 Sounds Like |
Icesixxx is an electronica artist, based out of Belgium.
I will have to confess, I did not expect much from the album he sent me called MeKaNiKaLZ, but when I listened to it (all of last week) I have to say: this guy is really good. You can check out (and download) some of his song off myspace. He even offers MeKaNiKaLZ (his debut album) via a torrent.
I asked him to tell a little about him and how he got into music:
I'm a 34 years old guy. I come from a musicians family: my parents had an instruments shop in the little city of Verviers, Belgium. So, there's always been a lot of music and musicians at home. At my teens, the feeling to create music was strong. I did several rock bands as singer. But after several years of hard work, including tens of shows, recording sessions, the ego of my musicals partners made the band to split. I was a little bit confused then. On the side of all this, I've been a stage technician for a decade.
So what takes me to electronic music? First, as I have always listened to all kind of music and, taking lessons of my past experiences, I wanted to explore new horizons. Daft Punk and The Prodigy pushed me to do it. Secondly, the envy to control the whole process of making music. I don't have to ask permission to change things in a tune, or have to call each other to make an arrangement for rehearsal. Thirdly, I always have been a computer geek. I've always been in recording and mixing software. I really started five years ago learning new music production softwares like Cubase, Reason, Ableton Live. It was a revelation for me. So many possibilities, a kind of absolute freedom of creation.
- Icesixxx
Of all the songs on the album, the most recognizeable track is "Pacman's Revenge", which uses that famous 8-bit music from the video game. He loops the sampled music and added a few other arrangement and it sort of becomes a dance song - simply addictive.
"MeKaNiKaLZ" the title song has a very nice build up. It keeps building until you hear this violin part.
I would've chosen "SweetMood" as the song of choice, but I asked him to pick his favorite song he said it was "CommodoreSixxx". So that's the song that I've chose to represent this article.
I would recommend that you listen to these songs with good headphones, because there are a lot of complex layers of sound.
Look for Icesixxx's remixes on other artists, including "When Angels Sleep" remix for a Bulgarian/Belgian band called Jailhouse Chili. MeKaNiKaLZ is available now - for free.
02/26/2008 22:41:47 vu my♥posts 
uber.com/icesixxx myspace.com
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03/29/08 the Redhouse - Sheffield
05/24/08 Ladyfest Mülheim 07/05/08 Queeruption 11 - Rome |
Kristofski Kabuki is an Electropop musician from Cardiff, Wales. I have his demo CD, which I'm calling it This Demo Belongs to WeHeartMusic as that last bit was written in by hand. Possibly by Kristofski, himself, or at least his secretary.
There are only four tracks, and the last song is listed as "Keeponmovin'" as a cover of 5ive. Since I've not brushed up on my boy-band, I had to look up the song... which you can hear "Keep on Movin'" on their myspace.
Of course, just imagine Kristofski Kabuki channeling five fabulous young handsome boys. He's not trying to make fun of them, it feels like he's actually trying to do a decent cover. And he seems quite proud of it too.
I noticed that he is going to include this song, as well as a Meatloaf song on his cover-mini album called Kristofsi Kabuki Plays the Hits.
The other song to check out the gay adventure song, "Pink Moon", which is available on his myspace.
He's doing some live dates, which I'll include here. He seems like a fun act, dressing up with a tiger suit and some 80s athletic wear.
Please watch the video as I talk about this EP and its artwork.
02/26/2008 21:48:12
vu
my♥posts
kristofskikabuki.com
myspace.com
| Tour Dates
02/26/08 Fortified Winter Antifolk Festival 2008 @ The Sidewalk Cafe New York
04/04/08 The Troubadour London |
Goodtimes Goodtimes is basically Franc Cinelli, who plays something he calls "alt-folk". His debut album is called Glue (which I think was released in 2007), which I was only offered a few songs his website.
Although he's Italian, he did grow up in London, so his songs only have a British accent. Between the four songs I have, I think with its jangly acoustic guitars, I liked "Kids" the best.
The song seems to be about the young kids and their carefree life, and about love. It even ends with some strange piano noise.
