Dum Dum Girls - "Bedroom Eyes"

"Bedroom Eyes" was a single from the second Dum Dum Girls album 'Only In Dreams' from 2011. It's not so much a love song - but more of a missing you while I'm touring song. Dum Dum Girls are like a modern day Shangri-Las or Ronettes. In fact, Phil Spector's finger prints are all over "Bedroom Eyes" so I would like to know where he was when they were in the studio recording this... oh, that's right, we know where he was.

Elis Regina & Tom Jobim - "Aguas de Março"

When I found the 'Elis Regina & Tom Jobim' album at Borders quite a few years ago, it was like gold.... this was just before downloading. Young music lovers have got it so good now. Although, the prize was always better after a hard battle.
Elis Regina & Tom Jobim released the 'Elis & Tom' album in 1974. A project initiated by Elis Regina after she had always wanted to record an album of Antonio Carlos Jobim songs with the man himself. Luckily for us, her wish was granted. She was the Queen of Brazilian music (most genres) and he was the King of Bossa Nova. "Aguas de Março" is the playful opening track and from this alone, it was clear they were hitting it off in the studio. This album is worthy of any collection and at least you won't have to go to the effort I went to... sorte você!

Breaks Co-Op - "The Otherside"

This is such a good summer song - so I've started adding it to Bitter FM playlists again. Breaks Co-Op, featuring Zane Lowe and Hamish Clark, released their debut album 'Roofers' in 1997 and had a minor hit "Sound Advice." After a bit of a break and a move to the UK, they added vocalist Andy Lovegrove to the line up and released 'The Sound Inside' album in 2005. The single "The Otherside" was one of the hits of our summer. By this time Zane Lowe had already established his career as a DJ on BBC's Radio 1. In fact, Zane Lowe was part of hip-hop band 'Urban Disturbance' before forming Breaks Co-Op... I've added one of their songs below as well.



Urban Disturbance

Ruby Frost and Mt Eden - "Oh That I Had"

"Oh That I Had" is one of those songs that regularly got the "who's this?" question, when first added to Bitter FM playlists. Mt Eden started out as Mt Eden Dubstep and eventually dropped the Dubstep from their name. Ruby Frost released her debut album 'Volition' in 2012 and "Oh That I Had" was one of her early songs that made it on the album. Mt Eden released this version on their 'Meds' EP. Probably the most restrained song from a Dubstep band.

Dulciana featuring Little Lapin - "Above the Clouds"

Here in New Zealand we don't have, and never have had, a local music quota for radio. However, there was a voluntary code of 20% introduced in 2006 but by then radio was close to that target anyway... a huge step forward from the less than 2% played in 1995. The university stations were always playing a minimum of 20% Kiwi music anyway, so to most alternative music fans it was in their blood. I was jealous of the Australians who introduced a quota way back and the dividends were eventually paid out... but once we got over our cultural cringe, we eventually caught up. Obviously the quality improved as our confidence grew. Part of the success without a quota was the introduction of NZ Music Month and the Kiwi Hit Disc. The NZ Music Month was something university radio promoted and it grew into a national campaign that the commercial stations supported. In fact, it's not just the cool people wearing the NZ music month T-shirts any more. The Kiwi Hit Disc is part of NZ On Air, a government funded scheme to support locally produced music and television (formerly the broadcasting license most people didn't pay). It is a monthly CD (now double) sent out to radio stations with current NZ songs to encourage them to play. All genres are covered, with a good selection of alternative music that Bitter FM has received with much appreciation.... but we aren't satisfied with just that, we go out of our way to find all the good stuff from all corners of the two islands. The latest edition of the Kiwi Hit Disc is #156 and the current fave from it, on Bitter FM, is "Above the Clouds" by Dulciana featuring Little Lapin. NZ On Air/Irirangi Te Motu.

Gangstagrass - "Honey Babe" featuring Brandi Hart and Dolio The Sleuth

I'm still loving the 'Rappalachia' album by Gangstagrass. As I have mentioned on an earlier post featuring this gangsta rap and bluegrass hybrid, they are too good to be filed under the novelty category, even if the concept seems that way. On "Honey Babe" we have Brandi Hart from bluegrass band 'The Dixie Bee-liners' from the grass side and Dolio the Sleuth from the gangsta side... coming together like a couple having their wedding reception at a bluegrass bar in the Bronx.

The Rolling Stones - "Hot Stuff"

The perfect song for a hot summer, even if the song isn't actually about summer or hot weather... it's all in the title and that will do for me.

Wasp Factory - Steel Blue Skies

For years and years Beat Rhythm Fashion's "Beings Rest Finally" was the lost Kiwi classic that was near impossible to find, if you didn't have the 45rpm single. Well, that was until a few years ago when it was part of a re-issue CD, which contained their full catalogue. So the ultimate lost classic now goes to Gisborne band Wasp Factory with the sensational song "Steel Blue Skies" from their 1987 'Hick-Hate' EP. I have "Steel Blue Skies" on a vinyl compilation album 'Positive Vibrations' and I promise to convert it to a digital file and add it to Bitter FM playlists soon. Eureka!

