Martin Solveig and Dragonette just want to say Hello

Martin Solveig has struck gold with Hello. This track went viral on YouTube with what is certainly one of the best music videos of the year. Solveig and Bob Sinclar playing a tennis match at Roland Garros featuring the likes of Novak Djokovic and Gael Monflis.

This track is summer-happy with Canadian synth singer Dragonette's lyrics sticking in your head like gum on a shoe. You'll be looping it through your nearest speakers at excessive volumes. I also love the actual lyrics and their don't-flatter-yourself-i'm-not-here-for-you feel. Download it here. Watch the short version here...



"I could stick around and get along with you
Hello
It doesn’t really mean that I'm into you
Hello

You’re alright but I'm here darling to enjoy the party
Don’t get too excited ‘cause thats all you get from me
Hey

Yeah I think you're cute but really you should know
I just came to say hello
Hello"

Wolf Gang - Lions in Cages EP

I've been listening to the new EP Wolf Gang has to offer and loving Lions in Cages. Wolf Gang is a multi-instrumentalist pumping the indie out of London. With a voice which sounds a bit like MGMT at times and a really full sounding sneaky bass line it is a track worth noting. He is someone to keep and eye on in the future and there's an LP forecast for 2011. Get your face to his MySpace.

Macklemore X Ryan Lewis ---- The Vs. EP ---- Reviving Rap

Macklemore has made me realise why people listen to rap. Period. Generally I don't listen to much rap, so granted, this isn't my speciality but when I hear a good piece of music I know it. This goes for all genres and there is some amazing rap and hip-hop to be had, but I think that as genres, they have unfortunately picked up a stigma, as commercialised, formulaic and often hollow of "real" musical talent. If anyone tries to tell you that Macklemore and Ryan Lewis can't make music worthy of your cochlea's attention, then you should tell them to go and stand in a bus lane. The Vs Ep is available for free download online and through Ryan Lewis' production skills, some of the best sampling is backdropping Seattle-hailing Macklemore as he lays down some of the greatest rhymes of the year. You can hear Macklemore's passion and the lived experience in his lyrical content which invigorates the music. Click here to download the EP

Tokyo Police Club - Champ

 

Tokyo Police Club came to my attention this year with the release of their LP Champ. I started with the single Breakneck Speed which was enough for me to go and buy the whole album thinking that there would be a few more tracks which took my fancy, and that there were...

The album has a bit of a Bowling For Soup take-me-back-to-my-small-hometown vibe to it, based on a bunch of 20-somethings reminiscing on high-school with lyrics that aren't meant to be life-changing. That said, the sound is catchy and David Monk lends his scratchy voice to long notes of lament about what was and what isn't. I couldn't name a favourite track and I'm struggling to point out a particular part of their sound which makes them so catchy, but it all ties together to make something which is original (not considering their previous releases), and really worth lending your ears to for an hour.

This isn't going to rock your world, but it could give you plenty plays and a growing appreciation. While it might have received average reviews, these were based on the bands progression and not so much the actual content of the album. So yes, the above said about lyrical content, etc. is true but it hasn't stopped me from getting into this album in a big way. I say GET IT.

Trophy Wife: Microlite EP

Just listened to the new EP from Oxford hailing Trophy Wife, a group I don't have a listening history with despite their two LP releases this year. Really enjoying the acoustic version of Microlite with great guitar and vocal work being put out. The vocals are similar to Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and Yannis Philippakis of Foals. Give it a listen over at their MySpace page linked above.

Smart Turnout Military Watches

Check out these watches from Smart Turnout but take more note of the huge range of 18mm straps available for £16.99 each. They're perfect to summer-up a current timepiece and brighten your outfit. Head over to their website to see the extensive range.

Watch £112

Strap £16.99

Mid Top Desert Boots

Mid-Tops and Hi-Tops are catching on in a big way and have been over the last year. The increase in popularity has seen a much wider range available. Originally limited to the street-hip Converse AllStar Hi-Tops, much classier and differing styles are now available and the design has been blended with the desert boot winter trend to make some really neat kicks. The desert boot which in South Africa was all too familiar with a "veldskoen", the typical Afrikaner farmer shoe, didn't take off too much amongst the youth, compared to the UK. The creation of sneaker-type desert boots is much more casual looking. Get yourself a pair.

Kenton Desert Boot Mid Top

R599

Available from Trenery

Lacoste Mid Tops after the jump...

Want more Bon Iver? Bring on S. Carey

S. Carey is the drummer for Bon Iver. Yes, Bon Iver is a band, not just the name of someone with a voice who could make trees cry. That is Justin Vernon, the singer for the group who has been off collaborating with Kanye West and experimenting with sounds groups such as the Volcano Choir.