He's currently in New York, playing around the area, but will be heading back to London in April at the Troubadour. Goodtimes Goodtimes's Glue album is out now.
02/25/2008 02:24:14
vu
my♥posts
goodtimesgoodtimes.co.uk
myspace.com
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Tour Dates
02/28/08 Choice Music Prize,Vicar St Dublin
03/07/08 Craic Festival, New York 03/08/08 Canadian Music Week, Toronto 03/10/08 Neutral Bar, Toronto 03/12/08 SXSW Ninety Proof Lounge, Texas 03/13/08 SXSW BD Riely’s, Austin, Texas 03/14/08 SXSW Austin Con Centre, Texas |
Delorentos are a rock band from Dublin, Ireland. It looks like they've released at least six singles/EPs and one debut album (In Love With Detail, 20 April 2007). They were kind enough to provided me with one song from their Basis of Everything EP.
The song starts off really slow and quiet, but when it picks up (exactly at the 1 minute mark), it's pretty good. I definitely like the energy and the guitar work on the later half of the song.
Their biography lists The Pixies, The Cure, The Clash, and Arcade Fire as influences, so you get the idea of what they sound like. The bio also lists that their biggest hit to date is their The Rules single, which debut at an impressive #14 on the Irish Singles Chart in 2006.
It looks like they're playing a few dates in Canada and the US (of course SXSW). You can preview some of their songs on website and add them on myspace.
02/25/2008 00:09:45
vu
my♥posts
delorentos.net
myspace.com
Tour Dates |
Arianna Solare, a singer from Los Angeles, California, released her debut EP called Book Of Us sometime late last year.
Looking at her myspace, I thought she is a one-woman folk singer, but this EP has a full backing band of Angelo Vermuelen (guitars), Henrik Linde (bass), Chris Steele (drums), Brent Arnold (cello), and Dan Trollinger (piano).
This, of course, made for a really nice polish sound. You can hear the subtle cello in "Lift Me Up", and even hear Solare breathes and sighs in the song as she sings: "The Gods, they must be crazy/to put us here like this."
According to the quote below, this was written at a time when she questioned her beliefs:
"Lift Me Up" is written at a time when I was questioning the sanity of creation in regards to the irony that life offers. It is a song of intention, an almost chant-like plea to the gods with its repetition "gonna lift me up, gonna lift me up". I first wrote it on acoustic guitar in an almost sweetness with a flamenco flare.
It seems all these songs are written from her experiences, and if you listen carefully, you'll be able to piece together her life's story.
The most personal song is probably "Are You Coming with Me", with its mini-biography: how she left school when she was fifteen to her tattoos and scars.
Arianna Solare's Book Of Us EP is on sale now, and as of this writing, you can download it via iTunes. If you need a physical CD, I suggest you write to her management and request it.
She's currently playing a few live dates, so check her out if you're in the area. Maybe she'll play her cover song, "The Last Day of Our Acquaintance" (one of my favorite Sinead O'Connor songs).
02/24/2008 22:44:10
vu
my♥posts
ariannasolare.com
myspace.com
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Télépathique are a dance groove/big beat/DJ duo consisting of
Mylene (who does all the vocals) and Erico Theobaldo (who handles all
the drums, turntables, and various programming), based out of São
Paulo, Brazil.
I believe they are already a big hit throughout Europe and their hometown with their album Last Time on Earth (2006), but Americans will finally hear about them through their debut North American single: Love & Lust to be release March 18 on The Control Group.
Clearly, the best song on this 4-track single is "Eu Gosto", which I believe was not the single because it's too long to be considered for radio airplay (plus it's sung in Portuguese). Instead, the marketing people are smart enough to use "Love and Lust" as the lead song, even though I think it's not as superior as "Eu Gosto".
I'm glad that I'm not the only person that really dig "Eu Gosto" because apparently the group film a video for this song since they probably feel it's a good dance song. The video is pretty amateurish with a lot of low-light (or even no light) shots, but it doesn't matter because it adds to this kind of simple lifestyle.
