East to West

Network - deepinside

2012-02-28T13:25:00.000+11:00

Engulfed by the Arabian night, the whispers of cool breeze sighing through your open windows. The humidity, it clings to you, beads of sweat adorning your head like a crown. A restless fever, an aching of limbs, the unsettling warmth preventing you from sleep. But nothing, you chant, again and again like a mantra, you'd trade for this single moment.

Today's track comes from an undisputedly talented producer from Sydney, Network. deepinside starts in the realms of darker and heavier electronica before being unleashed to soar the greatest of heights with delectable vocal samples and thrumming bass. Seriously a must listen.

Network - deepinside

Genre: Dark to light

Jacob Rohde - Slow Stars

2012-02-24T11:36:00.000+11:00

Photo: troylangendoen

These vines, a crawling mass, like snakes winding themselves up into the sun. Years and years of growth are all but a painted picture. These renters of the wall tell stories in their outline.

Yesterday the mighty talented Jacob Rohde released an EP full of old SoundCloud tidbits and this brand newie, Slow Stars. I've been keeping my eye on this guy for a while, watching him grow and develop with each new tune. I had the pleasure of appearing on 2ser's Friday Brekfast Show with Robbie this morning as part of a new weekly blogger segment. I played this and Dom_Bird, as well as having a bit of a chat, which you can listen to below.

Jacob Rohde - Slow Stars

2ser - Friday Breakfast 24.2.12

Genre: Ambientstep

Dom_Bird - Told You

2012-02-22T14:35:00.002+11:00

Photo: LeighLaLovesYou

A silent strip of dusty road lays ahead, houses in shambles either side, a squeaky fence gate somewhere behind. A racing heart hurrying you on as you step outside the bounds you've always known. Suitcase in hand, the beads of accumulated sweat finally release and trickle down your neck. An unexpected shivers. Without looking back, you carry on.

Dom_Bird (Brisbane) is another delicious producer I discovered in the realms of Believe In Sound. If you like emotional electronica then read BIS.

Dom_Bird - Told You

Genre: Shining beats and brighter samples

Kyson - Forest Footsteps

2012-02-20T11:06:00.000+11:00

Photo: green_is_in

Traversing the wonders of the once been city, long forgotten ruins and crafts are now engulfed by the wrath of the natural world. Silent footsteps, only echoed by the wafts of tribal leaders' voices in the hidden expanse of forest. A humble sight, laid to rest forever more.

Kyson is back again with a remarkable track, utilising heavenly strings to create the ultimate of atmospheric soundscapes. 2k12 is the year for this Berlin-residing Aussie.

Kyson - Forest Footsteps

Genre: Tribal instrumental

Karoshi - Walking In Fields (Radio Edit)

2012-02-13T12:26:00.000+11:00

Photo: drewsiff

The spiderweb sat precariously in the uppermost corner of his window. Only seemingly precariously perhaps, as it had been there, indestructible, for months. He just couldn't bring himself to move it, to take down the fine lines of the once inhabitable house. She used to love it; the serene silk intricacies.

One day, however, the heavens broke loose, and tore it all to pieces.

Walking In Fields is the latest single from Sydney's Karoshi, the new 'radio edit' being released alongside fantastic remixes from both Loopsnake and Telafonica. Make sure you head to their Bandcamp and download them all for free.

Karoshi - Walking In Fields (Radio Edit)

Genre: "Downbeat electronica"

Polographia - Righteous Hit (Hugo Frederick Remix)

2012-02-10T15:04:00.003+11:00

Photo: Syed.Munawir

"It's not over."

We dipped our cupped hands into the seas, a cleansing sensation, running and splashing each other like kids. There we were, standing on the edge of the world. Standing absolutely and peering slightly into the next.

Off the back of Polographia's Sunsets EP, those bros at Astral People have compiled a delicious remix EP about to drop in the coming weeks. This here is the first tantalising treat, Sydney's Hugo Frederick taking the slow house burner Righteous Hit and cranking the BPM up underneath distorted croons.

Polographia - Righteous Hit (Hugo Frederick Remix)

Genre: Banger

Water - Yosemite

2012-02-09T14:30:00.000+11:00

Photo: emma llensa

The future is a tameless thing. A wild entity, yet lucid and serene. A suited man walking rigidly, however smoothly through hallways and doorways. Symmetrical lines and archaic carvings cutting through these labyrinths. Briefcase in hand, cane under arm. Noble expressions and unreadable lines. You follow the man that is known as "The Future", but turning a corner he is gone.

This track comes from Melbourne's Yosemite, a brand new duo with an unadulterated sound who I was made aware of by Nick over at Believe In Sound. Man that kid has always got his ear to the ground. Check out the Irish based blog if you have not already!

Water - Yosemite

Genre: Minimal lo-fi

Squabz - Mike Tyson

2012-02-06T15:26:00.001+11:00

Photo: sarah.rosemary

She traverses the great divide, teetering precariously above the fall. Blocks and blocks building up into the sky as she holds dream catchers in her hands. A curvy bubble above her head, she just can't move, she's stuck in bed.

Squabz is a new duo from Sydney, their track Mike Tyson a sneak peak from their forthcoming EP.

Squabz - Mike Tyson

Genre: EDM

Glamour Lakes - Mantle

2012-01-30T14:42:00.000+11:00

Photo: erinbarker

She scratched at the broken pieces that fell before her. A shattered mirror, fragmented blue and yellow eyes staring haphazardly back. She could not make sense of the million faces of the girl, she could not make sense of it at all. 7 black years stretched out ahead, taking the road less travelled.

Apparently I am the last person in the entire Internet to hear of Glamour Lakes, having sillily missed their original email about single Roof, but yesterday I received his/her/their enigmatic calling card of an email, entitled Mantle, containing only the link to their Soundcloud. Today all you avid and not so avid readers of East to West are in for a treat, because this mysterious man/woman/other/s delivers auditory joy with this pulsatingly ambient, eagerly rapid piece.

Glamour Lakes - Mantle

Genre: Exuberant Electronica

Nakagin - Woods + Rest

2012-01-24T14:48:00.000+11:00

Photo: coquinete

Running through unfathomable wild, hair tangled, branches tangled, all completely knotted inside and out. An unknown beast on your heels; howling, wolfish, riddled with endurance. It whispers to you. You whisper back. The wind wails in return. You stop and turn. All is now quiet.

Good sir Hugh Luscombe aka Nakagin released this little treat this week, a rhythmic tantaliser with a dissuaded echo and a calming end.

Nakagin - Woods + Rest

Genre: Heaven-step

Sui Zhen vs Rainbow Chan

2012-01-17T15:49:00.000+11:00

Becky Freeman interpreting her and Rainbow's lives as animals

It does not surprise me inthe slightest that both Sui Zhen (Becky Freeman) and Rainbow Chan are embarkingthis week on their joint single launches. Apart from the both of them beingsuper cute, talented, hilarious, lovers of Asian food, super stylish and genuinelegends, the girls also know each other like sisters. I asked them (secret)questions about each other, to see exactly how well they do…

Questions with BeckyFreeman aka Sui Zhen

The first thing youremember about Rainbow?

I first saw her perform at aSydney Uni gig organised by Richie Cuthbert.

She struck me as adisarmingly earnest yet ballsy individual, who understood the word 'lah'.

When was the first timesomeone mistook you for sisters?

In the MySpace era either Ihad been tagged as her, or she had been tagged as me. Not quite mistaken forsisters, but the same person. Which is a bit more intense, right?

+++

What is Rainbow’s greatestmusical moment?

Late last year with Iceland(and a debut album) on the horizon, having befriended some of her musicalmentors in a late night dancing frenzy. And meeting that special someone.

Rainbow: Winning FBi Radio's Northern Lights Competition and beingable to perform and record in Iceland!

What is Rainbow’s favouriteonstage outfit?

Perhaps it's the high-waistedfloral pant she's been wearing. It allows her to expand and experiment with heronstage dancing techniques in comfort and style.

Rainbow: If it's cold enough, my frog beanie.

What is Rainbow’s mostembarrassing stage moment?

Rainbow carries that kindof thing well, if she is embarrassed she'd probably tell us all about it. Thenwe'd laugh and all feel a bit more, 'connected'.

Rainbow: Entering the Talent Fest in year 8 with a solo dance I had choreographed.It was set to a remix of Mandy Moore's "Candy". I didn't get throughto the next stage.

Rainbow’s secret vice?

I'll give you the PGversion, so let's say Face-stalking. Wondered if anyone saw thatslightly sexy photo of you from that party on the weekend? Didn't get anylikes? Don't worry, Rainbow Cares. And Rainbow Likes.

Rainbow: Stalking pretty girls on Facebook (…sometimes with Becky).

Rainbow’s second favouriteart endeavour?

I think drawing andcrafternoon-ing are second nature to Rainbow.

I can see her moving intobuilding things, learning electronics and maybe circuit bending all those toyinstruments she's collected.

Rainbow: Drawing.

What is Rainbow’s goal for2012?

Get a bit more freedom andindependence, tour her debut album then probably start the second one, with flyingcolours, but of course.

Rainbow: Release my debut album, travel to and play music in Japan,and, you know, be BFFs with Björk.

If Rainbow was an animal,which one would she be?

She's one of those dancingmushrooms in Fantasia. The big one.

Rainbow: An owl because I sleep in all the time, but stay up reallylate. Some might even say I am a hoot to be around…

Who is Rainbow’s musicalcrush?

I'd say her current musicalcrush is Nicholas Shearer who made her a circuit-bent keyboard for Christmas. Prettycrush-worthy. Facebook also told me that Rainbow 'Liked' Kimbra lastweek.

