Not on the Guest List

Hey B.C. - Proud Parents @ 1/2ALIVE tonight!

I got into Vancouver on Wednesday at 5 and in less than two hours had two DJ gigs booked for me and my "pal MEG." As it goes, our former incarnation of Party All the Time died for our sins and we are now to be known as Proud Parents. Expect us to drop our current moniker in about three DJ gigs for a symbol that has yet to be decided upon as of yet.
So why Proud Parents? Because that's how we act with the bands we love. We screencap their accomplishments such as appearing in Myspace's Top Artists or on the frontpage of the site and proclaim their every achievement to anyone who will listen.

Anywaysss - occasional iheartcomix  blogger My!Gay!Husband! hooked us up with a slot at his Thursday night shindig Blastramp. While Jason's away, the blogging ladies will DJ. We got down on it with the help of my new favorite person Zia of Crooks & Gunn. Two minutes after meeting him he agreed to help us out after 1/2ALIVE's TonyX was all slow in showing up at the Burbon. See, we're not totally confident when it comes to Serato and need a chaperon. Zia fulfilled that duty and went way beyond. He rocks!

Tonight we play a 40 minute set at 1/2ALIVE where Meg is the resident photog.

Come out and dance! And if you're not in the Vancouver area, you can download a podcast version of our set last night:

Download Proud Parents do Blastramp MP3

"Heartbeat" - Late of the Pier
"22 Grand Job" - The Rakes
"Weekends And Bleak Days" - The Young Knives
"Lust in the Movies" - The Long Blondes
"New Violence" - White Williams
"Chick Habbit" - April March
"Hey Ya!" - Outkast
"Love Rollercoaster" - Ohio Players

Tonight's forthcoming set will be up soon too! Dance it up with us at Richard's on Richards tonight (do I even have to tell you to skip NOFX) and then relive it via podcast in tomorrow's blog post hahaha

Pop n' Fresh Podcast

(god I love cutting up paper)

It's been a while since I last did a podcast hasn't it? I find the title of this one extra enjoyable since I compiled it four months ago, making it not so fresh, but I think this one is actually still pretty fresh as I still can listen to it four months on and not be bored. After spending Saturday hopping on moving freight trains and taking photos with Devin Lucid, he mentioned me making a mixtape for him. I already had this playlist, so I thought I'd post it. Content by request? Kinda. I still haven't blogged about Bon Iver in Portland as a Mr. Douglas Martin suggested before the event occurred, but some Justin Vernon love should be making its way onto this site shortly... Any other post requests? For serious.

And though I'll probably tailor Devin a mix cd - like a physical one - not a muxtape, podcasts are back. Expect to find a Easter Egg exclusive mix over here next week. 

Here's the tracklist for Pop n' Fresh. Hope you have some listening and dancing fun! Pay extra special attention to the last track.

"Happiness" - Metronomy Goldfrapp Remix Featuring The Teenagers
"Fass" - Thieves Like Us
"Broken (fairy lights mix)" - Late Of The Pier
"trådlös sewingmachine" - 50hertz
"Stuck On Repeat" - Little Boots
"The Sex Has Made Me Stupid" - Robots In Disguise
"Geto Boys" - Glass Candy
"Speakerphone" - Kylie Minogue
"C.Y.O.A. (Lauren Flax Remix)" - Heartsrevolution
"Great DJ (Calvin Harris Remix)" - The Ting Tings
"TMFC" - Breakfast Mountain

>> Download Pop n' Fresh Podcast (46:21 in MP3 format) <<

"Happiness" - Metronomy Remix of Goldfrapp Featuring The Teenagers
SO SICK. Granted I've blogged this song twice, but one thing I didn't mention in either post is how this file came titled, which was as "Metronomix.' Has there ever been a more accurate descriptor of a Metronomy remix? Cos it's never just a 'remix" in the traditional sense. The way he makes them is a style all his own...
Previously featured in two posts:
Pure Happiness
If I Made the Music Video: Happiness edition

"Fass" - Thieves Like Us
I enjoy how this track sounds like it's on the verge of descended into some major hook/melody shift and how that never comes which is possibly what's so brilliant about it. I spend most of the song in anticipation.
And as I mentioned in a SXSW post, the band is on the verge of signing. Stay tuned.

"Broken (fairy lights mix)" - Late Of The Pier
This band is just so freakin' exciting! All the songs are just so insanely varied and insanely consistent.
This song is a part of the latest Kitsune offering and is available as a free download from Late of the Pier's myspace.
When I first added this track to this playlist, I'd just stumbled upon the rest of their Zarcorp demoes that had languished in my inbox for some unknown reason since August last year so here's the demo version of "Broken" (MP3).
Related post:
Late of the Pier Chat, Video and "Choon"

"Trådlös Sewingmachine" - 50hertz
Even though I already subscribe to RadioZero podcasts in my itunes (it's the only blog I subscribe to via itunes) I needed proprietor Tyler Fedchuk's nudge to actually listen to this track as opposed to put it off and once I did, I was oh so happy.
You can download the tune as a part of Radio Zero podcast #46 or on its own on RadioZero.
Related post:
Blog Spotlight: RadioZero

"Stuck On Repeat" - Little Boots
The second this starts up I just see it sound-tracking a competitive figure skating program. I just see a female figure skater gliding backwards across the ice gathering speed just as this song does as she hugs the curves of the rink building to an inevitable awe-inspiring axel.
This song is already like a remix - not only due to its seven minute length, but the ambience too.
Olympics here this comes!
It was ALL OVER SXSW while I was in Austin, party to party it was being spun.

I recently interviewed Hot Chip for an upcoming Pitchfork feature, so OF COURSE I asked Joe about his production work for Miss Victoria. The relationship didn't end with this song as he's just done a new one for her! What he had to say about how this tune came to be was interesting. I don't know if it'll get included, but once the interview runs, I'll expand a little more on that here.
Related post:
Lightspeed Christmas
Have you already downloaded Victoria's first post-Dead Disco musical stylings? No - not her Little Boots stuff, but her collab with Dev for his Lightspeed Champion X-mas EP? She tapped the ivory for two tracks on the EP. Visit the post to download.

