Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Bon Iver & New Moon



It's pretty clear that I am in a rather unique position: both a guilty Twighlight fan and lover of almost every artist that features on the soundtrack for the upcoming second installment New Moon. Whilst those who are keenly awaiting the films release on November 20 probably don't see much to get excited about beyond champions of the emo Death Cab For Cutie, music aficionados around the world are unanimously asking how such a shit movie can have such an awesomely good soundtrack?

The Bon Iver track was always going to my favourite, it would have to be a total stink pot not to be as Justin Vernon really is my number one man. Adding the mega talented singer songwriter St. Vincent to the track doesn't really change the feel of the sound much, probably because Vernon already sings like a girl! F.Y.I. non Vampire lovers: Roslyn is the icy cold eldest member of the Cullen Vampire sibblings...which could possibly explain the chilly vibe of the track? Or maybe its just stock standard Bon Iver.

Rosyln's greatness may not have come as much of a surprise to me, however the consistent quality of the whole album sorta did. I've read some people say that all the songs are dull, depressing and sound the same. Firstly, they're not. Secondly, yes they do all have a common feel of sadness, love and longing but this is what the film is about. A soundtrack should play a little bit like an art exhibition is viewed: artists exploring a common theme in different ways. So what would the point be if each track was completely different and had nothing connecting them? Lykke Li (who's track Possibility is my second favourite contribution) has said that she only wrote the hook of the song after watching an early version of the film, and that it was the tortured love between Edward and Bella that ispired her (awwww!), which supports my idea that the film is what draws all the artists together. Thom Yorke, Grizzly Bear and The Killers are the standouts for me...but really its only the awful Muse effort that lets the team down.


Bon Iver & St. Vincent-Roslyn (mp3)

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Sound Casino


Sound Casino are four blokes from Sydney who skipped school to make music and haven't stopped since. They've just put out a debut release The Show, but bizzarley this particularly awesome track Seven Seas doesn't make an apearance. If you like your rock served up with a catchy melody and a 90s guitar solo, then take a bite of this one.

Sound Casino-Seven Seas (mp3)

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Florence Does Candi

'Time after time, I think oh Lord whats the use. Time after time, I think its just no good."


Some songs you like, some songs you love, and some songs can be said to truly be the soundtrack to your life. You're not allowed to have too many of the last category, that's just the rules. But I can safely say that Candi Staton's 1991 dance anthem You've Got The Love makes the cut...if I could wake up to it every morning I would probably be a happier prerson.

Because of this I was a little aprehensive when I heard a cover of this imense track towards the end of Florence and the Machine's debut release Lungs. But I shouldn't have worried, as this ladies 'lungs" were born to belt out gospel ballads just like this. She stays pretty faithful to Staton's original, but chops out the long instrumental sections to make a sharper track with Florence's vocals obviously the focus. Making this the fifth single of the album is a pretty bizarre choice if you ask me, when The Source version is so fresh in peoples mind, but if meant a beautiful film clip like this then so be it.

London's current "it" band The XX stripped back the intensity of the track in a major way to put out a totally fresh take on the anthem. I don't really understand why it's being called a remix, when its clearly a cover...at least for the first two and a half minutes. But whatever, I like it. (P.s. I swear I can hear some very Gotye like sounds underneath, no?)


The XX-You've Got The Love (mp3)

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Teenagers In Tokyo


Teenagers in Tokyo were quite the musically promiscuous members of the Sydney scene before they fled to London town. And yet I never once saw them, just one of those things...meant to and wish I did. Anyway, the girls (and boy) have dropped a double A side single on 7" that you can pick up through Rough Trade. The first track Isabella has the rolling drums and punk rock sound that comes straight off the bands first EP, but its the more chilled out, down tempo and overall fresher sounding Long Walk Home that really stands out for me. More pop and less grunge, complete with a nicely melodic synth and sprinling of "oohs" and "ahhs".

Teenagers in Tokyo- Long Walk Home (mp3)