Lower Dens - Nova Anthem

Baltimore indie band Lower Dens released their second (I will leave 'sophomore' to the real critics) album 'Nootropics' last year and after my first listen, the comparison was Radiohead at their most experimental stage, maybe 'Kid A' but with some dream pop-ness a-la Baltimore's finest 'Beach House' thrown in. One of the pleasant surprises of 2012.



I love this acoustic version

Pixies - "Is She Weird"

"Is She Weird" is from the Pixies' third album 'Bossanova' released in 1990... it was the follow up to their groundbreaking 'Doolittle' album. It was a hard act to follow and some fans were a little disappointed (no Kim Deal songs was a valid reason). However, over time the album has proved to be another classic, more than likely, a victim of their own success with the previous album. "Is She Weird" has the Pixies quiet-loud signature style going on... the verses are practically whispered by Black Francis.

My Bloody Valentine - "Only Tomorrow"

It's valentine's day and this blog is my opportunity to express my love to my valentine.... this romance started more than 20 years ago. These days I call her MBV - but when we first met, I respectfully, called her by her full name 'My bloody Valentine' and while people thought our relationship was 'Loveless' all those years ago, the old flame is certainly flickering again.

Sola Rosa - "Spinning Top" ft L.A Mitchell

Sola Rosa's latest album 'Low and Behold, High and Beyond' follows on where 'Get It Together' left off... genre melding - with a mix of soul, funk, downbeat, reggae, hip-hop and jazz - and a eclectic bunch of guest vocalists. The funky soul single "Spinning Top" features the vocals of L.A Mitchell. It's the type of song that suits every occasion... Bitter FM on Friday night or Sunday afternoon, a club in the early hours or in the evening sun with a Becks in hand. You pick the moment and sola Rosa will create the atmosphere.



Check out the K Lab remix below

The Babies - "Baby"

New York band 'The Babies' started as a side project for Cassie Ramone from The Vivian Girls and Kevin Morby from Woods after they met at a party. Now more fully realised with the release of their second album 'Our House on the Hill' late last year, it's time for them to be taken seriously. "Baby" is a dreamy pop song with some unconventional charm.

Fly My Pretties - "Oh Fair Moonlight"

The Loop Recordings' collaborative project 'Fly My Pretties' released the second album of the series 'The Return of Fly My Pretties' in 2006. This time it was kicked off with Module's "Oh Fair Moonlight" - a beautiful piano piece that set the tone.

The Ramones - "Blitzkrieg Bop"

"Blitzkrieg Bop" was The Ramones' debut single released in 1976, the same time their self titled debut album came out. The "Blitzkrieg" from the title translates to "Lightning War" and the "Bop" possibly comes from the marching of Hitler's army. Anyway, it's pure Rock n' Roll with cheerleader style chanting. I can only imagine the mosh pit when they played this at their peak. The "Hey, Ho, Let's Go!" chant has now been adopted by the New York Yankees fans at Yankee Stadium. The most surprising thing about "Blitzkrieg Bop" is the inspiration behind the chant - which was "Saturday Night" by Scottish bubblegum band 'The Bay City Rollers.' So does that mean The Bay City Rollers had a part to play in the birth of punk rock?



The Bay City Rollers - "Saturday Night"

Youth Lagoon - "Dropla"

Fans of Youth Lagoon's debut album 'The Year of Hibernation' would be pleased to learn his follow up album 'Wondrous Bughouse' is due in March and a track "Dropla" was put up on SoundCloud as a taster. In fact, don't even finish reading this blog... go there now and download it. No wait, I've pasted it below for you.
This is my latest obsession - it has many of the elements that I like about music. The high end of the piano notes is one, the fragile vocals is another... and despite the positive nature of the chorus, it has a darkness about it, another essential element. Whether you have got this far or not, "Dropla" should be in your iTunes library now.

Foxygen - "San Francisco"

Californian indie rock duo 'Foxygen' released their second album (if you count their lengthy debut EP as an album) 'We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic' a week or two ago. The album was produced by Richard Swift, who is credited for discovering them. 'We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic' features the single "San Francisco" which contains a variety of influences... and a dreamy chorus that gets answered by the guest vocalist "I left my love in San Francisco (that's okay, I was bored anyway)."
If this was a cocktail called San Francisco (I don't care if there already is a cocktail called San Francisco), it would contain 2 parts 60's Kinks, a dash of 70's Raspberries, and topped up with indie ice... shaken not stirred.

Monte Video - "Shoop Shoop, Diddy Wop"

This 1982 one hit wonder seemed to be nothing more than a memory... well, until it ended up on youtube. And now I'm wondering if I should've kept it as a distant memory.

Television - "Marquee Moon"

Ten minutes... long time or short time?
Long time if you watch the news on TV and sit through the 10 minute ad breaks.
Long time if you listen to commercial radio and get about 10 minutes of music between the ads every hour (cynical me).
Short time when on a coffee break.
Long time in basketball when the last minute of play actually takes about 10 minutes.
Long time if watching Titanic.. the first 10 minutes, the second 10 minutes and so on.
Short time if listening to Television's "Marquee Moon" because that guitar is sensational. After about 9 minutes when it has that faux start, you wish it was starting all over again.