This is where Santogold goes from being one of the year’s most interesting independents to being one of the decade’s most interesting majors. This is a clip from her appearance on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. It’s thrilling to see how far she’s come since last year. She’s gonna be HUGE.
I’m really into what little I’ve heard of Lykke Li. Her sweet, distant little Swedish voice plus Bjorn Yttling(Peter Bjorn and John)’s clever, quirky production make a winning combination out of soul, twee pop, lo-fi electronic and a little bit of that early 80s brand of “small voiced girl” hip-hop. Highly listenable.
THE VID: Lykke’s simple, mesmerizing perfomance and a truly masterful editing job make this video near perfect in my book. The overexposed lighting and herky-jerky cuts keep us from ever getting a full glimpse of her face, while she quite ably gets down and gives us a sweet, distant little Swedish stare. Check it!
Fave track: I’m Good I’m Gone (Sumo Re-Edit) (Mp3)
Though I had been aware of him because of his work with Peaches, I first truly fell for Gonzales when I heard his brilliant, and aptly named 2004 release “Solo Piano”. Writer, singer, producer, Canadian, currently lives and works in France. His new album SOFT POWER looks like going to be a slightly tongue-in-cheek tribute to the saccharine pop days of the 50s & 60s, flavored with an urban twist and high notes of classic 70s pop radio balladry. Brian Wlson, Burt Bacharach, Stevie Wonder, but with something else, a little irony… and more handclaps fer sherz. I’m completely in love. Seeing him when he comes.
Live acoustic Parisian loft party performance of one of 07’s best songs: ‘2080′ by Yeasayer. An impromptu bit of genius, fabulously well shot for Blogothèque’s ‘Concert à emporter’ (Take Away Show) series. Props to Gorilla vs. Bear for keeping us informed.
Mad chillin! Went to José Gonzalez, whom everyone knows for his gut-rending acoustic cover of the Knife’s ‘Heartbeats’, on Friday. Totally killer live. Like a soft haze over the whole room. People rapt in awe. He’s an unbelievably still performer, free of any guile or artifice. He played most of ‘Veneer’ his massively popular first LP, and some tracks from his 2007 release ‘In our Nature’ including a WICKED cover of Massive Attack’s ‘Teardrop’ I did not see coming. A thoroughly worthwhile venture in my opinion.
Next up, (conversely) Chromeo! Then it’s Boyz Noize/MSTRKRFT the next day. Fuck Justice, they’re playing at bloody CEPSUM, and on a sunday night to boot. Not cool. No thanks.
Esau Mwamaya - ‘Chalo (Demo)’ (mp3)
M.I.A. and Brazilian MCs Saborosa and Puto Prata team up with Buraka Som Sistema on this wickedly bombastic track. Check out the amazing favela vogue/crunk style these guys are rocking. A dance video fan’s wet dream.
Every time Mad Decent posts something new on the subject I find myself thinking about how Brazil can only increase in worldwide cultural significance over the coming decades.
Picture speaks for itself.
A sweet, low-budget portrayal of loneliness in a low-meaning, high-traffic hipstersexual landscape.
Photos from BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE. Fun times out of bounds.
Check out this video for “Live Good” by French trio Naïve New Beaters. Clever lo-budget video propelled by a visually compelling concept and one hell of a good performance from frontman David Boring (his name according to the band’s myspace profile.) I’m thinking this wicked effect is just blue-screen panels they’re juggling right?
I’ve never listened to A Certain Ratio before, and now, I can’t imagine why.
Two new videos from their upcoming album ‘Midnight Boom’ (due out on the 18th of March). New sound for them. Sounds good to me. Will have to catch them live when they hit MTL…
‘Cheap and Cheerful’