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Jan 10

BRAND NEW: Rihanna – “We Found Love (Star Slinger Refix)”

Almost surprisingly, I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for this Rihanna tune. It probably has something to do with Calvin Harris being on board, because as far as musicians that can hit a beat go, he’s well and truly up there.

So I jumped at the chance to check out a remix of the track, by none other than Star Slinger – the UK producer who’s been making waves since mid-2010 – and who it’s taken me far too long to notice. This glitchy reinterpratation (not a remix, but a “refix” according to his SoundCloud page) singles out Rihanna’s chorus while putting a much more dominating beat behind it – one of those exciting beats that encourages dancing, but still has that dangerous edge that could throw you.

Check it out and grab a download below!

Also worth checking out is his Childish Gambino remix!

Jan 5

76 Comments

FEATURE: Albums Of The Year – 2011

This is more a quick list of albums I’ve enjoyed over this last year than some kind of definitive I-went-through-my-entire-iTunes-library-and-ranked-everything-in-order list. I might have missed a couple of releases – all I know is I really liked all these ones. You might too.

So without further ado, Album of the Year goes to…

Los Campesinos! – Hello Sadness

Hello Sadness sees Los Campesinos! trying to refine their output into a concise body of work. A structured and focused album. Gareth’s imagery is darker than ever, and hidden within the album are melodic hooks and intricacies that take a while to become apparent (the vocal crescendo in “To Tundra” is nothing short of beautiful). Brilliant, and another great release to add to their discography.

Other albums I enjoyed, in rough order of how much I enjoyed them, kind of. Just look.

Johnny Foreigner – Johnny Foreigner Vs Everything

A very close runner-up for AotY. Messy on the first few listens, it truly opens itself up after a few sit throughs, and it gets better and better. Loud, fast, interesting, moving. Time will determine its longevity and significance in their discography, but it’s definitely a huge step in the band’s journey – hopefully one of many more to come.

Thrice – Major/Minor

Consistent and strong. Not one song feels under-baked. There are a lot of huge cathartic sing-a-long moments, and I don’t care whether or not you associate that as being a good thing or not with Thrice, but I think lyrically and musically this is an incredibly good album. Stunning. If you only listen to one song from Major/Minor, check out “Words in the Water”.

Bon Iver – Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Intricate. Delicate. Evocative. This is a great album full of great songs, and they paint a picture unlike many musicians ever could. It’s easy to understand why it got Pitchfork’s Album of the Year.

Radiohead – The King of Limbs

Arguably a step back towards their more experimental work, this was a tough album to digest. It’s entirely possible that this album takes even longer to appreciate and understand than a year, and maybe with more time I’ll enjoy it even more. It definitely has its high points, and it’s full of interesting textures – but I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about it. It still gets a place here though, ’cause it’s quite good.

Grieves – Together/Apart

With the help of producer, multi-instrumentalist, and beat-maker – Budo – Grieves has released a great album here. Criticised by many (unfairly so, I believe) for his consistently emotive lyrics, Grieves tells stories of girls, drinking, anxiety, and those monsters under your bed, amongst everything else, and while it can feel like a long haul at times, there are a pile of gems on this album. If you needed any more proof that the Rhymesayers crew were some of the best out there, this shouldn’t take long to convince you.

The Weeknd – House of Balloons

This particular instalment of The Weeknd’s trilogy of 2011 releases is making my list not because I believe it’s the best of the three, but simply because I haven’t been able to give Thursday or Echoes Of Silence a fair go yet.
That aside, this release is really interesting. I’ve never really been into R&B in a huge way, yet The Weeknd drew me in. And it’s interesting because it paints a picture of a world so foreign that I struggle to find any personal connections. It almost feels voyeuristic to listen to. It’s intriguing at any rate, and was well worth my time. It’s free too.

Foo Fighters – Wasting Light

A great album from a rock band still going strong, after all these years. Consistent, full of energy, and another strong release from a band that really are going to stand the test of time.

These last few albums haven’t had as many listens as those above, but from the amount of time I’ve given them, I like them a lot. Very much worth mentioning here.

