Chet Faker is one of the most prolific producers and performers of this decade. His creativity and boldness to reach for the boundaries of musical expression draws me to his music like an asteroid to Jupiter. Enjoy your wednesday weirdness, freaks.
Last time I was in Cape Town I had the privilege of witnessing Mind Pool live. It was a deeply satisfying experience to hear a live set that sounded even better than their great material on Soundcloud account. You honestly have to see this band live to get the full experience. You can feel the creativity and fun emanate from the stage in their music. The drummer is as tight a bolt in a german engine block. The bassist is so much more than thick strings through some pedals, he plays live synths that melt into your ears like a Lindt chocolate. Lets not forget the main vocals which are consistent and sound effortless.
Mind Pool is definitely a band to look out for on the South African scene. Download their latest soundcloud upload for mahala before its too late!
Here’s some laid back, samplistic (I made up a word, deal with it), jazzy, mind melting and sultry weirdness for your wednesday. Amon Tobin, you are a freak but you’re awesome. His new album is out this year and it sounds super heavy and dark so if you feel like going into another dimension of jagged, rocky soundscape go check it out.
Call it friendship bias but I think this song is the shit. It sounds a little like Beck except Evert isn’t a Scientologist (sorry for reminding you, Beck fans). I only put it in ‘Weird Wednesdays’ because yall’ mahfuckers need culture. Don’t get it? Oh well.
‘Let It Happen‘ has to be my highlight of the month. This song has it all. It seems like everything that Kevin Parker touches turns to psychedelic gold. The song is 8 mins long but I wish it kept going. New sounds just keep jumping on the funky train; the beautiful drum groove that sounds like it was mixed by the gods. My levels of cant-even-wait for-the-new-Tame-Impala-album have increased 100 fold. Enjoy your song of the day, lovers.
Live performance has become my deal breaker for many bands/artists. In the case of BINKBEATS, I am completely and utterly sold. This guy makes Jeremy Loops look like David Guetta asking his bimbo hookup for the night to press play on his pre-mix that was put together on iTunes (no offence, Jeremy, you’re swell). BINKBEATS is one of those guys that makes musicians wonder what they’ve been doing with their life and wish they have more obscure/cool/weird instruments. Eat your heart out and try pay attention, play button surfers (DJs).
Have you ever wondered what someone from 1940 would think of the present? The popular music alone would make our time travelling friend mad with wonder. It’s perfectly normal to think that I can record a video of myself and send it to the other side of the world within a day (maybe being a little optimistic about South African internet speeds) but 75 years ago this would be deemed near impossible/downright weird. We can see a very thin line between innovation and craziness in the world of weird things.
It’s plain to see that those who innovated were alienated/just plain ignored. AC inventor Nicola Tesla was literally driven to madness by everyone’s refusal to see his brilliance. Bach was only recognised as a composer after he died. So if people look at you like you’re an alien it’s probably because you’re ahead of the times… or you’re trying to bring back heelys and it’s not working out.
Weirdness is a grey area with a minefield of “no! just no, dude” on top of “I heard it before it was cool/in the latest FIFA sound track”. Prepare to be shunned, pseudo-hipsters. Stay strong and please try to avoid the “before it was cool” line. You’ll just sound like a sore loser trying to keep cool shit to yourself. We love you for enduring the weirdness war zone for us though. At least I do anyway…
Today’s weekly weirdness comes from an artist that never fails to confuse, amaze and disgust me at the same time. Sufjan Stevens gives no fucks about what you like in music. He just writes or performs whatever he wants. Today’s song is one of his many diamonds in his rough collection of artistry. Be prepared for many uncomfortable and challenging approaches to music if you get this guy’s discography.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a cover of much higher standards than the original song (sorry Joni fans). Turn it up and shut the fuck up because this song is dynamic, well performed and beautifully arranged.
Hello, space farers. Today I invite you to try this rhythmically interesting and lyrically enchanting piece of work but first you should to try say their tongue twisting name. It’s where the fun begins. Not sure what genre this band fits into, which is another qualification for this post. This, folks, is Menomena.
I’m one of those assholes that judge you based on your taste in music. I’m not sorry. I just happen to notice that people I don’t like also listen to specific kinds of music. Don’t blame me for overgeneralizing. Clichés exist for a reason. This is not to say that I can’t appreciate the music that is played in circles I would prefer to stay out of. I just don’t like being around people who are so dedicated to a specific kind of music that they completely disregard all the other music out there.
What I’m trying to say is that I am driven away by a lack of taste in music. If someone likes EDM I’m cool with that. I’m not a huge fan of overly compressed 4/4 with 2 note melodies and a grossly overstated DJ but there are also people who actually put effort into their music which somehow ends up in that genre. If someone only likes EDM and discounts more sophisticated music because it’s ‘boring’ (and requires actually sitting and listening instead of jumping around a lumo decorated room) then I might think they’re an idiot. Sorry, not sorry
I tried to DJ in a corporate environment when I worked for a DJ hire company and I hated every minute of it. As a musician who is used to having a say in what music is to be played, it’s tough to look excited and drive a party when you have to listen to someone who requests songs that make you want to die inside. I now know the only legitimate reason for a DJ to charge a heavy fee. Sorry, folks, but when I’m in charge of music and getting paid for it I’m not your damn jukebox of overplayed horseshit.