Features

MAP November 2013

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While we only post stuff from this small corner of the world, For those new to MAP (Music Alliance Pact), it’s that time once a month where our hormones go rioting for month new music from around the globe. Us and a whole selection of fun blog-ly types get to assert our supposed internet authority by picking the best tracks each month. It’s a compact version of Eurovision without the spandex, violence and soviet subtitles.

MAP is also available in podcast form curated each month by our very own Robbie Ingrisano. Listen to the latest edition of MAPCAST over at our Soundcloud account here.

Click the play button icon to listen to individual songs, right-click on the song title to download an mp3, or grab a zip file of the full 27-track compilation through Ge.tt here.

ARGENTINA: Zonaindie
Onda VagaTataralí

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Since their inception in 2008, Onda Vaga have avoided the steps that independent artists usually take in order to be a part of the music industry. It was a wise call. Thanks to word of mouth from a public that follows them whenever they perform, this folk-rock band have become a huge success, both locally and internationally (they made quite an impression at last year’s Fuji Rock Festival in Japan). Tataralí is the first single from their recently released third album, Magma Elemental.

AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?
La Mancha NegraBelango Twist

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It’s easy to imagine that Belango Twist might have been found inside a dusty shoebox containing a mix of rhythm and blues cassettes somewhere in the Deep South. Surprisingly that’s far from the case. Sydney swamp-rockers La Mancha Negra (which loosely translates from Spanish to “The Black Stain”) recently delivered their second album. Packed with blues ooze and reverberated hollers, Belango Twist is a tune that’s ideal for cruising… and smashing out a few letterboxes on the way.

AUSTRIA: Walzerkönig
RobotraMorninglight 2

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Don’t let the noisy, distorted lo-fi shell of Robotra songs trick you. This three-piece band from Graz and their pop melodies will catch your attention and make you want to sing along immediately. Morninglight 2 is taken from their full-length debut Tinker, which was mixed and mastered by Wolfgang Möstl (Mile Me Deaf, Sex Jams, Killed By 9V Batteries).

BRAZIL: Meio Desligado
Marcelo JeneciDe Graça

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In Marcelo Jeneci’s new psychedelic/pop-influenced album, the single De Graça is one of the weirdest and greatest songs. Strong influences of the earliest works of Caetano Veloso and Arnaldo Antunes (with whom Jeneci still plays keyboard) can be easily heard, as well as Jeneci’s talent for making catchy melodies that create the kind of feeling when everything is just fine and you don’t worry about anything.

Click after the jump to for a full list of tracks…

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GUEST: Oisima

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Leading up to his stint at Paradise, we asked our favourite bearded beat brother Oisima to pick his top 5 Australian electronic producers across this wide, brown, digitally enhanced land for us.

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1. Slamagotchi

Slamagotchi has always been, and always will be one of my favourite Australian producers. He’s always two steps ahead in his visions and his message through music. When his debut album drops it’ll create a serious stir…

 

2. Mei Saraswati

Mei Saraswati’s music is the purest form of expression. It’s so free & so goddamn funky, I seriously cannot get enough. Hands down, she’s my favourite vocalist in Australian music. Here’s hoping we one day get a chance to create music together.

 

3. Silent Jay

No one’s drums smack as hard as the brother Silent Jay! His production is so clean, although seems effortless in such an incredible way. Every time I see him perform live I leave with a sore neck from getting down so hard.

 

4. Nakagin

Nakagin has this beautiful way of creating the most encapsulating wall of luscious soundYou feel like you’re wandering through a rainforest just after a sun shower with the light peering through the leavesSuch amazing music from such an incredible person I’m fortunate enough to know.

5. How Green

How Green is undeniably one of the most underrated producers in the country. Adelaide based, he’s going to cause a serious stir once his music blesses more & more eardrums in the coming months & years.


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Catch Oisima performing at alpine best-fest Paradise Music Festival on the 29th Nov – 1st Dec.

The organisers of the festival are also throwing a pre-party TONIGHT at the Liberty Social Club, details here.

 

Facebook / Soundcloud / Bandcamp

 

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LISTEN: The Ocean Party ‘SPLIT’ LP

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The Ocean Party’s latest record, Split is out now through Spunk records. Yes, that hip label. Home to Bonnie Prince Billy, Okkervil River, and Bill Callahan amongst others. It’s a welcome reminder that hard working Australian musicians can be rewarded. Now let’s have a quick refresher.

Melbourne band The Ocean Party, is Jordan Thompson, Liam Halliwell, Curtis Wakeling, Lachlan Denton, and new kid on the block Zac Denton. Split was recorded at Lachlan’s grandparents’ farm in rural NSW. Curtis reckons that it was a good way to be focused on nailing down a mixture of new material. “We’ve had a pretty relaxed time recording all three albums but it was good to get away to the country for this last one, it’s pretty easy to get distracted when you just record at home”.