Example – Playing in the Shadows

Slow Club – Paradise

Phantogram – Nightlife EP

Dec 23

1 Comment

BRAND NEW: Smiles Again – “Isn’t It Ironic ft. I Forget, Sorry!”

In case you missed before, Sydney based hip-hop collective I Forget, Sorry! have big plans for Christmas Eve.

They’re going to be dropping five free mixtapes, one from each artist, and they’re looking to be pretty good.

Read more about the project over here if you’re interested, but in the meantime, check out this exclusive we’ve got for all of you!

Smiles Again (also from Mind Over Matter) has a track featuring every member from the collective, and it closes his mixtape entitled Fuck I’m Lonely. Not only is it hilarious, but it’s got a great beat driving it. Bit of a language warning on this one, but if you love your hip-hop, this is definitely something you’ll wanna jump on. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for those mixtapes tomorrow as well!

Download it here!

Dec 17

LIVE: Celadore, live at The Phoenix, Canberra (17-11-11)

Beginning a few minutes after we arrived, The Streetlight Parade – a local Canberran band – seemed to have improved since last I saw them. The band appeared to enjoy themselves much more with their newfound confidence, and it showed throughout their set. Full of gigantic pop hooks and bright riffs, they proved themselves to once again be a burgeoning local force, playing a very entertaining set.

Celadore took to the stage soon afterwards. The trio pushed their expansive sound across the small pub, filling every corner with their assaulting and melodic rock. Raw and emotive, yet still refined and to the point, Celadore played song after song that seemed to explode forth from the small stage. Pop hooks seemed to permeate their songs, catching in not only their occasional simplicity, but also their execution.

With a keen sense for dynamics and emotive fluctuations, the band’s set felt varied and it seemed to keep people interested – as did the personal stage banter. Being only familiar with single “Distance is a Gun”, I couldn’t sing along to too many songs on the night (although this was remedied by the fact I bought both of their EPs afterwards). But Celadore managed to put on a fun show for the people paying attention, and when there was no cover charge to get in, what more can you ask for? A free night of great rock music!

Celadore have plenty of potential in the Australian scene – the only issue will be crafting that one amazing single that catches on everywhere. Once they find that magic number, or that avenue to really launch them, you might end up hearing a lot more from these guys.

Nov 14

2 Comments

INTERVIEW: Coptic Soldier

I recently sent a few questions across to Coptic Soldier – one of the members of excellent Sydney-based hip-hop collective I Forget, Sorry! I asked him about a very interesting project the guys are throwing together for this festive season…

Hi Luke! Hope all is well. I hear there’ll be five mixtapes from IFS! members dropping for free on Christmas Eve – whose work are we going to get to hear?

You will hear a full mixtape from each member in our camp. That is; Johnny Utah, Mind Over Matter, Phatchance, Smiles Again and myself all releasing a mixtape each – free. :)

How did the idea for the mixtapes come about?

Haha, it’s actually quite funny because Smiles wrote a song on his mixtape about how it all went down. Basically the mixtapes were his idea, however I’ll wait for you to hear the song, because Smiles tells the story there more funnily than I can. Maybe we can get On The Tune a Christmas Eve eve exclusive?

That’d be great! Five mixtapes is quite a lot of music though – are you worried that you could over-saturate listeners with too much new material at once?

It was definitely something we discussed. However as a fan, I love it when artists drop mixtapes in between albums, and I know all of us in I Forget, Sorry! haven’t dropped one in ages… so we are due I think. Besides, as a fan, mixtapes always make me want to hear more from an artist. It’s the artists that drop albums so close together consistently that are the ones who outstay their welcome I feel.

Any chance of a cheeky single including everyone involved in the project?

That song I mentioned earlier on the Smiles Again mixtape has everyone on it, even if they are only brief appearances. :)

Thanks for your time, and good luck with the releases!

Thanks for your support Jeremy, heads like you really help us get the music to the people!

Wondering what all the fuss is about? Check out an IFS! mixtape I put together a while ago – it’s legal and free. Get over here!