Rainbow: Oscar + Martin. Fangirlism for my condition is anunderstatement.

If Rainbow was locked in aroom and there were multitudes of zombies trying to knock down the door, whatwould she do?

She'd turn it into theThriller film clip. Fo Sho.

Rainbow: Apologise to my mum for not believing in her Chinesesuperstitions and warnings. She thinks my block fringe impedes my ability toward off ghouls. Not joking.

If Rainbow was stranded ona deserted island, what three things would she want to have with her?

A boy. A girl. Some kind ofrecording device to capture the bamboo and coconut instrument she'd fashionwith her own bare hands.

Rainbow: Glasses, rice and rice.

If Rainbow was a primaryschool teacher, what would be one thing she would wish to impart on herstudents?

To follow the rainbow.

Rainbow: It's cool to be a nerd who loves learning. Learn as muchas you can in your lifetime!

+++

Questions with Rainbow Chanaka Rainbow Chan

The first thing youremember about Becky?

 Finding her Myspace andthinking her music and the abundance of origami dinosaur photos on her musicpage was the best thing in the world.

When was the first timesomeone mistook you for sisters?

 We get that quite a bit, but the most memorable time was when anaudience member tagged a picture of Becky as "Rainbow Chan" at anAngie Hart gig that we were both at.

+++

What is Becky'sgreatest musical moment?

 Red Bull Music Academy.

Becky: Slow dancing to The Reels 1982 LP 'Beautiful' (Side A and B)for several hours on the New Years Eve just passed and being in the fifthdimension with a few close friends.  

What is Becky’s favouriteonstage outfit?

 I think Becky will wear whatever she feels like that day, itcan't be predetermined. But if this was "Who wants to be amillionaire" and I had to lock something in Eddy, I'd say red lipstick anda dress, maybe the purple one with the stars on it ‘cos I've seen her in thattwice. And when you wear something more than once onstage, you know it's a goodone.

Becky: Psychedelic MuuMuu. McHammer style zany high pant. Bare-feet.Lipstick. Fake Beards. Unfortunately for me, these have not yet felt entirelyappropriate for Sui Zhen performances, and have more frequency with Fox + Sui.But I'm working on a merger.

 What is Becky's mostembarrassing stage moment?

 Sharing her True Blood fantasies with everyone.

Becky: Once upona time…I was part of an installation for the opening of Adelaide Fringe Festival.This saw me positioned 2 metres high on a rotating bicycle-seat wearing a paperdress, an extra, extra long version of the dress on the cover of my firstEP.

After 15 minutes or so ofsinging and spinning with a Madonna style mic (that was not turned on due totechnical issues) Meow Meow was to start her performance and take the attentionaway from me whilst I was wheeled off and resumed ground level.

The only way out of thedress was to rip through it. It took a few attempts. But on the last rip my micfinally started working. All the while the crowd was still watching andapplauding my nude-under-clothing, dash to the change-room and audible whimpers- thinking it was all still part of the performance.

I've since replacedembarrassment with a good sense of humour.

 Becky’s secret vice?

 Stalking pretty girls on Facebook ( … sometimes with me).

Becky: Drive-thru.

  Becky’s secondfavourite art endeavour?

 Painting.

Becky: Filmmakingfor InFrame.tv and VHS home-movies. 

 What is Becky’s goalfor 2012?

 World domination through: being amazingly multi-talented, soloalbum release, Fox + Sui release, go to the US on a holiday/musical adventure.

Becky: Torelease some of the things I created in 2010/2011; music, videos and a T-shirtdesign.

If Becky was an animal,which one would she be?

 Guinea pig.

Becky: Some kind of red Panda-Duck-Octopus hybrid… yeah!

 Who is Becky’s musicalcrush?

 I have forgotten her name and I spent about an hour on Youtube,typing in things such as "French female singer 80s" and "shoulderpads dancing" to find it, but no luck! I remember Becky adores her andwants to be her. Oh! and also Jessica Says!!! The reason why the "World WithoutMen" video views has gone up a lot recently? 2 words - Becky Freeman.

Becky: ChrisIsaak.

If Becky was locked in aroom and there were multitudes of zombies trying to knock down the door, whatwould she do?

 Scare and/or charm them with her Japanese vibrato throat-singingparty trick. It's amazing. She sounds something like Tweety singing on an uberstrong massage chair.

Becky: Thriller.Dance. Moves.

  If Becky was strandedon a deserted island, what three things would she want to have with her?

 Pawpaw ointment, dumplings, high-waisted undies.

Becky: BillMurray, David Attenborough and a hatchet.

  If Becky was a primaryschool teacher, what would be one thing she would wish to impart on herstudents?

 I imagine she would say something along the lines of ‘it's notabout the destination, it's about the journey’ - but in a less corny way. Oh,and cheap Asian food is the shies.

Becky: You don't need to be smart until late highschool, so live it up little fellas.

Rainbow is performing a solo show in Perth on the 18th, and then the two pair up on the 19th in Melbourne before heading home to Sydney on the 20th. Come along and dance.

Motion.Picture.Actress - NaturalGhost

2012-01-11T17:17:00.000+11:00

Photo: karmaburn

The rain continues, to no avail, as you stare outside into the hazy grey. Slowly, indeterminately, she walks back and forth, clothes drenched, hair a mess. You can't go out there. Finally, after what seems like hours, she looks up, pauses briefly, and stares at the eaves of your once grandiose roof. The haze continues. Silently, stiffly, you reach out and place your hand outstretched on the glass, it's chill numbing your hand.

Like a ghost, she turns and walks into the grey.

You know that thing that happens when you stumble across something SO GOOD, you're jumping at every opportunity to share it, and have it be known? That happened to me at roughly 5.03 PM two evenings ago, when those legends at Silo Collective posted this 4 track EP on their Facebook page. Motion.Picture.Actress is the name of such heavenly artist, this track Natural Ghost from his EP of the same name. Please download the entire thing, it is a work of genius.

Motion.Picture.Actress - NaturalGhost

Genre: Electronic Underwater Jazz

Introducing PORTALS

2012-01-10T20:17:00.000+11:00

www.portalsmusic.com

East to West has been alive and kicking in one way or another for almost two years now. In that time, a lot has changed. How I've written, what I've written about and the various opportunities that have presented themselves along the way. One thing that hasn't changed though is the core passion, creativity and kindness of the visionaries that I have met on this journey. To those souls, I thank you.

Today I am so very humbled to announce that I have been invited to be a part of a brand new collective, a brand new community of online communication that will be developing the nature of the 'Do-It-Together' movement. A newfound meeting place to mingle with the greatest of creative souls. This is so very exciting, and I'm looking forward to taking music of the South Pacific to mingle with the big leagues.

"PORTALS is the intersection of sixteen contemporary music blogs writing from various locales in more than one continent; brought together by a common love for music. PORTALS is recognition that no single human creative pursuit can be monolithic. The DIY movement taught musicians and artists to validate themselves and to cultivate their own mechanisms for release by controlling all aspects of their creative process, but we now live in an era where individuals have found empowerment and incentive in collaboration. We are all part of a new Do-It-Together movement, that networks in order to raise a cacophony of art and media - enriched by diversity and sustained by opportunities available to liberate ourselves from a passive cultural journey. This is fundamental: discovery is the clarion call to independence, and finding music that we love can become a holy artifact in ones experience of time, place, person, or of one’s own sacred self. PORTALS is a shared refuge for the sights and sounds which shape our times. We hope that you join us in making PORTALS your own."

Here's to the year of brilliant things to come.

Murder (Guerre's Suede Mix) - Albatross

2012-01-10T15:52:00.000+11:00

Photo: procrastinating●nipples

Flying race tracks through time and space, take care of me. Stars aligning either side. Runways, of stardust and darkness. Hands outstretched, grasping on.

There's a great thing going down in Sydney at the moment; a collaborative, organic approach to making good music and promoting it. Take Albatross' already phenomenal track Murder and have it dissected and reanimated by Guerre's soulful touch. Take said original track Murder, have Jacob Ring + Bianca Chan design beautiful things for it and then release it on Life Aquatic Records as a 7" and I say you have one hell of a thing. Pre order it now.

via Rose Quartz

Murder (Guerre's Suede Mix) - Albatross

Genre: Heaven in a track

Jacob Rohde - Connected

2012-01-09T14:34:00.000+11:00

Photo: ▲OUTLAW▼WOLF▲

The two just-turned-teenagers wrapped their hand together in a construed fashion and pressed their recently opened wounds together. Their blood met, if just for a moment, and the girl stared deep into the boy's eyes. Naive and driven by emotional forces they could not yet comprehend, the newly formed siblings brought their hands back into themselves and sat on the grass staring straight ahead.

A bit of indie electronica I stumbled upon, which I've found I have a soft spot for. Jacob Rohde is a producer from the Gold Coast, who melds his on-point beats with a nice semi falsetto. Lush.

Jacob Rohde - Connected

Genre: Indie electronica

Flash Forest - I'm Scared You'll Never Leave

2012-01-06T02:26:00.001+11:00

Photo: Tora sanden

"You told me that you love me. You told me we were friends. You told me it was over. But I'm scared you'll never leave."

On a seat inside his mind she sits. A placid expression is perched somewhat unnaturally on her face, attempting to hide the glint of sadness in her eyes. With hands in lap she sits upright, rigid, her floral dress sad and limp in front of the white bedroom walls. With one hand she reaches up slowly and brushes her hair behind one ear. He watches her in his mind's eye. Her room has no doors. She sits always in the corner, never moving, never leaving. Quietly, he carries on.

