Alt-J (∆) – An Awesome Wave

I’m sure everyone’s heard about the Alt-J buzz. It’s no surprise because they’re absolutely fantastic. Their album, An Awesome Wave is beyond brilliant, and I’ve gotten into the habit of wanting to listen to the album from start to end at least three times a day (or more).

I can’t seem to muster a way to describe Alt-J’s music, but all I can say is that it’s artistic [they were mostly art students anyhow]. A audible work of art that blends conceptual sound and the projection of geometry together - Tesselate illustrates that perfectly. Apart from vocalist Joe Newman’s allegation about triangles being his favorite shapes, the beats of the song will leave you in a  state of actually wanting to get geometric with your body.

One thing that makes makes Alt-J so unique is Joe Newman’s soulful cry. I could have tomatoes thrown at me for comparing Alt-J to Radiohead, but I’m not saying they’re the same. Alt-J reminds of Radiohead’s euphonic complexities and poetry turned into song. Breezeblocks is one piece that captured my heart upon the first listen. The combination of unconventional romance with the tantalizing charms of the glockenspiel, and the repetitive haunting vocal orchestra “Please don’t go. I’ll eat you whole. I love you so”, encapsulates a sense of love that is almost schizophrenic, but romantic nonetheless.

Fitzpleasure has to be one of the highlights of the album. I can’t seem to get enough of the band’s harmonizing of their tralalas, but I will say that as soon as the beat drops for the first part, you won’t be able to resist moving in a way that’s almost epileptic.

An Awesome Wave is an album that requires a good listen, from start to end. Listen to it as you would with a movie. The first track Intro, is the perfect initiation of the album, giving you a feel of what Alt-J is all about you. A good introduction is also only complete with a flawless ending, and with Taro to complete your audible adventure, it only puts you in the mood to repeat the album. These men are geniuses – Taro is made up of an emotional melody, making it hard to say goodbye to the album. But that’s just me.

I would recommend listening to Alt-J’s An Awesome Wave if you’re looking for something different. The band, after-all is about change anyhow. Either way, it’s no surprise they won the Mercury Prize. Discovering this album will surely be a significant part of your life.

St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival ’13, Singapore

I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I think Laneway Festival is going to be pretty darn spectacular next year in Singapore. For the most part – Alt fucking J. And Yeasayer, Bat for Lashes, Cloud Nothings, Of Monsters and Men, Tame Impala, and Real Estate?! But more importantly.. ALT-J!

I can’t even begin to describe how stoked I am for this event and I know it’s going to be pretty darn epic. I normally don’t cuss in my posts, but knowing that this festival is happening in a few months is really getting to me, and I’m dead-set to go out and buy myself a ticket, and write a million essays about this event so everyone in world knows. Can I also just say that this avid fan of music is a music festival virgin?

This may not be the most sophisticated form of publicity for Laneway Festival, but I was told by many that the line-up this year isn’t that great. As a festival virgin, are you fucking kidding me? And as a music fan, DID YOU NOT FUCKING SEE ALT-J IN THE LINE-UP? 

Pardon my French, people. 

On an important note, Alt-J has to be one of the best bands I’ve ever listened to this year. I have to send many signs of gratitude to the guy I met over OkCupid for making it apparent how amazing they are.

So, let’s just talk ticket prices. It’s a no-brainer that the prices will be in Singaporean Dollars (duh-doink). The tickets come with a hefty price tag, but it’s worth half of a menial pay-cheque. Right?

Standard Ticket: S$145
4-ticket Bundle: S$493 ($123.25 per ticket)
VIP Ticket: S$350
Event Day at the venue: S$160
*Ticket price excludes $3 booking fee PER TICKET

Will you be going for this mind-blowing show? I know I’m getting my butt there one way or another, tweeting live and hopefully post some neat pictures up during the festival!

For more information on the event and ticketing, visit http://singapore.lanewayfestival.com.au/buy/

Aloha Tigers

“Their sound is sad, hazy, hypnotic and blissed out, combining shoegaze , R&B, piano ballads, and classic pop hooks, with a heavy emphasis on dark, literate, and emotionally complex lyrics”.

Once again, Stereomood has done it for me again with the discovery of Aloha Tigers – a duo giving you a mix of dream-pop and ethereal, breath-like vocals. Personnel left me hook on the first listen, and if you know me, the first impression is the biggest, and any song to get me hooked at the first listen deserves some serious love.

Personnel will blow you away. It did for me, and I spent an entire night listening to it over and over again. I’ve share it with a couple of other music-lovin’ folk and guess what? Everybody loves it.

