Earlier tonight (actually at the very un-rock ‘n’ roll time of 4:30pm), Dappled Cities unveiled their brand new record, Zounds to the world. The band decided to launch the record in a pretty unique way: they commissioned twelve young artists to create pieces of work inspired by a track on the album. The artwork was then presented, on its own, in a room with its applicable track playing. So as we walked around Kennards Storage World in Waterloo (random rock venue!) we got to experience Zounds both visually and aurally. And the album sounds great.

The evening was capped off by a short performance from the Dappled boys. Playing “stripped back” arrangements of five songs from Zounds, the band played to a cramped…container storage unit. Fun times! Lead single, The Price, was actually quite a different, quieter arrangement, featuring a slower tempo and some light, electronic drum machine action by the drummer. I was impressed the band are already playing around with brand new songs like that…even if it was out of necessity for tonight’s rather oddly located gig.

Setlist
Wooden Ships
Answer Is Zero
The Price
Stepshadows
The Night Is Young At Heart

I’ve also uploaded some photos of the gig and the artwork.

It has been a long time since I’ve seen Dappled live and I totally forgot how much I love watching them perform. Make sure you check them out next month on the Zounds album launch tour. And in case you still don’t have it…

Download
Dappled Cities – The Price

I am Canadian. I like “indie” music. But I often find myself shunned by the Skinny Pants Brigade for my lack of worship at the altar of Spencer Krug. Yes, his work on Wolf Parade’s Apologies To The Queen Mary is astounding. I enjoyed, but didn’t love, Shut Up I Am Dreaming. And Random Spirit Lover? It’s nearly unbearable. Too tedious, too precious, and too wrapped up in its own tedious preciousness.

Needless to say my expectations for Sunset Rubdown’s new record, Dragonslayer, were low, low, low. So I was taken totally off-guard when the first track I heard off the album (Idiot Heart) was totally awesome. And then I heard the entire record…and I liked it. I really, really did.

I’m not entirely sure what it is about Dragonslayer that has clicked for me. It sounds like a more natural record…one that isn’t wrapped up in its own world. It sounds loose and at times totally joyful. Most crucially, I think, is that it sounds like the entire band bashed it out together without too much thought.

This is not to say that Krug has totally dialled it down. While being the most accessible, straight-forward record Sunset Rubdown have made, it still features Krug’s memorable lyrics and unconventional arrangements. But here it sounds so incredibly natural that you couldn’t imagine it existing in any other form (something I’ve never thought about this band before). Krug you magnificent bastard…you have won me over. At least for now.

Download
Sunset Rubdown – Idiot Heart

Fact: New Order’s Temptation (in particular the 1987 re-recording that is featured on Substance and in the film Trainspotting) is one of the greatest songs ever.

Fact: This live version recorded for the BBC in 1984 is amazing for a few things but one stands out above the rest: Bernard Sumner’s tiny white shorts.

When I posted this over on Tumblr yesterday someone pointed out that she thought she noticed some “free ballin’” around the 45 second mark. Haunting!

Anyway, if you don’t “own” New Order’s Substance (in addition to nearly all their other records) you really are missing out on some absolutely enthralling music from a decade that was largely bereft of enthralling music.

Totally unrelated, but that new Dirty Projectors’ record is finally totally clicking for me.

I’d not even heard of Deastro a month ago but every now and then a record comes out of nowhere and makes you take notice. Moondagger, Deastro’s new record, is an electro-psych-pop adventure that does exactly that. It’s ambitious, joyous and an absolutely perfect record to enjoy in bright sunshine.

Download:
Deastro – Vermillion Plaza
Deastro – Parallelogram

The record has been compared in some places to the work of Dan Deacon. I for one do not particularly enjoy Deacon’s music…so don’t let those comparisons put you off (though in this part of the internetz I’m pretty sure I’m in the minority when it comes to not digging the Deacon). The record is not now here in Australia. And hey, Joe really digs it as well.

You can stream Moondagger in its entirety below.

Deastro, which is the work of one dude called Randolph Chabot Jr, also keeps a blog. Sometimes he gives away free EPs. Score.

One of Australia’s finest live bands, The Basics, have been busy boys lately. In addition to With This Ship getting tons of airplay on Triple J (Kingsmill totally caved), Kris, Tim, and Wally have been playing shows around the country the past few months. And it’s nearly our turn here on the east coast.

The Nice Harmonies. Nice Looks. Nice Lunch. tour will be hitting the following locales…

17 July – Sydney Opera House, Sydney
18 July – Heritage Hotel, Wollongong
19 July – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
23 July – Transit Bar, Canberra (free!)
24 July – Republic Bar, Hobart
25 July – Hotel New York, Launceston
30 July – The Zoo, Brisbane
31 July – Woombye Hotel, Sunshine Coast (free!)
01 August – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay (free!)
08 August – Tank Art Centre, Cairns

And what about that record, boys? Apparently it is finished, it is called Keep Your Friends Close, and it is “forthcoming.”