Check out a couple of teasers from the mixtapes below!

Oct 18

REVIEW: Georgia Fair – “All Through Winter”

It’s been a while coming for Jordan Wilson and Ben Riley – the duo also known as Georgia Fair. Their debut album – All Through Winter - is due for release on the 21st of October, and it’s fair to say there’s been a few people waiting on it. Touring with The Panics, the band have been showing off their new work recently, but how does it sound recorded?

Starting with the slow-burning “Times Fly”, the album kicks off with a strong start. “Blind” brings out intense, rolling drums, and “Where You Been?” is the perfect first single from the release.

Georgia Fair weave these beautiful vocal harmonies into folk music that goes beyond the whole cutesy idea of finger-picking some guitar chords. With lush strings and deep guitar, the songs sound mature and layered. It’s a much fuller sound, and it’s all the more interesting because of it. The best bit: the production is beautiful and sounds just as it should.

What it lacks for the most part, are stand out hooks. All Through Winter is rewarding when it has your attention, but rarely does the album grab it naturally. “Blind” and “Simple Man” both seem to take it up a notch, and so do a couple of others, but nothing really jumps out. Aside from that, too often do Wilson’s vocals feel under-stated. He has an amazing voice, and when really pushed out during some choruses, it explodes, sounding stronger than ever. Unfortunately, too often it feels restrained.

Maybe this album isn’t for me. When cherry-picking tracks for analysis, everything positive I’ve said stands – beautiful folk harmonies alongside a matured sense of song-writing – and it’s consistent in this sense too! But as an album, the release can’t sustain my interest. I feel I’d enjoy it more as an EP. Chances are, that’s more a reflection on my personal tastes.

Whether or not you listen to this as an album or not, if you dig great melodic folk music, you should have a listen. Georgia Fair have made leaps and bounds in many ways, and while I don’t think they’ve found their feet just yet, they’re getting pretty damn close.

Sep 22

LIVE: The Panics, live at ANU Bar, Canberra (22-09-11)

Avalanche City opened the night, and I’m glad they made the trip from New Zealand. Their folkish hooks came coupled with instrumentation that felt both delicate at times, and very powerful at others. The rapid guitar picking jumped up from the tinkling additions of a glockenspiel and what seemed like a cross between a mandolin and a banjo (actually, according to Wikipedia it’s a “manjo” – you learn something new every day!). They were surprisingly good for a support act, and it was nice to start the night with a band that has not only a firm grasp of their sound, but also the talent to bring it across live. The only things I think their music and live show would benefit from is more explosive and giant moments. The potential to build them is there, they just need to take hold of it. But Avalanche City put on a great show, and are well worth checking out.

Next up were Georgia Fair. Known more widely as the band that wrote the song on that milk commercial, don’t be too quick to put them in a box (as great as “Picture Frames” is), because these guys have matured and developed since then. The softly-spoken folk numbers filled the bar, in-between guitar stabs and intricate backing melodies, and the band poured forth emotion, showing off both older tracks and newer unreleased ones.

Provided Georgia Fair don’t fall into the over-populated group of bands I call the “Boy And Bear niche”, they’ll have a great future ahead of them. With a sense of pace and melody, it would be interesting to see the band bring some bite into their sound, because I think it’s something they could definitely achieve well.

At any rate, Georgia Fair have a sense of style grounded in beautiful harmonies, and right now that’s more than enough to provide an entertaining set. The duo are preparing to release their full-length debut in about a month’s time, so make sure you look out for it!

There’s something quintessentially Australian about The Panics. From their modest yet enthusiastic stage presence, to their grandiose melodies, there’s something about them that screams out “geniune” and “down to earth”. It’s an attractive quality in musicians really, because no one enjoys going to a gig where the musicians’ ego crowds out the room. The fact that The Panics carry themselves in such a way does everything to reinforce the passion they have for their craft, and when you’re watching a passionate band perform, there isn’t much more you can ask for.

