the national habit

you can catch this guy at oxford arts factory mosttttt nights.... but next friday june 6..... joining him will be U.K. band GRAND NATIONAL. i loved their debut record 'kicking the national habit' and flogged it in, oh, 2006- especially the track talk amongst yourselves.

i haven't heard any of their new stuff or seen them live before. the duo actually started out as a police cover band so it'll be interesting to see if they crank out 'roxanne' or 'message in a bottle'.

photo credit: bad ezzy

study amy

I am sitting in a University computer lab, black gown, cap and fake-fur trimmed cape on the table beside me, about to graduate.

I wish that this had been in my final exams, I'd be graduating with HIGH-class honours (geddit! High! ahh...)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7422730.stm

NB: For some really weird reason this computer doesnt give me the option of including any links or images (Maybe 'anonymous' movestill commentator can tell me why this PC doesnt allow codes? Clearly a Mac lover (maybe they'll advertise on the site?), I dont understand these 'hp' computers...)

I cant claim credit for this Winehouse find - dues go to The Lipstar (www.thelipster.com) The website launched a few weeks ago and is super wonderful! If you love pop culture, but not in the 'OK' way, check it. I'm sure you'll love what you read

Love and graduation,
x

lovesit!

Kid Cudi

For months Ive been referring to Ohio artist Kid Cudi as "Kid Coo-di"... damn Aussie-vernacular - all 'U' sounds become "ooh"

Anyway...

Since Cudi (pron. like "cut" for the Aussies in the audience) released his Day N Night 12" a few months back the world has been going a little insane for his wonderfully crafted lyrical rap. The thing I love about him (apart from his tunes and the fact that he is GORGEOUS of course) is that he has this aura of fame and status, and hasn't even released an album yet! And good on him, I say. Rather than proving himself within the industry, he knows he's good and doesn't feel he needs to convince anyone of it.



Check out the promo video for his latest mix tape A Kid Named Cudi at the Fools Gold Blog - it should be dropping in the next few weeks (but if you search beyond movestill you'll find singles and previews all over the net)

There is also a short feature of Kid in the most recent issue of The Fader

And while I'm here I have to say (despite my love of her work in Stiffed and as Santogold) I am tired of Santi White claiming music journos are "racist" for comparing her stuff to R&B records. Surely the hip hop references stem from her involvement with Switch, Disco D, Spankrock and Diplo? And, perhaps, the fact that there ARE notes of r&b through the record... Shes probably joking, well I hope she is anyway!

Flying Lotus - Part 2

This is a great video that ties in nicely with last week's Monday feature: Stephen Ellison talking to XLR8R (bookmark it and order issues online) about Super Mario (and a few other things, like his Aunt Alice Coltrane for instance!)

I am the 'Nintendo' generation, but rather than repeating my previous yarn about how I feel completely removed from 1980s computer game culture (I think I was at the park riding bikes) have a listen to Ellison's thoughts. He is much more interesting!



Elsewhere, rcrdlbl is hosting a Soft Circle track for free download. If you're a fan of Black Dice, Bharoocha used to play with them but went solo a while ago and is making incredibly diverse and exciting stuff. Some of his stuff is all heavy bass and fast, repetitive snare and others are gentle and ambient and sound like an entirely different performer! You can buy his (HIGHLY recommended) debut Full Bloom through Eastern Developments now.

Also, Kanye recently posted a J Dilla tune he worked on in 1991 which plays with the classic Gary Numan synth number 'Cars'. Hopefully Stones Throw release the album of Dilla material this year... they've been sitting on it long enough! (And PS whats with all the home design posts? Is Kanye getting clucky??)

In other news, I am coming to NYC in January and will be looking for ways to keep myself busy! Please help!! If you think you could put me to work in some capacity or another, please shoot me an email (nb: I will cook for work. I make a mean rasberry friand and my risotto will melt your mind!)

good morning munters!

cut copy- heart's on fire

the gift of life

manbabies.com

under a rock.

Yep, that's where I've been.
Evs.
So the latest yen cover is Zooey Deschanel, who I had know idea about. quicker than you could say google, i imdb-ed. it turns out that she's been in loads in things, including the Simpsons, and has a habit of singing with M.Ward.
I find M.Ward boring, but once I come across the world of Zooey Daeschanel singing you-tubes, i was entertained at the thought of the old Zooey doing the old mama cass.



