Women of melodies

Dearest,

It has been much too long, and yet no time at all. I have missed your glowing face and your lilting, musical tones. The way you are wise beyond your years, yet fresh and laughing, anew, with each rise and fall of the sun.

Oh, Internet, let us never part again.

Yours,

Rachel.

.... Yes, I am on the line once more. No more work computer reliance or eye dysfunctions from using my telephone. And as a gift, here are some pretty darn beautiful melodies that I am rejoicing in of late.


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Laura Jean



Beautiful 2011 album that shows the continuous bloom that is Miss Laura Jean and her brilliant band. Putting together a haunting yet strong album, A Fool Who'll is melancholic folk with a backbone, with crescendos in all the right places.

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Lizzie Huffman

 Lizzie Huffman - Pretty Old Soul Streaming Player by Suburban Home Records

A new friend put me onto Lizzie. Seattle based, I think the name of her latest offering says it all. She does sound like an old soul. One to watch, i'll keep you posted.

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Jen Buxton



This. Album. I can't actually stop playing it. She has an earthy, infectious quality to her voice and an ability to tell a story. If you buy one album for a person for Christmas, make it this one. Available through Poison City Records.

 You And I Are Past Our Dancing Days by dearbennichols

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Tonight is female songstress evening it seems.

Waxing lyrical.

Good evening non-existent audience.

This week has been one of auspicious dates, suspicious clouds, tremendous plans and wondrous songwriters.

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I finally saw Mr Conor Oberst in Bright Eyes form at The Hifi last Thursday eve. Although (not surprisingly) a little disappointing in festival format at Harvest on Saturday, he delivered a pretty stellar 2.5 hour set that got all the indie kids nostalgic for 2004. Some new, some old, the time passed all-too-quickly but all left with a sense that you had seen someone who had a proper grip of the poetry of songwriting. Yes, I even enjoyed the new songs! Believe it friends! The reoccurring themes of death, self-deprecation, love and loneliness were present as ever, but he somehow still knows how to captivate and keep the interest of a packed house.

Although, as a suave-hatted harvest festival attendee observed, where does one go once you are too successful to authentically write the angsty songs that ironically made you famous?

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This evening saw a different crowd and a completely different venue, but still featured an acclaimed songwriter and the theme of death and ressurection.

Nick Drake, one of the many incredible musicians who never saw fame within their lifetime, has produced 3 of the most influential and sweetly heart-haunting records to ever come out of the English folk scene. No, England. His songs endure as classics, and I will count them among my favourites forevermore. And so, how fortunate that I had the pleasure of seeing THESE artists present his music in the Melbourne Recital Centre. It actually made me cry a little when they played Rider on the Wheel (shut it, I am a sissy, ok?).

The take home points are:

1. Listen to Nick Drake. Now. Go.

2. Look up an amazing lady named Krystle Warren.

3. Buy yourself Luluc's new album. I did, and it is beautiful. (On a side note, I saw them whilst on travels to NYC... oh the chances!)

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I think that is all I have time for. The internet is running low, and sleep should come eventually.

PS. The Flaming Lips. That is all.

Oh hello.

Hello Internets. How have you been? Sorry I haven't called, I've just been really busy with, you know, things. It sure isn't you, I promise. You're looking nice by the way.

Thought I would review a few of the albums that have been making my ears happy of late.

No one gets lost anymore - The Smith St Band

Welcome to my favourite Melbourne band of the moment. A well-oiled machine that has the mind of an old backyard bard, a sturdy heartbeat of punk rock and the soul of Melbourne as the sun comes up over the eclectic northern suburbs. This also has the privilege of being the last album to be recorded at the our beloved Arthouse, and it pays perfect homage to all those that went before. Stand-out tracks include Sigourney Weaver (...something inside of me, trying to get out..!), When I was a boy I thought I was a fish and Get High, See Mice.

They created a frenzy at the Tote for last weekend's Poison City Weekender (three of the best days in recent memory)... and if you weren't there, I HIGHLY recommend not missing them next time.

The Riptide - Beirut

I wasn't sure quite where to start with Beirut. I'm sure I don't need to hammer home what a unique and beautiful talent they are, and this album is no different. Complex yet whimsical, the juxtaposition of upbeat horns with sparse haunting vocals, it is an album of hopeful change. In the best way my words can put it, it is one of those albums that my heartbeat slows and quickens to stay in time. Enjoyed most in headphones and contemplation, give it a spin and let me know what you think.

And if you like it, purchase it. The packaging feels amazing! Odd compliment yes, but just trust me til you lay your hands on.

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More to follow including my thoughts on the new Chuck Ragan, Felice Brothers, Bridge & Tunnel as well as all the beautiful fun happenings around town of recent times.

Don't make it so long next time, Internets. I missed you.

In the wake of the quake

Here's hoping that these tunes rock a little harder than the earth did in windy wunderland Melbourne this week.

Isobell Campbell & Mark Lanegan

Belle & Sebastian sweetheart Isobell Campbell and grungetastic tree screaming legend Mark Lanegan. Together. Recorded across the Atlantic. Hawk was released in the latter half of 2010, and is a pop album with interesting twists and turns into folk, country and rock n roll. Campbell's voice has the same eerie ethereal quality that made me love B&S and Lanegan's earthy growl balances beautifully. Plus there is a cameo by everyone's favourite pot-smoker, Willie Nelson.

Worth more than just one listen.

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Adalita

My nineties queen. This one is for JuJu.

