Lagos Jump

Strut Records are a label I hadn't previously come across until recently when I discovered they had decided to do a Soul Jazz records styled move (Soul Jazz release flawless compilations that each concerntrate on either the roots of a certain style of music, or an era within a particular Country) and one I have been listening to a lot lately is the second in their Nigerian series: Nigeria 70: Lagos Jump (following on from the mindblowingly good Nigeria 70).

It covers the era within the 70's where a strong international influence was coming across the popular Nigerian Afrobeat laced styles, there are tinges of Funk, Soul, Jazz and Psychedelica coming across, I can only imagine the clubs and culture involved in this brilliant music at the time. 

The most popular artist across the selections is of course Fela Kuti, a lot will be familiar with his innovative and leading styles but the otherwise largely undiscovered gems stand up just as well as Kuti. 

I urge you to go to the miscrosite designed to promote the albums release here.

You can listen to samples from the album, watch videos of artists featured on the compilation and there is a download for the excellent 'Yabis' by Sir Shina Peters and His International Stars.

I'd highly reccomend sourcing out both this and the original Nigeria 70 comp (which also comes with a DVD). 

I'd also reccomend anything from the Soul Jazz catalogue, they truly lead the pack when it comes to archivists of highly sought out gems. 

Grimetapes

I recently read back on an old issue of The Wire (The December 2008 issue to be exact) and came across an article on Grimetapes.com (There's 2 links so i'll put them below). I remember reading it an being very eager to check it out, but of course it slipped my mind and it wasn't until recently that I had the chance to give it a proper lookover. 

The most fascinating thing about the site is the pure archival value of what later became historical moments in the development of Grime, when it was still in it's most primal form - Underground Pirate Radio.

 It has that raw, untouched quality that makes Grime the brilliant artform that it is, I've always put radio sets over Studio album when it comes to Grime - purely due to the fact that it's a style of music best laid down on the spot. 

The rough, radio quality also adds a nostalgic vibe, you can hear scratches from those of looser broadcast quality reminding you of what this music was made for. 

Other exciting moments are early Dizzee and Wiley pre-beef sets (look out for the 'Unknown Location' one, where they touch on moments of dubstep, jungle and Hip Hop) and appearances by random artists who were never to be heard of again. 

The Wire article mentions that there is hundreds of tapes to be sorted through and uploaded - the owner of the site even had DJ Spooky of Slew Dem show up at his doorstep with a bag of 60 tapes. 

The original site is here - this says 'Properly Back In May' but has compilations of the greatest moments from different sets by Wiley, Slew Dem, Roadside G's and D Double E.

There is also a blog here which contains all the original, unedited sets uploaded so far. 

If this kind of thing excites you like it does me, be sure to check Rinse FM it has quality live broadcasts and a blog that is regularly updated with podcasts of the shows.

Six Electric Organs

OK so this one has me a little excited. I'd only just come across it recently, but it was originally posted by Ethan Miller of Comets On Fire himself.

It's a 3 song 'lost' Six Organs Of Admittance album which was originally recorded straight to tape during the rehearsals for Comets On Fire's Field Recordings From The Sun album.

If you are not familiar with the connection, Six Organs Of Admittance is the name Ben Chasny from Comets On Fire goes under when he isn't playing with Comets.

He has several brilliant albums under the Six Organs banner, i'd highly reccomend the last he released in 2007 - Shelter From The Ash. 

Anyways the Electric recording mentioned above is basically Ben playing what would have become Six Organs Of Admittance songs with the other members of Comets On Fire and laying them straight to tape. 

It's exactly how this kind of music should be played - raw and gritty with loose ideas coming together as the songs roll on. It's absolutley brilliant and even though it's technically 7 years old, it has just come to light this year so it's already in my list of the best albums I have heard this year. 

Do yourself a favour and read the story behind it then download it here.

Vivian Girls On XLR8R TV / Super Wild Horses

                                        VIVIAN GIRLS

Ok so admittedly I was a bit late to the table with NYC's Vivian Girls. I had been made aware of their awesome full length album last year but really sort of never delved further into them and the album disappeared to the back of my 'to listen to more' pile. 

Recently i've been catching up on bands I want to check more out from and they have been the soundtrack to this week with their simplistic and minimal pop rock. 

They are a very easy and fun listen, my personal favourite release (besides the album) is definitely the Surfs Up 7". Download the best track from it titled 'Second Date' here. and if you like that grab the title cut 'Surfin' Away' here. In a way this 7" is a lot more lighthearted than previous releases. (Unfortunately, this release was limited to a 1000 copies so i'm sure it's beyond sold out, check ebay etc if you really want to source out a copy).

Today XLR8R magazine posted an interview with the girls:

                                

If you aren't already familiar with XLR8R 'id highly reccomend checking it out, if not on a dailybasis they have excellent exclusive MP3'S, Podcasts and videos like the one above. 

Vivian Girls 'Tell The World'  from Vivian Girls. 

Check out more Vivian Girls music here.

                                 SUPER WILD HORSES

On the subject of Vivian Girls, a workmate recently informed me that if I enjoy Vivian Girls I should 100% check out a Melbourne band called Super Wild Horses as they we're 'better'. 

Now i'm not one to tally bands up against each other but he was right in the fact that if anyone enjoys Vivian Girls, Super Wild Horses are a must. 

They have a new 6 song 7" out now through ARRGHT! records and you can download one of the tracks 'What Started The Noise?' here. If you wish to order the 7" check their Myspace for details and also to hear more of their brilliant music. 

For any Melbourne readers, they are playing on the 27th of this month supporting Pageants at the Edinburgh castle in Bruswick which will end up their month long residency there.

Sydney just got even better

See this, it says it all really:
The ever reliable boys of Sydney's Void  have added Kode 9 to their list of amazing Dubstep artists they have brought to Australia and it's happening at the Civic Underground on June 26th.

But before we get too far ahead of ourselves here they still have their regular first Friday of every month thing going on June 5th and they have decided to bring back out Japan's very own Goth Trad who amazed the Void crowd late last year. 

A regular on the Void bill's is Mark Pritchard/Harmonic 313 who has released one of the best 12"s i've heard this year, simply titled '?', you can hear that here. He also recently released the highly acclaimed When Machines Exceed Human Intelligence via the legendary Warp records.

I'll post some mixes from time to time as I am lucky enough to have a good friend who happens to be one of the Void organisers and he has an amazing blog here which has basically everything you could ask for mix wise, make sure you check this DAILY.

but for now, here's Void's very own Victim with a quality mix up for download 

TRACKLIST:

+ JOKER
Snake Eater [Soul Motive]
+ JOKER & JAKES
3K Lane [Hench]
+ JAKES
2 Steps Back [Hench]
+ IKONIKA
Please [Hyperdub]
+ STARKEY
Pressure [Planet Mu]
+ GOTH TRAD
The Clown [Deep Medi]
+ SKREAM
Make Me [Tempa]
+ THE BUG feat WARRIOR QUEEN
Poison Dart [Ninja Tune]
+ THE BUG feat FLO DAN
Warning [Ninja Tune]
+ KROMESTAR
Attenshum [Dub Steppers]
+ STARKEY
Dark Alley [Planet Mu]
+ GEENEUS feat WILEY
Knife & Gun [Key Sound]
+ UNKOWN
Baby I Love You So [White]
+ GEOM 'Kode 9 rmx'
Reminissin [Berkane Soul]
+ 2NDIINONE
Romper Stomper [Heavy Artillery]
+ SASQUATCH
Hangman [Senseless]
+ BENGA
E Trips [Tempa]
+ RUSKO
2naq [Sub Soldiers]
+ UNITZ
The Drop [Dub Police]
+ JOKER
Holly Brook Lane [Kapsize]
+ GEMMY
Back 2 The Future [Punch Drunk]
+ STARKEY
Striking Distance [Planet Mu]

Be sure to get down to both of these as Void has easily become the best club night going in Sydney. 

NoTV Chiityyyyy Chat

Sydney's Naked On The Vague, people either seem to love them or despise them. I happen to be the former, they provide that loose as fuck raw and unpredictable energy that I love about bands of this ilk.
Anyways, they have just released a new 7" titled 'Chitty Chat' and it's available direct from the band for $8 (email them here) or order it direct from Sacred Bones who are releasing it in the US. You can also hear the lead track here.

NoTV have been getting a reasonable amount of attention overseas with past tours, the release of their fantastic debut album The Blood Pressure Sessions on Siltbreeze on top of the fact they just returned home from another tour over there with Blank Dogs. 

A an absolute treat for us Sydneysiders they are supporting DEERHUNTER at the Manning Bar date of their 2 shows here! 

Be sure to also check them out this Saturday (May 23rd) as they headline an FbI Radio Fundraiser with Moonmilk, Rand And Holland and more. 

Just to carry on even more, once you check out the 2 releases listed above, be sure to get a CD-R/Cassette The Mickey Mouse Headache Tapes (available here or at shows for $5), a collage oflive recordings from their US tour last year. It's one of my favourite local releases of the year thus far. 

And lastly, here's an interview they did for RAW TV -

Site

Myspace

Walk Around Wit' Chu

Everyone's probably sick of hearing about Animal Collective by now since their amazing new record Merriweather Post Pavillion was released earlier in the year.. But now they have decided to excite us all again with the announcement of a single lifted from the album and that being 'Summertime Clothes'.

The exciting part is the list of remixers they have got in to create their own takes on the track, brace yourself because they have Zomby, Dam Funk and L.D listed to remix. 

L.D's version was premiered on BBC London's Mary Anne Hobbs Show last night and now Domino have the Dam Funk remix available here for a free download (catch - you must sign up to their mailing list) and it's absolutley fantastic. 

Check them playing the original on Letterman:

Also, in case you haven't heard it yet, be sure to check out Animal Collective's brilliant remix of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'Zero' here.

Warhorse Ain't Nuthin' Ta Fuck Wit

'Warhorse are the only band in Sydney I like. They don't give a shit' - Mr Volcano of Polaroids Of Androids 

OK, so you'll probably see me pimping these guys a bit as I actually manage them, but fuck it - in my eyes they are one of the best things happening in Sydney right now amongst many and they can only grow into a bigger monster than what they already are. 

I'll let you listen for yourself to tracks from their 'Gun$ EP' (produced by Burke Reid and released last year via Timberyard / Shock). 

The live shows are truly something else and if you saw them on their endless run of shows last year, let me assure you the live sound has grown more epic than ever. 

They have been keeping reasonably quite for most of this year, writing tracks for a new album ('North Korea' and 'Warhorse' were previewed late last year) and taking a step aside to develop their sound with the return of the orginal bass player George Nagle and the addition of Ben Tarwin on Theremin. A Psychedelic treat. 

Plus Warhorse have the best but busiest drummer in Australia being the one and only Jasper Fenton who also spends time with Decoder Ring, the redsunband and the incredible Dead China Doll. 

May 29th - World Bar (Headline show) w/ Halal, How Are You, Los Hories (NZ) & Made In Japan

June 11th - Club 77 (Headline Show) w/ Whores & The Go Roll Your Bones 

June 20th - FbI Fundraiser w/ The Dolly Rocker Movement, Matt Tow (The Lovetones, Brian Jonestown Massacre), Flying Foxes & Joysticks 

July 18th - Hopetoun, Supporting The Laurels - 7" Launch

BBUUUTTTTT... New shows have been planned for the next couple of months - 

Be sure to come check them live and for now here's a couple of videos -

Official 'Saigon' video (from the Gun$ EP) 

'For The Love Of Ivy (Gun Club Cover) live at the Hopetoun Hotel performed with Ghosts Of Television 

Ahhhh Pennnneeeeetttrrraaaatttiiioooonnnnnnn

So Iggy has reformed the Raw Power lineup of The Stooges(of course minus Ron Asheton who unfortunately passed earlier this year) and decided to perform the album live for the first time in 35 years. OK, I've had time to calm down since reading the original article posted on the Australian here  , but holy fucking shit this is going to RULE (fingers crossed he brings it to Australia or it's off to Europe for me again). 

James Williamson apparently hasn't picked up a guitar in years and looks like this now - 

Who knows what it will bring BUT if it's anything like the previous reformation where they predomiantly played The Stooges and Funhouse live (we'll try and forget The Weirdness ever happened and there was the odd cut from Iggy's own Skull Ring played) we are in for quite the treat. 

One would also hope they play some of the songs that were played live and heavily bootlegged around the time of Raw Power. They had actually intended to record a lot of this material but since Raw Power flopped at the time they were dropped from Columbia so they concerntrated (Except Ron) on their Heroin habits. Personal favourites of that era include my personal favourite 'I'm Sick Of You' as well as 'Cock In My Pocket' and 'Johanna' (most available on this )

The Stooges actually started adding Raw Power songs to their set at the very end of the tour late last year, here's 'Search And Destroy'

Ashamed Of My Own Jeans

So Pissed Jeans have a new record coming out (August 18 via Sub Pop, Distro via Stomp for Australia). It's called King Of Jeans and the above cover has me fucking transfixed right now. Easily one of the most anticipated albums for me this year. If you haven't come across them yet, definitley pick up 2007's Hope For Men and 2005's Shallow.

The best way to describe them would be a weird blend of Black Flag and The Jesus Lizard with an almost No Wave freeform approach that sort of meets itself halfway and makes perfect sense. A hardcore Butthole Surfers or a chopped and screwed Melvins if you will. (I'm probably getting way too excited here but just listen for yourself).

Download 'People Person' (from Hope For Men ) 

and watch the Video for 'I've Still Got You (Ice Cream)'

Tracklist for 'King Of Jeans':

01. False Jesii Part 2 
02. Half Idiot 
03. Dream Smotherer 
04. Pleasure Race 
05. She Is Science Fiction 
06. Request For Masseuse 
07. Human Upskirt 
08. Lip Ring 
09. Spent 
10. R-Rated Movie 
11. Dominate Yourself 
12. Goodbye (Hair)

I'll be sure to post some Mp3's from King Of Jeans once they surface.