HOME OF THE DEFIANT » Music

Artist: Low Sea

Bacall — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:26:07 +0000

Creating noise out of Ireland, the duo called Low Sea brings dreamy vocals abstracted from their billowy synths with songs such as “Never Yours” and “The Crash”.

The Crash – Low Sea

Never Yours – Low Sea

Recently featured in Pitchfork, and concocting a cover for “Sweet Jane” that won’t make Velvet Underground scream for mercy, they’re receiving rapt attention all while adeptly spreading their tunes across the blogasphere.

Anyway I’ve been intrigued by my Irish roots lately, not only with reading up on some Celtic charm, but interested in following the music scene a bit more closely there. Fine gems like Low Sea are definitely ones to be on the look out for. Especially as I religiously follow the UK, Ireland is right there, and both are bases for producing new sounds constantly.

Oh and if you’ve got a bit of change, I suggest ordering their limited edition CD, which comes in a tin case.

Links: Myspace | Merchandise

A day in Los Angeles: Lo-Fi Punk Concert.

Bacall — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:54:05 +0000

Event: No Cancer!

During No Age, I was shoved up on stage from the pit and was there for the rest of their performance. It was dazzling, and I’m still counting the bruises. I protected the drums from this extremely drunk big boy in a Hawaiian shirt… I don’t believe he knew exactly where he was! Also, my ears have never lasted in ringing this long before. Galleries don’t do sound too well. I should strongly consider earplugs or cotton balls when going to these types of events since I’ve always been around quite loud music from disco to punk. Especially when I end up on stage and am not in the back, but directly in the full frontal force of the speakers. I missed out on Vivian Girls, I ended up leaving early to go to dinner since the event started at 12pm, but I was actually there to meet up with friends around 11am. One thing I have to say is, besides the people throwing the event and a few others, LA what is the reasons for your issues with Fashion? Anyway, it was great fun, and a bit of a relief from working. Now back to New York and to Fashion Week!

Check out Vivian Girls: Facebook | Myspace
Check out No Age: Facebook | Myspace

Artist: The Polyamorous Affair

Bacall — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:04:09 +0000

Based in Los Angeles, but with a major popularity in Europe right now, is a band called The Polyamorous Affair. Taking modern disco beats and a hint at a sound of isolation, this married couple brings a bit of glam and slight darkness to their music. With an upcoming addition to Manimal’s tribute album for David Bowie alongside the re-issue of a deluxe version of their current album, they have a lot to offer their listeners in the early months of this year.

Their video for “New York City” was released this month on Dazed Digital, and is one of their most popular songs alongside “Would I Lie to You” which was number one in the UK.

Find out more about The Polyamorous Affair by checking out their website.

Artist: Dark Horses

Bacall — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:21:53 +0000

A magical tale of a group, called Dark Horses, goes along with seduction and fine, enigmatic tunes.

Their “Once Upon A Time” is decrypted as so:

Mummy what’s a DARK HORSE?
One thing we know is that it begins with the source…LISA ELLE the exterminating angel, the Swedish sonic siren…How many sailors will deliriously drown mistaking her voice for safe harbour? On her nocturnal dérive’s along the shores of Seagull City, SHE finds such like; FIVE drowned LEATHER boys, shivering under the pier. Nourishing them with spells and drones and words and melodies, she baptizes them DARK HORSES.

Listen to “Alone”:

And Download their free tunes here:

Rose – Dark Horses
Rose Unconscious – Dark Horses

(Right Click & Save As…)

If you’d like to begin following this band, they’re currently located in the UK, but their website is: DARKHORSESMUSIC.COM and make sure to become their fan on Facebook.

Artist: Stereo Alchemy

Bacall — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:52:28 +0000

The aftermath of a party, where anything goes, and no one can determine what’s behind those closed, private doors. A video directed by Yu Tsai, revealing a sensuous preview of Lindsay Lohan’s shoot for MUSE magazine, was released in December for the January issue. When watching the stunning short, you may have wondered what that dark and amorous song was. The band who created the melody is called “Stereo Alchemy” and the name of it is “A Rapture.”

