Remix of the Day: 'Tiny Cities feat. Beck (Lindstrom & Prins Thomas Remix)' by Flume

Swooping in on the wings of 2017, this 10 minute, uplifting and extremely danceable remix is sure to banish the January blues. Flume's star is really in the ascendancy at the moment and this will definitely help keep up the momentum.


I can't help but be reminded of 'Wide Open', the track that Beck did a couple of years ago that was my favourite song of 2015. In case you missed it, here's the Joe Goddard mix of that track for you to listen to.

Glastonbury 2016 - The Ones To Watch - T-28 Days: Unknown Mortal Orchestra

One of my favorite 'indie' bands of recent years, Unknown Mortal Orchestra's third album really showed off Ruban Neilson's ear for a melody, while at the same time developing them as a band rather than just Neilson's bedroom one-man effort.

Live they're a bundle of energy and fun, really bringing the songs to life and showing Ruban's character. Make sure you see them if you get the chance.

Recommended music: 'Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit' by Courtney Barnett

The first album proper from Melbourne-born Barnett, after her EP collection 'A Sea of Split Peas' is a bright shining beacon of sass in the world of mediocre mainstream music. With more attitude than a bag full of rattlesnakes and more hooks than an abattoir, her music is the type that smacks you firmly in the face but then kisses you better afterwards. From the brilliantly punky first single 'Pedestrian At Best', with its insanely catchy chorus, through to the downbeat but not morose closer 'Boxing Day Blues' this is an album that never fails to entertain. Lyrically Barnett covers subjects ranging from the trials of buying your first property in the crap part of town; "We drive to a house in Preston / see police arresting a man with his hand in a bag / How's that for first impressions!" (Depreston) to being stuck in the wrong job; "I'm not suicidal just idling insignificantly / All I ever wanted to be was an Elevator Operator / Can you help me please?"

Musically the production is bright and crisp and gives the feel of a record that's been 'played live' while it was recorded. That feel even extends to the track sequencing - it feels like almost the perfect order for a live show - a powerful finish, then a chance to calm down a bit before building the energy back up. It's clear that Courtney is a natural talent who is just beginning to blossom, and she's got enough musical strings to her bow to match the wit and insouciance of her lyrics. The two long songs ('Small Poppies' and 'Kim's Caravan', both around the 7-minute mark) never seem to drag, but she can still nail a perfect two minute pop song on 'Aqua Profunda!'. There are tracks on here that sound like The Velvet Underground and tracks that sound like The Kinks, but it's still a totally modern and relevant album.

Perfect post-punk pop from someone who may just be the saviour of indie guitar music.

PS It's worth mentioning that on the orange vinyl version of this that I've got there's a secret bonus track at the end which may well be the title track (as she sings the title in it).

Remix of the Day: The Throw (Dreems Sounds of the Universe Remix) by Jagwar Ma

So I'm back from my trip to New York (more of that another time maybe) with this massive remix for you, both literally and metaphorically.You'll have noticed from previous posts that I love pretty much everything Jagwar Ma have put out, both their original tracks and the remixes that have been done of them. On this version of 'The Throw'  Dreems works his magic on the already impressive original, turning into something like on of the Amorphous Androgynous psychedelic trips. Over 21 minutes you're gradually lifted up and then brought back down to earth on a heady, whirlwind ride. Apparently this will only be available on vinyl so get in quick if you want to order one from here.

Track of the Day: 'Ivory' by Movement

Hailing from Sydney, Australia, electronic three-piece Movement are next in line to win your hearts and move your feet. Their new EP is out in the next few days on Modular Recordings, although they sound to me like they could be equally at home on DFA Records. This track is brooding and dark with some rather unexpected but brilliant squalling guitar at the end. Frankly I can't get enough of it, and if you feel the same you can pre-order it here.



The band are about to start a worldwide tour in support of the EP, and after a couple of weeks in their native Australia they'll be here in London on June 16th at the non-more-hip Ace Hotel in Shoreditch. Ticket details are here - maybe I'll see you there!

Remix of the Day: 'Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark) (Little Dragon Remix) by Unknown Mortal Orchestra

So, it appears that this actually came out about a year ago, but I've only just found it, and it's great, so I thought I'd share it with you. There's not a huge amount of the original track left to be honest, mostly just the title refrain, but who cares when what they've done with it is this good? Listen and download for free below.