Sean Carey, the groups percussionist and drummer has released a full length solo album "All We Grow", and for those of you who were expecting a percussion heavy sound, you are rather incorrect. Sean goes outside of percussion and opens up his amazing set of vocal chords which have only remained a mystery thanks to Vernon.

Sean's solo efforts are beautifully harrowing with amazing lyrics. He could be accused of trying to copy Bon Iver's sound but he pulls it off and holds his own. Go and get your hands on this, the musical beauty of it is well worth any emo aftermath you might experience.

Glenmorangie Signet

The FNB Whisky Live Festival 2010 held little that was new and interesting in the way of untried whiskies, with the exception of a few malts. The ludicrously bling bottle and casing of Glenmorangie's Signet stood out, but what was inside was even better.

This whisky, which is a culmination of over 20 years worth of ideas and 10 years of actual vision is priced at R1899 a bottle: a hefty price for an un-aged whisky in a market which has had increasing onus placed on the age of a malt (single or blended). However, the quality is evident from the nose to the finish and the fact that it tastes so amazing should over-rule any skepticism you have about it. For those who still want an age, the minimum is a 10 year-old (stored in designer casks of American oak made specifically for Glenmorangie), along with a variety of different sherry and oak casks, storing some single malts for up to 35 years.

What makes this whisky unique is its 15-20% composition of a chocolate malted barley. This barley is not of a different variety, but it is dried or roasted for longer, similar to ales, which is why it has the darker amber colour. A usual barley tastes sweet and almost like a cereal, whereas the chocolate malt is hard, charred and caramelized. This is also why such a coffee taste comes through in the whisky. The chocolate malt has been described as the espresso of malts compared to a regular cappuccino. It has resulted in a very untraditional bottling from this well reputed distillery.

Starting from swirling the liquid in a glass you can see it's extraordinary viscosity as the vapour trails stick to the sides. The nose is full of coffee notes, apricot, citrus and hints of chocolate with an anticipation of sweetness, which follows through into a sweet tasting, spice filled, flavour explosion with a long dry finish.

If you can afford this bottle, it won't disappoint. Get me some more is all I can say...

The Return of the Denim Jacket

Not that it was ever really gone, but there seems to be an imminent revival of this classic wardrobe item. A denim jacket is easy to wear, and it is something that is also easy to look stylish in. The denim jacket is quick to throw on, looks good with most outfits and is super versatile. You can dress it up or down to suit the occasion. It is also a statement piece, part of what made James Dean and Marlon Brando such bad-asses.

Quick tip, you can wear a denim jacket with almost anything, except and this is a big NO... you cannot wear a denim jacket with the same colour or wash jeans. It doesn't work, and it never will.

But if you pull it off, while you might not look like John Lennon or Brandon Flowers, the respective frontmen for The Beatles (did I really need to tell you) and The Killers, you will certainly feel like a rock-star. While it doesn't come on the guarantee, it is woven into the garment.

The other great thing about a denim jacket is how it really becomes a personal piece as it moulds to your body and goes through wear and tear over time, with the fade and scratches it will pick up only adding to it.

Generationals - Summer happiness you can Trust.

The Generationals are one crazy piece of hot from New Orleans. They have just released their second EP, Trust. Trust me, it's good. When you get cravings for more, satisfy them with their LP, Con Law from last year. Originally made up of Ted Joyner and Grant Widmer the band has just picked up Tess Brunet as their drummer and the Trust EP shows all the bass thumping, 60's-proof action that she puts forward, with enough tambourine to keep you going while the summer slides by. Their music is watermelon sliced, bleached blonde hair, sand in-between your toes, poolside summer sun in a tune.


Stop by their site for 5 FREE downloads or check out their MySpace here. If neither of those quite do it for you, listen to snippets of Con Law on their website media player right this way... And lastly on the free tracks parade, there are two downloads over at last.fm. Enjoy

Ears Out for Alex Winston

Alex Winston is the needle in the haystack of aspiring female artists: and she has been found. After moving to New York City this year from Detroit to work with production duo The Knocks, she has released an EP of covers and a few singles of her own, all of which hold much promise for the future. The EP is available for download here and features covers by well known artists such as Mumford and Sons, The Rolling Stones and Jack Penate. It was one of her own songs "Animal Baby" which really caught my ear with its foot tapping, cheer making abilities all glossed over with a voice of syrup. Her MySpace page has all info about tours, songs and her bio. Keep your ears posted for one of these songs to hit an FM radio near you...soon.