The other two tracks, "Deja-Vu" are the original and remix of the song. I find that the lack of (or at least very little use of) vocals from Mylene made them less desirable as "single" songs, but their intention is really for the rave/dance floor. The remix is actually pretty good, it's twice as long but the beats per minute will keep you stomping faster and faster until it abruptly stops.
So enjoy "Love & Lust", it's bound to be a big hit with radio and clubs all across America. At least I hope so. You can pick up the EP for a $5 at Control Group.
Watch the video for "Eu Gosto":
02/24/2008 14:42:00
vu
my♥posts
myspace.com/telepathique
I have The Black Crowes's Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution 1-track radio promo here. There's really not a whole lot to write about when you're just given one song to listen to.
The good news is that if you like old The Black Crowes, this song sounds exactly like what they sounded like on their quadtriple southern blues/rock album, Shake Your Moneymaker - which is not a bad thing at all if you dislike change.
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"Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution" seems slightly too long to be radio friendly, but it's actually perfect, clocking just over 4 minutes. Maybe it's the repetitive "Doncha wanna see the ship go down with me" at the end that stretches it out too long for me.
It's hard to talk about this song without going back to reflect on their massive hit single, "Hard to Handle" from 1990. Which I don't think people knew it was a cover of an Otis Redding song.
What I think made the song such a big hit was more or less their rock interpretaton.
I absolutely love it when the song slightly pause and these lines are sung:
Hey little thing, let me light your candle
Cause mama I'm sure hard to handle
Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution is the lead-single from The Black Crowes's much-anticipated album, Warpaint with a street date of March 4, 2008.
02/24/2008 12:22:51
vu
my♥posts
www.blackcrowes.com
Tour Dates
02/27/08 11st St Bar New York, New York
03/04/08 EP Release Date 03/06/08 Two Boots Bridgeport, CT 03/08/08 TBA ATHENS 03/09/08 TBA MEMPHIS 03/11/08 TBA NEW ORLEANS 03/12/08 The Wave Austin, TX 03/14/08 SXSW Austin, TX 03/17/08 TBA NEW ORLEANS 03/18/08 TBA BIRMINGHAM 03/19/08 LIVE ON WNCW Spindale, NC 03/20/08 TBA ATHENS 03/21/08 New French Bar Asheville, NC 03/22/08 Westville Pub Asheville, NC
Discography
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W♥M favorites Saint Bernadette have a new EP called I Wanna Tell You Something... to be released March 17th (although the street date announced on their myspace is closer to March 4th). Please refer to my original article to read about the band.
It looks like they (and EVERY other band!) are going to be playing at SXSW this year as well as a few unconfirmed dates.
So, the EP is a pretty smooth listening experience, before you know it, the single has ended. Although their album, In the Ballroom had some jazz influences, there's less of that on this single, which mainly has pop/rock songs and some 60s influences (but with a modern twist).
The song "I Wanna Tell You Something" is very much a contrast to "In Between", which opens the single. The later is clearly the single, with its sweeping epic chorus, while former is a little more low-key and doesn't feel like it should drive the single. Instead "I Wanna..." is a great song to end the single, which makes a lot of sense that they kept this song as the last track.
The song that really stood out for me is "Hard to Believe" which is a quick (under 3 minute) song with some very saucy femmes fatale lyrics:
No man ever left me
No man ever would
No man ever left me
No man ever could
...
No man ever kept me
No man have time
No man ever kept
Even if I left the line
Unfortunately, I couldn't find any details for you to buy the EP on their record label, Exotic Recordings. I suspect it because it's not available to buy yet - although I am almost certain if you wrote them an email expressing interest, they would be more than happy to send you more details. Tell them W♥M sent you!
Look for I Wanna Tell You Something... in March. You should also keep your eyes and ears on another yet-untitled EP which features duet covers between Brian Grosz and Meredith DiMenna. Planned covers includes: Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, Tom Waits & Crystal Gail, Morrissey & Siouxsie Sioux (Interlude originally by Timi Yuro), Tricky & PJ Harvey, and Elvis & Ann Margaret.
02/23/2008 11:15:03
vu
my♥posts
www.saintbernadettemusic.com
myspace.com
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