You might like: Arcade Eden

Signed to respected Indie label Ear Candy Music, Arcade Eden are built around brother and sister Clare and Lawrence, incorporating chiptune beats with solid basslines to produce music somewhere between a SNES game and rave in a field.

Even Rob Da Bank agrees, having awarded them a mainstage slot at his beloved Bestival out of a number of other IOW-based acts, propelling them further into the limelight

Obvious touchpoints are Crystal Castles and the electro triumvirate of Digitalism, Justice and Simian Mobile Disco, combining their stripped down beats with relentless energy and enthusiasm. Live Lawrence's darkly rumbling bass somewhat recalls Death From Above 1979's Jesse F. Keeler, coupled with Liam's danceable drums.

From the samples on display from their as-yet-untitled upcoming album, "One Night In Town" and "Know Your Enemies" are going to be early favourites.

Definitely worth checking out live, Arcade Eden are also due to play the unfortunately named Brownstock Festival in Chelmsford on July 11th, London Club Night We Don't Understand You on 6th August, and the aforementioned Bestival main stage set on the 11th September.

Myspace

Image shamelessly stolen from Myspace page without permission. Will be removed upon request.

Monday Mixtape 26/01/2009

Today's very lazy theme is the best tracks on 2008. Well, my favourite tracks. So ner.

DATE: 26/01/2009
THEME: Best tracks of 2008
LENGTH: 10 Tracks, 38:43

1. CRYSTAL CASTLES - Untrust Us (3:06) (Crystal Castles, Lies/Last Gang 2008)
2. METRONOMY - Heartbreaker (4:09) (Nights Out, Because Music 2008)
   
3. XX Teens - Darlin' (4:12) (Welcome To Goon Island, Mute 2008)
   
4. LATE OF THE PIER - The Bears Are Coming (3:23) (Fantasy Black Channel, Parlophone 2008)
   
5. BORN RUFFIANS - Hummingbird (3:08) (Red, Yellow & Blue, Warp 2008)
6. VAMPIRE WEEKEND - Walcott (3:41) (Vampire Weekend, XL 2008)
   
7. FOALS - Red Socks Pugie (5:08) (Antidotes, Transgressive 2008)
   
8. DEERHUNTER - Agoraphobia (3:22) (Microcastle, 4AD 2008)
   
9. BURIAL - After Dark (3:54) (Untrue, Hyperdub 2007 (but I don't care))
   
10. BECK - Chemtrails (4:40) (Modern Guilt, XL 2008)
    

This list is a bit similar to the first one I did. But I'm lazy. And I don't care who knows it.

Monday Mixtape 05/01/09

This is brand new feature for 2009 (ahamagad) whereby I create a mixtape every Monday (that I can be bothered) of what I've been listening to and/or what I think you should be listening to to appear cool to all of your friends.

Occassionally there will be various themes, but this will all depend on the amount of effort I can muster.

Also, the mixtape will only be 10 songs or 45 minutes, whichever comes first, to ensure minimum effort on my part.

DATE: 05/01/09
THEME: none
LENGTH: 10 tracks, 35:29

1. CRYSTAL CASTLES - Untrust Us (3:06) (Crystal Castles, Lies/Last Gang 2008)
2. GORILLAZ feat. BOOTIE BROWN - Dirty Harry (3:45) (Demon Days, Parlophone 2005)
3. DJ SHADOW - Mashin' On The Motorway (2:58) (The Private Press, MCA 2002)
4. BEASTIE BOYS - Shazam! (2:26) (To The 5 Boroughs, Capitol 2004)
5. FRIENDLY FIRES - Paris (4:00) (Friendly Fires, XL 2008)
   
6. BLACK LIPS - Veni Vidi Vici (2:26) (Good, Bad, Not Evil, Vice 2007)
7. BORN RUFFIANS - Hummingbird (3:08) (Red, Yellow & Blue, Warp 2008)
8. WEEZER - Pork & Beans (3:09) (Weezer [Red Album], Geffen 2008)
9. GRANDADDY - Jeez Louise (3:41) (Just Like The Fambly Cat, V2 2006)
10. ANIMAL COLLECTIVE - Fireworks (6:50) (Strawberry Jam, Domino 2007)

Next weeks mixtape will be on the theme of early 90s North American Indie Rock. Maybe.

SATISFACTORY ALBUMS OF TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT

The late late edition. I'm getting worse and worse at keeping up with this. I could blame many things for this. The current state of the Middle East, for example, distracting me from listening to new music and instead relying on my musical library to cheer me up. Everyone current excuse of "y'know, the credit crunch and all that" which, if I hear as a phrase one more time (even in the form of the BBC's cautiously optimistic "economic downturn" complete with mainly downward facing arrows) I'm gonna scream.

