Monday, December 29, 2008

Adam Askew - Death Mix

The lucky last Death Mix of 2008!.

Brought to you by the letters W (wisdom), T (teeth), S (surgery) and P (painkillers). A big shout-out to all the maxillofacial surgeons in the house!

'Death Mix' by Adam Askew (direct link)

TRACKLIST:
The Big Pink - 'Crystal Visions' (House Anxiety)
Deadline - 'Gammatron' (Celluloid)
Red Krayola - 'Say Hello To Jamie Jones' (International Artists)
Fujiya & Miyagi - 'Uh' (Regal)
Koto - 'Japanese War Game (Mega Track)' (ZYX Records)
Jamie Lidell - 'Little Bit Of Feel Good (Mr Oizo mix)' (Warp)
Nocturnal Emissions - 'No Separation' (Concrete Productions)
Mahjongg - 'Problems' (K)
Mekon - 'Blood On The Moon (In Flagranti rmx)' (Wall Of Sound)

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Death Of A Disco Dancer - Eartha R.I.P.

I first clocked sight of US performer Eartha Kitt watching reruns of '60s action comedy Batman. Kitt was Catwoman, of course. And, with apologies to Julie Newmar, Michelle Pfieffer and Halle Berry, she always remained Catwoman to me. The political significance of a black woman taking over a role originally cast as white was lost on me at the time, nor did I know then that the reason I'd not heard much of Kitt until that point was that she had been quietly blacklisted in the late '60s due to her anti-Vietnam War stance. However, in the '80s the woman who had already conquered Broadway, films and mainstream music success, went clubbing. She scored big with hi-NRG cut 'Where Is My Man' ("with a big big big... yacht!") and then replaced the late Divine as guest vocalist on post-Jimmy Somerville Bronski Beat's 'Cha Cha Heels' (a tribute to John Waters' film Female Trouble). Kitt toured Australia on the heat of her career revival and the concerts were a cut above - reclining on a chez lounge attended by a strapping waiter who kept her champagne topped up on stage - she purred through classics such as 'I Want To Be Evil', 'C'est Ci Bon', 'Let's Do It' and 'Santa Baby'. Coincidentally, the woman who gave us the Xmas classic 'Santa Baby' passed away on Xmas Day, age 81.

Eartha Kitt merchandise

Eartha Kitt & Bronski Beat - 'Cha Cha Heels':

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Neighbourhood Watch - French Rockets, WA

As the inevitable backlash unfairly sets in for Perth psych export Tame Impala, the industry part of the local 'music industry' knows that means crossover success is just around the corner (when early adopters turn on they adopted early it means the suburbs are buzzing so the EAs need to find a new obscurity to celebrate until the cycle starts moving round again... and, so on). So, of course, we return to Perth for the Next-Could-Be-Big-Thing. Enter: French Rockets. With just enough psych-influence to be tarred with a brush that can have us screaming, "Perth's the new San Fran," this trio actually lean a little (okay, A LOT) toward the post-nu gaze scene (take note of their influences as listed on MySpace) and, in a darkened room with a handful of Qaaludes, can at times remind us of classic Mebz old gazers Ripe.

So, folks are sniffing around and soon another west coast trio should be hip to a hipster label. But because there won't be any new material just yet, familiarise yourself with the kinda tuneage that got 'em noticed in the first place.

French Rockets - 'Scopin' The Radar'

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Neighbourhood Watch - Reptiles, Vic (08 Edition)

There are Reptiles loose in Melburn'z backyard again. It's happened before. Back in the late '80s a Nick Barker-led group of Reptiles crawled out from under the swamp blues rock that the town's underground scene was built on back then. Barker was a one-time member of recently-reformed The Wreckery (with Hugo Race of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds fame). At one stage, I'm fairly certain the band were known as Reptile Smile as they slowly mutated from the proto-grunge mud slingers into chart-dwelling bipeds with a keen ear for a good cover (they found their biggest success de-glamming, but not defiling, Cockney Rebel's 'Come Up And See Me Make Me Smile').

The latest bottom-of-the-garden dwellers dig from the same mire Barker's critters initially wallowed in - loose, dark, intense, noisy splashes of musical mud. That stains. They pick up where the Gun Club and other ye olde Slash Records' bands left off - hopefully they won't derail like that US alt.band scene and turn into arena-embracing REMs. Having built a reputation as a live powerhouse (or should that be powersquatters, their's is so the soundtrack of every '80s squat party), the '00 Reptiles have allowed a six-track EP to slither out on its own (close-to-the-ground) legs. It's worth grabbing by the tail, even it's just to admire their scaly song titles: 'Chainsaw Sally', 'Drank Bleach', etc.

Reptiles - 'Smell My Skin'

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Out In The Sticks - Death Mix

Too hot to handle, too cold to hold - a brand new 30min master mix from Sydney production unit Out In The Sticks. I can't tell you too much about these guys... all I know is that they smell like Eucalyptus and wear alot of corks on their hats.

