SBTRKT ft. Little Dragon - Wildfire (RMX ft. Drake)

Little Dragon is the reason I found this song from SBTRKT. It is the perfect combination of indie and electronica. It begs the question "why isn't Little Dragon featured more as a guest vocalist?" As much as I love the collaboration, I never expected a further collaboration, or an improvement. The Remix featuring Drake is exactly that.



The original (pre-remix)

St. Vincent - "Digital Witness"

Most of the critics have rated all St Vincent's four albums but they lauded her fourth (self-titled) album with an overwhelming consensus. And I have to agree with every one of them. She never fails to surprise us with her quirky song structure, her revealing and sometimes humourous lyrics and brilliant guitar playing. An album that deserves to be played right through... no compromises.

Twerps - "I Don't Mind"

Someone recommended I check out this band called 'The Twerps' so I spotified them and couldn't believe my ears. I knew they were Aussies and that was the biggest surprise while listening. The reason was this... I thought I was listening to a Flying Nun compilation album. It turns out that is where they get their inspiration and they earn all the respect from the label in return. They are a combination of The Clean, The Verlaines and The Bats (in fact, you can add The Chills to the list). There is a sporting rivalry between us in New Zealand and the Aussies across the ditch, however, we have a mutual respect when it comes to music. I'm loving so much from over there at present (Courtney Barnett being the obvious favourite) and it's great to know there is an Aussie band that proudly reproduces the sound of our greatest indie label. The Twerps are proof that the Aussies are cool. Oh, one exception, their cricket team. Any non-Australian cricket fan will know exactly what I mean.

Courtney Barnett - "Pedestrian At Best"

Courtney Barnett has just released a new single "Pedestrian At Best", which is also a taste of what to expect from her forthcoming album 'Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit' to be released in late March. "Pedestrian At Best" has all the hallmarks we have loved about Courtney Barnett from the first time we heard her, the smart and funny lyrics, the wry delivery in her Aussie drawl, and the powerful music that accompanies all of that. Nothing short of pure magic. A much anticipated album - so until the album is released, sometimes I will sit and think about it, and sometimes I will just sit.

Hamell On Trial - "Don't Kill"

Hamell On Trial is Ed Hamell with his thrashed acoustic guitar. A genre is something that he defies, although most people would probably settle with the 'Folk-Punk' hybrid... after considering rant n' roll, speed-folk or any other combinations. He also comes across like a musical Bill Hicks or even Lenny Bruce - in Lenny's case, he has a similar laugh to rant ratio. I've already posted his "John Lennon" song on this blog but here is one that could be the closest thing to a pop song he has ever recorded. "Don't Kill" is a message from above that is far too clever to be preachy.