Running through a slew of older tracks, with a handful from their 2007 J-Award-winning album Cruel Guards, the band also introduced the polite crowd at ANU Bar to a few numbers from their latest release - Rain on the Humming Wire. That said, understandably “Don’t Fight It” received a very warm welcome, as did “Majesty” and “Get Us Home” (which was brought out for the encore).

As subdued as some of their songs are, the band’s energy and playing carried the performance. Jae Laffer’s very distinctive movements showed a man absorbed in the moment, and between the relaxed grooves and frenetic playing of the other members, the band didn’t drop a beat (from what I could tell).

It would’ve been particularly impressive to see them bring a brass player on tour for some of the instrumentation, in particular the melodies in “Don’t Fight It”. But I understand the logistics of these things make it often not worth the hassle, and the song didn’t suffer as a result which is the important thing.

The Panics put on a tight show, with impressive playing and a warming stage presence. It’s hard not to enjoy a band like this, especially when you have a perfect crowd. Their blend of alt-rock with slow-crawl country influences may not be entirely ground-breaking musical territory, but The Panics prove that when sometimes coupling a considerable amount of talent and dedication, a performance becomes less about challenging an audience and more about pulling them in – and that’s exactly what they do.

Sep 21

VIDEO: Grieves – “Boogie Man”

Grieves knows what he’s doing. His latest release with Budo, Together/Apart, embodied love and life, while throwing around sophisticated rhythms like they’re going out of fashion. From slow crawling beats to huge explosions, it was an album that had only a couple of misses – but when there’s 16 tracks on it, most would consider that acceptable.

Grieves is another one of the talented artists signed to Rhymesayers, and his latest video is a prime example of why.

“Boogie Man” stares you in the eyes and smirks, as it eerily builds tension. Just wait for that beat to drop.

Sep 16

3 Comments

LEAK!: Johnny Foreigner – Johnny Foreigner Vs Everything

WONDERING WHY THERE’S A LEAK HERE? Well it’s not real. Check out this to find out what I joined in on.

I’m not normally in the habit of posting leaks at On The Tune, but today is a pretty special day.

Johnny Foreigner’s new album has leaked ahead of it’s November release, and I figured I may as well share it with you. You’re going to just get it somewhere else – may as well share the love, right?

It’s an album full of frenzied guitar jams, and slow-crawl acoustic numbers. If you like JoFo already, this’ll be right up your alley – this is basically the culmination of all of the work and effort they’ve put into past releases, and it shows. Pretty strong contender for Album of the Year if you ask me, provided Los Campesinos! don’t take the cake. 2011 is shaping up pretty nicely.

Artist: Johnny Foreigner
Album: Johnny Foreigner Vs Everything
Size: 64.2 Mb.

Download – Mediafire

Tracklist:
1. if im the most famous boy you’ve fucked then honey yr in trouble
2. with who, who and what i’ve got
3. 200x
4. hulk hoegaarden, gin kinsella, david duvodkany, etc 1
5. johnny foreigner vs you
6. concret1
7. electricity vs the dead
8. jess, you got yr song so leave
9. supermorning
10. what drummers get
11. new street, you can take it
12. concret2
13. (don’t) show us your fangs
14. you vs everything
15. doesn’t believe in angels
16. the swell _ like neverwhere
17. alternate timelines piling up

Note: The track list is going off the file names, as tracks hadn’t been tagged properly.

Don’t forget to buy stuff from these guys too. Support them, go to shows, buy merch, etc. They’re brilliant artists.

Sep 14

VIDEO: Johnny Utah – Us (“Be Us” Mixtape Promo)

Aussie hip-hopper Johnny Utah, from the I Forget, Sorry! collective, has been working on a free mixtape of late. Last night we got our first taste of what to expect from the December release. I’ve been keen on some new material from Utah since I reviewed the first EP he worked on, and I’ve got a feeling this is going to be a solid release. All of the IFS! boys have been going from strength to strength lately, and rarely disappoint. Someone tag this guy into Rapper Tag already.

The teaser samples Brother Ali’s track “Us” for those of you wondering.

 

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