'Death Mix' by Out In The Sticks (direct link)

TRACKLIST:
Paperclip People - 'Throw' (Open)
LeoZero - 'Pull Up' CD-R
Timmy Thomas - 'Why Can't We Live Together? (AA edit)' CD-R
Rhythm Control - 'My House' (Catch A Beat)
Logic - 'The Warning' (BITE Records)
The Revenge - 'Night Flight' (Jiscomusic)
The Joubert Singers - 'Stand on the Word (HC edit)' CD-R
Out in the Sticks - 'In the Dark' (Five20East recs)
Out in the Sticks - 'Forget M'edit' (Disco Deviance)
Out in the Sticks - 'My Super Lady' CD-R
Out in the Sticks - 'Keep on Dancin' CD-R
Congos vs George Kranz - AA edit CD-R
Village - Untitled (Big Bear)
Altz - 'Jino' (Bear Funk)
Mr Fingers - 'Stars' (Jack Trax)
Joie Noire - 'Jammaster (Joie Noire re-edit)' (D-Classics)

Out In The Sticks debut 12" is set to drop on UK label Disco Deviance early net year. Keep your eye on Five20East for more new OITS music.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Neighbourhood Watch - Wolf & Cub, SA


We've long been fans of nu grave Adelaide lupines Wolf & Cub ever since their first EP appeared through one of Australia's bestest labels Remote Control in 2004. And there was no ignoring the 2006 single 'Thousand Cuts' as remixed by Phones. With a new album due February 2009, it's hard not to get drool on your fangs knowing they've recorded it with Bumblebeez' Chris Colonna. The first sneak off the album is this:

Wolf & Cub - 'Seven Sevens'

Friday, November 21, 2008

Nick Name - Death Mix

Nick Name from London-based record label Care In The Community Recordings has put together a 30min label showcase. A great mix of music - taking in leftfield, rock, funk and cosmic sounds. Including forthcoming releases from Lark and Aaron Islamb (from The Bees).

'Death Mix' by Nick Name (direct link)

TRACKLIST:
Wight Light Orch. – 'Chaos and Consciousness (P.1)' (CITC recordings)
Aaron Islamb – 'Cover Up (Hauschka version)' (CITC recordings)
Lark – 'The Animal’s Claw (In Flagranti edit)' (CITC recordings)
Lark – 'Hatbox (The Bees version)' (CITC recordings)
Lark – 'Wet Dream' (CITC recordings)
Aaron Islamb – 'Cover Up' (CITC recordings)
Lark – 'Tardis' (CITC recordings)


Track down Care In The Community's limited vinyl-only releases in all discerning record stores.

If you're up for more Community Sounds, catch Nick's radio show on Brooklyn Radio.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Jake Judd & Nikki Sarafian - Death Mix

A brand spanking new Death Mix from the new wave of Australian disco conceptualism - Jake Judd and Nikki Sarafian. 35+ minutes of bonkers synth pop, electro, EBM and house.

'Death Mix' by Jake Judd & Nikki Sarafian (direct link)

TRACKLIST:
L-Vira - 'Talkin Bout Rambo' (Break Records)
O.K. – 'Okay!' (CBS)
Danielle Deneuve - 'The Rising Sun' (Profile Records)
Paul Hardcastle - '19' (Chrysalis)
Mr. Fingers – 'Stars' (Jack Trax)
Front 242 - 'Masterhit (Masterblaster)' (Red Rhino Europe)
Nitzer Ebb - 'Join In The Chant' (Mute Records Ltd)
Hugh Bullen - 'Alisand' (ZYX Records)
Hongkong Syndikat - 'Berlin' (Teldec)

If you're out and about in Melbourne you can catch Jake and Nikki @ Soul Sundays @ Lucky Coq in Prahran... plus various other guest spots around town.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

We Are Back!


After a short hiatus (how long has it been? 5 months?), we're back! We're giving radio a break, and taking things to the W W W. For those of you who used to listen to the radio show (hi Mum!), we'll be following a similar format with the website. For those who didn't, no matter. We're going to jump straight in with a bunch of new music, DJ mixes, uncomfortable amateur photography... AND our award-winning sense of humour.

That's it. Let's get started.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

2007 - Favourites

Retrospective post from the radio show archives.
This show originally aired 09/01/08.

20 of our favourite records from 2007.

Teenager – 'Alone Together' (Timberyard)
Theatre Of Disco - 'YOA' (Future Classic)
Soft Tigers - 'Mr Ice Cream (DJ Waxmaster Juke Mix)' (Below Par)
Wiley - 'Bow E3' (Big Dada)
Modeselektor ft Paul St Hillaire - 'Let Your Love Grow' (Bpitch Control)
Kings Of Leon - 'Charmer' (RCA)
The Brunettes - 'B-A-B-Y' (Etch 'N' Sketch)
Teenagersintokyo – 'End It Tonight' (Pavement)
Fujiya & Miyagi - 'Uh' (Regal)
LCD Soundsystem – 'Someone Great' (DFA/EMI)
Robert Owens & Ron Trent - 'Movin On (Vocal)' (Need 2 Soul)
Armando feat Sharvette - 'Don't Take It' (Let's Pet Puppies)
Binary Chaffinch - 'False Energy' (Dissident)
MIA - 'Jimmy' (XL/Remote Control)
Osbourne - 'Outta Sight' (Spectral Sound)
Happy Mondays feat Mickey Avalon – 'Deviants' (Sequel/Shock)
Fred Cherry - 'Busride To The Zoo' (Hole In The Sky)
Yoko Ono feat Peaches - 'Kiss Kiss Kiss' (Astralwerks)
DJ Blaq Starr - 'Supastarr' (Mad Decent)
Dan Deacon - 'Snake Mistakes' (Wildfire Wildfire Records)