Aloha Tigers is made up multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Nick Aister and producer Michael Wharfield, and to be frank, if I ever had the chance of meeting these talented folk, I’d give them a hug, and probably not let go. And I reckon they’d like the hug, because I give the warmest hugs. *cough*

[Update : Nick and Michael are now my Facebook friends. Upped my cred or what?!]

Before my mind wanders off too far, let’s just say that the appreciation I have for this band surpasses a stage of being a fan-girl or a music connoisseur, and I’m really a person that needs to tell them just how brilliant their album was and how it changed my life. No, it didn’t change my life, but it feels that way.

Don’t forget to keep up with Aloha Tigers here:

http://soundcloud.com/alohatigers

https://twitter.com/alohatigers

https://www.facebook.com/alohatigers

Track of the Week

Every week, Tape and Shuffle features the current favorite tune by Evie. As every song comes with a story to both the musician and the listener, sharing that story perfects the reason why music exists.  If you’d like to contribute your Track of the Week, please drop an email to evienereal2.0@gmail.com with a song and a story. 

I’m feeling a little philosophical this week. I find it hard grasp the notion. Maybe it’s all the numbing crest of excessive meditation and an eventful week that turned out to be “pretty good”. It started with sweaty palms, that lead to love lost and rekindled friendships. Opportunities are sky-rocketing my way, and it seems my career path is blooming. Looks like a tumble and fall might just lead to an elevation. I can’t say what kind, for fear of jinxing it. To be fair, I have not written in this manner in a VERY long time. There’s a new kind of spark in my life. The kind of spark I’ve waited for so long. I’m recharging my foolishness to explore more possibilities and I suppose I’m at that point in my life where I’m beginning to appreciate my existence.

This week’s jam could have peripheral relevance to my anecdote. Or maybe it’s just coincidence that the book of Genesis had miraculously revived itself on my iTunes. Yes, biblical stories. I’m not a church-goer. Despite being raised a Catholic my whole life and going through almost every level of ‘sacrements’ available, I wouldn’t call myself a believer. I lean towards actual teachings, principles and philosophy. Yes, Moses preached the commandments and Jesus’ sermons beginning with “Blessed are those..” but I’m sorry. There was one too many “miracles” in Christianity that isn’t really cutting out for me. That made Buddhism something I could relate to. I’m a firm believer in karma. I reckon it’s such as I’m flawed for being impulsive and reckless (not to be mistaken for having “balls”). I’m not saying that Buddha wasn’t a miracle either, but I just think that his story seemed more believable that immaculate misconception. Maybe Buddha did have some organic form of LSD when Mara the Tempter paid a visit. He WAS in the jungle, after all? But really, I’m just sayin’.

Now, Origins – a unique track composed by indie husband-and-wife duo, Tennis justifies Creation in a way I am attached to. From what I could gather after incalculable listens, I presumed the song to be about heart-ache, rebellious romance and the like. With that, I’d find myself singing in a high-pitch everyday in the shower, mumbling  random words to make up the song, and let’s be clear, that I can be pretty darn good with that. But after deciding that I liked the song way too much to butcher it with my own gibberish, I ended up on Google and my mood switched from the angst-ridden female to a placid eager beaver.

Origins, to me is like an appeal to the Creator, featuring a rationalized innuendo of Adam and Eve’s story and perhaps an allusion of original sin that led to God’s children bearing the “consequences everywhere”. Origins captures the allegation of God’s absolute power and even the female gender being the cause of all the wretchedness in the world. I’m not a gender studies person, but I’ll let you decide for yourself. …

Sensitive heart, you’re doomed from the start
Meant to play the penitent part
Inquisitive mind, you’re destined to find
Tempted fate and knowledge divine
View in there a pitied pair
Denoted by a scene unfair
Will you make my children bear
The consequences everywhere?

Imminent, you seem to be
a picture of fragility
What is it that you think of me?
Is it a woman that you see?

Is it so hard to forgive the way
That we’ve been made to live?
how much is required to set things right?
Have you confused your power with mine?

This is by far the most insightful Track of the Week feature or even any post on Tape and Shuffle. It’s a current flow of words, and thoughts. Perhaps Origins does just that. But on a less serious note, the video reigns in visual low-fi supremacy. So, take a moment to absorb the video, and then download the track if you’re going to appreciate a song with deep character and an infectious rhythm.

Origins – Tennis

Track of the Week

Every week, Tape and Shuffle features a favorite tune by Evie and a special guest. As every song comes with a story to both the musician and the listener, sharing that story perfects the reason why music exists.  If you’d like to contribute your Track of the Week, please drop an email to evienereal2.0@gmail.com with a song and a story. 