Remix of the Day: 'We Are Explorers (Larry Gus Remix)' by Cut Copy

A brilliantly wonky remix of this track from Cut Copy's latest album 'Free Your Mind' by DFA Records' Larry Gus. Starting with some ramshackle drums, this version then meanders through some chiming, melodic keyboards, before stepping up the antics by adding cowbells and backwards vocals. As the rhythm builds there are jazz trumpets and a shouting man thrown into the mix. It's all a bit mad, which is why I love it.

Listen or download the track for free below.

Surprising cover version of the day - Vancouver Sleep Clinic do Drake

This great cover comes by way of Vancouver Sleep Clinic, who I wrote about at the end of last year (see article here) and GXNXVS, who I know absolutely fuck-all about - I don't even have a clue how you'd pronounce their name. Anyway, between them they've produced this first-rate cover of the Drake song 'Hold On We're Going Home', which you can listen to below

New band of the day: Vancouver Sleep Clinic

Despite what their name might suggest, this is a young band from Brisbane, Australia. Mostly the work of the 17-year old Tim Bettinson, so far they've released just two hauntingly beautiful tracks, but that's enough to make me think that they've got a bright future ahead of them. The first track, 'Vapour', came out at the end of July, and shows that it's possible to make gorgeous music even if you've only got a crappy laptop, a couple of battered microphones and a free trial version of Pro-Tools to work with.



The second, 'Collapse', emerged at the start of the year, and develops their sound to become even more intense and touching. I know what you're thinking and yes, he does sound quite a lot like Justin Vernon, but that doesn't stop these being brilliant tracks.



I'll be watching these guys carefully in 2014 as I think, and hope, that they'll be releasing some more stunning music.

PS Thanks to Ben Watt for introducing me to this band via his last 6mix broadcast on BBC 6music.

Remix of the Day: 'Talking To A Stranger (Avalanches Rework) by Hunters & Collectors

Are we edging ever closer to the release of the second album by The Avalanches, a mere 13 years after their debut? The appearance of this track might indicate that a new release is indeed on the horizon. Not so much a remix as a total rework, the track sounds like it could've been lifted straight out the middle of the next Avalanches record - starting with what appears to be a sample from 'Relight My Fire' the original track is cut, spliced and generally fucked about with as different samples are chucked over the top of it. I'd never heard the original (unless you were in Australia in the 80s I guess you won't have either); I went back and listened to it but there wasn't really any point - this version pisses all over the original. To go with the remix original video director Richard Lowenstein has re-cut the video to go with the remix. You can watch it below, although it's interesting to note that here it's billed as 'Stalking To A Stranger (Planets Collide Remix' by The Avalanches, which again makes it seem that it's an Avalanches release...



With Daft Punk's return now complete, surely The Avalanches are the next band due to reappear and be deified?

Recommended music: 'Any Port In A Storm' by Scott & Charlene's Wedding

Craig Dermody's second long-player under this magical moniker sees him relocated in New York City, although you sense that wherever he lives he'll always be something of an outsider. A magnificent muddle of jangly guitars, story-telling lyrics shot through with equal amounts of humour and pathos, and a retro-musicality firmly routed in the early 90s - on the tellingly-titled '1993' he even sings "And I ain't done much changing in what I love since 1993". The album is kinda summed up by the track 'Fakin' NYC' wherein he states "I'm fakin' in New York City, I'll let you in in a secret of mine, I don't know what I'm doing any of the time".

Despite the slacker vibes there's some definite effort been put into this album - there are hooks and melodies aplenty, and I reckon it takes a lot of practice to perfect that barely-singing approach to vocals. It's hard to make a record that instantly feels like it's your friend, that you'd want to sit in a bar with and talk shit with all evening, but this album has that familiarity and warmness. It's a record whose sound and stories work equally as well in East London as they do in East Village, and perhaps, amidst the great hooks and charming songs, that's its greatest success. If he really is looking for any port in a storm then you should let Dermody take shelter in your harbour - your life will be all the better for it.

By the way, my cd copy of the album also came with the added bonus of a copy of the 'Two Weeks' EP from earlier this year (I assume they all do, at least initially?) which makes it even better value.

I'll leave you with this thought from 'Jackie Boy', which I imagine in one of Dermody's mantras;- "I dragged myself into the void until I had nothing left, when you've got nothing left you've still got rock'n'roll".