Home is back in Melbourne where these guys all live and mate together, recording with a cavalcade of musicians in different positions, creating multiple sounds with varied song writing. This renewed focus is evident in Split, which is a very well considered LP and one that always sounds like an Ocean Party recording.

Curtis opens with vocals on ‘Quarter Final’, an ode to slacker life. The melody is an absolute cracker. Catchy as any pop song could be yet perfectly situated in a field far from anyone else. ‘Quarter Final’ speaks of getting wasted, sleeping with anons and feeling suicidal on Sunday, y’know… life. It features a gorgeous guitar hook and Curtis nails the mood of a groundhog day Bill Murray would be proud to rep. It also signals that we are in for another good record.

 

 

Next up is the title track ‘Split’. Much has already been written on this one but let’s note the vocals of young blood Zac of Ciggie Witch. “I am really happy with how it (more…)

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MAP October 2013

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MAP (Music Alliance Pact) – the global new music initiative we’re lucky to be a part of is back for October! It’s easy to get caught up in our little ‘scene’ happening here, but it’s really exciting to hear all the other wonderful music pursuits happening around the world.

While you’re there, make sure you check out MAPCAST,  a free podcast of Robbie’s favourite picks from this month’s list! Robbie’s whipped up this month’s podcast at a ridiculous pace – listen/download/update your playlist pronto HERE.

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Click the play button icon to listen to individual songs, right-click on the song title to download an mp3, or grab a zip file of the full 29-track compilation through Ge.tt here.

ARGENTINA: Zonaindie
JuaniDéjame Entrar

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Juani’s involvement with music began during his teenage years and it hasn’t stopped since. Songwriter, singer, musician, producer, cultural manager… you name it. In between his multiple projects (one of them being involved with Rosario’s biggest independent label Planeta X), Juani managed to pull out a new solo album called La Paz Ciencia (a pun between the words “peace” and “science”), with songs that range from Argentine folk to pop and acoustic rock. Déjame Entrar is our favorite track but you can download the whole thing from the website.

AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?
White CavesI’ve Lost

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White Caves is the new venture from Melbourne songwriter Darren Cordeux. The former Kisschasy frontman has completely left behind the acoustic teen psyche of 2006 for a much looser sound. I’ve Lost carves a completely uplifting vibe out of sombre song content. Thanks to some clear-cut production, soaring vocals and a vibe that sounds like MGMT’s Andrew VanWyngarden fronting a slacker-pop band, White Caves is lending a new dimension of fun to typical ‘pop-jams’ right here.

AUSTRIA: Walzerkönig
Amere MeanderSomething I Am Not

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Three kindergarten friends form a band and make pop music. Viennese Amere Meander appeared out of nowhere with songs that are sometimes dreamy and sweet, sometimes mysterious and noisy, drawing inspiration from anything from shoegaze to Fleetwood Mac. Always catchy but never unpredictable, Something I Am Not is taken from their debut album To Lead Astray.

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MAPCAST September

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Our new September MAPCAST podcast is out! The podcast features the best new tracks from around the world picked by Robbie x the Music Alliance Pact bloggers.

Download the podcast for free HERE.

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MAPCAST SEPTEMBER – TRACKLISTING

His Clancyness – ‘Zenith Diamond’ (Italy)

A Fase Rosa – ‘Casa’ (Brazil)

Mood-Fu – ‘Perros De Fu’ (Mexico)

Manor – ‘Architecture’ (Australia)

Poetrip – ‘Aşa Ceva’ (Romania)

Iván Fajardo – ‘Me Voy Dejando’ (Peru)

Worldwide Collaboration Company – Crying Launer Remix (China)

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Don’t forget to listen to all 29 tracks from our original MAP September post + visit us on Soundcloud over yonder.

 

 

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SEQUENCE: Bligh Twyford-Moore

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Bligh plays in Sydney band Post Paint, recently capped off a month-long stint hosting a Bill Murray ‘Murrathon’ for Fringe Fest – and was banned from the internet this week for uploading an image of Tony Abbott with a really small dick.

This guy has also turned ‘stalking’ into a literal art. Earlier this year, Bligh decided to begin painting portraits of all his internet friends. I’m not sure what number he’s up to, but he’s made his way out of Sydney because I found one of my shady internet snaps turned into a neat little portrait the other week. Thought we’d return the favour by enlisting photographer Jack Toohey to turn up at Bligh’s Newtown terrance and trail him for a whole Sunday afternoon for our next SEQUENCE photo essay.

If you’d like to contact Bligh for commissions, click here. If you’d like your portrait painted, click here. If you want to know what happens when a photographer returns with a rad set of photos and a portrait by an artist completely stoned, then keep scrolling.

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JACK TOOHEY: Facebook / Web 

BLIGH TWYFORD-MOORE: Facebook / Web

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