Haim. Oh, Haim! A band of 3 beautiful sisters with long, flowing manes, bright eyes and ripped jean-shorts. And with music that makes you want to get off your chair and dance to the beat. Forever is one of those exceptional songs that you will fall in love when you first listen to it. That beautiful sweet vocals and harmony ala Wilson Phillips, a bit of early Michael Jackson’s gasps, and the beautiful 90s R&B vibe of upbeat synthesizers. I can’t describe it. I’ll create words to describe them..so by all means, listen!

Forever is a song that always a pleasure to listen to. Upon stumbling to this song, I can’t help but repeat it on iTunes.  You can never run out of feel good tunes, especially when everything seems peachy. Whether you’re feeling down or just having a good time, Forever will be there. Always.

Haim is currently offering  their 3-song EP, Forever as a free download. To get your hands on it, click here.

 

Track of the Week – Jenova 7

Every week, Tape and Shuffle features a favorite tune by Evie and a special guest. As every song comes with a story to both the musician and the listener, sharing that story perfects the reason why music exists.  If you’d like to contribute your Track of the Week, please drop an email to evienereal2.0@gmail.com with a song and a story. 

Buenos dias, mi amigos! It’s the weekend, and albeit the weather is getting a little too hot too handle, let’s just be grateful for the finer things in life. Say, music?

My first ever guest post, let me introduce you to the gorgeous Nadzirah Hashim, the brains behind Friendly Fashion, who recently featured me as part of their Wonderful Women Bloggers Campaign (read my blog post about it). As a thank you to this beautiful woman, I’ve decided to ask her to feature her current favorite choons to share.

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I’m a music hunter. I can spend hours upon hours and hours just hunting for music. I hunt for music that gives me emotions that only I can understand. These emotions take me to unfamiliar places that are often beautiful, sometimes melancholic, quite dreamy and always surreal. Music is essentially my drug. And like various types of drugs – music has various genres. And I for one, enjoy getting high on plenty of genres – not drugs.

And today’s favorite genre has got to be Trip Hop. Originating from the 90s, the genre itself has gotta be one of the most eclectic sounds one could experience for the ears. It’s like a candy bag filled with surprises. In general, trip hop can be recognized with its mix of breakbeats, some jazzy tunes combined with some downtempo hip hop beats and electronic sounds. But really, trip hop can go pretty far when it comes to experimentation and it’s up to the listener to decide which type of trip hop tickles their fancy. And at the moment, I am totally soundgasming to Jenova 7.

Everything about his sounds speaks to me. This is my type of trip hop. It reminds me of Bonobo and Forty Winks – both of which are my all time favorite trip hop musicians to listen to. But let’s not diverge the limelight away from Jenova 7. He’s only 22 years old but I can already see him contributing great tunes to the trip hop community. But I’ll let you decide on this. Have a listen to his music below and tell me what you think!

Jenova 7 & Mr. Moods – “Introspect” from Jenova 7 on Vimeo.

To get more of Jenova 7’s music, visit Soundcloud.  And to check out more of what I like, visit my tumblr at itsnhn.tumblr.com.

If you like what you hear, don’t forget to buy original Jenova 7 tracks via Bandcamp.

Track of the Week

Every week, Tape and Shuffle features a favorite tune by Evie and a special guest. As every song comes with a story to both the musician and the listener, sharing that story perfects the reason why music exists.  If you’d like to contribute your Track of the Week, please drop an email to evienereal2.0@gmail.com with a song and a story. 

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes. One listen, and you’re immediately hooked. They’re not really your average band of exceptionally talented hippies with the all-you-need-is-love attitude, but it’s no doubt that they’re currently one of the best bands to ever exist.  Bringing magic to your iTunes, it’s definitely time to get their latest album, Here (2012). It’s beauty in every aspect, although a little more mellow than Up From Below (2009) , the more you listen to it from start to end (in that order), you find yourself falling in love with it more and more.

Buy Here on iTunes.

40 Day Dream has always been one of my favorite songs from Up From Below after the ever-lovable Home. That Arcade Fire-esque energy, violins and dreamlike vigor, any fan of the Arcade Fire would love this song. This song exemplifies that romantic connection I have with my boyfriend and every moment spent together is somehow a projected dream. Almost unreal, but so real that it is just too perfect. 40 Day Dream may just be a song about being in love and not getting out of that web, but whatever that dream you hold, hold on to it and it will take you places.

40 Day Dream – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros