THE BRIGHTON PORT AUTHORITY

Seattle Featuring Emmy The Great

CUT COPY

Sands Of Time

New(ish) Cut Copy track which appears as a b-side on their single for Far Away.  Listen to it HERE.  Awesomeness.

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

See This Movie

Not only is this film stunningly beautiful but it features a new track by M.I.A.

The film centers around two brothers, one bad, one good.  The good one gains a spot as a contestant on India's version of How Wants To Be A Millionaire, in which he wins the grand prize and is then accused of cheating.  Through defending himself and revealing how he new the answers to each question, a heart-breaking tale of the triumph of the human spirit, love and loss unfolds.  Directed by Danny Boyle, this film captures a side of Mumbai that the majority of people in the west didn't know existed.  Very reminiscent of the slums seen in City Of God.  

I suggest seeing this in theatre as I don't think the small screen will do the film justice.  Boyle adopts Bollywood for the North American masses and does so with his use of vibrant colour, Bollywood-esque storyline and even inserts a great dance scene into the closing credits.  Highly recommended.

TV On The Radio

Dancing Choose

TV On The Radio are about to embark on an Australian tour. Let's hope a North American tour in the works.

M83/School of Seven Bells

The Opera House

November 20, 2008

Why is it that every time I go to the Opera House for a concert, I'm sick? It's becoming a bit of a hex.  Arrived at the venue at 9pm just in time to catch School Of Seven Bells.  There has been quite a lot of press about them as of late, their debut album Alpinisms was recently released and it's alright.  I don't love it, I find it a bit repetitive in a sense that many of the tracks sound very similar.  Plus, not really loving the vocals.  But I can't discount how great the song Half Asleep is.  Their live show was similar in my opinion to their album, each song bled into the other and kinda felt like one long song.  Maybe it was because I was sick and my attention span was affected by the cold meds.  Maybe I just hated the lead singer's bangs.  Not sure which one.

I saw M83 last time they came through the city at Mod Club.  I was lazy and didn't write up a review.  But it would have been similar to this one, both shows (well the first one really) were much better than I anticipated.  I have been a passive fan of the band since their (or his...) debut was released but became obsessed after hearing Saturdays = Youth.  Not only did I fall in love with the disgustingly fashionable cover of the record, but lead single Couleurs became one of may unofficial theme songs of the summer.  It's the perfect blend of soaring guitars and early 90s dance.   Anthony Gonzalez and his touring band played a great mix of material pulled from the new album as well as the fantastic Before The Dawn Heals Us.

One thing that must be noted is the use of pre-recorded vocals in a couple songs.  Some think this is uber cheesy, me I think its endearing, he can get away with it because he's french and maybe he doesn't know better.  Highlights of the show: Teen Angst, Asterick, Moonchild, Graveyard Girl and set closer Couleurs.  To be completely honest, the sole reason of seeing them a second time on this tour was to witness the brilliance of Couleurs live.  Watch the live clip from their show in May in San Fran below.  It's pretty great and has a New Order feel to it. Overall, a great show, even if I was in a bit of a sinus infection haze. 

Photo via Flickr by Pixagen.

IT'S THE DARKEST SIDE OF MY HEART THAT DIES

Introducing The Middle East

I stumbled onto The Middle East about a month ago.  Their album The Recordings Of The Middle East got lost in the shuffle and I only really started listening to it about a week ago.  I'm deeply obsessed.  You know how you need to discover some bands at a specific time of the year, this album is perfect for the fall, for mornings where the sun is fighting through the clouds, for late afternoons when the sun falls faster and earlier than before....you need this album for these times. 

There is little to no information about this band on the internet.  I know that they are from Townsville , Queensland, Australia.  The band is comprised of two brothers, Joe and Jord Ireland, Bree Tranter, Javed Steritt, Rohin Jones, Mark Myers and Tim Barwise.  The play shows in and around AUD, and may or may not have broken up and reformed recently.  

The Middle East have been described as a post rock band by a couple blogs, but I find them to be much more epic than that.  I hear so many different influences in their music, Pig Food is reminescent of a more ambient Sigur Ros, but I also hear traces of Galaxie 500, Low, The Arcade Fire and Red House Painters.  Their music teeters in being frail and desolate to epic and grandiose.

Check their myspace (link above) to sample their tunes.  Below you'll find a tour diary that the band made.  The live footage looks incredible.

The Middle East tour part1

WHAT I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THIS MONTH 1.0

Starting a new reoccurring post that I'd like to post every couple of weeks.  Here is what I've been listening to obsessively for the last month or so:

Empire of the Sun - Walking On A Dream 

Empire of the Sun is a side-project to the Australian band The Sleepy Jackson and features band member Luke Steele as well as Nick Littlemore of the band Pnau.  They are a bit synth-poppy mixed with 80s dance-pop.  Lead single Walking On A Dream is a gorgeous piece of bedroom dancing fun.  Apparently the band is quite popular in Australia, the album debuted on the Aussie charts at number 8. 

For fans of: Cut Copy, Scissor Sisters, Sam Sparro

Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains - S/T

Two years (or was it 3) since the demise of DFA1979,  Sebastien Grainger has finally put out his debut album with The Mountains (via Saddle Creek).  It was well worth the wait, the album is the marriage of 70s classic rock and modern garage.  Good stuff.  Stand out tracks: I Hate My Friends, Love Is Not A Contest

For Fans of: Black Mountain, early Bloc Party minus the dance undertones. 

Hexes & Ohs - Bedroom Madness

I instantly fell in love with this album.  Hexes & Ohs debut Bedroom Madness marries all my favourite artists together into a pop smorgasbord that makes me want to dance around my apartment in my underwear. So upbeat and fun.   The album has a tongue in cheek 80s feel but brings in many elements of standard indie rock.  

For Fans of: Postal Service, Mates of State

Vivian Girls - S/T

Everyone's favourite new girl group.  Their getting a ton of ink right now, showed up on Pitchfork's Best New Music, played at least 5 CMJ showcases last month and just made their Toronto debut last week with Fucked Up and Final Fantasy (Update: Thanks to Chuck for pointing out that VG's set opening for Fucked Up wasn't their Toronto debut and that they have played Toronto a couple times this year).  Vivian Girl's album reminds me of Eric'c Trip, if Rick wasn't in the band and Julie brought in a couple of her girlfriends.  Raw, loud and melodic, tons of fuzzy distortion and perfect 60s girl group harmonizing.  Love them so much.  Favourite tracks: All The Time, I Believe In Nothing,  Tell The World.