Sam Maguire, outright champion, has just released his latest EP under moniker Flash Forest. A feat to create this 5 track EP in 12 days, Maguire has delivered in fine form, with definite props to Thrupence for the ridiculously attractive album artwork.

Flash Forest - I'm Scared You'll Never Leave

Genre: Slow beats and crooning lyrics.

Coming Soon

2012-01-03T03:30:00.000+11:00

Big Sad - True Worrier

2011-12-29T14:04:00.000+11:00

Photo: TIMODREY

Quiet breaths. Exchanging thoughts for knowledge. Sage knowledge, knowledge of the past. Sifting through the unnoticed. Returning to the time and place you'd rather have.

Ghost Club, the EP of 'dance music for miserable bastards'. Big Sad is the Brisbanian behind these beautiful minimal tech tunes, something I'd expect to hear early one morning in a Belrin club not in The Land of Sunshine. Soul shaking bass and emotional fluctuations set this tune on fire. Download the entire release to appreciate it in full.

Big Sad - True Worrier

Genre: Minimal Tech

Rainbow Chan - Sweet Tooth

2011-12-21T18:11:00.002+11:00

Photo: Jorun Eikill Veflen

H a u n t i n g, haunted, melting from past lovers' repercussions.

Rainbow Chan, on absolute fire! One of the darkest tracks I've heard from this sweetheart (despite the track name) drawing on disenchanted keys and haunting vocal bites. If you haven't seen the video yet on Pedestrian, you should definitely check it out, even just for the 16L of ice cream. Also read about our girl in the latest Frankie issue. Big, big things.

Rainbow Chan - Sweet Tooth

Genre: Dark electronica

Kaukana - Moskou

2011-12-15T12:11:00.000+11:00

Photo: paddyw2

Reaching out. Sitting in the dark, amongst the fog, cold whispers licking my face. Ice cold lungs, strands of hair dancing at my ear. A mountain peak. A thousand mountain peaks... or more.

We're all so small in the scheme of things.

Not sure if the correct spelling is Moskou, according to Kaukana's Soundcloud page, or Moskau according to the latest Free The Beats compilation, but either way, this Sydney delight is making wonderful demo delicacies.

Kaukana - Moskou

Genre: Electronica / IDM

Wabz - Inside Yourself

2011-12-10T10:05:00.001+11:00

Photo: easttowestblog

Dive. Delve. Tunnel down into the winding maze. Digging holes and lifting rocks. Once shiny surfaces buried under mountains of notes - untidy, unfinished, unfulfilled messages scrunched up and tucked away into nooks and crannies. Lost thoughts and forgotten thoughts. And unforgotten thoughts waiting to be forgotten.

'And some of my realities become dreams'.

I've been following Wabz from 'Up North West' for a while now, watching his apt development in sound. This is probably one of the heavier things I've posted, only after a very close toss up between this and this. Meeting Burial's elusive dub with Mount Kimbie's clicks and distorted vocal samples, Wabz has a sound one can only describe as 'tight'. Tune in for more.

Wabz - Inside Yourself

Genre: Dub laced beats

Monas - Shane

2011-12-08T03:48:00.001+11:00

Photo: easttowestblog

Up.

Floating silently over rundown cities and exotic towns. Your photos are laid out for all to see. Past and future is mapped out below - carpeting the great rainbow void. Topographic; each experience creating peaks and valleys. Depths and blows. Traversing the forever unexplored.

This wonderful track arrived in my inbox tonight from Sydney producer Monas. A huge assortment of spine tingling vocal samples are spread out through the mellow bass and light, caressing keys.

Monas - Shane

Genre: Sample heavy, luscious beats

Justin Cantrell - & Tonight

2011-11-30T22:02:00.001+11:00

Photo: Cleo Sallis

Meeting of minds, melting of minds; confusion and past hostilities fading quicker than ought to be remembered. You run your fingers through your hair, awkwardly, nervously, a slight tremble mirrored in mine... Exhalation... Nerves like icicles breaking the air, stagnant, frozen, and everlasting. 'You're all I ever wanted', you whisper, and walk away.

Justin Cantrell is the currently moniker-less real name of Perth born, Melbourne residing IDM producer and vocalist. This is just a demo of his, with not even a Soundcloud yet to his name.

Justin Cantrell - & Tonight

Genre: Lo-fi IDM

Outerwaves - Big Cats

2011-11-17T08:08:00.001+11:00

Photo: Waterless Flood

High paced, adrenaline rush, this speeding train sending my heart ablaze. The thought of where this engined beast may lead me... Blurring colours, out of focus; just the world rushing past on a shoestring. A thousand thoughts caught up in the wind that whistles through the greying of the fog.

All these train lines lead home eventually.

Outerwaves is a solo producer from Brisbane, also part of the Silo collective. This is one of the greatest tracks I've heard to come from our shores in a long time. Let it's sitar riddled energy inspire you.

Outerwaves - Big Cats

Genre: Exotic, energetic, electro.

White Palms - Japanese Cymbals

2011-11-14T20:38:00.001+11:00

Photo: quiezip

Arms spread wide, angelic. Back flat, face upturned and beckoning the sun. Life can't be hard all the time.

I heard this rad tune on no other than Fenella's Sound Lab a few weeks ago and have been hooked ever since. After some quick searching, I discovered that Brisbane's White Palms is part of a home grown collective, who focus on cultivating our northern beat scene. Check out the Silo collective, which houses some other rad artists like gameboy wielding dot.AY. Breathe deep.

White Palms - Japanese Cymbals

Genre: Smooth as F Summer Soul

Oisima - The Golden Duo

2011-11-13T03:41:00.001+11:00

Photo: Wallis Kate

Train lines run overhead. Frostbitten cheeks that you pull down into your coat. Keep walking. Escape the cold that has followed you for so long. I think it's that little bit warmer now. A quickened pace, a slight bounce. Underneath the magnetic pull. A golden voice calls to you as you find your way home.

Mmmmmmm Oisima. Adelaide's new beat-smith heartthrob. Pumping out a fine selection of velvety tunes as of late. Keep an eye out for a rumoured collab with Kyson. Grand things are a-happenin'.

Oisima - The Golden Duo

Genre: 'Drifting head nodders'

Oliver Tank - What Have I Become (Flash Forest Remix)

2011-11-10T09:00:00.000+11:00

Photo: victoriahhhh

Standing on the shore. 100 meters up. One leg dangling over the abyss below. Questioning, always questioning. 'Was that right? Was that wrong?' Never knowing. Constantly leading yourself in circles around and around again... Cornering your own mind. Is that your choice? Now those walls they fall away. A calming sensation, strange and unfamiliar engulfs you. You stare into the deep blue pool below... and jump.

Oliver Tank is doing everything right at the moment, including teaming with some fantastic artists to remix his tracks. This is just the latest from my current favourite Melbourne artist Flash Forest. Let it take you away.

Oliver Tank - What Have I Become (Flash Forest Remix)

Genre: Remix

Thomas William - Cliques (w. Peon)

2011-11-08T08:58:00.000+11:00

Photo: asdrid

Oriental clicks and smoke rings, acidic rains, the sky falling down in bits of multicoloured glass. Followed by the quietening of transparent heavens after a storm. Soft hues, soft greys, a newfound peace ringing in the ears of the humbled.

The moniker on everyone's lips alongside the label on everyone's lips has just blown the face off Australia. Melbourne based This Thing have just released Thomas William's (formerly Cleptocleptics) LP, inducing a technicolor hysteria from the masses. Make sure you download it here.

Thomas William - Cliques (w. Peon)

Genre: Multi-dimensional brain melt.

DuFrayne - ★

2011-10-21T08:51:00.000+11:00

Photo: the april fool

Reels of film a-rolling, the theme to every childhood's dream a-singing, and the hills, oh the hills they were so alive. Toy cars and thrumming hearts, from sand box to sand box to building tree houses and labyrinths, all just before the time runs away with Mrs Potts and Lumière. And you wished, oh how you wished upon a shooting star.

Oh, oh, oh, how it's been a long time coming but Melbournian beatsmith DuFrayne is back with a wondrous track packed with golden Disney sampling and the cascading of luscious strings.

DuFrayne - ★

Genre: Magic

Kyson - Frustration With Myself

2011-10-18T15:04:00.000+11:00

Photo: dom roarty

Stretching fingertips out into the setting of the sun, an exhalation of icy breath coating solo extremities like a silken glove. You watch them, slowly flexing, twisting, testing each individual finger like that of a newborn child. Sliding onto your finger is the ring of the city, an unlikely bond, wrapping itself tight around you. You turn your hand slowly over, carefully enclosing the city's air in your palm as you step out into the beginning of the night.

Frustration With Myself is truly the epitome of a late night here in Berlin. Living the life, Sydney ex-pat Kyson has moved to the German capital to focus on his art of making chilled out minimal and exotic beats. Now with two EP's under his belt, the first entitled Distance is available for purchase here. Make sure you give Patience a spin too. Today's track was so hard to choose between this and this, so treat yourself and listen to both!

Kyson - Frustration With Myself

Genre: Exotic ambience

Erothug - The Girl Is Mine

2011-10-13T11:18:00.001+11:00

Photo: easttowestblog

80's synths, luscious chords, passionate and long forgotten vocal hooks running out into the longevity of night. Five diverse souls swaying drunkenly to the beat of their own forgotten drum. Wrapped away and out of sight of the floorboards and canvas walls of former DDR Berlin. In and out and back again, and out and around and back again; back to the growth of creativity in the dawning of the night.

Erothug is a luscious r'n'b ambassador out of Melbourne, recently having released his debut Touching EP. Touch it on Brother Sister Records.