"The Sex Has Made Me Stupid" - Robots In Disguise
Is it sad to be jealous of a song title? Not because it was nabbed first, but because of the situation it represents? hahaha

"Geto Boys" - Glass Candy
This was a free download on their myspace last summer. For a while they were changing up their myspace player (where all tracks are free) every couple months. The ones they currently have up have been there since at least November. Visit and download!
Related posts:
Linoleum and Glass Candy

"Speakerphone" - Kylie Minogue
Perez Hilton predicted this would be a single, but alas, her label seems to be picking every song that isn't this.

"C.Y.O.A. (Lauren Flax Remix)" - HEARTSREVOLUTION 
My fave UK artist Kate Moross is responsible for their visual stylings which is what initially drew me to this duo. God - her non-stop consistent output reminds me so much of So Me who I coincidentally had a dream about last night. He broke my heart, long imaginary story short.

Anywaysss, everyone and their brother compares HEARTSREVOLUTION to Crystal Castles and everyone and their brother that does seems to favor the former more of late.

"Great DJ (Calvin Harris Remix)" - The Ting Tings
This the only track I bothered to stay for when I saw the Ting Tings during SXSW. Now that they have that i-pod commercial though, they're suddenly more appealing. I really enjoy that tune so that exposure hasn't hurt them in my eyes, but of course my main attraction to this here remix was for the remixer's billing since it's Calvin Harris and all. Yes their prior tour affiliation with New Young Pony Club was trumped by my beloved Scottish boyfriend. I enjoy how their own merits as a band meant nothing when it came to my attraction to this track. It's all about the outside connections...

"TMFC" - Breakfast Mountain
He used to be called Kissin' which is possibly too awesome of a name and maybe that's why he changed it... Dope, dope, dope track. Aside from Easter Egg, Breakfast Mountain is who I'm most excited for in Portland! Cue up the spacey chords of Ratatat, throw on some tongue-in-cheek rapping or faint female vocals depending on the song, stir with some additional beats and you have Breakfast Mountain.

Breakfast Mountaineer Zach had himself a b-day party a couple weeks ago that he was also playing. It was meant to be my first live exposure to him, but alas I didn't make it in time for his set and only caught White Fang. No complaints there. Still, Zach and Boy Gorilla honcho Tyler Ferrin treated me to an acapella version of "TMFC." I sang along. It was awesome.
"Why you motherfuckers gotta playa hate?"

SXSW Day 2

(NERD=Highlight amongst many highlights of Day 2)

I woke up on Day Two asking what time it was the next day (definitely not morning).

1:45 was the reply.

"Shit! Dev is playing in 15 minutes!"

Luckily his Lightspeed Champion set was at the Urban Outfitters right by the University of Texas and our apartment just happened to be but blocks away as opposed to the mandatory bus ride and/or cab ride necessary to reach 6th Avenue where the majority of other SXSW activities were going on.

So we headed down after I threw on my Health shirt, jeans (purchased at Urban Outfitters none the less) and my new Saucony sneakers. Not a run, not a jog, but a brisk pace. We got there and couldn't quite figure out where he was. Did we somehow get the wrong Urban Outfitters even though plastered on the store's windows were bright notifications of a Lightspeed Champion set. A full length set might I add. I expected him to be performing in the ladies underwear section as Bloc Party had in 2005, but he was actually in the courtyard behind the store. He was like two songs in when Chloe and I made it out. I sat down and he immediately noticed me - waving and saying a quick quiet hello before then getting on with his performance.

Who should appear right after?! Why only Leia Jospe - my fave youthful New York event photog (and BrooklynVegan resident photog)! We've been flickr friends for years and we both share an abiding love of Test Icicles (pretty much our first connection on the photo-sharing site) so there was excitement to meet in person for the first time. Before the fest we talked about syncing up schedules and happily we continued to meet up time and time again throughout the fest, unplanned and planned for fun-tastic results to be revealed in my Day 3 post.

Dev's set was awesome. He had Mike his violinist which made me happy since it not only benefits the sound, but makes Dev a lot more comfortable to have company onstage. And guess what!?!?! Is this a first? HE DID NOT PLAY A SINGLE COVER!!!! Not even the Eugene McGuinness song that is so bonded to him it seems to appear in his sets more so than his own singles. But yeah - it still rocked. Afterwards I brought it up with him and it struck him as odd too that he'd failed to include a cover in his set.

"Never Met To Hurt You" (Good Shoes cover) Lightspeed Champion MP3 care of Who Killed the Mixtape?

So we gabbed and gabbed - it was really good seeing him again since I hadn't seen him since December. The last time we met up was to shoot his Christmas EP portraits in his flat the Big Chill and he has officially moved on from there (as has Simon) and is technically homeless, though it doesn't factor into his life all that much given he is on the road so much.

I asked if he was still planning to relocate to New York and while moving to the US by year end is still on the cards, his sights are decidedly more southern. Austin, TX in fact. We wants to get a house there in November to record his double album. Stay tuned. At year end he filled me in on all his plans for the double album. Granted time and plans shift, but if some stays the same, about a whole album's worth of material could carry vocals other than his own.

He said he'd get me into the impossible Q magazine party on Saturday (with Kate Nash) and we made casual plans to bump into each other at Press Here's party, but I totally dropped the ball on Saturday with calling him.

Edward Larrikin made his way over for a chat, at SXSW in support of his The Pan I Am project.

I snapped the two of them together then Chloe and I departed back to the apartment for memory card uploading and internet geekery. And guess what? We totally stayed in so freakin' long that we missed Be Your Own Pet's set at the Filter arty - one of my must sees. Thank god I saw them less than a week prior in Portland at the Doug Fir (my photos of the BYOP show on Pitchfork)

We did however make it over to the Filter party in time for Robyn. The second we got there who did I spy ahead of me? PEREZ HILTON, which was fairly predictable given who was "soon" to perform. I got a polaroid with him:

The people working the "door" (it was the top of an outdoor staircase) didn't even check the RSVP list and just doled out wristbands to anyone attempting to enter.

Robyn's set got underway quite later than billed to the point people surrounding me began questioning out loud to themselves whether they had read the schedule wrong and began assuring themselves that indeed they had and just happened to miscalculate her set time and that it was never supposed to be at 5. Well it was, but she didn't start until like 30-45 minutes later. It wasn't an entirely uncomfortable wait though. BYOP were gathered above her soundchecking band on an upper patio.

