bon iver, bon iver, bon iver

Yes, the new Bon Iver album is out, and I...Love...It. I didn't think he could top his first album but Justin Vernon may have done it. Well there is the timeless test. The test which takes about a month to complete (an album passes this test ONLY if you still want to listen to it after 4 months). There a few albums that have passed that test and For Emma, Forever ago was one of them.

This self titled album does have promise! His voice is one so unique that there is always the potential to fall into that trap of 'repetitive uniqueness' equaling totally boring the pants of you. But NO! still amazing right until that end song 'Beth/Rest' ....80's ballad much?

Anyway, let the music do the talking. Its beautiful,haunting and gives that warm feeling inside like you're on the verge of falling in love!

Also Bon Iver are making Saxophones/Clarinets fashionable again. Not just for Kenny G lovers.



MINTY FRESH PICKS:

Perth
Holocene
Michicant

national anthem

I have moved to London! So planning to see alot of Gigs! YES.

I was recently in Munich, were I had the pleasure of seeing the new Soulwax gig who was supporting Simian Mobile Disco, one word A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Started off with a brand new song and it cranked. I was so impressed I had to by tickets to the Soulwaxmas show in London, which has the Legendary 2manyDJ's performing to. Oh man how I love those Dewaele brothers. Stephen looks like a cross between Russel Crowe and Hugh Laurie. YUM!


Aaaaalllsssooooo. I've got tickets to The National. Considering there new album, I think this will be a very very good show. I saw them at the King's Arms in Auckland after they released Alligator and have been waiting since then for a chance to see them again. YAY.




MINTY FRESH PICKS

Soulwax: Miserable Girl, and the new song which I can't find!!
The National: Terrible Love, Anyone's Ghost, Bloodbuzz Ohio,

xxoo

My new fav band at the moment. The XX.

They are made of 4 South Londoners in there 20's with the guitarist Romy Madley Croft and bassist Oliver Sim lending their voices to the lyrics.

I like it. I like the way their voices complement each other, and I like the soft poppy music that back them up. They show us that you don't need to have terribly complicated lyrics and layer upon layer of musical input to create a good tune.

Not once did I get bored listening to this album, and thats a rare event.

Have a listen, and you'll know what I mean.

MINTY FRESH PICKS

Crystallised
Islands
Infinity

Just a quickie

I've been slack. Yes.

Go find this song though....

KiD CuDi + Ratatat + MGMT - Pursuit of Happiness.

Ok I know, strange infusion, but its got a sweet lil Ratatat back ground track and it really does work quite well.

Also, a big thank you to Bag Raiders on Saturday night. Shooting Stars went off. Those guys can really entertain. You can always tell and international visiting an Auckland club.

MINTY FRESH PICK

Bag Raiders - Shooting Stars

van she

Saw these boys recently. In Melbourne at Prince, St Kilda, where it was the full band 'Van She' and then in Auckland at Coherent, where it was just one of 'em looking like he had time travelled from the 70's...but not in a bad way...'Van She Tech'. I gotta say I love these guys, but the set in Auckland was a lil disappointing. Maybe it was because I had built it up in my head and I was hoping it was gonna be the full band (stupidly, because I knew it was advertised as Van She Tech) either way it really was supposed to be an album release tour for there new remix album Ze Vemixes and he played only a handful of the songs on the album! He played one of the best though 'It could be the same'. He also played the Van She Tech remixes of Klaxon's - Gravity's Rainbow and Feist's 1234. Both crankin' tunes.

Anyway! The album 'V' and the remix album of it 'Ze Vemixes' are corkers, wouldn't expect anything less for a band who have supported the likes of Phoenix and Daft Punk. Good to start a party too I reckon. Not to hard, it's up beat and gets you in the mood.
Check out the interview with them on UTR here, which tells ya about the origin of their name and other fun facts.

MINTY FRESH PICKS

on 'V'

Changes
Strangers
Kelly

on 'Ze Remixes'

It could be the same
Techno Music

weird memory cassette tapes

I have just come across the many alias' of Dayve Hawk; Memory Tapes, Weird Tapes and Memory Cassette. I may be a wee bit out dated in this as I have discovered alot of blogs talking about his many endeavours, but I thought, hey why not join the dreamy electro bandwagon.

He has just released a Memory Cassette 4 track E.P called Call & Response. I suggest you go and find the free download of it on the net as it is definately worth a listen. Have a gander at the Pitchfork interview with the man himself here v.interesting. Seems like a down to earth kinda guy, with a wee bit of a social problem, but whose complaining when he comes up with shit like this.


Great to listen to when your ready for bed, which for my taste puts them with Broken Social Scene and M83, although obviously different. Sit back and relax.


MINTY FRESH PICK
Ghost in the Boombox
Asleep at a Party
- unfortunately both are not included on the E.P