South Africa has been having hectic internet issues this past week so this week's post is going to be super short, literally just one line or so per track and the video for it!
I hope that you enjoy this change in format this week.
Onto the tracks...
1. Austra - Home
Canadian electro-goths 'Austra' have just announced the details of their second album which is due out in June, I'm excited for that one. The 6-piece, lead by Katie Stelmanis, recorded this album as an ode to classic dance music. 'Home' is the first single from the album, it takes cues from old school Chicago house!
2. Me and My Drummer - You're A Runner
Next up we have a band from Berlin that is known for it's unique blend of indie music and dream-pop. This was their first single that was released only last year. It slowly builds throughout to end out as a real foot stomper and dance maker!
3. Rhye - The Fall
'Rhye' are a LA based indie duo whose two members are Danish and Canadian respectively, just like the rest of LA they aren't from there. Their debut album was released only this month. These guys have a real sense of mystery surrounding them which only adds to the sensual feel of their music as it grooves it's way into your life.
4. Active Child - Evening Ceremony
Yes that's right...there is a new 'Active Child' song out. At the time of writing it has only been online for around an hour. I have already listened to it around 10 times. It's fantastic, choir boy vocals and instrumentals in all the right places....beauty to listen to. Definitely my track of the week!
5. Flight Facilities - Clair De Lune
The fifth track this week comes all the way from Australia, 'Flight facilities' provides our musical desert as they minister to us for 7 minutes, ministry is the best way to describe this song as it is a tour de force of music. It is minimalistic yet it manages to fill the space surrounding you until all that you have left is the song in your life! The best way to spend the next 7 minutes of your life is to listen to this song right until the end!
That's it for this week. It was quite a chilled playlist this time around, I blame the cold weather for that but I hope you enjoyed the change in style all the same! See you all back here next week for another great playlist!
How is everyone today? I must apologise for the lack of a blog post last week, not much of a Weekly Stew if I miss out a week hey? I blame Finance Honours for my lack of time to write new posts, I have loads of songs just waiting to be unleashed but I hate to just chuck things online without writing something meaningful about them, maybe that's the perfectionist in me finally coming out, pity it doesn't appear when I'm doing work for university.
Last week's favourite track was, by a landslide victory, the new Al Bairre track called 'Solid Gold'. I have to agree with you all, that really is a fantastic track which should be getting national and even international airtime on the big radio stations!
There are going to be a few new writers popping up this year as I try to keep the quality of the blog up as well as expanding the genres that appear on here every week so I hope that you are all looking forward to that!
Without further ado lets get onto the music side of things... 1. Chvrches - Lies
Can bands not spell anymore? We have Alt-J who's whole band name is about a triangle and now people can't even spell Church right? OK besides the whole naming thing these guys are epic! They are Scottish. I could just stop writing right now and everyone would know that these guys were fantastic just by that mere fact! I will however tell you that these guys are an electropop 3-piece from Glasgow who have been making music together since 2011. They have even recently made it onto the major radio stations in South Africa, that's no mean feat for a little known Scottish band!
2. Divine Fits - Would That Not Be Nice
Coming in at number 2 on this week's playlist we have an American/Canadian supergroup, yes I also hate that term but in this case it applies...they really are making some superb music. 'Divine Fits' have an indie sound that is prickly and sticky, it conjures up feelings of the 50's, not of Mad Men but of the fun and funky 50's. Great hooks and cool instrumentals combine to make this song one that's easy to listen to yet it also sticks around in your head all day! Definitely worth a listen.
3. Bastille - Pompeii
This comes courtesy of Mr Dave East, he is one talented filmographer...he also happens to be single ladies! OK back to the music now. 'Bastille' are an indie-synthpop band from South London who recently released their debut album in the UK. They have actually topped the charts over there and have managed to make the critics fall in love with them. One of my favourite bands 'Swiss Lips' supported the quartet on their UK tour last October. Bastille can best be described as playing earnest pop, they are really hard to put into any one category or musical genre and I think that that is why they have enjoyed so much success, they don't really sound like anyone else being played on the radio today! You will fall in love with these guys as you listen to them, there is no doubt about that! They also just happen to have one of the most beautiful music videos I have seen for a while!
4. Harlem Shakes - Strictly Game
I thought that I would get in on the action and include my own version of the Harlem Shake...Luckily for you people my version is actually bringing you an amazing band which just happens to share a name with that ridiculous dance craze. "Harlem Shakes' are another indie-pop band from New York City. Sadly they broke up in 2009 just after releasing a great album for us to enjoy! Melodic indie-pop with more smooth hooks and killer beats is what this band will give to you. Watch the music video closely, it really is quite an ingenious video that is not what it first appears to be!
