still love you, barry obama

Nick Littlemore is my person of the year, I think. I'm putting him before Barry Obammy even. Haven't been this intrigued by someone in music for a very long time, fucking blown away by him on stage, fucking blown away by Empire of the Sun, just a little bit by Teenager, love him forever and ever. Going to dream about him tonight I think.

Pnau - Baby (Breakbot Remix)

Pnau and Ladyhawke - Embrace (Fred Falke and Miami Horror Remix)

of the sun

Empire of the Sun certainly have/had a massive shroud of mystery about them didnt/dont they? after the rip-roaring success of 'walking on a dream', i would have expected interviews, leaked songs and live gigs left, right and centre.. but that didnt happen.
somehow nick littlemore and luke steele submarined under all the attention and emerged on the other side with this amazing piece of work that i cant stop listening to.

never before have i heard such sweetly emotive music.. the very nature of each layer of music is understated, but thats what makes it beautiful.. again, this is music that is subtle shrub systemish- awesome in headphones AND nightclubs.. truly diverse.
not to sound too cheesy or anything but this is music that sticks images of deserts and beaches in your head- massive.. open.. lush and barren.. kind of soundscapey.
take 'country' for instance..

Empire of the Sun - Country

layer upon layer of synth and guitar detail draw the listener in and gradually paint a very rich, vivid image of flowing countryside and waving grasses inside their head... road trip music to the extremus..

luke steele's voice is an interesting contradiction with the music as understated as it is.. it has such a quirky sound that really dominates and gives the whole 'empire of the sun' thing a unique and somehow eerie vibe

Empire of the Sun - Half Mast

Empire of the Sun - Without You

somehow, through pnau, teenager and now empire of the sun, nick littlemore (and others such as dan whitford and kim moyes) has crafted, moulded and shaped australian music into what will be a very different beast from the one it was 5 years ago.. they have changed the whole face of the thing.
gone are the cheesy silverchairy/powderfingery guitar riffs and lyrics.. gone is the musty, commercialised 'secret life of us' style and 'aussie' steez..
aussie music is now is as cool as fuck, stylish as fuck and fuck as fuck. something to be proud to call our own.. awwww

**PS**
i dont think there would be any music i would recommend more for a comedown or chillout or make out sesh. PLEASE PLEASE do you and your munted future self a favour and BUY this album here, here, here, here AND/OR here

...........dot....

photo: Jack Walsh

all seems to be quiet up in the western front.. very quiet.. a little too quiet..

hmmm i went to pnau on friday which was pretty awesome- i missed van she which sucked big balls but i think i got over it..
we got into the enmore as breakbot was about halfway through his main set.. he was playing pretty stereotypical french tracks by sebastiAn and datA (apparently its quite the done thing to put capital letters in the middle of your name in France)- and i have to say that the crowd wasnt really getting into it. i could be wrong though because for some reason we were stuck behind a pointless barrier in the middle of the theatre. can anyone tell me why this barrier was there?

pnau themselves were awesome. im pretty sure that they were too smashed to play their instruments but that was ok because the cds or mp3s that they played instead sounded good. pretty sure that even the mic was turned right down.
oh well i think it must have been a combination of pnau's smashed enthusiasm, live drums, giant beachballs, costumed individuals and rad tunes that got me into it.. WHOO!

Pnau - Baby (Aston Shuffle Just Whoa Mix)

Pnau - Baby (Sam La More Mix)

Pnau - Baby (Breakbot Mix)

in less related news- due to the overwhelming quietness on this front (and the weird mist-style rain) ive found myself listening to some dubby, deep and maybe slightly progressive beats... these songs are awesome but not sure whats going on in my head... its weird how the weather can affect my choice of beat.. wweeeeiiirrrrrrd

Jon Pegnato - Throw Me Down

Moonbootica - Strobelight

Cirez D - Horizons

anywayz.. to finish off today id just like to get my finger and put it in some form of hole to make a plug. twice.
First, ive just finished a design for a new skateboard company called Totem Decks. if you live in sydney, you should come along to the opening party/skateboard art exhibition at China Heights gallery on the 30th of May.. will be a fun night!

second, me and perhaps some other blousey characters will be deejaying Bamboozled Cocktail Night@Fringe Bar on thurs night.. if you live in Australia make your way down to Fringe on thurs (or weds if you live in remote areas) and enjoy some cocktails and sweeeet as beats..

In the Battle

photo: Jack Walsh

While we were excitedly discussing our Big Day Out plans the other day, my mate Jack made me promise to forego aussie rock stalwarts Silverchair in favour of new-ish rockers Battles. At the time, I wasn't so sure about this promise, as I hadn't really heard much of their stuff (other than their song 'Ddiamondd' that i had picked up somewhere along the way). To make me feel better he gave me a copy of their CD 'Mirrored'.

It is awesome. I am now glad that i made that promise to him.

Mirrored is an album that shouldn't be reduced to a couple of hit tracks, but should all be listened to in one sitting. Or perhaps again and again in many different sittings. Layered over the crunchy, prog rock foundation are ambient noises, slightly off-key notes and echoing, barely-there vocals which make it haunting and somehow compelling- bringing back memories of the awesome 'De-Loused in the Comatorium' by the Mars Volta.

Battles - Leyendecker

(I know i just said that listening to just one or two tracks is not the right way to appreciate Battles but I want y'all to get an idea of what they sound like in case you haven't heard them.)

I'm not sure how this will convert live but im sure it will be rad. If you're comin' on down to the Sydney BDO tomorrow please come and see them. awesome.

Man its a good line up this year- here is a tiny taste. Can not wait to see Pnau. Old men that rock my world.


Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name Of (SebastiAn Remix)

Aston Shuffle - For Everyone (Stupid Fresh Remix)

Grafton Primary - I Can Cook (Miami Horror Remix)

Pnau - Embrace

Meanwhile what a nice day- what the F am im doing sitting in an office. life is wasted sometimes.

ssssssssss