Northcote is a suburb of Melbourne, in the state of Victoria, and the pseudo name for Matt Goud’s musical project in…. Victoria, British Columbia.
Northcote has a new single alive on soundcloud called “Burn Right Past Them All” from his upcoming self-titled record in May.
Such an amazing song.
To get us excited for the May 7th album…. check out part 1 of a series of videos, “Painting an Album.”
Go with yourself.
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Finally got around to checking out the Oscar nominated documentary Searching For Sugar Man last night. My man Jay was telling me about this film at a radio remote awhile ago, he told this outrageous tale of a forgotten 70s singer from Detroit. Through a weird wrinkle of fate, a controlled and closed society, and the lack of the Internet, became a huge star in South Africa.
Sixto Rodriguez was a folk singer from Detroit who gigged locally in dive bars around the scene. Two Motown producers had heard of him and came to check him out. They were convinced he’d be the “next Dylan” and got him signed to Sussex Records. With Sussex, he recorded two albums… 1970’s Cold Facts and 71’s Coming From Reality. Both albums were commercial flops in the US and he was dropped from Sussex two weeks before Christmas in 1971.
Rodriguez mostly gave up his musical career. He remained in Detroit and worked manual labour jobs while raising a family. He toured briefly. He went to University and got a degree in Philosophy and was also politically active. While the story might have ended there for many, something peculiar happened to Rodriguez.
In the 70s… an Australian record label bought the rights to his back catalog and album became popular there. A “greatest hits” album was sent to South Africa. There the album became the soundtrack to the Anti-Apartheid movement. Rodriguez did become aware of the Australian fame and toured there twice in ’79 and one last time in ’81 before slipping back into obscurity.
But in South Africa, he remained a mystery, and to Rodriguez, he was unaware of his popularity there. Its a pretty outrageous story and the documentary was worth my time.
Go with yourself.
Posted in music | Tagged Rodriguez, Searching For Sugar Man | 2 Comments »
Victoria’s Mindil Beach Markets‘ put out a record on March 5th called It Might Take Long. To get us amped, they tapped Innovate Imageworks to craft a music video. Frantic, I think there are ghosts in there, the times are good.
The song is “Smoking Gun.”
Go with yourself.
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Eh-sides win with this beauty from across the Strait. Vancouver-bred but Euro based Rykka came across my desk in an email from DJ Boitano.
Rykka recorded previously under her given name, Christina Maria. Through experimentation and tour, she developed an edgier sound, some electro, and some pop. Last year she hopped in a Vancouver studio with producer Ryan Guldemond (best known for fronting Mother Mother) and put together a record called Kodiak (April, Vissen Records).
The first single is “Blackie” which The Province describes: “sounds as dark as its title, all anguished vocal submerged in echo and a bubbly kind of electronica.”
Pretty fun pop song.
Go with yourself.
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Vancouver indie pop band Young Galaxy march closer to the April 23rd release of Ultramarine (Paper Bag). We already heard “Pretty Boy” which I was obsessed with… That song is so sweet and romantic. The track also falls into your more traditional vein of Canadian indie pop. Today’s reveal from the record might be considered slightly more interesting…Nothing But Hope and Passion described the cut as “African Groove.” Silent Shout says, steers “dangerously into the sun but steers wide of disaster.” Neat. Can’t wait to fire it up!
Young Galaxy, when you coming to visit us in Victoria? Ugh… just SXSW? Alright, I understand (but I can dream about Rifflandia VI can’t I?).
Go with yourself.
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UK darling indie folksters Daughter will have their 4AD debut in March with the release of If You Leave. The North London group began as the solo project of Elena Tonra and has since evolved into a trio. Their music is simple and so beautiful. A slinky edit of their The Wild Youth ep song “Love.”
The Bowery Boogie Blog has lots of insight into the world of Daughter…. I am interested in this Zebra Safari edit making the rounds on the intertron and thinking it might mike sense in the Lounge if the bartenders don’t call me “sad” and demand something “dancey.”
Jealousy is an ugly emotion, but it makes for a beautiful song.
Go with yourself.
Posted in music | Tagged Daughter, edit, remix, Zebra Safari | 1 Comment »
Sitting around at the Veneto Lounge on Friday night…. head Bartender Simon was having a pint of something delicious and beer with Aaron from Habit Coffee. The talk turned turned to music as it does with groovy people and both of them were talking about Jim James.
We know, love, and remember Jim James from the rock & roll band My Morning Jacket.
Both gentlemen had great things to say about Jim James’ album Regions of Light and Sound of God. And they are not alone in the praise.
Check out the song “A New Life.”
Go with yourself.
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The album and single art is tragic, but the new sounds from Paris’ Phoenix….pretty good.
The premiere single off Bankrupt (April 23rd, Universal) is called “Entertainment.”
You’re getting a synth-driven, forward moving, Phoenix sounding song.
Stereogum says THIS!
and Spin says THAT!
Happy Monday!
Go with yourself.
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Happy Monday! A weekend of emails to answer on Monday morning brought many new song developments to share. One f the more exciting ones, new music from Ben Gibbard’s (Death Cab for Cutie) Postal Service.
The song will be part of April’s ten year reissue of 2003’s Give Up.
The song once again taps female vocalist Jenny Lewis (Ril0 Kiley) for a contribution.
Death Cab goes on tour for the first time in ten years… beginning at Coachella and winding its way up to Sasquatch in May.
Go with yourself.
Posted in music | Tagged Coachella, Coachella Music Festival, Death Cab for Cutie, Rilo Kiley, Sasquatch, Sasquatch Music Festival, The Postal Service | Leave a Comment »
Jesiah alerted me to another slinky song from LA’s Sir Sly bouncing around the internet tubes. Their Ghost ep is out NOW in NA (Neon Gold) and on March 4th in the UK (National Anthem).
Sunset in the Rearview Mirror compare these guys favourably to another California band that is red hot right now, The Neighbourhood.
Happy Friday!
Go with yourself.
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The Morning After 