Bearhug

Bearhug (formerly Skeletal Explosive...how long does it take to shake the whole "formerly" thing? Maybe they could think about incorporating it in to their name ala Prince) are doing some big things. Firstly they're playing all around Sydney at venues like the Beresford and the Burdekin (and all other places starting with B.....). Secondly, and even more excitingly they are lucky track number 7 on the recently released Spunk Singles album with other great artists like Megastick Fanfare, Leader Cheetah and Seekae. This compilation is most definitely a great place to find some massively awesome emerging Australian artists, of which Bearhug is a shining example.

Bearhug-Snow Leopard (zshare)

Seekae + Teenagers in Tokyo = Sydney Delight!

You could look at bands as being products, each competing against one another to get you to see them, buy them and like them. If this is the case then I would suggest that Seekae has done a very good job at branding their product with a sound that is so clearly their own. Here we have these emerging Gods of electronica remixing fellow Sydney siders Teenagers In Tokyo. Whilst I think the track works, I also think it sounds a little bit like an awkward mash-up. Maybe if I wasn't so in love with these acts individually, I wouldn't be so fond of this remix. Make sense?

Anyway Teenagers in Tokyo have ventured of to the UK to finally lay down a debut, which I am sure will be awesome. Hype, hype, hype.

Teenagers In Tokyo-End It Tonight (Seekae Remix)

Seekae

"The Sound of Trees Falling on People"

I first heard this track on a cool Sydney evening. Sitting beside a friends pool, sipping on tea and listening to the choppy electronic beats beam from an impressive outside sound system. I was immediately aware that this was music I could listen to endlessly. It helped that my friend was so clearly in love with the track, the band and the genre. Such a passion can obviously be infectious and it does make me wonder if there are some sounds that instinctively appeal to everyones taste. That maybe good music is just good music, that is universal and ignorant of genre. But then I remember those people who are insistent that the tiny sub genre of music they play or listen to is the only music in the world. And also when I really really really love a song I am simply mortified when I find that others don't feel the same way.

Anyway...Seekae is the name of the band. Which is derived from the 90s computer game Commander Keen, that I remember fondly. This probably dates the three boys quite specifically, though unlike most of the swarms of 20 old year old kids making electronic music in their bedrooms these days, Seekae is born from a more respectable musical background of indie bands, classical flute and cello. Their influences include Boards of Canada, Aphex Twin, Kettel, Apparat, Hot Chip and Telfon Tel Aviv causing them to travel between the sounds of ambient and a slightly more upbeat mish-mash of electronica.

Seekae-Void (zShare)

Seekae Myspace