Broadsheet: An American Astronaut

I preview Melbourne Fringe Festival stage show/musical/westerm An American Astronaut for Broadsheet. Read the words here.

Interview Gina Star

As the third biggest city in Texas, Dallas’ economy is primarily based on banking, commerce and telecommunications. It’s music scene, at the best of times, revels in country rock, where plectrums pluck strings and sticks beat drums, and no one knows this better than Gina Star... I talk to Texan born dance music DJ Gina Star right here!

Interview: Kissy Sell Out

Kissy Sell Out talks about graphic design, podcasts and new album ‘Wild Romance’ ahead of his return to Sankeys this month. Check out my full Q&A with Kissy here.

Interview: Michael Woods

Whether it be his live acappelas or his work with the London Symphony Orchestra, Hackney’s Michael Woods oscillates between a variety of musical sounds, engaging aural polar opposites at every turn... Click here to read the full interview with London producer Michael Woods.

Interview: Alex Arnout

I speak to electronic DJ Alex Arnout about twenty years in the industry, current influences, and why he'd never move from London.

Check out the full interview here!

Interview: Krafty Kuts

 

I speak to British producer/DJ Krafty Kuts, a musical mind, who's not afraid to announce the outlandish. Go to a KK gig and expect to hear tracks you've never heard before, and you can quote him on that.

Head here to read the whole interview.

CRUSH: BEST COAST

Such amazing weather in Melbourne. Sun's out and the light summery (spring) breeze is blowing away all my angst. Totes crushin' on Best Coast today.

TWIN SISTERS' DEBUT 'IN HEAVEN'

Twin Sisters' debut 'In Heaven' is just that. Wow, listening to it makes me regress to a childlike state where innocence paves my every way. Where wrongdoing is only out of naivety and not malicious intent.  When you close your eyes the corners of your mouth curve, without warning, without instruction. Your mouth smiles because you ears tell it to..

Click here to stream the full album. 'In Heaven' is released on 26 Sep.

PLAYBUTTON

Playbutton, the circle with might, has finally come into fruition. It grew little arms and made it's way to our Australian shores. What the hell am I talking about? The Playbutton is quite literally a button which when connected to headphones plays an album in its whole glory. It's about reverting to the days when people appreciated the album from start to finish, there was none of this skipping business, or worse still downloading just this song or that.

Melbourne store Third Drawer Down now have them in stock for $30 a pop. They currently stock three albums by: The XX, Bow Ribbons and Dirty Three.

Head over to the Opening Ceremony blog to read an interview with the Spanish creator Nick Dangerfield.

[I wrote about it late last year for Concrete Playground.]

Andreya Triana + Bonobo - Lost Where I Belong

Produced by the one and only BONOBO, this Andreya Triana track remixed by Flying Lotus! The track isn't new but it's certainly a precursor to the full album. With Bonobo on board expectations are, naturally, high.
 

DJ MEHDI J DILLA/DJ MEHDI TRIBUTE

The Ed Banger crew have dug up a mixtape made by the late DJ Mehdi in tribute to J Dilla. It dates back to 2002 and properly does both artists justice. RIP. DJ MEHDI "Loukoums" by edbangerrecords

Dorian Concept

Ever the beat inspector Austrian hip hop, funk, electronic sampler Dorian Concept releases the full version of Hug Her Elbow. Get ready for some glitchy computer sounds.
Dorian Concept - Hug Her Elbow - FULL by Dorian Concept

BBC Essential Mix - James Blake

A babin' mix by the super hyped James Blake. He's currently the UK's number 1 export, depending on who you're talking to, and this BBC Essential Mix is a pretty apt portrayal of his musical range. From experimental to classical he reaches many peaks and I would even go as far as saying it trumps his debut.
Not a die hard James Blake fan, of course he has his winning tracks but I'd rather listen to Mount Kimbie or Joy Orbison any day. Nevertheless this is 2 hours that'll fly by.

Listen to James Blake's BBC Essential Mix below.

James Blake - BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix (2011-09-17) by Hypetrak

Blood Orange

Love Blood Orange aka Dev Hynes. Other monikers he goes by include Lightspeed Champion and Test Icicles. Don't love the last two so much but the former appeases my angst-ridden soul. Who knew mixing acoustics and funk could sound so good. Who knew the boy with the cowboy hat could deliver such varied soundscapes.

He even knows B-B-Beyonce!

Check his Blood Orange Tumbler and check his 2011 album 'Coastal Grooves'. One of the best albums thus far. Interviewing him for LeCool London was a bloody nightmare but all has been forgiven now that ''Coastal Grooves' has come into play.

Blood Orange Tumbler

Ghost Poet

The UK's Ghost Poet is making his way to Melbourne this October! He'll be playing the Northcote Social on Oct 20! More info over at Beat.

This guy has his lyrics and rhythm down pat. 2010's 'The Sound of Strangers' was just the precursor to his Mercury prize nominated 'Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam'.

Check out some of his work below:

Interview: James Zabiela

Techno maestro James Zabiela talks work methods, bobby brown and the 'south coast mafia'.

Click here to view the full interview.

The Drums - Portamento

Portamento Preview by WorkItMedia

Oh wowzer. Here's a second helping from America's The Drums. Since their debut, members have come and gone, and the once quartet is now a trio fortunately their music is just as poppy and New Order inspired as ever.
Portamento is not as bright and chirpy as the debut but it's got just as many hooks and even more catchy tunes. Enjoy, then go buy it :)

Geoffrey O'Connor - Whatever Leads Me To You

Whatever Leads Me To You by Geoffrey O'Connor from Geoff O'Connor on Vimeo.

Geoffrey O'Connor is a Melbourne lad who makes you sway in your seat. His music is synth pop laced with emotive lyrics. Listen to his voice and it'll remind you of something, That something being Melbourne band Crayon Fields.

Now solo artist O'Connor, once the frontman for Crayon Fields, has ventured forth sans his counterparts and we're pretty damn excited.

See him support Lucky Dragons (US) at The Toff in Town on 12 Oct! Tix here.

It's gonna be quite a doozy! See you there.

Jonti + Stones Throw

Jonti - Hornet's Nest by stonesthrow Dope new tune from Sydney-sider Jonti. Track is called Hornet's Nest and is released via mega label Stones Throw. Love it!

Interview: Sigma

Ahead of their Trilogy show in November, I talk to Sigma about impending EPs, musical politics and their Life podcasts – an extension beyond the raised stages and audio peripherals.
Interview here.

Interview: Banco de Gai

I speak to Toby Marks of veteran electronic act Banco de Gaia ahead of his Alchemy Festival gig this month. Click here to see the interview.

Interview: Mount Kimbie

The UK's post-dub step pioneers Mount Kimbie talk Coachella and look follow to the follow-up to debut Crooks and Lovers.  Click here for the interview.