Erothug - The Girl Is Mine

Genre: Electro r'n'b

Forrest - Just Juice

2011-10-09T19:16:00.000+11:00

Photo: jamiepaul

Plummeting into the labyrinth of nighttime streets, lost and solo beats, just a pair of home flown fools chasing it into the night. It; the insatiable desire to let go, fly free, live up to those idolised moments and hollywood endings. A tumultuous breath of fresh air, a breath of escape and of dream-living and of what this might all mean one day so far from here. So out of touch with reality yet so in touch with reality. What is even real anymore?

Just Juice EP is the two track release from Nick du Plessis aka Sydneysider Forrest. Perhaps known for his recent open-air, minimal tech/house/soul Odyssey Day Festival park party out in Alexandria. A new face on the block, but du Plessis is definitely becoming a new forerunner in ideas. Drop the kid some coin here.

Forrest - Just Juice (Stream only)

Genre: Funky house, modern disco

Kordaroi - She Blames No One

2011-09-30T18:19:00.000+10:00

Photo: Wild Kindness

Caught up in the masochism of internal thought, depravation, a cat and mouse game of who's to blame. Back and forth the timer ticks... waiting, exasperating, slowly undoing the scaffolding of reason. Losing. Reverting to a former time of ignorance and naivety. A former time when all was fine and the cat was gone and the mouse was hidden and the palace was grand.

Kordaroi is a fresh face from Adelaide, perhaps known for the collab he did with Slamagotchi a month or so ago. His solo stuff however is just as rad, and if you like what you hear here then also check out Speak to Me.

Kordaroi - She Blames No One

Genre: Dubtronica

Mosaic Mosaic - Brand New

2011-09-24T15:46:00.002+10:00

Photo: je t`aime

Stagnant love. Each flash of hope equally aligned to the constant thrumming of the darkness underneath. Break free. Perhaps a pseudo-hope of what's to come, a false reality that you cling so tightly to. Or not. Perhaps a poorly construed formation of your mind preventing you of achieving what you've always wanted. A safe harbour. An internal debate.

Mosaic Mosaic's Brand New comes off the latest instalment of New Weird Australia entitled Vox. I remember stumbling across David Smith's work a few months ago on Soundcloud, his earlier track On Return (With Vlantis) initially catching my eye before it was swallowed by the eerie depths of my mind. If you haven't already listened to the most recent NWA podcast, now's your chance!

Mosaic Mosaic - Brand New

Genre: Organic electronic

True North - Scope

2011-09-21T16:06:00.001+10:00

Photo: 070394

One soft finger dancing atop earth's turquoise empyrean. Cool and trembling aloft an unbelieving hand. Dreamlike. Surrealities. Whispering it's secrets to you and I, this solo duo it's only audience. An elusivity, out of reach, water slipping through our fingertips. A misunderstanding in our grasp. A misunderstanding of it's force. A slow pull now taking us to true north.

True North seems to be another local Sydney kid adding coal to the Australian trip-hop/soft-soul fire. Found this gem on all round/good vibes/great guy Life Aquatic. Make sure to vote for him on Pedestrian's rad blog awards. And listen to more True North tunes here.

True North - Scope

Genre: Post-step

Lower Spectrum - Closed

2011-09-11T21:03:00.000+10:00

Photo: anna bo diary

Like a pendulum within me, oscillating back and forth, the clock striking on the hour and every hour hence forth. Counting down the minutes, the seconds. Each slowly ticking over in my mind. Rolling into each other, multiplying, subdividing... Disfigured perceptions combined with realisations of The Persistence of Memory. Rapid yet moderate minutes slipping away. Time in all it's realisation and ignorance.

Awaiting me in my inbox yesterday was this wonderful submission from Melbourne's Ned Beckley and Patrick Dunn, their EP fusing 'intricate, lush and cinematic instrumental composition'. Self-titled, Lower Spectrum's debut is a lovely harmony of minimal jazz beats and orchestral pan flutes and pianos. Make sure you download a copy here.

Lower Spectrum - Closed

Genre: Orchestral jazz beats

Bon Iver - Perth (BASKE Tear Up REMIX)

2011-09-07T15:32:00.000+10:00

Photo: aline sukhorukova

Staring into the bottom of the barrel, memories in memories, partly burning, partly soothing. Heart and head hand in hand, arm in arm, sword to shield. I'm tearing up. Tearing down the construed misconceptions / preconceptions / false deities making false deals. Lies in lies in minds in my mind again. Truth and fictions walk as one.

I don't know anything about Sydney kid BASKE, except the legend Matty Blanchard behind Yes Please Records sent me this little tune to have a listen to and I am in love with this absolutely stunning remix of Bon Iver's Perth. Come fall just as hard.

Perth - Bon Iver (BASKE Tear Up REMIX)

Genre: Remix magic

Filthy Children - Solstice

2011-09-05T16:58:00.001+10:00

Photo: jacob.scheckman

Dazzling from the highest of peaks, only an overtly bright reflection staring back from the single glacier below. Caught up in the lowest of lows. Drifting slowly through the netherworld. Unharnessed, untethered, eerie silence acting as the wind. The creaking of the ice. Breathless, inhumane, drifting. Friendless forever more.

Filthy Children is an awesome solo producer from Sydney, his track Solstice currently labelled as a 'first draft', although I'm still extensively enjoying it. Make sure to check out jumpmayyne as well.

Filthy Children - Solstice

Genre: Mind meld

Planète - Stars

2011-08-30T16:21:00.000+10:00

Photo: jamiepaul

Churning fire running quiet laps underneath. In and out and back again. Beneath the sleepers, in touch with the dreamers, tiny golden threads snaking up and through the earth. Attempting only to harness the glowing dweller that you know once existed in the realm of accessibility. Now it's firmly bolted underneath. Hidden below and out of reach.

Ahhh brand new Planète, all the way from chilly Melbourne to warm things up. A slice of Dion's earlier, summery, xylophonic pop combined with a Foals-esque urgency, Stars is my favourite from his 4 track You EP. Make sure to get it now!

Stars - Planète

Genre: Electronic

The Blank - Clouded

2011-08-19T17:47:00.000+10:00

Photo: Shane Mckenzie

Plummeting into the overwhelming depths of the unstably unknown, throughout a fluctuation of space and it's ability to all encompass. In the most isolating of places, the instinctual urge to survive illuminates the murky waters of the multitudes of winding alleyways ahead. Underneath the steady downpour of the heavens, shelter must be sought in order to stay afloat.

The Blank is one of the tightest beatmakers I've heard to come out of Perth's western shores in a while. Delving into the realms of 'dupe and post minimals', his eclectic collection of tasty tunes is enough to leave your mouth watering.

Clouded - The Blank

Genre: Deep beats

atificial - Synth Float

2011-08-11T15:00:00.000+10:00

Photo: Haydé

Winding in and out of canals, under bridges, between medieval walls, over neglected coins of the world. A natural odyssey thrumming beneath the unaware thought of the nomad. As day turns to night, running away beneath flashing nightclub lights and into lost alleyways, it is engulfed completely by the city and it’s call.

While still a work in progress, with only some slight alterations to be made, atificial’s Synth Float is still a great minimal-disco track to kick off your weekend or your late night wanderings. Waiting to see what the local boy will come up with next.

Synth Float – artificial

Genre: Disco

Tom Day - Home

2011-08-07T21:19:00.000+10:00

Photo: digitalanalogboy

Through the depth of space and time, the huge expanse, the unknown, the eternal imaginations of what's to come and what has been... All is fused in a seamless notion, inexplicable and all consuming. The twittering of the birds signifying the waking of the dawn. And the intense turmoil of each new day, each unknown wandering and stray thought leading to an unknown path. And each day ends again with the rising of the sun.

Home is a tremendously powerful piece, providing the listener with an emotional journey through the connotations associated with going home. Tom Day is a Melbourne producer making an interesting assortment of electronic sounds. Make sure you hold on to your seat until the 2 minute mark - you won't regret it.

Home - Tom Day

Genre: Cinematic soundtrack genius

Terry Teo - Finally

2011-08-03T18:19:00.001+10:00

Photo: Brandy Flowers

You call to me. With white hands and white skin, purple lips push through the whispers of sheets that cover this cold and almost lifeless form. A heat once felt as the sole essence is now extinguished - lying still on this marble bench. Eyesight flickers, and black spots appear - each hazy notion a journey through both sea sickness and the calmness of still winds. A door opens and closes softly in the background. Finally, you come to me.

Amongst the experiments in beat temperament on Terry Teo's Soundcloud, there are a few really tasty bites from the Sydney boy, which are heavy on the soulful vocal samples. Try No Time as well.

Finally - Terry Teo

Genre: 'Lowque', trip-hop

Thrupence - Nintysix (Part II)

2011-07-27T18:42:00.000+10:00

Photo: travels of a monkey

On the boardwalk of summer, through the old and winding streets of Stockholm, the shrill and flashing nature of the romantic language instills adventure into the minds of all lost souls. At night, the city is still as the party people retire underground. And the middle of the city breathes - a slow and life giving ripple, infectious, and hard to tame.

Another big thanks to wunderkind Sam Maguire for hooking me up with the amazing Melbourne producer Thrupence. Make sure to check out his Soundcloud for some excitingly soft post-dubstep tracks. Through The Night is definitely another must listen - a sample heavy soul shaker.

Nintysix (Part II) - Thrupence

Genre: 'Bosstep', instrumental hip hop, post dub-step

Maxy Bills - Fruit Time

2011-07-25T11:07:00.001+10:00

Photo: quickvicktheslick

Watching the blooming of the earth's flower, the deepening of colour, the extension of the ground into the sky. With every newly nurtured petal a new dimension is formed. Amongst the shelter of the grass, the kids of the wild look up into the heavens. Watching the towering of the sun above.

