Coexist: Hypnotic In Its Simplicity

Image courtesy of thexx.info

The xx's Romy Madley-Croft, Oliver Sim, and Jamie Smith are back to captivate us again with their hushed soundscape off their sophomore release, Coexist. It's been three years since The xx first wrapped us around their little finger, seducing us with xx's sinister, sexy minimalism and then leaving us hanging with unsubstantiated rumors of a second album. But now, like an ex-lover you hope will return even though you know they're bad for you, they're back.

British wunderkind producer Jamie Smith (now known as Jamie xx) is like a mad scientist creating swirling, house-tinged beats. He mastered this aesthetic, couching melancholy vocals in gripping basslines and faded, knocking drums, along with enough melodic riffs to create a perfectly balanced and soulful tension. Smith creates Coexist's finest moment by both streching and magnifying the gritty beauty of his vocalists, particularly with Romy's delicate voice on the opener "Angels" set against a guitar that chimes its presence with an unhurried effortlessness. "Angels" is the record's first single, driving, soaring song that sets the album's tone, fluttering around the idea of being in love-a pretty basic concept that nonetheless provides the center of Coexist's lyrical themes. If xx was about fucking, Coexist is about dealing with the trials and tribulations of a relationship.

Record's highlight like "Sunset". "Tides", and "Swept Away" all focus on different stages of romantic love, from infatuation to frustation to all the other stuff that falls in between. These songs are danceable, but like the rest of the band's body of work, would also be the ideal soundtrack for lying on the floor of dark room and making out. Other track like "Chained" and "Fiction" are closer to xx, with shimmering bass lines and clean, tortured guitars behind their signature regret-laden observations of a relationship gone to shit. These moments reveal the subtleties that distinguish the new xx: vocals louder and clearer in the mix and instrumentals lower and heavier, making the tinny beats of "Basic Space" and "Night Time" sound pedestrian by contrast.

Coexist is so decidedly xx, with its restrained control of vocals, notes, and beats and at first listen, it seems that not much has changed. Even with one less member's contribution. Yet upon further immersion, one thing is clear, there is a maturity and purity in their sound; a combined confidence in voice, instrument, and production that is hypnotic in its simplicity. In three years impatient years have proved well worth the time -- for not only refined sound, but also a keen mastery in both production and concision.

Essential Tracks:

1. Angels

2. Fiction

3. Sunset

4. Missing

5. Swept Away

The xx perform "Angels" live in Tokyo. Directed by Jamie-James Medina

The Horrors

Bandung / The Horrors live at Dago Tea House / February 2012

Photography Teuku Ajie

Ladytron: Point of Survival

Image courtesy of ladytron.com

It's been a dozen-year of the 'icy' band's career. From the very first Ladytron debut album 604 (2001) when the single "Playgirl" brought some national and international attention to the band and when they were labeled as electroclash instead they rejected this tag but however they survived.

Beginning 2002 with a glosier darker released of "Light and Magic" and critically acclaimed album "Witching Hour" in 2004, made the group took the road of cult following, booking sold-out tours across North America and Europe, and playing capacity crowd  around Asia and Latin America. Without any real label support, Ladytron toured exhaustively over the next two years.

In June 2008, Ladytron released their fourth and most successfull album "Velocifero" on Nettwerk. The album spawned three single: "Ghost", "Runaway", and "Tomorrow" leaving behind their traditional hits on the dance floor. During their dozen-year career, they've endured the "electroclash" and "bloghouse" phases and persevered alongside plenty of flash-in-the-pan contemporaries. With this in mind, their fifth album "Gravity The Seducer" could have been approached as more of a victory lap than anything else.

Gravity The Seducer(Nettwerk 2011)

Gravity The Seducer, Ladytron's fifth studio album find its place as Ladytron's most hypnotic record to date, the vocals are submerged deeper in the mix giving more space for the synths to layer, intertwine and generate friction. The result is an album which is less immediate than the predecessors, but more atmospheric. This Liverpudlian synth-pop group build on their creepiest former glories while with holding the hooks that previously put the sweet in their bitter. Opener "White Elephant" signal their new approach, offering an intricate with a swaying melody, keyboards chiming rather than cutting, its rhythm lilting rather than propelling, it's clear that Ladytron have let some light into their previous darkness. "Moon Palace" sounds exactly like its dreary landscapes are covered by two frigid female vocalist. First released single midtempo "Ace of Hz" polishes chillwave's hazy psychedelia into glozzy yet dense ice sculpture. Gravity The Seducer is a transitional album between the periods but yet still frostbite guaranteed.