She shits on Scarlett. (SORRY SCARLETT)

i like it... ilikeitalot.

i looked at these two photos for at least ten minutes and thought it was the same thing from a different angle but then i realised it wasn't. the end. (i think i like the bottom one better)

BOUNCE BOUNCE

HO_Y F_CK

when social photographers attack

thingsididlastnight.com

Ebony Bones

Ebony Bones is like the British version of Kate Ritche.

Reason One: She starred on UK soap series Family Affairs from 1988 until 2005 and was the youngest and longest standing cast member.

Reason Two: When the lid tightly closed on their acting careers, both picked up microphones. Ritchie is the voice that wakes commercial radio lovers each weekday morning, and Miss Bones (known also by her actual/boring name - Ebony Thomas) reinvented herself as an all-singing, all-dancing, all-song-arranging super star diva.



Her debut single We Know All About You (Zshare) was released in November in the UK and she is currently touching up her full length release with a little help from Richard X (Sugababes) and Future Cut (Kate Nash.) In an interview with The Guardian, Bones said the record is designed for "the iPod generation", every track completely different stylistically. I'm still waiting on confirmation of album release dates (she's probably too busy preparing for Glastonbury round two to concern herself with album release dates) and if you have any idea I'd love to know!

The disco sound of We Know... is a little old, but the cowbell intro gets me every time! Plus, if she's right in saying every track on the record will have a different sound, then I wont judge the book by its cover.

Plus, she's so fucking cool! Check her myspace pics - beautiful and well-costumed!

sorry i was too busy peaking

our favourite new girlfriend is mc gaff-e. she's following the sun's rays and leaving for a mammoth 5 month trip to europa next week. during this time, amongst general debauchery, spandex-wearing, riot-causing and face painting, she'll be performing at a little known festival called glastonbury.

send her bon voyage messages on her myspace or in person tonight at fun club (fringe bar) or this saturday night at club 77.

here's the video of 'peak for a weak'- live at playground weekender.

ro sham bo mixtape

i wish i knew how to spell an airhorn sound.

anyway here it is... the highly anticipated debut of mc zao zo zey.

music

jew gots ta be kiddin me

So at the moment we’re learning a routine to ‘Creator’ by Santogold (pronounce Sant to rhyme with aunt or can’t, not to rhyme with ant like santa. I learnt the hard way) in dance class, and it reminded me of something that happened a few weeks back.

We were at a dinner party when a friend started telling us the incredulous story of her hairdresser who didn’t know what Jews were. “That's humourous,” we all that thought and our ears perked up. As she continued, it became more and more apparent that this hairdresser guy was legit in his ignorance. He asked our friend questions about the holocaust and Hitler with a deadpan expression on his face. She told him about the concentration camps and his response was “OH MY GOD! That’s soooo sad!!!” (when really he was thinking “Why would I be interested in other cultures? I'm only in my 20’s babe!”).

So we all ‘just had a discuss’ for a few minutes and were blown away that a grown Australian man could have absolutely no idea who a Jewish person was.

At this point another friend said "I know it’s just so weird. I was talking to someone today and they didn't know who Santogold was!"

Santogold- Creator

QUICK BETTER MOVE TO ENGLAND

We have heaps of fish and shit in Australia too.

butter for your bun

3 super quick links of stuff I thought was super cool today

Record Review of the day
Dusted Magazine
Of all the Starlett reviews, I think this sums it up the best

New Band of the Day
Minitel Rose
A French mixture of High Places and Gameboy/Gamegirl and I love it

With thanks to The Fader blog for the heads up, check out the video for their single Magic Powder It truly is magic!

Song of the Day
'Kiss with a Fist' by Florence and the Machine, thanks to the Forkcast

it upSET herrrrrrr

Arrested Porn Stars -

one of my favourite parts of entertainment news shows are the "news" stories they have. you know the bizarre, fascinating or downright wrong reports on "non-celebs". the anorexic twins, the guy with the longest nails in the world, the cat lady... the hard-hitting stuff basically.

check out the dramz that went down on this flight. at first i was like "awwwww a 'i'm so drink, i can't thunk right now' moment!" but on closer inspection, i don't think these girls do much thunking at any time.

The Rapture

I don't care about Grand Theft Auto IV.

It was released April 29 and I didn't care then either.

When I was younger I searched for Carmen, sleighed dragons in Zelda and raced Super Mario cars, and didn't blow things up and steal people's shit. Toto, Cansas seems a long way away...

