A Shiny New Machine

MP3: YACHT - Music by Friends for the Radio in France

Alright, first off, before you read a word of this (which I guess you already have) click on the link above this text and start listening. Believe me, it will just be more beneficial if you are hearing while you’re reading.

Sadly, I heard about the blow only recently last year when their song “True Affection” was featured as iTunes’ free download of the week. I know, I know, that’s a pretty lame way to find out about a band, it would be a lot cooler if I had said I’ve known about them since Khaela Maricich’s days as a ukulele player for her old band Get the Hell Out of the Way of the Volcano. But, that isn’t to say I like them any less then you old school listeners.

So, what does this talk about The Blow have to do with this post??? Well, the other member, Jona Bechtolt (thats the guy) has his own band called YACHT and has just released a track for airplay in Europe.

Here you are about a minute or two (depending on how fast you read) into the song and you’re thinking, ‘ok, yeah, this is a little odd, but like the rest of The Blow’s catalog it’s super catchy and saturated with synth blips and beeps’. Well, my friend keep listening, your in for a change.

See, from reading a post on their MySpace page, I understand that this is an hour long segment Jona created for their label to play in France. The label, Tomlab is based in Germany and urges bands to try and play something in a different manner than they might normally do. So I’m sure you are starting to notice this is a strange song(?) album(?) dance mix(?) collection of dance mixes(?).

The track goes from sampling his band’s own songs (The Blow – Babay) to a whole slew of others, most of which are already remixes in their own fashion. My favorite is the mash-up of Notorious B.I.G.’s Juicy with Elton John’s Tiny Dancer (46:40 minutes into the song). If there was any song that would most definitely be on my Memory Lane it would be Juicy, (a little nod to Chris’ last post). You can find the complete track list here.

See now to me this is more what taking drugs is like. Most people claim it’s more like a Grateful Dead album or an Animal Collective type song, something real droney and euphoric, but to me it would be more like this song. A roller-coaster. At some points hectic and maniacal and then at others placid and calm but extremely strange through and a sense of “What?! Is this really happening” throughout. Well anyway that’s my story and I’m sticking to it, sorry if this write-up didn’t take you through the whole song… I still suggest listening to the rest of it, maybe play a game of snood or something.

Posted By:

Alex

The band whose live performance changed my life forever and is the bar for which all other shows I see are rated; cue Foxy Shazam!. I still can’t believe these guys aren’t getting more hype. I saw them back in April of 2006 open for Cassino who was opening for As Tall As Lions. I was reminded of how great this band was the other day when I picked up a new album by a band called Annuals. After listening to some of the songs posted below I know you’ll probably be thinking ‘these guys don’t sound that similar’, well just bear with me. Annuals may not have the metal of Foxy or the slap you in the face spasms but they do have the intricately woven and complex scene changes from one part of a song to the next.

MP3: Foxy Shazam! – Brains of Vegas (buy)

MP3: Foxy Shazam! – NO. don’t Shoot

After listening to these songs, if you still think I’m being over the top about these guys, read a recent interview with them here and check out some absurd pictures here. Literally when I saw Foxy down in Connecticut the lead singer, Eric Nally did not face the audience and the keyboardist, Sky White started doing pushups on his instrument. It feels like no one else is pushing the envelope this much in their shows, and although I did not see them when they were here in Boston recently, Annuals might be the closest contenders.

Now I know I’m a little late jumping on the Annuals bandwagon but man these guys are good. I would classify them somewhere around experimental alternative if that makes any sense at all. They use a healthy amount of synthesizer inflections along with exotic percussive gestures and just the right amount of secondary gang vocals that often erupt into screaming. It is not often that such innovative sounding music is combined with such great lyrics that are sung with a high level of energy.

Unfortunately for myself, as said earlier, the band was just in the greater Boston area. I did not make the show and was supremely bummed out to hear what a great show it was. Just from listening to the bands recorded material I can tell that they would be a great act to see take the stage.

MP3: Annuals - Brother (buy)

Mp3: Annuals - Complete or completing

Posted By:

ALEX