Maxy Bills, one of the founders of inspirational Perth hip-hop label The Community is back with a new 7 track EP Dust Moats. Fruit Time is one of the title tracks from the release, alongside Seeding Suns. Catch the limited edition launch this Friday at The Bird alongside other key Community member Diger Rokwell.

Fruit Time - Maxy Bills

Genre: 'Future cosmic funky glooping intergalactic resonance'

Nakagin - Elsewhere Ft. Marcus Whale

2011-07-23T10:02:00.000+10:00

Photo: lapsangsouchon

The stilted shimmering of chimes mirrors the unsteady balance between release and holding on. Willing away the short years of youth to reach a lifelong dream is somewhat unproductive to say the least. In the presence of Elsewhere time has a mind of it's own. A constant upheaval of the loss and gain of momentum. And in the middle of the night when the sun still shines, you beg for a ray of darkness.

Nakagin's newest magical and inviting gem Elsewhere is a sneak peak from his anticipated EP of the same name. Available soon from your nearest interwebs, his first tantalising track allies itself with the recognisable croon of local boy Marcus Whale of Scissor Lock / Collarbones fame. Make sure to keep your eyes out for the entire release, jam-packed with soulful electronic goodness.

Elsewhere Ft. Marcus Whale - Nakagin

Genre: Deephop

Plnk - Sink or Sing

2011-07-21T15:00:00.002+10:00

Photo: Siever Sand

A stark inhalation, a refreshing cleanliness - distant waterfalls running away and back into themselves. The infinity of now, and then, and tomorrow. A gasping woman breaking through icy waters, static and immovable. Clear and painful breaths under a constant stream of transparency. The eternal tug below, calling out to her as she reaches up to a handful of awaiting grasps.

Formerly posted as Plonk, Melbourne born Plnk presents his new beat Sink or Sing as a complete coherency of 'hip-hoppy, chillwave, synth-pop influences' tied in nicely with his electronic production skills and post-dubsetp sway. Make sure to keep an eye out for the expat's other refreshing gems.

Sink or Sing - Plnk

Genre: 'Plonky'

tiredbones - Samples

2011-07-18T11:18:00.002+10:00

Photo: Life Aquatic

The erratic and temporal breathlessness of chasing dreams down lost streets is only dissipated by the unnerving pull of the other side of the world. Running in one direction just to end up upside down. Opposing magnetic ends fighting each other in a spectacular battle of size and stamina. Is a lost dream still important to fulfil?

tiredbones is David Muirhead from Adelaide, his tasty sample-heavy tune aptly titled Samples is found nestled amongst an eclectic collection of experimental sounds.

Samples - tiredbones

Genre: Sample heaven

Wolfwolf - Must You Dance?

2011-07-17T18:13:00.000+10:00

Photo: g∆briellelee

The rhythmic echo of the dance hall intoxicates your unyielding motion. A woozy sway, a determined step, a recurring pattern slightly altered to stimulate the potential numbing of the senses. Perhaps a physical numbing but an intense psychological upheaval. Close your eyes. Keep moving. Keep dancing all night long.

Thanks to the good people over at Whothehell for introducing Australia to this damn fine, 80's wandering nomad. Wolfwolf creates that nostalgic funk that you need when you're missing the height of that late disco scene.

Must You Dance? - Wolfwolf

Genre: Future/past funk, discotheque

Baba-X - Since I Woke Up

2011-07-12T05:03:00.001+10:00

Photo: 100teas

Inhaling the freshness of the early morning - green lights, sunshine, a forest of imagination hanging loosely overhead. Bright and dazzling lucid dreams. But a dream once dreamt in a land faraway does not quite follow over the seas. Repetition. Disfigured repetition as the mind alters the past. And a mind altered past has no future at all.

Baba-X is one of the fresh new faces coming out of the ever evolving and awing Melbourne beat-scene. Such a wonderfully inspiring late night track to make you dance slowly, eyes closed on the middle of deserted streets.

Since I Woke Up - Baba-X

Genre: Midnight wandering

Super Magic Hats - Wind

2011-07-08T15:00:00.001+10:00

Photo: PhotoDu.de

The lethargic, summer afternoon howl of the ice cream van penetrates the piercing blue bubble surrounding my lazy sprawl. Multi dimensional pulsations of polar opposites breach my 3pm hibernation. The slow dripping ice cream sizzling on my heated stomach, the coastal breeze slightly destabilising my dehydration, the lapping of the pools edge lulling me back to sleep. Far from home in the prospect of now.

One of the brightest new electronic acts out of Melbourne Super Magic Hats sent me their latest track yesterday; a four minute dream-like state, transporting you from the dreariness of winter over the seas to lull about in the German summer with me. If you need a little bit of summer in your day, this is the song for you.

Wind - Super Magic Hats

Genre: Summer lovin'

Clever Austin - Tight Ropes

2011-07-06T22:16:00.000+10:00

Photo: frances.scott

The sultry summer night grooves call to you - the tugging of emotional strings like the fluttering of the harp-esque sounds illuminate your heart of hearts. Your inner desires, your internal struggles, all blazoning and on show for the world to see. An echoing bliss apparent after complete abandonment.

Stumbled onto Melbourne's Mr Clever Austin on Soundcloud the other day, and he makes some fine tunes. Tight Ropes is by far my favourite for it's sharp jazz soul and 9th Wonder beat.

Tight Ropes - Clever Austin

Genre: Future soul / future jazz

Wooshie - Signs of Age

2011-07-03T15:00:00.000+10:00

Photo: prestonnn

Staring at the hour glass, each grain slowly, ever so slowly making it's way down to the bottom. It feels as though each speck of sand may indeed instantly combust at the mere idea of going faster. Can't look away. And you know that while you keep staring time itself keeps going slower.

'You spend your whole life trying to grow up, and then one day, you're dragging your heels.'

Melbourne's new collective // This Thing // just dropped their first release - a free digital split EP from two of Melbourne's beat forerunners, Mike Kay and Wooshie. Make sure you get your hands on this delicacy.

Signs of Age - Wooshie

Genre: Soulfulbeatorama

Slamagotchi - Too Early

2011-07-01T20:03:00.000+10:00

Photo: francescocalabrese

Three years later, stepping in the same footsteps, hollowing out the same grooves, the same shape, the same size, the same everything as it was when you left it... Time, it seems, only changes the perspective. And in the pseudo-isolation the echoing of the wind can do only harm.

Dripping with the voice of a goddess, Slamagotchi's newest beat graces the ears with such sultry love, each click and hiss off the beat is that of a lustful heart. Thanks to Jarred for this fine tune. Also big thanks to Mr S for playing at our last Eastern Aquarium. Was a truly awesome time, and you should come down to the next one on September 4th.

Too Early - Slamagotchi

Genre: Ethereal beats

Guerre - Equilibrium Hymnal

2011-06-29T16:48:00.000+10:00

Photo: MattMattMattMattMatt

Treading on whispering fog and whispers of night, the crackle of leaves underfoot add to the heightened surreality of the moment. Until slowly yet surely, warm morning hues shine through the cobwebs clinging to the low-bent heads of wise, bald, spectacle-wearing men. Knowledge does not conquer nature. Yet it is in nature to conquer knowledge.

Everyone's favourite neo-soul compatriot Guerre has today released his longawaited EP Darker My Love, a steady theme of lustful anguish beautifully intertwining angelic harmonies. Talking about all things angelica, the lo-fi Lamb-esque tune Equilibrium Hymnal rounds out the release nicely, a radiating wholesome-ness acting as a shining beacon. Download the whole release from Yes Please's Bandcamp, and make sure you check out the preluded remix edition.

Europe kids, come party with us next Sunday in Leipzig, Germany.

Equilibrium Hymnal - Guerre

Genre: Instrumental lo-fi neo-soul

Kure' (Kure-ay) - Rocking Chair B (ruff)

2011-06-24T22:56:00.000+10:00

Photo: anisajackson

The clamouring of dilapidated bells signal the rise, and now fall, of the empire. A giant blanket of smog suffocates. Never moving, always humid, the languid stench of god knows what clogging the static air. But somehow there's still an undistributed sweetness. Despite the fall of warriors and tyrants, the voice of the people band together; hopeful, searching, looking for something. Something, which, in their short and cumbersome lives may be unattainable. Freedom and release. But they keep searching.

This Sydney beatmaker Kure' (Kure-ay) also known as Josh Molony started following me on Soundcloud the other day and his small collection of luscious tunes are enough to make all the girls weak at the knees. Make sure you also check out his track Hem - highly recommended and available for free download!

Rocking Chair B (ruff) - Kure' (Kur-ay)

Genre: Melodic beats, sample heaven

Kharnivor - Leviathan

2011-06-17T16:13:00.000+10:00

Photo: aaron.kitney

Sitting in a room; blank halls, blank floors, blank minds between blank walls. Isolation, insulation, straight jackets, keeping thoughts to solo minds. Crazed crazes, grazing heads against brazen walls. Barriers, barriers, everywhere, breaking through the physical depths hidden between blank walls.

Kharnivor from Melbourne just released the dopest beat tape yesterday, filled with some delicious delicacies which you need to embrace RIGHT NOW! RIGHT, NOW! Serioulsy keep an eye on this kid.