But it seems I've found myself in a little predicament. Question: Is it OK to hate a game, but ADORE the sound track?



'No Sex For Ben' is a previously unreleased Rapture B-side produced by Timbaland and features at some point in the video game (I wouldn't know exactly where obvs, perhaps in between the killin, stealin and bashin?)



No Sex For Ben (zshare)

I've been holding on to this for a while. I hadn't wanted to post it because I was waiting to see it if would eventually become available in Australia, but looks like it wont.

(Dear The Rapture,
If you'd like me to remove the file, just shoot me an email and Ill do it.
Love, Michaella)

Until then, enjoy!

PS. Do you think the song is about this guy?

Fly Away

Its Monday. Feeling blue? Here's something bluesy, but I promise it'll put a big ol smile on your face.

As Flying Lotus, Californian producer Stephen Ellison makes songs so slick and so cool they sparkle like the waves at Bondi on a 28 degree January afternoon.

Ellison isn't so new to the scene, he debuted with his L.P 1983 on Plug Research in 2006 and since he signed with Warp, released an EP last year and is about to issue his full-length Warp debut Los Angeles (out June 10)


Two Mondayitis-curing oldies:

Tea Leaf Dancers (zshare)

Dancefloor Stalker (zshare)




Find more ar flying-lotus.com or warprecords.com

this is a tribute- part deux

brand new photos of mr marc jacobs from 'interview' magazine. it's a tribute issue to andy warhol who would have turned 80 this year.

this is a tribute

"…to express yourself as you are, without any intentional, fancy way of adjusting yourself, is the most important thing."-shunryu suzuki



this is from one of my favourite editorials ever. it's called 'dans la peau de john galliano' (translated: in john galliano's skin). you MUST go here and check out the whole set. it was published in french vogue in january 2007 and was fashion photographer peter lindbergh's tip of the hat to galliano. it features gemma ward clone, sasha pivovarova as the leading lady/man and i think every photo is just stunning and so evocative.

also have just have a read of lindbergh's essay on creativity.

"i wanna be with someone in a mgmt position"

i don't normally post about my crushes but.... andrew vanwyngarden...



work it!

oh helllllllll no....

i had a feeling scarlett johannson's musical debut was going to be bad. and it is. how anti-climactic.

oh no they di'nt....

new kids on the block are back! check out this medley they performed. it's so shit! i love it.

aussie, aussie, aussie

i'm really excited by all the attention that the above acts are getting at home and overseas. cut copy, midnight juggernauts and the presets are without a doubt three of my favourite acts of the past year and i'm really proud that they're all homegrown. we've seen them rise to the success they are achieving now through years of writing, recording, touring and maturing as musicians as opposed to a breakout hit or an ipod commercial. cut copy and the presets have both cracked the number one spot on the album charts with their tasty sophomore efforts, 'in ghost colours' and 'apocalypso' respectively. chaos!

anyway they all also like remixing each others songs which i thought would be some fun stuff to download.

i think below is everyone "doing" everyone... but i'm not sure... never was great at maths. number+ logic=headache.

cutters take on presets

juggers take on cutters

presets take on juggers

cutters take on juggers

juggers take on presets

*update: ok there's no presets take on juggers

killar queenz

Last post I was talking about how happy I was that chicks had a really strong presence in the independent music scene at the moment, and then realised I'd never posted about Killar Queenz

These girls are UH MAY ZING!


(with Dizzee Rascal at the MTV Australia awards)

If their remix/cover of Sweaty Wet Dirty Damp by Gameboy/Gamegirl doesn't win you over - your heart must be made of stone or somethin! Listen at their mspace, and also tune to 'Takin Ova' (its just saaaaaa gooood!)

The first time I saw them live was when they supported South Rakkas Crew at Oxford Art Factory earlier this year. In my opinion they put on a much better than the headline act and was 100% sold on them when they jumped up on stage for an impromptu battle the following week during a Cool Kids gig at the same venue.

They've signed to Grindin' so keep your eyes peeled for their debut release, and in the meantime check them supporting Bonde Do Role (Version 2.0) at The Forum, June 6.

Marina and the Diamonds

I cant tell if I like Marina and the Diamonds or not...

Have a listen to her tunes at her myspace and see what you think.

I don't usually enjoy overly dramatic, pantomimic, Kate Bush'esque vocals... but there is something that keeps me from pressing pause.