I could also blame the mountains of university which I have also clearly not completed, even a small amount, or the endless hours of shifting sportswear to the ironically overweight for pennys. But in reality, I'm just lazy. 2009 is ages away, I said to myself, why worry about it now? Erm...bugger.

So here it is, my Top 15 (extra 5 from last year!) especially for you jolly good people that I banged out in about 15 minutes between getting home, eating my dinner and procrastining until the red dawn light. Enjoy:

15: Atlas Sound - Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel
14: No Age - Nouns
13: Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
12: Portishead - Third
11: Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend Review

10: Born Ruffians - Red, Yellow & Blue Review
9: Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
8: Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles Review
7: Santogold - Santogold
6: British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music? Review

5: MGMT - Oracular Spectacular Review
4: Beck - Modern Guilt

3:

Foals - Antidotes
While my review didnt take particularly kindly to this album back in April, it has worked its way back to my affections on repeat play alone. There is something to be said about an album that I could sit there and listen to quite comfortably on more than one occasion. For a while it was my "go to" album of choice - what you listen when you can't think of anything else and are too impatient to use the shuffle function.

In April I criticised it, rightly, for not featuring Foals' two best tracks. Namely "Hummer" and "Mathletics"

2:

Deerhunter - Microcastles/Weird Era Cont.
Bradford Cox's second entry on this list, and none more deserved than for this fantastic album of shoegaze, noise and lo-fi perfection, with Weird Era Cont. winning the prize for best bonus disc of any album, possibly ever. But don't just take my word for it, read the original review here for the thoughts of me just one month ago. (or scroll down a bit)

1:

Metronomy - Nights Out
Joseph Mount's follow up to wonky debut Pip Paine finds his former solo moniker now including live partners Oscar Cash and Gabriel Stebbing this time around. And while the album has failed to reach the chart success it should, tracks such as "My Heart Rate Rapid" and "Heartbreaker" have proved dancefloor hits of their own.

If nothing else, Nights Out has blended pop themes and sensibilities with minimalist beats and an aching, awkward dancefloor noise.
Album Preview

Crystal Castles rip off?

Crystal Castles have been accused by a number of high profile Chip-tune artists (yeah I had no idea either) of ripping them off.

More specifically, remixing their songs without crediting them and for commercial gain.

From wikipedia:

"In mid-2008, Crystal Castles became focal in several plagiarism disputes. Pitchfork Media and The Torontoist published stories about Crystal Castles' use of Trevor Brown's artwork without permission. The image, depicting a black-eyed Madonna,^[23][7] was used by the band on merchandise, after being found on an "old flyer, without credit", with the hope "that the artist might reveal themselves and make contact".^[7] The band were also alleged to have plagiarised several songs from the chiptune community, including "Insecticon", which shares similarity with a song by Lo-bat called, "My Little Droid Needs a Hand", and were accused of "stealing the beat" from Covox's "Sunday", in the song "Love and Caring"."

Weird.

Anyway more posts soon, I swear, its all gone a bit quietly recently as I procastinate for exams and revision, etc.

Reading/Leeds Festival Line-up reaction UPDATE! Part 3

NME/RADIO ONE STAGE ADDITIONS
READING SUNDAY
THE MUSIC
Hey remember us, you guys? When sounding like Kasabian was still cool? What do you mean that never happened?

HADOUKEN!
I would be tempted if I didn't feel as if I'd be woefully out of place here. I really didn't like "That Boy, That Girl", was only mildly interested in "Liquid Lives", and not been turned by anything I've heard since, but they are named after a move from Street Fighter. Hmm, decisions.

LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION
Test Icicles were arses, really. With songs like "Weezer vs. Foo Fighters" and "Boa vs. Python", their only release For Screening Purposes Only, was pretty shocking, only made up for the fact that their label signed them because they though they were going be like Franz Ferdinand. Anyway, regardless, they were amazing fun live, so much so that hearing them play actual songs was a great dissapointment. Lets hope that this, Dev Hynes' solo project, is a bit better musically.
CAJUN DANCE PARTY
They were one of my "bands to drop everything and see" last year but they turned out to be a bit wank in the "playing live" department. With an album newly released and another (apparently) on the way, lets hope their show has improved a little bit.

ADAM GREEN
Former member of the Moldy Peaches, Adam is touring his new album Sixes and Sevens.

YEASAYER
One of a clutch of a new wave of "experimental" American Indie bands alongside MGMT and Grizzly Bear, continuing the good work of their predecessors. Should be fun.

THE METROS
Sub-razorlight, sub-kooks, sub-kings cross rent boys all over cack, unfortunately from my neck of the woods, Saaarff Laandan.