Conformed of the poem by Thomas Carew, the lyrics go:

Come, then, and mounted on the wings of Love
We’ll cut the flitting air and soar above
The monster’s head

and in the noblest seats
Of those blest shades quench and renew our heats.
Love and innocence.

Listen:

The band contains two members, Christopher Tin (composer), and Shoji Kameda aka “Kametron” (mulit-instrumentalist and producer) who are currently based in Los Angeles. They plan to release their first album sometime this year.

Find out more about them by checking out their website and following them on Twitter.

Trippple Nippples, crazy babies of Japan’s encouragement of creativity.

Bacall — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:45:12 +0000

So, in class they taught you about Japan. They told you that everyone has to look the same, a woman has to follow behind a man, and they prefer suicide? Well, hello to your classroom stereotypes, America. Japan is probably one of the most ahead countries, with the instincts of keeping their traditions, but still moving into the ever-evolving world. From mystical green that covers their land of fantasy, to Tokyo’s concrete jungle with eyes always to the future, they’ve got a good head on their shoulders along with the Yen. Now, in Japan they even have a large some of government money dedicated to creative endeavors. Especially in Fashion, which still resides mainly on their side of the world, but gives awe to our side. They can keep their culture, and they can express themselves. They can take westernization and modernization, devour it, then make it into their own so they don’t loose their identity as being Japanese. This land where a bit of fiction seems to be possible, has shown me light since the single-digit age of four. I self taught myself Japanese, and still am doing so. I took classes on it’s culture, I read it’s literature. I even took in Japanese Buddhism and went to Temple every Sunday, but ended up developing a longing to study Shinto. As a result, I’ve come to terms that that will be my next spiritual venture. As for the craziness that comes with Japanese expression, Trippple Nippples is a band that has taken advantage of an outlet to outrageous creativity, and as Tokyo Dandy has stated they are “in a Fairy Tale Land somewhere between Tokyo and Nirvana.” Here I will share you their past photo shoot, some fashion from Japan, and encouragement to go check them out on Hype Machine if you haven’t already.

Here are some of my favorites from Tokyo Fashion Week for S/S 2010, and you may see more by clicking here. Also make sure to check out the few Japanese designers that end up going to Paris Fashion Week and etc., like Yohji Yamamoto.
Runway Photo Credit: WWD

Artist: Lightning Dust

Bacall — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:25:01 +0000

If you’re religious to the British show Skins, you may have noticed a light-hearted song that played in the background for the Series 4 trailer. The song is “I Knew” by the Canadian band, Lightning Dust.

Lightning Dust just finished their tour in Europe and are signed to the Indie record label Jagjaguwar.

Listen to “I Knew”:

A bit of Q&A with Death Metal Disco Scene

Bacall — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:01:10 +0000

Q: What is the main inspiration for your music?
A: Bass guitars and a sense of rage and wonder at the universe.

Q: Are there any interesting stories behind making your music?
A: The process of making it can be fairly dull. But at the moment me & Scorch work remotely from each other so she records vocals in her kitchen. And switches the buzzy fridge off for takes. Is that interesting?

Q: What we want to know: The truth behind the name, “Death Metal Disco Scene.”
A: I came up with it when I started remixing. I’d just discovered The Mighty Boosh at the time so maybe my sense of the world was a bit warped. I thought it was dumb and funny, like an anti-name – they’re the two most I’ll-fitting genres in the world. Now we’re stuck with it & I’m laughing a bit less. For the record I have nothing against either genre, and Death Metal fans should probably divert their rage towards Eagles of Death Metal who are richer & less prone to crying than us.

