Seems as if The Golden Filter are on the tease once more, having just dropped this tidbit into the ol' inbox entitled 'Syndromes' without much explanation, in their usual stealthy style. Eerie, a bit haunting and a little operatic, we'll be waiting to see what this all actually culminates into...
What a combination! Big Boi (accompanied by a full band including horns, DJ and hypeman) and Theophilus London (accompanied by guitar dude, bland blonde DJ girl, and Cousin Brian - hi Brian) are currently touring Australia; Big Boi in the country for the third time in about twelve months, and Theophilus on his virgin Australian excursion (PLEASE GO SPOON A KOALA AND SEND US PICS). Big Boi was headlining The Enmore Theatre last Saturday night with Theophilus in support. Both excellent entertainers, these two were an interesting comparison in genres of onstage cool.
Though Big Boi and Theophilus London each own a very different kind of charisma, both have amazing stage presence. Big Boi wears his swag as casually as he dons and doffs the hats of his multi-mad-skills as a rapper, songwriter and producer (as well as registered pitbull breeder). He does the same with his various musical alter egos, slipping between different versions of himself like it ain't no thang. Because it ain't.
Secure in the comfort that his audience loves him, Big Boi's swagger is deliciously easy. He doesn't have to prove anything; as opposed to say, his younger and highly ambitious tour companion, Theophilus London. Yet Big Boi invests no less in his engagement with the audience than Theo does.
Theophilus on the other hand is less easy going, and comes out with a powerful idea of who he is and how he wants us to perceive him. Contrary to what he sings along with Sara Quin on his single 'Why Even Try', Theophilus DOES think he's special. And you know what? He actually is.
Here's a video of Theophilus featuring Cousin Brian - who is in fact, Theophilus' cousin, Brian - dropping a preview of a new track from his next mixtape that samples 'Big Spender' in a big way. THIS TRACK WAS SO BANGIN' THAT IT TOTALLY DISTORTED THE SOUND ON THE RECORDING WHEN THE BASS IS KICKING. Which is most part of the track (sorray). Seriously. Don't say I didn't warn you:
Many rugs were cut. Plenty of deuces were thrown. Lord have mercy, this was the most fun gig I've been to all year.
Photo: Antonio Wolff / Styling: Ganzaro / Art: Pedro Allevato
His debut album Pure Gold is going to be released on the of September via Vigilante.
The video for Man Like Me's new single 'Peculiar' takes me back to when I was about five years old and less complicated than I am now. Back to when I thought being tricky meant putting some bangles on my ears, a box on my head and letting a belt unroll from the clutches of my hot little hands - ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
Directed by Anna Lomax of Jiggery Pokery once more and Jamie Brown, the video for 'Peculiar' is hardly revolutionary. Quintessentially quirky and indie lite in the style of that DIY hipster London breed, the concept is a little tired. It is though, admittedly endearing, with it's non-sensical scenario accessorised by a certain kind of low-budget charm, and is nonetheless quite adorably pulled off by the dynamic duo that is Peter and Johnny. I guess I just can't help liking Men Like Them who make Music (and yerrr, videos) Like They Do.
Check it:
You may have noticed around the traps that Marina and the Diamonds is back; having released two new tracks and videos one after the other without missing a beat in between. The first entitled 'Fear and Loathing' and the second, 'Radioactive'.
In the aftermath of the eventual non-event that was her debut album, The Family Jewels, Marina was quite open in expressing her disappointment following her first round in trying to break the charts. I'm mixing metaphors here when I say that despite going into the ring with what seemed to be all the necessary support and prep, Marina's Diamonds just weren't sharp enough to cut into the main. It was almost as if she was a welterweight boxer all gussied up and going into a WWF ring - with neither side landing any punches that meant anything. And there's nothing worse than a mismatched fight.