Leviathan - Kharnivor

Genre: Deep trip

Tank - Last Night I Heard Everything In Slow Motion

2011-06-16T10:11:00.000+10:00

Photo: godders92

Perceptions / misconceptions, slowly bouncing, lethargically, what is real / surreal, mixing / moulding. A steady hand, guiding lights, guiding stars, a melancholic violin, tracing steps / retracing steps, up to the moon. To the greatest of heights that threaten to fall.

Sydney's Oliver Tank or just Tank has been making some wonderfully chilled out beats recently, and you can be excited as he promises an EP to come very, very soon. This latest teaser is so absolutely fantastic; a wonderfully deep orchestral piece that tantalises every fibre of being, real, and unreal.

Last Night I Heard Everything In Slow Motion - Tank

Genre: 'Chillstep'

Time Shield / Faux Pas - Interview

2011-06-14T16:34:00.000+10:00

Photography: Reef Gaha of innerstyle.com.au

Gallery

Tim Shiel aka Time Shield aka Faux Pas and I had a chat last time he was in Sydney for The Gate alongside Albatross and Naminé.

Holly: So, Tim, this is your first show up in Sydney and you’re playing under the name Time Shield instead of Faux Pas that your recorded stuff is under, why the change in name?

Tim: It was a few reasons really. The main reason was that I didn’t want anybody who was already familiar with Faux Pas and to be into whatever that is, to see the name Faux Pas on a poster and get excited - I didn’t want them to come to a show with all these expectations with what it might be. But at the same time I’m playing under the name Time Shield and being very open with the fact that it’s me – it’s not like I’m doing secret shows. It’s just a way of signalling to the very small amount of people who are already interested in what I’m doing not to expect anything. It means that the pressure is off for me and I can do whatever I want with it and not try and recreate the sounds off my records, which would be extremely challenging to do.

H: I think that’s something I really noticed watching you live, like when you played ‘I Will Follow You’ with the Gilmore Girls’ samples over the top.

T: Yeah! The video thing is really fun. I’m really enjoying throwing video clips over the top and little samples from TV shows and films.

H: You do all the visuals yourself? They are fantastic, especially that flying one.

T: Oh awesome. A lot of the visuals at the moment are coming from old 80’s movies that I grew up with, so a lot of the time when I’m making the music up I feel like I’m reconnecting with some kind of childish feeling, so it kind of makes sense. That flying clip is from an 80’s movie called Explorers with River Phoenix and Ethan Hawke and it’s about a bunch of kids who discover a way to trap trashcans inside of bubbles that can fly into space. So they fly into space and they meet aliens and stuff. So for me it has a really personal meaning. When I see that clip I feel really good about it, but I think it also works if you don’t know the Explorers – it’s a pretty random movie.

H: Is it a way to take your music less seriously, to put that extra element in?

T: No, not really. I’m a bit wary of that actually, I’ve had a few reactions where people will come up and go ‘aw I saw Gilmore Girls in one of your sets and it was so funny’. And I’m totally cool with that, but even that stuff which may seem like a novelty or seem goofy is all coming from an honest place and from an emotional place. But I’m just happy people enjoy it, although I’m not just throwing that stuff in there to lighten the mood. When Christian Slater is talking about what it means to be a teenager, I’m trying to be kind of earnest with that kind of stuff.

H: So the combination of the visuals and the music is really important for you?

T: Yeah exactly. I don’t know where it will go long term – I don’t know if the visuals will stay or go, because really, to be honest, I started out with the visuals as a way of distracting people from what I was doing on stage because the first couple of shows I’m just playing a few songs, pressing a few buttons.

H: How long does it take to sync up all the visuals and all the sound together?

T: I don’t know, I guess because all that stuff is happening live – it’s just a matter of having a library of clips and then having my music. So I have a bit of a plan; a song will start and the video is lined up and ready to sync up with it and then I just take it where I feel like after that.

H: What was the thought pattern behind your latest release Lostworks? Obviously it is ‘lost works’ chucked together?

T: It took me a few years to make the album before, Noiseworks, and so I just made so much music over that time in all different styles, and eventually a bunch of tracks just came together in a specific style and sound which really worked, which then made Noiseworks. But what I was left with at the end were all these tracks that I was really proud of that just didn’t fit on Noiseworks. So I went back to them a few months ago and wondered what I could do with them, and thought I would just put an EP out with random tracks that I liked - but once I started putting it together, there was this whole second group of tracks that all made sense together and once I got them in the right order there was a whole other album. So for me, it’s another record that is it’s own thing – it has it’s own vibe, but as a pair I think they’re cool *laughs*

H: They are cool, I love it. And I think, as you know, my favourite song off that is Maximums.

T: Excellent, that’s my favourite too.

H: Oh really? I love it; I could listen to it over and over again. What were the thoughts or the feelings behind that? How did that come about?
T: Well this is going to sound like a cop-out answer, but I don’t generally think about songs before I make them, they just generally come together and then they end up representing something at the end. So I’d be lying if I said I wanted to make a song that felt like this or sounded like this – it just fell together. I really like that song because I sang on it – I’ve never tried to sing on any of my songs before, that’s still the only time I’ve ever tried, even since then I’ve never tried.

H: Do it, please!

T: Well, I don’t know, I really want to. Singing is really fun and really expressive and when you’re singing about something you care about you can really connect with a part of yourself that when you’re making instrumental music I’m not sure you really can. I don’t know, I love instrumental music, but I spend a lot of time listening to pop songs and all of my favourite music is vocal pop songs. So it’s an interesting challenge to set for myself, to maybe sing more. Just got to see what happens. I’ve had some really great responses to that track, especially the 10-second bit where I sing.

H: Oh I have no words to describe that bit.

T: Well it’s funny you should say that, because I find it difficult to come up with words to sing – that’s the barrier for me. I don’t have anything to say really. My life is good.

H: Yeah you’re not a tortured artist *laughs*

T: Yeah, maybe I could sing about how content I am or how normal my life is. I don’t know what to sing about, I need to have a think about that. It’s a big hurdle. I don’t know how people do it. I’ve got some friends who when they’re writing a melody don’t even sing words, just sing sounds that feel right, just gibberish. I thought I might give that a go.

H: I’ve spoken to a lot of people about writing, who find it difficult, once they’re in that content space where they’re not having all these wild emotions to draw on to write about, to then try and go back and draw on past experiences; I think that’s the hardest thing to do.

T: Yeah exactly. But that being said, a lot of my favourite lyrics and pop songs are not about these intense emotional experiences. I don’t think songs have to be from that place. They can be more absurd or more mundane or just fanciful. I just know I’d be lying if I tried to go to some kind of tortured place with lyrics. *Laughs* Anyway, I’ve sung once for about 10 seconds, so if I can beat that I’m doing well.

H: May I ask why it’s taken you so long to decide to play live shows?

T: Yeah there are a few reasons. I never really thought that I could do it for a long time. When I’m making the music, I’m not thinking about how I’m going to perform it, I just follow the most crazy ideas I have in the studio and I end up with all of this music that doesn’t translate well to the stage. I guess because I don’t just want to get up and press play, I want to do more than that. So for ages I just didn’t know how to do it and I thought why stress about doing that which seems so hard and so daunting when I could just sit down and make more music, which is what I like doing anyway.

H: A bit of a comfort zone?
T: Yeah I guess maybe it has been. I think it is my true passion, being in the ‘studio’ making music and producing stuff and making sounds and that is what I love doing. But yeah, I’ve changed my mind.

H: Yeah, do you love the live show now?

T: Yeah, I do, I’m really enjoying the challenge, sinking my teeth into it and coming away from it and seeing what worked and what didn’t and then going away and working on it and fixing it. A big part of it for me as well is that I want to have a sustainable career, I want to be playing music for decades and it’s hard to do that if you’re not playing live because it’s an income stream potentially down the track. I’d also love to go overseas and it’s hard to get media and record labels interested if you can’t physically go to their city and do something. So that’s a long time goal for me as well. If I can get a band together or a show happening maybe I can go to Europe.

Sydneysiders can catch Time Shield playing at Eastern Aquarium II this Sunday alongside Electric Sea Spider, Slamagotchi, Nakagin and Jonti (DJ set). Buy yo tickets here.

dip - bluegreenscreendreams

2011-06-12T15:00:00.002+10:00

Photo: Alice Viner

Walking amongst unsuspecting people in a more than suspecting manner the riddles of the wailing beat echo the profound changes happening inside of you. While the lake is still, it is not to say there isn't something thriving in it's depths. And the enthusiastic, synth-y kick cements that it is indeed positive; you are changing for the better, you are making amends - to yourself, and to those around you, who never knew what mistakes you could make. A newfound, eternal happiness that radiates, and slowly shifts visitor's canoes on top of the surface.

diptracks is a Melbourne producer that was introduced to me by the ridiculously talented Sam Maguire aka Flashforest, who if you haven't listened to yet you truly do need to. bluegreenscreendreams comes of an eclectic little EP entitled Underwater T.V

bluegreenscreendreams - dip

Genre: Underwater futurescape

Guerre (Naminé Remix) - Mazu Heart Sutra

2011-06-10T13:15:00.000+10:00

Photo: Evergreen Trees

The slow and surreal buildup tickles you're emotional control as you wait for the inevitable. A shaky, lo-fi, bass-thrumming tempo aligned with the howling echoes of misunderstood thoughts solidifies your anxiety. A quickening of pace which engulfs you as the half-cherished, half-hated moment arrives in one crashing second of realisation. Realisation that this is here. Realisation that this is happening. Realisation that it's all come inevitably, way too quickly.

This track remixed by Naminé is taken off Guerre's Darker My Love RMX compilation which was given away for free at last night's Yes Please launch. Luckily for those of you cats who missed it you can download it over here. It contains some absolutely stellar remixes by The Townhouses, Wintercoats, Albatross, Marseilles, Collarbones, Fishing and Salt Creek Coyote. Do yourself a favour.

