's impossible!
As you might expect, the song is nice, poppy and catchy. Very good indeed. Infectious, even. It's got the usual kick-arse drums and sugary sweet strings that they do so well. Yep, I like it. Although, I wonder what they will do next? Will they end up being one of those seasoned, formulaic bands? Let's hope not. Bring on the second album, I say. I will maintain my faith in their porphyriactic ways.

The track was recorded for the soundtrack of the film Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist and the track was directed by Mark Mothersbaugh, the legendary Devo composer. Legends. All of them. Get it now.

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Vampire Weekend - Ottoman
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The Drones Were Shat From a Wormhole

Submitted by Matt on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 11:32

The Drones: Sittin' on the edge of the bed crying.The Drones: Sittin' on the edge of the bed crying.Perhaps it's mere coincidence that the Large Hadron Collider was turned on during the lead-up to the release of The Drones' new album, Havilah, but I'm not so sure. If you listen closely to their music you can actually hear the aftershocks of the big bang. Seriously. Listen closely... I implore you!

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The Drones - The Minotaur
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Several weeks ago, The Drones descended upon Triple J's studios to perform for Like a Version. They did a cover of Suicide is Painless. You know it, it's that song from M*A*S*H. Marilyn Manson, the demonic prince of covers also did this song a while back, he said it is "more depressing and offensive than anything I've ever done." Mike Altman, the son of the M*A*S*H's director, Robert Altman, was 14 years old when he wrote the lyrics to this song... that's fucked up.

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Marilyn Manson - Suicide Is Painless
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