Depending on your background, the term “power trio” may bring to mind the ’60s sonic depth-charges launched by the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream; the twisty prog-rock styles of mid-70s King Crimson and Rush. Or the post-grunge bash of Seether and Wolfmother. In the case of Civil Twilight, as evidenced on their self-titled debut album, the term means all of that. And much more.
Grizzly Bear / Two Weeks I love this whole album. In fact, our whole band has been getting into it and really enjoying it. It’s a super creative and fun album that seems to transport one to a magical world of sounds and pictures, melodies, rhythms and harmonies that the Beach Boys would be proud of.
After twelve years, five albums, hundreds of shows, festival appearances, and a string of gold and platinum awards, Something For Kate front man Paul Dempsey is spending 2009 stepping out on his own to release his first solo album in the middle of the year. Recorded at a friend’s house on the NSW central coast, with producer Wayne Connolly and mixed in LA with Doug Boehm, the album is a departure from the heavier, more intense Something For Kate sound. Dempsey plays every instrument on the record, and uses space and atmosphere in every song.
TV on the Radio / Dancing Choose This track has so much manic energy: buzzsaw synth-bass, mad shuffling drums and a rapid-fire lyrical rant that sounds like some kind of crazed public service announcement. Guaranteed to shake you from your mid-morning malaise.
East Hundred is a five-piece band from Philadelphia whose sound has been likened to Denali and Death Cab For Cutie. Their debut album Passenger features nine lushly produced tracks and moves through a haunting landscape of loss, regret and, ultimately, hope. East Hundred began as a basement recording project in 2004 when brothers Brooke and Will Blair invited Beril Guceri, Brooke’s then-girlfriend, to add vocals to their heavily-synthed downtempo tracks. ‘Of course there were hesitations in working seriously and creatively with my boyfriend and his brother,’ Guceri says. ‘Singing leaves you so vulnerable, but it was Brooke’s support that made it comfortable’.
WHAM! / Last Christmas Guilty as charged. But let me explain: it ended up on a Christmas Mixtape I was given as a gift. It was meant to be a joke, but there’s something about it I can’t get out of my head. Maybe it’s the sleigh bells or the ridiculously catchy hook. I’ll be over it in a few days, though.
In mid-February, Australian band, The Devoted Few, release Baby, You’re a Vampire, the follow-up to their previously acclaimed album, Billboard Noises. Baby, You’re a Vampire is an astonishing record from start to finish. It’s got moments of transcendence that would make the Arcade Fire blush, dark corners that would frighten Robert Smith, and ideas that would make Brian Eno say, ‘bugger, I wish I’d thought of that’.
Pivot / In The Blood Lawrence Pike must be one of the best drummers in Australia. Whenever I see these guys live, I generally spend the whole show glued to what he’s doing. There are some beautifully messed up guitar sounds on this and the approach to playing them is one that I’ll be trying to rip off in the future.
My Secret Playlist is a music discovery website and weekly email publication. We invite our favourite bands and musicians to give us the rundown on their eight favourite songs right now. These are their words on the music that inspires them.