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Beirut

New single from the upcoming album The Riptide. Getting hype already, and well deserved in my opinion.

Beirut - East Harlem by Revolver USA

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Mike Noga

Its Mike Noga. Need I say more? He is playing this Saturday at The Corner, but I won't be there because I will be at...... (scroll down, fool).

M'Belle by Mike Noga

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Ty Segall

New album Goodnight Bread is out now! And playing at The Tote on Saturday! I am quite excited.

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Night, friend.

Things that go bump in the night.. and the day.

So I have another job, so this has gotten in the way of the postings of my musical musings. Also, the fact that my computer has given up on living has not helped. So, I have borrowed a Ferrari of sorts and here we are.

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Big Scary and The Grates @ The Corner Hotel

I do admit I have never been a HUGE Grates fan, and was a little apprehensive when my dear blister asked me to accompany her on Saturday eve. My fears heightened when I read that Alana, my favourite member of the band, had flown the coop in favour of different pastures (touring with Neil Finn... I cannot blame her). So there I was, curious and not alone, at the Corner last night.

To my pleasant surprise, the support act was Big Scary, the Melbourne twosome who released four wonderful seasonal EPs last year. I had not caught them live yet, and now I can confirm them as one of my favourite acts getting around. They have an eclectic setlist which I'm sure will not fit with every taste, but their diverse sound is held together by a tight sound and a joyful energy. I am also in awe/love with their quirkily wondrous drummer Jo. She has inspired me to take up MORE instruments.

Big Scary by bigscary

I love The Apple Song, Hamilton and Tuesday is Rent Day, but they are all magic.

The Grates came on at about an hour to the witching hour (I use witch clock now, it's more accurate) and from the outset showed me a new side that I had not experienced. With two new additions and a sound that was eerily reminiscent of early Magic Dirt and Adalita in her glory days, it was the quirk that defined them with a new, grunge-edge. Patience is still the bouncing ball of energy that defined them in their early live sets, and had the crowd eating out of her tiny, beautiful hands in no time. All in all, I was very pleasantly surprised, and have borrowed their new album Secret Rituals, ready for a new era of female-fronted Australian rock n'roll.

I LOVE this new one. And Patience. Na na na na ooooo.

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Reclink Community Cup @ Elsternwick Park

If you have not already heard, once a year there is a magical day when those who were never meant to be allowed on a football field are set loose, and a rock n'roll frenzy begins. The PBS Megahurtz are a motley crue of radio DJs from across Melbourne's fine RRR and PBS stations (plus a few guests) and the Espy Rockdogs are a collection of local muso's who pull on the socks in order to raise funds for a good cause.

This afternoon Elsternwick Park was overrun with old and young alike, families, dogs, streakers, drunkards, thinkers, players and friends. The likes of the great Tim Rogers, my favourite aria winner Dan Sultan and the vivacious Dan Luscombe led the Rockdogs to a resounding win, though the Megahurtz put up a valiant fight despite their lack of any football skill whatsoever.

(The greatest frontman Australia has produced... playing up forward.)

Highlight was indeed the ending of the day by You Am I playing in the grandstand, Rogers and co. still in great form despite any injuries sustained on the field. All this hilarity and good ol' fashioned fun for a five dollar donation to a worthy charity? Sundays are dandy.

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So that's that for this week. I'll leave you with a pretty beautiful little clip from Big Scary.

Rock an' rollabilly

So I think I may have found the genre that has been missing from my eclectic collection,

Crazy evil preacher rockabilly.

He is playing at NSC on the 28th, I will be there with my dancing shoes on.

Speaking of,

I was at YahYahs on Friday (surprise surprise) and had the darndest good time with local wonders, Midnight Woolf. And I love this clip... especially the dancing guy with glasses.

And lastly, but not leastly... a trip back to one of my favourite releases of 2009.
SO HAPPY.

Bye.

So I kinda blew up my computer...

Well, kinda. It is trying to Benjamin Button itself... faaaantastic.

Q: How am I writing this you ask?

A: Magic. (true)

I suppose I brought it on myself. NO. Actually I'm going to blame this wonderous blog -

http://spacerockmountain.blogspot.com/

Go. Go and listen to its many wonders. Just don't try and download them all at once. They share my appreciation of Ty Segall and garage punk in all its forms. Especially try Moonhearts, Beat Happening and Soledad Brothers. But everything there is worth a spin. If you like King Khan, Segall or any of the above, delve away.

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Also, Sydneysider Jack Ladder has just uploaded his new effort to Soundcloud. Part Nick Cave, part Matt Berninger, part horror country (my favourite genre), part dark wave jesus & mary chainesque.... its all parts interesting.

Listen here.

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And Anchors new album, Bad Juju, is out now... and streaming here. Its great, and they have a song called Buscemi... which in the face of this recent onslaught of these delightful pictures, I think is well overdue.

Ps. Untitled IS a cover of Us by Regina Spektor. Wonderous.

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And a rant to finish with. Slightly off-topic, but someone has to listen to me.

http://tiny.cc/mm1u2

I CANNOT STAND THESE ADS.

If there is one certain thing in this crazy universe, it is that we do not need any more people glorifying stupidity. Smart is creative, adventurous, curious, questioning, quantifying, optimistic and powerful. Allowing society to label you so that you can label yourself and to take decision-making out of your hands is the first step in creating a world without critical thinking.

And that is scary.

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Goodnight. By tomorrow my computer will be a black screen with green writing. Maybe I can play Pieces of Eight again?