When it was time for Robyn to bounce down the staircase and rock the mic, she made it through one song before issues erupted. And you know what? Actually she didn't. While some of her bigger issues were able to wait until song number two, she actually had a little Ashlee Simpson lip-syncing issue about 30 seconds into song one. She dropped her mic and what is that I hear? She's still singing at the same volume? Her vocals for "Cobrastyle" (MP3) are still going? Robyn is lip-syncing? It must be said that she when picked the mic back up she made sure to ad-lib some vocals at a volume slightly higher than the choruses and such seemingly to prove she could sing in the live arena and that the vocals we heard while the mic was on the ground for too awkwardly long of a time were just for assistance - you know like how Uffie sings "live." Yeah...

Well all her programmed music decided not to work starting with song two so she abandoned her set list, took requests and performed SUPER stripped down numbers. The first up? "Show Me Love"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It picked up, got great and we headed out and over to the Fader Fort, but not before I decied that I would fo'sho be at her PDX show and then promptly bumping into Danny Masterson aka Hyde from That 70's show aka DJ MomJeans and Steve Aoki's current bitch. By bitch I mean Franki Chan replacement. Wait - this isn't coming out right. Or maybe it is...

Danny was very pleasant with zero pretentiousness present.

HipsterRunoff celebrated his birthday. I recommend that if you didn't receive an invite, you get in late on the party by checking out the post, though I hope/suspect you already have.

Let's speed this up shall we? I don't have too many photos from the following because my iphoto messed up and didn't save my photos and I deleted my memory card before realizing this truth. Single tear(s).

So yeah - we made it over to the Fader Fort where a Lou Reed tribute was well underway. We caught Joseph Arthur with a chick who he introduced in a way that I couldn't tell if she was apart of his regular band or a guest star for the day. She reminded me of Metric's Emily Haines, former girlfriend of Simon White (I'm gonna see if I can find a way to mention him in all my SXSW posts seeing as I'm seemingly on a roll having mentioned him in my Day 1 post. This task is underway for no reason at all other than I am weird). They played two songs.

My Morning Jacket played one song.

I hadn't seen them since Quart Festival in Norway in 2005. They were great, but said absolutely nothing and ran - literally ran - offstage. So abruptly that it kind of erased their entire two minute performance we'd just witnessed. An announcer came on and said it was because they had to rush to another gig.

Thurston Moore played one song. I have never seen either him solo or Sonic Youth live before (let alone ever heard a Sonic Youth song. Yeah. I just heard my first Captain Beefheart song a week ago. I'm well behind) and was a bit surprised by how into it he was. Like I think for being as into it as he was that he must be to a certain extent higher than most performers in all the performances he gives, but I'm really thinking he went above and beyond during his Fader Fort set. He jumped into the crowd, momentarily crowd surfed and then returned to the stage in a state of undress to make good with his amp and indulge in a relationship of non-gratuitous feedback.

In the mean time between every set Fluo Kids played on which was a little weird to be honest. Sometimes such opposing genres can co-exist in perfect harmony and sometimes they don't gel. They didn't quite gel at the Fader Fort but that doesn't mean either weren't enjoyable. They were just enjoyable when thought of as independent of each other rather than a joint package. Some set change overs were quick, some lingered on for AGES. After the tribute was over NERD took the stage and their set change over was NEW LEVELS. Longest one I've ever witnessed at any concert, but we are jumping ahead of ourselves. There was still one act to perform under the Lou Reed banner before everybody could Nose. That was Moby.

The bald one and his girls did their thing for a set and then surprise, surprise an unexpected guest adorned the stage for the second song and that guest was Lou Reed himself. And that was actually a surprise. "Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!" ha! How well does that Humphrey Bogart quote work?!!?! Because seriously - the only other chance to see Lou Reed during the fest was if you had a badge you could attend his key-note speech that was met with a lot of zzzzzs based on his stance towards new technology and music. Dave Allen has his say over on Pampelmoose about the address.

But anyway, I got to see him LIVE and without some $500 badge and I'm really thinking that worked out for me better in the long run - I wouldn't have preferred to catch him any other way.

They did "Walk on the Wild Side" which is maybe my favorite song or at least tied with "Perfect Day." My mom and I rewrote the lyrics to "Walk on the Wild Side" when I was in elementary school to sing to my cat Erin. Yeah. This family moment brought to you care of early Saturday morning broadcast (or maybe basic cable) TV. Or that shooting star at the end of NBC psa commercials: "The more you know..."

I wish I would've wrote something down about the set but I was too busy reliving it with everyone I know over the phone so sorry if details are sketch, but like Lou Reed said something really funny as he walked off stage about being punk. Like being first. I love his ego. He has earned it. Everyone cheered, he raised two fists triumphantly and then it was over.

So I walked back to Flou Kids because I was going to interview Pharrell and get a photo of him with NERD's Pharrell Williams, but things got a bit hectic.

In the mean time I hijacked TonyX's sunglasses while My!Gay!Husband! hijacked a photo of me. I like it better that way anyway.

Can we just say SoCo forever!?!!

And I met my URB editor Josh which was enjoyable! I snapped a pic of him but of course that was on the memory card whose files did not survive.

Now it was time for NERD.

NERD's set change over was INSANELY LONG. DISGUSTINGLY LONG, but I survived and it was worth it for a number of reasons. One - Chad Hugo was fucking WITH THEM. If you've seen NERD live before this album cycle, you know that Chad does not tour or perform live with them. But he was there! Rocking hot sunglasses! Their white backing band of Spy Mob as been replaced with a a new band that... isn't white.

Ch-ch-changes.

Set list:

"Anti"
"Brain"
"Killjoy"
"Back Seat Love"
"Maybe"
"Rockstar"
"Spazz" <<<< HOT TRACK
"Fly or Die"
"Tape You" (Paris Hilton style?)
"Lapdance"
"Everyone Nose" (MP3)

Encore:
"Run to the Sun"
"She Wants to Move" but yr hogging her, yr guarding her...

They were ace AND THIS IS HOW I GOT MY FIRST PHOTO CREDIT IN ROLLINGSTONE. As you may know from my SXSW Update post, my NERD photo appeared front-page on RollingStone.com for over three days, but the pic also appears in the mag with Chris Rock on the cover (currently on newsstands - page 35, soon to disappear into periodical heaven). But seriously. I don't know the word for it. Milestone isn't it, but like this was/is really meaningful for me. Something has been achieved. Much like an angel has earned it's wings, a concert photog has earned their camera. Or something. It's just really special, but let's save that for the Hallmark channel...

Yeah - so in the process of only catching NERD's first seven songs, we missed Thieves Like Us at the Beauty Bar. We made it over shortly after they had finished, but by that time they had disappeared. BOO!!!! I mean - seriously. Everyone I've spoken to over email about SXSW scheduling knows they were seeded VERY HIGH on my must-see list and their manager was SO NICE to add me to their glist given it was a wristbands and badges show and I of course am poor and didn't have one. So yeah. They're on the verge of signing so those looking for a follow-up to their Kitsune single(s) can start celebration preparations!!!

We even went on a mad hunt for some guy in a pink shirt who would apparently hold the key to Thieves Like Us' current location according to those working the event, but alas he was no where to be found.

Now it was 11. We were but an hour away from the Playboy party. Operation: Get in whatever it takes starts... NOW.

To be continued...

SXSW Day 1

Welcome to day one!

Why has it taken me this long to relive SXSW? Well, it hasn't really. I wrote this out a bit ago, but surprise, surprise - it's insanely long. Maybe embarrassingly long given there is documentation of four more days to follow. I couldn't tell. Whatever. I have now overcome my length inhibitions and am just posting it. Hopefully you survive! :D

If I Made the Music Video: Happiness edition

Last Sunday, I posted the MP3 of Metronomy's remix of Goldfrapp's "Happiness" featuring verses by Michael from the Teenagers. This is pretty much part 2 of that post.

So it's a bit more than glaringly obvious that a video for this track will never wind up soundtracking a music video given Metronomy's remix of Goldfrapp's "Happiness" is 1. a "remix' and 2. a b-side, but I couldn't help myself. I'm a very visual person and what with the cinematic-ness of the track, I instantly began imagining a scenario. So I now present "The Treatment" (Metronomy Dead Disco Remix MP3) for "Happiness."

If you would like to be kept in the dark about the levels of my imagination/craziness, I'll give you a Lemony Snicket-like warning and tell you to turn back now.

I'm really inspired by the music of the track. It sounds tropical on some level to me and the strings bridge near the end of the remix reminds me of the guitar part from that summer-y Gap commercial that ran a few years ago - the one synced with the Seals & Crofts song "Summer Breeze." Remember? "Summer breeze, make me feel fine..." So maybe that comparison is what's giving "Happiness" a bit of a tropical vibe in my mind, but I don't think that's entirely the case... I think the percussion and other elements add to the quality too.

So I see this woman, Alison Goldfrapp if you will, at some island resort. She's come to escape her demons from the mainland and maybe heal in the process. The demon being her failed romantical relationship. Failed for whatever reason. She's come here to leave it behind, but in every scene it's all too clear she hasn't. It's the kind of resort adorned with upcoming concert posters advertising such acts as Barry Manilow and Neil Sedaka and wood paneled walls as well as hatch roofing and torches every few feet outdoors.

It starts with her in her resort room, sitting on the bed amid open luggage to indicate she recent arrival. She sits in contemplation before getting up to take part in the day. She looks reluctant as she exits her room, casting a glance behind her as she shuts the door as if not totally wanting to leave.

First chorus:
taking a dance lesson
Everyone swirls around her in happiness like that scene from Almost Famous where the band-aids deflower Patrick Fuget, except his expression showed he was a willing participant and in Alison's case it's clear she doesn't belong. The male dance instructor is giving her a beguiling look and using his hands to be like "c'mon" in order to coax her into participating as if him being her dance partner is what she's been holding out for. He does the mambo a bit for means of further temptation. A couple dancing together eases right up into her personal space to smile - they're having the time of their life.

Some class attendees have started a conga line and all smugly smile at her as they pass. It's almost cult like/surreal and almost like an invitation. She stands there seemingly disoriented, the only person in the room not in motion or without a smile plastered across their soon to be sunburnt face.

We now find her sitting on the edge of a reclining chair pool-side with a large straw hat and dark sunglasses, the only one shielding themselves from the sun. She pushes up from her spot and walks towards the other end of the pool. The shot moves down her body with each step she takes, coming to focus on her feet and ankles until she passes Michael who is in the pool and swimming to the edge. The shot stays with him as she continues her walk. He makes it to the edge and props his arms up on the ledge just as his chorus kicks in. He puts on his glasses which he left sitting there and breaks the fourth wall i.e. he speaks directly to the camera while staying in the pool for the entirety of his verse. People semi-blurred in the background splash around happily as he speaks with nonchalance.

Come the end of his verse he glances up to his right and the shot follows that direction to find Alison having made it to the edge of the pool. She looks out into the distance, her back to all the activities going on around her. As the song reenters her chorus (she does not sing or acknowledge the camera ever), the shawl around her waist unwraps and is carried off into the breeze. She remains completely unphased. The shot follows the shawl as it twists in the wind until her sigh signals the next scene.

We now find her in the cabana bar, still wearing the hat and glasses even though indoors. Her posture is nothing to shout about as she takes her time with a drink at the bar. She swirls her straw around in it, turns around to face out onto the bar patrons who are throwing darts, laughing, adding their names to sign-up lists for various recreation. A man walks past, nodding his head at her as if attracted. Her response? No response. She swivels back around on the stool and focuses her attention back onto the drink.

Michael walks in through the cabana door, a door to her right at an angle. He takes a place beside her at the bar, raises his hand and extends two fingers to indicate a drink order and the bartender quickly serves him with a drink indicating he has a regular order. The bartender then places a receipt down beside the fancified scotch blend and produces a pen. Michael's verse starts. Michael turns his head to his left, which would be towards Alison and speaks directly to the camera for the duration of his verse. Once it ends, he downs the drink, turns his attention back to the receipt and notes his room number, signs and walks out of the bar. The shot follows him to the doorway and then pans to the dark of the cabana's ceiling.

When the shot comes down we now find ourselves in the midst of Alison's third chorus while on the beach at night. Her fellow resort goers are partaking in a rousing game of limbo, all swarmed around the limbo stick, laughing, holding drinks with mini umbrellas in them, accessorized with leis and some women with grass skirts looking every bit the stereotypical tourists.

She wanders slowly away from the group to find a place of her own - coming to sit alone on a piece of driftwood, removed from the group by several yards, an abandoned campfire in front of her, the wood still smoldering. She looks in the direction of the group, but its clear her thoughts are transporting her elsewhere as she contemplates the song's question - "how to get to be happiness" with a sigh. The shot then focuses on the faint trail of smoke rising from the charred logs, embers carried up into the night sky. Eventually the shot reaches the sky awash with stars.

Then the shot comes back down quickly and it's now Alison laying on the floor of her room back at home still in her day clothes looking as though she accidentally fell asleep after work while listening to a record. The colors of the scene are muted. An empty bottle of rum is beside her as well as a shot glass. She wakes long enough to reset the needle on the record player and then returns to sleep/her apparent misery (what with the mascara stains beneath her eyes). The shot follows her hand to the needle, then focuses on the vinyl record from above. Its shows the record gently spinning with enough detail to show the song is "Happiness," then widens to include her pathetic figure strewn beside it as well as a photo she clasps in her other hand of a soldier, presumably lost to war.

End.

Very 40's melodramatic. Almost noir. Campy noir... but with color. Was it a dream?

That Summer Breeze Gap commercial:

(Are you listening to the guitar chords that start at 3 seconds in? Now listen to the semi-bridge in "Happiness" starting at 3:23)

"Summer Breeze" lyrics - not that reading them ties into this in any way, shape or form...

Now are you ready for the real happiness as a video!?!?!!

I watched this about 40 times yesterday. It is the best thing EVER. Like the more you watch it, the more indoctrinated you become by it. I was crying by my third screening and laughing like Arthur just a few more times after that. You are cheating yourself of joy if you only watch it once. You seriously have to watch it - at the very least - ten times in a row. At 9 seconds long, how can you not?

I am dying for the comments over on Gawker about the video. They are must read material as are the comments over on MetaFilter, specifically THIS one.

Happiness.

Pure Happiness

(last time I used the chalk was for Klaxons photos)

Break out your passport and maracas, we're going on holiday. Destination: the white sand beaches of falling in love again... and again and again and again and again (much like what Charlotte Gainsbourg coos in the Metronomy remix of "5:55"). Actually falling in love again and again as many times as you can press repeat on this track. Just as "time stops still when you've lost love," time stops still when you've found it.

Metronomy brings this Goldfrapp track to life. Literally. Finding Allison and co.'s latest output a little too mellow and Coors-y? This re-imagining of "Happiness" is much more lively. I totally get Goldfrapp's desire to evolve and challenge themselves, but part of me wonders if they could've employed even a few of the same dynamics. Just because Goldfrapp have ditched their basslines doesn't mean the quirkiness has to go too and this remix proves it. I think this is going to make a lot of people happy...

Excuse me while I geek out, but this remix is just so cinematic.

It's a lively nostalgic rumination on love lost; this remix existing almost as an oxymoron with the music and lyrical subject matter nearly contradicting each other, but more complementary than anything else.

"Happiness" Metronomy remix of Goldfrapp featuring the Teenagers

I'll go as far as saying that maybe Metronomy's remix can't even be compared to the original because the songs are that completely different. Listen to Goldfrapp's original "Happiness" on the Hype Machine (you know when it's getting yanked off zshare that maybe direct linking isn't the best way to go)

The percussion of this track makes me want to dance around doing the mambo. The founder of the dance passed on today. Something else that occurred today? Another blog posted this track -- before me! Grr... Arghhh... This track has been racking its way up to the sixth most played track in my itunes since February!

Update: I was first to post this track as this and the one that appears on Austin Martin are different versions. Download both. The one here is the original mix. The one over there is shorter and doesn't finish with Alison's vocals.

Metronomy mastermind Joseph clued me into it as soon as he'd finished it via an unexpected myspace message in February. I replied that I thought it was going to be my new crack and lo and behold I've been addicted to it since it arrived in my inbox a day later.

Ever so modest, Joseph says 'he just did his thing' in relation to writing all new music and scrapping the idea of his own spoken word verses before calling in the "the spoken word specialists" in the form of Teenagers, but it's seriously new levels for Metronomy in many aspects. He's added his vocals before (see: Kate Nash remix and his remix of Roots Manuva "Awfully Deep") but to by bringing in a guest vocalist into a remix of his... that's new territory. While he did omit a verse from Kate Nash's "Foundations" in his remix, this time around he exorcises all the verses from Goldfrapp's original, retaining only enough of Alison's vocals to constitute a chorus. Michael of the Teenagers steps up to the pitch with two spoken word verses of his own in French.

The funny thing is, Michael hadn't even heard it yet; I was the one to send it to him. Pretty much the second his vocals kicked in I had to leave a comment on his facebook page about the awesomeness on first listen. I received a message back near instantly enthusiastically asking for it, so I quickly sent it his way. His thoughts upon hearing it? That he sounded "like a perv" and that is was better than the original. Michael didn't tell me what he was saying, but while playing it during SXSW, Chloe translated it and wouldn't you know - in English his lyrics still sound exactly like a Teenagers song: "We saw a movie. It sucked"... The jist is he asks a girl out, they go out, she says she'll keep in touch, she doesn't.

So yeah. I'm a little in love with this track. I played it ten million times during SXSW and every single time the person present had to stop and ask again "who is this?" in awe. Go down for a chat at Nemo Design about possible employment? Yeah, I guess I can say something about my photography, but let's actually talk about Metronomy's latest remix - I can go on and on. TRUE STORY hahahahahaha. I can't stop gushing to anyone and everyone.

So, it's more than a bummer I didn't break this as an exclusive. [Actually see update above. I was first for this mix] Joseph suggested I wait a bit before posting it, probably implying only a week or so, but if I'm going to wait, I'm going to wait with reason so I decided, "Hey, I'll post it in conjunction with his own single release on March 17th!" Only it then got rescheduled to the 31st. It was hard enough waiting the month until the 17th, but the 31st wasn't that much farther in the future so I held strong to my convictions...