Mazu Heart Sutra - Guerre (Naminé Remix)

Genre: Lo-fi trip hop remix vs neo soul

Friendship – You Are My Lady and I Do What I Want To You

2011-06-08T11:59:00.000+10:00

Photo: ▲OUTLAW▼WOLF▲

A joyous reuniting of separate entities, the echoes of ‘who are you’ laced with the optimistic synth work reunify the dual faces of the man. Once the viciousness of the wolf had subsided, his animalistic nature could be tamed. Once the extreme emotional swings of the man were controlled, his logic could be met with a reassuring eye. And thus gave us the Steppenwolf; although the Steppen and the Wolf were now no longer children of war, but brothers in arms.

Good ol’ Tim Shiel aka Faux Pas aka Time Shield introduced me to the wonders of Moby-esque Melbourne producer Friendship yesterday, describing his live set in such fondness and awe I hope to one day witness the saxophone/didgeridoo wielding musician myself.

You Are My Lady and I Can Do What I Want To You – Friendship

Genre: Synth orchestra, late night Moby, IDM.

ROUGHSOUL - U Da Man

2011-06-06T13:13:00.001+10:00

Photo: Janis Ganga

A combination of funk and jazz-like elements infuse the post-dilla production of ROUGHSOUL's U Da Man, the emphatic beat reminiscent of long nights in unknown cities with newfound friends. A driving force that wills you long past a socially accepted finish time and into the wee hours of the morning. It's that soulful moment where you are completely in tune with the emotional harmony unfolding between you and the world.

The tightest Australian beat tape I have ever heard, Perth's ROUGHSOUL delivers a delectable 12.5 minute collection of some of the sultriest samples. Not sure why but the vocal samples definitely remind me of this. That may or may not just be a delusional reflection.

There is definitely something in the water of our western neighbours.

U Da Man - ROUGHSOUL

Genre: Future jazz, beat tape, post-dilla

Ta-Ku - Pagasa

2011-06-01T14:58:00.000+10:00

Photo: (A)narchy

Thrumming fingers over naked contours for the last time, the lust so cemented in human nature is equal to the profound emotional connection hidden under layers of fearful insecurities. Momentarily the sphere of the mind is vacant as the body is alive with feeling. Stuttered gasps signifying this physical escape from the oppression of reality.

Perth producer Ta-Ku has done it again with his phenomenal track Pagasa off his latest Scraps release. For a 'scrap' of work it's pretty damn fine. Make sure you download the entire beat tape for a spiritual awakening.

Pagasa - Ta-Ku

Genre: Future soul

Idlemode - Missing Piece

2011-05-30T17:38:00.000+10:00

Photo: SHANNôN

The expansive breadth of flashing lights stare back at us - awaiting the moment we drift away and close our eyes for them to blink away the smothering pollution blinding them. A slight twinkling in the night that reminds us we are not alone. The city stirs as we sit silently above it upon the rooftop of elusive dreams. The biting wind pulsating within our yearning hearts like the never-ending snare that thrums inside our overworking minds. A driving force that wills us to stand up and continue on.

I've been waiting in anticipation for Brisbane's Idlemode to make his track Missing Piece available for free download and when he did the other morning I was so unbelievably thrilled. This is definitely one of the greatest tracks of the year. So much love.

Missing Piece - Idlemode

Genre: Triphopdeliciousness, 'heart string techno', deepsoulfulhouse

Naminé - Interview

2011-05-26T14:38:00.000+10:00

Photography: Reef Gaha of innerstyle.com.au

Gallery

Holly: You’ve just turned 16, just played your first show in Sydney and you’ve got a 7” out, which has an offer to be distributed in Japan - what the fuck does that feel like?

Darcy: I don’t know – I guess the most surreal thing is actually being here and meeting people in real life that I’ve heard about or talked to on the internet. I think that’s the craziest thing - not people liking my music but meeting all these people and going places with it – not just making music in my bedroom.

H: Is it hard to get shows in Melbourne being underage?

D: Yeah there were a few shows planned but didn’t end up happening because people found out I was underage. People have asked me to get fake IDs and stuff *laughs*

H: Do you think there’s a stigma surrrounding your age?

D: Yeah definitely. I don’t like telling people that I’m underage. If I send songs to blogs or websites or whatever, even if they like it, they might say things like “oh it’s good for a 16 year old” or think that anyway, so I don’t tell anyone my age until they ask.

H: Obviously you’re an electronic artist, and you have a pretty technical setup, how did you get into that? What’s your background musically?

D: I started listening to electronic music probably at the start of 2010 and I heard Burial’s album Untrue and it’s become my favourite album of all time and I listened to it so much I lost interest in playing the guitar. So I had Logic on my computer, which is what I used to use to record my guitar and then one day I wondered if I could use that to do something different. So I just started mucking around and I taught myself how to do it over a period of about six months or so. But I’m still learning.

H: Tell me about the Kelly Rowland cover of Stole that you did live.

D: Me and my sister loved that song growing up. When I think back to my earliest childhood memories me and my sister used to be obsessed with that song. It’s like our family song.

H: In your lyric writing do you draw on similar themes?

D: There’s normally not a common theme with most of my music. I’ll write music and sort of sing along and use the voice more as an instrument so lyrics aren’t really that important but I’m really interested in fantasy, like fantasy novels and video games and all that nerdy shit, and I really like the themes in that and try and draw on that sometimes.

H: What do your friends think about all the things that you’re doing?

D: Well only my really close friends know I make music because they’re really the only ones who listen to that sort of music but they’re really supportive.

H: Have you got any plans to release any new material?

D: I don’t want to until I get new software and new equipment because everything is starting to sound the same to me right now, and it’s getting a bit frustrating. So over the rest of this year I just want to work on getting better at what I use and then hopefully work on a full length by next year. At the moment I just want to play shows.

H: Where do you hope your music will take you?

D: Everywhere. Music is the only thing I’m good at, it’s the only thing I want to do forever so I guess I have to try as hard as I can. My dream is to move to America and have that be just what I do.

If you want to catch Darcy live, Melbourne kids can head down to LOOP this Saturday afternoon for a show co-presented by myself and Life Aquatic. Or if you can't make it, you can buy one of his 7"'s here.

FLASHFOREST - Beach Funk

2011-05-25T15:00:00.000+10:00

Photo: ben.scull

The blazon meeting of lovers under the flashing lights of big screens and wannabes is still kept intimately between the pair. Amongst the nighttime adultery of big city life the golden voices of promises shade reality. A whispering goddess spawned by the masses promising only tomfoolery and cheap ends. A saucy seductress entering the scene and splintering the naivety of young love.

FLASHFOREST is a guy called Sam from Melbournetown who makes delicious beats. It was such a difficult choice between all of his salaciously sampled songs, so make sure you check out what else he has to offer on his Soundcloud.

Beach Funk - FLASHFOREST

Genre: Saturday night goods

Galapagoose - Hard Climb

2011-05-24T16:56:00.000+10:00

Photo: Gigantic Robot

Underneath the city of sunshine the hard climb to the top is a menacing race of the survival of the fittest. A maniacal hustle from the depths of forgotten grime. A lost population trying to take their place again in the world of light. Only animalistic elements driving them upwards.

Mr Galapagoose aka Trent Gill made this in Life Aquatic blog's bedroom when we were chilling out on T.G's latest venture to Sydneytown for our first Eastern Aquarium show. If you missed out on that fun you should venture down to Tone in June for the second one. #shamelessplug

Hard Climb - Galapagoose

Genre: Beatalicious treats

しsd feat. Cape North - Bay Wash

2011-05-19T16:18:00.000+10:00

Photo: thewindcrieschelsey

The deepening hums, which at first evoke a sliver of fear, curtly fade into a warm and nurturing reminder - a child's breathe silently shifting the air. The repetitious reverberation thrumming inside of you, the violin; a lullaby of growing up. A nostalgic message that shows you how far you've come. However at the same time allows peaceful escapism into the past.

Felix Idle is しsd, a kid from Canberra experimenting with the tangibility of music.

Bay Wash - しsd feat. Cape North

Genre: Ambient lo-fi

Warbonds - NYE (ft. Jeremy)

2011-05-17T14:48:00.000+10:00

Photo: Adele M. Reed

A fluctuating aura that is seen only through spirit eyes. A shimmering of light that radiates off unshielded windows. A disenchanted voice echoing out over the dissolution of pure soul. A tinkering of chimes that anchor you to your own body. Yet you are above. Above, beyond, mentally, spiritually - the casualties of physical life sleeping below you and your newfound freedom.

This track NYE (ft. Jeremy) comes from Sydney producer Warbonds' self-titled EP. Such a blissful release of closeted emotion.

NYE (ft. Jeremy) - Warbonds

Genre: Electronic beats, trip hop, post dubstep

Super Magic Hats - Happy Jazz

2011-05-14T16:58:00.000+10:00

Photo: BЯ▲DΣMØИY

Struggling to keep afloat amongst the free flow of emotional noise the tide carries you along the new born stream. A buildup of sound as the stream turns to rapids and you can no longer control your own path. A vigorous and somewhat dangerous journey to an unknown destination - yet hopeful. The driving undercurrent tugging you along when you just want to give up. The waterfall to end all ends still leading somewhere new.

Super Magic Hats is a fun title for a fun sounding Melbourne beatmaker. Hear his other sounds here.