Fox in the Henhouse always UP my mood...

Fox in the Henhouse is the latest project from Baltimore based musician Ryan Escolopio who has ventured into the Indie-Rock scene, recording the bands new self-titled album in his own music studio (iBOT Records). The album released on October 12th with singles "Up" and "Fear", being super catchy giving much promise to the LP. Escolopio's superb vocals, coupled with upbeat percussion & bass lines make their sound unique and leaving little to be desired. I would also keep an eye on this guy for future signings, as he clearly has production talent. Check out their MySpace here.

Come Around Sundown came around sunrise.

Today was the day. Kings of Leon released their 5th studio album in the UK and it will hit shelves in the US tomorrow. Come Around Sundown keeps in toe with all previous albums' five syllable titles and if you are like me, then the first thing you did this morning was download it off iTunes. I've given it a listen and can already flag Pony Up, Birthday and Mary, but will soak it up some more before I release a review.

The pressure was on the Nashville based group to produce some amazing sounds in this album. After exploding onto the commercial scene with singles Sex on Fire and Use Somebody off their 4th album Only By the Night in 2008, new fans were itching for this material. More scarily they face their harshest critics, those who have been with them since the release of Youth and Young Manhood in 2003. The weeks to come will be interesting in terms of how the album is received and a review is to follow shortly.

£100000 for a bottle of Scotch...

The world of whisky is one of quality where age comes into play, with time spent in a cask increasing the price. A really great 21-year old will set you back more than £100 but usually not too much more. Last week, two bottles of Dalmore Trinitas sold for £100 000, the highest figure ever paid for a bottle of whisky. The 64-year old single malt is said to contain some of the oldest whiskies in Scotland, some which have been quietly waiting in casks around Cromarty Firth for more than 140 years.

The Dalmore’s Master Distiller Richard Paterson used his expertise to fuse a range of these exclusive malts together. He claimed this was not about breaking world records but about making the best whisky money can buy.

Whisky 101

Before my next post, I figured I'd explain a little bit about whisky so that you understand the basics. Whisky, spelt with a "y" at the end is the spelling for Scotch, whereas Irish and American (bourbons) are spelt with an "ey".

The name "whisky" comes from the ancient Scottish and Irish Gaelic names for "water of life", Malt Whisky is made from malted barley. Malting the barley causes it to germinate, converting the starch into sugars which makes fermentation possible. The malt is then dried over a peat-burning furnace. Peat is the dried soil and gives the whisky a distinct flavour. After fermentation, distillation takes place in a pot still. The process is usually repeated twice.

Isley whiskies which are often referred to as "peaty" have a very strong flavour, sometimes described as medicinal. This is because the peats from the islands and coastal areas have a much higher seaweed content which imparts the strong flavour which a small handful enjoy, A common example is Laphroaig.

Single Malt whisky is malt whisky made in only one distillery and not blended with any other product from elsewhere. It may contain whisky from several production batches made over a couple of years. A popular example is Glenfiddich.

Blended Whisky has a variable proportion of blended malt and grain whiskies. A grain whisky is made from unmalted barley or other unmalted grain such as maize or wheat.

Check out these sites to get in the know on distilleries, etc.

http://www.scotchwhisky.net/

http://www.edinburghwhiskyblog.com/

http://www.whisky.com

Duck Sauce take Barbara Streisand for a night on the town.

Duck Sauce are a collaborative duo made up of DJ's Armand van Helden and A-Trak. Both already established as solo artists they have provided a punch since last year when they formed a team. Their latest single "Barbara Streisand", just released this month has caught the cochlea's of DJ's around the world and after barely a week in the sunshine I heard it in two clubs last night. The "whoooo-whoooo-whoooo" is enough to get anyone onto the dancefloor and this track is an instant head bopper. My bet is that it'll see the Southern Hemisphere through the filthiest of summer nights as one of the biggest floor filling anthems to come.

The Shout Out Louds didn't have to "Work" hard for my approval.

Swedish Indie group the Shout Out Louds have come onto my radar in a big way this year. With the release of their third LP entitled "Work" in February of this year they have shot onto the top of my recommended list with a super polished sound so smooth and defined. Comparable to Band of Horses and The XX their sound is supported with an array of instruments including violin, keyboard, accordion & glockenspiel. Adam Olenius lends a killer voice to the ensemble with other members providing plenty of "dooo-duh-da-da" backing vocals. The whole album is a must for your 2010 collection, but sample "Moon" and their first single off the album "Fall Hard" to get an idea of what joys you're in for. This is a collective of experiences who channel their souls into each melody they play out so that you feel it in your bones and get shivers down your spine for an anticipated bass thumbing or vocal harmony. Pure Gold.