5. Suede - Barriers
If you haven't heard of 'Suede' before now then you need to go and do some homework! I don't mean by going to buy some new suede shoes. 'Suede' are English Britpop legends! They formed waaaay back in 1989 and released their first material for the last 10 years in January this year. You can just tell it's going to be ridiculously good when the first line of the song is "Aniseed kisses and Lipstick Traces", I mean come on!! A driving beat and simple riffs lead the way into the world of this great band. Let them minister to you this week!
Bonus Track 6. Last Dinosaurs - Zoom
I missed last week so I thought that a bonus track was in order! This track comes courtesy of Sean Ross AKA. Walter The Sheep. I raided Sean's music collection last night and after looking through a little bit of it I'm pretty sure that he should be the one with a music blog and not me. 'Last Dinosaurs' are from Brisbane in Australia, it just proves that good things can come out of Australia every now and then. They have been described as playing power-pop (Makes me think of Adele for some reason) mixed in with a little bit of indie rock. A simple explanation would be to say that they sound a little bit like 'Two Door Cinema Club' and when I say that I only mean the good TDCC, not that new stuff of theirs. Go listen and when you start dancing along to the beat just say thanks to Sean!
That's it for this week's edition. I hope that you all had a good time perusing the selection! Don't forget to vote on the top right and side of the page for your favourite track of the week! See you all next week.
Well hello there to all of you fantastic music lovers!
It is so good to be writing to you again as we, The Weekly Stew, turn 29...yes that's right, we are old now...oh so old! I hope that you have all enjoyed the playlists that have been put out week after week and that the standards have not slipped! Please don't hesitate to comment with suggestions for playlists, soon there is going to be an edition composed just of suggested songs!
Playlist time... 1. Al Bairre - Solid Gold
We start off this week's playlist with a new little ditty from Cape Town locals 'Al Bairre'. I love 'Al Bairre', they are without doubt one of my favourite South African bands and I really believe that they should have far more recognition than they currently do. This new track can be summarised in one word. FUN. That was the word for those of you who didn't catch it. This is indie at it's glorious best, uncompromising, beautiful and constantly going in the opposite direction to what you think is coming. Go check it out and let it put a smile on your face today!
2. Atoms For Peace - Ingenue
Next up this week we have the supergroup to end all super groups. The genius of Thom Yorke (Radiohead), combined with the energy of Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and the prowess of an ex R.E.M. and Beck drummer are almost too much to handle! 'Atoms For Peace' really are an amazing band, their style is a mix of experimental rock and huge electronica that ends up sounding indie and industrial with just a hint of 'Radiohead' around it. It's definitely not to be missed so go check it out and enjoy their combined musical genius!
3. High Highs - Open Season
'High Highs' bring some pure, unadulterated joy to this week's playlist with infectious beats and swooning vocals. 'High Highs' are an Australian duo who now live in New York and have been playing their way into young girl's hearts all over America, I seriously need to get my rockstar life going and get some groupies. Their music is full of glorious harmonies that just paint beautiful pictures in your mind! They are another young band to watch out for as they make a name for themselves in the music world.
4. Plants and Animals - Lightshow
This week the Canadians are making an appearance on the blog as they spin their musical webs around us. 'Plants and Animals' are among the most underrated bands in Canada at the moment. They play indie-rock which they themselves describe as being 'post-classic rock'. In all of their songs they have managed to create a really full quality to their sound, as you listen you really get drawn into what they are doing. Their lead singer's voice is very different to what you expect from conventional bands but it seems to work to their advantage as it makes their sound unique. Go on and enjoy it.
5. Gold Fields - Dark Again
The final track in this week's playlist comes from Ballarat locals 'Gold Fields', for those of you who don't know...Ballarat is a city in Australia (I have no idea why people wouldn't know that). A driving bass line and well constructed verse structure lead the way in this song. It really is a track to get your heart beating faster and your foot tapping along to the beat, it is one of those rare songs where the louder you listen to it, the better it is! So play it loud!! All in all this is a great track from yet another Australian band!
That's it for yet another edition. Thanks for stopping by. Don't forget that you can find us on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest news and goings on with the blog. See you all next week.
PS. Don't forget to vote for your favourite track of the week on the top right hand side of the page.