I'm not as enamoured with her as I am Lykke Li, Kria Brekkan, Florence and The Machine or Tickley Feather, but I do think its great to see women with a strong vocal presence making mre of an impact on the blog world.

and a side note... she actually looks like an English Lykke!



See!!

dets?

PS!!!!!!!!!!

Mad Decent says the Cuizi 'Pour Les Filles #3' is due out today or tomorrow? Anyone? Anyone?

If you head there you can download the latest single which features ex Bonde Do Role MC Marina.

Here's one from a while ago
Cuizinier 'lettre' f feat. spankrock pase rock (zshare)

the good, and the bad

This is bullshit. Loved her in the movies, the album sounded like a cinematic Sitek soundscape project and could have done without her growls and grumbles

Luckily the new Ratatat is great! If you've not heard it yet, listen (ZShare) and then buy the 7" here.



The baroque-synth sound reminds me of Coppola's Marie Antoinette, which I adored! The record is out July 8. I'm pretty excited about it - their sound is predictable, but always on point. And sometimes its nice to know what you're getting before it drops

new beginnings

Apologies for being a little quiet lately... I've been watching Gossip Girl, downloading Season 2 of Ugly Betty, listening to Teyana Taylor and generally being all SASSY POP. Finally though, news came through which was enough to pull me out of my indulged rich-NY-teen-fantasy

1. James Pants is releasing his debut album next week through Stones Throw (last year's Pants remix of 'gotta get rid of rick' by Baron Zen BLEW MY MIND and was so disco and so pop and so catchy and so listenable - I am amazed that I can still listen to it without tiring of the opening drum sequence before the snare beat drops. BEAUTiful! I think I may have already posted this last year, but its so good it deserves a second run 'Kash' James Pants (ZShare)

2. I watched this again

3. I received confirmation I'm interviewing Snowman and Tricky within 24 hours of each other this week (LOVE being a journalist) Pitchfork's Snowman Lanweay props last year were so wonderfully accurate and I really hope big things happen for them when they relocate to Europe following a national tour through may. And Tricky... well... I have no idea where to even start with that!

Good things happen in three, right?

XOXO G.G (I'm up to Georgina's return - and OMG, if it isn't Buffy's little sister!)

ummm WHY?

From umbrella-ella-ella-ella to boom-boom-boom-boom CHING... if it gets her the money, right?

and that's one giant leap for.....

the glow in the dark tour........ april 22, nokia theater, L.A.

i was REALLY REALLY excited about being able to see kanye perform his new tour. i'd heard all the hype and i wanted to see it and experience it myself. it sounded out of control. both nights in LA were sold out and the crowd was definitely buzzed. he began with 'good morning' as he "woke up" on the deserty stage with the sunrise background beaming across the arena.

kanye said next to nothing to the crowd for the whole show, instead spending the breaks in music (which were few and far between) talking to his spaceship "jane". the entire show played out like a narrative with kanye on a mission to find a new source of inspiration in the universe. he unexpectedly finds himself on an unknown planet where the spaceship crashes.

the show was miles away from the set that he played at good vibes a mere two months earlier- gone were the back-up singers, the band, the costume changes. the 'glow in the dark' is a one-man show in the most complete sense. there is NOBODY on stage but kanye. lupe joins him briefly for 'touch the sky' but that's all. his clothes aren't even flashy or a focal point by any means, instead he goes for a back to the future-esque michael j.fox look with a top, jeans, sneakers and swirtshirt tied around his waist- further adding to the 'lost in space' theme.

'flashing lights' was great- a true spine-tingle moment when he sang "she don't believe in shooting stars, but she believes in shoes and cars" and i released i was in LA, the ultimate city of flashing lights and dreams of stardom.

the stage was decorated to resemble a barren moon-like surface with changes for each song from the lighting to the addition of clouds, to even real fire?!?! (i swear it was real, i know what the fake stuff looks like and it wasn't fake)

he simultaneously poked fun at his well-publicized ego, "i promise to stop talking shit and spazzing out at award shows" and reminded everybody that he would make no apologies for it (jane to west)- "but you're the biggest star in the universe."

there wasn't a dry eye in sight for 'hey mama' and it was immediately followed by journey's 'don't stop believing' blaring across the auditorium, as if it was a message from his mum to him. 'stronger' was probably the highlight of the set. the vibe in the room was electric and there wasn't a single person in their seats.

