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.