Do we all know what we're doing on March 31st? Purchasing a vinyl 7 inch of Metronomy's "My Heart Rate Rapid," his first single from forth-coming LP Nights Out, which is being mastered this very moment.

And you know what? Getting first listen was beyond special enough... This track is up there with "Atlantis to Interzone" and "La Ritournelle" in terms of Metronomy's remixes. And those aren't just my fave Metronomy remixes, they're my favorite remixes period.

In January I made the presumption in a conversation that 2008's best song and/or remix would go to Metronomy. Who knows yet if this is the one, but it can only lend itself to that surmise...

More Than a Little Bit in Love

A few Fridays ago, I fell in love. Not on the street or in a bar, but on a blog. I love when bands have their own blogspots. Required reading includes Semifinalists' blog, Mystery Jets' blog, the near daily photos of No Age and of course Grizzly Bear's legendary wordpress posts. So when I noticed Seattle band Natalie Portman's Shaved Head had a blog, I promptly made my way over to check out what they had going on in terms of sentences. Most of the posts were in relation to their own livelihood as a band until I scrolled down to an entry containing the youtube link that would be my introduction to Sweden's fabulous Lykke Li. I hesitated before clicking, but boy am I glad I took the leap (if clicking on a youtube link can be described as a leap :).

The video - the editing, concept, coregraphy... Captivating isn't entirely the correct word, hypnotizing maybe? Not to mention the freshness of the song.

Mattias Montero, the video's magic harnessing director, also served as director of photography for Calvin Harris' "The Girls."

How much does Lykke Li's look like Ashley Olsen in the video? Yes - I actually narrowed it down to a specific Olsen. Except unlike the Olsen twins she's not creepy. She also kinda resembles one of the girls from the Like.
The track sounds like it could be an estranged sister to Roisin's song "Primitive" (which you can download as apart of my post on seeing Roisin live) and her dance moves mirror some of those from Moloko videos or the understated shoulder shrugs that M.I.A. gets familiar with when onstage.

I'm really excited about many many people/bands at SXSW this year - BON IVER, These New Puritans, BORN RUFFIANS (so I can sing along with all my heart), heartthrob Lazaro Casanova, seeing No Age again and again and again, seeing SMD's live show instead of DJ set, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, N.E.R.D., New Bloods, Shy Child, Turbo Fruits, The Pan I Am, White Rabbits, Robots In Disguise... the list goes on AND ON, but Lykke Li is pretty much decorating the top of my list.

God I love this girl!

So magical that the song takes on greater significance in an acoustic clip of "Little Bit" filmed on a street.
(can any Swedish people translate the interaction with the man in the window?)

And here she is performing "I'm Good I'm Gone" in a bathroom with the aid of a faucet and toilet as instrumentation. I SWEAR they are singing a Michael Jackson song as the clip begins:

She is playing ten billion parties. I will totally be catching her at Fader's, at the Pitchfork party on Friday where she graces the main stage an at Press Here's on Saturday. I can't tell yet whether I will see her or No Age more, but I won't be satisfied until I've seen both acts at least five times over the next few days.

Her disc came out in the US this past Tuesday, featuring production from Bjorn of Peter Bjorn and John.

"Tonight" Lykke Li MP3

Lykke Li myspazz

Anyways, dispatches from Austin to follow. If I don't party till I puke and/or get alcohol poisoning, I won't have partied hard enough this week hahahahaha. I'm staying with Greg from Panda Toes - we are also DJing together on Thursday along with 1/2ALIVE at the Above the Radar party throughout the day on Thursday at Trophy's. More info about the party over on Panda Toes.

I've been to ten million concerts in the past couple weeks that will eventually see the light of day sometime too...

Whoo!

Mystery (Jets) Solved by Q&A

Oh those Mystery Jets - oh so mysterious! Their new single "Young Love" is out today!! Pretty much the moment they sent out a myspace bulletin (the night before V-day) announcing the arrival of their music video for the tune, I was plagued by four questions, but before we get to those, let's have a quick chat with William (who handles lead vocals on the track) shall we? He brings up stalking by the second question. Out to steal my heart a little?

Was "Young Love" written in response to a specific situation or an ode to young love in general?

Written more in general really, although there are a number of different situations over the past years which the song draws from. I'll keep the details under wraps....

If literally all you had to go on was the girl's name, would you really go door to door? Or would you have to know the name and maybe a few of said girl's acquaintances and general area of residence before taking up the task?

Yes, I would go from door to door, we're not lying you know. Obviously postcode and address details would be greatly appreciated, but then we are getting into stalker territory aren't we?

What is currently the most perplexing question on your mind? Can be related to anything at all... 

What colour shall I paint my walls?

How important is your blog to you and why?

Really important; it's where all our little passions come out. All the things we love get a mention on it. It's good to write with an awareness of other people reading it. It's a discipline.

How many blogs do you subscribe to?

I subscribe to none, but read lots of music blogs.

Back to the video at hand for "Young Love":

My questions upon watching were:

1) Is it truly possible to love them more?

2) Are they themselves sure they've collaborated with Laura Marling and not say... Emmy the Great?*

3) Gasp!!! Has resident patriarch Henry left the band? He's noticeably absent from the video...

4) And who is the director?

For a few, the answers came to reveal themselves in a multitude of different ways:

1) Ummm.... apparently yes. Rather unsurprisingly enough. That was answered in the first second.

2) *=Not a serious question in the least... just a reference to being on the Patrick Wolf/Lightspeed Champion tour trail with Dev in November. Everyone got confused when it came to his Lavender Bridge collaborator. At one point in Bristol he took a quick call from Emma during a radio session. He then informed the DJs that he hadn't talked to her almost since their time in Omaha and that she was talking about their song "Everyone I Know is Listening to Crunk" during the short convo. Minutes later he was asked if Laura Marling had supplied the female vocals for his tracks. Weren't you just listening???

3) Henry's still in the band!!!! I guess I just don't brush up on their Wikipedia often enough, but some mysterious folk by the name of 9 & 12 supplied me with the positive answer. Just cutting down on live and press appearances, but very much still apart of the band!