I will not be covering the Lock-Up stage because I don't anything about it. It's unlikely that I will venture in there, but this does not mean I think it is all rubbish, just that I'm not that bothered. Or something.

DANCE STAGE
READING SUNDAY
CSS
Looks like I have someone to see instead of Metallica and The Cribs. CSS will have released their second album "Donkey" by then, which reportedly has a much more serious and rocky sound. The song "Rat Is Dead (Rage)" is availiable from their website now.
Can't wait to Hear: Their brilliant cover of L7's "Pretend We're Dead"

DIGITALISM
The German duo return to Reading to play another blistering set. I'd heartily recommend their album "Idealism" for any Daft Punk fans, or anyone who think Simian Mobile Disco are better than Justice.
Can't Wait to Hear: "Anything New"

SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO
So, the album was a bit weak, and the above mentioned Idealism was far better, but apparently these guys do a really good show and may well be a bit of a laugh. Their remixes are certainly better than their original stuff, anyway.
Can't Wait to Hear: Any of their remixes.

CHROMEO
These guys are a bit odd, and after two albums of their electrofunk stylings, they are still going strong. Fancy Footwork is the more recent, and the better of the two.
Can't Wait To Hear: "Fancy Footwork"

CRYSTAL CASTLES
The Canadian duo of Ethan Kath and Alice Glass return to the Dance stage with the new album under their belt. Apparently they are awesome live.
Can't Wait To Hear: "Knights"

LETHAL BIZZLE
Funfact: I saw Lethal Bizzle the other day having a waterfight outside the Wedgewood Rooms ahead of his gig later that night.

HOLY FUCK
These improvising electronic Canadians are said to put on an amazing live show, and having missed them twice already, I really want to see what they can do.

THE WHIP
After a string of singles, the Manchester electro-poppers released their debut album "X Marks Destination" not long ago. It's alright, but is a bit too much White Rose Movement and not enough Rapture.

ROBOTS IN DISGUISE
This trio of Mighty Boosh extras (Dee Plume is dating Noel Fielding and the entire band have appeared in both the series and the Live tour) are apparently in a band. And have released 3 albums. Who knew?

THE SHOES
Not a clue + laziness = end of post!

ALBUM REVIEW: Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles

They've been around a little bit, the electronic duo of Ethan Kath and Alice Glass, and have split opinions for almost as long.

Tied inexplicably to the "new-rave scene", these guys are way more rave than the noisy art-punk of Klaxons et al, complete with a DIY punk ethic and the drugged-up pretention of a band who think they are better than everyone else.

Recent heavy promotion, including a small cameo part on Skins and an NME tour headliner slot means they are certainly being pushed for the big time. But make no mistake, this is Ethan's band.

Take "Alice Practice", which is the song they played on Skins and arguably their biggest track to date. The story goes that 18 year old vocalist was testing the mic and recording equipment by shouting obscurely worded lyrics and had no idea she was being recorded. Ethan then fitted a backing track around et voila, a song is born. In a recent interview in respected and hate-filled paper The Stool Pigeon showed that the relationship between Alice and the significantly older Ethan is a strange combination of Woody Allen and his "muses" and a twisted familial relationship of older brother and fightened younger sister.

Alice is not allowed to talk, and presumably is allowed little creative control over this album, which incidentally is the sound made by a dying 90s video arcade as the last forlorn teenager runs out of pound coins for the Street Fighter machine, and promptly kicks the shit out of it. Even the band is named after an old Atari game (that Wikipedia will lead you too should you search for "Crystal Castles").

Unsurprisingly, the album also contains "chipped" remixes of some songs, but under different names. "Crimewave" is creditted as "Crystal Castles vs. Health", "Vanished" samples Van She and opening track "Untrust Us" heavily uses old DFA1979 track "Dead Womb" (itself based on some sampling).

However the standout track for em, alongside a few slightly weaker ones, is former Kitsune maison resident "Knights", featuring Alice's despairing vocals, for once not distorted as much as on the rest of the album, where they are altered to the point that Ethan truly does exercise total control over the album.

What shocked me the most about this post-apocalyptic Arcade Fire (event, not band) is how fun it is. I can't listen to the retro stylings of "1991" without being reminded of the similar nostalgia-synth of Chromeo and just grinning. "XXZXCUZZ Me" (a remix of one of their own tracks) is literally the sound of a SNES being born, not from a factory, but screaming from the pregnant cartridge slot of another Super Nintendo.

It's not all great, and tracks like "Love and Caring" are an aural air strike of beeps and bips. But there's more than enough good stuff here to make up for it.

I expected pretention, and there is a fair heap of that, but on the whole what struck me is that past the polished, even hostile exterior of the band, and many of the tracks, Ethan and Alice are having a massive laugh with what they are doing.

8/10

Crystal Castles is out in the UK on the 28th April