The Burning Ear

In a quest for new music, thousands of people sift through rubbish music blogs on a daily basis. The Burning Ear could not some up what it is about any better: "A music blog for people who don't have time for music blogs". Regardless of what music genre you're into, you will rarely find a track which you don't fall in love with or at least appreciate, musically. There's not much more to say, just check it out here.

FNB Whisky Live Festival

It's almost that time of year again, the FNB Whisky Live Festival is returning to Cape Town at the CTICC from the 3rd to the 5th of November and Johannesburg at the Sandton Convention Center from the 10th to the 12th. Now in its 8th year running the festival has grown wildly in popularity and attracts a diverse range of people from connoisseurs to those new to the world of whisky. According to worldwide sales South Africa is the 5th largest drinker of whisky by volume and the market is rapidly spreading into the younger generation of adults. Having been fortunate enough to have attended last years festival for all three nights I can say that the R180 entrance fee is well worth your money. The selection of whiskies available to try is superb and the innovators behind Whisky Live have added heaps of new features to the festival for 2010. Book your tickets online for Cape Town here or Johannesburg here as it is sure to be an event not worth missing.

Two Door Cinema Club's "Tourist History" adds a punch to the 2010 music scene

The UK music industry is alive. Indie bands are popping out at a rate not seen since babies in the 1950's. Two Door Cinema Club, formed in 2007 & hailing from Ireland, have shown they have far more to offer than the next pub's pint-swinging 3-piece. They released their debut album "Tourist History" in February this year and after listening to it solidly for over a month, my ears are still reaping the joy. These guys have upped the standard and set an all new benchmark not seen since The Kooks or Arctic Monkeys. Solid percussion with upbeat drumming and enough cow-bell rhythm to keep you feeling like a farmer in his field, coupled with the energetic bass lines create the underflow of this foot tapping magic. Glossed over with guitar lines smoother than your face after shaving, their sound is beautifully fresh. Get onto iTunes or to your nearest music store after clearing your face for a big smile, because Two Door Cinema Club will make you shuffle your feet and appreciate the Irish for something more than St. Patricks Day. Listen to "I Can Talk", "What You Know" and "This is the Life". Head over to their official website here

Red Bull Illume

Cartier Bresson spoke with particular reference to this photo I think, about the what he called the "decisive moment" in photography. Capturing the spirit of something at it's right time to be ingrained on a negative (or micro-chip these days). Sports photographers really have to live up to this, not only using their creativity but also needing velvet hands and hawk eyes to grab an action shot. The Red Bull Illume competition showcases some of the best talent. 22 764 photos have been sifted through to bring you these finalists. Check it out at here.

Hangover Minus the Drunk

Last night I went out. Similar to most post break-up nights out, after a long period of little to moderate drinking, I seemed to think it would be a good idea to get drunk. This new trend that's developed is not an attempt to drown sorrows, get emotional, muster dutch courage for a rebound or anything along normal post break-up drinking. It's purely to swim in my own thoughts. It's messy, but last night it wasn't. Last night, I spent R100 on drinks after having a stiff whisky, two tequila's and a large glass of wine over supper. You would think that this, along with the 6 shots and frozen margarita I had out would have got me well on my way. Unfortunately not. Yet I woke up this morning and as though feeling like a fool for drinking my money away wasn't punishment enough, I had a hangover. The explanation for that is due to excessive alcohol consumption, but why did I not get drunk? I wanted to, it would have been fun. Perhaps it just won't happen if you plan it to. Or it will if you plan it to and have more than R100 to spend out on a night. Still, it was fun.

Hello...This is PS

So this is my first blog post...I'm not good at first impressions so hopefully I'll have so much to post in the next few days that this will get covered up and only later be retrieved as my first historic blog post when this page has more hits than Google and my next words are craved like a line of blow. In the unlikely event that this blog doesn't become famous, it won't matter either, because no one will care about my first post or anything subsequent to it. I don't know who reads blogs, I don't. But I like to write and so I thought I'd start something up. At first I wanted a style blog, something to remove South African men from the worst dressed in the world. Following this I considered a whisky blog and a music blog. Unfortunately, in the world of Web 2.0 I overslept the billionaires train and made it into the sea of people who purge themselves of their thoughts over an unread blog. I don't mind if you don't like this, read it or if anyone ever takes in these words, it's purely cathartic for me. So I guess that's what can be expected from me on this blog, lots of talking about society, observations, music, photography, poetry, whisky and style. That could draw a readership and it could also just tell the story of someone who can't be bothered to sheep along in the world.