Spotlight – 36: Haze XXL
Now, I know that those No Anchor dudes are going to appreciate this, even if no one else does. This is some fucking freaking sweet guitar and drowned noise and heavy instrumental sound and calamitous metal from the head dude at Amphetamine Reptile Records, Tom Hazelmyer, ex-Halo of Flies. (He makes dementoid toys and designs […]
Spotlight – 35: Complaints Choir of Tokyo
Susie O’Neill recommended this on Twitter with the words, “This lovely vid of Tokyo Complaints Choir throws off the stereotype of the Japanese as meak and mild”. The harmonies, words and choreography just kill me. So beautiful, so funny. UPDATE I’ve written an article for The Guardian about the whole phenomenon. You can find it […]
Spotlight – 33: The Tielman Brothers
Damn, but this is just about the greatest pair of videos I’ve seen today. No, wait. This week. No, wait. This month. Etc. Etc. The Tielman Brothers! They’re like the Dutch Indonesian rockabilly Monks! From 1960.
Spotlight – 32: Mika
Don’t act so surprised, I have form here – OK? This is like Jarvis and ‘Another Brick In The Wall’ and Queen and Lady Gaga and Belinda Carlisle and Ladies And Gentlemen…The Fabulous Stains combined…and who’d have thought it?! THAT’S A GOOD THING!!! Listen to We Are Golden here. It actually makes way more sense if […]
Spotlight – 31: Bridezilla
They couldn’t play live for shit when I saw them at ATP in January, but neither could Mazzy Star back when I last saw them in 1990, now I think about it. Anyway, these Sydney ladies are way more Opal than Mazzy Star, and all the better for it. At least, they are when they forget […]
Spotlight – 30: Songs
Yep, Songs. Their debut album – due out in November – is quite honestly the greatest record I’ve heard all year. Full stop, end of story. It might well be the greatest record I’ve heard this decade but a) it’s still not a competition, and b) my memory does play tricks on me, and c) I’m […]
Spotlight – 29: Kitchen’s Floor
As I said somewhere else just now, I keep forgetting how much I remain in love with the thrill of live music. Blame it on my age. Whatever. At least I know my limitations. Oh maybe I shouldn’t. Or maybe I don’t. Oh maybe I just want to FUCK AND GET HIGH FUCK AND GET […]
Spotlight – 28: Blank Realm
I so rarely go out to shows any more, I keep forgetting how much in love I remain with the thrill of live music. Last night at the Troubadour; I mean genuinely in love. I can’t resist it. After Blank Realm finished I was back in love with the music I’ve always been in love […]
Spotlight – 27: The Pepper Pots
Damn it, but I think I have another crush coming on… Some exquisite lover’s rock from Spain (I assume). And this one is like The Pipettes only… um… only… This one’s great as well. (Back to the ska.)