But not one to let that first, confused round keep her down, girl channelled all of that and put it into song, y'alls: Marina has come out into round two punching more or less in her division. She's got a mega team in her corner, most prominently super heavyweight Norwegian duo Stargate pulling productions dutes (having credits with Rihanna, Ne-yo, Beyoncé, Shakira, Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown amongst others). Check the first single (and Part 1) 'Fear and Loathing'; which apparently depicts Marina's latest persona, Electra Heart, embodying 'the lies, illusions and death of an American Dream':
Image wise, she's let go of the ambitious, glamourous, wanna be diva (as she quite literally spells out for us in the video above) that she was previously trying to squeeze into a laboriously over-thought and ill fitting Katy Perry-esque landscape (though she's kept the LA thin and the boobie-licious aspects). Now, we find her embracing the alt/pop melodrama that her voice was made for. In doing so, she's actually become less theatrical, somewhat less contrived, paradoxically more pop in her sound, and ironically, more genuine...Or so it seems to me, anyway.
And for this, I'm digging the new flavours of her new stuff; though not nearly as much as I love How To Dress Well's polishing of Marina and her Diamonds.
But first, have a listen to Marina's Part 2, entitled 'Radioactive'.
I love How To Dress Well. Even more with this re-work that taps a little bit of that Rihanna 'What's My Name' steez. It's brilliant. Listen:
Man Like Me are at it again. What we once assumed to be yet another bit of quirky pyrite in the ever flashing pan of London's music scene, Man Like Me have once more delivered an utterly infectious and distinctly MLM tune in 'Peculiar'. We've been waiting since this time last year for Camden Town codgers Johnny Langer and Peter Duffy to step out in their trademark Reebok classics with a follow up to 2010's excellent 'Lovestruck' (which was out almost exactly a year ago now).
We were also half expecting for them to, I dunno, get huge or something; but it seems they might just be too cool for that. It's the only explanation I can think of that could make sense with the fact that they haven't had more exposure. 'Peculiar' thrums with the spirit of carnival; full of brass, spunk, that idiosyncratic lilt and smile-inducing abandon that is pure Man Like Me.
'Peculiar' will be out on October 3rd via Cartoon Records.
Look. I don't go out of my way to follow Lady Gaga. I'm not a fan, no matter how I may or may not respect her (which, yes, I do, in my own little way). I haven't heard any of her albums in their entirety, nor do I follow her fashions, or what her sister is rumoured to be doing with them, and I don't run for youtube when her videos drop. She is though, obviously difficult to avoid; being the pop culture phenomenon that she is (and all that said, I'm feeeeling the Versace vibe she is channelling lately. More because I can't help but love that Donatella and her ridonkness). So it's not at all difficult to know what she's up to, even if I don't actively go in search of news for her.
So when a band as brilliant as Wild Beasts cleverly saddle the Lady Gaga fame monster for their own agenda, I can't help but applaud as rapturously as I did when I saw them live just last month. Even more brilliant is that they came up with a beautiful remix to raise awareness of the ways that people can get involved and support independent labels that lost stock in the Pias UK warehouse fire in an unfortunate case of collateral damage during the UK 'riots'.
Frontman Hayden Thorpe told the Guardian that "The unlikeness of this match was perhaps what compelled us to take it on. Gaga in many ways is the epitome of what we are not. She is the butcher to our butter knife. The essential thrill is always to keep eluding what is expected of us and what we expect of ourselves."
If you wanna find out how to donate to PIAS and their associated labels, or even just to know a little more about the situation, go HERE.
Speaking of PIAS and their associated labels, other news, PIAS have just signed a deal with Wichita Recordings for the world excluding North America. According to PIAS:
"The first Wichita releases through [PIAS] will be the new albums by Mariachi El Bronx and Peggy Sue both scheduled for the 12th of September followed later in the year by albums from Wild Flag, Los Campesinos and Spectrals and an EP by Bloc Party’s Kele. 2012 will see new albums from First Aid Kit, The Cribs and Simian Mobile Disco."