one of the things that really struck about the show was just how much stamina kanye displayed. he honestly BARELY stopped bouncing around the stage for the entire set. i'd heard that right before he went on stage for this tour, he would do 30 minutes of cardio with trainer and if you saw the show you would understand why- it would be so physically gruelling, even for the fittest person.

every single aspect of the whole night was so meticulously crafted- from the set list to the lights to the staging to the storyline to the dialogue. you could see why kanye was all-consumed by this tour- to the point of obsession. he gave it his all and then some. it was a visual spectacular.

and on the way out, everyone even gets a kanye book! containing his all-important life lessons- "GET USED TO GETTING USED" etc.

OH! KANYE!

Kanye West- Flashing Light (Diplo Remix)

* p.s. obviously no photos were taken at the show because it was strictly prohibited and STRICTLY enforced. i saw at least 6 people get kicked out. it was so cruel! at least give them a warning first!

coachella round-up

so i just got back from coachella. here are observations from my trip to L.A. and the desert...... (flash-back)



- coachella is the best and most beautiful festival in the world. period.

- the national are SO good. jack johnson is so boring.

- diplo killed it.

- i was the only one out of my friends who didn't know who sharon jones and the dap kings were but they were really great. a true perfomer.

- black lips set their guitars on fire.

- the coachella "beam" lights were the coolest idea!

- santogold was one of the stand-out's from the whole weekend. loved every minute of it. her two dancers are way sexy too.

- spankrock didn't perform because naem was sick so amanda blank filled in with 5 minutes notice.

- cut copy are really big in america.



-M.I.A. made her own dress and it didn't fall apart. she also killed it and i've never seen a tent packed that much. why she wasn't playing the main stage is anyone's guess.

- cold war kids new stuff is sounding really great and they pulled a huge crowd on the main stage despite the IMMENSE desert heat on saturday afternoon.

- MGMT = no comment.

- was i the only one that enjoyed kraftwerk?

- the verve/ portishead- hearing the classic's was good but live show was pretty dull.



-no matter where you are, you'll always run into people from home. there was also a whole group of people with australian flags singing "aussie, aussie, aussie" all weekend.

- hot chip, chromeo, justice... tick, tick, tick.

- simian mobile disco had everybody dancing.

- roger waters was epic.



-models love a good festival.

-prince was the best thing ever.

-always remember what parking lot you parked in so you don't spend 3 hours looking for your car.



-there's not actually any fashion in the 'fashion district'.

- mexican food is so good. but it's best not to overdo it.



-the church of scientology is everywhere you look. this was the view from the smoking section of the club cinespace. talk about brainwashing.

- don't believe the hype. forget hotel roosevelt. the only place to go if you want to "celeb spot" is the supermarket 'Ralph's'.



-girls dress kinda skanky.

- don't ask someone in compton where hollywood is... "hollywood????!!!!!?!?!?!?!?!"

-going to a tv show taping is BORING. making an excuse that you need to go to the bathroom and then trying to escape won't work because you have to "sign out" and walk through security.



-get a rental car. people in LA don't know how to deal with pedestrians. on the first day there, i was crossing the road at a stoplight and a car literally just kept rolling towards me, as if it didn't know what was happening and why there was a human on the road.

-H&M is overrated. forever 21 is where it's at. Oh and target too.



-them jeans is really really tall. and i'm kinda short.

-i love silverlake.



-there are lots of sneaker stores.

-the hills is the most addictive show on television but i DON'T KNOW WHY! they don't even talk. they just stare at each other and move their necks.

now this is a music video

"what should i do today....?"

Charles Fuller, 21, has ben arrested in Florida after attempting to pass a $360 billion check, which he claims was given to him by his girlfriend’s mother to start a record business.

The personal check was not made out to Mr. Fuller and when the bank contacted the check owner, the woman said she (insert drum roll here) "did not write a check for $360 billion".

record yourself

"one or more persons obscuring or augmenting any part of their body or bodies with record sleeve(s) causing an illusion".... the web-site says it all really.

I HATE ANIMALS

WELL DONE

NO DAY LIKE TODAY!

...to wake this baby up.

Seriously, chicks who write?
That shit is so RARE.



Perhaps you could download this xxxchange hidden Lily Allen mix (even though she's dead to me), to celebrate.

zshare "Smile" (XXXChange and Darko remix)