Considering electroclash "movement" that gave them recognition, it's a pleasant shock that they have stuck around this long and still manage to evolve. By stripping back the layers of overbearing electronic production of the past, they've recorded  an album of lush and elegant pop music, beguiling and gloriously cinematic.

At the moment Ladytron is in Asia tour, in two more days they will perform live in Jakarta at Djakarta Warehouse Project. I'm quite exciting, it's been a ten years waiting to watch Helen Marnie and Mira Aroyo's band performance live. Now there is a real utopia coming into our town although very late ;)

Official music video for "Runaway" by Ladytron, taken from their fourth album "Velocifero".

Watch their amazing live performance at Astoria London 2009.

May Playlist: Warpaint Back to Back Album by Bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg

Exquisite Corpse EP (2009)

The Fool LP (2010)

WARPAINT'S TOP 5 TRACKS

BY BASSIST JENNY LEE LINDBERG

1. BEETLES

This name was given to the song due to the sway I was doing whilst playing bass; indicative of the Beetles sway or any dance from the early 60's. This song evokes every emotion possible. It's the probably the most skitzo song.

2. ELEPHANTS

Sounds like elephants stomping the grounds - out to cause a rickus! A great trance and meditative experience, but also a very high energy song.

3. COMPOSURE

The opening of this song is a homage to the Lars Von Trier film, Antichrist. I love how high energy the song is, it reminds me of Elephants in that sense.

4. MAJESTY

We wrote Majesty in Malibu in 2007, when Warpaint was just a three piece (Emily, Theresa, and Jenny). Since then it has taken on a life of its own, and has transformed wonderfully. I love the tragedy in this song, you can hear it in Theresa's voice.

5. BEES

Bees was originally written for the bees! The bassline sounds a bit like a mass of buzzin' bees. I love this song, because it makes me dance, and it's not so in your face. I think it needs a few listens before you catch on, then I believe magical things are revealed.

The original Warpaint's interview by Anders Christian Madsen for i-D Magazine: The Livin' Loud Issue Pre-Spring 2011. Visit i-Donline.com to listen.

Psychedelic Warpaint

Image courtesy of warpaintwarpaint.com

A little bit late to fill an article about Warpaint now, because it's so difficult to imagine a suitable words for this amazing band. If Nirvana having an affair with Siouxsie and the Banshees then the childrens will be Warpaint. Apparently they are singing like the two little girls from The Shining, it 's thrilling and haunting. 

Hailing from LA, the band consists of Emily Kokal (vocalist/guitarist) and Theresa Wayman (vocalist/guitarist), Jenny Lee Lindberg (vocalist/bassist) and the piston-like drummer Stella Mozgawa. The original line-up of the band was formed in 2004 with childhood friends, Theresa, Emily, Jenny Lee, and actress Shannyn Sossamon. As the girls battled through the L.A. rock scene for three years, the group eventually parted ways with Shannyn and went through a string of line-up changes before they found Stella Mozgawa. 

The band weaves intricate guitar lines, hypnotic vocals, and driving post-punk rhythms into gorgeous, sprawling songs that skirt the line between the soundscapes of psychedelia and intimacy. In 2009 the band released their debut EP titled Exquisite Corpse, followed by their full length album, The Fool, released on October 2010. Exquisite Corpse produced by John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, the EP successfully captures the band’s sonic textures and playful dynamism that they’re notorious for creating in a live setting. "The Fool itself is a reference to a state of innocence, to push yourself to see who you are, with the potential of falling on your face to reach liberation, The risk of laughing at the wrong moment or to choose not to act like you know everything," Kokal explained. Recorded in LA, The Fool was produced by Tom Biller (Beck, Karen O, Liars), with further mixes from Andrew Weatherall (New Order, Primal Scream, Bjork) and Adam Samuels (John Frusciante, Daniel Lanois). 