Q: Tell us a little bit of what goes down in a day of the lives of DMDS!
A: Er. We have day jobs for some of the week. Then we work ourselves to death in every spare moment on the music. Not thrilling, except, of course, creatively. Occasionally we do photo shoots, which we love, as we are a couple of tarts.

Q: We believe that DMDS is on their way to be idols of the masses. Who does DMDS look up to as musicians?
A: Thank you. That would be nice. We look up to, in no particular order: The Clash, ESG, Gang of Four, Talking Heads, the pioneers of acid house & techno, MGMT, Friendly Fires, LCD Soundsystem, Prince, Beck, Guns n Roses, QOTSA, Kate Bush, the list is endless.

Q: What goals are you working towards at the moment, and what are your next show dates?
A: Finishing and releasing the album, either with or without a record label. We’ve just put the live show together and our very first London dates are 19th November at Yo Yo, and 27th November at Bar Music Hall.

Q: Are there any “trends” and/or “influences” that you’re following at the moment, or are you making your own?
A: Not overtly. I think we’re both a bit sponge-like and interested in lots of things outside music- books, fashion, art, film & TV. So we probably soak up a lot of the ‘zeitgeist’. We categorically deny being electro pop though…too many live instruments for that.

Q: What’s the most impelling criticism you have received, and who was it from?
A: Probably from Cal, the band ‘guide’. That sounds hippyish but he’s sort of a manager & friend. If we ever get lazy musically he usually sets us right. He’s a musical nerd of the highest order.

Q: Every artist has a specific message and/or style that they direct towards their fans, what is yours?
A: Ours is ‘it’s probably the end of human civilization as we know it, but that’s no reason not to celebrate’. Party like it’s 2012, to misquote Prince. We’re a-pop-alyptic. Hah.

Check out bits and pieces of new songs on their Myspace.
Follow them on Twitter, and fan them on Facebook.

Make sure to stay tuned; their new album is set to be released in 2010.

Music: Juliette Commagere

Bacall — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:02:55 +0000

Today, I crawled out of bed and managed to grasp my laptop. Upon prying my eyes open, one of my favorite sites (CyanTrendLand) popped up, revealing the discovery of Juliette Commagere. Soothing beats with a captivating voice, it’s a sound that draws one in and takes one on a dreamy journey until the end of a song.

Here’s CyanTrendLand’s Description:
“Juliet Commagere may appear to be a brand new face in the music world, but like many of the surprising engenes that seem to pop up out of nowhere, Commagere has some thick roots in the industry. Until now, she has been best known as the keytar-playing front woman of the band Hello Stranger, which has opened for everyone from the Foo Fighters to Kings of Leon. She also sang back up for Inara George in the Bird and the Bee. Her friends include legendary slide guitarist Ry Cooder’s son, Joachim, (her high school sweetheart), and Robert Francis is her brother. Now regarding her music…Commagere’s debut record ‘Queens Die Proudly’ was released this month. The tracks are dreamy and beautiful with an edge of emotional darkness.”

Listen on: Myspace. Check out her site: Here. Buy the album on: Itunes.

Too Young to Love & KOMAKINO

Bacall — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:34:06 +0000

Too Young to Love performed a DJ set during London Fashion Week at the KOMAKINO show.

During the catwalk, TYTL played songs from a limited edition EP called BABYLON. The EP contains four songs, and was released during the show. The fashion show was at Covent Gardens in September.

BABYLON
1. Predictions
2. Mytria
3. Fire (Special Rmx for Komakino Catwalk)
4. Inner Doors

Residing in Italy, TYTL developed their sound of Psychedelic Dream Pop and Tropical Experimental. The group contains four members: L (vocals, keyboards, percussions), Y (vocals, keyboards, bass), S (guitar, kettledrums), and A (keyboards, psychedelic flows).

Check them out on MySpace, and Facebook.

KOMAKINO, based in London, contains a duo of an Italian and Korean. They are apart of BLOW.

Check out their website and the rest of their collection.