podcast

Something To Pass The Time #1 by Art Fag on Mixcloud

King of the Beach - Wavves

Wavves is the much derided project of California native Nathan Williams. Wavves have become something of an internet joke on sites such as last.fm, due to their extremely lo-fi aesthetic and Mr Williams' antics, see here.

However, when Wavves first appeared on the scene there was a huge buzz around them, which, as seems to happen all too often, backfired. Going back and listening to Williams' first two records you can see why Wavves were being backed to go somewhere. Underneath all that fuzz and distortion were some incredibly catchy songs. Dumb music doesn't get much better than Wavves.

Now the highly anticipated third record has arrived. And what can we really expect from it? More of the same? Well, you'd be kinda right.

Wavves have grown in size. From being mainly a Williams' solo project, he has recruited the late Jay Reatard's band to help him fill out the record. And the production has changed. Everything is a lot clearer. This is a good thing. This allows the melodies to shine through, showing that Willliams can actually pen a tune without hiding behind the distortion gimmick. This album isn't mindbending or groundbreaking. It is however a hugely enjoyable noise punk record. Nathan sums up Wavves in "Take on the World" when he states that "I still hate my music/It's all the same". Wavves don't differ from their formula too much with "King Of The Beach", but they have grown and are all the better for it.

Post Acid - Wavves

Mickey Mouse - Wavves

Songs and stuffs

I haven't posted anything here in over a month, I'm so disorganised when it comes to things like this. Things in general have been getting on top of me at the moment, with job hunting, securing my new flat in Dundee and trying to figure out what I'm doing with my life all stealing the limelight.

I've finally got some time to just sit and chill out though. So here's some new music that I've been getting all giddy about.

Active Child is the work of Pat Grossi from LA, a former choirboy. His voice is sensational and the chamber pop music he creates is magical as well. Worth a listen.

Tango in the Attic, who hail from the distinctly awful Glenrothes and actually attended the same high school as yours truly, are a band on the rise. Their debut album, Bank Place Locomotive Society, is out on July the 12th and with appearances at this years Rockness and T in the Park 2009 they're set for success. They play insanely infectious indie pop, not too dissimilar to the likes of Vampire Weekend and Orange Juice shagging in a dustbin. I mean that in the nicest way possible. It fills me with a strange sense of pride that they are doing so well, I've seen them play about 4000 times, from their days as Ellipsis up until now, and the transformation is remarkable. I can't wait for their debut to drop.

Islet are a mysterious lot. For a while they were almost completely untraceable on the internet (they now have their own website) but I first came upon the Welsh quartet when they were supporting Los Campesinos! in February. I was taken aback with their sound, I can't think of anyone who sounds just like them. I guess there's a bit of Liars in there and... actually I just don't know and think it may be fruitless to try. Anyway, they're excellent.

I've been getting into garage rock a lot in the past few weeks, it just seems such a good soundtrack to summer. My favourite garage release this year is without a doubt Hippies by Austin based trio Harlem. How the fuck do they keep it so catchy?

Anyway, I'll leave you with these mp3s and hope you enjoy.

I'm In Your Church At Night - Active Child

Off To - Tango In the Attic

We Shall Visit - Islet

Gay Human Bones - Harlem

warpaint - exquisite corpses ep

I came across this kind of by accident over at Mat Cothran's tumblr where he posted a video of 'stars', which I loved. so I had a gander at their myspace page and was really taken with them - and good thing too because this EP is just not to be unheard. it's absolutely stunning.

I don't think there are really that many all-girl bands out there; well, none that are my cup of tea anyway. bit sad really. BUT these girls certainly make up for it big time. as far as I'm aware they hail from LA and are doing a fairly hefty tour the next couple months. I'd love to see them live, but I don't think they'll make it to scotland. booo.

the EP is a really hard one to describe. I want to use words like 'soft' and 'calming', but they don't seem to fit the bill - well, they do, but in a more indirect way because a lot is quite upbeat and 'groovy'. it starts with 'stars' which pretty much makes this EP for me because it's just beautiful. I suppose 'stars' is the one you could most put the words 'soft' and 'calming' to, but even then I'm reconsidering it. the music is lovely and shimery, full of reverb and dreamy as hell. the vocals are just amazing - they all sing and it blends together like one voice, it's just perfect.

the rest of the EP is quite varied, I think. it goes from being kind of bluesy and folky to being slightly grunge (if that's ok to say?) in 'beetles', but then the song 'billie holiday' pretty much speaks for itself. 'elephants' is quite psychedelic and surf, which is perfect for summer. a very, very good mix of stuff in there.

I look forward to more from this band.

stars - warpaint

just stuff

things have been a little distracted here in this spaceship of ours. hopefully that can be changed. Craig hasn't posted anything in ages and I think he should. help me prod him into action... just go to his facebook page and taunt him with profanities. fingers crossed that'll work.

I've been listening to quite a bit of summery stuff lately - things like Toro y Moi, Beach Fossils, Memoryhouse, Memory Tapes, The Drums, Dan Deacon etc. the weather has been beautiful here in scotland these past couple of weeks so it's called for I guess. thought I'd let you know.

listen to these if you like..

Beautiful People - The Books (from their upcoming new album The Way Out)


Let's Go Surfing - The Drums

arcade fire - the suburbs/month of may preview

I thought this was too cool to ignore, so here it is...

just click and drag the record to spin it. go on, give it a go. you know you want to.

coma cinema

okay, so I'm going to post some videos to go along with this, because it has to be done. fuck you, bandwidth.

old or new first? new, I think.