Soon they will performing live in Jakarta on July 21, watching the live version is beyond compare, cause the group playing consistently impressive. In Live, each one is in her own zone, often with eyes shut and head loose, It's almost like watching them make up songs in real-time at every show. Warpaint has toured incessantly over the last couple of years with standout performances at CMJ, SXSW, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Coachella, as well as the Leeds, Reading and Laneway festivals. They have also shared the stage with The xx, Band of Horses, Yeasayer, Akron/Family, Javelin, and The Walkmen. But so should the fact Kokal and Wayman were raised in hippie communes, but sound like the sky has slightly caved in. Come smash yourself against their song and performance, you won’t regret it.

Warpaint - Stars from Adam Harding on Vimeo.

Official music video for "Stars" by Warpaint, taken from the Exquisite Corpse EP (Manimal Vinyl). Filmed in the ashes of the Angeles National Forest. 
Shot by Adam Harding, edited and directed by Burke Roberts and Adam Harding © 2009

Warpaint - Elephants Live Coachella 2011 from Tyzmatos on Vimeo.

Watch their amazing live performances at Coachella 2011.

Ohh Scissor.. Ohh Sisters..

Scissor Sisters - Invisible Light from CANADA on Vimeo.

"Ohh scissor.. ohh sisters.. really love this video so much, You give me a mind-bending visual splendor of an acid trip without the negative side effect. I swear won't take a hallucinogenic substance and wandered through movie theaters back in the 70s, this video is memorable enough. Remind me of Roman Polanski resemble era, from the costuming and sets to the color, please don't blame me if I have a flashback sisters :b, I do really enjoy this song, lyric and clip so much!!! parfait!


Scissor Sisters (Polydor)
Director : Nicolas Mendez
Production : Canada
Stylist : Carolina Galiana
Hair and Make Up : Gina Ros

'HAPPINESS' REVEALED BY HURTS (ALBUM REVIEW)

Hurts

Manchester, UK electro-pop duo Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson known by Hurts finally released their debut album 'Happiness' on monday september 6th. 'Happiness' delivers pretty much what has been promised from leaked tracks and singles - Synthpop that is both elegant and enigmatic sounds. Aside from 80s revival issue, Hurts present a striking contrast to the glow-in-the-dark pop stars who have been ruined the charts of late. Listening to Wonderful Life and Blood, Tears, and Gold, take me back to an era when U2 didn't suck and Depeche Mode was still a mainstream force. Sunday maybe is the only track that define brighter moment on this album, whilst Stay build an enigmatic experience and cinematic visual when u heard it, especially when the gospel choir play the part . Illuminated track somehow more like 'One Republic' sounds  that i didn't like, maybe this is kind of commercial song from this album. Same as like illuminated, Better Than Love is kind of mainstream that have been unfairly overlooked by many, but there is an exceptional for the clip, i'm in love with it. Devotion ft. Kylie Minogue will do wonders for the duo in terms of exposure but alas, but whatever people have said, i still love Kylie contribution on this track expecially the ending part. Unspoken and Water, both are my favourite tracks angular with the previous single that has been leaked. Hurts could be bring another era of electronic sounds and images on this day, despite they have been criticize through this album. But overall this album is more than worth it to listen up, especially if u want to reminisce Duran Duran, Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys era.

This is a complete list of track that i recommend you to hear from this album :

1. Wonderful Life

2. Blood, Tears and Gold

3. Sunday

4. Stay

5. Better Than Love

6. Devotion

7. Unspoken

8. Water

HURTS - Wonderful Life (Official new version) [HQ] from Four Music on Vimeo.

"This video is one of the most beautiful music clip I've ever seen on this day. Beautiful song, people, location, clothes, just perfect. The cinematography was brilliant as well. Their classic image suits the early 2000’s Dior Homme style when Hedi Slimane was the head designer. This is a beautiful mix of music and fashion"

Note : Hedi Slimane recently shoot Hurts for Dazed & Confused, and my opinion soon they will appear on Vogue Homme Cover or i-D's editorial :)