4) Still unknown.... But as Scully and Mulder have taught me, the truth is out there...

Buy "Young Love" digitally today or pre-order the single in physical form. All 3 formats for only 4 pounds or 4 thousand USD (nah.. only a little more than eight dollars, but it feels like 4K). 2 x vinyl plus the CD single is out on March 10th.

I spent my Sunday dancing along to multiple versions of "Diamonds in the Dark" and Lykke Li's "Little Bit." You can too:

"Diamonds in the Dark (Dusty cabinets Remix)" Mystery Jets MP3

Linktime, linktime, linktime...

Mystery Jets Blogspot: Behind the Bunhouse - we may differ in opinion on MGMT (they like 'em, me...ehhh...) but have many other bands in common from Band of Horses to Arcade Fire in the live realm and they were one of the first to note the brilliance of Late of the Pier back in February 2007 and then revisit the band again in June talking up "The Bears Are Coming," which I got Late of the Pier themselves to talk up

Mystery Jets myspazz

They DJ!

I bumped into William at the Klaxons afterparty at Kitts in December in London

I filmed Mystery Jets doing a magical in-store at HMV in Glasgow back in March 2006. Watch it!

As for William's great paint dilemma, I'm thinking he should select a nice green tea shade of paint. It's proven the most calming plus it looks pretty cool and can accent nearly anything. Oh, and to avoid bright red at the very least...

To help:
Restful color schemes you'll just love waking up to

Let nature inspire colour choices

How many other music blogs are linking to paint selection articles today?

We Are Wolves = Total Solide

Belated We Are Wolves post Part 2

As I mentioned in earlier in another post (Part 1), the night began with an extended DJ set by me before Swim Swam Swum got up on stage to strum their guitars. Everyone seemed to arrive during it. Alex, We Are Wolves' manager (also acting as tour manager as a driver couldn't be found in time) appeared about a half hour in saying they'd just arrived in town.

Nathan showed up not only with his vinyl, but with his friend Mark who acted as a superb projectionist, projecting video throughout the night onto the white wall ahead of the DJ set up as Nathan spun. Over the top for such a small gig? Yes -- in the best way possible! It was awesome!

Of course we talked about his no-show to my night of noise. All is okay. He thought the gig was at Someday Lounge instead of Towne Lounge. He checked the listings to make sure the gig was still on and didn't see it in Someday's schedule so took off to LA to do some hardcore work on a MTV Gossip collaboration.
He's doing a show as Feather Figure with New Bloods sometime this month at Dunes apparently. That's a must mark-down on any calendar.

Justin from Fist Fite also approached while I got my DJ on which was fun. I remarked how long it had been since I last saw him then realized it was on his birthday about three weeks before, so not that long at all or at least not as long as my exclamation implied.
We talked about Fist Fite's upcoming gigs and one in April especially caught my attention! One in Portland with PRE!!!!!! Whoo! I talked about how Akiko and I had talked about Fist Fite when I spent the night at her flat in November, then I mentioned all the disco balls that are marooned in curious places around the flat. I immediately told Nathan and he showed me his left hand where he already had "PRE" written hahahaha. Also alongside the band name were those of No Bra and These New Puritans, the Gossip's support for their next London gig that has now come to pass.

(though my disposable camera made his hand pretty much illegible hahahaha)

At pretty much ten on the dot Swim Swam Swum began producing their tunes live and everyone including me gravitated into the other room where they were from the foyer where just second before "Sweaty" by Muscles had been booming.

They are skinny:

I did another set (which you can download in Part 1), this time 20 minutes-ish instead of a full hour. Just as Calvin Harris started singing about his self-proclaimed harem in "The Girls," it was time for Reporter to take the stage and sing about new days.

Wow - Reporter live! Wow! So danceable!!! The basslines! The drum beats! Right before I went overseas in November I interviewed them at Valentines. Janet Weiss was downstairs chatting up the bartender at the time. A couple weeks later I lounged in Leigh's Glasgow flat spinning it into a 400 word profile over the course a  day wrought with procrastination for Willamette Week. I had never seen their former incarnation Wet Confetti live (despite trying hard do the night of Yacht on a Yacht at Fist Fite's party) nor them as Reporter and seeing them on the Holocene stage made me wish I had seen them before the article. Like the essence of the band's songs are so, so different on stage as opposed on compact disc (or a myspace page).

I definitely think the article I wrote would've been different had I seen them live. My interviews are always better when I've been able to take a band in live... especially when it runs as a narrative as opposed to a straight-up transcription, having a whole-er idea of the band definitely shapes the piece in a different way.

I bumped into many lovely people over the course of the evening including former high school classmate Brittany and my former Outdoor School Counselor Jose. We took to the dancefloor during Nathan's sets, the only ones to do so! The attendees that evening were a bit inhibited. At one point we realized that as the only people on the dancefloor, we were also the only people of color there hahahaha

Next and right on time were We Are Wolves. Their arrival onstage was so rushed (though you couldn't tell) that they did not don their signature skulls, but it made little difference except in terms of backing visuals. Maybe it was even better that way because boy were they active!

While they danced it up over the stage oozing with appeal, I danced up front with wild abandon and that was maybe the upside of the turn-out being so-so -- that there was room to dance! It reminded me of the Copy/MSTRKRFT show there in 2006 where there was plenty of space to move.

It was pretty much hit after hit from We Are Wolves, mostly from new album Total Magique, all delivered ferociously. They introduced the track "Magique" as their French song. They finished out their set without "Little Birds," but appeared shortly after to encored with tune, Jose and my vocal pleas answered with an intense rendition that had us "yelling red and blue!"

Nathan stepped back up to the pitch and got his vinyl spinning again as the venue began to empty and some people ordered up more drinks.

Did you know that the French in France and French in French-Canadaland are different? Well, I do now. After remarking that I knew how to say "Are you playing hide and seek?" in French the members of We Are Wolves taught me how to say it in French-Canadian.

Mini-French lesson:

The France way: Jouez-vous à cache-cache?

Quebec way: Jouez-vous à la cachette?

