Amplive – Rainydayz Remixes

They are the best remixes of In Rainbows I’ve heard…

According to Mr Wiki, Shoegazing is a genre of music, getting its name because “the musicians in these bands often maintained a motionless performing style, standing on stage and staring at the floor while playing their instruments; hence, the idea that they were gazing at their shoes. The shoegazing sound featured extensive use of guitar effects, and indistinguishable vocal melodies that blended into the creative noise of the guitars.” I couldn’t put it better myself.

On Friday I saw two bands more shoegazer than the rest, one Asobi Seksu, the other one Mr Ulrich Schnauss. Mr Schnauss was first up in this double A-side gig, and to be fair, I wasn’t impressed… Mr Schnauss has the impression of a man who lived at home with his mother, playing on his apple mac all day trying to find a new type of bleep sound, while his mum makes him cheese and pickle sandwiches (quite a good existence, if you think about it)… the bleeps were good, just on the wrong side of repetition. I ended up going to the toilet twice just to find something to do.

The main act Asobi Seksu then rocked up, and their sound was a hell of a lot louder than what I’ve heard from their almost ambient, but outstanding albums. Distorted keyboards and guitars filled my ears, which sounded good, but it was just too much for Yuki (their lead singer), who sounded drowned out by the wall of noise they created. I quickly worked out that their best songs were the ones without the effects pedals, where you can hear the beautiful singing voice of Yuki, along with the addictive guitar work, in its true glory… As a result, I only really enjoyed half the set…

However, for me they were both upstaged by the warm up act, the non-shoegaze Canadian indie rock stylings of Land of Talk. The three-piece didn’t need all the effect pedal distorition of Asobi Seksu or all the computer bleeps and synths of Henrich What-ever-his-name-was… Their songs were beautiful without all that crap… For me, they sounded like what I’ve wanted from indie rock from a long time. Their lead singer Lizzie took my breath away, as even though they were a loud band, she never sounded drowned out. This band brought a broad smile on my face, and I suppose this leads to my top tip… If you want to live a happier life, avoid shoegazers live…

Land of Talk – Summer Special

Buy their 10 track debut album, Applause Cheer Boo Hiss, from Rough Trade (£11.99 including postage)

Daft Punk made their live television debut at the Grammys back on Monday, wearing the glow-in-the-dark-red-outlined-suity-outfits as seen on their Alive tour last year, along with their out-of-this-world-moon-waffle-glow-in-the-dark-red-outlined-pyramidy-spaceship… They were there with Kanye to present a slightly (and only VERY slightly) different version of Stronger…

When I saw Daft Punk live last year in Hyde Park, the first thing I thought was, “WOW! What they got in that pimped-up-pyramid”… What I pictured in my head was what I saw at the Grammys….

So so so cool! Lots of flashing greens lights! How sad was I then when I found out what was actually inside the pyramid…

Loads of tiny buttons that I can’t even begin to comprehend! Nevermind… Its still really cool…

To get a vague idea accross they’re album sounds like Paul Simon in his Graceland days at a tea party with the Stokes with a Bach CD playing in the background. But that really dosent do it justice.

The Album pulls influences from they’re time at Colombia University, where lead singer Ezra Koenig sings in the song Campus about a girl he admires “walking cross the campus” when he is stuck in a lecture with a “cruel Professor”. Influences are also pulled from african music in a similar way to Paul Simon’s Graceland but not quite in the same amount, this is most obvious on the song Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, where african percussion is used to accompany a brilliant guitar hook.

The Album is very well produced with a nice mix of styles and a very wide range of instruments used and flows really nicely.

I think this band will go-on to be very big this year and urge you to go and get their brilliant debut album

Rating: 9/10

Here are some links to some songs off thier album.

Vampire Weekend – A-Punk

Vampire Weekend – M79

Thom Yorke – Skip Divided [Modeselektor Remix]
Radiohead – Climbing Up The Walls [Fila Brazilia Remix]
Thom Yorke – And It Rained All Night [Burial Remix]

is there anybody out there?

just nod if you can hear me…

blink your eyes, once for yes, two for no…