2009 According to Omar

It's a new year, it's a new decade.

Lots of cool sounds went through the blouse office in '09 and it's hard to rank these tunes from 'great' to 'made our year'. So here's a slice of some tracks we liked as a reminder of the memories made in 2K9.

Major Lazer – Pon De Floor

The first time i heard this song i repeatedly cried out “YES, YES, YESSSS!!!” It’s the greatest party starter i’ve heard in a very long time, rubbing a dirty Dancehall beat in your lap while rabid laser samples and militant snares completely annihilate whatever senses you have left after the first 90 seconds.

Animal Collective – Brother Sport

This is an ode to mateship employing kooky samples and symbolistic lyrics. It sounds a bit jarring until the build-up begins, which culminates in an afrobeat mashup of tangled samples and disjointed synths before bouncy harmonies bring it all together.

Washed Out – Phone Call

Released on the cassette-only album High Times, this track is not one of Ernest Greene’s most popular. But its summery, Mungo Jerry-esque piano riffs and gushing harmonies are testament to what’s so good about post-electro indie. It’s Lo-fi, it’s Chillwave and it symbolises summer. Guess time will tell if it lasts the winter too.

Telefon Tel Aviv – M

'M' is a dark synth-fest married to moody vocals. Carrying with it the zeitgeist of New Wave with unusual confidence, the eerie nature of this track hints at the intense emotional depths band member Charles Cooper might have entered before he was found dead, the result of an alleged suicide, two days after the release of Immolate Yourself.

Florence & The Machine – Dog Days Are Over

This project has received remarkable hype this year. The opening track to Lungs encapsulates a folk aesthetic that’s ‘big’ enough for a stadium, yet yielding enough for headphones. It strikes the perfect balance between fist-in-the-air up-tempo rock and group hugging at a Janis Joplin acoustic gig.

DOWNLOAD OMAR'S 2009 (zip file)

DOWNLOAD ENTIRE BLOUSE BEST OF 2009 (zip file - 187mb)

Honourable Mentions:

Fuck Buttons – Space Mountain
Junior Boys – Bits & Pieces
Midnight Juggernauts – This New Technology
Bachelorette – Her Rotating Head
Logo – Junocide
La Roux – Quicksand
Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
Phoenix – Lisztomania
Neon Indian – Deadbeat Summer
The Flaming Lips – Silver Trembling Hands

offices = prison

I’ve been very happy/depressed lately. I’ve also been listening to so much Animal Collective my iPod clickwheel chimes when i slide my thumb over it.

Annie are coming to Australia to round off touring for their lastest album Merriweather Post Pavilion, which has kept them out of the zoo/Baltimore all year.

Their December 11 Sydney sideshow (while they're here for Meredith) will be at the Enmore. They'll play the epic psychedelic-noise-folk-pop they’re now a little too famous for. Regardless, i can’t wait for Brother Sport, My Girlies and - let’s hope - Winter's Love.

As i'm still an Annie virgin, one dude i’m rlly eager about catching is Pander Bair. He’s like the best friend I’ll never have. I wish i knew more bros as tender as he.

Annie will be supported by Bachelorette.

Buy dix to their show here.

my pets

Steve posted a bunch of Animal Collective remixes a few weeks ago, but there’s always reason to revisit the zoo. That’s because this band is my pet. The Baltimore four-piece released their eighth studio album Merriweather Post Pavilion in January and let me say it’s causing more than just excitement for veterinarians. Their brand of experimental psych-folk is aurally saturating and highly original. With band members named Panda Bear and Geologist what the fuck were you expecting?

Their track My Girls gets my vote for clenched-jaw comedown song of the minute. It’s Beach Boys meets The Ruby Suns meets Fuck Buttons. As the hi-hat begins start cuddling.

Animal Collective – My Girls

While I’m bingeing on melancholy I’ll mention Digitalism’s Taken Away. It’s like Pogo with glowsticks. The instrumental is from Kitsune Maison 6, with a rework of the radio edit from fellow German MMMathias to balance it out.

Digitalism – Taken Away (Instrumental)

Digitalism – Taken Away (MMMathias Remix)

beasts

ok i think that the bandwagon is looking pretty tempting.. the animal collective band wagon.. after joining the masses to love merriweather post pavilion, i was pleasantly surprised to discover that they also make remixes of the highest quality: reminiscent of an m83 or avalanche remix in a warm, fuzzy and overall safari-ish kind of way.

Ratatat - Mirando (Animal Collective Remix)

Goldfrapp - Little Bird (Animal Collective Remix)

animal collective's popularity has also inspired other artists to get in on the merriweather action.. this particular one is by the ridiculously hard-working mexicans with guns and is quite simplistic, but i think it satisfies everyone's "i wonder what 'my girls' would sound like with a dance beat underneath it" curiosity

Animal Collective - My Girls (Mexicans With Guns Remix)

i love how my musical comparisons only extend as far as m83 or the avalanches. genius.