More useful than a guidebook! I learned some other French phrases and feel confident that if I were to go there tomorrow I still wouldn't know how to communicate in any language other than English. They all seemed genuinely shocked/surprised that I wanted to go to Montreal which shocked/surprised me. Don't we all? I mean the music coming out of there is insane! And the people are enjoyable, no matter what Vice leads one to believe.

I had a departing chat with Alex who is very enjoyable. He asked what I thought they could do on a future PDX tour stop to improve turn-out and how their booking agent had warned them that Seattle and Portland were tough tour-markets and didn't recommend them, echoing what I've chatted to Tokyo Police Club about in terms of Portland. I actually advised Alex that they shouldn't play Portland again on a business stand-point. Me. To one of my favorite Canadian bands. But I was being honest...

Then the conversation picked up to how even Coldplay don't play Portland because even for them it's a tough tour market. That really says something. Their last PDX show was at Arlene Shnitzer with a capacity of 2776. Tickets remained day of. Alex said in Montreal, they sold-out a two day run at the stadium with 20,000 capacity. Britney Spears couldn't even sell out the Rose Garden (Portland's arena and biggest venue) on her Onyx Hotel tour. Only Disney fameball Hannah Montana can nowadays. Then I got talking about Holocene's last sold-out show, the magical Yeasayer show that had come to pass just days before. Alex hadn't yet checked out the band, but I assured him they're not some flash-in-the-pan - like they can back up the hype. About a week later their link was in his inbox, along with Miley Cyrus' myspace and the link for Hannah Montana's facebook group because that's how I roll.

Nathan spent some time talking to the group about some joint Gossip/We Are Wolves Canadian tour dates! Someone wants to go up north for that tour and that someone is me.

I had given Alex a ninja turtle ring earlier and he gave me a shirt! With that We Are Wolves were off to SF with a show in the Bay Area the very next day! Yikes! How did that get scheduled? (seeing as most bands have a day off in between the two given the commute)

I ended my evening at the venue with a very very fun chat with Jacob of Holocene who not only got me stocked with extras of my poster, but got me even more excited for Simian Mobile Disco's April appearance as if that was possible! The possibilities are what make it possible... :) Then me and Marisa took to the open road back to our residences sometime between one and two.

"Fight & Kiss" We Are Wolves MP3

We Are Wolves myspazz

Youtube: Nathan's video montage of karaoke in Tokyo

A round of virtual drinks and thank yous must be sent the way of Elhaam, she of GBH in NYC (hosts of my first Uffie live experience) and awesome playlists on Guilty as Pleasure and awesome blogging over at Retarded Fantasy. She's a true music fan and supporter through and through, lending her help and connections to bands she likes which in this case turned out to be We Are Wolves and their North American tour. She got in touch with me about being apart of the Portland gig at the end of last year and the experience was absolutely amazing! It was great recommending Nathan to be my DJ co-chair, getting to do the poster, DJing and other such activities in promotion. It was a privilege! Ten million thanks yous for involving me!

And look what I spied but two days ago -- my poster -- still up:

Party All the Time We Are Wolves DJ Set Podcast

Belated We Are Wolves post Part 1

(DJ pic taken back at 1/2ALIVE in B.C. Why am I clinging to those headphones for dear life?)

So.. yeah... Took me long enough to blog about We Are Wolves in PDX-land, but I was waiting on the disposable photos I took of the night to be developed, so I have an excuse... kind of... hahahaha. This time last month the magical We Are Wolves visited Holocene and Not on the Guest List helped throw the party. The second part of this post (with some of those trusty disposable photos) will follow this one. I split the evening's DJ bill with the Gossip's Brace Paine and got my Party All the Time on solo sans Meg and Louis. This is what I played that fine last night of January:

Set 1:
"Blag Flag" - Duchess Says
"La Nuit" - Robots in Disguise
"Cry Babies" - Comic Book Fever VS Crystal Castles
"Ready For The Floor" - Hot Chip
"Lets Make Out (Extended Mix)" - Does It Offend You, Yeah?
"Flex-it Formula" - Professor Murder
"Yr City's A Sucker" - LCD Sound System
"Drugs In My Body" - Thieves Like Us
"Can't Chose" - Naive New Beaters
"The Bears are Coming" - Late of the Pier
"Elvis" (original version) - These New Puritans
"Radio Ladio" - Metronomy
"in My Arms" - Kylie Minogue
"Sweaty" - Muscles

Download Set 1 Podcast (53 mins, 53 sec) (MP3)

Set 2:
"Lust In The Movies" - The Long Blondes
"Yea Yeah" - Matt & Kim
"Numerology" These New Puritans
"Circle Square Triangle" - Test Icicles
"Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks" - The Rapture
"The Girls" - Calvin Harris

Download Set 2 Podcast (21 mins, 40 sec) (MP3)

I was supposed to do a half hour set before the first band and then 15 minutes later on in the evening, but after the hands of the clock ticked their way through my first half hour, opening band Swim Swam Swum still hadn't taken to the stage so I played on which made me a slight bit unarmed, given it was my second DJ gig and my first solo. Nothing a quick shot of tequila and a previous podcast couldn't ease. I had my sets planned in advance - down to the minute and basically got a bit dependent on my Lost Will Podcast for the last few songs of the first one to help me fill the extra time instead of gettin' random.

I was SO psyched to play the Spank Rock remix of Sold Out's "I Don't Want to have Sex with You," but the atmosphere was sooooo not right for a song that spends about three of its five minutes endlessly repeating "I don't want to have sex with you." Next time! I also forgot I wanted to open with Marcos dos Santos' "Not on the Guest List" since it was NotGL's first official night in Portland, but alas... And Trash Fashion's "Mommy and Daddy" (MP3) never snuck its way in...
Somehow (I have no idea how) I refrained from playing Soulja Boy. Every time I go out I make sure to request "Crank Dat Soulja Boy (Supaman)" much to every DJ's chagrin. Just doing my part :) Apparently DJs don't like it when people do that [5th question, 2nd paragraph] <<< hahahaha - I mean 3 girls - that was totally Party All the Time - Louis is pretty girly.

Apparently Fake Shark - Real Zombie! has a Wikipedia page that somehow doesn't mention Louis' side project of Party All the Time. Baffling! haha Maybe it needs to be altered -- the Stephen Colbert way. Elephants anyone? I kid, I kid. Or do I?