Coma Cinema is a 'musical collective', according to last.fm, fronted by Mat Cothran, a particularly talented chap. his new album Stoned Alone is out on the 1st of june and looks to be pretty darn good. this a brand new video for the song Only made by one Tyler T. Williams. it's very nice. see...




their first album Baby Prayers is available for free download from their site. it's highly recommended. as far as I'm aware, Mat is pals with Toro Y Moi who is amazing if you haven't listened to him already.

here's another video for your viewing pleasure - this is possibly my favourite song/video I've seen this year.





I'm seriously in love with this band. and I hope you are too.

ólafur arnalds - ...and they have escaped the weight of darkness

this is the brand new full length album by icelandic 'new classical' composer ólafur arnalds. it's unbelievably beautiful. that's all that really needs to be said.

personally, this is basically everything I aspire to as a musician. if I can create anything even a third of the beauty of this in my whole life then I will be happy forever. everything is just so. complete perfection in every way. the piano, the strings, the programming of electronics, the recording, the writing, the atmosphere, the sampling, the complete clarity of it all. it's just mesmerising.

I'm currently teaching myself, after years of delay, how to play the piano. I wish I had been one of those kids who'd been forced rigorously by their parents to go to lessons at the age of four or whatever, but I wasn't. it's tough, really. but listening to albums like this makes the hard work so worth it. the amount of intensity that's put into even just a few basic notes are mind-blowing. I'm sounding a bit day-time-telly-ish, but I mean every word. it's just quite frankly epic.

I also like the fact that the music isn't at all complicated - well, I mean, in a snobby way. it's not all here and there and everywhere in some fancy pants display of skill and effort like some traditional classical composers seem to be. it's modest. it's sits down crossed legged in front of you like a small child and tells you what it did that day, but as though nothing else in the world matters.

it's everything.

ólafur arnalds - tunglið


ólafur arnalds - hægt, kemur ljósið

Happy Birthday - Happy Birthday (2010)

Lo-fi music has been dominating the indie world for the past couple of years, with some truly great bands emerging. Taking cues from 90s bands like Pavement and Guided by Voices, the fuzzy, slacker sound has been everywhere. Happy Birthday are the latest to have injected themselves into my brain and refused to leave. Their self-titled debut, released earlier this year on Sub Pop, which has hosted classic bands such as Built to Spill, Dinosaur Jr and Nirvana in years gone by, as well as recent successes such as Avi Buffalo and Beach House, is a scuzzed-up gem filled with catchy hooks, 60s jangle and a good level of distortion. The signing to Sub Pop makes sense as frontman Kyle Thomas actually played and sang in J. Mascis's side-project Witch. Songs such as opener Girls FM and Zit will probably be soundtracking my summer, and they should be soundtracking yours too.

Girls FM - Happy Birthday - Happy Birthday


Subliminal Message - Happy Birthday - Happy Birthday

two door cinema club - tourist history

ok, this has been out for a couple months now and it seems to be going down quite well with the indie -pop type peoples. this is the band's debut album despite having been around since 2007. it's slick, fun and really fucking good. I'm not really one for the stereotypical poppy indie stuff that's about, like the maccabees etc, but these guys are pretty damn good.

the production on this album is really well done, I have to say. it's really clean and polished, which normally I'm not too fussed about, but it seems to give this album a nice feel. and with the catchy vocals and guitar riffs it's just impossible not to find something you like. there's also a fair bit of synth in there too, which is nice as there's too many of those bands that dwell in the guitar pop category which can wear a little thin at times. there are splashes of acoustic in there too, and a weird mix of surf, 'psychedelic' pop, which works so well. I can't seem to emphasise how fun this album actually is. it's just great.

I can tell this album will have a fair few plays this summer - sunshine, iced coffee and fun(!). I'm really looking forward to it.

two door cinema club - something good can work(single)


two door cinema club - undercover martyn

Silver Columns - Yes, And Dance (2010)

Silver Columns is Johnny Lynch and Adem Ilhan. You may know these two from their individual work as the Pictish Trail and... Adem. Adem is also a member of post-rock outfit Fridge, with school friend Kieran Hebden, aka Four Tet. These two folk maestros have combined to make one of the best electronic albums you will hear this year. I love this piece of work so much already. Its just so good, just ignore the dreadful artwork.

That these two have made such a dancey album isn't as surprising as it seems. The Pictish Trail's work is one littered with electronic breakdowns and splashes of pulsing sound, in amongst all that folk. Adem's work in Fridge, from what I've heard, which admittedly isn't very much is also steeped in electronica. Yes, And Dance is a so much fun. Its filled to the brim with banging songs that should get anybody dancing, as witnessed by some at Homegame. To get a bunch of beardies to dance like that is quite a feat. The vocals are beautiful, as is to be expected from these two.

Silver Columns released two singles late last year, Brow Beaten features on this and the original Yes, And Dance is also present, which they remixed themselves for the single release. The slower songs, such as Columns also work really well. There's some Hot Chip to be heard in a few of these songs, as well as Bronski Beat who they seem to get compared with a lot. There's also a lot of fun to be had, so stick this album on and dance like no one's watching. "Dance? Yes."