You can listen to some of the album's tracks ad even grab a free download or two below.

Track of the Day: 'Lesbian Wife' by Scott & Charlene's Wedding

I think this is the third track I've featured now from the marvellously-named Scott & Charlene's Wedding (henceforth referred to as SACW) and I think this may well be my favourite so far. There's something reassuringly familiar about it, I'm not sure whether it sounds like something in particular (that I can't quite put my finger on) or a mixture of lots of things that I've liked in the past. Either way it's great, the perfect mix of guitars, slacker vibes and entertaining lyrics.

The album 'Any Port In A Storm' is out on July 22nd on Fire Records, but in the meantime you can grab this great track for free below.

New music: 'Man I Need (white label version)' by Jagwar Ma

On which Jagwar Ma continue their mission to prove how good they are at making really good, reeaally long songs. This one clocks in at nine and a half minutes - the second half is pretty much a remix of the first half, but it works really well. If their album (Howlin') is going to be full of songs as good (and as long) as this then we're in for a treat - it's out on June 10th.

New music: 'Gammy Leg' by Scott and Charlene's Wedding

 Another track from their 'Two Weeks' EP (you can listen to the title track and read more about the band here) this is a brilliantly-titled piece of indie-slacker-guitar-pop from the unbelievably-named Scott and Charlene's Wedding. In my (not very humble) opinion this is even better than the other side, and would be perfect to listen to if you were any where in the sunshine right now.

The single is out on a blood red 10" (appropriate if you listen to the lyrics) on Critical Heights Records.

New music: 'Two Weeks' by Scott & Charlene's Wedding

The latest release on Critical Heights comes from the brilliantly/stupidly (delete as appropriate) named Scott & Charlene's Wedding. The record is the work of Craig Dermody - born in Melbourne but now residing in New York, he manages to fuse the feel of Australian indie bands like The Go-Betweens with the slacker vibe of Wavves and Cloud Nothings to produce a melodic and lyrically charming record. "I'm old-fashioned just like my dad, I get awkward on video chat" is my favourite couplet on here and gives you a feel for what he's aiming at.

The 'Two Weeks' EP is released on March 11th on 10" & download.

Craig Dermody, Scott & Charlene's Wedding

New music: 'Strange Beast' by Lower Plenty

Having been released in their native Australian last year, Lower Plenty's debut album 'Hard Rubbish' will be getting a more widespread release this April. From it come this track, which you can download for free above. It's a slightly menacing acoustic number, with some atmospheric background noises - you can get a feel for the track just by the first line - "Loneliness is the greatest killer of them all".

Recommended music: 'Lonerism' by Tame Impala

It's going to be difficult to review this album without mentioning The Beatles, so let's get it out of the way now - 'Lonerism' sounds a lot like the post 1966 psychedelic era Fab Four i.e. when they were at their most interesting. But that's not its only influence - from The Flaming Lips to glam rock there's a bag full of references here that never overwhelm the songs that Kevin Parker has created here. Instead they combine to create something that feels warmly familiar that you can luxuriate in, as the trippy guitars, harmonies and melodies dive out of your speakers and into your cerebral cortex. Don't get me wrong - this is not a record that sounds nostalgic - it's forward thinking and of its time. 'Lonerism' doesn't sound like a record that was made in the late '60s or early '70s - it's more like Parker has brought all of his favourite musicians from that era forward in time to see what they kind of songs they would make in 2012.

So what if 'Why Won't They Talk To Me' sounds like it was produced by Jeff Lynne (of E.L.O. fame)? Or if 'Elephant' matches the Super Furry Animals 'Golden Retriever' spliced with the instrumental section of Pink Floyd's 'Money' with some stuff off 'Animals' thrown in for good measure? Wonder instead at how one man in a studio in Perth, Australia, has made such a brilliant record, which matches fantastic music with lyrics about failed love, failed lives, and the general hopelessness of living. If 'Lonerism' is a lifestyle choice then expect many more people to be sucked into its cult of solo living if it results in this much creativity.

Possibly the best album ever to come out of Australia (can you suggest anything better?) and certain to feature on the end of year 'Top 10' lists of most discerning music critics - make sure it's on yours too.

You can listen to a couple of tracks from the album below.