Happy Jazz - Super Magic Hats

Genre: Electronic fun

Moat In Input - gettinupinthemornin(wip)

2011-05-12T01:42:00.002+10:00

Photo: M Tr

A spiritual journey to hidden temples uncovered only by keen perception and a hunger to learn more. Through the welcoming arms of missionaries the barricades of the past fall - no longer are you alone. Yet once you stumble back through the painful vines of months and months of growth you truly realise the importance of what you've left behind.

Moat In Input is an anonymous producer probably just living in the confines of Soundcloud. Their track A.Watts is another one to check out with the wise and lust-worthy vocal sample domineering the trip hop underlay.

gettinupinthemornin(wip) - Moat In Input

Genre: Trip hop, spiritual healing, jungle lounge

Bkinsman - whatchusay2me

2011-05-10T13:43:00.000+10:00

Photo: howlingatmoons

In the apprehension of performance the heart briefly tumbles it’s way down the alley of haste. The soft and inviting chords of excitement are equally met with the increasing beats of the thoughts of the unknown - a distant thrumming of the combination of elements. Sweet delusions of failure and success fighting each other for the chance to take first prize. Anxiety or excitement, I’m really not quite sure.

Bkinsman aka Benjamin Kinsman is a producer from Sydney. I played one of his tracks last night on Adam Lewis' Radiant show on FBi radio and it turns out they're friends. Swag. Listen to the show here.

whatchusay2me - Bkinsman

Genre: Chillout lounge aka Cafe Del Mar, slow electro

Downbop - Until We When

2011-05-07T16:23:00.001+10:00

Photo: Lottery Monkey

Walking on glass, the harsh fragments feel soft under numb feet. Spider cracks appear as the delicate balance between strength and weight becomes undone. The pulsations of the beat riddle your mind as the transparencies splinter. A cold and settling emotion that rushes through you as you put one step in front of the other - stepping over ruins as you fight to make it to the other side.

Until We When is a track from Sydney residing, Athens born producer Downbop. The rather apt name for the sultry sounds of a producer who mainly uses samples of jazz records.

Until We When - Downbop

Genre: Minimal electronic, samples, beats

Work Drugs (Marseilles Remix) - Rad Racer

2011-05-05T13:57:00.000+10:00

Photo: Hugo__xx

Dipping in and out of consciousness the bass tickles the edges of your mind as it smoothly rocks backwards and forwards. The chopping and changing of the elements are bubbles rising form the stream of subconsciousness - cherished dreams breaking and filling the upper levels of the mind. A strange and wonderful euphoria that's almost tangible, the haunting vocals accompanying you as you fly your own dream trails - ever moving, ever changing.

Marseilles is a brand new producer from Sydney, who is currently keeping his identity under wraps. His remix of Work Drugs' Rad Racer came about after the band's shout out for people to remix the track. Get the stems here.

Rad Racer - Work Drugs (Marseilles Remix)

Genre: Remix, beatwizardry

Occasional Octopus - Aítnē

2011-05-02T16:30:00.002+10:00

Photo: Truckerfee

Each fluttering of the beat is a nurturing solace; a reminder of hope, of solidarity, of cherished optimism. It runs in and out of your mind just as the sun glints on the passenger's window. A reminder that they're still there. An absorption of essence. Running deep as the pulsating beat kicks in alongside voluptuous voice samples that make you realise it's going to be okay.

Occasional Octopus is Mikey Moxon from Sydney.

Aítnē - Occasional Octopus

Genre: Electronic

Rainbow Chan - Interview

2011-04-30T13:29:00.001+10:00

Photo: Sui Zhen

Over a freshly brewed pot of tea, Rainbow Chan and I share stories about being backstage and the chance of one day meeting our idols. Amongst youthful dreams, Rainbow shares with me her thoughts on both going forward and looking back.

Holly: You have your EP launch coming up soon at The Vanguard, for your Brushed Upon With Rose release but the demo for that has been circulating for a while, hasn’t it?

Rainbow: Yeah it’s kind of a bit of a belated launch because I finished recording this EP in July last year - it’s taken a while because I’m doing everything myself. It’s been taking me a while to figure out how to actually get my music out there. I really want to launch it before I start my new stuff because my sound is kind of changing at the moment - it’s good to evolve.

H: How do you think your sound has evolved?

R: Well I’m looking more and more into electronic elements and moving it away from the guitar as such. I started with the guitar and writing more folky kind of stuff and then I got a loop pedal and started to do more electronic stuff and then I got a sampler and it was just all these different elements that started to infiltrate into my music.

H: Do you think the changing nature of Sydney’s music scene influences that as well?

R: Yeah definitely. I guess when I first started writing music I was listening to a lot more singer/songwriter and folky music but I’m starting to listen to a bit more electronic stuff. Also knowing more people through different groups and Uni and learning from other people and how they’re using equipment and technology as a way to shape their sound. I find that really interesting now and that’s something I’m starting to experiment and explore.

H: Do you reckon it’s going to be exciting being a female “beatsmith”?

R: *laughs* I keep thinking about that actually! It would be really cool, I mean, it’s definitely not new, there are many females who dj and do a lot of interesting stuff but it is very heavily male dominated. I was thinking because I love to wear dresses and I’m quite feminie in my overall personality I think that could be really interesting to not fit in any specific stereotype. I don’t think it’s contrived, I just feel like this is a natural progression for me. Even though I might come across as quite cutesy and poppy I do like really dissonant kind of electronic stuff and at the same time I feel that the fact that I am female I can add my own kind of touch to it. I think it’s still quite genuine, how I’m exploring it. I think it’s really exciting to not feel that there is a barrier and to just do it if that’s what you’re interested in. I’m Asian as well, so breaking the stereotypes to the max.

H: You and Sui Zhen should just get together and collab.

R: Well we have actually – we’ve done a few shows together. There are a few Youtube videos where I sung at her show and we made a few songs together and stuff. We’re very much on the same wavelength – we listen to very similar people. We make a good team.

H: Do you think with all the female artists coming through, and I’m not trying to turn this into a feminine rant, do you feel that there’s camaraderie there?

R: Yeah I think so. I think that even if you’re male or female you’re always learning from other people, but especially with girls if you’re exploring music or sounds that aren’t conventionally seen as girly music, you have a stronger appreciation for someone to explore those kinds of sounds and to not be afraid of expressing whatever it is. All this kind of music is about experimenting and exploring and trusting you’re ears. I think that’s very important. With any kind of music that you make, music is for listening to so you just do it by intuition and have to trust your ears.

H: So Jonathan Boulet mixed your EP, what was working with him like?

R: It was really cool actually. I really admire the stuff that he does because he’s so genuine about it and he’s just doing it in his garage. Being able to hang out with Jono was really cool because he’s such a nice guy and I got to meet his dad and his mum and his little munchkin cat. I learnt so much from him. I had all the demos ready and I had pretty much mixed everything myself, in terms of the production, and I had a very clear idea of the sonic image of all the songs. He really understood where I came from and what I was thinking about and he just helped me actualise it.

H: I remember when I saw you play live, you use a whole lot of different instruments to do your samples and then to loop that – how many different instruments do you use on the live show?

R: Well I’m trying to cut back a little bit because it’s a bit hectic trying to carry everything around to shows. Generally I have a guitar, a little mini keyboard from when I was five – it sounds like a Nintendo game – a sampler, a loop pedal and different little toys that I’ve gotten from antique shows and flea markets. I really enjoy sampling different sounds, even glass bottles or little wooden knick-knack things and then trying to create intricate rhythmic patterns.

H: Is this whole idea of vintage and nostalgia really important for you?

R: Yeah I just really love looking at old things - I’m a bit of a hoarder. I love the general aesthetic of retro and a different era. When you see something from the past, it’s such an enigma; this moment from the past is just captured in this photograph or in this object. You’ve got all these memories, which are attached to this thing, and this thing has just transcended time and just exists, and will exist forever until it’s destroyed. I find that really intriguing. Memories and your identity are constantly shaped by how you remember the world; you’re experiencing the world through the past. But at the same time, even though I love looking at all this old stuff, I really like looking at new stuff, just really interesting forward thinking ways of doing things – like experimenting. What I enjoy doing is taking old stuff and doing weird stuff with it, trying to re-contextualise something from the past in a new form.

H: Like you’re demo cover, it’s made out of vintage fabric isn’t it?

R: Yeah I got them all from a vintage fabric shop on Crown Street.

H: You’ve also drawn the album artwork yourself, and I saw as well that you made a video?

R: Yeah a charcoal animation.

H: Man you’re just so talented. How important do you think it is to draw all those different creative outlets together?

R: I just enjoy it. The beauty about distributing your own CDs and stuff like that is that it’s really personal; you get to hand make everything. I think it’s important because it’s just what I enjoy - same with the animation. Growing up I’ve always been really interested in art as well as music and I see them as very closely linked – image and sound can work really closely together. You’ve got to do what you enjoy.

Footsteps Demo - Rainbow Chan

Buy tickets for Rainbow's EP launch this Wednesday here, alongside Domeyko/Gonzalez and Echo Chord.

Kharkov - Himalaya

2011-04-27T17:48:00.000+10:00

Photo: photoentropy

Running through the broken night streets of Berlin, escape is the goal. Fighting back all notions of fatigue, the clunky beat in Himalaya is the effort of your war-torn heart. The masochistic pleasures that have been found in your own misery. So you run. Repeatedly, steadily, slowly - running from the never-ending suffering that has riddled your body like a disease. Synth chords flutter with hope but before long all is silent - as you cease to experience the mind-numbing misery you've always known.

Kharkov is a fantastic Melbourne producer, Himalaya a track available for free download from his Soundcloud.

Himalaya - Kharkov

Genre: Electronic, minimal, IDM